CHARLOTTE LOUISE PAULINE GLIEDT (1880-1917)

THE SEVENTH GENERATION-GLIEDT

PART ONE

AND

THE FOURTH GENERATION-PÖPPELMEIER

This chapter also opens in the year 1880 with the birth of (#290) Charlotte Louise Pauline^G7 Gliedt. Charlotte Louise Pauline, better known as Louise, was the great, great, great, great granddaughter of Eberdt^G1 Glied; the great, great, great granddaughter of Jobst^G2 Glied; the great, great granddaughter of Albert Henrich^G3 Glied; the great granddaughter of Albert Henrich^G4 Glied; the granddaughter of Hermann^G5 Glied; and the (twin) daughter of Philipp Gottlieb^G6 Gliedt and his wife, Hanne Friederike^G3 Gliedt nee Pöppelmeier. She was also the great granddaughter of Bernhard^G1 Pöppelmeier, and the granddaughter of Hermann^G2 Pöppelmeier and his wife, Anne Catharine^G5 Pöppelmeier nee Glied. Her common ancestor was Albert Henrich^G4 Glied.

1880 was the year that James Garfield of Ohio was elected President by a narrow margin over his opponent Winfield Hancock by popular votes. The 1880 census showed that the people were still moving west with the population in the states of California, Oregon and Washington at least doubling. 1880 was also the year that the Salvation Army started it first outpost in the U.S., John Philip Sousa became the 14th conductor of the U.S. Marine Band, and suffragettes, Miss Susan B. Anthony and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton were barred from a polling booth in Tenafly, NJ, thirty years after they first sought the right to vote.¹

The setting for this chapter is still the Columbia Bottom section of St. Ferdinand Township, St. Louis Co., MO. This is where Gottlieb and Hanne were still living when Hanne gave birth to her first set of twins in Jun of 1880. The Columbia Bottom was the rich fertile river bottom land where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers merge in St. Louis. There was a German community on the Columbia Bottom and Gottlieb and Hanne had lived in this locale since their marriage in 1869. It was in this locale that Louise's father rented farm land and raised fruits and vegetables which he sold at the market in the city of St. Louis. Louise's father rented the land since it was expensive. For most of the time, Louise's parents were probably content in this locale or they wouldn't have stayed there so long. The land was good, they shared a common heritage, language, and religion, with their neighbors. They lived near St. Petri's² Evangelical Church which was a small German Church built in 1863 of limestone in the Gothic style. It's possible that this church reminded Gottlieb and Hanne of Germany. Louise's parents joined St. Petri's shortly after their marriage and were Communicant members. It was at St. Petri's that they had their children baptized. Even though there were things that Louise's parents liked about living on the Columbia Bottom, there were also drawbacks to living in this locale such as the occasional flooding of the rivers, crop failures, the hot, humid summers, mosquitoes, frequent outbreaks of diseases, and the expense of owning land in this locale. Louise's parents were probably more interested in local affairs that effected their lives, the weather, their crops, and church events. When the enumerator for the U.S. Census visited the home of Gottlieb and Hanne Gliedt on 4 Jun 1880, he noted that Gottlieb and Hanne had two children, Auguste, age 8; and Heinrich, age 6. Their daughter, Anna, was not listed on this census.³ In the ten years of their marriage, Hanne had given birth to five children with three children surviving in 1880. Two weeks after the census enumerator visited their home, Hanne gave birth to her first set of twins. The fraternal twins were named (#290) Charlotte Louise Pauline and (#289) Heinrich (Henry) Friedrich Wilhelm. Only Louise's story is covered in this chapter. The story of her twin brother, Heinrich (Henry) Friedrich Wilhelm, is covered in Chapter Ten.

290. CHARLOTTE LOUISE PAULINE^G7 GLIEDT (Eberdt,^G1 Jobst,^G2 Albert Henrich,^G3 Albert Henrich,^G4 Hermann^G5 ) (Pöppelmeier^G4 : Bernhard,^G1 Hermann^G2 ), the seventh child of Philipp Gottlieb^G6 and Hanne Friederike^G3 Gliedt nee Pöppelmeier, was born on 18 Jun 1880. When Louise was born, her parents were renting farm land on the Columbia Bottom section of St. Ferdinand Township, St. Louis Co., MO. Charlotte Louise Pauline, better known as Louise, and her fraternal twin brother, Heinrich (Henry) Friedrich Wilhelm, were baptized on 4 Jul 1880 by Pastor O. S. Zimmermann, the new pastor at St. Petri's Church. Louise was named after her sponsors, Pauline Päppelmeyer⁴ and Louise Kelmbrink.⁵ Louise and Henry missed appearing in the 1880 census by two weeks. For the first six years of Louise's life, her parents lived on the Columbia Bottom. By Louise's sixth birthday, her mother had given birth to four more children, the twins, Heinrich Wilhelm and Carl Friedrich in 1882, Paul in Feb of 1884, and Gustav in Nov of 1885. Gustav died in Aug of 1886, a few months before his first birthday. Shortly after Gustav's death, her father and mother decided to move away from the Columbia Bottom. At that time, Louise's aunt, Justine Breder, and her family, were living in the Freistatt locale, Lawrence Co., MO. So in Sep of 1886, Louise's father bought a parcel of farm land near Freistatt located in Section (18), Township (27), of Range (27), in Lawrence Co., MO.⁶

The German settlement at Freistatt was a growing community, attracting German speaking people, some coming directly from Germany, and others from various parts of the U.S. This area appealed to Louise's parents for several reasons, such as the price of farm land was reasonable, they shared a common German heritage, language, and religion, with the people living in this locale, and it seemed to be a healthier area for raising their children. Here they could maintain the old "German Ways" which was very important to Louise's mother. The community of Freistatt lived up to it's name which means "a place of refuge". It was a close-knit community. Everyone knew or had heard of each other and many of the families were united by marriages. Louise was six years old when they moved to this locale. Her parents found that Freistatt had an Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church, a Christian Day School and that the Post Office was located in Biermann's General Store. As soon as possible, Louise's parents joined the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church, a Missouri Synod congregation, which was the center of the community. Members of this church could send their children to the Christian Day School. The children had to be eight years or older to attend the school. Classes were held Monday through Friday during the winter months. When she was old enough, Louise attended the Christian Day School where she was taught by the teacher, Oscar Schneider.⁷ She was taught the school curriculum in German along with some English, or as it was known then as the "American" language. The year after the family moved to the Freistatt locale, Louise's mother gave birth to her third set of twins, Martin and Adolph, in Dec of 1887. Louise was ten when her mother gave birth to Ernst in 1890. As Louise grew up, she was given more responsibilities, helping with the chores and caring for her younger brothers. Louise was about thirteen, when her older sister, Auguste, married Ernst Kaiser in May of 1893. Both Louise and her twin brother, Henry, were confirmed in German on 18 Mar 1894 at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, Lawrence Co., MO.⁸ In May of 1897, Louise's sister, Anna, married Leonhard(t) Kaiser.

Growing up in this locale, Louise saw many changes in the community of Freistatt. By the turn of the century, Freistatt had filed for Township and had such businesses as the Freistatt Creamery Company; the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company; the Schoen Hotel; Frank Wendler's The Village Blacksmith; H. F. Brockschmidt, a dealer in Light and Heavy Harnesses; the Freistatt Milling Company; a resident physician, W. J. Rutledge, MD; along with Biermann's General Store and Post office. When Wiley Rutledge, the enumerator of the Twelfth U.S. Census for Freistatt Township, enumerated the household of Gottlieb Gliedt on 19 Jun 1900, he found that Louise was the only daughter living at home.⁹

In such a close-knit community like Freistatt, it was only natural that when the Gliedt family settled in this locale that they became acquainted with Henry Doennig and his family. A short history of the Doennig family begins with the birth of Carl Heinrich (Henry) Doennig. Henry, the first child of Friedrich Wilhelm and his second wife, Christine Marie Ilsabein Dönnig nee Schnake, was born on 19 Dec 1845 at Eickhorst #59 in Westfalen, Germany.¹⁰ He came to America in 1861 and first settled in Washington Co., IL.¹¹ Henry became engaged to Sophia Maria Elisabeth (Mary) Brandhorst, the daughter of Christian Diederich Hermann and Maria Elisabeth Brandhorst nee Könemann, who was born on 14 Dec 1856 near Nashville in Washington Co., IL.¹² Henry heard about the German community in Lawrence Co., MO and that the railroad was selling land in the locale cheaply. He was interested in buying cheap farm land in a less populated area, so he traveled to Lawrence Co., MO and bought land in the Mt. Pleasant area from the railroad prior to Jul of 1877. He returned to Illinois for his fiancee, Mary. The engaged couple traveled to their new home in Lawrence Co., MO. Henry and Mary were married on 12 Jul 1877 by the Rev. Grupe at Freistatt, MO.¹³ Mary became the mother of nine children, five daughters and four sons. Only six of their children survived to adulthood. When the Twelfth U.S. Census was taken on 22 Jun 1900, the family of Henry Doennig was found residing in Mt. Pleasant Township. The household consisted of Henry; Mary, his wife of 13 years; and their children: Henry, age 21; Minnie, age 16; Clara, age 10; Pauline, age 6; and Emil, age 3.14 The Doennig and Gliedt families attended the same church and sent their children to the same Christian Day School. So it's hardly surprising that four of Henry and Mary Doennig's children married four of Gottlieb and Hanne Gliedt's children. In 1900, their eldest daughter, Anna Doennig, was the first one of her family to marry into the Gliedt family.

Figure 1: Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm and Charlotte Louise (Gliedt) Doennig. 24 Jul 1902, Freistatt, MO.

