Otto Alexander Lueddecke, great grandfather
19th December 1856-26th September, 1928
19th December 1856-26th September, 1928
Various documents show that Otto Alexander Lueddecke was born on 19th December 1856, in Dingelstadt in former Prussia, the son of Louis Carl Lueddecke and Elisabeth Marie Schmalz. German records show that his father was a master glazer, living in Lichtengraben, a street in Halberstadt and that Otto had several siblings although he was one of the older ones. He emigrated aged 23 to the United States in 1879. His emigration records and ship's passenger list dated 2nd May 1879 show that he left from Hamburg in Germany via Le Havre, France to New York. He will probably have travelled overland by horse-drawn carriage or train from his home in Halberstadt to reach the ship, the SS Gellert, at Hamburg, to begin his new life. Photos of the ship's interior do not exist although the sister ship was photographed.
We do not know exactly how Otto chose to live in Missouri, although for most of the 19th century it was very popular with former German and Prussian people seeking greater religious freedom than in their home country. The 1880 US census records Otto's occupation as mining, although the 1879 ship's manifest recorded his occupation as an upholsterer, while on the 1870 Halberstadt census document it recorded him as being a Tapezierer, a trade of painter/decorator and other skills.
On 12th June 1880 the US Census shows Otto Ludecka (sic) living in rented accommodation with a shoemaker, William Deucke and wife, originally from Hanover, and their Missouri-born daughter. Other tenants, working as labourers and miners included Messrs (Herren?) Bentz, Nerkens, Helt, & Schubert.
Near to where Otto first boarded in the late 1870s, the area was famous for its very high-quality iron ore mine and it is highly likely that this is where Otto first found work. It must have been hard, dirty gruelling work and probably paying very little. Many other men in the area on the 1880 census were similarly employed.
The 1890 US census documents were almost totally destroyed by fire, so we have little knowledge of Otto's life before 1900, by which time he had married Katie Scafer (various spellings) on 16th February 1891, the daughter of a local farmer. The marriage license records Katie as living at Farmington, St Francois County, about 75 miles southwest of St. Louis in the lead belt region of Missouri. Marriage records are held by the county recorder of deeds. Prior to 26 June 1881, no marriage license was required; the marriage was recorded in any convenient courthouse.
One unexplained event is the 1st July 1894 arrival at New York from Bremen of "Otto Ludecke, Upholsterer, single" on the SS Salle, of the Deutscher Lloyd Bremen Steamship Company. His declared age is 35, although Otto would have been nearer 38. No other information is available to date. Did Otto briefly return to German, or was there a second Otto Lueddecke, also an upholsterer? It should be noted that 'upholsterer' appears to be an anglicisation of the German trade 'Tapezierer', which encompassed a wider range of skills that just upholstery. Limited research has failed to locate any other "Otto Lueddecke, upholsterer".
Between their marriage and the 1900 census, Katie produced four children, firstly a daughter, Elizabeth Elsie, 2nd December 1891, and then three sons, Louis Charles, 11th September 1893, Herman William, 8th August 1895, Albert Henry, 24th August 1897. The arrival of a fourth son, Gilbert W, completed the family on 8th April, 1901.
The 1900 census lists Otto's birth date as November 1856, his naturalization date as 1881, formerly in Germany, and shows that he and Katie had been married 8 years. Their marriage license shows 16th February, 1891. His occupation was carpenter, and ho owned his own property, a farm, with a mortgage. Katherine M Lueddecke's birth is recorded as December 1860, in Missouri, to German parents.
Otto must have been a very talented and capable man, as records show that he tried his hand at several different occupations as well as upholstery/painting/decorating, including a carpenter according to his declaration on the 1900 census, and in 1910 & 1920 he described himself as a farmer, mostly of cherry trees, on the area to the west of Pilot Knob. Alice's mother Katherine has memories of eating cherries on the farm in the 1940s.
The next census, in 1910, states that Otto & Katie had been married for 20 years. Katie is listed as 'farm labourer', as are Louis and Herman, both in their mid-teens. Although he was nine years old, there is no data entered for Gilbert's language and reading and writing skills.
