William Joens (1860 - 1912)

Born 20 Aug 1860 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Son of Heinrich Joens and Christina (Jepsen) Joens

Husband of Catherine (Dolly) Joens — married 14 Aug 1890 in Rock Island, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Jul 1912 at age 51 in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jana Ulrich [send private message]

Biography

William Joens was born in Schleswig - Holstein in what is now Germany^[1], the son of Henry and Christina (Jepsen) Joens. The family migrated to the United States in 1865, sailing from Hamberg to New York via the steamer Bavaria.^[2]. They were farming in Blue Grass, Iowa at the time of the 1870 census. William became a naturalized citizen in 1881^[3]He married Mary Kerker in 1885^[4]; she and their new born child died in 1886. He was co-executor of his mother's will in 1890 and received an inheritance of $600.^[5]

In 1890 in Rock Island, Illinois he married Catherine Dolly^[6] and they had two children. He was a store owner in Davenport, Iowa until he got sick at which time he began to travel in search of a cure. He wrote several letters to his wife and children, never mentioning the source of the illness, but often referring to "taking the waters".^[7] He died in the sanitarium at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin^[8] and is buried in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Davenport.^[9]

William's obituary in the Quad-City Times^[10] said:

Long Illness is Ended by Death

A bright and useful career was brought to a close after several years of suffering in the sanitarium at Wauwautosa, Wis., when William Joens, the well known gents' furnisher of Davenport died at 8:45 Sunday evening. a long-distance telephone message was received from Mrs. Joens this morning notifying the many friends in Davenport of his demise.

Mrs. Joens, who had suffered the fracture of a limb in Chicago some time ago and who has been confined tto her home since that time, left here Saturday to be at the bedside when it was reported that his condition had become serious.

Mr. Joens had been in ill health a number of years, and over a year ago he retired from business on account of it.

He was bon in 1861 in Schlieisweig-Holstein, German, and came to America in 1866 (sic). Settling at once in Davenport he entered the public schools and after finishing his rudimentary education he entered college. After graduating from college he entered the Kerker grocery store and finishing that business he became associated with J.T. Hayes in the furnishing business on Second street between Brady and Main streets. Later he purchased a gents' furnishing stock and embarked in that business, and has been entirely successful i the venture.

Besides his wife, he is survived by one son, William, Jr., and a daughter, Hazel, four brothers -- Claus, Henry, and Hans of Davenport and Peter of Blue Grass, and one sister, Mrs. J Schnaack of Bennett, Ia.

Sources

1. ↑ Probate Petition State of Iowa, case 7834
2. ↑ Passenger Lists, Year: 1865; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 43; List Number: 523
3. ↑ NARA Naturalization Records: Action date, 28 Oct 1881
4. ↑ Iowa County Marriages, 2 Sep 1885
5. ↑ Iowa Probate Records, case 3410
6. ↑ Illinois County Marriages, 14 Aug 1890
7. ↑ Personal knowledge of Jana Wellman Ulrich who read the letters, but does not have current access to them.
8. ↑ Obituary, Quad-City Times, p 15
9. ↑ Find a Grave memorial 177891150.
10. ↑ 8 Jul 1912, p 15

• Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls. NAI: 6256867. Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives at Washington, D.C.
• United States Federal Census:
  • 1870, Blue Grass, Scott, Iowa. Dwelling 113.
  • 1900, Davenport, Scott, Iowa. Dwelling 143.
  • 1910, Davenport, Scott, Iowa. Ward 5, Dwelling 312.
• Iowa. 1895 Iowa State Census. Des Moines, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa. (Davenport, Scott, Iowa).
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950 (M1285); Microfilm Serial: M1285; Microfilm Roll: 88.
• "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCHM-WLD : 27 September 2017).
• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFLK-8Q8 : 17 November 2020).
• Quad-City Times, Davenport Iowa:
  • Brother Thomas' Obituary: 31 Mar 1891, p 1.
  • Obituary: 8 Jul 1912.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 November 2020), memorial page for William Joens (10 Aug 1860–8 Jul 1912), Find a Grave Memorial no. 177891150, citing Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by DM Scott (contributor 47110289).
• Probate Records, 1831-1980; Indexes, 1834-1958; Author: Iowa. District Court (Scott County); Probate Place: Scott, Iowa

DNA

Matches between descendants of William Joens and his brother Hans Joens:

• Paternal and maternal relationships are suggested by AncestryDNA test matches between James Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his 3C2R, DB, 3rd great grandchild of Hans Joens. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and DB's 4th great grandparents Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C2R in 20% tier) based on sharing 28 cm across 1 segment.
• Paternal and maternal relationships are suggested by 23andMe test match between James Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his 3C1R, MB, 2nd great grandchild of Hans Joens. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and MB's 3rd great grandparents Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen. Predicted relationship at 23andMe: 4th cousin based on sharing 34 cm across 1 segment.

