Yesterday’s story was about how on two separate occasions, Rev. O.R. Hueschen became a father during the very busy Christmas season. In 1901, this same pastor agreed to perform a marriage ceremony at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown on Christmas Day. Now keep in mind, not only had Rev. Hueschen prepared for several worship services over the past few days and weeks, but he also, according to my reckoning, had 9 or 10 children living in the parsonage at the time.
The marriage was between Martin Thieret and Dora Victoria Frentzel. I will begin by telling Martin’s side of the story. He was born on January 27, 1871 and baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. His parents were Charles and Barbara (Hoehn) Thieret. Martin was the second of ten children born into this family, eight of which lived to adulthood. Martin’s marriage in 1901 was not his first. He married Hulda Metzner in 1893. That wedding took place at Peace and was performed by Rev. H. Guemmer. Here is that marriage license.
After a girl was born into this family in 1894, another child was due to be born in 1896. Tragically, Hulda died in childbirth, and the baby girl died about three months later. That left Martin as a widower attempting to raise a two year old child by himself. The 1900 census shows Martin living alone in his household, and I could not locate Oneida Thieret living in any other household in Perry County. Maybe someone with more time and patience can find where she was living during that year.
Now we move to the bride. Dora Victoria Frentzel was the firstborn child of Alvin and Elizabeth (Ruhkoph) Frentzel. She was born on January 9, 1880 and baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. She was the oldest of eleven children in this family, the last of which was not born until after Victoria was married. On this 1915 land map, we can see where the Frentzel family lived.
As you can see, they were located very near the church in Uniontown, so both the pastor and the bride’s family did not have far to go for this wedding on Christmas Day. Here is the marriage license for Martin and Victoria.
If you look closely, a note is written to the left of Pastor Hueschen’s name. It says, “Her name is not Dora but Victoria.” If you look at her baptism record, even though it is hard to read, there is no mention of her name being Dora, but it does say Victoria. Her name here is Martha Angelina Victoria Frentzel.
There are several other documents that use the name Dora, so I think that may have been some sort of nickname that was given to her. Victoria also has the distinction of being the last record to be found in Book #1 of the Grace, Uniontown records.
After getting married, Martin and Victoria lived on Martin’s land located near Longtown. Here is a map showing its location.
The church near his land was York Chapel, a Methodist church, but that is not where the Thierets attended church. They became members of the relatively new Lutheran church in Longtown, Zion Lutheran Church.
Martin and Victoria had seven children. Martin died in 1947. Here is his death record in the Zion, Longtown books.
Victoria died in 1961. Here is her death record.
There is a note here that says Rev. E.M. Frentzel, St. Louis, served her as pastor officiated. That was Pastor Enos Frentzel, who was Victoria’s cousin. I may have to write a story about him someday.
Martin and Victoria are buried together in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Longtown. Here is their gravestone, and it definitely uses the name Victoria.
The main reason I did this story today is that our museum has some artifacts on display from this Christmas wedding. Here is the display case which contains these artifacts along with other clothing items.
In that display case, you can find this framed photograph of the Thieret/Frentzel wedding couple.
Here is a close-up of that photo.
We have the wedding dress that Victoria wore for this wedding. Here is that dress as it is displayed in our musuem.
Here is a little closer view of a portion of that dress.
We even have the shoes that were worn by this bride.
The caption for this exhibit says the following:
When you get the opportunity to visit our museum, make sure you stop to take a look at this display. Now you know even more of the story. However, do not come to the museum today. Christmas Day is one of the few days during the year when we are closed. Maybe we should reconsider closing. After all, Rev. Hueschen was willing to open his church for an extra wedding ceremony back in 1901.
On behalf of our museum, I would like to wish all our readers a very blessed Christmas.
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