Anton Albert Steffens is today’s birthday boy. He was born on September 5, 1896, so today would be his 130th birthday. Anton was the son of Claus and Bertha (Thurm) Steffens. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can view his baptism record below in 2 images.

Anton was 3 years old when he is seen in the 1900 census. He was one of 7 children in the Steffens family. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

In the 1910 census, Anton was 13 years old. That was also the year that he was confirmed at Immanuel, Altenburg.

In the 1915 plat maps for Perry County, we find the Claus Steffens farm located on The Ridge.

Anton had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. We find him living and working in Potter, Nebraska. His father is given a Wittenberg address on this form. That is because the mail delivered on The Ridge came from the Wittenberg post office.

Anton must have come back to Altenburg prior to the compiling of the 1920 census. He was 23 years old and working on his father’s farm.

Now, we need to take a look at the woman who would become Anton’s bride. Her name was Hilda Louise Franziska Leimbach, who was born on September 20, 1905. Hilda was the daughter of Henry and Emma (Holschen) Leimbach. Like her future husband, Hilda was baptized at Immanuel, Altenburg. We can view her baptism record below.

Hilda is found in the 1910 census at the age of 5. Her father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Hilda was a teenager when the 1920 census was taken. She had been confirmed the year before in 1919 at Immanuel, Altenburg.

Anton Steffens married Hilda Leimbach on October 28, 1923. These two were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Their church marriage record is pictured here.

We can also view 2 other civil records for this wedding.

We find some unusual evidence concerning the births of this couple’s first few children. Their first child was born in Nebraska near Potter. However, the 2nd child was born in Perry County and baptized at Immanuel, Altenburg. Then the remaining children were born in Nebraska. In the 1930 census, the Steffens family was living in the Pleasant View Township of Cheyenne County. Anton was a farmer. There were 3 children in their household.

According to our German Family Tree, Anton and Hilda had 6 children. When the 1940 census was taken, there were 5 children in the Steffens household. Also, there was a nephew, Ronald Lungwitz, living with them. Ronald was the son of Hilda’s sister, Edna.

Anton had his World War II draft card completed around 1942. He was given a Potter, Nebraska address and was said to be farming for himself.

The 1950 census is the last one we can view. This time the Steffens’s were living in the Bunker Hill Township of Cheyenne County. Three children, along with Ronald Lungwitz, were included in their household. Anton was farming with the help of 3 of his sons.

At some point in their lives, Anton and Hilda had this photo taken. Unless they made a trip back to Perry County to visit relatives, this photo was likely taken in Nebraska.

Anton Steffens died in 1972 at the age of 75; Hilda Steffens died in 1998 at the age of 92. Anton and Hilda Steffens are buried together in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney, Nebraska.

Anton migrated to Potter, Nebraska before he got married. Then, he returned home for a while and got married in Altenburg. After their wedding, Anton and Hilda headed back to Potter. Perhaps the Steffens couple was just in Perry County when Hilda gave birth to a child or this couple came back to live here for a short while again. But they ended up back again in Nebraska where they spent the rest of their lives.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that quite a few Perry County natives migrated to the vicinity of Potter, Nebraska back in the early years of the 20th century. Anton and Hilda are yet another couple to make that migration.