We do not know exactly how Otto chose to live in Missouri, although for most of the 19th century it was very popular with former German and Prussian people seeking greater religious freedom than in their home country. The 1880 US census records Otto's occupation as mining, although the 1879 ship's manifest recorded his occupation as an upholsterer, while on the 1870 Halberstadt census document it recorded him as being a Tapezierer, a trade of painter/decorator and other skills.
On 12th June 1880 the US Census shows Otto Ludecka (sic) living in rented accommodation with a shoemaker, William Deucke and wife, originally from Hanover, and their Missouri-born daughter. Other tenants, working as labourers and miners included Messrs (Herren?) Bentz, Nerkens, Helt, & Schubert.
Near to where Otto first boarded in the late 1870s, the area was famous for its very high-quality iron ore mine and it is highly likely that this is where Otto first found work. It must have been hard, dirty gruelling work and probably paying very little. Many other men in the area on the 1880 census were similarly employed.
The 1890 US census documents were almost totally destroyed by fire, so we have little knowledge of Otto's life before 1900, by which time he had married Katie Scafer (various spellings) on 16th February 1891, the daughter of a local farmer. The marriage license records Katie as living at Farmington, St Francois County, about 75 miles southwest of St. Louis in the lead belt region of Missouri. Marriage records are held by the county recorder of deeds. Prior to 26 June 1881, no marriage license was required; the marriage was recorded in any convenient courthouse.
One unexplained event is the 1st July 1894 arrival at New York from Bremen of "Otto Ludecke, Upholsterer, single" on the SS Salle, of the Deutscher Lloyd Bremen Steamship Company. His declared age is 35, although Otto would have been nearer 38. No other information is available to date. Did Otto briefly return to German, or was there a second Otto Lueddecke, also an upholsterer? It should be noted that 'upholsterer' appears to be an anglicisation of the German trade 'Tapezierer', which encompassed a wider range of skills that just upholstery. Limited research has failed to locate any other "Otto Lueddecke, upholsterer".
Between their marriage and the 1900 census, Katie produced four children, firstly a daughter, Elizabeth Elsie, 2nd December 1891, and then three sons, Louis Charles, 11th September 1893, Herman William, 8th August 1895, Albert Henry, 24th August 1897. The arrival of a fourth son, Gilbert W, completed the family on 8th April, 1901.
The 1900 census lists Otto's birth date as November 1856, his naturalization date as 1881, formerly in Germany, and shows that he and Katie had been married 8 years. Their marriage license shows 16th February, 1891. His occupation was carpenter, and ho owned his own property, a farm, with a mortgage. Katherine M Lueddecke's birth is recorded as December 1860, in Missouri, to German parents.
Otto must have been a very talented and capable man, as records show that he tried his hand at several different occupations as well as upholstery/painting/decorating, including a carpenter according to his declaration on the 1900 census, and in 1910 & 1920 he described himself as a farmer, mostly of cherry trees, on the area to the west of Pilot Knob. Alice's mother Katherine has memories of eating cherries on the farm in the 1940s.
The next census, in 1910, states that Otto & Katie had been married for 20 years. Katie is listed as 'farm labourer', as are Louis and Herman, both in their mid-teens. Although he was nine years old, there is no data entered for Gilbert's language and reading and writing skills.
He also voiced his political opinion via several long letters to the local newspaper. These letters show a good understanding of German history and contemporary politics. These are long documents and are included separately.
Sadly, Otto was widowed in the summer of 1911 after Katie died unexpectedly on 29th June, 1911, aged 50, from 'catarrhal pneumonia' as detailed on her death certificate, which gave her birthplace as Whitewater, Perry County, Missouri, daughter of John Schafer and Elizabeth Lueke, both born in Germany. She was buried the following day in Pilot Knob Cemetery.
The local newspaper, the Iron County Register, announced in May 1912 that Otto Lueddecke was the administrator of the estate of Katie Lueddecke.
Farm business continued, and in May 1914, "the Agriculture Class made a visit to Mr. Lueddecke's fruit farm last Thursday to to observe the methods used by Mr. Lueddecke in pruning, spraying and caring for his trees. A very profitable trip."
