KIEFER

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Generation 1 The Kiefer family in Perry County, Missouri begins with Christian KIEFER and sister Helena KIEFER. Chirstian immigrated to Perry County from the kingdom of Baden in 1833 at the age of 21. He was employed, like many German immigrants to Perryville, in the hotel of Henry HOOSS. The 1860 census shows Christian making his residence at the HOOSS hotel. Helena, his sister, immigrated to Perry County later with friends after first going to St. Louis and Belleville, Illinois (according to her obituary). She also worked in the HOOSS hotel and met her future husband, Nicholas Benjamin BAUDENDISTEL, also an employee. They were married 20 Feb 1860 and bought a farm near Silver Lake, a nearby town. The couple had 10 children. Christian applied for U.S. citizenship in Perry County on 27 Aug 1859. From 22 Jul 1861 to 8 Sep 1864, he served in Company B of Missouri’s 3rd Infantry as a private (Union Army). During that time the Company was stationed in Arkansas and marched through Kentucky and Ohio. After the War, Christian married Mary Ann WUCHER at St. Mary’s Assumption Church on 24 Apr 1865. The author is not sure of the coincidence, but on that same day, the court of Perry County granted Christian his U.S. citizenship. Weeks later, on 9 May 1865, Christian purchased his father-in-law’s farm of 160 acres for $100, 1/3 of annual crops, 300 lbs. of pork per year, and residence to his in-laws. (The land is legally described as the NE quarter of the NW quarter, NW quarter of the NE quarter and east 1/2 of NE quarter of section 10 Twp. 34 north of Range 10 East.) The farm is centered between present day Highland Church and Highway 51 (near Friendly Valley). His father-in-law, Anton WUCHER, had aquired 40 acres of this farm from Entress WUCHER (relation unknown) on 19 Jan 1854 for $50. Christian became one of Perry County's best and most respected farmers. Christian and Mary KIEFER raised 13 children on this farm, with one boy and one girl dying as infants. Christian and Mary took care of his in-laws until their last days, when both Anton and his wife passed away on the farm. Christian and Mary's lives also ended on the farm--within 4 days of each other. Christian passed away on 29 Mar 1904 and Mary on 4 Apr 1904. Christian was 70 years old, but Mary was 58 and said to be in fine health up to a half-hour before her death. They are buried side by side with the largest headstone in St. Boniface Cemetery, near the very back.
Christian and Mary Ann Kiefer	Christian in his Union uniform.
Generation 2 The Family of Christian KIEFER: Joseph KIEFER was born 24 Jan 1866 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He was a productive farmer and horticulturist. He married Catherine Rosa BOHNERT 6 Jun 1892 at St. Boniface Church in Perryville. He became a sexton for that church. The couple had 13 children. Joseph died at age 71, 2 May 1937, following an illness, uremia, while he was living in Perryville on South Main Street. On 4 May 1937 Joseph was buried in St. Boniface Cemetery in Perryville, Missouri, with his wife and close by his parents. Carolina KIEFER was born 22 Jun 1867 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. She married Louis J. PROST at St. Mary’s Assumption Church in Perryville, MO. The couple had 10 children. Carolina was a farmer in Perry County and passed away while feeding the chickens at age 60, reasons unknown. This was on 8 Feb 1928 at her home in Perry County and she was burried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Perryville. Franz Joseph KIEFER was born 30 Jun 1869 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He was christened 18 Jul 1869 at St. Boniface Church in Perryville. No other records have been found. August KIEFER was born 24 Aug 1870 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He was christened in St. Boniface Church in Perryville on 27 Nov 1870. He married Mary Amelia PROST on 21 Sep 1891 in Perry County, Missouri. The couple had two children and Mary passed away in January, 1897. August married Rosa Mary MOORE two years later on 3 Jul 1899 in Perry County. After his parents passed away in 1904, August was selected to care for his youngest brother, Herman, (be a ward for the state) to care for the 13 year old until his age of majority. August and Rosa raised 16 children of their own, as well as the 2 children from his first wife and his youngest brother. August and wife were farmers and stockmen, continuing to do so in their older years when they moved