I often check whether I have written a previous post about a character I am considering for a story. That’s because my memory is not so good. I have a few techniques for checking. One is to do a search on the blog for the exact name of the person. In today’s case in which I will be writing about a man named Rudolph Schade, I did find a man by that exact name in a previous blog. However,, it was not the man who you will read about today. It was a man who had a different birthday, and also was born with a different name. If you are interested in reading about those unusual circumstances, you can read the post, The Frohna Schade’s. But now, I will begin the story of another Rudolph Schade who was born on today’s date.

Rudolph August Schade was born on November 17, 1893, so he would be celebrating his 130th birthday if he was still alive today. Rudolph was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Engert) Schade. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Two images of his baptism record are pictured here.

Rudolph is found in his first census in 1900 at the age of 6. He was 1 of 6 children in his family’s household. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Next, we find Rudolph in the 1910 census as a teenager. He was no longer living with his parents. He was a farm laborer in the household of Louis Hilpert, a farmer near Frohna.

Now, we will turn our attention to the woman who would become Rudolph’s bride. Her name was Frieda Pauline Thurm, who was born on September 24, 1896. Frieda was the daughter of Emanuel and Ernestine (Stueve) Thurm. Like Rudolph, Frieda was baptized at Immanuel, Altenburg. We can take a look at the images of her baptism record below.

Frieda is found in the 1900 census at the age of 3. Her father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township. A farm laborer named Arthur Finger was included in their household.

The 1910 census shows Frieda at the age of 14. She had been confirmed at Immanuel, Altenburg the year before in 1909.

Rudolph Schade married Frieda Thurm on April 30, 1916 at Immanuel, Altenburg. Like so many other records in that congregation’s books, this one spreads out over two pages, so I have to once again display 2 images for this event.

We can also view this couple’s Missouri marriage license.

Our German Family Tree lists 4 children born to this pair, 2 boys and 2 girls. In 1917, Rudolph had his World War I draft registration completed. He is given an Altenburg address and was said to be farming.

The 1920 census shows Rudolph and his family living with Frieda’s parents in Wittenberg. Rudolph is called a mail carrier.

The 1930 census shows Rudolph with a different occupation. He is called a section hand for the railroad which had begun its service through Wittenberg in 1904.

A photograph was taken of a section crew working on the railroad running through Wittenberg. Since it was supposedly taken in 1920, Rudolph is not likely one of the men in the picture. Such section crews were responsible for maintaining the tracks and their surroundings.

In 1940, we find Rudolph and Frieda were still living with the Thurm’s in Wittenberg. Rudolph was still working for the railroad.

Rudolph had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. He is given a Wittenberg address and says he was working for the Frisco Railroad.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. The Schade’s were still living with the Thurm’s, but this time Rudolph is listed as the head of the household. Rudolph had the same occupation.

The photograph below was taken on the occasion of Emanuel and Ernestine Thurm’s 60th wedding anniversary, which would have occurred in 1950. Rudolph and Frieda are the couple standing in the back on the right. It is my guess that the home in the background is the one which was occupied by the Schade’s and Thurm’s for many years

Rudolph Schade died in 1968 at the age of 74. His death certificate below says he died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Frieda Schade got married again on September 1, 1969 to Henry Lichtenegger. Henry was 77 and Frieda was 72 at the time of this wedding. Their marriage record is found in the books of Immanuel, Altenburg. That record states that they were married in the parsonage. A couple at their ages would not be likely to desire a big church wedding. Their church marriage record is shown below.

We can also view their Missouri marriage license.

Henry Lichtenegger’s story was told in the post, One of the Jolley Boys. Frieda (Schade) Lichtenegger died in 1988 at the age of 91. Frieda and her first husband, Rudolph Schade, are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

My father was born in Wittenberg in 1913 and lived there until the 1930’s. Knowing where he lived, I have every reason to believe that my father as well as the Schade’s and Thurm’s were close neighbors and knew each other well. I wish I could ask my father about his neighbors so I could add more to this story.