I get to tell another one of those “cradle to grave couples at the same church” stories today. This one took place at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. The tale begins with a birthday girl.

Laura Anna Martha Schroeter was born on September 14, 1881. That means today would be her 145th birthday. Laura was the daughter of August and Maria (Lueders) Schroeter. Since Laura’s mother was the daughter of August and Anna (Roth) Lueders, that means Laura was the granddaughter of the prominent Frohna business man whose story was told in the post, Frohna Entrepreneur. Laura was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. We can take a look at her baptism record here. Laura is one of those baby girls who got two of her names from her female sponsors, Anna and Martha.

Because we cannot view the 1890 census, Laura was already 18 years old before we see her in the 1900 census. Her father was a miller in Frohna, almost certainly working at the Frohna Mill. I am going to add at this point that when Laura had attended the Lutheran School in Frohna, she was taught by two of the famous teachers who had spent about 50 years each at that school…Teacher Wukasch and Teacher Welp.

That census entry would be the only one in which Laura is found prior to her getting married, so we will now take a look at the man who would become her husband. His name was Andreas Martin Popp, who was born on December 2, 1877. Andrew was the son of Martin and Margaretha (Hacker) Popp. Andrew was also baptized at Concordia, Frohna. His baptism record is pictured here.

Andrew is found in the 1880 census at the age of 2. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township, likely near Frohna.

In the 1900 census, Andrew was in his 20’s, still living with his parents, and working with his father on his farm.

Andrew Popp married Laura Schroeter on August 21, 1904. As expected, these two were married at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. The church marriage record for this couple is displayed below. I was puzzled by the fact that this pair was married by Rev. Frank Albrecht who was the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wittenberg. I am including the marriage record shown above the one for Andrew and Laura. The groom in that wedding, Paul Burroughs, was said to be from Wittenberg, and both of these weddings took place on the same day. Perhaps this gives us a hint about why the pastor from Wittenberg officiated at both of these weddings.

We can also take a look at the Missouri marriage license for this pair.

Andrew and Laura have 3 children listed in our German Family Tree, but one of them is called a foster son. That fact comes from his confirmation record found in the books of Concordia, Frohna. When the 1910 census was taken, we find the Popp’s with their 2 year-old daughter, Anna, and an 11 year-old Henry, who was called a ward. Also included in the household were Andrew’s father, Martin, and Laura’s brother, Paul, who was helping Andrew with the farming.

Andrew had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. It gives him a Frohna address and calls him a farmer.

The foster child, Henry, died in 1919 from tuberculosis. His death certificate below shows a different cause of death, but his church death record says tuberculosis. This form also gives more evidence that he was not actually the son of Andrew and Laura. It does not give the names of his father and mother and also says that he was born in Illinois.

Henry is buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna.

In the 1920 census, the Popp’s had 2 children in their household, a girl named Olivia, and a boy named Raymond.

Next, we find the Popp family in the 1930 census. Just their son, Raymond, was still living with his parents, and he was old enough to be helping his father on his farm.

The 1940 census includes Andrew and Laura with their daughter, Olivia, living with them. She had married Gilbert Richter earlier in 1940, and he is also listed in this entry.

Andrew had his World War II draft card completed around 1942 even though he was already 64 years old.

Laura Popp died in 1949 at the age of 67. Her cause of death on the form below was a cerebral hemorrhage.

We can read Laura’s obituary that was printed in the Perry County Republican. At least, you can try to read it. It is not a very clear image.

Andrew is found as a widower in the 1950 census. He was still farming, and the Gilbert Richter family was included in his household.

Andrew Popp died in 1962 at the age of 85. We can also view his death certificate.

Andrew’s obituary from the Perry County Republican is shown below.

Andrew and Laura Popp are each buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna.

There you have it. A married couple made up of a man and a woman who were each born, baptized, confirmed, and married at the same congregation, Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. They went on to raise their family, including a foster son at that same church. They ended up each dying and being buried in that congregation’s cemetery. Another “cradle to grave couple in the same church” story

At my church, Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, I attended the wedding of a bride and groom who were both baptized and confirmed at this church. They now have 3 children who were baptized here. The husband now farms in East Perry County and seems as happy as can be to be doing so. His wife also has a good job, and each of them have plenty of extended family in and around Altenburg. All indications are that this couple is on its way to be one of the rare couples in today’s world that may be able to qualify for the “cradle to grave couple in the same church” designation. The chances of me being around to see it come to completion are practically zero, but I am rooting for them.