Johann Friedrich Kaiser was born on April 14, 1874, thus making today his 151st birthday. I went back to look at last year’s blog posts to see what I wrote on this day in 2024 when Friedrich would have been celebrating his 150th birthday. I discovered that we did not post a blog on that day. So, why didn’t I write Friedrich’s story? I honestly do not remember. However, I know that I would not have discovered his 150th birthday because his baptism record is found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim, and those records had not been inserted into our German Family Tree until recently.

Friedrich is mostly called Fritz during his life, so that will be the name I use for him in this post. Fritz was the son of Henry and Anna (Brickhaus) Kaiser. His baptism record from Trinity’s books is pictured here.

Fritz is found in the 1880 census at the age of 6. His father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

We cannot view the 1890 census, and when we find Fritz in the 1900 census, he was still single at the age of 26. He was working with his father on his farm.

Now, we need to turn our attention to the woman who would become Fritz’s bride. In her case, she was called Minnie most of her life. The name on her baptism record is Wilhelmina Carolina Yamnitz, who was born on October 15, 1873. Minnie was the daughter of Ernst and Caroline (Bangert) Yamnitz. Like her future husband, she was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. We can take a look at her baptism record below.

Minnie is found in the 1880 census at the age of 7. Her father was a farmer in the Union Township of Bollinger County. The Yamnitz farm was located near the populated area which later became known as Lixville. Minnie is called Mena in this entry.

In the 1900 census, Minnie was 26 years old and still living with her father. Her mother had died in 1881, and then her father married again. His second wife was Maria Brickhaus. Maria was the sister of Fritz’s mother, Anna Brickhaus. That makes for some interesting descriptions of relationships between the various members of this Yamnitz family.

Fritz Kaiser married Minnie Yamnitz on February 17, 1901. A new Lutheran congregation had been established in Lixville at about this time simply called Lixville Lutheran Church. It is in that congregation’s books that we find the church marriage record for Fritz and Minnie. They are given their birth names, Friedrich and Wilhelmine in this document.

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

Our German Family Tree and Family Search list 5 children born to Fritz and Minnie. Three of these 5 children have their baptism records in the books of Trinity, Friedheim. One son born in 1908 has his baptism record in the books of Lixville Lutheran Church. There is no baptism record in our GFT for their youngest child. I do know that by the time that son was born, Lixville Lutheran was no longer active. In the 1910 census, we find the Kaiser’s with 3 children. Fritz was a farmer in the St. Mary’s Township in Perry County.

The 1915 plat maps for Perry County show the Fritz Kaiser farm located west of the town of Millheim.

Fritz met an early and tragic death in 1918. He was just 43 years old when he died. His death certificate below says he died when he got accidentally caught in the flywheel of a gasoline engine. This document says he died in the Whitewater Township of Bollinger County.

I located two articles in local newspapers about Fritz’s accidental death. One is from the Perry County Republican and the other from the Perry County Sun.

Minnie never remarried. She is found as a widow in the 1920 census. Minnie is called a farmer in this entry which includes all 5 of her children, ages 6-18.

A Yamnitz family photo has been displayed in a few previous posts on this blog. Minnie is sitting in front, the second from the left, right next to her stepmother.

In the 1930 census, there were 4 remaining children in the Kaiser family. Minnie is once again called the farmer, and two of her sons, both in their 20’s, were called laborers on the farm.

The last census entry in which we find Minnie was the one taken in 1940. She was living with her two sons, Otto and George.

Minnie Kaiser died in 1943 at the age of 69. Her death certificate shown below says that she died of liver cancer. Her address on this form says she was living in Perryville.

Here is the obituary for Minnie that was published in the Perry County Sun.

Both Fritz and Minnie Kaiser are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Friedheim.

Fritz died of what could be classified as an occupational hazard. I would think that an engine with a flywheel may have been a relatively new type of technology being used on farms during the time of his death. Then, Minnie spent quite a few years as a widow who relied on her children to help her keep the Kaiser farm in operation. It must have required a great amount of courage and fortitude to lead her family through the difficult situation following her husband’s death.