In May 1914 Otto wrote to the the Iron County Register,
The same month saw Otto selling "...CHEAP - One horse about 16 hands high."
Sadly, Otto was widowed in the summer of 1911 after Katie died unexpectedly on 29th June, 1911, aged 50, from 'catarrhal pneumonia' as detailed on her death certificate, which gave her birthplace as Whitewater, Perry County, Missouri, daughter of John Schafer and Elizabeth Lueke, both born in Germany. She was buried the following day in Pilot Knob Cemetery.
The local newspaper, the Iron County Register, announced in May 1912 that Otto Lueddecke was the administrator of the estate of Katie Lueddecke.
Farm business continued, and in May 1914, "the Agriculture Class made a visit to Mr. Lueddecke's fruit farm last Thursday to to observe the methods used by Mr. Lueddecke in pruning, spraying and caring for his trees. A very profitable trip."
In May 1914 Otto wrote to the the Iron County Register,
The same month saw Otto selling "...CHEAP - One horse about 16 hands high."
In July 1914 the Iron County Register recorded "The first home-grown tomatoes we have seen this year came to our town Monday from the Lueddecke farm, Pilot Knob. They were fine."
In October 1914 it was recorded that "Mr. Otto Lueddecke last Friday made us a present of some most delicious apples, grown in his incomparable orchard in Pilot Knob."
In October 1914 it was recorded that "Mr. Otto Lueddecke last Friday made us a present of some most delicious apples, grown in his incomparable orchard in Pilot Knob."
In November 1914, via the columns of the Register, Otto exhorted, "Apples - send me your orders for apples). It is interesting to note that the only contact details given are 'Otto Lueddecke, Pilot Knob, Mo."
In June 1914 he saw his daughter Elsie married.
On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb Yugoslav nationalist, assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Within 6 weeks war had broken out across Europe. Otto felt passionate enough to write at length to the editor of the the Iron County Register. See Lueddeckes in the Media for the full text.
A year later Elsie and Martin Roth made Otto a grandfather for the first time.
November 1914, again from the the Iron County Register,
In December 1915 Otto encouraged his customers to order early for Christmas. The Iron County Register reported "For fine Christmas apples please send your order per postcard to Otto Lueddecke, Pilot Knob, Mo."
Also that month, possibly short on other Lueddecke news, the Iron County Register noted,
LOCAL BREVITIES
In June 1914 he saw his daughter Elsie married.
On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb Yugoslav nationalist, assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Within 6 weeks war had broken out across Europe. Otto felt passionate enough to write at length to the editor of the the Iron County Register. See Lueddeckes in the Media for the full text.
A year later Elsie and Martin Roth made Otto a grandfather for the first time.
November 1914, again from the the Iron County Register,
In December 1915 Otto encouraged his customers to order early for Christmas. The Iron County Register reported "For fine Christmas apples please send your order per postcard to Otto Lueddecke, Pilot Knob, Mo."
Also that month, possibly short on other Lueddecke news, the Iron County Register noted,
LOCAL BREVITIES
- Eggs thirty cents.
- Better pay your taxes.
- Santa Claus on the way.
- Ice on the streets Tuesday.
- Hog killin' time is at hand.
- Rainbow Dam is overflowing.
- How many Christmas weddings?
- Rabbits are plentiful. Other game scarce.
In May 1916, The Register revealed that Otto Lueddecke of Pilot Knob bought a Ford car from M.L. Copeland of Ellington. In June 1916, the Iron County Register saw fit to report "Otto Lueddecke and two sons motored from Pilot Knob to Farmington and return Sunday."
On 9th November 1916, The Register reported, "Otto Lueddecke and sons, Louis and Albert, motored to Illmo Friday and returned Saturday night. They visited Mr and Mrs M.F. Roth and H. W. Lueddecke. The two grandsons are fine little boys. They report awfully hilly and rough country south of St. Genevieve. Fine country but Arcadia Valley is hard to beat." (The grandsons would be John William Roth and his month-old brother Raymond Theodore). Modern maps show a distance of 80 miles, but going through "...awfully hilly and rough country south of St. Genevieve..." would be over 100 miles.
