Spohn, Clara Marie

Other Events:

• Census: 1900, Seward County, Nebraska, USA
• Census: 1910, Madison Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1936, Albany, Linn County, Oregon, USA

Notes:

Census:
According to the 1900 enumeration of L Precinct, Clara M. Spohn lived with her sister, Rosa L., both of whom were children of Philip and his second wife, Mary A. Braden. Also in the household were Clara's two step-brothers, "Willie A." and John L., children from her father's first marriage, to Frances Drummer.

Census:
According to the 1910 enumeration, Clara M. Spohn (age 11) lived with her parents, Philip and Mary A. Spohn, and her sisters, Rosa L. Spohn (age 10), "Eiva S. Spohn" (age 8), and "Josia L. Spohn" (age 6).

Residence:
According to her obituary, Clara moved to Albany, Oregon in 1936.

Buried:
A requiem mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Clara was buried at Willamette Memorial Park.

Died:
The following is a transcription of an obituary for Clara (Spohn) Steffgen provided by Jane Michel, who reported that the obituary was published by The Nebraska Signal, of Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, on 28 July 1966.

          Clara Steffgen Former Genevan Dies In Oregon

     "Clara M. Steffgen, former Fillmore county resident, passed away at the General Hospital in Albany, Ore., July 21, 1966, at the age of 68. She became ill shortly after arising the day before and entered the hospital. Next day she suffered a heart attack that proved fatal. She had been the housekeeper for St. Mary's Catholic church rectory in Albany the past 14 years.
     "Clara Marie Braden was born at Utica, Neb., May 7, 1898. The family moved to Fillmore county in her youth and she received her education in the schools in this county. She was married to Henry Steffgen at Grafton June 20, 1919, by Rev. B. Sproll. She resided near Grafton and in Geneva until she moved to Albany, Ore., in 1936. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and had taken part in many church activities since living there.
     "Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. W. E. Fiegenbaum of Albany; three sons, Michael of Salem, Ore., Paul of Waukegan, Ill., and Lawrence of Erling, Cal.; three sisters, Mrs. H. H. O'Donnell of Omaha, Neb., Mrs. Frank Collicotte of Grand Junction, Col., and Mrs. Larry Ayres of Albany; two half-brothers, John Spohn and Bill Spohn of Antioch, Cal., and 11 grandchildren.
     "Requiem Mass was celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's church in Albany, Father Martin W. Doherty officiating. Interment was in Willamette Memorial park.
     "Mrs. Steffgen's sister Josie, Mrs. Collicotte, had been visiting in Albany on a vacation trip and the two had had a good visit. The son Lawrence came from Erling, Cal., for the service, bringing Susan Fiegenbaum, who had been visiting there."

     According to the Fillmore County, Nebraska record of the marriage of Clara and Henry W. Steffgen, Clara's maiden name was Spohn. The maiden name mentioned in this obituary is actually the maiden name of Clara's mother.
     It should be noted that the county record of the marriage contains many internal contradictions. According to the document, the marriage occurred on either June 19 or 20 at either Geneva or Grafton, Nebraska. Although the document does at one place give the year of the marriage as 1919 (the year also reported in the obituary), all of the remaining mentions of the year of the marriage in the county marriage record uses 1916.

Clara married Steffgen, Henry William 19 Jun 1916, Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA. Henry (son of Steffgen, Michael P. and Blum, Maria K.) was born 26 Oct 1893, Stockham, Hamilton County, Nebraska, USA; died 22 Dec 1974, Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, USA; was buried 27 Dec 1974, Grafton, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Henry and Clara were married by Rev. Bernard Sproll. Jack Walter and Rosa Spohn were the witnesses.

It should be noted that the Fillmore County marriage record, which includes the application for marriage license, the marriage license, the marriage certificate, and a report of marriage in one document, contains a number of internal contradictions. According to this document, the marriage may have taken place on either the 19th or the 20th of June, at either Grafton or Geneva, Nebraska.


Marriage License:
At the time, Henry was living in Grafton and Clara was living in Geneva.

It should be noted that the Fillmore County marriage record, which includes the application for marriage license, the marriage license, the marriage certificate, and a report of marriage in one document, contains a number of internal contradictions.


