Part 3A: Ireton Cemetery Walk - Mathilda (Twillman) & Henry Kluter

This is the first segment of the 3rd part of Ireton's Cemetery Walk on June 6, 2009. Due to rain, the walk was cancelled and the portrayals were moved to the Ireton (Iowa) Community Center. Due to the length of the Kluter portrayal, it has been split for YouTube. You may find the remainder of this video on the iretonhistory channel as Part 3B - Ireton Cemetery Walk. In this part, Renae & Steve Brown portray Mathilda (Twillman) and Henry Kluter. Steve is Mattie & Henry's great-great-grandson.

Born in Germany in 1843 and 1837, Mattie and Henry Kluter were married in Guttenberg, Iowa in 1867. While living in eastern Iowa, they had 2 children. In 1870, Henry came to Sioux County, claimed homestead land and built a cabin in the SE 1/4, Sec. 6, Reading Twp. (south of the farmstead now owned by his great-grandson Lloyd Eilts). In 1871, he, Mattie and the children came to Sioux County via covered wagon - with a pig inside and a cow tied behind.

Henry and Mattie had 5 additional children while living here. They were founding members of St. John's & St. Paul's Lutheran churches and encouraged many of their German friends and relatives to settle near Ireton. Although there are no longer any descendants with the Kluter name in Ireton, many of their great; great-great; and great-great-great grandchildren still live here.