When Louise's older brother, Hermann became engaged to Anna Doennig, he asked his sister, Louise, and his brother, Henry, to be his witnesses and his fiancee, Anna Doennig asked her brother, Heinrich Wilhelm, and her sister, Minna, to be her witnesses. It is of interest to note that these four young people who acted as witnesses, later became engaged, and were married in a double wedding ceremony in 1902. Louise Gliedt and Heinrich Wilhelm Doennig, probably went on double dates with Henry Gliedt and Minna Doennig. William Doennig, Jr., age 23, of Freistatt, MO, and Louise Gliedt, age 22, also of Freistatt, MO, applied for their marriage license on 10 Jul 1902 at the county clerk's office in Mt. Vernon, MO.¹⁵ A week later, Henry Gliedt and Minna Doennig applied for their marriage license on 17 Jul 1902.16 On 24 Jul 1902, Charlotte Louise Pauline Gliedt wed HEINRICH FRIEDRICH WILHELM DOENNIG at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, MO. Pastor Johannes Roschke officiated at the double wedding ceremony in which he united in marriage, Heinrich Wilhelm (Bill) Doennig and Louise Gliedt, and Henry Gliedt and Minna Doennig. Their witnesses were Heinrich Doennig, Emma Breder, Friedrich Gliedt and Martha Hesemann.¹⁷

Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm (1879-1931), the first child of Henry and Mary Doennig nee Brandhorst, was born on 1 Mar 1879 at his parents' farm located in the Mt. Pleasant area of Lawrence Co., MO. He was baptized by Pastor Johannes Roschke on 9 Mar 1879 at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, MO. His sponsors were H. Hesemann, Mrs. Korff and Wilhelm Doennig.¹⁸ He is better known as Wilhelm/William or Bill Doennig. Bill grew up in this locale on his father's farm and attended the Christian Day School at Freistatt, MO. Bill was still living with his parents when the census taker stopped by the Doennig farm located in Mt. Pleasant Township of Lawrence Co., MO on 22 Jun 1900. The enumerator noted that Bill was 21 years old and that he was a farm laborer.¹⁹

After their marriage, Bill and Louise Doennig nee Gliedt lived near Bill's parents on a farm located in Mt. Pleasant Township of Lawrence Co., MO. In May of 1903, Louise gave birth to her first child, Frieda, followed by John in Oct of 1904. Bill and Louise were invited to attend the wedding of Louise's brother, Fred, and Martha Meinert which was held at Freistatt on 26 Aug 1906. Three months later, Louise gave birth to Laura in Nov of 1906. The following year, Bill and Louise were invited to the wedding of Louise's brother, Bill, and Bertha Meinert which was held on 28 Apr 1907 at Freistatt. In Jul of 1909, Louise gave birth to Ewald. That same month, Louise's sister-in-law, Martha Gliedt nee Meinert, died.

When Chas W. Moody, the enumerator for the Thirteenth U.S. Census, stopped by Bill's farm located in Mt. Pleasant Township, MO, he noted on the census form that Bill was 31 year old and the head of the household. He owned a general farm and had a mortgage on it. His family consisted of Louise, his wife; and their children: Frieda, age 7; John, age 5; Laura, age 3; and Ewald, age 7/12. Frieda was the only child attending school at that time.²⁰ Shortly after this census was taken, Louise's sister, Auguste Kaiser, her husband, Ernst, and their children, moved to the Cole Camp area of Benton Co., MO. They were the first members of the family to leave the Freistatt area. In the fall of 1910, two of Louise's brothers got married. First, her brother, Fred, married Clara Doennig on 15 Sep 1910 at Freistatt. Two months later her brother, Adolph, married Alma Oexmann on 13 Nov 1910.

1912 was an eventful year for Bill and Louise. Louise gave birth to her fifth and last child, Hulda, in May, and her brother, Martin, married Alma Lampe in the fall. It was also the year that Bill and Louise first heard of Mr. C. L. Peirce and his farm lots in Texas. In Sep of 1912, Mr. C. L. Peirce of Winnebago, IL, subdivided his 3590+ acres of land located in Brazoria Co., TX, into blocks and farm lots which became known as the C. L. Peirce Subdivision of a portion of the Shipman and Charles League. Mr. C. L. Peirce was also the President of the "Linwood Ranch Company".21 Mr. Peirce would forever change the lives of Bill and Louise. By the fall/winter of 1912, Mr. Peirce began advertising the sale of his Texas farm lots, in Freistatt. Mr. Peirce's farm lots were advertised as being rich in soil and minerals, as sulphur and oil had already been discovered in parts of Brazoria Co., TX. Here was the opportunity of a lifetime, to be on the ground floor of creating an entire new village and the chance to get rich. After hearing about the land in Texas, Louise's mother was convinced that "it was a good deal". As hard as she tried, Louise's mother was unable to convince her husband, Gottlieb to sell up and move to Texas. So, she turned her efforts to her children, encouraging them to sell up and move. In 1913, Bill went with a group of men to see the land in Texas.²² Even though Bill was reluctant about moving to Texas, he bought some farm lots from Mr. Peirce. Bill was one of the first to sell his farm in Missouri and move to Texas. On 13 Aug 1913, Bill and Louise sold their farm to Christ Rahmoeller. Their farm was described as the South half of the Southeast quarter of Section (13), Township (27), of Range (28), containing 80 acres more or less.²³

On 1 Jan 1914, Bill and his brothers-in-law, William (Bill), Henry, Martin, Hermann, Adolph, and Fred Gliedt, along with Louis Holtmann, bought land from C. L. Peirce. Mr. Peirce had Bill's contract notarized at Houston, TX on 9 Jan 1914. Bill agreed to make a down payment on the land to be followed by four promissory notes due on or before 1 Jan 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918. Bill's parcel of land was described as 60 acres of land, being farm lots or tracts numbered (5) and (6) in Block Number (4) of the C. L. Peirce Subdivision of a portion of the Shipman and Charles League, in Brazoria Co., TX.²⁴ Bill described the land as being rich, though it was rather swampy and was heavily wooded. The land was flat and drainage was always a problem. After a hard rain, the fields became more swamp-like, creating an ideal breeding place for mosquitoes, which spread diseases such as malaria and typhoid fever.

The families missed having a place to worship and made plans to build a church as soon as possible. Until the church was built, reading services were held in the homes and once a month Pastor Stoppenhagen of the Evangelical Church in Wharton drove out to the German settlement to perform the Communion Service, weddings, etc. Bill Doennig and his brother-in-law, Hermann Gliedt were the designated trustees of the Linwood German Lutheran Church. On 3 Apr 1914, Bill Doennig and Hermann Gliedt bought 10 acres of land from C. L. Peirce located in Block (3), South half of farm lot (48), for the site of the new church. The land was bought with the condition that the church building "shall be erected within two years and if abandoned for 6 months, the 10 acres of land would revert to C. L. Peirce."25 The church was not erected on this site and the land reverted back to C. L. Peirce on 13 Mar 1915.26 On 11 Mar 1915, Bill Doennig bought ten acres of land from Mr. C. L. Peirce located in Block (4), East third of farm lot (4).27 On 13 Mar 1915, Bill and Louise Doennig sold to the trustees of the Linwood German Lutheran Church, Bill Doennig and Hermann Gliedt, 10 acres of land in Block (4), the South third of farm lot (6), for the new site of the church.²⁸ This last site for the church building was located more conveniently for the family members. Unfortunately, the church never became a reality.

1914 and 1915 were busy, difficult years for Bill and Louise. Bill and Louise and all their kinfolks, were tested by gulf storms and swampy conditions. They had to be extremely self-sufficient. On 16 Aug 1915, a hurricane hit the Galveston area of Texas²⁹ about 55 miles from where Bill and Louise lived. It had winds in excess of 100 m.p.h. and lasted for 48 hours.³⁰ The heavy rains caused the nearby San Bernard River to flood. The damage caused by the water was greater than the wind damage.³¹ Since Bill and Louise's house was two-storied, several of the other families came to stay with them during the hurricane. Bill's house was well built and still stands empty, as a reminder of another era.³² After the hurricane, some of the families were facing financial difficulties and so they decided to lease the mineral rights to their land. In Oct of 1915, Bill's brothers-in-law, Ernst, William (Bill), Henry, Fred, Martin, Adolph, Paul, and Hermann Gliedt all signed agreements leasing the mineral rights of their lands to C. L. Peirce.³³ Following the hurricane, there was an outbreak of diseases, some of the family members became ill. The nearest doctor was in Wharton, and special arrangements had to be made for the doctor to visit the settlement or to travel to Wharton. Paul's wife, Alma, called Louise and told her that Paul was ill. Bill and Louise went to see Paul and found him in bed. Arrangements were made to take Paul to the doctor in Wharton where he died. After the deaths of Louise's brother, Paul, in Oct of 1915, and Louise's nephew, Oscar, in Nov of 1915, all the families met to discuss moving away.³⁴ The deaths of Paul and Oscar, illness among the family members, plus financial difficulties caused the families great distress.

Since 1914, the Rev. Dautenhahn of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church at Fairyland, Ottawa Co., OK had sent several letters to the editor of the German newspaper Rundshau, a German newspaper with a wide spread distribution across the U.S. In his letters to the editor, Rev. Dautenhahn promoted the farming opportunities for German speaking people in Oklahoma.³⁵ At the family meeting, someone suggested that they should move to Fairyland, OK, as there were some farms available to rent. So it was decided that they would move. One by one the families moved. Some families just up and left their farms, in many instances their belongings as well. The long-time residents of the area were amazed at the suddenness of their departure.³⁶

Bill and Louise stayed on in Texas for awhile and Bill was able to pay off the promissory notes on his 60 acre farm on 25 Mar 1916.37 Bill and Louise finally decided to move and so they sold their horses, machinery and some of the furniture. One morning in Apr of 1916, Bill, Louise and the children left Texas for Fairyland, OK. They were the last family to leave. Louise's brothers, Henry, Fred, Hermann, Martin, Adolph, and their families, along with her brother, Ernst, were already in Fairyland when Bill and Louise arrived there. Bill and Louise rented a home near the railroad tracks in the Fairyland area. This house had no electricity, running water, or indoor plumbing. Bill, Louise, and their children, stayed in Fairyland for a few months.³⁸

On 11 Nov 1916, Bill Doennig and Hermann Gliedt, trustees of the German Lutheran Church sold the 10 acres of land located in Block (4), South third lot (6) to Bill Doennig.³⁹ An indenture was made on 10 Nov 1916, between Bill and Louise Doennig of Lawrence Co., MO, parties of the first part and Bill Doennig and Hermann Gliedt, as trustees of the German Lutheran Church, the second part for the 10 acres of land described as the land off of the East side of farm lot or tract number (4) in Block (4) of the C. L. Peirce Subdivision of a portion of the Shipman and Charles League in Brazoria Co., TX.⁴⁰

By Nov of 1916, the family had moved back to Lawrence Co., MO, as Louise was very ill. The children stayed with relatives, while Bill took Louise to see a specialist in Springfield, MO. Nothing could be done for Louise, so Bill again rented several homes in Lawrence Co., some near Freistatt.⁴¹ Louise lived to see Frieda confirmed in Apr of 1917. The night before Louise died, she called all the children to her bedside and instructed them to try to keep the family together with their dad, regardless of whatever happened.⁴² Charlotte Louise Pauline Doennig nee Gliedt died on 17 Jun 1917 in the Freistatt area of Lawrence Co., MO and was buried on 18 Jun 1917 in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Freistatt, MO.⁴³ After Louise died, several families offered to take the children and care for them, but they remembered their mother's wishes and stayed together as a family.⁴⁴

In the next several years in spite of many struggles, Bill built a confectionery and was able to purchase a Maxwell Car. The year after Louise's death, Bill was able to sell his 60 acres of land located in Brazoria Co., TX on 22 Jun 1918 to John E Groh and Louis Tiesel of Lawrence Co., MO. The land was located in Block (4), lots (5) and (6).45 While living in the Freistatt area, John and Laura were confirmed at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church. Frieda was fourteen when she took on the responsibilities for caring for the family and assumed many of the household duties. The family moved again to a better house that rented for $5/month. This place had water on the back porch, but no electricity or indoor plumbing. World War I was still going on and credit was poor, so Bill's business suffered. About the time the war ended, Bill decided to move.

