Clayton co IAGenWeb

Lucas Moser, b. 18 Oct. 1832 in Basel Switzerland, and his wife Matilda Risch, b. 14 March 1848 in Vaduz, Leichtenstein, are pictured (above) with their eight children, all born in Clayton co., Iowa. Lucas and Matilda Moser sit at the ends of the middle row with daughter Frances, b. 9 Nov. 1869, seated between them. Seated in the front row are John Anton, b. 31 March 1888; Louisa, b. 23 Apr. 1883; and Catherine, b. 19 March 1884. Standing in the back row are daughters Rosalia, b. 17 May 1872; Elizabeth, b. 9 Feb. 1876; Mary, b. 15 Aug. 1878; and Pauline, b. 5 Dec 1866.

The 1856 Iowa Census shows that Lucas (age 24), his parents Anton and Franceska Moser, and his siblings: Tobias (age 28), Anton (age 22), Rosalia (age 17) and Johann (age 11), had resided in Jefferson Township, Clayton County for 5 years.

Matilda was the daughter of Anton Risch and Theresia Boss. She immigrated with her parents and older sister (also named Theresia) in 1849, while just an infant. Anton Risch and Theresia Boss were married on 5 Apr. 1842 in Vaduz, Leichtenstein. According to the mortality schedule, Theresia died in 1850 of cholera. In May 1850, Anton married Theresia's half sister Anna Maria Boss. They possibly had another daughter because the 1852 census records 4 females living with Anton. In Dec. 1853, a daughter was buried and in March 1854, Anton died after an illness or injury of a couple months duration, according to Dr. Ludwig's bill and the gravedigger's bill which were included in his probate file. Anna Maria continued to raise her nieces after her subsequent marriage to John Von Bruehl on 12 June 1854.

Lucas Moser

Lucas and his brother Anton (Anthony) served during the Civil War and both applied for pensions. According to his discharge papers, Lucas enrolled in the Missouri 17th Infantry Volunteers on Nov. 2 1861. Apparently, Lucas lost his original discharge papers because his Soldier’s Certificate of Honorable Discharge is dated 1882 and indicates it is a replacement for same.

According to the US Army Register of Enlistments, Anthony Moser enlisted in Guttenberg on Aug. 25, 1862 in the 16th Infantry by Capt. Woodson. He was 26 years old with dark eyes, brown hair, a fair complexion and was 5’6” tall. His occupation is listed as cooper. He was discharged Aug 25, 1865. Also noted is that he “Experienced service at Lookout Mountain Tenn. A private.”

The 1870 census for Mallory Township, Clayton co., Iowa enumerates Lucas and Matilda with their two eldest daughters (although the daughters names are incorrect).

According to Lucas' naturalization petition filed Nov. 15, 1907, he emigrated "to the U.S. from Havre de Grace, France on or about 30 day of Dec. 1846 and arrived at the port of New Orleans Louisiana, in the United States of America, on the vessel Riga" (or Raga). At the time of the filing he stated that he had resided in the US from 15 Jan 1847 and in Washington State since 12 Sept. 1899. However, the 1900 U.S. census shows Lucas, Matilda, and their three youngest children still living in Jefferson Township, Clayton co., Iowa.

A close-up of the section of the naturalization petition where Lucas lists his children, their birth places & dates.

On his naturalization petition, Lucas gave the wrong birth date (Apr. 19, 1886) for his daughter Catherine. The correct date is March 19, 1884. 'Grundberg' (Guttenberg) is shown as the birth place of John and Pauline; and 'Coldspring' as the birth place for the other children. Census records over the years indicated Clayton co. as the birthplace for all of the children, so presumably there was an area in/near Clayton co. known as Cold Spring. Given his advanced age, it is not surprising that Lucas' memory of places & dates may have been a little "iffy".

All of Lucas and Matilda's descendants, except their eldest daughter Pauline and her family, followed them to Washington State. Pauline married Henry Schneider and remained in Clayton County where they raised a large family. Louisa and Catherine married brothers Henry and Gerhardt Leliefeld, respectively, in Guttenberg. They each had two children in Guttenberg before moving to WA State. Rosalia married another Guttenberg resident, Nick Franks, who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1889 (according to the 1900 census). She had 4 children while still living in Guttenberg. The 1910 census lists the three sisters and their families consecutively in Springdale, Stevens County, Washington.

Lucas & Mathilda Moser "Dyersville" Iowa photographer Cleigel	Henry Leliefeld & Louisa Moser

John Anton Moser as a child	John Anton Moser Died 4 May 1972 in Spokane, WA. He is buried at Holy Cross cemetery in Spokane.

Five of Lucas Moser's daughters Rosalia (left), Louisa (back left), Elizabeth (center), Catherine (back right) and Frances (right)	Lucas & Anthony Moser with some of their children & grandchildren Spokane, WA, ca 1917

Lucas Moser died 25 Jan 1923 in Springdale, Stevens co., Washington. Matilda Risch Moser died 10 Sep 1914, also in Springdale. They are buried in the Springdale cemetery.

Lucas Moser wasn’t the first of his family to move to Washington state. His nephew, Ambrose, son of his brother, Anton D. (aka Anthony and referred to as “Uncle Donny” by his grandnephew), is enumerated on the 1892 Washington Territory census living in Stevens co. Ambrose was born in Clayton co., May 1864, son of Anton (Anthony/Donny) Moser. Ambrose was the first of his family to leave Iowa and move to Washington State.

Two of Ambrose’s siblings also moved to Washington State. His brother Freeman is listed in census records as living in Spokane, Spokane County (which neighbors Stevens County), Washington. His sister Winafred 'Winnie' married a Clayton co. man, Henry J. Lyons, and they moved to the Springdale area and are listed in the 1900 census.

In 1904, Henry and Winafred Lyons sold their homestead in Washington state to Lucas’ daughter Elizabeth and they moved to Alberta, Canada (1911 Can. census) but by 1930 they had returned to Washington State. Henry had become a naturalized Canadian citizen and had to reapply to be a U.S. citizen after his return to Washington. (Henry Lyon's naturalization petition - opens in a new window.) Both died in Deer Park, Stevens co.. The homestead was located on a hill outside of Springdale, a hill ever since called “Lyons’ Hill.’ Elizabeth’s sister Louise Moser and her husband Henry Leliefeld also homesteaded on Lyon’s Hill.

Anthony Moser's children
Winnie Moser Lyons (center) with her husband Henry Lyons, and her siblings Sarah Way, Eldora Sullivan and Joe Moser.
The photo was taken between 1927 and 1951.