Today’s birthday girl is Martha Wilhelmine Bertha Schmdtke, who, according to a transcription of her German baptism record below, was born on November 12, 1867. Bertha’s later gravestone says she was born on that date in 1868. Her death certificate says she was born on January 17, 1866. I happen to think that she was … More The Hartwig-Schmidtke Couple Migrates to Cleveland
Today’s birthday boy was not born and raised anywhere near here. He gets into our German Family Tree by marrying a woman who was born and raised in this area. Heinrich George Hoerath was born on November 6, 1896, thus making today his 130th birthday. Henry was the son of Johann and Margaretha (Meyer) Hoerath. … More Henry Hoerath – St. Louis Street Car and Bus Driver
Jacob Martin Darnstaedt is today’s birthday boy. He was born in Altenburg, but spent most of his life in Jackson County, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from Perry County. Jacob was born on October 13, 1887, so today would be his 139th birthday. He was not the only baby born on that day. He … More Jacob, Lydia, and Freada – Cora, IL Darnstaedt’s
The couple in today’s story will take us on a bit of a ride, but that ride will eventually get us back in Missouri and not that far from Perry County. We will begin with our birthday girl. Her name was Hulda Lydia Rathjen, who was born on October 12, 1896. That means today would … More Martin and Hulda – Festus Krause’s
Ludwig Heinrich Johann Koch was born on September 4, 1896. That means today would be his 130th birthday. He was called Louie during his life, so I will use that name. He was the son of Friedrich William and Annie (Bretzel) Koch. Louie’s baptism record is found in the books of Eisleben Lutheran Church in … More Louie and Bertha – Koch’s in Jacob, IL
Today’s birthday girl is a bicentennial birthday girl. Since the German Lutherans who are part of this area’s history did not start showing up until the 1830’s, that means that a bicentennial birthday that has been highlighted on this blog has always been about a person who was born in Germany. That is the case … More Bösch Bicentennial Birthday Bash
Rosa Emma Marie Hollmann was born on August 15, 1891, thus qualifying her to be today’s birthday girl. She would be 135 years old if she was still alive today. Rose (her name as it appears on her gravestone) was the daughter of Henry and Martha (Stueve) Hollmann. She was born across the Mississippi River … More A Rose Becomes a Moss in The Lou
William Johann Heinrich Arbeiter was born on July 26, 1886, so today would be his 140th birthday. William was the firstborn child of William and Engel (Bellmann) Arbeiter, whose story was written in the post, William and Engel – The Arbeiter’s. William was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. We can view his … More William Arbeiter – Murphysboro Car Guy
Today is a travel day for us, so I am sharing a story that was previously published on May 20th. This one was posted in 2020. It tells the story of a couple made up of a bride and a groom who were both born and raised in Uniontown. That is also where this pair … More Hopfer’s in Gorham, IL – Tornado Survivors
The bride and groom in today’s tale both have their beginnings in Southern Illinois, not far from Perry County. However, each of them have a bit of connection to Perry County as well. However, most of their lives were spent in St. Louis. We begin with the birthday girl. Anna Sophia Mathilda Stueven was born … More William Hartenberger – St. Louis Ice & Coal Man
