Anna Elizabeth Holtkamp was born on April 26, 1867 to Johann B. and Catherine Hutchins Holtkamp near St Paul, Iowa. She is a relation of Walt’s through the Link branch of the family.

Anna was the seventh of 11 children born to Bernard (as Johann was known) and Catherine. Bernard and Catherine were both immigrants. The family had a farm near St Paul.

Anna married Christopher Steffensmeier on April 17, 1888. I found an announcement of their wedding in the local paper. It lists the last name as Steffensmeirer.

I also found the record of their marriage in the register kept by the Lee County, Iowa, clerk of courts. I love to look at these records because you get to see who witnessed the marriage and the officiant. The wedding took place at St James Church and Fr Wieland was the officiant.

Christopher and Anna Holtkamp Steffensmeier had 7 children. One son died at the age of nine and a daughter died at only three months old. 1900 finds them living on a farm near St. Paul. Their youngest child, Tecla, wasn’t born until October of that year.

I found this picture of the family. It is not dated, but I would guess it is from around 1910.

Anna Holtkamp Steffensmeier died on March 17, 1916. She is buried in St. James Cemetery in St. Paul, Iowa.