On several previous occasions, I have referred to the two Weinhold clans from Perry County as the “Miller” Weinhold’s and the “Dirt” Weinhold’s”. The “Dirt” Weinhold’s were given that name because they were primarily farmers. Today, I will tell the story of a Dirt Weinhold, but this one looks like he didn’t just work in the dirt.

Gustav Heinrich Karl Weinhold was born on August 13, 1885, the son of Paul and Louise (Hermann) Weinhold. Today would have been Gustav’s 136th birthday. The story of Gustav’s father, Paul, was told in the post, The Two Lives of Paul Weinhold. Gustav was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. His baptism record from that congregation’s books is displayed below.

Gustav was also born at the time when Perry County kept birth records. Here is the one for Gustav.

We never find Gustav in a census which shows him living with his parents. I’m sure if we could look at the 1890 census, we would see him living with his folks, but that year’s census was destroyed in a fire. By the time of the 1900 census, we find Gustav, at the age of 14, as a farm laborer living in the Adolph Bergt household near Frohna. Gustav had been confirmed at Concordia, Frohna the year before this census.

Before the next census was taken, Gustav got married, so we will take a look at his bride. Her name was Lina Concordia Kaufmann who was born on May 15, 1891. She would go by the name of Concordia during her lifetime. Her parents were Heinrich and Pauline (Bodenschatz) Kaufmann. A story was written on this blog about Concordia’s parents titled, Kaufmann Kinder Casualties. Concordia was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. I find it somewhat humorous that Gustav from Concordia found his Concordia at Trinity. An image of Concordia’s baptism record is shown here.

When Gustav Weinhold married Concordia Kaufmann, it was one of those marriages that we jokingly call a mixed marriage between a member of Concordia and a member of Trinity. These two were married on November 7, 1909 at Trinity, Altenburg. When we take a look at the church record for that wedding, we discover that it was not just Concordia who got married that day, but also her sister, Bertha, who married Rudolph Popp. Normally, when I see that two sisters get married on the same day, I would say that the real winner would be the father of the brides who would get two marriages for the price of one, but Henry Kaufmann died about 6 months before these weddings took place.

The marriage license for Gustav and Concordia is displayed below.

Our German Family Tree lists 5 children born to Gustav and Concordia. However, their first child was not born until after the census was taken in 1910. Their entry in that census shows just the two newlyweds. Gustav is called a farm laborer.

Gust had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. He was a farmer.

We see the Weinhold family in the 1920 census in which we find 4 children in the family. This census was completed on February 7th of 1920, and this couple’s last child was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. Based on the neighbors I see on this entry, it looks like they were living in the vicinity of Frohna.

Next, we find the Weinhold household in the 1930 census, but Gustav’s occupation had changed. This time, it said he was taking out rock at a quarry. Also, based on his neighbors on this entry, it looks like he was living in the town Altenburg.

This still has me puzzled. I know about a few rock quarries located near Wittenberg, but none in Altenburg. Was Gustav driving down to Wittenberg to work in a quarry there? Or was there a quarry somewhere in Altenburg. If so, I’ve never heard about it. Maybe one of our readers can explain this to me. When we look at the 1940 census, it says Gustav was back to being a laborer on a farm.

Gustav had a World War II draft card completed in 1942. This form gives his residence as Altenburg. For his occupation, it indicates his employer was Cliff Mining Co. in Poplar Bluff, but it says his place of employment was Altenburg.

Concordia Weinhold died in 1963 at the age of 72. Her death certificate states that her usual residence was located in St. Louis.

Gustav Weinhold died in 1973 at the age of 87. He died too recently to view his death certificate, but a Social Security death index says that his last residence was also in St. Louis.

Gustav and Concordia Weinhold are buried together in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

The Weinhold family discussed in this story looks like another family that ended up with several of its members being pinned with nicknames. Their son, Harold, went by the nickname, Zebel, and their daughter, Gladys, went by the nickname, Tuttie. Also, their daughter, Edna, had a son who was nicknamed, Hyde. Another post was written Edna and Hyde Bergt titled, Hyde’s Mom – 10/10/10.

I find it extremely coincidental that today’s story included a woman by the name of Concordia Weinhold. Just yesterday, as I was writing on my upcoming book, Wittenberg ’04, the chapter I was working on was about another Concordia Weinhold, who by then had married and become Concordia Bundenthal. What are the chances?