I began writing this post yesterday, but unforeseen circumstances kept me for finishing it. So, you are reading it today.

A pair of youngsters grew up attending the same church on Sundays. They would later get married at that church. I have this image in my mind of this couple, along with their 3 children sitting in the same pew in that church. And if they were typical Lutherans, perhaps they almost always occupied the same pew. I will share their story today.

Arthur August Theodore Franke was born on January 3, 1879, so yesterday, he was the birthday boy. It would have been his 145th birthday yesterday. Arthur was the son of August and Theresia (Koenig) Franke. He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. We can view his baptism record below from that congregation’s books.

Arthur is found in the 1880 census, although he is called Adolph. He was 1 year old at the time of this entry. His father was a farmer in the Union Township.

Arthur was still single and living with his parents in 1900. He was 21 years old and working on his father’s farm.

New, we need to switch our attention to the woman who would become Arthur’s wife. Her name was Johanne Lydia Bodenschatz, who was born on October 20, 1883. Johanne was the daughter of Carl and Johanna (Hopfer) Bodenschatz. Her baptism record from the books of Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown is pictured here. 

Because Johanne was born after 1880, we do not see he in a census entry until 1900. That would be the only entry in which she was unmarried. She was 16 years old, and her father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

Arthur Franke married Johanne Bodenschatz on October 19, 1902 at Grace, Uniontown. The church marriage record for this event is pictured here.

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

Arthur and Johanne had 3 children, two of which were born before the 1910 census was taken. This young family was still living with Arthur’s father, who by that time was a widower. Arthur and his father were still farming together.

Arthur had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. As expected, it says he was a farmer in Uniontown.

Arthur’s father died in 1918, so we do not see him in the 1920 census for the Franke family. All 3 of their children are found in this household.

Next, we find the Franke’s in the 1930 census. Arthur’s son, Albert, was helping with the farming.

Arthur Franke died in 1939 at the age of 60. According to his death certificate shown here, he died of a heart attack.

An obituary for Arthur was published.

Johanne Franke was a widow in the 1940 census. In her household were her daughter, Flora, along with her son, Albert, and his family.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. This time, Albert Franke was the head of the household. 

Johanne Franke died in 1968 at the age of 84. Her death certificate is displayed here.

Arthur and Johanne Franke are each buried in the Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Uniontown.

The tale of Arthur and Johanne Franke is yet another one to be told on this blog about a couple made up of a husband and a wife who were born, baptized, confirmed, married, raised a family, died, and were buried while being members of the same congregation. This was once much more common than it is today.