The Loop City Northwestern May 31, 1904 page 4

Peter Hehnke and Mrs. Stringum were united in marriage last Monday. Peter is one of our most substantial farmers and a respected gentleman. the bride has not been a resident of Loop City long, having moved here from near Mason City. the best wishes of the NORTHWESTERN are extended to the happy couple. May they live long and proper.

On Ancestry from stevenself1.

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GERMAN IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR

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Grandmother Roea (Ryan) Johnson mentioned that her mother’s 4th husband’s name was probably Hinkle but maybe Hinkee. When I was searching for the unknown name of this man and verifying her other four husbands I found a document for husband number 3 Isaac Willett. On the Civil War veterans payment form it mentions that Isaac’s widow who was paid upon his death was “Nicie Ann Willett now Hahnke”. At this point in time (January 21, 2018) most signs point to Peter Hehnke who lived in Nebraska. I believe Peter had been previously widowed and then married Nicie (Ryan) Willett. This marriage didn’t last long commencing after Isaac Willet’s death on November 28, 1914 and ending before husband number 5 John William Horning’s wedding on October 31, 1927. By the 1930 census Peter Hehnke is living (without Nicie) with one of his children and is listed as “Father in law”, and also now lists that he is “wd” or widowed from, I believe, his first wife. John Johnson

Immagrated 1872.

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Email I sent May 18, 2021 to Barb Bryant Daniels of the Pierrepont Veterans Committee of the St. Lawrence County New York inquiring about Issac Willett.

Barb,

So glad to meet you. Most of the information I have on my step Great Grandfather Isaac B. Willett is on my family genealogy website http://johnsonancestors.com though it seems I always find more to add. Isaac is a fascinating individual about whom I’m not sure anyone will ever know the whole story.

In 1850 there is an Isaac S. Willet listed as being 13 and living with the teacher James M. and Catherine Hunting family who had five children of their own and apparently were housing Isaac and six other non-related individuals ranging in age from 13 to 30. This is on the 1850 New York Queens, town of Jamaica, census. Though on his Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900 9th Cavalry, he lists being born in Pierrepont.

In 1860 he is living in Pierrepont, at age 21 and single. Isaac was first married in 1868 to Mary A. (don’t have a last name). Possibly you could find a local record of their marriage. If so could you send me an email photo and find out her surname.

In 1880 Isaac and Mary now can be found in Marysville, Marshall County, Kansas. Interestingly on this census he is listed as being 43 while she is only 36. This is probably a mistake as everywhere else they are listed as both being born in December 1837, him on the 2nd and her on the 19th. His wife Mary and her parents were all born in New York state.

In the 1900 census for Allegan Township, Allegan, Michigan, he lists that he was born in New York state with both his parents born in Canada with small “Fr” circled next to each of his parents’ birthplaces, so possibly they were born in French Canada. Both he and Mary are listed as having been born in December 1836 and that they had been married in 1900 (1864) for 36 years. It is listed that she had one child, but under how many living children, it’s hard to tell if the census shows a 0 or a 1 as to number of living children. Probably a 0. He was a farmer and both he and Mary could read, write and speak English. They owned a house which was mortgaged.

By 1910 they are now in Missouri and can be found in the 1910 census for Box Township, Cedar County, Missouri.

Mary, age 74, died May 25, 1912 and was buried in El Dorado Springs, Cedar, Missouri, leaving Isaac who is now a 75 year old widower.

Enter my Great Grandmother Nancy Ann “Nicie” Ryan, another colorful character who is also quite a survivor.

At 16 Nicie married my Great Grandfather Hiram Monroe (no relation) Ryan (1868-1904) and they had seven children including my Grandmother Roea Ann “Roy” Ryan. Shortly after her 7th child and their only son Orville was born, Hiram died young at the age of 36, leaving Nicie, age 33, alone with 7 children to raise.

Over the years Nicie married 4 more times:
2. 1909, married previously widowed Thomas H Scott, age 70+, who died 1911-13?, I found a document for husband number 3 Isaac Willett. On the Civil War veterans payment form it mentions that Isaac’s widow who was paid upon his death was “Nicie Ann Willett now Hahnke”.;
3. 1914 married previously widowed Isaac S. Willett, age 77, married on January 1914 with him dying November 1914;
4. 1915-1927, married previously widowed German immigrant Peter Hehnke at least age 60; this marriage didn’t end in Peter’s death, but possibly divorce? (date unknown) and sees him by 1930 living with his daughter’s family in Nebraska;
5. 1927 married John William Horning (abt 1864-bef 1930), age 63.

Apparently she married elderly men in their last years helping them who then would help her with her many children. She would take care of them often until they died.

When she died in 1938 she was buried next to her first husband and true love Hiram. I have Isaac's Civil War discharge paper and his G.A.R. Col Lennard Post No 251 El Dorado Springs, Missouri medal which I got from Grandma Roea Ryan, she knew I loved history.

When Isaac died in November 1914, Nicie had him buried next to his first wife Mary and thus the large gray stone which reads “Isaac Willett Dec. 2, 1837 Nov. 28, 1914 - Mary A. HIS WIFE Dec. 19, 1837 May 25, 1912. Gone but not forgotten.” The top of their stone reads "CO. D 9 TH N.Y. CAV." with a large five pointed star in the middle. It seems Nicie wanted to make it very clear that Mary was really his main wife.

Hope this helps you. If you discover anything else about Isaac, I’d appreciate an email, for instance, do you know what specific battles or engagements he was in?

I’m sending CC copies of this to a few relatives who might be interested in Isaac and Nicie.

Thanks.

John

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