Louis Charles Lueddecke
11 September 1893-25 June 1970
Less than two years after the birth of their first child, Katie presented Otto with a son, who they named Louis Charles, after Otto's late father. They chose to anglicise Carl to Charles.
A family photo, dated late 1895 or early 1896 shows a very youthful Otto with his family, and Louis looks just like his father.
The 1910 census already records Louis as being a farm labourer, school already over.
In 1914 the Iron County Register noted that Louis had spent a month hauling water to the orchard to try and save the fruit trees. (The previous article in the same column recorded a plea for help from a local resident, in locating "...strayed from my farm...two two-year-old male mules..." The following week, the newspaper reported that Louis has presented the staff with half a dozen Alberta peaches. "They were large, luscious and beautiful, grown in the famous Lueddecke orchards near Pilot Knob."
In May 1914 the Iron County Register stated, "Our young friend Louis Lueddecke, of Pilot Knob, Monday morning brought to this office a twig he had picked from a peach tree in the or-chard of his father, Mr. Otto Lueddecke. In half inch space there were 10 peaches, about the size of peas. The outlook for fruit is fine.
June 25th 1914 Louis was best man at his sister Elsie's wedding. This was reported in the Scott County Kicker.
October 1914 saw Louis travel with sister Elsie and new husband Martin Roth to Illmo, Missouri.
May 1915 Louis had "One 3 to 4 horse power kerosene engine For Sale Cheap", in the Iron County Register.
In October 1916 "Louis and brother" travelled to St Louis
November 1916 saw Louis and brother Albert motor to to Illmo with Otto for the weekend to visit Elsie & Martin Roth. later the same month they went to Bismarck.
In 1917 Louis is listed as a 'petit juror'. A petit jury is a trial for civil and criminal cases.
In October 1917 Louis travelled to the Piedmont fair with his father, Otto.
June 1917 Louis, and younger brother Herman were both listed in the the Iron County Register as ready for call up. Louis tried to avoid service, claiming as reason for exemption, "Have father to support". He described himself as a self-employed farmer of medium height and build, with brown eyes and hair. In response to the request for details of disabilities, he wrote "I am alright."
In August 1918 Louis was home from St Louis during training.
Another family photo, probably 1918 shows Louis, mid-twenties in a military-style tunic.
On 24th April 1919, The Register reported that Louis had been discharged from Barracks 204, Company B, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and had arrived at his home near Pilot Knob. His discharge record stated, CO A WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY TNG DET ST LOUIS, MO TO 12 AUG/18; ORD SUP CO CAMP RARITAN, NJ TO DISCHARGE, Army number 3,439,156.
The Iron County Register reported that on 22nd February 1920 Louis was married to Agnes Elizabeth Bush, in St Louis, and wished them both long life and happiness. Agnes was the daughter of Hamlet and Margaret (Fink) Bush.
Extensive research has failed to locate a 1920 census entry for the newly-married couple. On 21st June 1921 Louis and Agnes's first child, Edward Melvin, was born.
In December 1922 Louis, Agnes and 18-month-old baby Edward Melvin travelled to Pilot Knob for Thanksgiving, reported by the the Iron County Register.
1929 Directory listing for Louis Lueddecke, carpenter. He was living at 4030 Potomac Street.
1934 In the St Louis Post Dispatch Louis was offering his services for "Screens, porches, and garages."
Also that year in the The St Louis Globe Democrat newspaper carried an advert for Louis. "All Carpentering - painting, reasonable: NRA Lueddecke, 4030 Potomac. LAclede 3311." (Pierre Laclède Liguest or Pierre Laclède (22 November 1729 – 20 June 1778) was a French fur trader who, with his young assistant and stepson Auguste Chouteau, founded St. Louis in 1764, in what was then Spanish Upper Louisiana, in present-day Missouri. Wikipedia) [NRA - National Recovery Administration approved contractor?]
1937 Brother Herman visited Louis in St Louis.
In June 1937 St Louis Post Dispatch advertised Louis's services "SCREENS - Additions, alterations and repairs".
In August his advert wording was "STORM SASH - Caulking, remodel, repairs."
1938 Directory listing for Louis Lueddecke, carpenter. He was still living at 4030 Potomac Street.
1944 Directory listing, "Louis G (sic) (Agnes E) formn Laister Kaufmann". His carpentry skills would have proved invaluable to this St Louis company, manufacturing wooden-winged light-weight gliders and sail planes for training purposes, to simulate cargo gliders.
The company was located 15-20 miles SW of St Louis, at Starling Airport, Arnold, MO, in the last loop of the Meramec river before it joined the Mississippi.
Children of Agnes Elizabeth Bush and Louis Charles Lueddecke Jr
Edward Melvin Lueddecke. Edward Melvin was born on 21 June 1921 in Missouri, United States. He died on 27 January 2002. He had a relationship with Lorraine Delaney.
Wilbert Ernest Lueddecke. Wilbert Ernest was born in 1923 in Missouri, United States. He died on 24 February 2016. He married Nancy Lekamp.
Lillian Bernice Lueddecke. Lillian Bernice was born in 1926 in Missouri, United States. She died on 13 May 1998. She married George Merle Huey.
Shirley Marie Lueddecke. Shirley Marie was born in 1932 in Missouri, United States. She married Charles Alexander. She also married Tom Hanss
