Individual Details

Birth

Her marriage record says: Spouse's Birth Date 19 Aug 1845

Census

Christina works in the household of Alste Marcus, Westerhusen, Funnix
FXa7 ...
7) Christina v.Beesten, 18 J., Magd (housemaid)

Immigration

Christina immigrated with her husband and children after Feb 1874 when Lena was born in Germany and before Oct 1875 when Bernard was born in Iowa. (The 1900 census says 1875, the 1910 says 1874) Her father, brother and two sisters had immigrated to Jones Co., Iowa earlier, in Sept 1872. Marriage records show both sisters marrying in Anamosa, Adeline in Dec of 1872, the Elise in Oct of 1874. It's possible Christina was in Iowa for Elise's wedding.

Census (family)

Gerd EIBEN Self M Male W 44 Laborer HANOVER HANOVER HANOVER
Christianna EIBEN Wife M Female W 36 Keeping House HANOVER HANOVER HANOVER
Eibo EIBEN Son S Male W 7 HANOVER HANOVER HANOVER
Lena EIBEN Dau S Female W 6 HANOVER HANOVER HANOVER
Bennette EIBEN Son S Male W 4 IA HANOVER HANOVER
Wm. EIBEN Son S Male W 3 IA HANOVER HANOVER
Christopher EIBEN Son S Male W 2 IA HANOVER HANOVER
Lesa C. EIBEN Dau S Female W 3M IA HANOVER HANOVER

Census (family)

85 3 3 NW SW
7 46 52 Eiben Gerd 49 M M Farmer Germany F F Alien
8 Eiben Christina 41 F M Keeping House Germany F F
9 Eiben Cornelius 18 M S Germany F F
10 Eiben Eiba 12 M Germany F F
11 Eiben Lena 10 F Germany F F
12 Eiben Benhard 9 M Jones Co., IA F F
13 Eiben William 7 M Jones Co., IA F F
14 Eiben Christopher 6 M Jones Co., IA F F
15 Eiben Elisa 4 F Jones Co., IA F F
16 Eiben Mary 3 F Jones Co., IA F F
17 Eiben Henry 1 M Jones Co., IA F F
18 Eiben Matilda 0 F Jones Co., IA F F

Census (family)

31 57 57 Eibin Gerrhard 59 M M Germany F F Farmer "

Page #471
Ln Dw Fm Surname Given Name Age Sex M Birthplace Fa Mo Occupation Religion Other
1 Eibin Christiana 51 F M Iowa Jones " " Lutheran
2 Eibin Benjamin 19 M S " " " Farmer "
3 Eibin William 17 M S " " " " "
4 Eibin Christopher 16 M S " F F " "
5 Eibin Lizzie 14 F " " " " "
6 Eibin Mary 13 F " " " " "
7 Eibin Matilda 10 F " " " " "
8 Eibin Johann 9 F " " " " "
9 Eibin Minnie 8 F " " " " "

Census (family)

(transcribed as Eihen in census)
SD 1st, ED 57. Lovell Township,
pg 87 sheet 11

124, 125 Eiben, Gerhard W Head W M Jan 1836 64 Married 34 yrs Farmer, Germany, 1875, 25 yrs in US, Na
Christina Wife W F Aug 1843 56 M-34, 14 births, 12 living. Germany, 1875, 25 yrs in US
William Son W M May 1877 23 Farm Labor Iowa
Chris Son W M Dec 1878 21 Farm Labor Iowa
Henry Son W M Mar 1883 17 Farm Labor Iowa
Matilda Daughter W F May 1884 16 Iowa
John Son W M Nov 1885 14 Farm Labor Iowa
Minnie Daughter W F Nov 1886 13 at school Iowa
All the children (except baby Henry) can read, write, speak English. Minnie attended
school 4 months. The parents cannot speak English, but can read and Christina can write.
Gerhard and Christina immigrated in 1875, have been in the US 25 yrs.
Own Free Farm

Census (family)

SD 5 ED 66, sheet 18A
2, 2 , Eiben, Gerd Head MW, 74, married 44 yrs, Germany Germ, Germ, 1874 Na, speaks German, Own account.
Christina, Wife, FW, 68, M-44, 14 children born, ? living, Germ, Germ Germ, speaks English
Henry, Son, MW, 27, single, Farm laborer wages

Death

Parents: Tjark Van Beesten & Frieda M. Hinricks (Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990).

