Emanuel George Weibrecht is today’s birthday boy. He was born on April 23, 1883, making today his 138th birthday. Emanuel was the baby of his familly, the 9th of 9 children. He was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. However, before we look at his life, let’s take a quick look at the entry of the original Weibrecht’s in America.
Johann and Margaret (Schubert) brought a young child to this country in May of 1866 aboard the ship, Ocean. In addition to those 3 people, Margaret’s brother, Herman Schubert, was listed with them on the passenger list. The ship arrived in Baltimore.
I would argue that there were 4 Weibrecht’s on that ship. Apparently, Margaret was pregnant with her second child, a daughter who was born on November 10, 1866 and baptized at Peace, Friedenberg. It would be 17 years later that this couple’s last child, Emanuel, was born. We see this Weibrecht family in the 1880 census with already a large family 3 years before Emanuel was born. Two more children, one being Emanuel, were born after this census.
When Emanuel was just 3 years old, his father died in 1886. His mother married again. Her second husband was John Gerstacker, whose wife had died in 1878. Because we cannot view the 1890 census, the first one in which we find Emanuel was the census taken in 1900. Emanuel was in a Gerstacker household as a 17 year-old stepson. He was called a farm laborer.
A short biography for Emanuel Weibrecht is found in the book, Friedenberg Remembrances.
Next, I will discuss the early life of Emanuel’s future wife, Martha Christine Muench. Martha was born on August 15, 1888, the daughter of Conrad and Anna (Lindner) Muench. She was also the baby of her family, the 6th of 6 children. The first 5 Muench children were baptized at Peace, Friedenberg, but Martha was baptized at Cross Congregation located between Friedenberg and Longtown. Here is the baptism transcription from that congregation.
Martha is found in her first census in 1900 in which her family was living in the Salem Township. I have once again enlarged the image to make it more readable.
Martha Muench was confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar in 1901. That leads us up to her marriage.
Emanuel Weibrecht married Martha Muench at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar on October 17, 1909. Below is an image of this couple’s church record from Salem’s books.
We can also take a look at the marriage license for this wedding.
Our German Family Tree states that this couple had 3 children, all of which have their baptism records in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We find the Weibrecht couple in the 1910 census living in the Central Township. Emanuel was a farmer. Martha was likely pregnant when this census was taken because she gave birth to her first child in August of that year.
Plat maps drawn in 1915 show a parcel of land near Perryville being owned by Margaret Gerstacker. Emanuel likely farmed that land.
Emanuel had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. His address was described as Perryville and he farmed for himself.
The 1920 census showed this family with 2 of their children. Also included in they household were Emanuel’s sister, Bridget Weibrecht, and his mother, Margaret Gerstacker. Another child was born in April of 1920, but that child died on the same day she was born.
Next, we find the Weibrecht’s in the 1930 census with one boy and one girl.
The last census we can view is the one taken in 1940. I have to display this entry in two images.
Emanuel was also required to have a World War II draft card completed in 1942 despite being already 59 years old.
Emanuel Weibrecht died on the last day of 1961 at the age of 78. His death certificate says he died at the Pine Lawn Nursing Home in Perryville.
Martha Weibrecht died in 1967, also at the age of 78. According to her death certificate, she died at the Perry County Memorial Hospital.
Emanuel and Martha Weibrecht are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.
When I was growing up in St. Louis, I knew of a Weibrecht family that had connections to the Longtown area. I suspect that family was somehow related to Emanuel, but more likely directly descended from one of Emanuel’s brothers. There are still some Muench’s in Perry County that likely come from Martha’s extended family.