Ancestry of Gov. Jesse Ventura
 
compiled by William Addams Reitwiesner
 
 

The following material on the immediate ancestry of Jesse Ventura should not be considered either exhaustive or definitive, but rather as a first draft.

Robert Battle contributed some of the material below.  
 

William Addams Reitwiesner
 
wargs@wargs.com
 
 
Ancestry of Jesse Ventura
1 James George Janos, b. Minneapolis, Minn., 15 July 1951, from 1975 a professional wrestler under the name "Jesse Ventura", Governor of Minnesota
PARENTS
2 George William Janos, b. ... , Pa., 17 Oct. 1907, to Minn. ae. 3, in 1930 living with parents in Minneapolis, Minn., d. ... , Minn., 11 Apr. 1991, bur. Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis [SSDI 473-10-6172, Minnesota Death Index]  
m. ... 1946
3 Bernice Martha Lenz, b. Independence, Iowa, 27 June 1918, d. ... , Minn., 30 Jan. 1995, bur. Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis [SSDI 478-07-5625]
GRANDPARENTS
4 John Janos, b. ... , Slovakia, ... [ca. 1858], emigrated to US in 1882, in 1930 living in Minneapolis, Minn., d. Hennepin Co., Minn., 3 Jan. 1943 [Minnesota Death Index, cert. 17940]  
m. ... [ca. 1883]
5 Anna Demko, b. ... , Slovakia, ... [ca. 1869], emigrated to US in 1887, in 1930 living with husband in Minneapolis, Minn., d. Hennepin Co., Minn., 13 Jan. 1944 [Minnesota Death Index, cert. 17711]
6 William A ... Lenz, b. ... , Iowa, 15 June 1890, in 1920 a farmer in Bethel, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1930 a carpenter in Washington, Buchanan Co., Iowa, d. Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa, ... Oct. 1978 [SSDI 478-01-8672]  
m. ... [ca. 1913]
7 Martha H ... Kamper, b. ... , Delaware Co., Iowa, 18 July 1892, in 1900 living with parents in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1910 living with parents in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1920 living with husband in Bethel, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1930 living with husband in Washington, Buchanan Co., Iowa, d. Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa, ... Nov. 1976 [SSDI 479-66-7811]
GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
12 ... Lenz, b. Brandenburg, ... , d. ...  
m. ...
13 ... , b. Posen, ... , d. ...
14 Henry John / John Henry Kamper, b. ... Delaware Co., Iowa, ... Aug. 1869, in 1870 living with parents in Oneida, Delaware Co., Iowa, in 1880 living with parents in Oneida, Delaware Co., Iowa, in 1900 a farmer in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1910 a farmer in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1920 a farmer in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, d. ... 26 Feb. 1928, bur. Taylorsville Cemetery, Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa (lot 148)  
m. ... [ca. 1891]
15 Marie H ... , b. ... , Germany, ... Aug. 1871, emigrated to US in 1883, in 1900 living with husband in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1910 living with husband in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1920 living with husband in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1930 living in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, d. ... [after 1930]
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
28 John H ... Kamper, b. Hannover ... May 1838, emigrated to US in 1868, in 1870 a blacksmith in Oneida, Delaware Co., Iowa, in 1880 a blacksmith in Oneida, Delaware Co., Iowa, in 1900 a blacksmith living with son in Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa, d. ... 31 Oct. 1910, bur. Arlington Cemetery, Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa  
m. ...
29 Anna Johanna ... , b. Hannover ... 1844, in 1870 living with husband in Oneida, Delaware Co., Iowa, in 1880 living with husband in Oneida, Delaware Co., Iowa, d. ... 17 Apr. 1896, bur. Arlington Cemetery, Fairfield, Fayette Co., Iowa
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
56 ... Kamper, b. Hannover ... , d. ...  
m. ...
57 ... , b. Hannover ... , d. ...
58 ... , b. Hannover ... , d. ...  
m. ...
59 ... , b. Hannover ... , d. ...
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
 
 
 
 
EXTRACTS from the U.S. FEDERAL DECENNIAL CENSUS
 
 

1930 - Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN, e.d. 110, sheet 3a

Janos John[?]     Head    M W 71 M 25   Czechoslovakia  Cze  Cze   1882 Na
      Anna        Wife    F W 60 M 14   Czechoslovakia  Cze  Cze   1887 Na
      Elizabeth   Dau     F W 24 S      PA              Cze  Cze
      George      Son     M W 21 S      PA              Cze  Cze
Demko Andrew      Roomer  M W 69 S      Czechoslovakia  Cze  Cze   1880 Na

