Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

This is a continuation of Block 3 of St. John's Cemetery. This part includes three more of the 12 unmarked graves in Block 3 – Alphonse Weimals, Mrs. John Weimals, John Weimals, Peter Jansen and John (Oldred) Alldred.

Alphonse Weimals: Alphonse Weimals was born May 1891 in New Rockford, N.D. to John and Anna Marie Weimals. In the 1900 census he was living in the village of New Rockford, N.D. with his parents (John and Anna) and six siblings, Clement, Leo, Ludwina, Veronica, Crescentia and Clothilda. He was nine years old and attending school. In the 1910 census, he was living with his father, John (his mother Anna Marie died on July 20, 1902) and seven siblings, with Philip being added to the family in 1901. Alphonse was 19 years old and his occupation was listed as laborer. In the 1920 census, Alphonse was in the State Hospital for the Insane in Jamestown, N.D. Alphonse died September 28, 1921 at the State Hospital in Jamestown, N.D. where he had resided for 9 years, 10 months and 7 days. He was buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery New Rockford, N.D. on Sept. 29, 1921. He has no marker. The only notice of his death appeared in the October 1921 New Rockford Transcript and reads as follows: Funeral services over the remains of Alphonse Weimals, who died at the hospital in Jamestown last Thursday, were held at the St. John's Catholic Church Saturday morning and the remains interred in the cemetery north of this city (New Rockford, N.D.). The sincere sympathy of the community goes out to the sorrowing sisters and brothers in their bereavement.

Mrs. John Weimals: Anna Marie Eisenbart was born July 26, 1857 in Burlington, Racine County, Wisc. to Casper and Mary Margaret Eisenbart. In the 1900 census, Anna Marie was living with her husband, (John) and eight children; Clement, Leo, Alphonse, Ludwina, Veronica, Crescentia, Clothilda and Philip in the village of New Rockford, N.D. Anna Marie died on July 20, 1902 in New Rockford, N.D. She is buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery north of the city. She has no marker. Her obituary from the July 25, 1902 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: An awful suicide – Mrs. John Weimals committed suicide early Sunday morning.

The residents of our city were shocked beyond expression Sunday morning when the news was spread that Mrs. John Weimals had committed suicide by cutting her throat with a razor. The awful tragedy occurred some time in the early hours of the morning and was not known until her husband awoke and missed her from his side. He immediately set out to search for her and found her in the woodshed adjoining the dwelling, with a gash extending from ear to ear and almost to the bone. Death must have resulted instantly. The act was undoubtedly committed in a fit of temporary insanity – Mrs. Weimals having returned a short time ago from the Jamestown hospital where she had been confined for some time.

Deceased was 45 years of age, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of this city and leaves a husband and eight small children, the oldest child being fourteen years of age, to mourn her loss. The heartfelt sympathy of the entire community goes out to them in this heavy blow.

Funeral services were conducted Monday morning by Father McDonald, of the Catholic Church, and the remains laid to rest in the cemetery north of this city (New Rockford, N.D.).

John Weimals: John B. Weimals was born on May 6, 1856 in the state of Ohio. In the 1900 census he resided in the village of New Rockford, N.D. with his wife Anna Marie and three sons, Clement, Alphonse and Leo, and four daughters, Ludwina, Veronica, Crescentia and Clothilda. His occupation was listed as a baker. In the 1910 census, he was living in New Rockford, N.D. with eight children, Clement, Alphonse, Leo, Ludwina, Veronica, Crescentia, Clothilda and Philip. His wife Anna Marie died on July 20, 1902 from suicide. John's occupation was listed as carpenter. He died on January 13, 1913 in the city of New Rockford, N.D. He was buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery on Jan. 16, 1913. He has no marker. An obituary found in the January 1913 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: The passing of a pioneer – Death summons John Weimals from the scenes of earth, Monday – Came to New Rockford, N.D. 21 years ago.

John Weimals, one of New Rockford's earliest settlers and well known citizens, died Monday morning about seven o'clock, after a lingering illness from a complication of diseases.

