Seeking information on parents of Herman F. Merten, b. 1820, Halen, Prussia -Germany. He married Katharine Margarete Klas. Herman came to the US when he was abt 13 years of age. He died in Iowa. Margarete died Illinois. I believe Herman's parents are Philip Arnold Merten and Catharine Margaret Triejemayer, both b. ca 1791.

Just happened to check the Merten board,and saw your query about Herman F. Merten. He married Katharina M.Kraus 4 Aug.1842 St.Louis . Believe he was a cousin to our Herman Henry Merten,who setteled in St.Louis before 1850, as they are in the 1850 census 5th ward. Our Herman married Anna Maria Eilers 4 Mar 1851. St.Louis. came to Marion Co. Ill. Have not run into a Phillip Merten. Herman H. Merten sister-in-law Mary Christina Eilers married a Gerharor H. Thiemeyer. Hope this helps

Thanks Donna,

Do you know who your Herman Henry Merten's parents are?
It is interesting to note that I also have the Triejemyer name connected with Philip Merten.

Herman F. Merten, b. 20 Aug. 1820, Halen,Prussia, Germany, died 2 Feb 1898, Gainer, Hancock Co., Iowa. He did marry Katharine Margarete Klaus, b. 24 Sept 1817, Bippen, Furstenan, Hanover, Germany, died 29 Dec 1894, Freeport, Illinois. My Herman's parents are Philip Arnold Merten, b. ca 1791 and Catharine Margaret TRIEJEMYER.
Katharine M. Klaus' parents are Herman Henry Klaus, b. 1780, died 1841 and Margaret Adelaid Kruempel, b. 1782, died 1841. I'll look in my husbands grandparents old photo album as I believe we have an old black and white photo of the Merten's.
Janice

MY FATHER WAS ALFRED HERMAN MERTEN

Do you have any dates or States for your father? Who are his parents and grandparents?

Janice J

Hi...just found your message on board.I have HERMAN HEINRICH ABRAHAM MERTEN and wife, Mary Anne Elisabeth Eilers....and his parentsHermann Heinrich and his wife Carolina Huellenhueter. My folks were from Kettwig/Werden (now Aachen) in Germany.Any of this "ring a bell" ???Would appreciate hearing from anyone searching these names. Gladly share what little info I dohave. TIA

dear lois !
kettwig and werden are today parts of the city of essen and
the river ruhr is flowing through them . aachen is 150 km to
the west at the border to belgium .
all the best mario from kettwig

While researching Delaware Co., IA as a community project I have come across the Merten surname. Many are buried at Zion Cemetery in Colony Twp. Both Herman and Katherine (Klaus) Merten are buried there. Thank-you for the clarification of their exact death locations.
There are at least 2 other Klaus families also of Colony Twp. Are they brothers of Katherine Klaus Merten?
John D. Klaus born Feb 2, 1813 Hanover
Herman Henry Klaus born 1821 Hanover

Willing to share the information I have collected on both the Klaus and Merten surnames.
Becky T.

Yes, I would love to exchange information with you.

Katharine Margarete (Klaus) Merten had siblings;
1. Peter, b. 1805 (nothing else known)
2. John Deitrick, b. 2 feb 1813
3. Henry Herman Jr., b. 1821
Katharine's parents are Herman Henry Klaus, b. 1780, died 1824 and Margaret Adelaid Kruempel, b. 1782, died 1841

I am attaching the following:

Source:1870 census, Coloney twp., Deleware Co., Iowa, pg. 6, 6 July 1870
36/37
Klaus, John, head, wm, 57, farmer, real value $22,200, personal value $2,000, b. Hanover, Germany
Elizabeth, wf, 49, keeping house, b. Hanover, Germany
Elizabeth, wf, 15, b. Iowa
Willie, wm, 13, b. Iowa
John, wm, 11, b. Iowa
Wesley, wm, 9, b. Iowa
Holkey, Frederik, wm, 17, farm laborer, b. Hanover, Germany
Utts?, Ann, wf, 60, b. Hanover, Germany


Tombstone Records of Delaware County, Iowa

Page: 71
Name: John D. Klaus
Birth Date: 1813
Death Date: 07 Jul 1878
Cemetery: Zion


Source:1870 census, Coloney twp., Deleware Co., Iowa, pg 7 & 8, 6 July 1870
45/46
Klaus, Henry H., head, wm, 47, farmer,real property $18,560, person prop. $3,238, b. Hanover, Germany
Catherine, wf, 37, keeping house, b. Hanover, Germany
Emily A., wf, 20, school teacher, b. Iowa
Eliza J., wf, 17, b. Iowa
Freddie W., wm, 14, b. Iowa
George H., wm, 11, b. Iowa
Benjamin J., wm, 1, b. Iowa
Vondatge? Anne, wf, 21, house keeper, b. Hanover, Germany
Wessel, Herman B., wm, 21, farm laborer, b. Hanover, Germany


Source:1880 census, Colony twp., Delaware Co., Iowa, pg. 381B

H. H. KLAUS Self M Male W 58 Hanover, Farmer HANNOVER HANNOVER
Kieth M. KLAUS Wife M Female W 48 HANNOVER Keeping House HANNOVER HANNOVER
Eliza J. KLAUS Dau S Female W 27 IA HANNOVER HANNOVER
Fredrick W. KLAUS Son S Male W 23 IA Works On Farm HANNOVER HANNOVER
George H. KLAUS Son S Male W 21 IA Works On Farm HANNOVER HANNOVER
Della K. E. KLAUS Dau S Female W 8 IA At School HANNOVER HANNOVER
Joseph A. KLAUS Son S Male W 6 IA At School HANNOVER HANNOVER
Annaly SHANKER Aunt W Female W 83 HANNOVER HANNOVER HANNOVER
August SCHOPPER Other Male W 20 IL Laborer --- ---

Tombstone Records of Delaware County, Iowa
Page: 71
Name: Herman Klaus
Birth Date: 1821
Death Date: 1890
Cemetery: Zion

I just stumbled upon this site. Yes, both John D. and H. H. Klaus were Katherine's brothers. John D. was my great-grandfather. All of the Merten and Klaus family members buried in Zion Cemetery are related to these original settlers in Delaware County. All--or almost all--of these people were German Methodists, and members of churches affiliated with the Northwest German Methodist Conference, a group that was disbanded during WWI and consolidated with the English-speaking Methodist Episcopal Church. Many of the Merten and Klaus men entered the ministry.

Zion Cemetery is named for Zion Church, that used to stand just to the east of the cemetery. There was another church, Immanuel Church, a few miles south and a bit west of Zion Church. Family legend has it that J. D. Klaus donated the land for Zion Church and the cemetery, and his brother, H. H. Klaus, donated the land for Immanuel Church. There was a third German Methodist church just a few miles away in Colesburg.

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, many or most of the archives from the German conference have been lost, though this is just a rumor...

Best regards,

John Klaus
Mt. Vernon, IA