Married Nicholaus Hemmesch.

Married Peter Backes 08/31/1915 in Douglas County, MN.

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MRS. MARY BACKES LAID TO REST TUESDAY FORENOON

Mrs. Mary Backes died last week Saturday evening at 9:45 at the home of her daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lang at Cedar Island Lake, three miles southeast of Richmond at the age of 82 years.

She was born near St. Martin on October 26, 1864. Her maiden name was Mary Spanier. She grew to womanhood there and was married to Nick Hemmesch about 62 years ago. Ten children were born to the union of whom seven survive. They are: Mrs. Nick B. Theis of Watkins, Mrs. Charlotte Greely of Ada, Minn., Rupert J. Hemmesch of Valley City, N.D., Dan M. Hemmesch of Noonan, N.D., Ralph H. Hemmesch of Willmar, Mrs. Albert Lang of Richmond and Mrs. N. J. Pick of St. Cloud. One sister, Mrs. Veronica Wurst and 28 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren also survive. In 1908 her husband died.

About 30 years ago she married Peter Backes who died about 15 years ago.

She was born in the hectic days of the Civil War in the south and the Indian uprising in the north. She could relate many Indian stories told to her by her parents and also by self experience.

Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday morning at nine o'clock from Saints Peter and Paul church with Father Homnahl officiating.

Interment was made in the family lot in St. Boniface cemetery in Cold Spring.

** I do not know which newspaper this obituary was taken from. There may be some errors in transcribing it as the copy is quite poor. It also lists pallbearers and honorary pallbearers but I cannot make out all the names.

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BACKES FUNERAL

Mrs. Mary A. Backes, 82, widow of Peter Backes of Richmond, died June 14 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Lang of Richmond. Mrs. Backes was formerly Mrs. Nicholas J. Hemmesch of Cold Spring. She was born Mary Anna Spanier on October 26, 1864 at St. Martin.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at 9 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul church in Richmond with burial in the family lot in the St. Boniface cemetery at Cold Spring.

Seven children survive: Mrs. Mike B. Theis, Watkins; Mrs. Charlotte Greenley, Ada; Hubert J. Hemmesch, Valley City, N. D.; Daniel M. Hemmesch, Noonan, N. D.; Ralph H. Hemmesch, Willman; Mrs. Albert Lang, Richmond and Mrs. N. J. Pick, St. Cloud.

One sister, Mrs. Veronica Wurst of Richmond and 23 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren also survive.

** St. Cloud Times, Wednesday, June 18, 1947.

**There is a marriage record for Anna M. Spanier to Nick Hammesch on 02 Oct 1883 in Stearns Co., MN. It appears Anna reverses her first and middle names.