St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ruma, Illinois is celebrating their 175th anniversary this year. It is not often that a story on this blog takes us to that little church in Randolph County, Illinois. Today will be one of those posts. The baptism record for today’s birthday girl is likely to be found in the books of St. John’s. Lydia Rowold was born on December 8, 1892, so today would be her 131st birthday. Lydia was the daughter of Ernst and Anna Marie (Arbeiter) Rowold. We find Lydia and her family in the 1900 census living in Ruma where her father was a farmer. At the age of 8, Lydia was one of 6 Rowold children in her household when this entry was enumerated.

A move was made by the Rowold family before the next census was taken in 1910. They made a move to Jackson County and were found living in Murphysboro. Lydia was 17 years old, and her father was still farming.

Now, we need to turn our attention to the man who would become Lydia’s husband. His name was Wilhelm Friedrich Rathjen, who was born on October 10, 1886. William was the son of Friedrich and Katherine (Weseloh) Rathjen. His baptism record is found in the books of Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Two images of his baptism record are pictured here.

William is found in his first census entry in 1900. He was living in the Fountain Bluff Township. Prior to this census, several events took place in William’s life. First of all, his father died in 1891. Then, his mother married again in 1894. Her second husband was Johann Kistenmacher. In 1899, William’s mother died. So, when the 1900 census was taken, we find William called a step-son of the widower, Johann Kistenmacher. William was 13 years old at the time.

In the 1910 census, William was a boarder in the Joseph Heins household. He was doing farm work.

On May 7, 1911, William Rathjen married Lydia Rowold. I know they were married in Jackson County, but I also know they were not married at Christ, Jacob. I suspect they were married at the church where Lydia’s family were members. According to our German Family Tree, William and Lydia had 9 children. All of them were baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob.

William had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. This form says he had a wife and 3 children and was a farmer.

The 1920 census includes 4 children in the Rathjen household.

Next, we find the Rathjen’s in the 1930 census with 7 children. William’s eldest son was old enough to be helping on William’s farm.

The last 2 children were born in the 1930’s. The 1940 census shows that William was still in the business of farming in his 50’s.

The 1950 census is the last one we can view. Just two sons remained living with their parents.

William Rathjen died in 1971 at the age of 84; Lydia Rathjen died in 1981 at the age of 88. These two are buried together in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Jacob

William Rathjen spent his entire life in Jacob, Illinois where he was a member or Christ Lutheran Church. Yet, he did manage to marry a woman from elsewhere. I think there is a chance that it may have been Arthur Estel, a grain elevator worker in Jacob, who had introduced William to Lydia. Arthur had married Lydia’s sister, Lena Rowold in 1908. The story of that couple was told in the post, Arthur and Caroline from Jacob. That means two Rowold ladies born in Ruma, Illinois managed to make their way to Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob.