Catherine Louise Dohman was born November 23, 1886, in Carver County, Minnesota to Peter John and Louise Kraer (Krayer) Dohman. Her baptismal certificate lists her as Catherine, her gravestone lists her as Katherine. She was known as Kate or Katie for most of her life.
Kate’s father, Peter Johannes Dohmen, was born July 17, 1851 and Christened August 20, 1851, in Einighausen, Limburg, Holland. His death certificate and his obituary list his date of birth as 1848. The original spelling was Dohmen and later became Dohman. Peter’s parents were Arnold Hubert (born July 11 or July 22, 1815, died May 8, 1855) and Maria Agatha Coumans (aka Coumann or Kauman), born December 28, 1812 in Einighausen, Limburg, Holland.
Maria Agatha was the only child of Petrus Martinus Coumans (12/01/1777- 8/08/1849) in Limbricht, Sittard, Limburg, Netherlands ) and Maria Helena Kemerling (born 3/16/1766 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, and died 7/19/1833). I have also found dates of birth and death for Maria Helena of 1781-1842. Maria Helena’s parents were Gerrit Kemerlings (1725-1789) and Maria Albers (1722-1801). Petrus and Maria Helena were married in 1808.
Arnold Hubert Dohman and Maria Agatha Coumans were married April 20, 1837, in Limbricht Limburg, Holland. They had nine children: Martinus (aka Martin) (9/20/1837 - 4/26/1895), Maria Philomena (9/18/1839 - 07/1883), Jan Geradus ( 9/20/1841 - 12/07/1864), a stillborn child in 1843, Maria Magdelena (04/1845 - 10/10/1880), Hubertus (aka Hubert) (8/18/1847 - 4/28/1920), MariaCatherine (akaCatherine Mary) (8/02/1849 - 9/19/1934), Peter Johannes (born 17 July 1851; christened 20 August 1851), and Maria Agatha (aka Lucia) (5/18/1854 - 7/05/1883).
Arnold Hubert Dohmen’s brother, William (Wilhelm), born about 1816, his wife, Elisabeth Gehlen (born about 1827 in Prussia), and their three children, Mary (Maria) age 5, Peter Leonard, age 3, and John (Johannes) age 10 months, immigrated to the U.S. aboard the ship Wilhelmina, arriving August 25, 1863 (ages are those listed on the ship’s records). No other information has been found about Elisabeth, and it is assumed she died shortly after immigrating. She is not listed in any census records that have been found, and the children are recorded as living with foster families/friends in some census records. March 2, 1865, William was recruited into the Civil War and served in Company G, Second Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry. His Unit was mustered out July 11, 1865, but William was in a hospital and not discharged until August 10, 1865. It is unknown if he was hospitalized due to injury or illness. Minnesota Civil War records list his name as William Dohmann and his age at time of enlistment as 40 years old. However, if his age is correct on the passenger lists, then William would have been almost 50 years old at enlistment. The 1870 Census lists William, age 54, working as a bricklayer and living in Chaska, MN. William died in Carver County August 24, 1875. Mary married Michael Diethelm and they had 12 children. She died November 24 1920, in Carver County. John never married and died in 1916. Leonard was briefly married later in life, and died July 26, 1935 in Nicollet County.
Peter Johannes, his mother and six siblings (Martinus was already married and did not travel with them) left Holland March 1863 and traveled from Antwerp to New York on the ship “Australia.” They arrived in New York May 18, 1863, then traveled to Laketown Township, Carver County, Minnesota. The passenger list for Ship Australia lists Maria Agatha also with "M.", age 25, and "Maria" age 25, in addition to the seven children (including Peter Johannes), that I named above. I do not know who "M" or the other "Maria" are.
The 1870 U.S. Census for Laketown Township, Carver County, MN lists Maria, age 55, as a farmer with John working on the farm. Maria may have later sold that parcel of land to Peter John (see 1898 Plat Map). Maria’s death notice in the May 31, 1883 issue of the Chaska Valley Herald states her date of death as May 26, 1883. The notice also says that she died at the residence of her son, P.J. Dohman and leaves three sons and three daughters to mourn her death. Maria Agatha is buried in St. Victoria Church Cemetery, Victoria, MN. Her gravestone gives her last name as Coumann and states her date of death as May 23, 1883.
Peter’s sister, Maria Lucia (aka Maria Agatha), married Franz (Frank) Kirchner May 20,1872, and they lived in Munson Township, Stearns County, MN. They later separated or divorced, and Maria Lucia moved back to Laketown Township. Some previously written histories confuse the mother Maria with the daughter Maria. Her date of death and burial place are unknown.
Martin (Martinus) married Anna Maria Tummers before the family came to the U.S. Both are buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Waconia, MN.
