A little over a year ago, I wrote the story of the couple made up of Martin Lueders and Agnes Fiehler. That story was titled, Lehrer Lueders. Just a reminder that Lehrer is the German term for “teacher”. Martin Lueders spent much of his Lutheran teaching career in Kansas, although he was teaching in Fremont, Nebraska when he returned to his hometown of Frohna, Missouri to marry Agnes Fiehler, a childhood classmate. Today, I will tell the tale of their only son, Edwin Lueders, who, like his father, became Lehrer Lueders.
I have no records to show from Perry County for Edwin’s story. He was born in Hanover, Kansas where his father was the teacher. Edwin is today’s birthday boy, having been born on May 20, 1898. The first census in which he is shown was the one taken when he was just 2 years old in 1900.
You may note that his older sister had been born in Nebraska. One more daughter was born into this family, so Edwin was the only son. He can be seen in this photograph of the three children of Martin and Agnes Lueders.
The above photograph is the only one I could find of Edwin Lueders. Next, we will take a look at the 1910 census. Edwin was 12 years old.
When we look at the World War I draft registration that was filled out in 1918, we notice that Edwin was a “divinity student” in Seward, Nebraska. That meant he was attending my alma mater, Concordia Teachers College in Seward.
This form was stamped by both Washington County, Kansas and Seward County, Nebraska. I would guess that Edwin did not have to go off to war in Europe because he was studying to be a church worker. When I was attending Seward, I was exempt from military service which may have meant going to Vietnam because I was studying to be a church worker.
Edwin became a Lutheran teacher, following in his father’s footsteps, and we find him living in Martinsburg, Nebraska in the 1920 census. He was living in the household of the Lutheran pastor.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Martinsburg, Nebraska is shown below.
I do not have any documentation for this, but an Ancestry.com family history says Edwin Lueders married Ida Fischer in Hampton, Nebraska on July 3, 1921. Ida was born on January 11, 1901 in Germany. Ida had no connection to the Perry County Fischer’s. I am thinking that Edwin was serving as a teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Hampton, Nebraska for a few years. Below is a photo taken of that church in 1948.
Edwin and Ida had 3 sons. The first son was born in Nebraska. The other two were born in Iowa. The 1930 census shows the Lueders household in Pomeroy, Iowa where Edwin was a Lutheran teacher.
Edwin served at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pomeroy. He is included in a listing of teachers at that school in a church history.
The 1940 census shows not only a location change, but also a career change. The family was living in Beatrice, Nebraska, and Edwin was working as a filling station attendant. I guess you could say that is an occupation that pretty much doesn’t exist anymore.
It looks like a few years later, Edwin moved to a location that his father once lived…Fremont, Nebraska. A 1947 Fremont city directory shows Edwin and Ida.
There were also other Lueders names in Fremont, but I don’t see them as being related to Edwin. Edwin was now the superintendent for the Lutheran Children’s Home Society, which in those days was an orphanage. I found the photo below which says certain family services were begun in Fremont in 1943.
I also found this photo which is said to be a German Lutheran orphanage in Fremont, Nebraska.
Edwin died in 1972 at the age of 74. After his death, Ida married again. Her second husband was Lawrence Kroenke. Ida died in 1994 at the age of 93. Edwin and Ida are both buried in the Memorial Cemetery in Fremont, Nebraska.
I have a soft spot in my heart for stories of Lutheran educators who have a connection to East Perry County, Missouri. I guess when I chose this story to research, I also found more evidence also of a connection to Lutherans caring for children in need of parents.
Warren,
Interesting! I shared this site with my father (Michael Lueders) and he noticed in the original “Lehrer Lueders” post – you actually have a quote in white from “a history for Trinity Lutheran Church in Hanover” – that mentions some biographical details about Martin including that he was the conductor of the Horseshoe Farmers Band for 30 years! (In addition as being the church organist.) I’m a musician and an artist myself and it’s fun to see that there was much artistic talent in my family so far back!
