Anna Margareta Rauh was born on March 9, 1884, so if she was still alive, she would have to blow out 140 candles on her birthday cake today. Anna was the daughter of John and Maria (Lang) Rauh. There are 12 Rauh children listed in our German Family Tree for this family, and Anna was … More Lauer’s Labor with Leather
I am calling today’s bride and groom a VW team just because it was made up of a Villhard and a Wagner. Their surnames are both found way at the end of our German Family Tree because, as you might expect, it is organized alphabetically. I will begin with the “W” name, Wagner because the … More A VW Team
This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to talk with Chuck (Charles) Groh at our church. The name, Charles Groh is a fairly common one to be found in the Groh family tree. The first Charles Groh in Altenburg was instrumental in the building of our present-day sanctuary at Trinity Lutheran Church. That Charles Groh had a son … More More Alva, Oklahoma Groh’s
Since Clara Mueller was born in the late 1800’s, she never would experience the worldwide web. However, she did experience a different W.W.W., one who is today’s birthday boy. Wilhelm Wilson Wagner was born on October 8, 1895, so today would be his 128th birthday. Wilson was the son of Samuel and Margaretha (Sommer) Wagner. … More Clara Enters the www World
I do not often tell the story of a lifelong bachelor, but that is what I will do today. In the case of today’s character, there is evidence that he spent almost his entire life living with members of his family. What makes this more amazing is the fact that he and other members of … More Always a Brother, Never a Husband
Today, America remembers the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Meanwhile, back in Perry County, Leo Lintner’s family had probably made plans to celebrate his 60th birthday during that year. News of the attack on Pearl Harbor likely put a big damper on their plans, as well as Leo’s … More Leo and Katie – The Lintner’s
The story you will read today was inspired by a marriage that took place on December 1st back in the 1880’s. It may be an exception to a tradition of weddings not taking place during the seasons of Lent and Advent in German Lutheran churches. I think the marriage highlighted in this story did take … More Joachim from Jacob and His Uniontown Bride
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
You will be reading a tale today that involves a man and a woman who were part of the Stephanite immigration that took place in 1838-1839. These two would get married on this day 175 years ago. I will begin with the groom. I cannot give you an exact date for the birth of Johann … More The Pastor’s Daughter and the Shoemaker
One of the original immigrants arriving as part of the Gesellschaft in 1839 was Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Koch. I find his story to be interesting because he was a teacher. I suppose I am partial to teacher tales. As I proceed to tell this story, you will discover that it begs some interesting questions. They … More John Koch – Teacher and Organist