The family moved in 1921 to the Chelsea area of Oklahoma where other family members lived. Bill rented a farm that had no electricity, running water, or plumbing. The farm was located southeast of Chelsea, OK and about a half mile from the present day Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adair Township, OK. Bill was active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was the work director. He was in charge of the many people who helped raise cotton on the church acreage, which was sold to help pay off the church debt.⁴⁶

Bill lived the rest of his life in this locale. Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm (Bill) Doennig died on 26 May 1931 at Chelsea, OK and was buried on 28 May 1931 in the Bethlehem Cemetery, Adair Township, Mayes Co., OK.⁴⁷

Figure 2: The Family Members who went to Texas. Photo taken at Paul Gliedt's home.

Children kneeling in Front Row, Left to Right: Erwin Gliedt, Arthur Gliedt, and Oscar Gliedt.

Children standing Left to Right: Emil Gliedt, Marie Gliedt, Clara Gliedt, Richard Gliedt, Alvin Gliedt, Dora Gliedt, John Doennig, Laura Doennig, Lora Gliedt, (Male child?), Ewald Doennig, Velma Gliedt and Hulda Doennig, standing next to her father.

Adults, Left to Right: Man kneeling unknown, Standing, Hermann Gliedt, Bill Gliedt, Anna (Doennig) Gliedt, Martin Gliedt, Female unknown, Adolph Gliedt, Ernst Gliedt behind Frieda Doennig, Paul Gliedt behind Hanne (Poeppelmeier) Gliedt, Female unknown, Bertha Gliedt holding Bruno, Alma Gliedt holding Mildred, Female unknown, Henry Gliedt, Louise (Gliedt) Doennig, Henry (Bill) Doennig, Clara (Doennig) Gliedt hold Selma, and Mrs. Wilburn.

John Doennig was about nine years old when his family moved to Texas. He has vivid memories of the time his family lived in Texas. He shares his memories here in this story that he wrote in 1980-1981 nearly 70 years after his stay in Texas.

HE HAS KEPT THEM ALL--THE TEXAS STORY

BY JOHN DOENNIG

Written December 1980-January 1981

This true story (with some added imaginary lines) begins in late 1912. It concerns a group of young Christian families who got the urge to move away from Freistatt, a well established Christian community. The families would be leaving good farms, some with new houses, Trinity Lutheran Church and a Christian Day School. They would move to an area of Texas that had no established farms, no church or school. They would be taking six little children out of the Christian Day School at Freistatt. Most of these people were born, baptized, confirmed, and married here in Freistatt, Lawrence Co., MO. At the end of the story we learn "The Lord's ways are the best!" The families who were involved: Hermann and Anna Gliedt and their children, Richard, Alvin, Clara and Oscar; Henry and Minna Gliedt, and their children, Emil, Arthur, and Marie; Bill and Louise Doennig, and their children, Frieda, John, Laura, Ewald, and Hulda; Fred and Clara Gliedt; Bill and Bertha Gliedt and their children, Dora, Erwin and Bruno; Paul and Lena Gliedt and their daughter, Lora; Martin and Alma Gliedt; Adolph and Alma Gliedt and their children, Velma and Mildred; Ernst Gliedt; Hanne Gliedt; Louie Holtmann; and Ernest Oexmann.

It was beautiful, this Sunday, on a late summer day in 1912. We all went to visit with Uncle Henry, Fred and Bill Gliedt families after attending morning services at Trinity Lutheran at Freistatt. They lived on the Spring River Bottom east of us (Doennigs) toward Mt. Vernon. Art Gliedt was nursing a pain from the wound made by a fish hook removed from his nose. We kids ran down one hill, up another and noticed the hazelnut bushes growing between the hills were loaded. Uncle Fred had finished building their new house. We kids (Richard, Alvin, Emil, Art, Laura, Clara, Frieda, and John) all walked down to the river. They had a boat. I was afraid of water and did not get close.

The reason we all met here (at the Gliedts) was that three of our members (Henry Gliedt, Ryan Schmeling, and Hy Aufdembrink) attempted to convince all to move away from Missouri to a place in south Texas. They knew of a deal that was, they said, "a lot better than Missouri". We went our way after this, to let it soak for awhile. As time moved on, we talked about it a lot--mother and dad were not too much in favor to make this big change.

One Sunday, several weeks later at Grand folks Doennigs, the folks were talking to stay on the farm, here close to Grandpa Doennig. After a while, the others started to change our plans again. Next Sunday at Gliedt's, mother and dad began to talk about it. Grandmother (Gliedt) stuck them with, who does not go along here, must later also look on. Ernst (Gliedt) who was still living single, showed us his ginseng garden in a shadowed building constructed from 1" X 3" spaced 3" 30' X 60', and the new big red barn east of the house which had lightning rods and a beautiful silver horse to show the wind direction.

After some time, early the next year, the Gliedts and dad made a tour to this place in Texas to see it before buying anything. While they were gone, Alma Kaiser stayed with us. At this time, we kids (Doennig) had the Whooping Cough. Frieda remembers that sometimes with the cough we got pretty whoopee and we had to spit out. Alma would say, "did you rotz yourself out". Once she heard us say, get home, Fydo, the dog, and she wondered how he could, he was already home. Got a letter from dad in Texas saying they all had gotten farms the size of ours, 60 acres, about 7 miles NE of Pledger. After he came back, our farm had to be sold. Several people looked at it. One of the neighbors living 3/4 miles to the north named Chris Rahmoeller heard about it, came over, became interested enough to finally buy it. After some time, he came to close the deal. Dad and he began to talk about their families. Dad said, "Chris, as you known, we are Bill and Louisa (Doennig) and we have been blessed with five children." "Frieda," he said, "helps her mother quite a lot, seems she wants things in its' place, to look neat. She has many friends at school. Laura is good to find lost things, likes to be with other kids, to have a good time." "John," he said, "has what may be called a creative mind, wants to see how things operate, what makes them go. That may be why he took apart a new watch

Figure 3: Our family used goats to clear the underbrush in Texas.

Figure 4: The saw mill the Gliedts used in Texas.

Figure 5: John Doennig on horseback. Notice how tall the corn grew in Texas.

Figure 6: The H.W. Doennig farm in Texas. 1914. Bill Doennig standing in his corn field.

Figure 7: The C. L. Peirce's Ranch House, Pledger, TX, 1914.

he got for Christmas. Never did find all the parts back. Ewald seems to be fast. He gets it done, makes friends easily, calls Johann, John. Hulda gets a lot of attention when she wants it, hardly ever cries. She is one year old now. Chris, we feel thankful for the happiness we experience raising this family in good and also noisy days."

Well it was getting nearer the time we planned to start moving. So the first thing, a list a things to put on a sale bill was made up. The date of the sale was published to be Sep 10, 1913. Dad's Uncle Bill (Doennig) was the auctioneer. Squire Kaiser of Freistatt was the clerk. It was not a very large sale, 4 horses, 6 cattle, some chickens, farm machinery, feed, etc. We stayed on the farm after the sale almost a month. Some of the feed took quite awhile to be hauled away. Some was bundled, ear corn, oats, etc. Frieda and John said good-bye on the last day of school to the teachers and classmates.

I think it was the second week in Oct 12-13, Grandfather Doennig and Louie Holtmann went along on the railroad car with our horses, Prince and Dan, and the other belongings heading toward Texas. We stayed with grand folks Gliedt the last two days in Missouri, On the 15th, early that afternoon, Uncle Ernst hitched the horses to the spring wagon and took us to the Monett depot to meet the passenger train, due at 6:00 P.M. This will be for us kids, the first train ride. The train was ready to move by 6:00 P.M. Before the conductor loaded us, he placed a step-up on the ground to make it possible to reach the top steps. We waved good-bye to Uncle Ernst as the train began to move towards Dallas. We slept in the seats this night and arrived in Dallas at 6:30 A.M. After we ate breakfast, we waited awhile at the depot. I remember all the steel wheel wagons put on express and mail, the fancy colored lights. When all were loaded on the train, we were now heading for Houston, 235 miles away. It was 10:00 A.M, Oct 16, when we started to move. Since for us, this was the first time riding on the train, we kids saw nearly everything on the outside, so the almost 5 hour ride went along pretty fast. We got to Houston at 3:00 P.M. We went by cab to the Magaty Hotel where we sat around awhile in the lobby, ate a little and waited till 8:30 P.M and then got the first elevator lift to the sixth floor of this hotel, where we slept that night. The first time in a city. The next morning, Oct 17, after eating, we got ready to move to the second to last stop on this trip, Wharton, 55 miles away.

I remember seeing many oyster shells in the raw on the river shore. On the way to Wharton, some of us kids almost got sick. It seems that the buildings move back when the train starts to go. Also saw the first Spanish moss on some trees. Got to Wharton at 1:00 P.M. Now we are moving again, for the last stop, Pledger. We got there at 2:30 P.M on the 17th. While we waited on the porch of Taylor's store, Ewald remembers mother holding Hulda, while sitting in an old chair. The rest might have been sitting on the floor. We went with Mr. H. D. Hurd, who lived about 6 miles northeast, near the Linnville Bayou ( a lake outlet). We stayed here almost a week. I remember his house was not finished. It was encircled with a heavy rope tied to a large tree in the bayou (flood protection). I remember here we ate rolled oats from a tin can, to protect the oats from moisture and insects. He had lizards tied in some windows to catch flies. We still think he did not want to spend money for screens. While here, Grand dad and Louie Holtmann came with our horses and the rest of our things. Now there was a log house about a mile west from our place, here we moved everything temporary around the 21st. Grand dad tells the folks to turn around and go back (good idea). Grand dad Doennig goes back almost right away to Missouri. I forget where Louie Holtmann was at this time. I remember the first meal at the Cox log cabin, it was an early supper. The first meal for us alone for a week. I can still taste the Missouri apple-butter, was it good. Dad shoots a rat running between the logs of the house. We stayed at this place for awhile because a rancher named John Bertram had not moved away from our house. They were fixing to move a mile and a half west on the C. L. Peirce Ranch and it took several days to finish moving.