Matches between descendants of William Joens and his brother Peter Joens:

Confirmation:

Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed based on an AncestryDNA test match between Jim Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his 3C, KW, great grandchild of Peter Joens. Their MRCAs are their 2nd great grandparents, Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C in 22% tier) based on sharing 26 cm across 2 segments.

Corroboration:

Paternal and maternal relationships are suggested based on AncestryDNA test matches between Jim Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his following cousins. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and the cousins 3rd / 4th great grandparents, Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen.

• 3C1R, NWN, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 5th-8th cousin (3C1R in 19% tier) based on sharing 10 cm across 2 segments.
• 3C1R, DK, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 3rd-4th cousin (3C1R in 7% tier) based on sharing 96 cm across 3 segments.
• 3C1R, SW, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C1R in 38% tier) based on sharing 34 cm across 3 segments.
  • Also gedmatch: GY7367729 (Jim Ulrich) and A921836 (SW) on, 43 cm across 2 segments (28 cm on chromosome 6 and 8 cm on chromosome 22), 4.3 generations to MRCA
  • Also ftDNA: 2nd-4th cousin, 92 cm, longest block: 27 cm.
• 3C1R, EO, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C1R in 24% tier) based on sharing 41 cm across 4 segments.
• 3C1R, JS, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 5th-8th cousin (3C1R in 22% tier) based on sharing 14 cm across 1 segments.
• 3C1R, SC, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 5th-8th cousin (3C1R in 22% tier) based on sharing 16 cm across 1 segments.
• 3C2R, p87, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 3rd-4th cousin (3C2R in <1% tier) based on sharing 96 cm across 2 segments.
• 3C2R, ES, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 5th-8th cousin (3C2R in 22% tier) based on sharing 18 cm across 1 segments.
• 3C2R, CH, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C2R in 11% tier) based on sharing 47 cm across 3 segments.
• 3C2R, JS, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C2R in 11% tier) based on sharing 45 cm across 3 segments.
• 3C2R, PW, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 5th-8th cousin (3C2R in 22% tier) based on sharing 15 cm across 2 segments.

In addition to SW mentioned above, paternal and maternal relationships are suggested based on 23andMe test matches between Jim Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his following cousins. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and the cousins 3rd / 4th great grandparents, Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen.

• 3C1R, DB, 2nd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at 23andMe: 4th cousin based on sharing 26 cm across 1 segment (chromosome 9).
• 3C2R, TW, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at 23andMe: 4th cousin based on sharing 55 cm across 2 segments (28 cm on chromosome 6, 27 cm on chromosome 9).
• 3C2R, RB, 3rd great grandchild of Peter Joens. Predicted relationship at 23andMe: 4th cousin based on sharing 81cm across 1 segments (76 cm on chromosome 9).

Matches between descendants of William Joens and his siter Margaretha Joens Schnack:

• Paternal and maternal relationships are suggested by AncestryDNA test matches between James Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his 3C1R, WP, 2nd great grandchild of Margaretha Joens Schnack. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and WPs 3rd great grandparents Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C1R in 27% tier) based on sharing 21 cm across 2 segments.
• Paternal and maternal relationships are suggested by 23andMe test matches between James Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his 3C1R, JS, 2nd great grandchild of Margaretha Joens Schnack. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and JS' 3rd great grandparents Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th cousin based on sharing 46 cm across 1 segments.

Match between descendants of William Joens and his brother Henry:

• Paternal and maternal relationships are suggested by AncestryDNA test matches between James Ulrich, great grandson of William Joens and his 3C1R, vm, 2nd great grandchild of Heinrich. Their MRCAs are Jim's 2nd great and vm's 3rd great grandparents Henry Joens and Christina Jepsen. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (3C1R in 27% tier) based on sharing 28 cm across 3 segments.
  • This match also found on MyHeritagewhere predicted relationship is 3rd-5th cousin based on sharing 37 cm across 2 segments.