AKA: Marie Anna "Mary" Peitz Kathol Wiebelhaus

Maria Anna Peitz was born in 1845 to Ferdinand and Theresia Roehrig Peitz in Prussia. She was married to Johannes Andrew Kathol (Cathol) (1834 - 1873) on May 7, 1861.

In 1869, Maria Anna immigrated to America with her husband, Johannes, and their children John (7), Francis (6), William (3) and Anna (1). They arrived in America on July 2, 1869, just in time to celebrate their first Fourth of July.

Children from Maria Anna Pietz Kathol's first marriage to Johann (Cathol) Kathol:

John Casper (1862 Germany)
Francis (1863 Germany - 1944 USA)
William (1866 Germany - 1932 USA)
Anna (1868 Germany)
Emma (1869 - 1873 USA)
Josephine (1890 Michigan, USA)
Frank 1892 Michigan, USA)

Maria Anna Pietz Kathol was widowed in 1873 and married her second husband, Herman Wiebelhaus, the following year. He brought three children to the marriage while she brought six children. Together, they had nine more children, producing 18 children between them.

Children from Herman's first marriage:

Herman Wiebelhaus b 1860 Germany
John Wiebelhaus b. 1865 Germany
Conrad Wiebelhaus b. 1873 Nebraska

Children from Herman and Maria Anna's union (All born in Bow Valley, Cedar County, Nebraska):

Joseph Francis Dec. 12, 1875 - Nov. 6, 1960
Theresa b. 1877
Ferdinand H. b. July 25,1879 - June 1, 1879
Fred Wiebelhaus 1881 - 1970
Infant (girl) Feb 25, 1883 - Feb 25, 1883
Susie b. 1883 (perhaps infant girl?)
Henry 1885
Johanna Jan. 15,1892 - Jan. 25, 1892

After they married in 1874, Herman and Maria Anna decided to emigrate farther west, choosing to settle in Cedar County, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead about 1 ½ miles southwest of where the Bow Valley Catholic church now stands. In those days it was unbroken prairie, with the pioneer settlement of St. Helena 10 miles away, nearest and only town.

After Herman Wiebelhaus died in 1893, Maria moved into town. She lived with her sons Frank Kathol and Henry Wiebelhaus until she died in 1922 at the age of 79.