On March 21, 1864, Peter John’s brother, Gerhard Dohman (Jan Geradus Dohmen) volunteered to serve in Company H, Eighth Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry. The whole of the Eighth Regiment was together at Paynesville, MN on the 24th of May, 1864, and received their regimental colors. They were eventually sent to the Bad Lands in South Dakota to fight in the Indian war. On September 15, 1864, the 8th was sent to Fort Snelling (arriving October 15) with orders to fight in the Civil War. On October 26, 1864, the Eighth left Fort Snelling for Murfreesboro, TN. Gerhard was killed December 7, 1864, in the battle at Wilkenson’s Pike near Murfreesboro and was reburied in Stones River National Cemetery in 1865. The name listed on the tombstone is Peter Dolan and is also recorded in some records as Peter Doolan, but is believed to be Gerhard. Gerhard could not speak English when he enlisted in the Volunteer Infantry, and it is believed that some of his personal information could not be understood and therefore not translated correctly.
Louise (also known as Louisa) was born in Minnesota about 1857 to Nicholas and Anne Marie Ernesty Krayer (born March 10, 1815, died May 24, 1883), both of whom were born in Gandren, France. It was originally thought that Anne Marie's name was Mary Annisee, but a distant relative in Paris, France, whom I have met, has done extensive research and determined that Anne Marie Ernesty was the correct name.
Per arrival date given in 1900 census, the Krayers came to the U.S. in 1856. They settled in Laketown Township, Carver County, MN. Nicholas homesteaded 40 acres in Section 22 (see Homestead Grants and Plat Maps). The June 11, 1860 Census for Lake Town Township, Carver County lists the family as Nicklas Krier (55), Mary (45), Mary (15), Jeanette (12), Peter (9), Louis (9), and Louisa (3). It states all were born in France except Louisa, whose birthplace is listed as Minnesota. The 1875 Minnesota Census lists Nicholas’ name as Nick Kraher. Nicholas’ gravestone is in St. Victoria Church Cemetery, Victoria, MN and reads Nicolaus Krayer, 1806 - 1888. We did not find a gravestone for Anne Marie at St. Victoria Church Cemetery, nor does the Church list her name in their grave records. Louise’s brother, Peter, is also buried in St. Victoria Church Cemetery. His gravestone reads Pete Krayer, 1857 - 1923, but per the 1860 census, his birth year would have been about 1851.
Louise and Peter's families were neighbors, both living in Laketown Township in Carver County. They married October 9, 1882, and lived on Peter John’s farm in Carver County (see 1898 Plat Map section). In October 1902, Peter and Louise moved from Carver County to a farm about eight miles north of Osakis (see 1914 Plat Map section). Louise died February 10, 1905, of TB per her death certificate, but Peter’s obituary states that Louise died February 10, 1904. Peter moved to the town of Osakis about 1922 and he died March 26, 1934 at the home of his son, John. Both Peter and Louise are buried in the St. Nicholas Catholic Church cemetery, Douglas County, Belle River, MN.
Peter John and Louise had nine children:
Mary (5/6/1883-12/23/1924 - died from TB) married Louis (Louie) Swore who died in 1932. Mary and Louie did not have any children, and they are both buried in Calvary Cemetery, rural Osakis, MN (Osakis Catholic Cemetery)
Agnes (1/12/1884-5/6/1956) married Peter Rutten, and they had ten children. Both Agnes and Peter are are buried in Calvary Cemetery, rural Osakis (Osakis Catholic Cemetery.
Catherine (11/23/1886-10/27/1958)
Angeline was born August 1888 or 89 and died April 29, 1905 of TB. According to church records, Angeline is buried in St. Nicholas Catholic Church Cemetery, Belle River, MN however, we have never been able to locate her grave.
John Jacob (7/21/1890-11/22/1976) never married, and operated a gas station in Osakis for many years. John died at the Glenwood, MN Nursing Home and is buried in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Belle River, MN.
Hugo, also known as Hook (8/3/1892 - 1/13/1936). Born in Carver County and birth registered in Chaska, MN records. Hugo married Nellie Swore, Cever Swore’s sister. They did not have any children. When Nellie died, Hugo married Katherine Zins and they had two daughters. Hugo is buried beside Nellie in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, rural Clotho, MN.
Frances (7/27/1893 - 3/11/1972). Frances married Frank Rutten and they farmed in the Osakis area. They had two children Evelyn and Harold. Frank and Frances are buried in the Osakis Catholic Cemetery.
Lena (6/17/1896-1/13/1973). Birth name of Maria Magalena, but sometimes called herself Lena Victoria. Lena married Cever Swore after he and Catherine divorced, and they had seven children, including twins who died in infancy. Lena died at the Osakis Memorial Home and is buried next to Cever in Osakis Lakeside Cemetery. See history of Cever Swore.
