Today’s story has a few similarities to yesterday’s tale. First, you will be reading about another birthday boy by the name of Theobald. Also, much of today’s story takes place in the Fountain Bluff Township of Jackson County, Illinois, and centered around Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob.

It has been a while since I have written a story about someone in what I have called “Anton’s Army”, so let me remind you about the reason I have given this family this name. Anton Mueller, who was married twice, sired a total of 16 children according to our German Family Tree. Of this multitude of children, only 2 of them were girls, so I have called this primarily-male group an army.

The second child born to Anton Mueller and his first wife, Anna Drumtra, was a boy named Theobald Anton Mueller, who was born on October 25, 1892. Theobald was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. His baptism record from that congregation’s books is displayed below.

Theobald had not even reached his 4th birthday when his mother died. In 1897, his father married Maria Asche. Theobald is found in his first census in 1900 at the age of 8. The two youngest children in this household were born to the second marriage.

Next, we find Theobald in the 1910 census as a teenager. You can see that this Mueller household had gotten quite large. Theobald was working on his father’s farm.

The Anton Mueller home is shown in this photo.

The 1915 plat maps show several parcels of land owned by Anton Mueller in Altenburg. A Mueller father and son team that are descendants of Anton still occupy some of these parcels of land to this day.

Now, we will turn our attention to Theobald’s bride. Her name was Paula Eleonore Bruhl, who was born on September 26, 1897. Paula was the daughter of Charles and Juliana (Popp) Bruhl. She was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. Below is an image of her baptism record from that congregation.

Paula is found in the 1900 census, but somehow, she was called a 3 year-old son named Paul. Her father was a farm laborer.

The Bruhl household can be seen in the 1910 census in which Paula was 12 years old. She also had quite a few siblings.

Paula Bruhl was just 17 years old when she and Theobald Mueller were married on April 11, 1915. This marriage took place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Below, you will see the church record for this wedding.

We can also take a look at the marriage license for this couple. It states that Paula’s father had given his consent for this marriage.

Theobald and Paula had 9 children according to our German Family Tree, and all of them were baptized across the river at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. One child was born before Theobald had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. Theobald was a farmer.

The 1920 census shows the Theobald Mueller household living in the Fountain Bluff Township. Two children were listed along with one of Paula’s brothers who was helping with the farm.

Next, we find a larger Mueller household in the 1930 census. A 17 year-old girl, Rosa Bogenpohl, was a servant for this family.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1940. This couple’s last child was born in 1937. Six out of their 9 children were boys, so there would be plenty of descendants from this family to carry the surname Mueller. The household of Raymond Mueller, one of their sons, is found right below Theobald’s entry.

In 1942, Theobald had his World War II draft card completed.

Theobald Mueller died in 1955, one day after he celebrated his 63rd birthday. We can view the obituary that was published for him.

Paula Mueller died in 1983 at the age of 86. We can also view her obituary.

Theobald and Paula Mueller are each buried in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Jacob, Illinois.

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Before finishing this post, I want to display a few photos that include Theobald and Paula. First, here is one that shows Theobald included with the rest of Anton’s Army. The caption will help you identify Theobald. Whoever set up this photo placed all 3 of the children born to Anton’s first wife on the right side of the front row.

Next, we have this photograph that includes the spouses. Once again, the caption will help identify Paula and Theobald.

There are still plenty of members of Anton’s Army who have not had their stories told on this blog. I suspect you will be reading more of such stories in the future.

One more thing: Theobald Mueller shares the same birthday with another famous personality from this area’s past. Rev. C.F.W. Walther was born on October 25, 1811, making today his 210th birthday. Happy Birthday, Rev. Walther.