Walter Dickmann was born on July 5, 1891, so that makes him today’s birthday boy.  Walter was the son of William and Augusta (Schalk) Dickmann.  Although we do not have any church records for his baptism, several documents indicate that he was born in Arnsburg, Missouri, which is located in the northern part of Cape Girardeau County west of Old Appleton.  The first census in which we find Walter was the 1900 census from Apple Creek Township in Cape Girardeau County.  His father was a farmer.

Walter was 8 years old at the time of this census.  I find it fascinating that his older brother, Oscar, at age 10, was listed already as a farm laborer.  By the way, on this same census page, you can find four different Dickmann families.

The 1910 census shows that Walter was working on the Adolph Ochs farm in Perry County.  Here is an image of that census.

The map below shows the location of the Adolph Ochs farm in 1915.

The photo below is of the William Dickmann family which was probably taken before Walter was married.  Walter is standing in the back on the right.

We will now take a look at the early years of Wilma Bergmann.  Wilma was born on May 24, 1893.  She was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, Missouri.  Her parents were John Valentine and Anna (Muench) Bergmann.  Here is the Perry County birth record for Wilma.  (two images)

I found this baby picture of Wilma.

Another photo of Wilma in her earlier years was this confirmation picture.

I really ought to get someone to write a blog post about female confirmation fashion throughout the years.  I do not feel qualified to do so.

That gets us up to September 24, 1916 when Walter Dickmann and Wilma Bergmann were united in marriage.  Here is their marriage license.  They were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville.

Here is the wedding photo of Walter and Wilma.

Walter filled out his World War I draft registration in 1917.  On this form, Walter describes himself as working for himself on a farm.

This 1920 census shows Walter and Wilma with two young daughters living in the Bois Brule Township of Perry County.

When I first looked at this record, I thought they were living next to Wilma’s parents, but the John Bermann shown above them in this document is John W. Bergmann, and the daughters listed do not match up with Wilma’s siblings.

We find an interesting development when we look at the 1930 census.  Apparently this Dickmann family moved to St. Louis for a while.  This record shows Walter working as a chauffeur for a furniture store and having three children.

The Dickmanns did not remain in St. Louis, because in 1940, we once again find them living in Perry County, this time in the Cinque Hommes Township.

They now have four children, and their oldest daughter, Iva, is shown to be a public school teacher.  Records on Ancestry.com indicate that some of their children were born in Menfro.  Walter filled out the below World War II draft card in 1942.

I have one more photo to share.  It shows members of the Dickmann family on the porch of a home.  Walter is second from the left with his mother standing in front of him.  I do not think Wilma is in this photograph.

Walter died in 1973; Wilma died in 1981.  They are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.  Here is their gravestone.

Although Walter does not stray very far away from the Perryville area, I find it interesting that every census in which we find him, he is living in a different township.

Just a quick note:  I am still waiting to get some more information from Fred Eggers so I can post his story.  That story should show up on this blog very soon.