It must have been about the first week in Nov when we moved out of the log house into our own house. How glad we were then. The entrance was from the north and had 4 rooms down stairs. The stair steps were on the center wall. The top was all one room. Frieda and Laura had a shelf full of fancy broken glass up to the left. Dad had to make some repairs on the windows and had to get the stove pipe to act as a flue through the north wall. Our new address was H. W. Doennig, Pledger, Texas, Linwood Camp.

We are told that the winter weather is not steady here. It comes in with a cloud bank which is called a Northerner. For the first winter, dad had to buy some hay for the horses and cow even though there was some for grazing all year. There was a shed northeast of the house which was full of things we used for the outside, even left some room for the chickens.

Got a letter from Uncle Hermann. Alvin sent a note for me. Mother said to write to Anna Wiedmann, my teacher, as she had sent a bunch of little pictures of birds.

Mother and me made the outside close around the house look better while dad did some clearing. It was mostly timber. Some days, Louie Holtmann helped pull the crosscut saw. It must have been early Dec when Ernest Oexmann began building a 24' X 40' shed. His land was located across the road, north of us. He boarded with us while he was building.

It finally got to be Christmas Eve. We had a Christmas tree. For gifts, I received a box of blocks, Frieda and Laura got dolls, Ewald a toy trumpet, and Hulda a large fancy ball. I think we all were glad.

Now early the next year, Hermann, Henry and all the rest of the Gliedts came. Some stayed with us for awhile. Hermann's family lived in Oexmann's shed while building their own house. Uncle Paul got a lumber sawing machine. He did the sawing. Dad ran the engine. They sawed all the lumber for their new buildings. D. L. Bengon from Rosenberg drilled the water wells and furnished the new pumps. In the spring, Dad hired some Negro families to clear 6 acres at $12. They lived in the building northeast of the house after moving out things. The foreman was Marshall Powell. After awhile Lee Green and his gang cleared 8 acres. They lived southeast in a tent. After the land was cleared, we raised some corn, sugar cane, Egyptian wheat, and some Spanish peanuts.

This spring, we began to have church services in the homes every Sunday. Pastor M. C. Stoppenhagen from Wharton came out on one Sunday every month. One Sunday the service had started and I happened to see Louie Holtmann is cleaning up a burning brush first and he pitched his shirt into the flames. This time, the service was at Paul Gliedt's. Some people named Wilburn were there with their 18-19 year old daughter. Several days later, these people drove to the Gulf of Mexico. The girl lost her life getting caught in a currant in the gulf and drowned. On another Sunday we had the services at Adolph Gliedt's. They had an organ that helped with the singing. I can still hear Aunt Minna and mother sing the closing words of the hymn stanza, Oo Jusu-Oo Jusu. It was a joy to hear. Uncle Hermann and dad were appointed to read at and arrange the services. One Sunday, the neighbors, John Bertram and his family, came to our service. They can talk some German. They stayed just about all day. Got more acquainted and they gave some hope that they would be back. During one of the services the wedding of Louie and Clara Holtmann took place. (Mr. Louie Holtmann and Miss Clara Wood applied for their marriage license on 15 Jul 1914 at the Brazoria County clerk's office. They were married by Rev. M. C. Stoppenhagen on 19 Jul 191448). I remember the ceremony was in German. She could not know what the minister asked. Someone gave her a sign to answer. We had kegs of beer, coffee and a meal of good eats. One of the guests named Mrs. Kurtis took coffee. She made a lot of coffee sloop music. Ewald remembered this terrible sound for a long time. That night, the kids began to run up and down the stairs. Alvin quit first as he was getting to feel that last glass full of beer.

For awhile Louie lived with her folks, the Woods. While most of the relatives were living temporary with us on account of a flood scare, Aunt Anna taught us kids some German game songs. Here are two:

Blauer blanker fingerhut Blue shining thimble

Mach dass ganse leben gut Is great in her good life

Jungfrau die muss tanzen Virgin she must dance

In den grünen kranzen In the green garlands

Jungfrau die muss stille stehn Virgin she must stand still

Und nach drei mahl umsich sehn And now three times look around

Jungfrau die muss knien Virgin now must kneel

Und den liebsten ziehen. And choose the dearest

Flink? Flank? Flodia? Flink? Flank? Flodia?

Wehr sitzt in diese todia Who is sitting in hiding

Eine schoene koenigstochter A pretty King's daughter

Die niemand nicht zu sehen kriegt Who is not seen by anyone

Waruem den nicht, Waruem den nicht And why not? And why not?

Sie sitzt so fest in mauer She sitting to fast in the wall

Die mauer wollen wir brechen The wall we want to break

Die steine wollen wir stechen The stones we want to hide

Kiek kiek. I look, I look.

Aunt Anna did some sewing with our machine. We think mother was more glad when the lady finished. I think that Uncle Hermann still had some furniture and things stored in Oexmann's shed. I helped set some things a little higher in case the flood should come. Everyone was thankful and glad to learn there was no loss or damage.

Now when things are normal again, the man C. L. Peirce pays us a little visit and he bragged about the sweet tasting radishes. He went to see the others. When he stopped at Uncle Henry's, he talked about their lawn. Emil and Art sold him some Bermuda seed at .25 per pound. Aunt Minna showed him their new house. Now when people came to visit the German settlement northeast of Pledger, they would first reach our place (Doennig), north was Ernest Oexmann's property, next half mile was Hermann (Gliedt), seven miles northeast lives Henry (Gliedt), three quarters of a mile south of Henry, lives Bill Gliedt. South of Bill lives grandma and Ernst, a quarter mile west lives Fred, a quarter mile west across the road, lives Martin, a quarter mile west on the north side, lives Adolph and an eighth of a mile west on the south side of the road lives Paul. We had more trails than roads which got muddy sometimes. Dad and some of the uncles pulled a two-wheeled trailer with the team. It was a lighter load.

Now the storekeeper's name in Pledger was Taylor, Strapelton was running the feed department, H. G. Hodge ran the lumber yard. The restaurant was operated by Negroes. It happened that on this nice day we (Doennigs) were in town. We see all the Gliedt men (except Bill) eat in this place. I think Frieda and Laura also noticed the flies inside and specks inside the show windows (no screens). We just walked through the place and ate later close to our own flies.

Now the Gulf of Mexico was only 33 miles southeast of us. Most morning at about 9 A.M, a cool breeze would hit us from the gulf. Dad did quite a bit of land clearing. He would put the bush on large piles. Later when the piles were dry, most of the time, mother and we kids would clean up the brush by burning it. In the field we had a patch of sugar cane. Folks would allow us kids 1 stalk each day to chew to get out the sweet sap. Among so many stalks, it was a problem to find the best one. Sometime for supper, we would have a soup plate full of bread pieces soaked in sweet milk with clabber milk served on top. We think this was good eating.

The past several weeks, dad and Holtmann sawed down logs enough to make lumber for a new house and barn. They included enough live oak trees (this was a kind of tree the trunk could not be split and it would not rot when exposed to wet ground or weather). We used 12'X¹² 'X¹⁸ " blocks to form the foundation for the new buildings. Uncle Paul moved his lumber mill to our place to convert all these logs to lumber. We are still living in the old house. It's keeping us dry. Dad is building the new barn first about 60 steps east of the house. It's not very large. It has two stalls, two bins and a hay loft. I remember one night, Ewald and I were slowly walking from the barn to the house carrying a lit kerosine lantern. One time, they let us know a sea storm (hurricane) was moving towards us and may strike that night. So we hurry and walk to Uncle Paul's and stay there till the next day about 10:30 A.M. I guess dad was suffering quite a bit from a boil on his knee at the time. During the storm, the wind was very strong and it seemed that the rain came down in sheets. We were glad that everything at our home was OK when we got back.

We had a neighbor living on the south side named James Miller. His place was fenced in with woven wire. Dad had one of our sows with 8 little pigs running close to this fence for several days, finding grass to eat. One night she did not come home, neither could she be found. We think Miller knew about it.

Now the family living in our house that time before we moved in is named John and Allis Bertram and their two daughters. They moved to a place a mile and a half southwest to a ranch where the buildings were in good order. C. L. Peirce of Houston, Texas, who sold to dad and Gliedts their farms, owned this place. They invited all the Gliedts and Doennigs for a Sunday dinner. We were a little surprised when we got there. Everything seemed to be prepared. A decorated serving table about 45' long was set up on the close clipped Bermuda grass lawn south of the house. Some of the food was kept on their long porch which was screened. It was easy to find things quickly when needed. For dinner we had mutton, sweet potatoes, fried squash, pumpkin pie and ice cream. I remember hearing Mrs. Bertram say "quit eating when it begins to taste the best." Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Peirce helped at eating, also their boy, who was about ten years old. I think we were all surprised when he recited the child's prayer hymn stanza: Christ blut und gerechtigkeit dass ist mein Schmuck und ehrenkleid mit ihn ich per Gott beshand Wen ich zu Himmel werd eingehn. (Christ's blood and justification is my Jewel and honor dress, with it I will to God appear, when I shall enter Heaven.) Peirce's son recited this stanza in German. We did not hear anything else spoken by him in German. I think about 48 people were present that afternoon. We kids played and got acquainted. The man Bertram took care of mostly a good breed of saddle horses, some cattle and sheep. All the fences were new-like and shinny, like bands of silver. The new barn was painted red.

One time dad was talking with a farmer named Marshwood in Pledger about the Texas way of farming. He told dad it may not seem as good as Missouri farming, but it still is the best way. We planted some fig trees, some banana plants and have elephant ear leaves. Our field crops, this year, looks good. We raised some hogs and had some chickens. I think all the Gliedts had some cattle.

The Gliedts and dad did all the building, eight sets in less than two years, plus fencing. Now that our barn was finished, dad started on the new house, located north of the old one. Got the foundation made just before Christmas. For some reason, Grandmother Gliedt was staying with us at this time. I remember one day Frieda and Laura got the idea to try to whistle a little and oh boy, when granny heard it, she told them to stop it or the devil would get them. Now it is time for the second Christmas Eve in Texas. Grandmother kind of watched us kids, while dad and mother were upstairs decorating the tree (out of sight). They brought it down and set it on a table in the southwest room and lit it. The tree was decorated with stringed popcorn, apples, cookies, and flame candles. Then they called us in to see what Christkindshen had brought for us. It was a Christmas stocking from Sears. After all got what was there, dad played quite a few Christmas songs on the accordion and A. Gliedt's organ. We sang a little. Ewald and Hulda even tried to sing along to "Stille Nacht, Heilge Nacht." Mother told us some of the meaning of Christmas.

Uncle Paul was our favorite relative. Dad and Paul worked more together than with the others. One time, and several days later again, dad got near to a deer. He got some shells for his gun. When he got another chance, dad got him. Awhile later, Paul Gliedt shot one too. Erwin Gliedt remembers Bill Gliedt and Watson dressing a deer in their shed.

