I have learned that I need to be very careful to distinguish between the Hoehn family and the Hoehne family. Yesterday, I wrote a post about a Hoehn that was celebrating an anniversary. Today, you will read the story of a Hoehne that would be celebrating an anniversary today. You will discover that the two stories, despite their marriages taking place just 2 years apart, will demonstrate the fact that these are two distinctly different families. Though the spelling is slightly different, depending on who you talk to around here, they can both be pronounced as “Hane”. One of the big differences between the two posts is the fact that the setting for yesterday’s story was in and around Perryville. Today’s story will take place in the New Wells/Shawneetown area of the Shawnee Township in northern Cape Girardeau County.

Joseph Alois Ludwig Starzinger was born on February 17, 1863, the son of Gottlieb and Theresia (Brandt) Starzinger. Early in his life, I found evidence that he was called Joseph, but most of his life, the documents used the name, Louis. The first Starzinger child, born in 1857, was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, but the rest of them were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. This was during a time when Austrian and German Lutherans in the Shawnee Township, like the Starzinger’s, were being served by pastors in Perry County. When Immanuel Lutheran Church split off from Trinity in late 1857, the Starzinger’s remained loyal to Rev. Georg Schieferdecker at Immanuel. So, we find Louis’s baptism record in the books of Immanuel, Altenburg. That baptism record is displayed here.

Louis is called Joseph when we find him in the 1870 census. He is 7 years old, and his father was a farmer from Austria.

I was unable to find an 1880 census entry for this Starzinger family, so now we will take a look at the woman who would become Louis’s bride.

Minna Caroline Hoehne was born on October 15, 1864, the daughter of Elias and Wilhelmine (Schlimpert) Hoehne. Minna’s parents were both original immigrants who arrived with the Gesellschaft in 1839. When the Trinity/Immanuel split took place, Minna’s parents became part of the new Immanuel congregation.

So, we also find Minna’s baptism record in the books of Immanuel, Altenburg. We can take a look at this image of her baptism record.

Minna’s father had died in 1866 when Minna was just 2 years old. Her mother then married Wilhelm Heiner in 1867. Minna looks as if she is named Minna Heiner in this entry from the 1870 census. She was 6 years old.

Minna’s mother and stepfather each died before the 1880 census was taken. I was unable to find Minna in that census. That leads us up to the marriage that took place on this date.

Louis Starzinger married Minna Hoehne on May 22, 1887 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. We can take a look at the church record for this event, but it does not tell us much.

The marriage license for this couple can also be viewed. The names of Louis and Minna are badly misspelled.

Our German Family Tree lists 6 children born to this couple, one of them being a stillborn. When the 1900 census was taken, we find this entry for the Starzinger’s. Louis, here still called Joseph, was a farmer in the Shawnee Township. Four children were listed.

Next, we find Louis and Minna in the 1910 census. Their last child had been born in 1904.

The last census in which we find Minna was the next one taken in 1920.

Minna Starzinger died in 1928 at the age of 64. Her death certificate says she died of cancer.

Plat maps for Cape Girardeau County were produced in 1930. The J.L. Starzinger farm is found south of Shawneetown.

Louis is found in the 1930 census. At the age of 67, he was still a farmer.

Louis Starzinger died in 1936 at the age of 72. We can also view his death certificate.

Louis and Minna are each buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Shawneetown.

Years ago, a person attached to the Starzinger family made a significant donation to our museum. As a result, I was able to use many of the resources that we have that is part of what is now called our Starzinger Family Research Library. Today, I was able to use those resources to write a story about one of those Starzinger’s.