Heinrich Herman Luehrs was born on April 6, 1870, along with his twin brother, Johann. Herman, however, was the only one who survived infancy. According to our German Family Tree, these twins were the 6th and 7th of 9 children born to Heinrich and Katharina (Blanken) Luehrs. Heinrich and Katharina arrived in America in 1866 aboard the ship, Carl, a ship that was loaded with folks who settled in this area. We see them on the passenger list below with 2 children.

This family originally settled in the area around New Wells in northern Cape Girardeau County. Herman and his twin brother were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. We can take a look at their baptism record from that congregation’s books.

The Luehrs twins were the only children in this family that were baptized at that congregation. The last two children, beginning with the next child born in 1873, were baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. So, this family must have moved into Perry County in the early 1870’s. We find Herman and his twin brother in his first Federal census in 1870, the year of their birth. They were living in the Shawnee Township, where Heinrich was called a farm hand.

When the 1880 census was taken, we find the Luehrs household in the long-lost pages of the Union Township records. Herman was listed as being 11 years old, but he was only 10.

I won’t display it, but Herman’s confirmation record can be found in the books of Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna.

Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become Herman’s bride. Her name was Anna Sophia Stueve, who was born on June 24, 1874. Sophia was the daughter of Peter and Margaret (Crum) Stueve. The German Family Tree lists 8 children born into this family, with Sophia being #4. She was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar. Her baptism record is pictured here.

The only census in which we find Sophia as a single person was the one taken in 1880. Her family was living in the Salem Township. Her father was a farmer.

Herman Luehrs married Sophia Stueve on November 4, 1897 at Salem, Farrar. We can take a look at this pair’s church marriage record.

Their marriage license is also shown here.

Six children are listed in the GFT for this couple. Two of them died early. When the 1900 census was taken, we find this family in the difficult-to-read pages of the Salem Township. This entry is actually not too bad. Their first child is included here.

In the 1910 census, we find the Luehrs household still living in the same location. In several census entries, we find Herman’s family listed right next to that of his older brother, Claus Luehrs.

The plat maps produced in 1915 display the fact that Herman and Claus Luehrs were neighbors near the village of Farrar.

One more child was born in 1911, but that child died right away. Next, we find the Luehrs family in the 1920 census.

That census would be the last one in which we find Herman. He died in 1925 at the age of 55. An intestinal obstruction is given as the cause of death on his death certificate.

Sophia is found in three more census records (thanks to the newly-released 1950 census). In 1930, she was living in the household of her son, Theodore Luehrs, and his family.

Next, in the 1940 census, Sophia was living in another son’s household. She was living with Walter Luehrs and his family.

I found Sophia in the 1950 census, still living with her son, Walter. By the way, Gerald Luehrs, a baby in this entry, was a classmate of mine at Concordia, Seward.

Sophia Luehrs died in 1951 at the age of 76. We can also view her death certificate.

Both Herman and Sophia Luehrs are buried in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Farrar.

The Luehrs name may not have begun in the area around Farrar, but now, one would certainly include that surname in the group I call “Farrar names”.