Fred Kieninger began his life in the Shawnee Township in northern Cape Girardeau County, but he did not spend most of his life there. Once he became an adult, he migrated to Illinois where he would spend the rest of his life, except for some time in the military during World War I.

Albert Friedrich Kieninger was born on October 29, 1891, which means today would be his 135th birthday. Documents during his lifetime alternated between calling him Fred or Albert. I choose to use Fred, even though his gravestone uses the name Albert F. He was the son of John and Alwine (Wachter) Kieninger. Fred was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. We can view an image of his baptism record below.

Fred is found in the 1900 census at the age of 8. The Kieninger’s were no longer living near New Wells. They are found in Cape Girardeau where Fred’s father was called a salesman for a lumber company.

Next, we find the Kieninger’s in the 1910 census. Fred was 18 years old and was called an assembler at the shoe factory in Cape Girardeau. This time, his father was called a carpenter.

That census would be the last one in which we find Fred living in Missouri. I do not know his motive, but at some point in the 1910’s, Fred migrated to Hardin, Illinois. When Fred had his World War I draft registration completed in June of 1917, he was living in Hardin. This document says that he was a barber.

Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become Fred’s bride. Her name was Goldie Clemency Wintjen, who was born on July 7, 1898. Goldie was the daughter of Gevert and Mary (Anderson) Wintjen. She is found in the 1900 census at 1 year old. Her father was a merchant in Hamburg, Illinois. Hamburg is found not far from Hardin, and both of these small towns are found near the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis.

When we find the Wintjen family in the 1910 census, they were living in Hardin. Goldie was 11 years old, and this time her father was called a night watchman for a stave (or stove) factory.

I found no documentation to prove it, but a family tree on Ancestry.com says that Fred Kieninger married Goldie Wintjen on July 1, 1917. If that is the case, Fred was married about a month after he completed his World War I draft registration. As it turns out, Fred did become part of the military in September of 1918. On a form that was completed after Fred died that applied for a military headstone, we find some details about his service during that war.

According to Family Search, Fred and Goldie had 4 children. One of them died at a very young age. In the 1920 census, the Kieninger’s had just one child. Fred was a barber with his own shop in Hardin.

When the 1930 census was taken, we find Fred and Goldie with all 4 of their children. Their youngest child, William, who had been born right before this census was compiled, died in 1932.

Fred was still a barber in Hardin when the 1940 census was taken. There were 2 children still living with their parents. It looks like that census taker may have crossed out Fred’s name on this form. We will see evidence of what might explain this when we view the next census.

Fred had his World War II draft card completed when America entered that war. He was no longer living in Hardin. He is given an Alton, Illinois address. I find it interesting also that the person identified on this form as the one who would always know Fred’s address was not his wife, but his mother, who had married a Landgraf and was living in Cape Girardeau.

Fred is found in the 1950 census living in Alton. Fred was a lodger with several others, and it says in the marriage column that he was separated. He was still called a barber.

I failed to find Goldie in the 1950 census even though I know she was still living.

Fred Kieninger died in 1952 at the age of 60. I cannot display a death certificate, but I was able to locate this obituary for him. It mentions that he had been sick for a while.

Fred Kieninger is buried in the Alton National Cemetery in Alton, and it recognizes his World War I military experience.

Goldie Kieninger died in 1964 at the age of 65. I was also able to locate this transcription of Goldie’s obituary.

Goldie Kieninger is buried in the Hardin Cemetery in Hardin.

I managed to find this photo of Fred, but I did not find one for Goldie. As a barber, I am not surprised that Fred looks like he doesn’t have a hair out of place.