A rather notable Jacob Schlimpert has been mentioned on this blog on several occasions. That Jacob Schlimpert was one of a clan of Schlimpert’s that could be called the Seelitz Schlimpert’s. Jacob Schlimpert has plenty of descendants around Altenburg and Frohna. The Seelitz Schlimpert’s had two sons, Jacob and Joseph. Joseph, despite being the oldest son, was granted some money in his father’s will, and Jacob got the Schlimpert land in Seelitz. Joseph took his money, went across the Mississippi River, bought a farm in the bottomland near Jacob, Illinois, got married, and spent the rest of his life in that state. Today’s story will highlight one of Joseph’s sons who is today’s birthday boy. He is part of the Jacob Schlimpert’s, that is, the ones who settled in Jacob, Illinois.

Julius Heinrich Schlimpert was born on June 16, 1893, so today would be his 130th birthday. He was the son of Joseph and Caroline (Schuerenberg) Schlimpert. Julius was that couple’s first child. He was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob. We can take a look at 2 images of his baptism record below. If you look closely, you will notice that Jacob Schlimpert was one of Julius’s baptismal sponsors.

Julius is found in his first census in 1900 at the age of 6. His father was a farmer in the Fountain Bluff Township.

In the plat map pictured here, you can see how close the Schlimpert farm was to Christ Lutheran Church and School in Jacob.

Julius’s father, Joseph, died in 1908, so when the 1910 census was taken, Julius was a 16 year-old farmer. He had 3 younger siblings, but they were not likely to be very helpful in operating this Schlimpert family farm. Heavy responsibilities must have been put on Julius’s shoulders at a very young age.

Julius had a World War I draft registration completed in 1917. This document says that he was born in 1894, but it is the only such document that gives that year of birth. This form is also the only place where we see Julius’s middle name given as Jacob, and Julius even includes it in his signature.

Julius was still single when the 1920 census was taken. He and his younger brother, Carl, were running the family farm.

Now, we will turn our attention to the woman who would become Julius’s bride. Her name was Hilda Maria Engert, who was born on September 4, 1896. Hilda was the daughter of Joseph and Lina (Schade) Engert. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Two images of her baptism record from that congregation’s books are displayed below.

Hilda is found in the 1900 census at the age of 3. Her father was a blacksmith in the Brazeau Township. Like her future husband, Hilda was the firstborn child in her family.

Next, we find Hilda in the 1910 census. She had recently become a teenager and was confirmed at Immanuel, Altenburg in 1909. This time, Hilda’s father was called a farmer.

At some point in time during the next decade, Joseph Engert moved his family to Jacob, Illinois. That is where we find them when the 1920 census was taken. Hilda’s father was back to being a blacksmith. She had a younger brother who was also a blacksmith.

The most puzzling aspect of this story is the fact that I could not find any documentation on the marriage of Julius Schlimpert and Hilda Engert. I would expect a bride and groom who were each members of Christ Lutheran Church to have a marriage record in that congregation’s books, but it is not to be found. I also was unable to find any sort of Illinois civil record for this wedding. All I can tell you is that this couple’s first child was born in 1925. Julius and Hilda had 2 children, and each of them was baptized at Christ, Jacob.

Both children were born before the 1930 census, so we see them in that entry for the Schlimpert family. Julius’s mother died in 1928, so we no longer see her living with Julius. Carl Schlimpert’s household can be seen right about the entry for Julius’s family. Julius does not have an occupation listed, but I think it was a mistake made by the census taker. It says’ Carl’s wife, Hattie, is a farmer. I think that notation was intended for Julius’s entry. A boarder and a hired hand were also in this household.

The Schlimpert household is next found in the 1940 census. We see just the Schlimpert parents and their 2 children.

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

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. Hilda is even called a farm helper, and their son, Wilbert, then in his 20’s, was a truck driver for a grain dealer.

Hilda Schlimpert died in 1958 at the age of 61. An obituary for her can be found on her Findagrave.com entry.

Julius Schlimpert died in 1982 at the age of 88. We can also read his obituary.

Julius and Hilda Schlimpert are buried together in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Jacob.

I am now going to include a few photos that have a connection to this story. I was unable to find a photo of anyone in the Julius Schlimpert family. However, I did find this photo of Joseph Schlimpert, the father of Julius and the original Schlimpert found in the Fountain Bluff Township.

Below is a photo that we have on display in our museum of the Jacob Schlimpert family standing in front of their home located in the Seelitz community.

Let me tell you a few things about some people who are living right now and are part of my family. Not long after the Jacob Schlimpert family photo shown above was taken, that couple had a child named Oscar. Oscar would later marry Lorna Schmidt, my father’s sister. So, I now have plenty of Schlimpert relatives. Included amongst them is my cousin, Carolyn Bertha Schlimpert, who carries a few names often found in this Schlimpert clan. Also, there is a young man born a few generations later who is now college-aged that is named Jacob Schlimpert. He was named after his great great grandpa. Maybe this young Jacob will have children of his own and consider naming one of his boys, Julius, another name that is common in that clan.

In closing, let me say that a few years ago, Gerard Fiehler and I were in Jacob, Illinois, and while we were driving around, we located a Schlimpert farm. That name is still found in that vicinity. I know there have been a few times recently when some Schlimpert’s from across the river have visited our museum.