I am calling Georg Gottlob Seibel today’s birthday boy, but there is a little confusion about his date of birth. There are conflicting church records. Based on Gottlob’s baptism record at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Missouri, he was born on February 28, 1865 and baptized on March 3rd. Gottlob was the son of Jacob … More G.G. and A.A. Seibel
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
Theodore Fischer was born on this day back in 1897. However, which Theodore Fischer was he? One Theodore Fischer was born in 1902, and he became the doctor in Altenburg for most of his life. He is not the Theodore Fischer who is today’s birthday boy. Theodore Elmo Leo Fischer was born on December 3, … More Bud and Edna
Gerard Fiehler likes to call me the “Mayor of Dresden” (there is no such position), and I like to call him the “Mayor of Altenburg” even though he isn’t. Today, I plan to tell the story of a man who I will call the “Mayor of Birmingham”. This Birmingham is not the one in England … More Mayor of Birmingham
First, an explanation of the title. The married couple for today is made up of a Koch and a Vogel. In German, Koch means “cook” and Vogel means “bird”. Enough said. Lydia Vogel is today’s birthday girl. She was born on September 15, 1890 and baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, Missouri. She … More The Cook and His Bird
Henry is today’s birthday boy, but before I tell his story, let me explain that in the German language the word for bird is vogel. Yesterday’s post highlighted a Vogel, and another Vogel will show up today. As I have researched the Vogel name in this area, I have found that the first Vogel’s in … More Henry’s Love Bird **Updated
John Arthur Vogel was born on August 18, 1883 in Pocahontas, Missouri. That would make today his 136th birthday. He was the son of Theodore and Emilie (Happel) Vogel. He was sometimes called John on records, sometimes Arthur, and sometimes J.A. I will use Arthur. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, … More Give Me Livery or Give Me Life (Insurance)
One hundred thirty-three years ago, Bertha Vogel was born in New Wells, Missouri. Her birthday was May 6, 1886. She was the daughter of William and Emma Susanne (Hoehne) Vogel and baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. Below is her baptism record. On October 27, 1907, Bertha married Joseph Richter of Wittenberg, Missouri. … More Bertha’s Joe and Otto
It may be Cinco de Mayo elsewhere in the world, but we Germans would say it is the fünfter Mai. And on the fifth of May in 1886, Clara Vogel was born in Jacob, Illinois. I knew that after looking in our German Family Tree, I was quite sure that I was not going to … More Clara Finds Justus in Jacob – Or Did Justus Find Clara?
The story begins in Germany. August Dietrich Fick was born on April 18, 1877. His parents were Hans Peter and Engel (Versemann) Fick who likely lived and died in Germany. August came to America by himself in 1892 when he was just 15 years old. Family stories say that he came to Perry County, Missouri … More Hulda’s Boys & the Loss of Her Buddy
