It seems like Dollar Stores are popping up everywhere across America. Today I will tell the story of what quite possibly was the first “Dollar Store” to exist in Murphysboro, Illinois. It was called Buck’s Grocery, and the couple involved in that store come right out of our German Family Tree.
It all starts with the birthday of Adele Vogel. She was born on December 10, 1883, so today would have been her 136th birthday. Adele was the daughter of Henry and Amalia (Palisch) Vogel and baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Below is her baptism record in two images.
A photo of the Henry Vogel family was taken fairly early in Adele’s life. She is indicated by the red arrow.
The first census in which we find Adele was in 1900 when she was 16 years old.
Adele’s future husband would be Rudolph Buck. Let’s take a look at his early life. Rudolph was born on May 20, 1880, the son of Gottlieb and Pauline (Oehlert) Buck. He was born and baptized in Altenburg. Here is his baptism record from Trinity Lutheran Church. It is not very readable.
Rudolph could already be found in the 1880 census for Brazeau Township.
Rudolph was still living with his parents in the 1900 census.
Rudolph Buck went across the river to get married to Adele Vogel. They were married on May 5, 1907 at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Here is the church record for that wedding.
We find this couple in the 1910 census where they were living in Fountain Bluff Township, Illinois. In 1908, a set of twins was born, but one of them was stillborn and the other died after just one month, so no children are shown for this family in this census entry. It says Rudolph was a salesman in a general store.
A son was born in 1910 and baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, but all their other children were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Murphysboro, Illinois. We do not have church records from that congregation. The Buck’s would have 5 children that lived to adulthood. In 1915, Adele’s parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and had this photo taken.
In 1918, Rudolph had his World War I draft registration completed. By that time, Rudolph was operating his own grocery store in Murphysboro.
Next, we see this family in the 1920 census with all 5 children.
The last two censuses in which we see Rudolph and Adele show them still living in Murphysboro.
Rudolph’s World War II draft card states that his grocery store was known as Buck’s Grocery.
The Jackson County Historical Society which is located in Murphysboro has a post card for sale on its website which shows the interior of Buck’s Grocery as it looked in 1928.
If you are interested in this post card, you can find it at this link:
Rudolph Buck died in 1958 at the age of 77. Because he died at Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis, I was able to find his death certificate.
The following biography can be found on his Findagrave.com entry.
Adele Buck died in 1966 at the age of 83. Adele’s obituary is shown below.
Rudolph and Adele are buried together in the Pleasant Grove Memorial Park in Murphysboro.
I sometimes wish I could go back in time to step into an old general store or grocery store. I know it would be an entirely different kind of experience than stepping into today’s Dollar Stores.
