Edgar Dreyer has been a great contributor to the research library at our museum. He single-handedly translated the records of several local churches from German into English, and I know his efforts have been a great help to me in my research for these blog posts. Today, I will tell the story of Edgar’s grandparents. His grandpa is today’s birthday boy.

Joachim Friedrich Dreyer was born on September 24, 1879, so today would be his 145th birthday. Joachim was born in Stemmen, Germany. Different documents give either the name Joachim or Joseph as his name. I will use Joachim, partly because that is what is found on his gravestone. He was the son of Henry and Maria (Lohmann) Dreyer. According to our German Family Tree, Joachim was one of 12 children in this Dreyer family. If I have this figured correctly, I think half of these Dreyer children made their way to America and settled in this area, some in Perry County, Missouri and some in Jackson County, Illinois, just across the river. Four different census entries state that Joachim came to America in 1896, but I failed to find any immigration documentation for him. When the 1900 census was taken, we find Joachim living in the Fountain Bluff Township in Illiinois. He was living in the Henry Luedemann household and working as a farm laborer at the age of 20.

Somehow, Joachim managed to find a bride across the river in Perry County. Let’s take a look at her. Anna Louise Schlimpert was born on November 25, 1880, the daughter of Martin and Wilhelmine (Schmidt) Schlimpert. Her father, like so many Schlimpert’s, originated in the Seeltiz community, but he married a Schmidt from the Frohna area and Anna’s Schlimpert family ended up living near Frohna. Anna was one of 7 children in this Schlimpert family. The story of Anna’s parents was told in the post, Another Schlimpert-Schmidt Duo. Anna was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. We can take a look at her baptism record below.

Anna was born too late in 1880 to make it into that year’s census, and because we cannot view the census taken in 1890, the first census in which we find her was taken in 1900. By that time, she was already 19 years old. Her father was a farmer in the Union Township.

Joachim Dreyer married Anna Schlimpert on September 25, 1902. That means Joachim was married on the day after his 23rd birthday. They were married at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. The church marriage record for this occasion is pictured here. This document states that Joachim was a farmer in Alenburg, so he must have moved across the river into Perry County after the 1900 census was taken.

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

Our German Family Tree lists 6 children born to Joachim and Anna, the last 2 being a set of twins born in 1915. When the 1910 census was taken, there were 3 children in their household. Joachim was a farmer in the Bois Brule Township.

When the Perry County atlas of plat maps was produced in 1915, we find the Joseph Dreyer land located not far from Brazeau. They must have moved from the Bois Brule Township to a new farm.

Joachim had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. He is given a Frohna address on this document.

The 1920 census shows the Dreyer family living in the Union Township. All 6 of their children are found in this entry along with Anna’s mother, Wilhelmine Schlimpert.

Next, we find the Dreyer’s in the 1930 census. There were 4 of their children included in this entry along with a granddaughter, Myrtle Dreyer. Myrtle was a daughter born to their daughter, Eleanora, prior to her later marriage.

When the 1940 census was taken, we find the Dreyer’s with just their granddaughter, Myrtle, living with them. They were living in the Brazeau Township. Since the entry next to them on this page was the pastor at Concordia, I think the Dreyer’s were living in Frohna where Edgar Dreyer once lived and where the Dreyer Electric Company is now located. Joachim had no occupation listed.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. Joachim and Anna were living in Frohna, and it says Joachim was doing farm chores on his own farm.

Joachim Dreyer died in 1952 at the age of 72. His death certificate below says that he died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Anna Dreyer died in 1973 at the age of 92. According to her death certificate, she died at the Smithey’s Boarding Home in Perryville.

Both Joachim and Anna Dreyer are buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna. If they were living in Frohna where I think they did, then they are buried within sight of that home.

Edgar Dreyer is still living and resides in a nursing home in Perryville. I hope someone is able to show him this post. I need him to make sure I got the facts right. I am sure that if I got to sit and talk with him about his grandparents, he would have plenty of stories to share with me about them.