Theodore Noennig was a merchant who helped operate several stores in Altenburg. I will tell his story today. Theodore Gottfried Paul Noennig was born on November 6, 1886, the son of Gottfried and Emma (Kuehnert) Noennig. Theodore was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can view an image of his baptism record from that congregation’s books below.

Theodore was already a teenager by the time we can see him in his first census entry in 1900. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township. He was the firstborn of 10 children in this Noennig family.

Already at a young age and still single, Theodore became involved in the operation of a store in Altenburg. When the 1910 census was taken, he and Reinhold Fritsche, both in their 20’s, were living together and both called merchants at a general store.

That sore was called the Fritsche-Noennig Store. In the photo shown here, Theodore is the man standing on the left on the store porch, and Reinhold Fritsche is on the right. That store was located approximately where the new buildings of the Altenburg Public School are found today.

Now, we will take time to look at the woman who would become Theodore’s first wife. Her name was Ida Louise Petzoldt, who was born on July 15, 1893. Louise was the daughter of Friedrich and Linda (Bodenschatz) Petzoldt. Her baptism record is found in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. It is shown herek in 2 images.

Louise is found in the 1900 census at the age of 6. Her father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township. Louise was the 5th of 8 children in her Petzoldt family.

By the time of her confirmation in 1906, Louise’s family must have transferred their membership from Immanuel to Trinity, Altenburg. Her confirmation record is found in that congregation’s books. Louise was still living with her parents in the 1910 census. 

Theodore Noennig married Louise Petzoldt on August 20, 1911. These two were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. The church record for this occasion is displayed here.

We can also view the Missouri marriage license for this couple.

A photograph of the Noennig/Petzoldt wedding party is pictured here. Theodore’s business partner, Reinhold Fritsche can be seen standing next to the bride.

According to our German Family Tree, this pair had just 2 children. Sadly, Louise died as a result of childbirth when the 2nd child was born in 1915, and the baby also died in infancy. Her death certificate below does not indicate that she died of childbirth, but her church death record does. She was only 21 years old at the time of her death.

The above form says Louise was buried in the Evan. Luth. cemetery, which I assume is the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, but Findagrave.com does not have an entry for her.

Theodore would get married again. His second wife was Clara Marie Lautner, who was born on January 21, 1894, and it is her date of birth that led me to this story today. She would be celebrating her 130th birthday today. Clara was the daughter of Carl and Anna (Kriesse) Lautner and likely born in St. Louis. We find Clara living in St. Louis in the 1900 census at the age of 6. Her father was a cabinet maker.

Next, we find Clara in the 1910 census in which she is still living with her parents. This time, her father was a furniture store merchant, and Clara was one of his salesladies.

There are 2 things that make me wonder about Theodore’s second marriage. First, how did a merchant from Altenburg meet Clara, living in St. Louis. My best guess has to do with Theodore and Clara’s father both being merchants. The second question I have has to do with the fact that the Noennig/Lautner wedding took place in East St. Louis, Illinois. I located the marriage record for Theodore Noennig and Clara Lautner in Ancestry.com’s collection of Lutheran church records. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in East St. Louis, Illinois (which is a church that I think is no longer in existence unless they have changed their name). I do not see any evidence that Clara’s parents ever resided in East St. Louis, so I have to wonder why Theodore and Clara were married there. This marriage record says they were married on December 29, 1915.

Theodore had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. It said he was a merchant in Altenburg with a wife and child. That child must have been from his first marriage.

Our GFT says this pair had 3 children, the fist of which died as an infant. Those babies were all baptized at Trinity, Altenburg. The 1920 census shows the Noennig’s with 2 children.

While Theodore and Clara were relatively young, they had this photo taken.

Theodore sold his share in the Fritsche-Noennig Store and began operating a Variety Store located below Dr. Edward Lottes’s dental office. That is the building that was previously the Weber Hardware Store and later housed a tavern under many ownerships. The 1930 census says Theodore and Clara both worked at their store, which I understand also served ice cream. This census entry shows that Theodore’s home was located next door to that of his father.

During the Depression times, Theodore also sold vacuum cleaners, as is illustrated in the photo below.

Another change in occupation took place before the 1940 census. He had become the proprietor of an appliance store. In fact, I am almost certain that he had the store built. It was located right next to his home.

Theodore had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. This form calls his business the Noennig Sales and Service.

Here is a photo of the Noennig Appliance Store. Clara and Theodore are standing on the left. You can see that this business also sold gasoline, and other members of the Noennig family sold their apples at a fruit stand there. Beyond the trees in the background was Theodore’s home.

Here are a few other photos of Theodore and his appliance business. You can click to enlarge them.

One more census entry can be viewed for the Noennig’s…the one taken in 1950. Theodore is called an orchardist and salesman for an appliance store and orchard.

Later in their lives, Theodore and Clara had another photograph taken.

Theodore Noennig died in 1960 at the age of 73. Prostate cancer is given as a cause of death on the form below.

Clara Noennig died in 1968 at the age of 73. Her death certificate indicates that she died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Theodore and Clara Noennig are buried together in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

A few years ago, I drove by the site of the old appliance store. I could not resist taking a photo of a lonely discarded appliance sitting inside the dilapidated old building. Knowing the history of the building, it made me laugh.

A few things have been happening at the site of the Noennig store and home recently. Below is a photo of the Theodore Noennig home I took a few years ago.

Not long ago, a portion of the wall in front of the house collapsed, and the present owners chose to have it all taken down. I took this photo this morning on my way home from church. As you can see, the wall is no longer there.

Also, recent efforts have been made to clean up the debris from when the appliance store was demolished several years ago. This photo from this morning shows that just a foundation of the store remains.

Only a few old apple trees can be seen where the Noennig orchard was once located. Sadly, evidence of the Noennig businesses and homes is vanishing from the local landscape.