I lost track of how many grandchildren of Friedrich Florian “The Face” Petzoldt have been highlighted in stories on this blog. Whatever that number is, today’s post will add one more. Eventually, I will get around to discussing a marriage that took place on this date, but first, let’s take a look at the granddaughter … More Tillie and Theo – Shawnee Scholl’s
The surname, Oswald, takes up 7 pages in our German Family Tree. Today, you will read about the original couple to settle in Perry County with that surname. The patriarch of that Oswald clan happens to be today’s birthday boy. Christian Oswald was born December 19, 1832, so today would be his 190th birthday. He … More Original Oswald’s
Lena Amalia Kassel is today’s birthday girl. She was born in Perry County, but, like so many other young women from this rural area, found work and a husband in St. Louis, and spent the rest of her life in the big city. Lena was born on October 7, 1898, the daughter of Phillip and … More One of the Schmidt-Kassel Couples
I had no idea that there was a Lutheran church named St. Sebald. I had also never heard of a place named Strawberry Point, Iowa. Now I do. It even turns out that this Lutheran church has important historical significance. Just like East Perry County is an important place in the early history of the … More Baptized at St. Sebald Lutheran, Strawberry Point, IA
There is an old children’s song called, Father Abraham. It’s a song that a Christian teacher might use when teaching young children. It goes like this: There was once a Father Abraham who lived in Altenburg from 1873-1883. While here, he and his wife had 4 children, all sons, who were baptized at Trinity Lutheran … More Teacher Abraham
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, there is a bit of confusion about the birthday of one of the main characters in the story you are about to read. The point of difference is found in the Friedenberg Remembrances book, where it says that Alma Emma Louise Rauh was born on May 8, 1899. Here … More Cape Cop and His Rock
I think most of you would recognize from the title that today’s tale will take place in Illinois. The story begins with the birth of a baby girl in Jacob, Illinois 130 years ago. Sophia Maria Johanna Arbeiter was born on February 7, 1892, the daughter of Henry and Caroline (Rowold) Arbeiter. Several other previous … More From Jacob to Prairie du Rocher to Red Bud
I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I consider it a tiny “Act of God”. In yesterday’s post, Alvina Heidel’s birthday led me to a story about the “Dietrich Giants” which ended up in Kansas. I reported that the Dietrich’s moved to Kansas because Rev. Friedrich Mueller was the pastor there. What are the chances that … More Rev. Mueller – From Clark’s Creek to Caesar Creek
Today’s post began with my discovery of a special birthday, but led to another discovery of a collection of photographs of descendants of the birthday girl who gathered for family reunions over the years. The Engelhart family arrived in America in 1875, but they began in northern Austria. Like many others of Austrian descent, the … More Engelhart Family Reunions
It all starts with a Bicentennial Birthday today. Anna Maria Pilz was born on December 8, 1821. About the only place I get that date of birth is on Findagrave.com. However, that data was placed on that website by Diane Anderson, and she’s one of the best family researchers I know. I have every reason … More The Pilz-Petzoldt Glue
lutheranmuseum.com 