Christina died at the home of her son, Christian G Eiben, whom she'd been living with since last November on First St in Monticello. She had been ill since the 5th of January, first with asthma followed by pneumonia. She had started to recover and was beginning to sit up but her weakened state cased her to be carried off by heart failure last Sunday afternoon at 1:45 PM (Feb 13, 1916).

Death of Mrs. Christina Eiben.
Mrs. Christina Eiben, the widow of the late Gerd Eiben, died at the home of her son, Christian G. Eiben, on East First street, last Sunday afternoon, at 1:45 o'clock. Mrs. Eiben had reached the age of 72 years, She had been ill since the 5th of January, first with asthma followed by pneumonia. It was supposed that she had practically recovered from this illness for she was able to sit up part of the time, and at the time of her death she was reclining upon a lounge, but evidently she had become greatly weakened by the disease and was carried off by heart failure. When she gave evidence of distress her nurse and her son rushed to her side but she died very quickly in the arms ot her son. Mrs. Eiben was the mother of 14 children, of whom eleven are living. She was born at Frunnix Amt, Wittemund, Germany, August 19, 1843. Her maiden name was Christina von Beesten. In 1845 she was married to Gerd W. Eiben, and ten years later they came to the United States and settled first in Wayne township in this county. After a few years they purchased and removed to what had been the George White farm in the Rynerson neighborhood on Bowen's Prairie, They lived there for more than twenty years. Seven years ago Mr. and Mrs. Eiben left the cares and labors of the farm and removed to Monticello, where Mr. Eiben died, July 1, 1911. Mrs. Eiben had been living with her son, Chris, since last November.
Mrs. Eiben was baptized and confirmed in the faith of the German Lutheran church in her youth, and always remained a faithful adherent of that denomination. She was a Christian woman and taught her children to live the life enjoined upon them by the Master,whom she served. The surviving daughters are Lena Iben, of South Dakota; Matilda Schmidt, of Cass; Minnie Schmidt , of Wyoming; Lizzie Heiken, of Castle Grove and Mary Heiken, of Wayne. The sons are Cornelius E. Eiben and William E. Eiben, of Wymore, Nebraska; Ibo Eiben, of Castle Grove; Christian G. Eiben, of Monticello; Henry Eiben, of Bowen's Prairie nnd John G. Eiben, of Prairieburg. She is also survived by 39 grandchildren and one great grandchild. A surviving sister, Mrs Johnson Gerdes, lives at Barnston, Nebraska. Tbe funeral services were conducted at the German Lutheran church, in Monticello, by the pastor, Rev. S. Ide, today, and interment was had in the Bowen's Prairie cemetery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Black Funeral Card with gold lettering)

In Liebender Erinnerung. In Loving Memory.

Christina Eiben Christina Eiben
Geb. 19 Aug. 1843. Born 19 Aug. 1843
Gest. 13 Feb. 1916. Died 13 Feb 1916
Alter 72 Jah. 6 Mon. 24 Tage Age 72 yrs 6 mo. 24 days

Gest. Aber Nicht Vergessen. Died but not forgotten.

Weinend legen wir Dich nieder, Weeping we lay you down,
In Dein stilles Schlafgemach; In your quiet bedroom:
Niemals lehrst Du zu und wieder - You never teach again and again -
Darum weinen wir dir nach. Therefore we cry to thee.
Doch es schlägt für uns die Stunde, But the hour is coming for us
Wo wir Dich einst wiedersehen, Where we see you once again,
Wenn vereint zum schönsten Bunde When united to the most beautiful bond,
Wir vor Gottes Throne stehen. We stand before the throne of God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Monticello Express, Feb 24, 1916)
CARD OF THANKS - Tbe children of the late Christina Eiben hereby express their sincere thanks to their friends for their kind attentions, during the illness and funeral of the mother.

Burial

Bowen's Prairie Cemetery
Jones County
Located west of Cascade on Hwy. 151 about 5 miles

Eiben Gerd W. January 10, 1836 July 1, 1911 Born in Frieden
Eiben Christine August 19, 1843 February 13, 1916
Eiben Bernhard E. October 13, 1875 January 5, 1902