Title

Personal and Business Papers for the Adam and Maria Josepha Flecken family

Creation Date

1874 – 1991

Description

Personal and business papers related to the Adam and Maria Josepha (Josepha Mary) Flecken family of Shakopee. Adam and Maria owned and operated The Occidental Hotel from 1889-1914. The hotel was located on First Street in Shakopee. After 1914 Adam and Maria no longer served meals, and the hotel became a rooming house for salesmen until 1931, and a portion of the hotel was torn down to make a smaller home for Henry and Mary, both unmarried children of Adam and Maria. The building was sold and torn down April 1956. Adam Flecken was born in Limberg, Zittert, Holland on 11 November 1840, and came to America with his parents about 1863. He volunteered to serve in the Civil and Indian Wars, and was assigned to Company H, Second Regiment of Cavalry (SC451-885) from 22 February 1864 to 28 April 1866. After he returned, he became a farmer in Benton Twp., Carver County, from 1866 to 1867. He also worked in a brickyard. He married Maria Josepha Dieken on 27 April 1869 in St. Marks Catholic Church in Shakopee. Maria was born in Gangelt, Germany on 5 March 1850. Her father was Leonard Dieken and mother was Katherine Busch. Adam and Maria had twelve children, eight listed: Leonard Flecken (b. 4 March 1871-28 July 1953) married Lenora Collins and later Louise [surname unknown], no children; Mary Flecken (b. 15 March 1874-7 February 1966), never married; Henry Flecken (b. 27 January 1876-4 June 1940), served in the 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company H in the Spanish-American War, never married; Peter Flecken (b. 26 July 1878-died in infancy); Anna Mary Flecken (b. 5 July 1881-22 July 1972), married Francis Vincent Volkert on 28 October 1908 at St. Marks Catholic Church in Shakopee - they had four children: Ione Volkert Hestbeck, Lucille, Fredolin, and Donald; Adam Flecken (twin), born 10 March 1883, along with twin Maria Flecken, both who died in infancy; Katherine Flecken (b. 22 May 1888-8 June 1967), married Andrew Mingo on 9 February 1914, and they had eight children: George, Katherine/Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth (Betty), John, Bernard, Francis, and Geraldine.