Speaking of artistic ancestors, you made mention elsewhere on this site a certain Paul Lueders who was a successful local photographer. You mention that he famously took a photo of the dead bandits from a local train robbery. You decided not to share it on your blog – but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing that photo with me privately – and any other photos that you might know where taken by Paul? I would appreciate it! (This is the post I’m referring to: https://lutheranmuseum.com/2018/09/13/paul-lueders-time-lapse-photography/ )
Now, in regards to the double-“D” Luedders… I’m actually quite stumped! I’ve never met or seen any myself, actually! My father mentioned seeing that spelling before , but didn’t know the origin. I’m sure we’re all related if you go back in the family tree. It seems that all of these names originate from the same root back in Germany – which is actually the same root name as “Luther” – which shouldn’t surprise anyone! I know that in my family there was always some open wondering about whether we were actual descendants of Martin Luther himself! This website seems to confirm that suspicion to some degree: https://www.houseofnames.com/lueders-family-crest
Last bit of fun with our name… as you know, August’s last name was originally “Lüders” when he came over from Germany – but they had to do something with that pesky umlaut (ü). The solution was the spelling “Lueders” with the americanized pronunciation “Leaders”. Now, strangely, when “Later Lehrer” Edwin (My great-grandfather) had his three sons Carl, Louis and Edwin Junior, two of them continued pronouncing our last name “Leaders” – but one of them found it too confusing to explain to friends, so he insisted on pronouncing it “Looders”. That son was Edwin Junior, my grandfather! And so – all of my immediate family has always pronounced our last name “Looders” for as long as we can remember!
Would definitely enjoy visiting the museum sometime! I’m very fascinated by what you have so faithfully preserved.
Warren, I’m so thankful for your diligent research into the Lueders family. I’m Benjamin Lueders, from Omaha, Nebraska. Martin Lueders was, apparently, my great, great grandfather! I recently found a paper that my grandfather Edwin Lueders wrote, about his dad (also Edwin) who was a Lutheran Parochial school teacher (the son of Martin, and grandson of August.) Lots of great stories in that paper about him growing up in the Midwest. I’ve been deep diving on this website all weekend, and learning all about my family tree. Keep up the great work!
I did find a website that stated Martin Lueders was also an early day leader of the famous Horseshoe Farmers Band. I found that the band still exists and found photos and lists of old band members online – but couldn’t find Martin Lueders anywhere in them. Can you confirm or deny this detail?
I had never heard of the Horseshoe Farmers Band, but I just discovered a few things about it. I do know there’s a rich musical heritage in East Perry County, Missouri. I have a question for you. A friend of mine from my college days at Seward was Larry Luedders (2 D’s). He was from Herkimer, Kansas. Do you know of any connection between the Lueders and the Luedders names? You should come to Altenburg someday to visit our museum.
Hi Warren,
Larry is my uncle. He is in southern Illinois. He was a Lutheran school teacher for many years (4th grade) and retired as a principal. He met his wife Ann there while on his first teaching assignment (early 70’s). A few different Lutheran churches if my memory is correct and some athletic director days.
Somehow I’ve stumbled upon this post looking for something else but I’ve always been curious as to why there are Lueders with one D and the my family with the two D’s. Very interesting posts on the origin. I assume too that we are all related and the name changed when coming here.
Please let me know if you’d like his information to reach out. I will take a screenshot and relay to him. I grew up in Marshall County KS… where Herkimer is. My dad Wayne is Larry’s younger brother.
I wonder is the Horseshoe reference may be related to there. There’s a Horseshoe creek and a Horseshoe 4-H. The Missouri synod churches would be Immanual in Bremen, KS and Bethlehem with a Herkimer address. They may know more history info or there’s a historical society in Marysville KS.
Your aunt, Ann Luedders came to our museum not long ago with a school group from Chesterfield, Illinois. We had a great talk and got reconnected through Facebook.