Dad is getting along with out new house building, putting bias-boxing under the siding to brace it better, oak flooring on the treading area. He is putting clapboard type shingles for the roof. Mr. Watson is splitting them for us out of pin oak blocks. It makes a good roof. By now most of the places in our settlement are looking better, getting more land cleared, and we have a phone to every place.

We got acquainted with a farm family named Wakefield. They at one time gave us some cushaw (a long necked squash) and told us how to best prepare it, by frying and using it for pie and other mixes. They told us about the cereal grain Egyptian wheat, that it was a grain similar to maize, white in color, had longer grain extension, and very good tasting. We got enough seed from Wakefield to plant 5 acres. Fed it to the chickens, hogs and the cow.

One time Richard, Art, Alvin and I built a little pole house at our place. We closed the cracks between the poles with stuffed moss. We kind of played in and around it one or two days. Then a strong wind wrecked most of it. Not too long after this, we heard that Alvin Gliedt is feeling bad and is in bed, has pain and a fever. The folks called to see him and learned that Oscar was lying down too. Uncle Hermann called a doctor who told them it was typhoid fever. He left medicine and told them how to take care of Oscar and Alvin. Now about 2 weeks before this, they had captured a fawn and had befriended it quite a bit and kept it inside the lawn fence. Aunt Anna said Oscar had asked about the fawn one day. Both boys are running high fevers. One morning early, Oscar dies. Rev. Stoppenhagen had the funeral on the lawn north of Uncle Hermann's house. His funeral text was taken from Job 1:21, "The Lord has given, The Lord has taken away." Oscar was buried in Damon Mound. We learned the little fawn disappeared soon after Oscar was no more present. Alvin is getting to feel better and later recovers. I remember when we came to Uncle Hermann's the next time, Aunt Anna had baked bread. We know how good that would taste. She gave us a piece of chocolate thick-iced cake. It went down too fast we think.

During the time we lived in Texas, Uncle Emil from Lawrence Co., MO paid us a visit for several weeks. I remember when Aunt Anna and he were at our place. The two had a shooting match. For awhile, they used the side of the privy located north of the house for a target. They showed him a good time before he went back.

One morning, one of our horses got sick. They called it charbone, an inflammation of the chest. The horse did not die. We lost one hog. Dad caught it killing some chickens. He talked with his gun and she heard him.

As the time went on towards summer, Aunt Lena talks to mother on the phone saying that Uncle Paul is not feeling good. We known that he complained some for a time. Dad and mother went to see him. He had gone back to bed late that morning and was not feeling any better, Uncle Paul told them. Arrangements were made with some to take him to the Wharton hospital. They took him on a cot placed on a spring wagon and pulled with horses. Think it was Uncle Martin and Uncle Fred that took him. Did not take long when we hear that Uncle Paul had passed away. He also had typhoid fever. We think it was a very sad day. Seemed everything happened so quickly. It was almost sundown when the mourners returned from the funeral. The loss of Paul caused the rest almost to be heart broken. In a meeting they decided to leave Texas soon, before more misfortune could take place. They learned of some vacancies at Fairland, OK. They all, except Bill Gliedt, Ernst and grandmother, moved to Fairland. Bill Gliedt moves to Cole Camp. Don't know about grandmother and Ernst and the Holtmanns. We stayed awhile in order to get rid of the horses, machinery and some furniture. I remember the last days before we left. We had some people over from Damon Mound, who had bought the box heater for $12, and the dresser with the marble top for $20. I forget who bought our horses. A day before we left, we snooped around a little on the places where the Gliedts had lived. On Ernst's place we found 20-25 kitchen colanders.

On this morning in April, we got up early. Outside the sun is now shinning bright. It will be a pretty day, like many we have lived with here in Texas. Moved here in Oct and are leaving here two and a half years later. "Today is the day." A good reason dad has been more quiet than usual, and mother was hiding some tears when they were starting to take us slowly away from our home, not to see it again. Although a few dark moments passed, we knew the Lord will keep his people even in dark moments. Faith in God soon made the light shine again. It was John Bertram who took us with the spring wagon to a family living 1 1/4 miles east of Pledger. His name was J. C. Creel. Dad finished getting our freight moving towards Fairland, OK. We stay here at Creel's for the night till the next day 1:00 P.M. They gave us dinner. From here we walked to Pledger along the railroad tracks to meet the man who would take us to Wharton in his new Model T Ford. This man's name was Stoppelfield. In those times, there were not many cars, would sure notice when meeting one. On the way to Wharton, we met two going 20-25 miles per hour. Rev. Stoppenhagen made arrangements for us to visit these people in Wharton and Sealy. We arrived at the first Lutheran family named Wuetrich (the Pastor's in-laws) at 3:30 P.M Tuesday in April. Later that evening we walked to a neighbor called Witting. I think this family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Witting and 17 children. Dad had been there before on a visit. He said they had 19 cane woven rockers. Got them for stamps received for buying groceries. They offered to serve supper with milk on broken bread and clabber on top in blue bowls. I remember the sweet milk also showing bitter taste, was good never the less. It was not late when we came back. We kids all went upstairs (Wuetrichs had 2 boys and some girls at home). They entertained with some group singing, playing on the harmonica, and had a little accordion. The next morning was Wednesday. After we were out of bed, the devotions began, almost like a church service, with singing, recitation, and playing the piano. Rev. Stoppenhagen had the devotions. During the week he taught in the Lutheran Day school. This family and the preacher each had a new Model T. They offered to take us for a ride to some friends early this afternoon. So we drove to Sealy, Texas and left us at Pastor Hoemann's. Today was a pretty day. I think we all enjoyed it very much. The thing I remember at Sealy, was Rev. Hoemann took us the Lenten evening service. The next morning they took us to a family named Barger, with these people we spend the last night in Texas. The bed I slept in at this place was in a separate little building. The man who came later might have been a little surprised to see me sleeping there on the other side. I heard him snore a little. One time, I remember Mrs. Barger came out and told us kids we had better quit throwing small stones into the air as it may hit a window. These people took us to meet the train. Oh, she told mother and dad, they could leave Ewald and Hulda with them, that they would take good care of them. When the train started to move towards Oklahoma, we were all moving with it. Mrs. Barger had mother take Deviled Eggs, butter, bread and coffee to surprise us when we were really hungry on that moving train.

Here we are getting in the habit of moving. Only a few years have passed since we were on the train from Missouri to Texas. Have moved four times since, to Fairland to Freistatt, to Adair, to Chelsea for the last stop. Afterwards, Hulda and her family would find their home in Edmond. After we all got settled, things are changing to the good. We were led by the Lord to the right communities, all were married, have happy and successful living. We can sincerely say The Lord has blessed every one of the Doennig's children. He has kept them all as His Children.

Figure 8: Members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adair, OK, paid off the church debt by raising cotton in the early twenties. Bill Doennig pictured on the far right was the work director.

Figure 9: Family members helped to raise cotton to pay off the church debt.

Figure 10: Photo of Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Adair, OK, shorting after it was built. This is the church that our family members attended.

"Moving to Chelsea in Two days from Freistatt, MO"

By John Doennig

"Time now we lived in Freistatt, Lawrence Co. Dad has a mill and confectionery that he operates. We are preparing to move to Chelsea, OK, pack up our belonging, go to grandfather Doennig. He is giving his horse "Charley" and buggy to us in which we (dad and I) are to move a little over 100 miles to Mayes Co., OK. So in late 1921, one morning we start our journey at 5:00 A.M from people called Korffs, living 20 miles southwest of our starting place near Granby, (Newton Co.) MO. When we got near Neosho, we unhitched the horse to feed and water him. After 15 minutes, a kind of tramp man came walking towards us, asking questions, `Where we came from and going.' He saw the loaded 22 hanging under the buggy. He got hold of it and gave it back after we told him a story that we were under guard. Then we got going again. It was 9:00 P.M when we reached Adolph Gliedt's place at Fairland. The next day we got to Adair at 8:00 P.M, and ate a small supper, before driving about one mile north where there was a barn and some hay. We put the horse in the barn and we slept on top of the hay. Early the next morning when it was still dark, I complained that I was cold. Dad said," swing your arms back and forth to warm up". We got away from that place early and got to Aunt Anna's place before breakfast. Dad was buying a team of mules here. So as soon as our furniture came, we settled on Stabanaw's place to actively start farming again."

The five children of Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm (Bill) and Charlotte Louise Pauline Doennig nee Gliedt:

: 574.     i.     FRIEDA MARIE JOHANNE DOENNIG (1903- ).
610.     ii.     JOHANN HEINRICH HERMANN DOENNIG (1904- ).
611.     iii.     LAURA ANNA AUGUSTE DOENNIG (1906- ).
657.     iv.     EWALD FRIEDRICH WILHELM DOENNIG (1909- ).
668.     v.     HULDA ANNA CLARA DOENNIG (1912-1983).

