I have a story centered around a wedding anniversary to share today. I will begin with the groom. His name was Heinrich Ernst Engert, who was born on October 21, 1862. Henry was the son of Frederick, Jr. and Elizabeth (Seibel) Engert. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Below is an image of his baptism record.

We find Henry in the 1870 census at the age of 8. His father was a farmer. Henry was the second-born son in his family, but his older brother died before the age of 2. So, Henry became the oldest child.

Next, we find Henry in the 1880 census at the age of 17.

Next, we will take a look at Henry’s future bride. Her name was Maria Wilhelmine Lungwitz, who was born on November 21, 1860. Maria was the daughter of Christian and Emilie (Herchert) Lungwitz. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Her baptism record from that congregation’s books is pictured here.

I found a Lungwitz family in the 1870 census, but it has some difficulties that make it questionable. The Mary in the list is described as being 7 years old when she should be closer to 10. There are a few names in the family that do not correspond to the names of children in our German Family Tree for this family. However, I think there are enough similarities to conclude that it is the correct Lungwitz household.

By the time of the 1880 census, both of Maria’s parents had died. We find Maria living in her brother, Herman’s, household. This time, she is more correctly described as being 20 years old. Her sister, Emilie Lungwitz, was living in the Ahner household right above her in this entry.

That leads us up to the marriage of Henry Engert and Maria Lungwitz on September 28, 1893. That would make today this couple’s 128th wedding anniversary. These two were married at Maria’s church, Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Below is the church record for this event.

We can also take a look at this couple’s marriage license.

It is at this point in their lives that this Engert family makes a move. The first 4 children born to this couple were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg, but beginning with the one born in 1895, the baptism record states that Henry was from Jackson County, Illinois. Below is a portion of that baptism record. The reference to Jackson County is found under Henry’s name on the left.

Two more children were baptized at Immanuel, giving indication that the Engert’s were living across the river. When the 1900 census was taken, we find them living in Jackson County, Illinois. They are listed as living in the Fountain Bluff Township. In this entry, Henry was a farmer.

When a baby was born in 1902, that child was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Our German Family Tree also indicates that Henry Engert became a member of that congregation in 1902. When the 1910 census was taken, we see this family still living in the Fountain Bluff Township. It looks like his occupation is sales keeper. I cannot read the last word of the occupation.

Another move must have taken place before the next census was taken. In the 1920 census, Henry and Mary and their family were living in Murphysboro, Illinois. This time his occupation is said to be a proprietor of a restaurant.

Yet again, we see one more move by this family before the 1930 census. In this last entry in which we find Henry and Mary, they were living in Evansville, Indiana. I found evidence that one of their sons, Herman Engert, was living in Evansville in 1930 also. Henry had no occupation at that time, but his son, Herman was a salesman at a department store. Here is the entry for Henry and Mary.

Henry Engert died in 1939 at the age of 76. We can view his Indiana death certificate which is in pretty bad shape.

Mary was still living when the 1940 census was taken, but I was unable to locate her. She died in 1951 at the age of 91. Henry and Mary Engert are buried together in the Lutheran Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana.

This Engert family is one of those who just had their beginning in East Perry County, but ended up moving to several different locations during their lives. Many times, when I write about a family that moves around, it is a case where a man was a full-time church worker. Not so in this case.