Mr. Weimals came to North Dakota some 23 years ago, and first located at Jamestown, where he was employed as a baker. Two years later, he removed with his family to New Rockford, N.D., where he established the Vienna Bakery and successfully conducted the business up to a few years ago. He was also a master carpenter, and had worked at that trade considerably since retiring from the bakery enterprise. He accumulated considerable property here, including the home on Stimson Avenue East, where he passed away, a farm near the city, and some valuable lots in the business district.

The beloved partner of his joys and sorrows, Mrs. Weimals died about seven years ago, respected and mourned by the entire community.

The surviving children are Clement Weimals, of Nudorf, Saskatchewan, Canada; Leo Wiemals, of Killaley, Saskatchewan, Canada; Alphonse Weimals, of Jamestown, N.D.; Miss Ludwina Weimals, who is teaching school in Munster township, Eddy County, N.D.; Miss Veronica, Philip, Miss Crescentia and Miss Clothilda Weimals, all of whom are attending High School in this city (New Rockford, N.D.).

Deceased is also survived by four brothers and one sister, all residing at Cleveland, Ohio, where John Weimals was born about 56 years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pfeiffer, of Racine, Wisc. – the latter a sister of the late Mrs. Weimals – arrived Wednesday to attend the funeral, and remain for a time with the bereaved family.

Mr. Weimals was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, where the funeral was conducted at 10 o'clock yesterday morning by Rev. Fr. Pare. A large concourse of friends followed the body of the old pioneer to its last resting place in Calvary (St. John's) Cemetery.

Peter Jansen: Peter Hubertus Jansen (Janssen) was born May B, 1857 in Blitterswijck, Netherlands to Leonardus and Johanna Janssen. He is my great-granduncle on my mothers side, Agnes (Ewals) Jenrich. I feel the confusion that Peter Jansen did not have a marked grave because he is buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in the Ewals plot where there are two stones with the name Peter on it. One belonged to Peter Ewals, husband to Agnes (Janssen) Ewals and the other belonged to Peter Janssen, brother to Agnes (Janssen) Ewals.

In the 1910 census, Peter was living in Superior Township, Eddy County, N.D. with his sister Agnes Ewals and her two sons Leonard and Henry Ewals (my grandfather) and her niece Mary Janssen. He was single and immigrated to the U.S. from Holland in 1886. His occupation was listed as a farm laborer. Peter died on March 1, 1917 on a farm in Superior Township, Eddy County, N.D. The obituary taken from the New Rockford State Center on March 3, 1917 reads as follows: Peter Janssen passed quietly away at the Ewals farm south of here Thursday afternoon at two o'clock after having been ill for two months and a half. Mr. Janssen suffered a paralytic stroke on December 14th and grew quite well and strong again until a second stroke overcame him about two weeks ago and since he had not been conscious except for an occasional few minutes. Mr. Janssen was 59 years old and was a native of Holland. He came to this country when a young boy and has made his home with the Ewals family, being a brother of the late Mrs. Peter (Agnes) Ewals. With him at the time of his death were his nephews, Leonard and Henry Ewals of New Rockford, N.D., Leonard Janssen of DePere, Wisc. and a niece, Mrs. A.F. (Mary) Allmaras. The funeral will be celebrated by a requiem Mass at St. John's Catholic Church on Monday morning at 10:00 o'clock and burial will be in Calvary (St. John's) Cemetery. He is buried in the EWALS plot and has a small domed-shaped marker with PETER written on it.

John (Oldred) Alldred: John Alldred was born on Nov. 27, 1861 in Canada. In the 1900 census, he lived in Munster Township, Eddy County, N.D. with his wife, Mary and five children; Fergus, Veronica, Clara, Mary and Charles; a brother, Joseph and a servant. His occupation was listed as farming. His daughter. Clara Elizabeth Alldred died on Aug. 9, 1904 and was buried on Aug. 10, 1904 in St. John's Catholic Cemetery New Rockford, N.D. She does have a marker.

In 1909, John and his family had moved to Pocatello, Idaho where his occupation was listed as a farmer. His wife Mary died on April 19, 1909 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Pocatello, Idaho. In the 1920 census, his occupation was listed as a retail merchant in a general store. In the 1930 census, his occupation was listed as a grader for the state highway system. In the 1940 census, his occupation was listed as a locksmith. On Sept. 26, 1940, John Alldred died and is buried beside his wife Mary in Mountain View Cemetery, Pocatello, Idaho. They do have markers as found on Findagrave.com.