Nicholas Gonner’s Grave Site

Mt. Calvary Cemetery
1111 Davis Street
Dubuque, Iowa 

&

Nicholas Gonner’s Home
2123 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa

           Rightfully considered the most influential, 19th century Luxembourg immigrant to the United States, Nicholas Gonner was committed to preserving Luxembourg culture and language in the New World.  Gonner was born on January 8, 1835 in Pfaffenthal, Luxembourg, a suburb of Luxembourg City.  Like so many of his countrymen, he immigrated to the United States in hope of a more stable and prosperous life.  Gonner, his wife, and three children immigrated on the steamer Europa which arrived in New York on January 2, 1866

          The family first settled in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where two more children were born.  In 1872, the Gonners moved to Dubuque, Iowa where Nicholas took over the editorship of the weekly Luxemburger Gazette, the most thoroughly Luxembourger newspaper in the New World.  Gonner continued in this position until his death on December 20, 1892.

          The Luxemburger Gazette had a national base of readers.  Correspondents to the Gazette sent articles and information to Gonner that reflected the latest happenings in various Luxembourg American communities throughout the country.  This has made the Luxemburger Gazette an invaluable resource for modern day genealogists and those researching their Luxembourgian roots.  The Gazette was published from 1871 – 1919 in German but is easily translated.  The microfilm of the Gazette is available in a handful of libraries in the United States including the LACS Research Center.  Luxembourg historian and genealogist Jean Ensch is to be commended for indexing the Luxemburger Gazette in the 1980s.    

          Along with the Luxemburger Gazette and other writings, Gonner is also renowned for his book Die Luxemburger in Der Neuen Welt (Luxembourgers in the New World).  Shortly after his arrival in the United States, Gonner began collecting information about Luxembourger settlements in America.  It was this information that was condensed into Luxembourgers in the New World which was published in 1889.  In 1987, the book was translated into English from its former German by Jean Ensch, Jean-Claude Muller, and Robert E. Owen.  It, too, is an invaluable resource for genealogists and family historians. 

          Though Nicholas Gonner and his family were a publishing stronghold in Dubuque for decades, very few remnants of the man behind the Luxemburger Gazette remain in Dubuque.  The only physical remnants of Nicholas Gonner are his grave site in Mt. Calvary Cemetery and his former home.

 NOTE:  The two-volume set Luxembourgers in the New World (Vol. I – the translation of Die Luxemburger in Der Neuen Welt and Vol. 2 – the index to the Luxemburger Gazette) is available for purchase at the LACS Gift Shop for $60 + s/h.  Call 262-476-5086 or email admin@luxamculturalsociety.org to order your set.

Nicholas Gonner Grave Stone

          Nicholas Gonner was laid to rest in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque following his death in 1892.  His large grave stone is topped by a statue of Christ the Teacher with a book in hand.  The monument also features the coat of arms of Luxembourg and the text (in German):  Memorial to the honor of the meritorious Luxembourger Nicholas Gonner, dedicated by his numerous, grateful countrymen and friends - RIP.  This grave stone is a most fitting tribute to Gonner who desired to promote and “teach” Luxembourg history, culture, and community through his writings.

             If you are in Dubuque, consider visiting the grave site of Nicholas Gonner at:

 Mt. Calvary Cemetery
1111 Davis Street
Dubuque, IA  52001
563-583-4329

Call ahead for cemetery hours and stop in the cemetery office for a map to find the Gonner Family grave plot. 

Nicholas Gonner Home

            Another remnant of Nicholas Gonner in Dubuque is the home where he and his family resided.  The home is a typical red brick home as found in much of downtown Dubuque.  It was formerly located at 2103 Couler Avenue but today the address is:

Nicholas Gonner Home
2123 Central Avenue
Dubuque, IA   52001

The home is no longer in the Gonner Family.  It is a private residence and NOT open for visitors or tours.