I found something that was similar to me in today’s highlighted husband. He did not get married until he was 39 years old. I know that in my case, I do not wish that I would have gotten married sooner. I found the right wife. It just took me longer to find her…or have her find me.

I am not going to begin with the husband, though. I will start with the bride because she is today’s birthday girl. Her name was Susanna Amalia Grosse, who was born on August 4, 1890, so today would be her 135th birthday. Susanna was the daughter of Gustav and Margaretha (Weber) Grosse. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg.

Susanna is found in the 1900 census at the age of 9. She is the youngest child in her family. There was another child born after her, but that child died prior to the 1900 census. Susanna’s father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Next, we find Susanna in the 1910 census when she was 20 years old. The same 5 members of the household are listed in this entry as the ones we found in 1900. Susanna’s 2 older brothers were helping their father on the farm.

Susanna was still single when the 1920 census was taken. Her mother had died in 1918, so we see Susanna as the only female in this entry. She was doing the housework, and her father and brother were doing the farming. One of her brothers had gotten married and moved away. By the way, Susanna’s brother, John, did not get married until he was 54 years old.

Now, we will turn our attention to the man who would become Susanna’s husband. His name was Benjamin Henry Doberenz, who was born on November 18, 1883. Henry was the son of Henry and Ernstine (Proehl) Doberenz. He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. We can take a look at his baptism record below.

Henry was confirmed at Grace, Uniontown in 1897, so when we find him in the first census entry we can view in 1900, he was already not only baptized, but also confirmed. He was 16 years old and was said to be at school. His father was a farmer in the Union Township.

When the 1910 census was taken, Henry was 26 years old and helping his father on his farm.

Henry had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. He is given a rural Seventy-Six, Missouri address, but that probably just indicates where his mail originated.

In the 1920 census, Henry was still single at the age of 37. His father, Henry, at the age of 71, was called a farmer, but Henry B. was called the manager of the farm.

If Henry was anything like me, there were always people I knew, especially married women, who were trying to set me up with one of their single friends. I have to wonder if that was the case with Henry, and if so, whether such a woman who was a friend of Susanna was the matchmaker.

Henry Doberenz married Susanna Grosse on November 30, 1922 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. The church marriage record for this occasion is displayed here in 2 images. As you can see, it says Henry was 39 years old, and Susanna was 32.

We can also view this Missouri marriage license for Henry and Susanna.

Then, we can also take a look at this marriage certificate for this pair.

I was really happy to locate this wedding photo of Henry and Susanna.

Henry and Susanna did not have any children. In the 1930 census, we find this couple living in the Union Township. Henry was a farmer.

Next, we find the Doberenz’s in the 1940 census. It was just still the 2 of them.

Henry had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. It continues to give him a Seventy-Six address.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. The only difference we can see is that these 2 were 10 years older.

Henry Doberenz died in 1963 at the age of 79. His death certificate can be viewed here.

I was able to locate an obituary for Henry that was printed in the Perry County Republican.

Susanna Doberenz died in 1971 at the age of 80. Her death certificate below says she died at the Smithey’s Boarding House in Perryville.

Henry and Susanna Doberenz are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

There were no descendants from this childless couple, so this ended this particular branch of the Doberenz family tree. As for me, I married a woman who had 3 daughters from a previous marriage. That is why I am so often on the road away from Altenburg. We have grandchildren to visit. When Henry married Susanna, he took her home after the wedding to an empty farm house. When I went home from my wedding, I had 4 more females living with me. I will never regret it.