586. i. KRISTY KAY BLEDSOE (Milton's stepchild).74

587. ii. DUSTIN RAY BLEDSOE (Milton's stepchild).75

611. LAURA ANNA AUGUSTE^G8 DOENNIG (Pöppelmeier^G5 ) (1906- ), the third child of Bill and Louise Doennig nee Gliedt, was born on 30 Nov 1906 at the family farm located in Mt. Pleasant Township, Lawrence Co., MO. She was baptized on 9 Dec 1906 by Pastor Johannes Roschke at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, Lawrence Co., MO. Her sponsors were Anna Gliedt, Auguste Kaiser and Heinrich Gliedt.¹⁰⁵ As a child, Laura was good at finding lost things. She liked to be with other kids and to have a good time.¹⁰⁶ She was about seven years old when the family moved to Texas and about ten years old when her mother died. It was a very sad time for the family. Laura missed her mother. She helped Frieda take care of the house and their family.¹⁰⁷ Laura was confirmed on 28 Mar 1920 by Pastor C. Bernthal at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, MO.¹⁰⁸ When her father moved to Oklahoma, Laura stayed behind in Missouri to help out a family who was expecting a baby. The family liked Laura so much that they wanted to adopted her. Laura writes, "I was fifteen years old when I came to Oklahoma, my family came earlier. I stayed with Yettie Kaeneman and her family, helping out. She taught me so very much. I always called her my second mama. She and Bill had two small boys at that time and were expecting their third child. So many of my kin lived in Oklahoma that it was great to be back with my family and get reacquainted with all the cousins, aunts, and uncles. We had a small church with people that moved in from many different states to live in a Lutheran community. We had a nice size group of young people, gathering on Sunday evenings for meetings or parties, with games that I can still recall today. We usually had one game where we had a winner and a loser, the winner had to cut the cake and serve it, and the loser would bring the cake for the next party. We never bothered with drinks, if we got thirsty, the water bucket with dipper was in the kitchen. My family raised cotton which for us at the time was fun, all five of us, plus our dad, together hoeing the cotton row by row, and later when it was ready, picking it. Our dad soon had all his debts paid off, for cotton was 10 cents per pound in lint. When I was seventeen, I did housework to help with my family's survival, including working for Will Rogers' sister, Maude Lane. She was so good to me. She gave me things to embroider in my spare time for my hope chest. Soon Frieda and I were dating two brothers, after a courtship of four years we both got married. Frieda in May, and I in December. We lived on farms about a mile apart. And yes, we all raised more cotton."109 William C. Radke, aged 23 of Chelsea, OK, and Miss Laura Doennig, aged 19 of Adair, OK, applied for their marriage license on 9 Dec 1925 at Pryor, OK. On 13 Dec 1925, Laura Anna Augusta Doennig wed WILHELM CARL LUDWIG RADKE. They were married at Adair, OK by Pastor Otto A. Marschke of the Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church. Their witnesses were John Doennig, Ewald Doennig, both of Adair, OK; Selma Radke of Chelsea, OK; and Lydia Peper of Adair, OK.¹¹⁰ Wilhelm (1902-1983), the son of Carl (a.k.a. Charles) F. August Wilhelm and Johanna K. Dorothy Radke nee Peper, was born on 30 Aug 1902 on the family farm located in Loganville Township, Sauk Co., WI. He was baptized on 21 Sep 1902 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Loganville, WI. His sponsors were Julius Radke, Wm. Peper, Ludwig and Carl Schulze. He was better known as Bill. His family moved to Douglas, Garfield Co., OK while Bill was a child. Bill was confirmed on 1 Apr 1917 by Pastor H. Kraening at Douglas, OK. His family then moved to the Chelsea locale. "The first two years Bill and I lived with Bill's folks. When Hildegarde was born, she really had a lot of attention with her grandma and grandpa right there. She loved her grandma and even after we moved to our own home, she insisted on sitting with her grandma in church. I too loved "Mammie", the name I gave her when we lived with her, and she was called that by the rest of her children too, till she went to her Heavenly Home. After Grandpa passed away in 1955, Grandma lived with us in a small cottage Bill built for her in our back yard, for almost ten years. She would say, "It's only seventeen steps to your door". Since my mother died when I was ten, I adopted Mammie as my own mother. I feel the Good Lord has Blessed me a thousand times over for caring for her. We also raised cotton on our church acreage--M y dad was work director. This went to pay off our church debt at the time. Many helped, young and old alike. We did have fun, just doing thing together. Those years, all we had were dirt roads in the country, and when it rained for a week, the roads were next to impassible, for they became axle deep in mud. I remember Christmas in 1926. We went to the Christmas program with team and wagon, Martin, Frieda, Bill and I, leaving the two babies at home with their grandpa and grandma. The mud was so deep we stopped a few times to rest the team. It took many years before we had gravel roads. Our daughter, Esther, stayed in Chelsea so she could go to high school, for so often the bus could not make our roads. Esther stayed with some super people--they ready liked her. This sounds unbelievable now, as our roads are all graveled or black-topped now. When Harold was born in 1930, our country was in a Depression. Harold was our biggest baby when born, 8 1/2 lb. His Grandpa Radke mentioned many times, even when he started school, how husky and healthy he looked. People still talk about the Depression, but since we lived on the farm, we never went to bed hungry. We had a big garden, fruit trees, our own meat, milk and butter. We had no money in the bank, so didn't loose any as others did. We survived it all with God's help. At that time, our homes were not modern, no gas, electricity, or water bills to pay. Clothes were scrubbed on the wash board. Bill cut his own wood to cook and heat with. We sold Oats for 14 cents a bushel, hogs for $2.25 per hundred, a big roan cow for $17. Of course things we bought were also cheap, 5-6 cents a yard for material, less than 50 cents for a pair of shoes. Soon they sold feed in printed bags which we traded with friends to get a few alike to make dresses. We hear so much of oat cereal being so important for our diet now. Well, we ate a lot of oats during the Depression. We could buy a 5 lb. bag for 25 cents from the Purina Company. We also raised cane and had our own sorghum made. Herb arrived on a cold January morning after a bad snow storm. The doctor had several cups of coffee while waiting. Grandma Radke was with us. She and Dr. Howard knew each other quite well, since five of our babies were born at home and both of them were present each time. When Roy was born in August of 1936, he only weighed 6 lbs. 1936 was one of the hottest summers I remember, some days 114 degrees. Our corn crop turned white in three days time. We had hot winds you wouldn't believe. Grandma Radke had helped out so often with our babies, that when Shirley was born in 1941, I went to Herrington Hospital in Pryor. When I came home three days later, Bill had a surprise for me, he had bought a new bed with a mattress and had put it up in our front room. My first honest to goodness mattress. We had used straw or shucks sacks till then. What an enjoyable surprise it was for me. And our late comer, Judy, was born in 1945. She worked in cafes to put herself through school. She worked for Doc and Bill, for Flossie and for Alvin at Gliedt's Cafe. Living on the farm, all of our children learned early in life how to work. They still say it was a good experience. I feel I had a super life. When a child, we missed out on a lot, since our mother died when we were all kids, she was 36 when she died. Dad raised us with God's help. I'm sure our mother must have prayed a lot for all five of us Doennigs stayed close to the Lord. Maybe that's why we also have such a close relationship too. I am very proud to have lived in this time of history. How the world has progressed in my lifetime, from the wash board to automatic washers and dryers, from horse and buggy to airplanes, and all our super conveniences. The wisdom of the medical fields. When I was seven, two of my classmates died with pneumonia, no help then, appendicitis, killing the lady that we knew. God has been so good to America and to all of us, to Bless us so abundantly. I thank Him everyday for being so good to me personally. He Blessed Bill and I with a wonderful family, that we love dearly and I pray He will lead and Bless them and guide them all, as He did us. To Him be all the Glory."111 Laura and Bill lived on their farm for 53 years. When Bill retired from farming, they moved into Chelsea. Bill was a charter member of Zion Lutheran Church located in Chelsea, OK and was actively involved in the church, serving for many years as elder and as a Sunday School teacher. He was also a former member of the Chelsea School Board and the Farmers Union. Bill, age 81, died on 28 Nov 1983 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Chelsea, OK and was buried on 1 Dec 1983 in the Chelsea (OK) Cemetery. Laura has an out-going, take charge personality. She gets things accomplished and is always willing to help other people. Laura is well liked by all who know her. She is an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea, OK. Laura spends most of her days at the local senior citizens building where a group of ladies gather to custom quilt. Laura and the rest of the quilters do beautiful work. One quilt is on display in the office of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. Laura also spends a lot of time working in her yard. She is very proud of her garden and many plants.¹¹² The seven children of Bill and Laura Radke nee Doennig: 612. Hildegarde, 624. Esther, 641. Harold, 644. Herbert, 647. Roy, 650. Shirley, and 654. Judith.

619. ii. PETER JOSHUA^G11 BOYE (Pöppelmeier^G8 ) (19 - ), the second child of Gary and Jane Boye nee Matousek.¹²⁰

623. vi. TOMMY^G10 BOYE (Pöppelmeier^G7 ) (19 -19 ), the sixth child of Clarence and Hildegarde Boye nee Radke.¹²⁴

630. i. ANDREA BLACKMORE (Cheryl's stepdaughter).132

631. ii. DAVID BLACKMORE (Cheryl's stepson).133

657. EWALD FRIEDRICH WILHELM^G8 DOENNIG (Pöppelmeier^G5 ) (1909- ), the fourth child of Bill and Louise Doennig nee Gliedt, was born on 27 Jul 1909 at the family farm located in Mt. Pleasant Township, Lawrence Co., MO. He was baptized on 8 Aug 1909 by Pastor Johannes Roschke at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, Lawrence Co., MO. His sponsors were Minna Gliedt, Friedrich Gliedt, and Wilhelm Doennig, Sr.¹⁵⁹ As a child, Ewald was outgoing and made friends easily. He was a fast worker and he could get things done.¹⁶⁰ Ewald was about five years old when his family moved to Texas and about eight years old when his mother died. Ewald attended the parochial schools at Trinity in Freistatt, MO and at Bethlehem in Adair Township, OK. He was confirmed on 25 Mar 1923 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adair, OK. Ewald followed in his father's footsteps, working the land. Ewald comments, "One amazing factor in our lives is, we have seen the development of such progress what we like to refer to as the "Horse and Buggy" days to modern and fast cars and trucks, from deep rutted and muddy roads to smooth highways and modern freeways, from wash boards to automatic washers, from kerosene lamps and lanterns to electric lights and many appliances, also computers, air travel, television and RV's, fertilizers and tractors and combines and hay balers and many other labor saving devices, from foot tubs and mustard plaster, to the finest and most modern hospitals and medical services. I shall always remember as our family left for the state of Texas in 1914, I was five years old then. I had my first view of an auto, a Model T Ford, also my first ride in it. I can still smell the first exhaust. One wonderful thing is true though, Our dear Lord has not changed, He is as Loving and Wonderful as ever. He Loves us all so Dearly." Ewald became an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adair, OK. The Martin Peper family moved to this locale from Douglas, Garfield Co., OK and also became members of Bethlehem. Martin Peper and his wife, Pauline, had two daughters who married the two Doennig brothers, Ewald and John. Ewald Doennig and Ruth Peper were married in 1940, and five years later, John Doennig and Marian Peper were married. On 8 Sep 1940, Ewald Friedrich Wilhelm Doennig wed RUTH MARIE DOROTHEA PEPER. They were married by Pastor Arthur Pape at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adair, OK. Ruth (1919-1992), the daughter of Martin George and Pauline Katherine Peper nee Wilshusen, was born on 13 Jun 1919 in Douglas, OK. She was confirmed on 9 Apr 1933 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adair, OK. Ewald and Ruth made their home on a farm located about 3 and 3/4 miles southeast of Chelsea, OK, where they raised their three daughters. Ewald hobbies include crafts, painting, reading, animal husbandry, and sports. Ewald is an out-going, friendly person. He likes telling interesting stories. Ruth interests included writing, singing, gardening, housekeeping, coooking, and working out-doors. She excelled in leadership. Her personality was best described as friendly and out-going.¹⁶¹ Ruth Doennig nee Peper died on 4 Dec 1992.162 The three children of Ewald and Ruth Doennig nee Peper: 658. Ethel, 661. Lois, and 664. Jeanette.

