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Location: Saint Marys Church, Dakota, Nebraska, United States
Letter, St. Mary's Church to Dorothy Clasen
In 1979, Dorothy Ottilia Clasen (1915-2004) wrote to St. Mary's Church, in New Trier (originally Hampton), Dakota County, Nebraska, to inquire about church records regarding her ancestors who lived there. A trustee of the church was kind enough to do a rather thorough search for her, and the letter he wrote in reply is quite informative.
Dorothy was a descendant of the Mathias, Maria, Joseph mentioned in the letter.
Information Determinable from the Letter
The letter contains information from the parish records of St. Mary's concerning the family of Mathias Clasen Sr. (1822-1891) & Anna Marie (Cordell) Clasen (1821-1878), and their sons Nicholas Clasen (1857-1928), Joseph Nicholas Clasen (1856-1925), Christian Clasen (1858-1934), Philip Clasen (1859-1928), Michael Clasen, and Mathias Clasen Jr. (1863-1948).
Although the family was in Minnesota by 1856, based on known birth location of their oldest child, they apparently moved to Hampton between 30 January 1857 and 26 July 1858.
Birth and baptism dates are given for Christian, Philip, Michael, and Mathias, Jr., as well as the baptism sponsors (others in the community) for these four.
Death and burial dates are also given for Michael, who died at age 3.
The family emigrated to Sedgwick County, Kansas in 1876.
Community members named as baptism sponsors are:
Christianus Kordel & Elisabeth Stumpf
Philipp Becker & Catherine Leonards
Michael Glassen & Maria Siebenaler
Mathias Siebenaler & Catherine Glassen.
Transcription
Transcription by Rudy Ramsey on 29 May 2022. Letter, St. Mary's Church, New Trier, Minnesota to Dorothy Clasen, 2 Feb 1979.
Dear Dorothy,
We are sorry that we are unable to furnish you with the date of your great-grandfather's marriage or your grandfather's baptism. The first marriage recorded in our parish took place on July 9, 1861. The first baptism recorded in our parish took place May 8, 1856.
In a census book of our parish, taken in 1873, it is recorded that Mathias Clasen & Maria Cordel had five sons, Nicolaus, Nicolaus Joseph, Christianus, Philipp, and Mathias. They moved to Wichita, Sedgewich [sic] County, Kansas in 1876.
The first Clasen baptized in New Trier was Christianus so we assume that Nicolaus and Nicolaus Joseph were born and baptized before the family moved to New Trier.
We have several different spellings of your last name in our records - Clasen, Classen, Glasen, Glassen, and Klasen. Just to show how difficult it is to trace family names, I will write down for you the records of four baptisms of the Mathias Clasen & Maria Cordel marriage, recorded in New Trier.
Christianus - born July 26, 1858; baptized August 15, 1858, father Mathias Glasen; mother Maria Kordel; sponsors Christianus Kordel & Elisabeth Stumpf.
Philipp - born Nov. 28, 1859; baptized January 16, 1860; father Mathias Klasen; mother Maria Kordel; sponsors Philipp Becker & Catherine Leonards.
Michael - born Jan 19, 1863; baptized February 17, 1863; father Mathias Glassen; mother Maria Kordel; sponsors Michael Glassen & Maria Siebenaler. This boy died Feb. 13, 1866 and was buried Feb. 15, 1866.
Mathias - born April 8, 1864; baptized April 15, 1864; father Mathias Glassen; mother Maria Kordel; sponsors Mathias Siebenaler & Catherine Glassen.
Even your great-grandmother's name is spelled Kordel at times instead of Cordel. Even though I am unable to furnish the exact information you requested I think I have found some interesting facts for you. I hope you will have success in tracing your family name.
Sincerely,
Norbert J. Hoffman
Parish Trustee
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