I would not have found today’s story without the updated version of our German Family Tree. The key document that led me to this tale was a baptism record from the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. That is where we find today’s birthday girl.

Johanna Emma Elizabeth Riehn was born on February 8, 1875, so today is her very special 150th birthday. Emma was the daughter of Aaron William and Louise (Youngblood) Riehn. Her mother, whose maiden name was originally spelled, Jungblut, had previously been married to Charles Schmidt, but he had died in a construction accident in 1873. Charles Schmidt had been confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim, so there is a connection to that congregation prior to Emma’s birth Then, in 1874, Louise married Aaron William Riehn. Louise had a few children during her first marriage and several more after becoming Mrs. Riehn. A later census entry said that she had 11 children altogether. Emma was the first child born to her second marriage. Just the 3rd Schmidt child and Emma were baptized at Trinity, Friedheim. Emma’s baptism record is displayed below. You can see that Emma’s maiden name is spelled, Jungblut, on this document. Also, even though Emma was born in February, she was not baptized until May.

Emma is found in the 1880 census at the age of 5. Her father was a farmer in the Whitewater Township, which is located near Millersville. You can also see 2 Schmidt (spelled Smith) children in this household.

Next, we find Emma in the 1910 census at the age of 25. The Riehn’s were still living in the Whitewater Township. There were 8 Riehn children in their household, with Emma being to oldest.

Now, we will take a look at the man who would become Emma’s husband. His name was Daniel Columbus Crites, who was born on October 15, 1870. Daniel was born in Daisy, Missouri. The map shown below gives locations that will help you keep track of places that are mentioned in this couple’s life history.

I found evidence on Ancestry.com that the first Crites to be found in America arrived in 1738 and first settled in Georgia. Later, some men in the Crites family spent time in North Carolina before migrating to Southeast Missouri. Daniel was the son of Jesse and Mahala (Middleton) Crites. I found several documents that say he was born toward the end of 1870, so I was surprised that Daniel is found in the 1870 census at the age of 9 months. And that census entry says it was submitted in July of 1870. It does not make sense. His father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township. I found that there were several Crites farms located near Oak Ridge, Missouri, which is in the southern part of that township.

Daniel is found in the 1880 census at the age of 10. There were 8 Crites children in this household.

The final census entry in which we find Daniel prior to his marriage was the one taken in 1900. He was no longer living with his parents. Daniel is called the head of the Crites household, but he was still single, and his brother, Joseph, his wife, and his child were living with him. They were living in the Lorance Township. I suspect that they were living near the little town of Laflin, Missouri.

Daniel Crites married Emma Riehn on January 7, 1902. Their Missouri marriage license below which is quite difficult to read, says that this couple was married by a justice of the peace.

Daniel and Emma had just one child, a girl named Gracie. In the 1910 census, we find this trio living in the Lorance Township. Daniel was a farmer.

A set of plat maps for Bollinger County was produced in 1930, and it shows the D.C. Crites farm being located near Laflin. You can see that is also near the more familiar towns of Marble Hill and Lutesville.

In the 1920 census, the same characters were listed in the Crites household, just 10 years older.

The 1930 census illustrates that Gracie had married Rudy Ates, and that couple was living with Daniel and Emma. Daniel, at the age of 60, was still farming.

The 1940 census would be the last one in which we find Daniel. This time Rudy Ates was called the head of the household, and he was doing the farming.

Daniel Crites died in 1944 at the age of 73. His death certificate gives cancer as the cause of his death. He died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. This form says he lived near Laflin.

I found an Emma Crites in the 1950 census living in Cape Girardeau as a widow, but some of the facts about her did not match, so I do not think it was the correct Emma. Emma Crites died in 1957 at the age of 82. Her death certificate gives her an address of Laflin and says she also died of cancer. It also points out that Emma was born in Millersville.

Daniel and Emma Crites are buried in the Old Salem Cemetery in Millersville.

The baptism record found in the books of Trinity, Friedheim, for a baby born 150 years ago took me in a different direction than most stories that I write. Stories like this help me get a better understanding of other locations found in Southeast Missouri.