668. HULDA ANNA CLARA^G8 DOENNIG (Pöppelmeier^G8 ) (1912-1983), the fifth and last child of Bill and Louise Doennig ee Gliedt, was born on Sunday, 5 May 1912, at 2:15 AM on the family farm located in Mt. Pleasant Township near Pierce City in Lawrence Co., MO. She was baptized on 12 May 1912 by Pastor Johannes Roschke at the Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Church in Freistatt, Lawrence Co., MO. Her sponsors were Anna Kaiser, Clara Gliedt, and Wilhelm Gliedt.¹⁷³ Hulda was a good baby and hardly ever cried. She got a lot of attention because she was the baby of the family.¹⁷⁴ Hulda was about one and a half years old when the family moved to Texas. She was about five years old when her mother died. After the family returned from Texas to the Freistatt area, Hulda attended the parochial school in Freistatt, MO and then the parochial school at Bethlehem in Adair, OK. Hulda was confirmed on 28 Mar 1926 by Pastor Otto A. Marschke at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adair Township, Mayes Co., OK.¹⁷⁵ Hulda met Alfred Fruendt at Camp Lutherhoma near Tahlequah, OK. Alfred Gustav Wilhelm (1912- ), the second son of Gustav Christian Ludwig and Wilhelmine Fredricke Elizabeth Fruendt nee Jahlas, was born on 5 Dec 1912 in Guthrie, OK. He was baptized on 19 Jan 1913 and confirmed on 27 May 1928 at Zion Lutheran Church in Guthrie, OK. Alfred attended Iron Mound School for six years. Then he attended Zion Lutheran School for two years before going to Guthrie High School, graduating in 1934. On 20 Mar 1941, Hulda Anna Clara Doennig wed ALFRED GUSTAV WILHELM FRUENDT. Alfred and Hulda were married in a double wedding ceremony with Alfred's sister, Velma, and Fritz Witte, on a Thursday evening at Zion Lutheran Church in Guthrie, OK. According to the Guthrie paper this was the first of the spring nuptials of 1941 in the Guthrie area. Their attendants were Mildred Radke, Hulda's niece, as maid of honor; Alfred's brother, Herman, as best man; and Alfred's sister, Leona, as her bridesmaid. Alfred and Hulda stayed overnight at Alfred's parents on Thursday. On Friday morning they left to go to Chelsea where they were to live. When they got to Chelsea they stayed with Hulda's brother, John, for several nights. The following Sunday afternoon, Hulda's relatives gave them a reception at the home of her brother, John. Monday morning they left on their honeymoon to Missouri and the Ozarks. They stayed with Hulda's relatives. After their honeymoon, Hulda and Alfred returned to Chelsea where Alfred had a 240 acres farm that he had bought in Dec of 1940. Two weeks after they were married the neighbors and young people from the church gave Alfred and Hulda a Shivaree. Alfred and Hulda were already in bed. Of course, they got up and treated them to candy and cigars. The army tried to draft Alfred almost immediately after they got married. He got deferred for a year because he had just bought all this land and had quite a debt and was needed for farming. Alfred got two more deferments for six months each. Then, since he was over 28 years old, he wasn't drafted, as 28 was the cut off age for drafting men then. On 11 Feb 1947, Hulda and Alfred held an auction to sell their home place, a lot of their belongings, and the 40 acres across the road. On 14 Feb 1947, Alfred, Hulda, and their children moved onto the farm that was previously owned by Alfred's deceased brother, Clarence. Alfred was able to buy Clarence's farm of 160 acres located 13 miles east of Kingfisher, OK. In the fall of 1951, Alfred moved his family to the Branscomb place which was located across the road from his parents' homestead, southwest of Guthrie. In 1955, the farming operation was enlarged. Besides farming the home place, Alfred's neighbor asked him if he would like to buy the farm across the road and south of the home place. That was 200 more acres to farm. Since they had this land to farm it wasn't necessary to have the Kingfisher farm any longer. Before, they had been going back and forth to farm it. So Alfred sold the Kingfisher farm. On 20 Mar 1966, the family celebrated Alfred and Hulda's 25th wedding anniversary. Many friends and relatives joined them for this happy celebration. The day after their anniversary, Alfred and his son, Ralph, started building a home for the family in Edmond, OK. In Aug of that year, Alfred and Hulda moved into their new home. Later that year Ralph married Linda Lorenz and they made their home on the home farm. On 7 Mar 1971, Hulda had a heart attack from which she recovered. Both Hulda and Alfred were very active in Peace Lutheran Church in Edmond, OK, until Oct of 1979, when the voters assembly of Peace Lutheran voted to withdraw from the Missouri Synod. In Nov, an organizational meeting was held at Hulda and Alfred's home to form a Missouri Synod congregation which became known as St. Mark Lutheran Church. They were instrumental in the formation and workings of St. Mark's. They were always happy that they could be working for their Lord. As Hulda and Alfred looked back on their lives, they both gave the credit to the Lord for all the things that had happened to them, both the good and the bad. It wasn't always easy, but the Lord was always with them and pulled them through whatever crisis they had.¹⁷⁶ On Thursday, 28 Apr 1983, Hulda died of a heart attack at their home. She was buried on 30 Apr 1983 in Summit View Cemetery, Guthrie, OK.¹⁷⁷ Until Hulda's death, she had been leading a very active life enjoying gardening, sewing for the grandchildren, and taking care of her many African Violet plants. Alfred is a very friendly, outgoing person and the perfect greeter at family reunions. If he doesn't know someone, he will go up and introduce himself. He is considerate of other people and always very polite. Alfred is retired from farming. His interests include the church, his family, and antiques.¹⁷⁸ The children of Alfred and Hulda Fruendt nee Doennig: 669. Priscilla, 670. Ralph, 673. Marguerite, 676. John, and 679. Carol.

Figure 19: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. 20 Mar 1941, Guthrie, OK.

Figure 20: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. Photo courtesy of Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK.

