Today’s birthday boy began his life in Altenburg, but almost his entire life was spent across the Mississippi River in Illinois. While there, he married two women, one of whose parents were from Altenburg. He also became a local storekeeper in Jacob, Illinois. So, let’s get started.

Bernard Heinrich Arthur Dietrich was born on July 30, 1885, so today would be his 140th birthday. He would go by the name Arthur during his life. Arthur was the son of Richard and Clara Fritsche. Arthur’s grandfather, although he was not part of the original immigration group that arrived in 1839, arrived in Perry County just a year later in 1840. Arthur was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can view an image of his baptism record from that congregation’s books here.

Arthur was also born during the time when Perry County kept birth records. Arhtur’s is shown here in 2 images.

Arthur, the oldest child in his family, was the only child to be born in Missouri. When the second child was born in 1887, that son was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Arthur would not have remembered any of his time when he was living in Altenburg. If we could view the 1890 census, we would already find the Dietrich’s living in Jackson County, Illinois. We find Arthur in his first census entry in 1900. Arthur had just 2 brothers, and both of them died as infants, so Arthur became the only child in this Dietrich family. Arthur’s father was a farmer in the Fountain Bluff Township. A boarder named Martin Degenhardt was also in the household, and he was helping with the farming. Arthur, at the age of 14, was also helping his father on his farm.

Arthur would get married prior to the next census, so we will now take a look at the woman who would be his first wife. Her name was Katherine Laufer, who was born on October 23, 1888. She was born in Randolph County, Illinois. Since she would later get married in Baldwin, Illinois, I think there is a good chance that her baptism record may be found in the books of St. John Lutheran Church in Baldwin, which was established in 1883. Katherine is found in the 1900 census at the age of 11. Her father was a farmer in Baldwin.

I think that the Dietrich’s had moved to Baldwin prior to Arthur’s marriage, so that is likely how Arthur and Katherine got acquainted. Arthur Dietrich married Katherine Laufer on February 21, 1909 in Baldwin. The Illinois marriage record for this event shown below says they were married by a pastor, so I think it is almost certain that they were married at St. John Lutheran Church.

A son was born to this couple at the end of 1909, so when we see the Dietrich’s in the 1910 census, they had 1 child. This young family was living with Arthur’s parents in Baldwin. Both Arthur and his father were working together operating a general store in Baldwin.

In the next decade, Arthur and Katherine moved to Jacob, Illinois. When Arthur had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918, he was given a Jacob, Illinois address and was called a merchant.

Katherine died later in 1918 at the age of 30, and her death record is found in the books of Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob. Katherine is buried in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery.

Arthur is found as a widower in the 1920 census. He and his son were once again living with his parents. His father was called a farmer, but Arhtur was called a retail merchant.

Arthur got married again in 1921, so let’s take a look at the woman who became his second wife. Her name was Agnes Clara Groh, who was born on August 12, 1891. Agnes was the daughter of Ernest and Anna (Schuessler) Groh. Her parents were both folks who were born and raised in Perry County, Missouri but had migrated to the area near Jacob, Illinois Agnes was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob. Her baptism record in 2 images is displayed here.

Agnes is found in the 1900 census at the age of 8. Her father was a wagon maker in the Fountain Bluff Township.

I was unable to locate Agnes in the 1910 census. I know that she was not living with her parents. Neither were her sisters, Phillipine and Susanna. However, when the 1920 census was taken, we find these 3 Groh sisters living in the same household in St. Louis. I think there is a good chance that these 3 were living in St. Louis in 1910, but I was unable to find them in that census.

There were a bunch of girls in this Groh family, and at one point in time the photo below was taken of a bunch of those sisters. I cannot definitively tell you which one is Agnes.

Arthur likely got to know the Groh girls from his time in Jacob. Arthur Dietrich married Agnes Groh on May 9, 1921. The St. Louis marriage record below says they were married by Rev. Rich Kretzschmar, who was the pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church.

Two children were born to this couple, and both of them were baptized at Christ, Jacob. In the 1930 census, we find 3 children in the Dietrich household, one from Arthur’s first marriage, and the 2 from his second marriage. Arthur’s father was also living with the Dietrich’s, along with a servant girl named Ella Versemann.

I located two photographs of the Dietrich Store in Jacob. One is said to have been taken in about 1906, but I do not think the Dietrich’s ran this store yet in 1906. The other picture was taken when the family book in which I found the photos was published.

In the 1940 census, the Dietrich’s had just their 2 daughters living with them, and Ella Versemann was still listed as a maid.

Arthur had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. He is given a Neunert, Illinois address, which is right down the road from Jacob.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. A young lodger named Nora Moeller was living with Arthur and Agnes, who no longer had any children living with them. Arthur was still a store keeper.

Agnes Dietrich died in 1966 at the age of 75. Her death record in the books of Christ, Jacob says she died of a heart condition. Arthur Dietrich died a year later in 1967 at the age of 82. An obituary for Arthur is found on Findagrave.com.

Arthur and Agnes Dietrich are buried together in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Jacob.

Today’s birthday boy born in Altenburg made his way across the river, and as near as I can tell, got into the business as a storekeeper when he and his parents lived in Baldwin, Illinois. However, not long after he got married, he ended up spending most of his life in the Jacob/Neunert area. I do not know if the old Dietrich Store still stands or not.