Bernard Anthony Nieland (1890-1977)
Generation 9

The son of John Henry Nieland and Anna Köster (John Henry, John Henry, John Henry, Joannes Daniel, Joannes Bernardus, Johann Daniel Nieland, Berndt Nilandt, Earliest Nieland)

Biography of Ben Nieland by Russ Bierl

The following biography was prepared by Russell V. Bierl, son of Irene A. (Nieland) Bierl for the Nieland Family Reunion of October 9th 1993. This is an excerpt of his story. Russell Bierl is the oldest grandson of Bernard and Mary (Grote) Nieland.

Bernard Anthony Nieland was born on March 29, 1890, the ninth child of Henry Nieland. His mother was Anna (Koester) Nieland, the second wife of Henry. His wife, Mary (Grote) Nieland, was born on December 9th, 1893 to Herman and Anna (Rust) Grote on a farm 5.5 miles west and a mile south of Breda, Iowa.

Ben Nieland married Mary Anna Grote on February 10, 1914 in Breda, Carroll County, Iowa at St. Bernard Catholic Church. The priest that married them was Rev. G.H. Luchrsman. The bride's maid was Rose Nieland who later married Joseph Wittrock and the best man was Tony Grote. Joseph and Rose later moved to Okarche, Oklahoma, where they farmed. They came back to visit family in Iowa every summer. Irene remembers how Rose and Mary were always best friends and they used to go into the bedroom to get away from the kids and talk and laugh.

After Ben and Mary were married, they lived on a 110-acre farm located four and a half miles north of Breda on the eastside of the road. Ben and Mary lived their adult life on the farm, moving to Breda in 1969, when Paul and Connie moved onto the home place.

Ben and Mary both went to country schools except for the two or three years they received Catholic religious education at St. Bernard's School before receiving First Communion. The highest class taught in the country school was sixth grade. They were taught both English and German. German was the main language spoken in their homes until WW I, then the governor signed a proclamation that the German language could not be spoken in public places. Ben and Mary continued to speak German, especially Mary, when she didn't want the children to understand. Mary' family spoke Low German and Ben' family spoke High German.

Ben and Mary celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on February 10, 1974. All the family came to the event, which started with a Mass and a repeat of their marriage vows at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. They were both in excellent health at the time and enjoyed the event very much.

Ben died of colon cancer on January 1, 1977 in the Sac City Hospital. Mary died on November 12, 1981 at the Sac City Care Center. They are buried in St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery in Breda. At the time of their death they had eight children and thirty-two grandchildren.

Research Notes

Bernard A. Nieland was born on 29 March 1890 at Carroll County, Iowa. He married Mary Ann Grote on 10 February 1914.

He appeared in the 1920 Federal census at Sac County, Iowa. Ben A. (29) is enumerated on a farm in Viola Township with his wife Mary (26) and children Florence (3 1/12) and Arthur (1 5/12). They own their farm with a mortgage.

He appeared in the 1930 Federal census at Sac County, Iowa. Ben (40) in enumerated on a farm in Viola Township with his wife Mary (36) and children Florence (13), Arthur (11), Irene (9), Patrick (6), Cyril (3) and Paul (3/12). All were born in Iowa. They own their farm and have a radio.

He lived near Breda, Carroll County, Iowa.

Ben died on 1 January 1977 at Breda, Carroll County, Iowa, at age 86. He was buried at St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery, Breda, Carroll County, Iowa.

Mary Ann Grote (Nieland) (1893-1981)
Generation 9

The wife of Bernard Anthony Nieland (1890-1977)

Mary Ann Grote, daughter of Herman Grote and Anna Rust, was born on 9 December 1893 in Breda, Carroll County, Iowa..

The children of Bernard A. Nieland and Mary Ann Grote all born at Breda, Carroll County, Iowa, were the following:

1) Florence Anna, born 20 November 1916. She died on 6 January 1998 at Badger, Sac County, Iowa at age 81. She was buried at Mount Zion Cemetery, Fonda, Pocahontas County, Iowa.
2) Arthur was born on 25 August 1918. He died on 17 September 1944 at Pacific Theater - WW II at age 26. Arthur was captured by the Japanese in WW II. He died when the ship he was on was destroyed. Rev. Father E. L. Schleyer gave him Military memorial rites at a requiem high mass. The military rites were in charge of Fred F. Bruning Post of the American Legion. Color guards were Edwin Heiman and Ervil Tiefenthaler and color bearers, Frank Hatting and Julius Bohnenkamp. Pallbearers were: Alvin Witwer, Norville Steinkamp, Elmo Knobbe, Edmond Boes, Vincent Boes and Mike Reising. Taps were sounded by George Mumm. Commander Peter Oswald presented Pvt. Nieland's mother with the flag on 13 March 1945 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Breda, Carroll County, Iowa.
3) Irene Angeline
4) Patrick Edgar, born 17 March 1924 in Sac County, Iowa. He died on 25 June 2003 at Manson, Calhoun County, Iowa. He was buried at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, Manson, Calhoun County, Iowa.
5) Cyril Louis
6) Paul Anthony
7) Jolene Mary
8) Charlotte

Mary Ann died on 12 November 1981 at Breda, Carroll County, Iowa, at age 87. She was buried at St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery, Breda, Carroll County, Iowa.

Updated 20 September 2005
Rev 5a