Margaret (Mag) ( 5/7/1898 -7/16/1974) married Grant Jenkins. Mag and Grant had 11 children. Grant was an auctioneer and farmer and died in May 1950. Both he and Mag are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, rural Clotho, MN as are several of
their family members.
Catherine Louise (Kate) was baptized December 13, 1886, in St. Victoria Catholic Church, Victoria, MN. She was confirmed in the Catholic faith about 1891 or 92. In October 1902 Kate moved with her parents and siblings to Todd County, Minnesota. Kate spent most of the rest of her life in and around Todd and Douglas Counties, especially in the town of Osakis.
On September 9, 1905, Kate married Cever Nicklos Swore. They had five children and farmed in Todd County near Osakis. Their children were:
Raymond (November 1, 1905 - November 16, 1905), buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, rural Clotho, MN. Gravestone read 1906, but death certificate states 1905. Raymond shares a common gravestone with sister Zephers.
Edna Angeline (11/10/1906-1/27/1984). Married Ernest Sibell and they farmed north of Osakis all of their married life. They had four children, Helen, Reuben, Jane and Wallace. Edna and Ernie are buried in Osakis Lakeside Cemetery.
Lina Margaret (married Herbert Olson - 8/7/1908-5/15/2004) - See history of Lina Swore Olson
Zephers Louise (8/23/1910-5/29/1911). Died of whooping cough. Gravestone reads that Zephers was born Aug 23, 1911 and died March 28, 1912, but Todd County Courthouse records state DOB as Aug. 7, 1910 and DOD as May 29, 1911. Lina Swore Olson listed Zephers’ birthday as August 23, 1910 in her papers. We believe her correct date of birth to be Aug 23, 1910. Zephers’ name is written as Zephyer Sware and her father as Sever Sware in Todd County records. Zephers and brother Raymond share a common gravestone in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, rural Clotho, MN.
Oscar Cever (4/5/1912-5/08/1987). Married Mabel Trisco of Osakis on May 1,1934. They lived most of their married life in Morris, Ill. Oscar and Mabel had four children, Delores, Richard, Gary, and Karen. Mabel died March 23, 2010, and both she and Oscar are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Morris, IL.
Donald Hugo (1/13/1918 - 8/08/1974). MN Birth Index lists Donald’s DOB as January 13, 1918. Social Security records list his DOB as January 13, 1917. He was baptized February 28, 1918, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Osakis, MN. His Certificate of Baptism lists his name as Hugo Donald. On August 15, 1937, Donald married Millie Black (born 11/21/1915 in Blanding, Utah) in Monticello, Ut. They lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, and had two son: LeRoy Alan (7/21/1938-02/16/2018), but he always went by the name of Alan, and Jerry Donald (10/19/1941-11/11/1986). Millie died October 14, 1971. Both Millie and Donald are buried in Elysian Burial Gardens, Millcreek, Salt Lake County, Utah. Unable to determine if Donald assumed the last name of Anderson, or if he was adopted by Nels.
Kate and Cever divorced, and on June 11, 1920, Kate married Nels C. Anderson. They had two children:
Evelyn Christina (3/4/1921-7/18/1999). Evelyn, also known as Chris, married Marvin Plagman and they had two children, David and Dana. They lived in the Alexandria, MN area and later divorced. Evelyn then moved to Minneapolis where she lived until her death. Chris is buried in Kincaid Cemetery, Alexandria, MN
Delmar Nels (5/19/1927 - 7/06/2007). Lived most of his adult life in California and Tacoma, Washington. He had one daughter, Karen, with his first wife. He last resided in Fresno, California, and died there July 06, 2007.
Nels and Kate farmed in the Smith Lake area of rural Nelson/Alexandria and later moved to the town of Osakis. Nels died April 10, 1929, of what was then called creeping paralysis. Kate worked hard to make a living for herself and the children who were still at home. She worked in Minneapolis for a short time, but lived mainly in Osakis. She was known as Grandma Anderson, Kate, or Katie by young and old around Osakis. In April 1958 Kate had surgery for stomach cancer and died October 27, 1958. She and Nels are buried in the Nelson Cemetery west of Osakis.
See also the Cever Swore, Nels Anderson, and Lina Swore Olson histories.
Catherine Louise Dohman Swore Anderson
Mother of Lina Swore Olson and my grandmother
Catherine Louise Dohman
Catherine Louise Dohman Baptismal Certificate dated December 18, 1886
Kate, center, with parents and siblings. L>R: Agnes, Angelina on lap of Peter John, Catherine, Louisa holding John Jacob, Mary
Judy Alcott