John Buchanan Hintermeister 1856 - 1939

HINTERMEISTER, NEVINS, NEAVONS

Posted By: Ed Hintermeister (email)
Date: 11/25/2008 at 12:28:17

John Buchanan Hintermeister
2 August 1856 - 30 January 1939

John Buchanan Hintermeister was born 2 August 1856 in Muscatine, Iowa, and was the first born son of his German immigrant parents to be born in America. John's father, John (Johannes), came to America in 1854 and his mother, Elizabeth, came to America on 24 July 1855. It is believed that John was given his middle name in honor of James Buchanan, the popular presidential candidate in 1856, and who was elected the fifteenth president of the United States from 1857 - 1861.

John came from a large family of eight children. John and his siblings are listed in the order of birth as follows:

***Maria Barbara****(17 July 1854 - 29 July 1854)
***John Buchanan****( 2 August 1856 - 30 January 1939)
***Jake************( 4 April 1858 - 10 March 1927)
***Frederick John****(15 February 1862 - 2 November 1926)
***Rosina B.********(24 October 1864 - 30 January 1914)
***George J.********(24 July 1867 - 20 March 1949)
***William Bernhardt**(15 February 1870 - 7 July 1887)
***Male Child********(Unknown)

The 1880 Census shows that John B., age 23, was living with his parents, and was working in a saw mill. The 1877 - 1878 City Directory indicated that John's specific occupation was as a planer. The 1880 Census also showed that John had been unemployed for six months during 1880.

On 22 October 1886 John married Julia Alvira Nevins (also spelled Neavons and Nevens) at the German Evangelical Church (now combined with the United Church of Christ). Julia was born on 8 May in approximately 1862 in Louisa County, the daughter of Patrick Nevins (1828 - 21 Oct 1906) and Katherine Farrell Nevins (1830 – 18 Jan 1898). Patrick Nevins immigrated to America in about 1856, and died in a house fire in 1906, as reported in the Wapello Tribune.

Note that the exact birth date of Julia is questionable. The 1870 census indicates that she was born in ~1863 and the 1880 census indicates her birth year as ~1862. However, other documents including her obituary and St Mary’s cemetery records list her birth year as 1871. It almost appears as if she may have tried to present herself as younger than she really was.

Julia came from a large family of 11 children. She had five brothers and five sisters. Julia and her siblings are listed as follows:
***Bridget*****(born ~1855)
***Patrick*****(born ~ 1857)
***Mary Ann***(born ~ 1860)
***Thomas*****(1861 – 18 May 1907)
***Phileote*****(born ~1865)
***Julia Alvira**(~1862 – 8 Dec 1951)
***Maggie*****(born ~1867)
***Katy*******(1867 – 1937)
***Samuel*****(born ~1868)
***Simon******(born 1870)

In the 1900 Census, Julia indicated that both of her parents had emigrated from Ireland.

John and Julia had seven children. They are listed in order of birth as follows:

***Rose Della*****( 2 August 1883 - 14 August 1965)
***Fred Elwine****(16 September 1886 - 4 May 1960)
***Clarence Guy***(11 January 1888 - 2 May 1978)
***Esther Irene*****( 1 February 1896 - 9 May 1972)
***Delmar*********(10 December 1897 - 24 October 1981)
***Freda**********(13 February 1901 - 31 March 1981)
***Leona Hattie*****(24 March 1905 - 11 July 1984)

The 1900 Census shows that the family was renting their home at 110 Earl Avenue, Muscatine, and that John was employed as a day laborer. The 1897 - 1900 Muscatine City Directories shows that John was working at Hershey's Lumber Company, so it is assumed that his occupation at that time was a laborer in the lumber company.

As an adult, John B. often smoked a pipe.

The 1910 Census shows that the family was still renting their home on Earl Avenue and that five of the children were still living at home. As adults, most of John and Julia's children stayed in the Muscatine area. However, after Rose married Harrison (Harry) Hayes Fellows (14 October 1876 - 12 February 1953), she moved away without leaving a forwarding address. For many years the family did not hear from Rose, and thought that she might be dead. Rose's mother, Julia, often thought about Rose. After many years, Rose finally contacted the family. She was living in Detroit, and had one daughter named Myrtle V. Fellows Topping (22 June 1902 - 10 May 1987). Clarence, Rose's brother, went to Detroit to visit her, but Julia died before she had the opportunity to see Rose again. Myrtle did not marry until after she retired, and she had no children.

Rose's burial record states that she was a resident of Michigan for 53 years, however, she must have lived for a period of time in Illinois, as this is where Myrtle was born.

On 30 January 1939, John B. Hintermeister died at his home located at 1001 Grandview Avenue, following a five week illness. John was 82 years old. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

As reported in her obituary, Julia lived to be 80 years old, and died on 8 December 1951. However, if she was actually born in 1862, then she was 89 years old. Her obituary states that all of her brothers and sisters preceded her in death. She died at her home located at 600 Liberty Street. Julia was a member of St. Mary's Church, and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Muscatine, Iowa. This is also where her parents, her brother, Thomas, and her sister, Katy Nevins Kallenberger are buried.