Regnier Brothers - Old St. Joseph Cemetery, Bellefont, Ford, Kansas & St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery,

The advertisements of the AT&SF railroad and its agents were too good to pass up. The four sons of Lambert and Ana Marie Regnier left their parents and siblings to strike out on their own. Their names were Mathias, Simon J., Joseph, and Michael. Mathias and Joseph remained in Chicago, Illinois to raise their families. Simon and Michael settled in Hodgeman County, Kansas.

Simon was born in 1834. He came to America in 1861 and enlisted in Co. C 33rd IL Infantry. In 1870, he married Theresa Schuman and she gave birth to two children. The last child was born about the time of Theresa’s death in 1870. She is buried in Illinois.

Later that year, Simon married Frances Schlereth (b.1847). Frances was also a widower and had a daughter. The US Federal Census of 1880 has Simon, Frances, and three children living in Sterling Twp., Hodgeman County. The final years of Simon’s life were spent at the Soldier’s Home in Fort Dodge, Kansas. He died on June 7, 1907 and is buried at Old St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Frances passed away two years later and is buried beside her husband.

Michael was born in 1845. He married Maria Christiana Lisette “Christiana” Clasen (b. 1854) in 1878. Michael brought his family, which included three daughters, to the United States in 1883.

The family settled on a homestead two and a quarter miles east of St. Mary’s Church. Five more children were born while the family was living in Hodgeman County.

Son, Frank, died at the age of seven and is buried at Old St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Daughter, Elizabeth, died at the age of 23 and shares the same headstone with her parents. Their causes of death are unknown.

Michael died on February 13, 1906. Christiana passed away on March 31, 1934. They are both buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Cemetery located in Hodgeman County, Kansas.

Between Old St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Cemeteries, there are approximately 27 individuals buried with the surname Regnier.