Heinrich / Henry Biele of St. Louis, Missouri and Stillwater, Minnesota

Following up on my earlier post, “Sorting Out the Heinrich and Henry Bieles of Missouri,” I am now taking a closer look at each man individually, beginning with: 

Heinrich (“Henry”) Biele (1818/19-1875/76), born in Prussia, married Mary Gross in St. Louis, Missouri, and later lived in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Marriage Records

Heinrich, or Henry, Biele first appears in the record in 1848, when he married Mary Catherine Gross in St. Louis, Missouri.

In the civil marriage record, his name is given as Henry and she as Mary Catherine. 

Marriage record from the Saint Louis County archives

In the record from St. Peter's Church in St. Louis, his name appears as Heinrich Biele, with a birth year of 1818. Her name is given as Maria Katharine Gross, with a birth year of 1825.

Marriage record in German from St. Peter's Evangelical Church in St. Louis, MO

Translation by Google Gemini:

February 29, 1848. - In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, on the twenty-ninth of February, the following were joined in marriage: Mr. Heinrich Biele, born Anno Domini 1818, and Miss Maria Katharina Gross, born Anno Domini 1825, both from Brockhagen, District of Halle, Kingdom of Prussia. Witnesses: Caspar Heinrich Riecke and Catharina Louisa Gross. Officiant: J. J. Riess.

The record from the church states they are both from Brockhagen, Halle, Prussia. (later baptism records of their children also state they were both from Brockhagen)

Immigration

Two naturalization records appear likely to belong to this Henry: a declaration of intent in Gasconade County in 1845 and a final naturalization in St. Louis in 1848. Both identify the man as Henry Biele and a native of Prussia, and the timeline fits a man who married in St. Louis in 1848. Both state he was from Prussia. The naturalization record states that he had to have been in the United States for at least five years, which would mean he arrived by 1843 or earlier.

Henry Biele, native of Prussia, declaration of intent in Gasconade County - April 1845

Henry Biele (and others), native of Prussia, granted citizenship in St. Louis, MO - April 1848

There is an immigration record for Catherine and her family arriving in New Orleans in 1843. The ship is from Bremen, Germany and lists Johann Friedrich (presumably the father) and three girls, Catherina (Maria Catherina), Wilhelmina, and Louisa (Catherine Louisa who witnesses the wedding). They are listed as coming from Brockhagen and headed to St. Louis. I did not find Henry in that ship’s manifest.

Immigration record of the Gross family's arrival into New Orleans in 1843

Church Records of the Children

These records all come from St. Peter's Evangelical Church in St. Louis, MO. 

The first record of a child is unfortunately the death of (presumably) their first child after a year and a half.  (I was not able to find the baptism record.)

Translation by Google Gemini:

Maria Catharina Wilhelmina Biele, born on February 6th, 1849, the little daughter of Heinrich Biele and Maria Katharina née Gross, both from Brockhagen, District of Halle, Prussia, died on July 8th, 1850, and was buried on the following day. J. J. Riess.

There may have been some solace in that another child was born just over a week later:

Translation by Google Gemini:

Maria Catharina Biele, Born: July 19, 1850, Baptized: July 22, 1850, Parents: Father: Heinrich Biele; Mother: Maria Catharina née Gross. Both from Brockhagen, District of Halle, Kingdom of Prussia., Godparent: Catharina Wilhelmina Riecke., Minister: Baptized by J.J. Riess.

This was followed the next year by another daughter:

Translation by Google Gemini:

Margaretha Wilhelmina Henriette Biele, Born: December 9, 1851, Baptized: December 28, 1851, Parents: Father: Heinrich Biele; Mother: Maria Catharina née Gross. Both from Brockhagen, District of Halle, Prussia., Godparents: Wilhelmina Henriette Gross and Margaretha im Garten. ,Minister: Baptized by J.J. Riess.

There may be more church records to find.

Census Records in Stillwater

By the mid-1850s the family had moved to Minnesota, where more children were born. The US Federal Census and Minnesota State Census provide additional facts, though at times a bit confusing.

The 1860 US Census

By 1860, the family was in Stillwater, Minnesota, though the surname was incorrectly recorded as Bailey. Henry, age 40, appears with his wife Catherine, age 35. Two daughters born in Missouri are listed: Henna, age 8, and Anna, age 6. Henna is presumably the daughter later called Henriette. Anna appears to be another daughter not yet identified in the church records. Maria Catharina, born in 1850, is absent and may already have died. Two younger children born in Minnesota, Eliza (4) and Henry (2). This would place the family’s move to Minnesota around 1855, before Minnesota became a state in 1858. Henry’s occupation is listed as laborer.

 

1860 US Census for Henry Biele family in Stillwater, MN (family listed as Bailey)

The 1865 MN Census

The family is still in Stillwater and this time it is Henry, Cartharine and five children - Henriette (F), Hannah (F), Lizzie (F), Lena (F), and Louis (M). Henna is now Henriette, Anna is now Hannah, and Eliza is now Lizzie. Lena and Louis are new and will show up on future records. There are no ages given in this census. Maria Catharina is still absent from the household and may have died young. Henry is also missing.

1865 MN Census for Henry Biele family in Stillwater, MN

1870 US Census

The family is still in Stillwater and listed as "Biela". Henry (52) and Catherine (44) and the same five children (though some with name variations) - Hennriette (18), Johanna (16), Lizzie (14), Helena (7) and Louis (6). The son Henry, who appeared in the 1860 census, is no longer present and may have died young. Henry is listed as a "Boarding House Keeper" while Catherine, Henriette, Johanna, and Lizzie are all "Keeping House" which likely means they are working the boarding house. Helena and Louis are listed as “attending school.” The census listed over 50 men, many immigrants, working at a local saw mill.

1870 US Census for Henry Biele family in Stillwater, MN

1875 MN Census

The family is still in Stillwater and the last name is correct, though with some variation in the first names. Henry (56), Catherine (50), Louise (19), Lena (14) and Louis (11). Given the name similarity and age, Eliza/Lizzie is now Louise and Helena is now Lena. Henriette and Johanna are now missing. Other records show Johanna marrying Emil Krueger in 1871, so by 1875 she was presumably living elsewhere with him. Henriette may have married, moved away, or died, but I have not yet found records to support any of those possibilities.

1875 MN Census for Henry Biele family in Stillwater, MN

1880 US Census

By 1880, the household had changed significantly. Catherine and Louis are living with Eliza and her husband, Nathan Lammers. Lena is in a different record working as a servant at another address. By 1880, Henry himself no longer appears in the household, which is consistent with the evidence that he had died in the mid-1870s. (see below) and Henriette has not been found. 

1880 US Census for Catherine Biele and two children

Summary of the Children

I may do a more detailed post on the children as I find more records, but here is a summary:

Children of Henry and Catherine Biele

Deaths of Heinrich / Henry and Maria Catherine

Based on the census records and his gravestone, Henry appears to have been born in 1818 or 1819. His gravestone gives his dates as 1819-1876. The marriage record gives a birth year of 1818 and his ages in the censuses gives more variation. "Find a Grave" gives his death date as May 15, 1875, in Stillwater, but does not cite a source, so I treat that date as tentative.

Catherine's birth year is consistently given as 1825. "Find a Grave" also gives Catherine’s death date as May 5, 1894, in Stillwater, again without citing a source.

Next Steps:

• Trace Heinrich/Henry and Maria Catherine back to Brockhagen and their arrival into the US to determine if there are any links to other Biele families.
• Track down more details on the children, especially those that "disappeared" from the records.
• Follow the branches of the family.