-------

1930 Iowa, Buchanan Co., Washington, ED 7, sheet 8B, line 54

                                                     Father's      Mother's
                 Rel     Age   Status  Birthplace    Birthplace    Birthplace 
Lenz William A   Head    39    M 22     Iowa          Germany       Germany
     Martha      Wife    37    M 20     Iowa          Iowa          Germany
     Arlene      Dau     16     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Nedia       Dau     14     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Bernice     Dau     11     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Marcus      Son     10     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Lucille     Dau      7     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Morris      Son      5     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Celia       Dau   4 3/12   S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Lorrane     Dau   1 3/12   S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa

William was a Carpenter of Buildings

--------

1930 - Arlington, Fairfield Twp., Fayette Co., IA, e.d. 13, sheet 4a

Kamper Marie H     Head   F W 57 Wd 19   Germany Germany Germany

--------

1920 Iowa, Fayette Co., Bethel Township, ED 85, sheet 5, line 6

                                                     Father's      Mother's
                 Rel     Age   Status  Birthplace    Birthplace    Birthplace 
Lenz William A   Head    29     M       Iowa          Brandenburg   Posen
     Martha H    Wife    27     M       Iowa          Iowa          Germany
     Arlene H    Dau      5     S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Nedia O     Dau   4 2/12   S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Bernice M   Dau   1 6/12   S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa
     Marcus P    Son     3/12   S       Iowa          Iowa          Iowa

William was a Farmer, General Farm

-------

1920 - Fairfield Twp., Fayette Co., IA, e.d. 90, sheet 3b

Kamper John H.     Head   M W 50      M               IA       Germany  Germany
       Marie       Wife   F W 48      M 1883 Na 1890  Germany  Germany  Germany
       William C.  Son    M W 23      S               IA       IA       Germany
       Henrietta   Dau    F W 15      S               IA       IA       Germany
Esch Ronald C.     GSon   M W 2 10/12 S               IA       Germany  IA

John H. was a Farmer, William C. was a Farm Laborer

--------

1910 - Arlington, Fairfield Twp., Fayette Co., IA, e.d. 82, sheet 9a

Kamper John H. Jr.     Head    M W 40 M1 19       IA   Ger. Ger.  Farmer
       Marie H.        Wife    F W 38 M1 19 6 6   Ger. Ger. Ger.
       Martha H.       Dau     F W 17 S           IA   IA   Ger.
       Bernard H. G.   Son     M W 16 S           IA   IA   Ger.  Farm Laborer
       William C.      Son     M W 13 S           IA   IA   Ger.  Farm Laborer
       Irene H.        Dau     F W 11 S           IA   IA   Ger.
       Henrietta C.    Dau     F W  6 S           KS   IA   Ger.

-------

1900 - Fairfield Twp., Fayette Co., IA, e.d. 72, sheet 10b

Kemper John H.        Head    W M Aug 1869 30 M 9      IA      Germany Germany
       Mary           Wife    W F Aug 1871 28 M 9 5 5  Germany Germany Germany
       Clara          Dau     W F May 1891  9 S        IA      IA      Germany
       Martha         Dau     W F Jul 1892  7 S        IA      IA      Germany
       Bernie         Son     W M Dec 1894  5 S        IA      IA      Germany
       Willie         Son     W M Jun 1896  4 S        IA      IA      Germany
       Irene          Dau     W F Apr 1898  2 S        IA      IA      Germany
       John H. Sen.   Father  W M May 1838 62 Wd       Germany Germany Germany

John H. was a Farmer
John H. Sen., em. 1868 32 Na, was a Black Smith

--------

1895 IA State Census, Fairfield, Fayette Co. (unknown page)

Henry J. Kamper   25 W     Delaware Co.
Marie Kamper      23 W     Germany
Clara Kamper       3 W     Delaware Co.
Martha Kamper      2 W     Delaware Co.
Martha Kamper      2 W     Delaware Co.
Bernard Kamper     1 W     Fayette Co., IA

-------

1880 - Delaware Center, Oneida Twp., Delaware Co., IA, e.d. 161, sheet 25 [501a]

Kamper John H.      W M 41        Blacksmith   Hanover Hanover Hanover
       Joanah       W F 36  Wife               Hanover Hanover Hanover
       John H.      W M 10  Son                IA      Hanover Hanover
       Elizabeth    W F  6  Dau                IA      Hanover Hanover
(1 hired man)

-------

1870 - Oneida, Delaware Co., IA, p. 170b

Kamper Henry J.        31       M W    Blacksmith    500 150     Hanover
       Hannah B.[?]    26       F W                              Hanover
       Henry J.          9/12   M W                              IA       Aug Aug



 
 
NOTES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FURTHER NOTES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOURCES CONSULTED AND CITED
 
 
See above.  
 
 
 
William Addams Reitwiesner
 
wargs@wargs.com