Twice before, I have written posts that highlight a man named Theodore Fischer. The most famous Theodore Fischer around here was the medical doctor who served the Altenburg area for many, many years. The post, Hometown Doc, told the story of Doc Fischer. Another Theodore Fischer was named Theodore E.L. Fischer and had the nickname, Bud. His story was told in the post, Bud and Edna. It was pointed out in that post that these two Theodore Fischer’s were second cousins. I will tell the story today of yet another Theodore Fischer, who is today’s birthday boy.

Theodore Ludwig Fischer was born on March 8, 1894, making today his 129th birthday. I have previously described some Fischer’s as being Altenburg Fischer’s or Frohna Fischer’s. Today’s Theodore would not qualify to be either one of those. He was born in Drake, Missouri, the son of a Lutheran pastor. His parents were Rev. Johann George and Emma (Boettner) Fischer. His mother had been born and baptized in Friedenberg, and she had married her husband at Peace Lutheran Church in that town, but Rev. Fischer had no early connections to Perry County. He had been born in Germany. When Theodore L. was born, Rev. Fischer was the pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Drake. I can once again display a photo that was shown on this blog when I told the story of Pastor Hueschen, who had served that congregation before becoming the pastor of Grace, Uniontown.

Pastor Fischer died in Drake in 1898 when Theodore L. was just 3 years old. When the 1900 census was taken, we find Theodore L. at the age of 6. His family was living in the household of Theodore’s uncle, Henry Boettner, who was also a widower. His Boettner grandparents were also listed right below the Fischer entry.

The 1910 census was taken when Theodore L. was a teenager. His mother is described as a teacher at a Lutheran school. Our German Family Tree has a note that says Emma was a German teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Perryville. She must have been one of the few Lutheran teachers in Perry County who were females at that time.

In 1917, Theodore L. had a World War I draft registration completed. His address was in St. Louis, and he was called a clerk for the Wells Fargo Express Company.

Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become Theodore L.’s wife. Her name was Louise Salome Hoehn, who was born on February 27, 1895. Louise was the daughter of Ferdinand and Emma (Fassold) Hoehn. The wedding photo for Louise’s parents is pictured here.

Louise is found in her first census in 1900 at the age of 4. Her father was a farmer in the Central Township.

When the 1910 census was taken, Louise was a teenager.

That leads us up to the wedding of Theodore Fischer and Louise Hoehn. There is no record found in our German Family Tree indicating the date of this couple’s marriage. However, in the Hoehn book that we have in our research library, it says they were married on February 6, 1918. The information found in that book for Louise is shown below.

The above image also indicates that this couple had 6 children. When the next census was taken in 1920, we find the Fischer family living in St. Louis with one child. Theodore’s mother and one of his brothers were included in their household. Theodore was a pipe fitter for a car company.

I found two different records for Theodore L. for the year, 1930. In the Federal census taken that year, it says Theodore L. and his family were living in St. Louis, and this time, he was a house painter.

Another record finds Theodore L. in the 1930 East St. Louis, Illinois city directory. It says he was working at a service station. The information about Louise from the Hoehn book also says that she and Theodore had lived in East St. Louis.

When the 1940 census was taken, we find that the Fischer family had returned to Perry County. They were living in Perryville where Theodore L. was a clerk in a grocery store. Several of his children were working at the shoe factory.

Theodore L. had a World War II draft card completed in 1942. This form says that Theodore L. was employed by the Nationwide Grocery Company in Perryville.

Several sad events took place in the Fischer family in the early 1940’s. First of all, their daughter, Eunice, died in 1941 at the age of 13. Then in 1943, their son, Paul Martin Fischer, died at the age of 23. He was serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II when the ship on which he was stationed was sunk by a German submarine. A Navy casualties list below documents his death.

There is also some information about Paul Martin’s death in the Hoehn book. It is displayed below. The VFW’s Fischer-Walter Memorial Post in Perryville is partly named in honor of his death while serving his country.

A photograph that was taken at a Hoehn reunion in 1947 includes Louise Fischer with her parents and Hoehn siblings. The caption tells which one is Louise.

The 1950 census is the last one we can view. Theodore L. had his own painting business.

Theodore L. Fischer died in 1966 at the age of 72. His death certificate is shown here. It describes Theodore as a painter.

Louise Fischer died in 1988 at the age of 93. Theodore L. and Louise Fischer are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

Now you know the story of the 3rd Theodore Fischer. This Theodore had a son named Theodore, so we know there was still another Theodore Fischer living in Perry County. That Theodore Fischer was born too recently to have his story told on this blog. At least not while I am alive. I rarely write about people born in the 1900’s.