The Honkomp/Buttenbohmer Family – Holy Cross Cemetery, Windthorst, Ford, Kansas

This story begins with the birth of Clemens Honkomp on September 7, 1817 in Germany. His wife, Anna Maria Elisabeth Bockhurst, was born May 28, 1820 in Germany. The two were married and were blessed with two daughters and three sons.

The family left Germany in 1866, so the sons would not have to join in compulsory military training. They spent six weeks on the ship, Union, and landed on the 28th of September at the port of Baltimore, Maryland.

Their destination was Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky. It was there that Clemens and his sons learned the trade of hand-making cigars. Anna Marie took ill and died two years later in 1868.

Daughter, Catherine, married Bernard Buttenbohmer in 1871. Their first son lived only three years and died of cholera. Twins were born and died two days later. In 1873, Anna was born. Their first and only boy, Anton was born in 1875. On October 10, 1876, Bernard had a boating accident and drowned in the Ohio River. He died at the age of 33 and left a young wife with two small children and Catherine expecting a third. Bernadine was born on the 31st of December 1876.

Catherine moved back in with her father and brothers. At the age of 69, Clemons decided to go west and homestead in Kansas. Catherine and her children, Anna, Anton, and Bernadina joined their father and grandfather. Clemens other children scattered. One daughter married and moved to Minnesota. Two sons went Joliet, Illinois, and the third to Missouri.

The 1880 US Census has Catherine, her children, and Clemens living in Wheatland Twp., Ford County. Anton “Tony” died from appendicitis in 1902. Bernadina married Henry Klenke and died in 1941. Anna entered the convent and became Sr. Sophia. She passed away in 1941 and is buried at Mount Saint Scholastica Cemetery in Atchison, Kansas.

Catherine died on October 13, 1925 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery with her father, son, and one daughter.

Note: Information for this article came from the book, Spearville Centennial Build-up. If you would like to learn more about their time in this area, check out the book in the Spearville Library.