I am excited to write today’s story. It is a story that not only briefly touches my family tree, but it is also one the enters my neighborhood. When I bought my uncle’s property and moved to Altenburg 14 years ago, I became a neighbor of Elvira Weber, her son, Butch, and her daughter, Betty, who lived next door to her mother. Elvira and Butch have now passed, and only Betty remains from the Weber family. I wrote recently about how our museum was gifted a copy of the 1907 atlas for Jackson County, Illinois. It was Betty who donated that book. By the time you read this post, you will know why this atlas became part of the Weber family. However, the story will not begin with a Weber because today’s birthday girl was a Rodewald.

Sarah Marie Rodewald was born on March 6, 1881, making today her 143rd birthday. Mary was the daughter of Friedrich and Maria (Gruenwald) Rodewald. She was the last of 7 children born to Friedrich and Maria. Mary was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We can look at a transcription of her baptism record below.

Sadly, Mary never got to know her father. He died a month after she was born. Then, in 1883, her mother married Ferdinand Ehrler. When the only child entered that family, he was born and baptized in Jacob, Illinois. If we could view the 1890 census, it would probably show Mary living in the Degognia Township in Jackson County. By the time of the 1900 census, Mary was no longer living with her family. She is found living in Chester, Illinois where she was a servant in the Herman Kipp household. She was 19 years old at the time.

Mary would get married later in 1920, so we will now take a look at the man who would become her husband. His name was Gustav Adolph Weber, who was born on October 14, 1874. Adolph was the son of Herman and Pauline (Braeutigam) Weber. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. An image of his baptism record from that congregation’s books is pictured here.

Adolph is found in his first census entry in 1880 at the age of 6. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Adolph’s father died later in 1880, leaving his mother as a widow. She would also died before the next census we can view in 1900, so the above entry is the only one in which we find Adolph with his parents. When that 1900 census was taken, we find Adolph living across the river in the Fountain Bluff Township. He was a boarder in the household of Joseph Darnstaedt and working as a farmer. Joseph’s wife, Anna, was Adolph’s sister.

Adolph Weber and Mary Rodewald were married on October 14, 1900 at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. The church marriage record for this wedding is displayed below.

Our German Family Tree lists 10 children born to Adolph and Mary. There were 2 sets of twins in that list. One set of twins lived to adulthood; the other set did not. All of those children were baptized at Christ, Jacob.

In the 1907 plat maps for Jackson County, Illinois, we find the Adolph Weber farm located in the Fountain Bluff Township not far from Christ Lutheran Church.

In the 1910 census, we see the Weber’s with 5 children. Adolph was a farmer in the Fountain Bluff Township.

In 1918, Adolph had his World War I draft registration completed. It gives him a Jacob, Illinois address.

The 1920 census would be the last entry in which we find Adolph and his family living in Illinois. Eight children were found in their family, including their last child, Ernest.

It must have been about this time that the Weber’s had a family photo taken.

Let me backtrack in time just a bit. In 1915, plat maps were produced for Perry County, Missouri. In that publication, we find a piece of property owned by A. H. J. Gerdes.

Evidence points to the fact that A.H.J. Gerdes moved away from Altenburg not long after these plat maps were produced, and I think Adolph Weber was the next owner. He was still in Illinois in 1920, but probably just after that time, he and Mary must have moved their family back to Perry County. We find them in the 1930 census living in the Brazeau Township.

I purposely included the entry right above the Weber’s for a brother and sister, Herman and Mathilda Wachter. Those two were the owners of the property that I now own. Each of them were never married, and later in 1950, my Uncle Herb and Aunt Melba, a newlywed couple, bought that land. The house in which I live was built in the mid-50’s. I am going to republish a photo of Wachter siblings that has shown up on this blog before. It includes Herman and Mathilda. Herman is sitting in the front row, second from the right. Mathilda is standing in the back, second from the right.

Next, we find the Weber’s in the 1940 census. Adolph, then in his 60’s, was still farming. Just 2 boys remained in their household. Once again, you see the Wachter brother and sister in the next household below the Weber’s.

Another photo was taken of the Adolph Weber family at a later time.

Mary Weber died in 1946 at the age of 65. Her death certificate can be viewed below.

Adolph is still found in the 1950 census. Adolph, at the age of 75, was farming with his youngest son, Ernest, who had married Elvera Mueller.

Adolph Weber died in 1956 at the age of 81. His death certificate says he died at the Perryville Nursing Home.

Adolph and Mary Weber are each buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

I was born in 1950, so Adolph was still alive when I visited my aunt and uncle as a child, but I do not remember ever meeting either Adolph or his son, Ernest. However, I did get to know Ernest’s wife, Elvera, after I moved to Altenburg. And if you want to add another tidbit to this story, Elvera’s father was my grandmother’s brother.

There is still a bit of evidence of Ernest Weber around here. Right near my mailbox, you will still see one that has Ernest’s name still visible. I can still see it every time I pick up my mail.

In the photo below, you will see the home of Ernest and Elvera Weber. In the background, behind the tree, you will see my house at the end of the lane.

I am proud to be part of this historic neighborhood. You cannot see it in the above photo, but behind the house, several hundred yards back, you would find the monument marking the site where the Log Cabin College was built.