A Merchant Farmer

It was on November 1, 1843, 178 years ago, that my great grandfather Mathias Pitzenberger was born in what was may have been Austria, or at least part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Mathias was one of three sons of Andreas Pitzenberger and Maria Entrl. Both Andreas and Maria were, according to a biography of their eldest son John, born in Austria in 1811.  Mathias was the youngest of three sons born to Andreas and Maria. The family arrived in the US in about 1846. John's biography has them settling first in Freeport, IL, and then moving to Winneshiek County, Iowa in about 1850. The biography first indicates 1850, but later says John, who was born in 1839, arrived in Iowa in 1855.  I suspect the family moved together to Iowa sometime between 1850 and 1855. In 1859, Andreas purchased from the US Government 160 acres of land in the SE1/4 of section 31, T96N R 9W, which would be Washington Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. 

Mathias Pitzenberger Farm, Town of Washington
Winneshiek County, IA
Source: Family archives

Whatever the year of their arrival in Iowa, the Mathias Pitzenberger family would not only farm the hills and valleys of the driftless area in Iowa, but also operate a hardware/general store in the small hamlet of Festina, IA. Festina is located at the intersection of today what are known as Hwy 150 and 123rd street, and is south of the County seat of Decorah. In 1880 Festina was a larger community than it is today. With persons dependent upon feet or horse for local mobility, and train and horse for regional mobility, these small communities would provide the necessary gathering, schooling and mercantile functions required for an increasingly diverse and differentiating economy. In 1850 or 1851 a gathering place was created in Festina, likely a saloon. In 1854 St Mary's--Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church was established. It was here that Mathias would be married, and buried. It was at this church were their children would receive many of the sacraments.

Plat Map of Twin Springs, now known as Festina
Source: Pat Burns Family History and Genealogy Website

The hamlet was platted in October 1856. The Pitzenberger family was part of the growth of Festina. Festina is said to have had two general stores in 1880. At the time of its platting Festina was known as Twin Springs, but the name was changed in 1863 to Festina. Festina is a Latin derivative of the word Vesper, so the German Catholic settlement nature held strong in this part of Iowa. Some plat maps identify the property as owned by "St Mary German Catholic Church." We do know that immigrants, often spoke their home language, more so than English, and in that sense the language spoken before and after church was joined by like speakers.  After all, the whole mass was in Latin, at that time. Different immigrant groups often had different Catholic parishes. This was true in large cities, and in rural areas. 

Mathias and Theresia Pitzenberger Tombstone
St Mary's Cemetery, Festina, IA

A letter my Aunt wrote to my sister and brother, a number of decades ago, identifies that Mathias spoke primarily High German, while his wife (Theresia) spoke mainly Czech. My grandma Ida, would learn High German at home, but as far as I know did not speak Bohemian.  I suspect Theresia also spoke some German, given that Bohemia was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the children were primarily educated in German. It may have been a different German, as my Aunt says my grandfather, Rudy, knew Low German, which is odd because that is primarily associated with the northern part of Germany, the low lands, while Grandpa Rudy's Dad, was from southwest Bohemia, although his Mom hailed from what was likely part of the Sudetenland, in northern Bohemia. From what I could find online, High German is the official written language. It appears that the Austro-Hungarian Empire used Bavarian German, which is under High German, so it is a mystery to me where/how Grandpa learned Low German.  One theory I have is that the Duschecks were of German heritage, and although settled some time ago in Bohemia, they kept a language of Low German at home. Regardless of what was taught in school, the home dialect was retained by Rudy's mom.

1886 Plat Map with Pitzenberger farm circled (left)
and Location of Festina, IA circled (right)
Source: Ancestry.com

Mathias, in 1873 would marry Theresia Kamenova (Kamen is her father's surname with the suffix ova added in Czech (Bohemia) for females). The marriage would produce seven children, over a period of 18 years from 1876 to 1892. My grandmother, Ida, was the second youngest and born in 1890. 

