Friedrich William Preusse was born on September 12, 1856, so he qualifies to be today’s birthday boy. William would be celebrating his 170th birthday today. William was the son of Heinrich and Marie (Bergmann) Preusse. He was born in Germany, and I can display this transcription of his baptism record.

According to a later census entry, William came to the United States in 1881, so we do not see him in an American census until after he was married. So, now we will take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Rosalie Dorothea Weber, who was born on September 16, 1857. Rosalia was the daughter of Charles and Martha (Hellwege) Weber. Her father was famous for being a Civil War captain and later a judge in Perryville. When Rosalie was born, the Weber family was still living in East Perry County, and Rosalia was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg.

Rosalia is found in the 1860 census at the age of 2. Her father was a merchant in the Brazeau Township.

During the next decade, the Weber family made a move to Perryville. We find Rosalia at the age of 12. She was the oldest child in the Weber family. This time, her father was called the clerk of the county court. Another member of the household at this time was Charles Demetrio, who had taken the call to become the pastor at Immanuel, Perryville in 1869.

The last census in which we find Rosalia prior to her wedding is the one taken in 1880. She was 22 years old and called a teacher. This time, her father was called a notary public.

William Preusse married Rosalia Weber on October 11, 1885 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We can view this couple’s marriage record below.

I can also display 2 different civil marriage records for this wedding.

This Preusse couple had 8 children, all of whom were baptized at Immanuel, Perryville. There is a very unusual circumstance that occurs with regard to census entries for this pair. We never see William and Rosalia in a census entry together. They got married after the 1880 census, and the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, so we cannot view an entry for them during that year. Then, Rosalie died in 1899 at the age of 42. The last child born to the Preusse’s came on November 14, 1899. Then, Rosalia died on November 18th. Let’s first take a look at the death record for Rosalia that is found in the Immanuel books. You can see that she died on November 18th and was buried on November 19th. I cannot read the word written in the cause of death column, but I have to think that Rosalia died from complications associated with childbirth.

Now, let’s take a look at the baptism record for the daughter named Frieda that was born on November 14th. On this form, you can see that this baby was baptized on November 19th, the same day that Rosalia was buried. It must have been a bittersweet baptism. November 19th was on a Sunday that year, so I am thinking that the baptism may have taken place as part of the Sunday morning worship, and the funeral likely took place later in the day. Pastor Griebel must have found it difficult to have the appropriate words to speak at both of those services.

It must have also been very difficult for William to now be a widower with a newborn baby. In the 1900 census, William was the head of a household that included 6 children. William is called a shoemaker in Perryville.

Tragedy once again hit the Preusse family in 1906 when Frieda died of diphtheria, according to her death record shown here.

William got married again. His second wife had the maiden name, Amalia Behrens, who was born on October 8, 1855. I cannot tell you much about her early life, but I can tell you that on August 17, 1876, she married Jacob Dewein at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. Below is the marriage record for that couple in the Grace Lutheran church books.

That couple had no children. Then, in 1908, Jacob Dewein died. His death record is also found in the Immanuel, Perryville books.

On April 12, 1909, William Preusse married Amalia Dewein. This couple was married at Immanuel, Perryville. The church record for that occasion is pictured here. Pastor Griebel, who had witnessed quite a few baptisms and deaths in the Preusse and Dewein households must have had plenty to say when he married William and Amalia.

When the 1910 census was taken, we find William, Amalia, and 2 of William’s teenage sons. William was the Perry County sheriff.

Next, we find the Preusse’s in the 1920 census. The same 2 sons were still living with their father and stepmother. This time, William is called a county assessor. One son was a shoemaker, and the other was a barber. I can also tell you that the census entry right above the Preusse’s was that of Rev. Griebel.

The last census in which we find William is the one taken in 1930. William and Amalia had an empty nest, and neither had an occupation. They were each in their 70’s.

William Preusse died in 1933 at the age of 77. His death certificate below says he had an “unavoidable accident” and also mentions a fractured skull.

William’s obituary from the Perry County Republican gives more details about his death.

Amalia Preusse is found as a widow in the 1940 census. She was living with her stepson, Albert August Preusse and his wife, Erna. Albert was the proprietor of a tavern.

In the 1950 census, Amalia is listed as the head of the Preusse household made up of the same three people we saw in the previous entry. Albert was still a tavern owner in Perryville.

Amalia Preusse died in 1954 at the age of 98. Her death certificate says she died at the Perryville Nursing Home.

We can also read an obituary for Amalia that was published in the Perry County Republican. It is not often that I have found an obituary that includes a photo.

William Preusse and both of his wives, Rosalia and Amalia, are buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

I have to think that the well-known judge and civil servant, Charles Weber, had an influence in his son-in-law getting involved in public service during his life. I would like you to know that it took me a while before I found out that William had a second wife. The family trees on Ancestry.com do not list Amalia in their accounts of the life of William Preusse. It is on Family Search that I located the name of William’s second wife. She really became an important influence in helping William raise his family after the death of his wife, Rosalia.