My career was spent as a Lutheran educator. I spent my days in several states, picked up a wife and family along the way, and served as both a classroom teacher and a principal. The main character in today’s story followed pretty much that same pattern. He also is today’s birthday boy. Paul Theodor Valentin … More Teacher Noennig
I think the Bogenpohl surname has only shown up a few times on this blog. Even when it did, that name was not one that was a major part of the story. That will change today, because the main character in this post is a Bogenpohl. Martin Bogenpohl was born on September 30, 1886, the … More Martin, Anna, and Clara
It seems like Dollar Stores are popping up everywhere across America. Today I will tell the story of what quite possibly was the first “Dollar Store” to exist in Murphysboro, Illinois. It was called Buck’s Grocery, and the couple involved in that store come right out of our German Family Tree. It all starts with … More The Buck Store
We have another 150th birthday to celebrate today. Jacob Martin Darnstaedt was born on December 8, 1869, the son of Johann and Christiane (Mueller) Darnstaedt. The story of Martin’s parents was told in the post, Seelitz Sweethearts. Martin was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Here is his baptism record. Martin can be found … More Martin and His Girls
I always get confused when I look at the Oehlert family. Today, I will look at that family’s connection to the Krause family. I quickly discovered how confusing the Krause family can be as well. Then if you also throw in a Kranawetter, it absolutely throws me into a tizzy. But I’ll do my best. … More One of the Krause/Oehlert Marriages
Today would have been the 121st birthday of Frieda Stueve. She was born on October 28, 1898 and baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Frieda was the daughter of Peter and Mary (Engert) Stueve. Here is her baptism record. Frieda was the 9th of 11 children in this Stueve family. We find her … More Ben and Frieda
Ernst Gottfried Weber would be celebrating his 150th birthday today because he was born on October 11, 1869. As it turns out, Gottfried had quite the trip through life, spending time in several locations and experiencing some difficulties in the process. Gottfried (sometimes called Fred) was the son of Herman and Pauline (Braeutigam-Schroeder) Weber. Gottfried’s … More Gottfried’s Travels and Trials
You may want to read the post titled, Seelitz Sweethearts, before reading this one. That post told the story of Johann George Gotthold Darnstaedt, Sr. who was married twice. His first marriage was to a woman who was about 17 years older than him who had several children. After she died, he married a woman, … More Baby Darnstaedt and His Bride
A marriage took place on this day 151 years ago in Altenburg, but most of the rest of this story takes place across the river in Jackson County, Illinois. The bride and groom had been in America for just a year or two. I will start with the groom who arrived in 1866. Joachim (John) … More Joachim’s Scheeβel Spouses
I will be discussing a Miesner/Heins couple today. To begin with, let me say that these two names can easily cause research issues. There were Miesner’s and Heins’s who were found on both sides of the river, both here in Perry County, Missouri and across the river in Jackson County in Illinois. Just this morning, … More Getting Used to Girls
