Whenever considering doing a story on Holschen’s, I automatically think that the story will focus on Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. I think almost all the local Holschen stories I have told have been ones in which the characters were born, baptized, and buried there. That will not be the case today, even though the … More Wittenberg Holschen’s
Herman Gottfried August Braeuner was born on February 7, 1872, making him today’s birthday boy. He would have been 149 years old today. I will attempt to tell his story in this post. Herman was the son of Herman and Caroline (Winter) Braeuner. We have this photo of Herman and Caroline. A post was written … More Ridge Braeuner’s
The story I tell today comes from two entirely different directions. It begins in Jacob, Illinois, meanders through Perry County for a short time, and moves up to St. Louis. A spouse’s life begins in Tennesseee, makes its way to Vancouver, Washington, and that life, too, ends up in St. Louis where these two individuals … More Steamboat Mate’s Daughter to Submarine Chaser’s Wife
Several days ago, my head was spinning over the Lehner family from Alkoven, Austria. I now have access to an updated version of our German Family Tree which includes several additions which have been made on the Lehner surname. I think I now have a better handle on this situation. It turns out that there … More Lehner-Birner-Wachter
Martin Mueller and Meta Galnore were married on November 11, 1916, making today their 104th anniversary. The surname, Mueller, is found in many, many posts on this blog, but the surname, Galnore, according to a quick search, has only shown up in one previous post, and even that Galnore was not a significant character in … More Martin and Meta
Hang on tight! You’re going on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and then spend some time on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers back in the days of steamboats. Along the way, a couple of brothers spend part of their lives in East Perry County. The next generation moves up the river to St. Louis … More Schieferdecker Single Sisters
This will not be a post that follows the same blueprint that is used in most of the stories that I write. Instead of just taking you from cradle to grave of a featured character or couple, I will be leading you to a scenario that took place in a graveyard in Wittenberg in 1904. … More 3 Infants, 3 Graves, 10 Days
I’m taking liberties with pronunciation today. The name Doering is pronounced “daring” around here, but I know that this surname is often pronounced as “door-ing”. As a beginning teacher, my first principal, Orlyn Schlie, had a wife named Dorothy. Those two were affectionately called “Or and Dor”. As I started looking at today’s marriage between … More Lor and Dor
In my upcoming book, Wittenberg ’04, two weddings that occurred in July of 1904 will be highlighted. Another 1904 marriage will be the centerpiece of today’s blog post. That wedding took place in August. In fact, it took place on this day in August making today this couple’s 116th anniversary. Today’s groom was a member … More Clara and Paul
I enjoyed working this fine Sunday afternoon at the Lutheran Heritage Center. Upon arriving I walked around, and after 16 years as the director here, I am still amazed at the new things I notice—even in exhibits I’ve created myself. As a historian in material culture, I am naturally fascinated by objects, documents, art, and … More Symbols of Our Stories
