I get to tell the tale involving a brand new surname for this blog today. That name is Gerstacker. Today’s birthday girl is Emma Gerstacker, the daughter of Johann George and Eva (Bergmann) Gerstacker. She was born on June 29, 1882 and baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville, Missouri. On Ancestry.com, many of the … More Menfro Moldenhauer’s
Just two days ago, I wrote the story of Frederick Seibel, who operated a blacksmith shop in Frohna during his lifetime. That story is directly related to the tale I will tell today. Frederick’s wife was an Oberndorfer, and that surname will be an important one today. The Seibel Blacksmith Shop was also located right … More Art’s Part in the Parts Partnership
I am sharing a fascinating story today about a wandering Wunderlich (actually two Wunderlich’s). August Christian Wunderlich’s life history will take us on a journey around the country only to end up back in this area. I will especially focus on one particular event which involved a pastor who moved his congregation to another state. … More Wunderlich Ushers Congregation to Wyoming
Today is the 150th birthday of one of Friedrich Florian (“The Face”) Petzoldt’s grandsons. In this case, we find a branch of his family ending up in the northern part of Cape Girardeau County near the town of Pocahontas. The birthday boy is Herman Petzoldt, Jr. He was born on May 27, 1870, the son … More Some Pocahontas Petzoldts
A wedding took place on this day 121 years ago at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, Missouri. The groom was August Bendel; the bride was Emma Kranawetter. Their story is yet another case in which the people involved began living in Missouri, but spent most of their lives in Illinois. August Bendel was born on … More Bendel the Burier
Joseph Zwickelhuber arrived in America on June 13, 1853 aboard the Ernst Moritz Arndt. He was 9 years old at the time. As you can see on the passenger list for this ship, Joseph arrived with his parents, Paulus and Theresia (Kranawetter) Zwickelhuber and three other siblings. There were several other names of families on … More Zwickelhuber Becomes Kranawetter
Many of the stories on this blog include an event that is especially unusual and interesting. It may be a double wedding, a death on a Leap Day, a wedding on the day after Easter, etc. Today, the story has such an unusual occurrence, but it doesn’t show up until the very end. Adolph Weinrich … More Two Succumb to the Flu
I often tell my wife that she is the best…and, in my opinion, she is. Today, you will be told the story of John Stueve, and you will discover how he got himself the Bess. But, first, let me remind you about the pronunciation of the surname, Stueve. Back in the old country, the name … More John Stueve Got Himself the Bess
When I researched today’s story, it was like playing 5-card draw poker. I originally had one pair, but when I was dealt some more cards, I ended up with two-pair. It all started with today being the 135th wedding anniversary for Amalie Oehlert and Ferdinand Huber. They were married on April, 9, 1885. We will … More A Pair of Oehlert-Huber Pairs
Rudolph Bernhart Reisenbichler was born on April 4, 1887, so he is today’s birthday boy. If he was alive today, this would have been his 133rd birthday. Rudolph was the 4th child of his mother, Anna Maria (Pilz) Reisenbichler, but the 6th child of his father, Gottlieb Reisenbichler. Gottlieb and his first wife, Anna Putz, … More Rudolph and His Danz Partner