End-Notes

1     Chronicle of America, (Mount Kisco, NY: Chronicle Publications), pp. 446-449.
2     St. Petri is now known as St. Peter Lutheran Church and is located at 1120 Trampe RD, St. Louis County, MO.
3     Missouri, St. Louis County, St. Ferdinand Township, 1880 U.S. Census, NAR film #T9715, p. 5, SD-1, ED-178, Dwelling #41, Family #41.
4     Päppelmeyer is a variant of the spelling Pöppelmeier.
5     Missouri, St. Louis County, Original Church Book of St. Petri Gemeinde found at St. Peter's Lutheran located on Trampe RD, Book-1, Part-1, p. 18-19, entry #11. NOTE: THE FATHER'S SURNAME WAS SPELLED GLIDT AND THE MOTHER'S SURNAME WAS SPELLED PÄPPELMEYER ON THIS BIRTH RECORD.
6     Missouri, Lawrence County, Mt. Vernon, County Clerk, Land Records, Book-92, p. 61. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Edward Tomblin, Monett, MO, 1990.
7     The First One Hundred Years, 1874-1974. Trinity Lutheran Church, Freistatt, MO.
8     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Confirmation Record extracted from original Church Book-1, entry #235. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990.
9     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt Township, 1900 U.S. Census, NAR film #T628/870, p. 331, ED-89, Sheet-8A, 132/135.
10     Germany, Prussia, Westfalen, Hille, Evangelisch Church Records, FHL film #0470447, entry #149, 1845 Birth Records. NOTE: HENRY'S FULL NAME ON THIS BIRTH RECORD IS CARL HEINRICH DÖNNIG. HIS SURNAME IS SPELLED DÖNNIG OR DOENNIG. BOTH ARE CORRECT.
11     The Dönnig family didn't appear in the German Church records after 1862.
12     Name information submitted by Randy Doennig, 1983. NOTE: MARY'S FULL NAME WAS SOPHIA MARIA ELISABETH.
13     Missouri, Lawrence County, Vital Records, Marriages, FHL film #0930949, Vol.-C, p. 35, 1877.
14     Missouri, Lawrence County, Mt. Pleasant Township, 1900 U.S. Census, NAR film #T628/870, SD-13, ED-78, Sheet 14A-B, line-46, 273/273.
15     Missouri, Lawrence County, Vital Records, Marriages, FHL film #0932751, Vol.-I, p. 274, 1902.
16     Ibid., FHL film #0932751, Vol.-I, p. 277, 1902.
17     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Computer printout of Marriage Record found in Book-1, entry #127 and entry #128. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990.
18     Ibid., Computer printout of Baptismal Record found in Book-1, entry #55.
19     Missouri, Lawrence County, Mt. Pleasant Township, 1900 U.S. Census, NAR film #T628/870, SD-13, ED-28, Sheet-14A.
20     Missouri, Lawrence County, Mt. Pleasant Township, 1910 U.S. Census, FHL film #1374808, SD-13, ED-94, Sheet-3B, line-91, 56/58. NOTE: BILL IS LISTED AS HENRY ON THIS CENSUS.
21     Texas, Brazoria County, Angleton, County Clerk, Map Records, Vol.-2, p. 85-86. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct 1990.
22     Family tradition says that the men traveled to Texas in 1913 to view the land with the purpose of buying the land. Information courtesy of John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
23     Missouri, Lawrence County, Mt. Vernon, County Clerk, Land Records, Book-123, p. 398. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Edward Tomblin, Monett, MO, 1990.
24     Texas, Brazoria County, Angleton, County Clerk, Land Records, Book-126, p. 456. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct 1990.
25     Ibid., Book-127, p. 210.
26     Ibid., Book-130, p. 327.
27     Ibid.
28     Ibid.
29     A. Ray Stephens and William M. Holmes, Historical Atlas of Texas, (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1989), p. 44.
30     Edith B. McGinnis, I Remember, submitted by Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct 1990.
31     Information courtesy of John Doennig, Chelsea, OK
32     Telephone conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Mcloud of Newgulf, TX. Mrs. Mcloud's great uncle sold the land to our families. Mrs. Mcloud said a two storied house still stands vacant from that settlement.
33     Texas, Brazoria County, Angleton, County Clerk, Mineral Leases, Book-132, p. 223. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct 1990.
34     Family tradition says that family met to discuss moving and agreed to moved to Fairland, OK. Information submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
35     A Brief History of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Fairland, Oklahoma, p. 5. Submitted by Arnold Winter, Fairyland, OK, Oct 1991.
36     Telephone conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Mcloud, Newgulf, TX.
37     Texas, Brazoria County, Angleton, County Clerk, Land Records, Book-135, p. 597. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct. 1990.
38     Oklahoma, Ottawa County, Fairyland, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Membership list of 1914-1916. Photocopy of original record courtesy of the Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fairyland, OK, 1991. Information also submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
39     Texas, Brazoria County, Angleton, County Clerk, Land Records, Book-136, p. 491. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct 1990.
40     Ibid., Book-137, p. 261.
41     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, 1900.
42     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
43     Death information submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
44     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
45     Texas, Brazoria County, Angleton, County Clerk, Land Records, Book-146, p. 450. Photocopy of original record courtesy of Diane Kropp, Pearland, TX, Oct 1990.
46     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
47     Death information submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990. Cause of death TB. Funeral services performed by the Rev. G. R. Duessel.
48     Texas, Brazoria County, Vital Records, Marriages, FHL film #1008074, Vol.-8, p. 127, entry #253.
49     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Computer printout of Baptismal Record found in Book-1, entry #728. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990. NOTE: HER FATHER WAS LISTED AS WILHELM DOENNIG, JR ON THIS COMPUTER PRINTOUT. Information also submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
50     The farm was located in Mt. Pleasant Township, Lawrence Co., MO.
51     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
52     Information in this section submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
53     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
54     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Confirmation Record extracted from original Church Book-1, entry #613. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990. Confirmation information also submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
55     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
56     Oklahoma, Mayes County, Vital Records, Marriage Licenses, FHL film #1310685, Item-2, p. 92.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
57     Birth/Confirmation information submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
58     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
Figure     12: The Martin Radke Family.
Left:     Mildred, Frieda, Lorna, Martin, Art and Viola.
Child:     Naomi.
59     Information in this section submitted by Naomi Radke and Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
Figure     11: Martin and Frieda (Doennig) Radke. 3 May 1925, Adair, OK.
Figure     12: The Martin Radke Family.
Left:     Mildred, Frieda, Lorna, Martin, Art and Viola.
Child:     Naomi.
60     Carl and Hulda Schnackenberg's son, Olaf married Mildred Radke and their son, Emil married (#730) Emma Gliedt. Mildred Radke is the first cousin, one generation removed of Emma Gliedt. Their common ancestor is Philipp Gottlieb Gliedt.
61     Information in this section submitted by Mildred Schnackenberg, Bartlesville, OK, Jan 1991.
62     Ibid.
63     Ibid.
64     Ibid.
65     Ibid.
66     Ibid.
67     Ibid.
68     Ibid. Information also submitted by Mildred Schnackenberg, Bartlesville, OK, Aug 1986.
69     Ibid.
70     Information in this section submitted by Milton and Viola Schulze, Pawnee, OK, Nov 19900
71     Information in this section submitted by Milton and Viola Schulze, Pawnee, OK, Nov 1990. Information for birth place submitted by Milton Schulze, Jr, Stillwater, OK, 1992.
72     Ibid.
73     Ibid.
74     Ibid.
75     Ibid.
76     Ibid.
77     Information in this section submitted by Milton and Viola Schulze, Pawnee, OK, Nov 1990.
78     Ibid.
79     Ibid.
80     Information in this section submitted by Jennifer Schulze, Sunburst, MT, Mar 1991.
Figure     13: Stephen and Jennifer (Riley) Schulze and their children, Stanton and Rachel. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Schulze.
81     Ibid., 1992.
Figure     13: Stephen and Jennifer (Riley) Schulze and their children, Stanton and Rachel. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Schulze.
82     Ibid.
83     Ibid.
84     Information in this section submitted by Milton and Viola Schulze, Pawnee, OK, Nov 1990.
85     Ibid.
86     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990. Information also submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1983.
87     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1983.
88     Ibid.
89     Ibid.
90     Oklahoma, Mayes County, Adair Township, Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Tombstone, transcribed Jun 1990. Information also submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1983.
91     Information submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1983.
92     Oklahoma, Mayes County, Adair Township, Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Tombstone, transcribed Jun 1990. Information also submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1983.
93     Information in this section submitted by Lorna Goedecke, Claremore, OK, Nov 1990.
94     Information in this section submitted by Lorna Goedecke, Claremore, OK, Nov 1990. Information also submitted by Darrell and Terri Goedecke, Sapulpa, OK, Feb 1991.
95     Information in this section submitted by Darrell and Terri Goedecke, Sapulpa, OK, Feb 1991.
96     Ibid.
97     Information in this section submitted by Lorna Goedecke, Claremore, OK, Nov 1990.
98     Ibid.
99     Ibid.
100     Information in this section submitted by Frieda Radke and Naomi Radke, Paris, TX, Oct 1990.
101     Information in this section submitted by John and Marian Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990. NOTE: HIS FATHER'S NAME WAS WILHELM DOENNIG, JR.
102     Information in this section submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
Figure     15: John and Maria (Peper) Doennig. 16 Sep 1945, Adair, OK.
103     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Confirmation Record found in original Church Book-1, entry #634. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990.
Figure     15: John and Maria (Peper) Doennig. 16 Sep 1945, Adair, OK.
104     Information in this section submitted by John and Marian Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
Figure     15: John and Maria (Peper) Doennig. 16 Sep 1945, Adair, OK.
Figure     16: Bill and Laura (Doennig) Radke. 13 Dec 1925, Adair, OK.
105     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Computer printout of Baptismal Record found in Book 1, entry #824. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990. NOTE: HER FATHER WAS LISTED AS WILHELM DOENNIG, JR ON THE COMPUTER PRINTOUT. Information also submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
106     Information in this section submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
107     Information submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990
108     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Confirmation Record extracted from original Church Book-1, entry #662. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990. Information also submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
109     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
110     Oklahoma, Mayes County, Vital Records, Marriages, FHL film #1310685, Item-2, p. 227.
111     Ibid.
112     Ibid.
113     Hildegarde Boye/Carole Boye requested that only this family information be published, 1992.
114     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK. Information approved by Lawrence Boye, Hiawatta, KS, 1992.
115     Ibid.
116     Ibid.
117     Ibid.
118     Information in this section submitted by Gary Boye, 1986.
119     Hildegarde Boye/Carole Boye requested that only this family information be published, 1992
120     Ibid.
121     Ibid.
122     Ibid.
123     Ibid.
124     Ibid.
125     Information in this section submitted by Esther Erdwin, Pryor, OK, Oct 1991, and 1992.
Figure     17: Ray and Esther (Radke) Erdwin. Photo courtesy of Esther Erdwin.
126     Ibid.
127     Information submitted by Esther Erdwin, Pryor, OK, May 1992.
128     Ibid., Oct 1991.
129     Ibid.
130     Ibid.
131     Ibid., Information also submitted by Esther Erdwin, May 1992.
132     Ibid., May 1992.
133     Ibid.
134     Ibid.
135     Information in this section submitted by Mark Erdwin, Tulsa, OK, Mar 1991. Information also submitted by Esther Erdwin, Pryor, OK, Oct 1990.
136     Information in this section submitted by Mark Erdwin, Tulsa, OK, Mar 1991.
137     Information in this section submitted by Esther Erdwin, Pryor, OK, Oct 1990.
138     Ibid.
139     Ibid.
140     Ibid.
141     Ibid.
142     Ibid.
143     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK.
144     Ibid.
145     Ibid.
146     Ibid.
147     Ibid.
148     Ibid.
149     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK, 1990. Information also submitted by Roy Radke, Tulsa, OK, Feb 1991.
150     Information in this section submitted by Roy Radke, Tulsa, OK, Feb 1991.
151     Ibid.
152     Information in this section submitted by Laura Radke, Chelsea, OK.
153     Ibid.
154     Ibid.
155     Ibid.
156     Ibid.
157     Ibid.
158     Ibid.
159     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Computer printout of Baptismal Record found in Book-1, entry #882. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO, 1990. NOTE: HIS FATHER WAS LISTED AS WILHELM DOENNIG , JR. ON THE COMPUTER PRINTOUT.
160     Information in this section submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK.
161     Information in this section submitted by Ewald Doennig, Chelsea, OK, Oct 1990.
162     Death information submited by Martha Kaiser, Cole Camp, MO, 1992.
163     Information in this section submitted by Edie Cottrell, Tulsa, OK, Oct 1990. 1992.
164     Ibid.
165     Ibid.
166     Information in this section submitted by Lois Seibel, St. Louis, MO, Nov 1990.
167     Ibid.
168     Ibid.
169     Information in this section submitted by Jeanette Johnson, Owasso, OK, Oct 1990.
170     Ibid.
171     Ibid.
172     Ibid.
173     Missouri, Lawrence County, Freistatt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Computer printout of Baptismal Record found in Book-1, entry #956. Submitted by Evelyn Nelson and Fae Gliedt, Monett, MO. NOTE: HER FATHER WAS LISTED AS H. WILHELM DOENNIG, JR ON THE COMPUTER PRINTOUT. Photocopy of original Tauf-Schein submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, Nov 1990. Photocopy of Missouri, Certificate of Birth, Registration District #1050, File #1233255 submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, Nov 1990.
174     Information in this section submitted by John Doennig, Chelsea, OK, 1990.
175     Photocopy of original Confirmation Certificate for Hulda, Doennig, submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, Nov 1990.
Figure     19: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. 20 Mar 1941, Guthrie, OK.
176     Information in this section submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, 1983.
Figure     19: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. 20 Mar 1941, Guthrie, OK.
Figure     20: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. Photo courtesy of Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK.
177     Photocopy of Oklahoma, Death Certificate, Registrar's file #E-1930. Courtesy of Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, 1990.
Figure     19: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. 20 Mar 1941, Guthrie, OK.
Figure     20: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. Photo courtesy of Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK.
178     Information in this section submitted by Alfred Fruendt, Edmond, OK, 1983, 1986, 1990. Information also submitted by Marguerite Fruendt, Midwest City, OK, 1983, 1986, 1990.
Figure     19: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. 20 Mar 1941, Guthrie, OK.
Figure     20: Alfred and Hulda (Doennig) Fruendt. Photo courtesy of Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK.
179     Information in this section submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, Nov 1990. Oklahoma, Mayes County, Adair Township, Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Tombstone, transcribed Jun 1990.
Figure     21: Ralph and Linda (Lorenz) Fruendt and their sons, Paul and Kevin. Photo courtesy of Linda Fruendt, Gurthrie, OK.
180     Information in this section submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, 1983, 1986. Information also submitted by Linda Fruendt, Guthrie, OK, Oct 1990, 1992.
181     Information in this section submitted by Linda Fruendt, Guthrie, OK, Oct 1990, 1992.
182     Marriage information submitted by Melinda Fruendt, 31 Jul 1993.
183     Ibid.
184     Information in this section submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, 1983, 1986, 1990.
Figure     22: Tom and Marguerite (Fruendt) Christman and their children, John and Rachel. Photo courtesy of Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK.
185     Ibid.
186     Ibid., 1992.
187     Information in this section submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, OK, 1983, 1986.
188     Ibid.
189     Ibid.
190     Information in this section submitted by Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, 1983, 1986. Information also submitted by Carol Latimer, Guthrie, OK, Oct 1990.
191     Information in this section submitted by Carol Latimer, Guthrie, OK, Oct 1990, 1992.
192     Ibid.