into Perryville. August died 28 Sep 1946 in a hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri after suffering a stroke. Burial was 1 Oct 1946 in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Perryville, Missouri. Antoine KIEFER was born 13 Jun 1875 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He was christened in St. Boniface Church in Perryville on 6 Jul 1873. He married Marceline PROST on 11 Feb 1896 at St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in Perryville. Marceline passed away 5 Dec 1945 and Antoine died 23 Mar 1951 at his home on Feltz Street in Perryville after being ill for some time. He was buried 27 Mar 1951 in Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville. Bernard Francis KIEFER was born 27 Mar 1876 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He was christened in St. Boniface Church in Perryville on 17 Apr 1876. He married Clara BOHNERT on 26 Feb 1900 at St. Maurus Catholic Church in nearby Biehle, Missouri. He passed away 5 May 1963 at the hospital in Perryville, Missouri. He was buried 8 May 1963 in St. Boniface Cemetery in Perryville. Henry KIEFER was born 24 May 1878 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He was christened 16 Jun 1878 at St. Boniface Church in Perryville. On 6 May 1900, he married Mary Ellen ROBINSON in nearby Silver Lake, Missouri. His wife passed awa on 16 May 1949 and at age 77, Henry died from a heart condition on 9 May 1956 at his home on Park Ave. in Perryville, Missouri. He was buried 11 May 1956 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville. Louise Ann KIEFER was born 18 Oct 1880 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. She married Dennis Vincent FELTZ on 6 Nov 1905 at St. Boniface Church in Perryville, Missouri. They farmed on Route 1 in Perry County, and she passed away on their farm in 7 Aug 1956. She was buried 9 Aug 1856 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville. Hugo KIEFER was born 4 Feb 1883 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. All that is known of him is that he moved to New York City before Feb 1928 and died in that city before Oct 1946. Wife and children are not known. Andrew Henry KIEFER was born 7 Feb 1884 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. He married Albertine A. FELTZ at St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in Perryville on 16 Jan 1906. Andrew made a living working at Rozier's Mercantile in Perryville for 38 years. He was retired several years when he passed away on 15 Feb 1956 at the hospital in Perryville--cause unknown. He was buried 18 Feb 1956 in Mount Hope Cemetery, Perryville, Missouri. Helena Regina KIEFER was born 3 Jan 1887 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. She was christened on 30 Jan 1887 at St. Boniface Church in Perryville. She married Joseph KREMMER of St. Louis, probably in St. Louis. They lived in St. Louis the rest of their days. It is believed that they had no children. Joseph passed away on 6 Dec 1944 and Helena lived until 9 Feb 1967. She was burried 13 Feb 1967 at All Saints Church (St. Louis or University City) and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Mary Ann KIEFER was born 10 Feb 1889 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. She was christened on 20 Feb 1889 at St. Boniface Church, Perryville. She died on 2 Mar 1889 and was buried 15 Feb 1889 at St. Boniface Cemetery. Herman Christian KIEFER was born 14 Dec 1890 on the Kiefer farm in Perry County, Missouri. His parents passed away when he was 13, and he became a ward of the state. His older brother August was appointed legal guardian and curator of his estate ($800 inheritance) on 6 Apr 1904. Final settlement of this estate was made in Feb 1912 (age 21) with "6% interest and payment of work less rent [on August's farm] is $1,257.79, paid in full". The next year he married Bernice M. ZAHNER, the neice of his 'FELTZ' sister-in-laws on 19 Aug 1913 at St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in Perryville, Missouri. The couple were farmers in Perry County and had 10 children. Herman passed away on 1 Apr 1972 in Perryville. He was buried 4 Apr 1972 in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Perryville.

Generation 3 Joseph's children: Carolina's children: August's children: Antoine's children: Bernard's children: Henry's children: Louise's children: Andrew's children: Herman's children:
Notes © 2002 James Kiefer and Rick Finger Last Revision: 29 Jan 2002 E-mail Rick with questions or comments at refinger@hotmail.com