St Mary's--Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church and School
Festina, IA
Source: Pat Burns Family History and Genealogy Website

Mathias would buy land, 80 acres in section 20 Washington township, Winneshiek County, IA at least according to a 1886 plat map. This 80 tract, along with an adjoining 80 acres to the west, owned by his brother Peter, was land locked, and was likely accessed by easement over an 80 acre parcel to the south owned by Joseph Blong. By 1905, he has sold his 80, and purchased the 80 that had been owned by his brother Peter.  He also purchased 160 acres to the west of Peter's former 80 acres in section 19, and also bought the west 40 acres of the Joseph Blong property. A dead-end road is shown along the east side of the 40 he bought from Blong. As was common at the time, his children provided some of the farm labor. We can see this through some of the census records. For example, in the 1900 US Census, six of their seven children were at home with two of the three oldest sons, Frank and John, listed as farm laborers. At this time, the oldest son, Andrew is the postmaster in Festina, IA. The funny thing is, that two of their sons opened the Pitzenberger Brothers store in Manly, IA, and hired my grandma to help clerk at their store. Manly is over an hour and half by car, about 84 miles, from Festina, IA. 

1886 Plat Map, Mathias Pitzenberger Property
E1/2 of SW 1/4 Sect 20
Source: Ancestry.com

We can track Mathias through some of the state and federal census records. I first find Mathias with his parents and siblings in Washington Township of Winneshiek County in the 1860 census. I then found him in the 1880 census, with his wife, Theresia, who he married in 1873, with three of their seven children. His occupation is listed as a farmer.  However, by the 1885 Iowa census, Mathias is listed as a a hardware merchant.  We know that he owned and operated a hardware/general store in Festina, Iowa. although his farm appeared to have an address of Fort Atkinson, IA. In the 1895 Iowa census, he is still listed as a merchant/farmer, but by the 1900 US Census he is identified as a farmer. The 1905 Iowa census has him farming with a farm value of over $4,000. The last census in which Mathias appears is the 1910 US census, in which he is listed as a merchant, owning a general store. My grandma is listed as a clerk, and was likely working at the family owned general store. In 1910 one of his sons, Matthew Alois, also known as Mathias, is at age of 23 identified as running the family farm. At about 280 acres it was a good sized farm operation.

1905 Plat Map of Mathias Pitzenberger Land Holdings
Source: Ancestry.com

My great grandfather Mathias would enter eternal life on 11 August 1912. He died at 63 years, 10 months and 10 days of age (Interestingly, the exact age I am as I write this today on Oct 31). We know from his death certificate that his death occurred in Festina, the small hamlet in Washington Township of Winneshiek County. He appears to have suffered a stroke as the cause of death is identified as arterial sclerosis and paralysis.  Arterial sclerosis is the contributing factor. Discussions with a medical professional indicates he likely suffered a stroke on 9 August 1912, as the death certificate notes he was under a doctor's care starting on 9 Aug and was last seen alive by the doctor on 10 Aug. His time of death is identified as 6:40 am. Having died in Festina, perhaps it was a living unit, or back room associated with his store.  His death certificate identified his occupation as "Merchant."

Mathias Pitzenberger, Only Known Photo
Source: Family archives

Grandma Hovel (Ida Pitzenberger), who would marry my grandfather seven months after Mathias passed away, on Tuesday, 4 February 1913 at St Mary's--Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church, did not have the opportunity to have her father, Mathias Pitzenberger, walk her down the aisle. I am sure that she had fond memories of working side-by-side with her father as a young girl in his store. It appears, in this era, it was not uncommon for the wake to be the house of the deceased. This home, would be same home at which the small reception for Ida and Rudy, with those present being "near family," would dine in honor of their marriage on that winter day in northeast Iowa. As the strong winter winds howled outside, I can imagine that Ida would have taken the time to shed a tear at the memories of her deceased immigrant father, who worked as a merchant and a farmer in the hills of this part of Iowa.