I feel the need to discuss the spelling of the surname of today’s main character before I tell his story. His is one of those surnames that originally was spelled with an umlaut. Back in Germany, the surname was spelled, Brüne. Once in America, most German surnames that contained an umlaut were changed. Some just removed the umlaut, but probably the most common change involved removing the umlaut and placing an “e” after the letter that included the umlaut. For example, the first pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg had a surname with an umlaut…Rev. Löber. Once in America, his name eventually became spelled as Loeber. The umlaut was dropped and an “e” was added. However, when it came to today’s surname, Brüne, we find both possible adjustments to this name found in this area. In the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Friedheim, where today’s characters are buried, Findagrave.com lists 21 grave sites that include the name Brune, where the umlaut was just removed. There are 7 grave sites that contain the name, Bruene, with the “e” added after the “u”. Today’s character is one that has his name spelled Bruene, but his wife has her gravestone engraved with the name in its original form, Brüne. I will be using the original spelling with the umlaut in this post.

There is no birthday boy or girl today. What led me to this story was a wedding anniversary. I will begin with the groom. Carl Friedrich Christian Brüne was born on December 19, 1852 in the Waldeck region of Germany. Carl was the son of Carl and Christiane (Figge). Carl came to America in 1881 at the age of 28 aboard the ship, Rhein. He is seen on the passenger list for that ship below.

His later obituary states that Carl lived in Perry County, Illinois for a few years with a brother before migrating to this area where he found work on a farm in Kurreville. We do not find Carl in a census entry until after he got married.

Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become Carl’s bride. Her name was Wilhelmine Amalia Maintz, who was born on November 2, 1855. Wilhelmine was the daughter of Ernst and Wilhelmine (Haupt) Maintz. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Let’s take a look at her baptism record below.

Wilhelmine is found in the 1860 census at the age of 5. Her father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

Next, we find Wilhelmine in the 1870 census as a teenager. She is called Amina in this entry. The Maintz family had gotten larger during the previous decade by adding 3 more children.

Wilhelmine was confirmed at Trinity, Friedheim in 1871. When the 1880 census was taken, she was still living with her parents. She was listed as 23 years old, although I think she was at least 24. Wilhelmine and her mother were both called Mania in this entry.

Carl Brüne married Wilhelmine Maintz on September 16, 1886 at Trinity, Friedheim. That means today would be this couple’s 140th wedding anniversary. The church record for this wedding is shown here. You can see that Carl’s surname is spelled as Bruene by the pastor who completed this record.

We can also view 2 civil marriage records from Cape Girardeau County.

Carl and Wilhelmine had just one child, a daughter named Sophia born in 1892. We cannot view the 1890 census, so the first census entry in which we find this couple was the one taken in 1900. Charles, Wilhelmine, and Sophia were living in the Whitewater Township in Cape Girardeau County where Carl was a farmer.

It turns out that the last census in which we find Wilhelmine is the one taken in 1910. This time, the Brüne family is found living in the Apple Creek Township. Carl is said to be retired at the age of 57.

Wilhelmine Brüne died in 1917 at the age of 61. Her death certificate can be viewed here. Her surname is misspelled.

Carl is found as a widower in the 1920 census. Just he and his daughter, Sophia, are in the household. Even though Carl was called retired in the previous census, he is once again called a farmer in this entry.

In the 1930 census, we once again find Carl and Sophia in their entry. Carl was 77 years old, and Sophia was 37. Sophia would never get married.

Carl is found in one more census entry, the one taken in 1940. Neither Carl, at the age of 87, nor Sophia were given occupations. This has all the looks of a single daughter who takes on the task of being a caregiver for her elderly father.

Carl Brüne died in 1942 at the age of 89. His death certificate below was rather difficult to locate because his surname was butchered on this form.

We are able to read Carl’s obituary below. The headline spells his name as Bruene.

Sophia Brüne is found in the 1950 census living in St. Louis and working as a housekeeper for George Graff, a 77 year-old retired man who was widowed.

Sophia Brüne died in 1962 at the age of 70. We can view her death certificate here.

Carl, Wilhelmine, and Sophia are each buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Friedheim. Just Wilhelmine’s gravestone spells her surname as Brüne. The gravestones for Carl and Sophia use Bruene.

It is obvious to see that this branch of the Brüne family tree came to an end here, not only because they just had a daughter, but also because their daughter was a lifelong single.