Today’s tale begins with a birthday boy in the Shawnee Township. Carl Heinrich Kieninger was born on May 20, 1860, so today would be his 165th birthday. Henry, as he was called, was the son of Joseph and Eva (Putz) Kieninger. His parents arrived in America in 1858, and Henry was the first Kieninger child born in the United States. Henry was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. His was only the 10th baptism recorded in that congregation’s books.

Henry was already in the census that was taken during the year of his birth. He was called 2/12 years old. His father was a farmer in the Shawnee Township.

Next, we find Henry in the 1870 census at the age of 10. He had 2 older brothers who were helping his father on his farm.

I was unsuccessful at finding Henry in the 1880 census. I know he was not listed with his parents in that year’s census, and I found no evidence that he was living elsewhere. I also know that he was married in New Wells.

Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become Henry’s bride. Her name was Martha Theresa Litzelfelner, who was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1860. Early on, she was called Theresa, but most of her life, she was called Martha. She was the daughter of Andrew and Eva (Meyr) Litzelfelner. Martha has her baptism record in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg, but that record says she was from Cape Girardeau County. During those days, Rev. Schieferdecker from Altenburg would travel to the Shawnee Township to conduct services with Lutherans that were found there. Martha was likely baptized there when Rev. Schieferdecker had preached in the New Wells vicinity. We even see that her sponsors were named Starzinger, which is another name found in the northern Cape Girardeau County area.

Martha was born too late in 1860 to get into that year’s census, so we first find her in the 1870 census. She was listed as being 9 years old, and her father was a farmer in the Shawnee Township. She is called Theresa in this entry. The Litzelfelner’s had quite a large family, and all of the children had been born in America, but their parents were from Austria.

Martha is found in the 1880 census at the age of 20.

Henry Kieninger married Martha Litzelfelner on March 29, 1883 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. The church marriage record is displayed below. This is one of those marriage records from that congregation’s books that just listed the bride and groom and the date of their wedding.

Our German Family Tree lists 6 children born to Henry and Martha, one of which died right away. The first 5 children were baptized at Immanuel, New Wells. Their last child, who was born in 1896, was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. Zion Lutheran was established in 1896, and the Kieninger’s were charter members of that congregation. In a history of that church, we find this list of charter members of that congregation that includes the name of Henry Kieninger.

In the 1900 census, we find the Kieninger’s living in the Shawnee Township with all five of their children. Henry’s occupation was described as wagon and carriage repair.

The photo below includes Henry and his 4 daughters. It was probably taken not long after the above census.

Next, we find the Kieninger’s is the 1910 census. This time, Henry’s occupation was called furniture and undertaking. Their 22 year-old daughter, Cora, was a milliner who had her own shop.

Another photograph was taken of Henry Kieninger along with several of his siblings.

I located this photo of Henry and Martha Kieninger.

In 1920, Henry and Martha had no children living with them, but a man named John Kasten was included in their household. Henry had no occupation listed.

At some point during the next decade, the Kieninger’s moved to St. Louis. Their daughter, Ella, who never married, was back living with her parents and the proprietor of a confectionary. Also, their grandson, Marvin Kieninger, was living with them and working as an auto polisher. In addition, their daughter, Lula, who had married William Trower, and her two children, were included in this household.

Martha Kieninger died in 1935 at the age of 74. Her death certificate below says that she died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

An obituary for Martha was published in a St. Louis newspaper.

Henry is found as a widower in the 1940 census. This household had the same individuals as the previous census without Martha and Marvin Kieninger. Henry was 79 years old at the time.

Henry Kieninger died in 1942 at the age of 82. His death certificate indicates his cause of death was similar to his wife’s.

Henry also had an obituary published in a St. Louis newspaper.

Both Henry and Martha Kieninger are buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Jennings, Missouri.

Many of the group that called themselves the Wittenberg Cousins, who used to gather in Altenburg regularly, are descendants of William Kieninger, the son of Henry and Martha. Sadly, some of the Wittenberg Cousins have now died, and this group no longer is able to visit us at the museum. We miss their wonderful visits.