Our post begins with our birthday girl today. Emilie Mehner was born on August 6, 1871, making today her 153rd birthday. Emilie was the daughter of Carl and Caroline (Dickmann) Mehner. Her later death certificate says she was born in California, Missouri, but in the census taken the year before Emilie’s birth, we find her parents living in the Apple Creek Township, and later census entries also have them living in this area. I suppose it is possible that the Mehner’s may have been in California, Missouri in 1871, but, if they were, it must have been for only a short time. Emilie is found in her first census in 1880 at the age of 8. Her father had died in 1878, and his mother had then married Karl Hoppe in 1879. There are 3 Mehner childen and one Hoppe baby in this entry. Her stepfather was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

The 1880 census turns out to be the only one in which we can see Emilie as a single woman. So, we will now take a look at the man who would become her husband. His name was Theodore Johann Buettner, who was born on December 13, 1876. Theodor was the son of Karl and Johanna (Reuter) Buettner. He was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. That means we cannot view an image of his baptism record. Theodore is found in the 1880 census at the age of 3. His mother had previously been married to Simon Popp who died in 1873. We see 3 Buettner children along with 3 Popp children in this entry. Theodore’s father was a farmer in the Salem Township.

Theodore Buettner married Emilie Mehner on April 15, 1900 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Their church record from Trinity’s books is pictured here. One of their attendants was Clara Hoppe, the baby found in Emilie’s 1880 census entry. Clara would marry the other attendant, Henry Sewing in 1902, so it looks as if some romance might have been precipitated by Theodore and Emilie’s wedding.

We can also take a look at the Missouri marriage license for this couple.

The 1900 census was taken just after this wedding took place, so we see this couple with no children at that time. Theodore was a farmer in the Saline Township of Perry County.

Our German Family Tree lists 3 children born to Theodore and Emilie. There is a bit of confusion about their son, Karl George’s, date of birth. A death record found in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville says he died on February 19, 1901 at the age of 14 days. Another boy, Johann Oscar, has a baptism record that says he was born on February 14, 1901 and baptized on the same day as Karl George’s death. Could it be that these two boys were twins, and the record that says Karl George was 14 days old when he died is incorrect. What I do know is the death record of one boy does not jibe with the baptism record of the other boy. When the 1910 census was taken, we find the Buettner’s with 2 children. There was a 69 year-old tie hacker who was living with them. A tie hacker is a person who makes railroad ties out of trees.

Theodore had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. The person filliing out this form spelled his name as Boettner.

The 1920 census indicates that another boy named Harry was born in 1915. No baptism record is found in our GFT for that child.

When the 1930 census was taken, just Clara and Harry remained in their household.

The 1940 census shows just 3 members of the Buettner family, Theodore, Emilie, and their daughter, Clara. This time, this family is found living in the Union Township.

The last census in which we find today’s couple is the one taken in 1950. It shows Theodore and Emilie, both in their 70’s, still livng with 2 single children, Clara, age 45, and Harry, age 34.

Emilie Buettner died in 1951 at the age of 79. Her death certificate is the document that says she was born in California, Missouri.

Theodore Buettner died a year later in 1952 at the age of 75. We can also view his death certificate.

Theodore and Emilie Buettner are buried together in the Home Cemetery in Perryville.

Now, you have read about a man from Friedenberg who married a girl from Friedheim. What you do not know is how this pair managed to get acquainted. Perhaps one of our readers knows how.