One lonely church record found in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg leads us to today’s couple. That confirmation record was for a young girl who would eventually marry a very prominent character in the history of Jackson, Missouri. I will begin with the bride in today’s couple.

Regina Fredericke Rehkopf was born on September 13, 1845 in Germany. Fredericke was the daughter of Henry and Dorothea (Steinmetz) Rehkopf. Her mother died in 1848 when Fredericke was just 3 years old. Then, later in 1848, her father married Wilhelmine Braukmeier. In 1850, the Rehkopf family came to America aboard the ship, Ella. Ella is the same ship that was mentioned in yesterday’s post when it brought another set of passengers to this country in 1853. Fredericke was just 4 years old when she made that voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Rehkopf’s are found in the 1850 census living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Fredericke was 5 years old, and her father was a laborer. The Rehkopf’s were living in the John Stamer household.

When the 1860 census was compiled, the Rehkopf’s were living in the Union Township of Bollinger County. Fredericke was a teenager, and this time, her father was a farmer.

A few church records found for the Rehkopf children are found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim, but for some reason, when Fredericke was confirmed in 1860, we find her confirmation record in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg.

Fredericke would get married prior to the next census, so we will now take a look at the man who would become her husband. His name was Jacob Henry Kneibert, who was born on July 13, 1840. That means today would be his 185th birthday. His Family Search entry says that he was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Jacob was the son of Jacob Henry, Sr. and Elisabeth (Loos) Kneibert. Jacob is found in the 1850 census at the age of 9. The family was living in Cape Girardeau where Jacob’s father was a grocer. Jacob, Jr. was the only child in this family that was born in Kentucky.

The Kneibert’s are found living in Jackson, Missouri when the 1860 census was taken. Jacob, Sr. was called a merchant, and Jacob, Jr. was a clerk.

Jacob served in the Union Army during the Civil War. A document giving his time of service is displayed below. It indicates that he served with a unit from Kentucky.

Jacob Kneibert married Maria Essig on May 2, 1865, but she died later that year as a result of childbirth complications. Here is that marriage record from Cape Girardeau County.

Then, on August 16, 1866, Jacob Kneibert married Fredericke Rehkopf at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arnsberg. A civil record of that event from Cape Girardeau County is shown here.

Family Search lists 10 children born to this couple. Their first child died right away, but all the rest lived into the 20th century. In the 1870 census, the Kneibert’s were living in Jackson with 2 children. Their oldest in this household was yet another Jacob Kneibert…the third. Jacob, Jr. had a general merchandising business.

Next, we find this family in the 1880 census. By then, the Kneibert’s had 6 children. A servant girl named Anna Herst was included in the household.

Because we cannot view the 1890 census, the next one in which we can find the Kneibert’s is the one taken in 1900. Their household contained children from the ages of 14-31. Jacob was a dealer in groceries.

At some point, a photo was taken of the Kneibert house in Jackson. It was quite a large building that existed until it was razed in 1963.

In the 1910 census, it said Jacob was a salesman of groceries at the age of 70. There were 3 older single children still living with their parents, and 2 other children that were already called widowers.

The last census in which we find Jacob and Fredericke was the one taken in 1920. A variety of children and grandchildren were included in their household. Jacob was called a retired merchant.

A newspaper printed an article about Jacob and another local businessman, Jacob Tobler. It adds many more details to the story of Jacob Kneibert. It mentions Jacob’s inclusion in a Jackson board of trustees, and the first board of trustees for public schools in Jackson.

Fredericke Kneibert died on January 7, 1923 at the age of 77. Her death certificate below says she died of pneumonia. I do not think this form gives the correct name for Fredericke’s mother.

Jacob Kneibert was a widower for not even one week. He died on January 12th at the age of 82. An obituary for him says that the shock of his wife’s death hurried his death.

Jacob’s death certificate gives influenza as his cause of death.

Jacob and Fredericke Kneibert are buried together in the Jackson Cemetery in Jackson. They have entries on Findagrave.com, but are given no gravestone photos. Thankfully, someone on Ancestry.com has included a photo of their gravestone on their family tree. It gives Jacob a birthday of July 12th, not the 13th. His death certificate shown above gives a July 13th birthday.

Prior to researching for this story, I had never heard of Jacob Kneibert, but I am guessing that the experts in the history of the city of Jackson, Missouri are familiar with him. He made some very important contributions to that city in its early years of existence.