Back in 2017, I published a post titled, Cheyenne Schubarths. That post told the story of Adolph Schubarth spending the last few years of his life in Cheyenne County, Nebraska in a place near the city of Potter. We at the museum sometimes refer to this area of Nebraska as a Perry County suburb because many Perry County natives ended up settling there in the early years of the 1900’s. I will display evidence today that Adolph may not have been the first of the Schubarth’s to settle in Cheyenne County. It may have been one of the main characters in today’s tale.
Herman Johann Joseph Schubarth was born on January 9, 1889, so today would have been his 133rd birthday. Herman was one of Adolph Schubarth’s sons. His mother’s maiden name was Agnes Fehnke. Herman was baptized to Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Below is an image of his baptism record from that congregation’s books.
Herman’s family moved back across the river to Perry County before the 1900 census. We find this family living in the Brazeau Township where his father was a day laborer. Herman was 10 years old. His mother had died in 1898, so his father was a widower at this time.
Although his father, Adolph, was still living in Perry County when the 1910 census was taken, we find Herman living in Cheyenne County, Nebraska. That would mean that Herman got to Nebraska before his father did. He was a hired hand in the Peter Nelson household at the age of 21.
Herman had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. When that form was completed, his address was given as Potter, Nebraska. This document gives evidence that Herman’s father was also living in Cheyenne County by this time. It says Herman was the only support of his father.
Let’s turn our attention to the girl who was going to be Herman’s bride. Her name was Anna Lydia Darnstaedt. Lydia’s childhood had similarities to that of Herman. She was born on November 27, 1895, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Weber) Darnstaedt. A previous post was written about Lydia’s parents titled, Joseph and Anna – To Illinois and Back. Like her future husband, Lydia was living in Illinois when she was born, and she was also baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob. Here is her baptism record.
When the 1900 census was taken, Lydia’s family was still living in the Fountain Bluff Township. Lydia’s age looks like it was first written as 4, but changed to 3. That can be explained by the fact that her birth year is given as 1896, which is not correct. Her father was a farmer.
Before the 1910 census was taken, Lydia’s family moved back across the river to Perry County. Lydia had been confirmed in 1909, and her confirmation record is found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. In this census, Lydia was 14 years old.
I figure it was possible for Herman to get to know Lydia both while they lived in Jacob, Illinois or in Altenburg,, Missouri. Regardless, we find Herman travelling back to Altenburg to get married not long after he had completed his World War I draft registration. On January 31, 1918, Herman Schubarth married Lydia Darnstaedt. This couple’s marriage record is found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. This document states that Herman was from Potter, Nebraska.
We can also take a look at this couple’s marriage license.
Herman would take his new bride back to Nebraska where they would spend the rest of their lives. There were no more records for this couple in Perry County. Since we cannot rely on our German Family Tree, we have to rely on other records and family trees of Ancestry.com to determine how many children they had. It looks like they may have had 5 children. The 1920 census shows this couple with just their first child.
The next census in which we find the Schubarth’s was the one taken in 1930. Herman and Lydia had 3 daughters and a son. Herman was a farmer.
The last census we can view is the 1940 census. An additional son had been added to the family in 1932. This time, Herman was called a truck driver living in Sidney, Nebraska, which is not far from Potter.
Herman had to have a World War II draft card completed in 1942. This document says Herman was working at the Liberty Bell Beer Garden in Sidney.
Both Herman and Lydia reportedly died in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. Herman died in 1965 at the age of 76; Lydia died in 1976 at the age of 80. These two were buried together in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Gurley, Nebraska, which is located in Cheyenne County.
Herman and Lydia Schubarth had such similar lives. They were each born in the Fountain Bluff Township in Jackson County, Illinois, later moved to Perry County, Missouri, and then spent most of their lives in Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
Correction to above article. Herman & Lydia are buried at St. Paul’s Cemetery near Potter, NE (not Gurley, NE…that is Salem’s cemetery) and both are in the country & not in town.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery is listed as being in Gurley on Findagrave. I trust your knowledge of the area. I wish I could get up there to actually see some of these places. Thanks for letting me know this.
Hello Warren- My maiden name was Barbara Oberndorfer & I grew up on a farm 1/2 mile w. of St. Paul Lutheran Church & cemetery near Potter, NE (also 1/2 mile n. of the Schubarth farm). My grandfather was Arthur John Oberndorfer (born in New Wells in 1888 & later a charter member of St. Paul). Over a year ago, I was contacted by Dana Farrow from Perry Co. via Ancestry.com about my family history since she also has Oberndorfer ancestry…we are 3rd cousins. I sent her an email but have never heard back from her. Below is a copy of the email:
Hi Dana-
Sorry it’s taken me awhile to get back with you. Here’s the info. that I have (thanks to a paternal aunt who did a family history project in high school in the early 1950s in Gurley, NE) starting w/ the earliest history. BTW- I was born in 1954.
– Great-Great Grandfather Matthias Oberndorfer – Born in Germany ~1834; married Marie Meier; crossed the Atlantic & lived in Frohna, MO & later Longtown, MO (farmer). (Don’t have info. on children other than my great grandfather nor his death info.)
– Great Grandfather August Hermann Oberndorfer – Born Feb. 4, 1858 in Frohna, MO; married Wilhelmina Ruehling (born July 29, 1836 in Altenburg, MO, died Dec. 23, 1950) on July 16,1881; lived in New Wells & Frohna, MO; died Sept. 20, 1924. Seven children: Martin, Martha, Arthur, Ernest, Josie, Arnold, & Clara.
– Grandfather Arthur John Oberndorfer – Born Dec. 28, 1888 in New Wells, MO; married Hilda Martha Schwartz (born Sept. 9, 1901 in Gurley, NE, died June 22,1962) on Oct. 17, 1923 at Gurley, NE; farmed in MO, was a streetcar conductor in St. Louis on Jefferson Ave. between 1912 & 1914 when he moved to Potter, NE where he was a carpenter until he began farming in 1917;died on Dec. 10, 1954 in Gurley, NE. Children: Normund (my father), Ruth, Leonard, & Clarice (all deceased).
I’m the only surviving child of Normund and now live in Joplin, MO.
Let me know if this info. ties in with your family history details. – Regards, Barb Meade
Since then I found the Lutheran Museum website & get your daily blogs. On 8/27/21 I read the one that included info. on Ernst Oberndorfer and from the copies of the 1860 & 1870 census of Brazeau Township learned of the siblings of my Great Grandfather August Hermann Oberndorfer, including Ernst who was a year older.
When I enter Oberndorfer on the website’s Family Research nothing comes up. I’m wondering if there is any more info. RE: my great-great-grandfather Matthias Oberndorfer & his wife Marie available.
Thanks for any info. you can provide. – Barb Meade (Joplin, MO)
ps-I’ve enjoyed seeing familiar names from western Nebraska in your blogs (Schuessler, Schubarth, Steffens, Gemeinhardt, Fiehler, Hilpert, Mueller, etc.) and hope to see Oberndorfer in the future.