This paper group includes the following:
- Certificate of United States Citizenship for Fredoline Volkert (father of Francis Volkert), dated 22 October 1874 in Lewis County, New York.
- Baptismal Certificate for Francis Vincent Volkert, baptized on 18 March 1877 in St. Stephen's Church in Croghan, New York.
- Copied baptismal census, featuring Francis Volkert's name
- Wedding invitation from Adam and Maria Josepha Flecken for the marriage of their daughter Anna to Francis Volkert on 28 October 1908, to take place at St. Mark's Church in Shakopee, reception at the home of the bride's parents.
- Wedding notice between Anna Flecken and Francis Volkert, married on 28 October 1908 at St. Mark's Church in Shakopee, making their home in Winthrop, Minn.
- Wedding certificate for Francis Volkert and Anna Flecken, signed by witnesses and a Catholic priest of the Church of St. Mark, dated 28 October 1908.
- Postcard from Anna to her mother Maria Josepha. Stamped and dated 1911. Front of the postcard features an image of the interior of the Kritzeck and Volkert meat shop in Paynesville, Minn. Anna writes that they arrived to their destination fine, and that she hopes that Mary got rid of her cold, and that she'll write soon.
- Postcard from Aunt Catherine to Ione Volkert, stamped and dated 1912. Front of the postcard features a drawn image of a boy and girl dressed in traditional Dutch clothing, words in an old font beneath them read, "Ve iss togedder alvays: side by de other". Catherine writes that she received Ione's card, and that Aunt Mary had arrived last night, and that all was well.
- Three letters, kept in the same envelope. The letters are dated 26 February 1922 (three pages), 26 April 1922 (one page), and ? 23 1923. The letter dated 26 February 1922 is from Josepha Mary Flecken to her granddaughter, Ione Volkert, and other grandchildren. She mentions receiving Ione's greeting letter, and mentions familial events throughout the rest of the letter. The letter dated 26 April 1922 is sent from Josepha Mary Flecken to Ione Volkert, and mentions she is writing in reply to an earlier letter from Ione, and mentions familial events throughout the letter. The letter dated ? 23 1923 is a letter from Josepha Mary Flecken (or possibly Francis's parents) to Francis Volkert, mentioning their sorrow at his loss of his grandfather, and would like to attend the funeral with him, and that they would arrive as soon as possible. The envelope that all three letters are housed in is addressed to Ione Volkert, address in Minneapolis.
- Notice indicating that Francis Volkert was a member of the German Roman-Catholic St. Joseph's church in Glencoe, Minn., and that he would be gone for a year, and would remain a member of the church and pay a sum of $20 during his absence. Signed by the president of the church on 9 June 1922.
- Funeral costs for Fredolin Volkert, dated 21 October 1923. He was the father of Francis Volkert. The list has the costs for the casket, hearse, and other various items necessary for the funeral. The total came to $260.75, and was paid in full on 21 October 1923.
- Wedding invitation from Mrs. Anna Volkert for the marriage of her daughter to Stanley C. Hestbeck on 28 May 1949 at the Ascension Church in Minneapolis. Reception to follow from two to five at the home of the parents in Minneapolis.
- Cream colored envelope with Ione Volkert's name, 14 February 1949 underneath. Inside the envelope are a poem to the weatherman, and a Mother's Day poem written from Stanley Hestbeck to his wife Ione Volkert Hestbeck on 12 May 1985.
- Small make-shift ledger written on lined paper that is stapled together in the corner. It features the costs of setting up housekeeping for Ione and Stanley Hestbeck's house in Minneapolis, which is jointly owned by Anna Volkert and her daughter Ione. Dated 1948-1949.
- Business letter from Gregory J. Fahey, attorney at law, to Anna Volkert, detailing a Notice of Order for Hearing on Petition to determine descent on Josepha Mary Flecken's property (The Occidental Hotel), with the hearing set on 30 October 1953. Also included in the letter was an inheritance tax return. Housed in an envelope addressed to Anna Volkert in Minneapolis. The letter is dated 13 October 1953.
- Witness of the birth record for Anna Flecken in the Register of Births in Scott County's records, signed by Hugo P. Hentges, Clerk of the District Court, dated 23 April 1959. The record lists Anna's birthdate, her parents' names, their birthplace, and her father's occupation, as well as the date her birth was registered in the books.
- Business letter from James Hanna, Managing Editor of The Shakopee Valley News, written to Ione Volkert Hestbeck, and concerns her requests for old newspaper articles about her father, Francis Volkert, and family. The letter is dated 2 April 1964.
- Mourning card/remembrance card for Mary Flecken, who was born 15 March 1874, and passed away on 7 February 1966. She was the daughter of Adam and Maria Josepha (Josepha Mary) Flecken. The backside of the card has a poem/prayer, and the front features a colored image of the Mother Mary, holding flowers in one hand, the other going to her heart. The funeral was conducted by the Philipp Funeral Home in Shakopee.
- Letter detailing the history of furniture making, particularly the makings of the Adams brother - below is a note that the chairs from the Occidental Hotel were now owned by Ione Volkert Hestbeck and her husband, and that the chairs were deemed to be made in the era of the Adams brothers' time. Stapled to the letter is a piece of paper from the Occidental Hotel, with a recipe for cookies written on it. The letter is dated 23 February 1970.
- Mourning card/remembrance card for Anna Volkert, who was born 5 July 1881, and passed away on 22 July 1972. The backside of the card has a poem/prayer, and the front features a colored image of Joseph and Mary praying with a child Jesus. The funeral was conducted by the Malone Funeral Home in Minneapolis.
- Death notice for Anna Volkert, written on a typewriter on a small sheet of paper. It reads that she died at the age of 91 at the St. Anthony Nursing Home, and is survived by daughters, sons, 11 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren. The funeral was to be held at the Malone Funeral Home in Minneapolis, with the interment at St. Mary's Cemetery in Shakopee.
- Christmas card, dated 1992, from Edwin Hönninger. The card is written in German, and translates as a wish for a happy Christmas and New Year, and that Ms. Hedwig Hönninger died on 8 November 1991. The front of the card features a colored image of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus in the manger.
- Undated invitation to the bride for a bachelorette party on 27 April. The invitation is blue, with a pink bouquet of flowers on the front, and a bell with ribbons on the inside.
- Three undated newspaper articles that had been cut out, concerning Francis Volkert working at the T.H. J. Notermanns meat market, renting the Markus house, and the wedding of Francis Volkert and Anna Flecken.
- Undated health insurance card for Anna Volkert, blue, white, and red stripes at the top.
- Undated invitation for a "gadget" shower for Ione Volkert on 18 March, invited by Joyce Sealt. The front of the invitation features a colored image of orange, pink, and blue flowers.
- Undated letter in beautiful handwritten from Francis Volkert to his parents. He writes that he wishes them a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and that he is indebted to them for all that they had done to give him such a wonderful life. The letter is written inside a card, which its front features a 3D image of an angel in a red gown, and German on the front, which translates roughly as, "My Many Congratulations". Flecken, Adam
Flecken, Maria Josepha
Flecken, Josepha Mary
Flecken, Leonard
Flecken, Mary
Flecken, Henry
Flecken, Peter
Flecken, Katherine
Flecken, Catherine
Flecken, Anna
Volkert, Anna
Volkert, Francis
Volkert, Ione
Hestbeck, Ione
Hestbeck, Stanley
Volkert, Fredoline
Hentges, Hugo