Before I even begin telling the story of today’s bride and groom, let me say that the surname, Sewing, is pronounced as “saving” around here. I have also learned that when I hear or see the surname, Sewing, I automatically think that it is a story that comes out of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. That is indeed the case today. One more thing before I proceed. I am not in Altenburg today, so I will not be able to display the church records that I would normally include in such a story.

We have a birthday boy today. Robert Herman Sewing was born on May 10, 1892, so today would be his 133rd birthday. According to our German Family Tree, Robert was the 11th of a dozen children born to his parents, Henry “Fritz” and Matilda (Zoellner) Sewing. A previous post was written about Robert’s parents titled, The Trinity, Friedheim Sewing Circle. Like all of his siblings, Robert was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. A photo of the Sewing family was taken when Robert was rather young. It was reportedly taken in about 1897 when he would have been 5 years old. Robert is in the center of the front row. The caption identifies all the members of the family.

When the 1900 census was taken, Robert was 8 years old, and his father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

Another photo of the Sewing family was taken shortly after the above census. This photograph was taken outside the family home. Robert is standing in the front row on the far left, next to his father.

Here is a caption for the above photo.

In the 1910 census, Robert was not living with his parents. His older brother, Norbert, had married Clara Dickmann in 1907, and Robert was living with Norbert’s small family and helping him on his farm. That farm was also located in the Apple Creek Township.

Robert had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. He is given a Friedheim address, and it indicates that he was working on his father’s farm.

Now, we will take a look at the early life of the woman who would become Robert’s wife. Her name was Lydia Clara Grossheider, who was born on May 29, 1898. Lydia was the daughter of Charles and Clara (Schroeder) Grossheider. Lydia, along with all of her siblings, were also baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Lydia is found in the 1900 census at the age of 2. Her father was another farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

The only other census entry in which we find Lydia prior to her getting married is the one taken in 1910. She was listed as being 11 years old in this entry.

Robert Sewing married Lydia Grossheider on April 20, 1919. If I was in Altenburg, I could acquire an image of this couple’s marriage record from the Trinity, Friedheim books. Instead, I am able to display 2 different civil marriage records for them. First, here is the standard Missouri marriage license. This form says that both Robert and Lydia were from Friedheim.

Here is a document for this event that looks more like a certificate.

Our German Family Tree lists 5 children born to Robert and Lydia. All of them were baptized at Trinity, Friedheim. In the 1920 census, their entry does not yet include any children. Robert was farming in the Apple Creek Township.

Next, we find the Sewing’s in the 1930 census. There were 3 sons in their household by that time. One other child was born in the 1920’s but that baby died on the same day. That child has a baptism record in the Trintiy, Friedheim books, and that record states that this baby died just hours after the baptism.

In 1930, plat maps were produced for Cape Girardeau County. Below is the map showing where the Robert Sewing farm was located. It is found right on the banks of the Apple Creek which divides Cape Girardeau County from Perry County. You can also see that it was just west of the town of Appleton.

The 1940 census lists 4 children in the Sewing family. The oldest son, Floyd, was helping his father on his farm.

When the United States joined World War II, Robert had a draft card completed. He is given an Oak Ridge R.F.D. address, but that probably just indicates the place from which his mail was delivered.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. Robert and Lydia were in their 50’s. Just 3 children remained in their household, and the 2 sons were helping with the farming.

Robert Sewing died in 1973 at the age of 81. At the present time, we are able to view Missouri death certificates all the way up until 1974, so we are able to view the one for Robert. It says his occupation was farming insurance, and he is given a rural Oak Ridge address.

Lydia Sewing died in 1980 at the age of 81. Robert and Lydia Sewing are buried together in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Friedheim.

Our research library includes a wonderful book documenting the Sewing family that is cleverly called the Sewing Circle. If I was at home, I might have been able to find a photo in that book of the wedding of Robert and Lydia or some others displaying this Sewing family. However, I brought my wife to Memphis so she can be honored for her role as a mother this weekend, so I am unable to peruse that book.

This Sewing/Grossheider couple is yet another one made up of a pair that were members of the same church from cradle to grave. I did a search for the surname, Sewing, on Findagrave.com for the Trinity, Friedheim cemetery. There are 23 grave sites that include that name. I know that the Lutheran congregation in Friedheim has had many women members over the years who were skilled at sewing, and I know their pastors have always been about the mission of saving their souls.