Residence (family):
According to his World War I draft registration card, completed on 5 June 1917 at Momence Precinct, Fillmore County, Nebraska, Henry Steffgen, age 23 years, was a farmer living at Grafton, Nebraska. He was born on 26 October 1893 at Stockham, Nebraska. He stated that he was married and that his dependants included his wife and one child. He was described as Caucasian male of slender, medium build, with gray eyes and brown hair.

Census (family):
According to the YEAR enumeration, the household consisted of Henry William Steffgen, head of household, age 26, born in Nebraska, married, a farmer; Clara Marie Steffgen, wife, age 21, born in Nebraska, married; Mickel Philip Steffgen, son, age 2 years, 7 months, born in Nebraska, single; Paul Francis Steffgen, son, age 3 months, born in Nebraska, single.

Census (family):
According to the 1930 enumeration, the household consisted of Henry N. [sic] Steffgen, head of household, age 36, born in Nebraska, married (at age 23), mechanic at a garage; Clara M. Steffgen, wife, age 31, born in Nebraska, married (at age 18); Michael P. Steffgen, son, age 12, born in Nebraska, single, attending school; Paul F. Steffgen, son, age 10, born in Nebraska, single, attending school; Lawrence E. Steffgen, son, age 8, born in Nebraska, single, attending school; Alice L. Steffgen, daughter, age 6, born in Nebraska, single, attending school.

1. Steffgen, Michael Philip was born 23 May 1917, Nebraska, USA; died 8 Oct 2004, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA.
2. Steffgen, Paul Francis was born 15 Oct 1919; died 3 Oct 1992, Gassville, Baxter County, Arkansas, USA.
3. Steffgen, Lawrence E. was born Abt 1922; died Yes, date unknown.
4. Steffgen, Alice Louise was born 22 Sep 1923, Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA; died 15 Feb 1982, Albany, Linn County, Oregon, USA; was buried , Albany, Linn County, Oregon, USA.

Philip married Braden, Mary A. 5 Oct 1896, Utica, Seward County, Nebraska, USA. Mary (daughter of Braden, Philip and [---?---], Clara) was born Abt 1875, Illinois, USA; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Philip and Marry were married by "L. A. Dumphy, Catholic Priest." Witnesses were Philip Braden, of Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska and Kate Heser, of Utica, Seward County, Nebraska.

Marriage License:
At the time, Philip was residing in Utica, Seward County, Nebraska and Mary was living in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska.

Census (family):
According to the 1900 enumeration of L Precinct, the household consisted of Philip Spohn, head of household, age 44, born March 1856 in New York, married for 4 years, a farmer; Braden [sic] A. Spohn, wife, age 24, born July 1876 in Illinois, married for 4 years, mother of 4 children all still living; Willie A. Spohn, son, born in June 1884 in Nebraska; John L. Spohn, son, born in September 1889 in Nebraska; Clara M. Spohn, daughter, born in May 1899 in Nebraska; Rose L. Spohn, daughter, born in December 1899 in Nebraska
     Mary A. (Braden) Spohn was Philip's second wife. The two daughters are from that marriage. The two son's are from Philip's first marriage, to Frances Drummer.

Census (family):
According to the 1910 enumeration, the household consisted of Philip Spohn, head of household, age 56, born in New York, married (second) for 13 years, a truck farmer; Mary A. Spohn, wife, age 37, born in Illinois, married (second) for 13 years, mother of 4 children (all still living); Clara M. Spohn, daughter, age 11, born in Nebraska; Rosa L. Spohn, daughter, age 10, born in Nebraska; Eiva S. Spohn, daughter, age 8, born in Nebraska; Josia L. Spohn, daughter, age 6, born in Nebraska.

Census (family):
According to the 1920 enumeration, the household consisted of Phillip Spohn, head of household, age 69, born in New York, married, a farmer; Mary A. Spohn, wife, age 44, born in Illinois, married; and, Josephine Spohn, daughter, age 15, born in Nebraska single, in school.

Census (family):
According to the 1930 enumeration, conducted by Maude M. (Montgomery) Fiegenbaum, the household consisted of Phillip Spohn (age 76) and Mary Spohn (age 54).

John married Behm, Gunda. Gunda died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Details of the marriage are not known at this time.

Philip married [---?---], Clara. Clara died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Details of the marriage are not known at this time.