A fortnight later, "Otto Lueddecke and sons, Louis and Albert, motored to Bismarck, through the lead belt, and home by way of Farmington last Sunday. It was a delightful day and they report a most delightful trip." Bismarck is 12 miles north of Pilot Knob, and then Farmington is a further 16 miles to the east. The shortest route back to Pilot Knob was 17 miles.
Also Otto's sons Herman and Louis were both put on call up standby for military service. Also a response to Otto's letter was printed, from Dr WC Patton, MD.
July 1917, Otto became a member of the Iron Counter Chapter of the American Red Cross, as reported in the Iron County Register.
October 1917 was a good month for the Lueddecke farm. The Register scooped again with "Mr Otto Lueddecke, Iron County's expert and scientific fruit grower, near Pilot Knob, "cleaned up" on apple premiums at the Piedmont Tri-County Fair last week." On modern roads, Piedmont is 42 miles south of Pilot Knob, located in north western Wayne County. Otto had driven to the fair with his son Louis.
November 1918, the Iron County Register,
The 1920 census shows that the Lueddecke residence was mortgage-free, and that only Albert, 22, and Gilbert 18, both farm labourers, were still living with Otto, farmer, whose place of birth is given as Prussia.
In July 1920 The Register stated, "Mr Lueddecke the fruit grower beyond Pilot Knob, reports that there is the best prospect for apples and peaches that we have had in several years."
October 1921 the Register listed Otto Lueddecke and others below an article headed, "The Pilot Knob Cemetery", "Following are the names of the subscribers and amount subscribed for building a fence around the Pilot Knob Cemetery and making other improvements." Otto's $3 dollars was more than most (50c to $2), but less than some, $10. $224 was raised, and the old fence was sold for a further $2.50. The fund paid for "fence wire and gates, cedar posts, hauling wire, steeples and ice, and grubbing cemetery"! $4.85 was left in balance, and the organisers thanked the "...good people for their liberal donations to the Pilot Knob Cemetery, also the good people who helped work putting the fence around.
He remained a widower until the 20th February 1922, when he seems to have had some sort of an arranged marriage to a lady, Emma Zimmermann from Augustwalde, West Prussia, Germany, daughter of August Zimmerman and Louisa Kornblum.
She travelled from Germany on the 'SS Mongolia' to the United States. The ship's list has her alphabetically at the bottom, and that her name was Zimmerman, a 39-year-old housemaid, and that she could read and write German. Her nearest friend or family in her home country is stated as being Martha Thies of Finkestrasse 9, Halberstadt. The New York Passenger List shows her as fiancee of Otto Lueddecke.
According to the Ironton County Register, (which wrongly gave her surname as Jimmemeau), Otto met her from the train at St Louis, and they were married the same day, in Iron, Iron County, Missouri.
Emma's 25th February 1925 passport application ('Form For Person Claiming Citizenship Through Naturalization of Husband Or Parent') states her birth date as being 12th February 1883, and that her husband Otto Lueddecke sailed on the SS Gellert from Hamburg on or about the 15th April 1879, and that he was naturalized as a US citizen at Iron County, Missouri on 24th April 1888. It continues, recording that her last passport was obtained from Halberstadt Police Department on 7th January 1922. She intended travelling from New York on the SS Arabic, on 1st April 1925, returning to the US within 6 months, after visiting Germany for unspecified medical treatment.
Sadly, Emma too, died early, before her visit to Germany, after just three years of marriage, aged only 42, on 31st March, 1925, of phthisis pulmonalis, usually known as tuberculosis. This was aggravated by an ovarian tumour. She had been attended by a doctor for the previous two months. She was buried on 1st April in Pilot Knob Cemetery, the day she had arranged to sail to Germany for treatment.
Otto's death followed three and a half years later, aged 72, from "pernicious pneumonia" on 26th September, 1928. He had been attended by a doctor during the preceding two weeks. He was buried the following day in Pilot Knob Cemetery. The headstone records his vital dates, and those of his first wife, Katie. The death was notified by his son, Gilbert, who was unable to name Otto's parents or specific birthplace on the death certificate. Otto's occupation was given as 'retired farmer'. He had left a short but detailed will, dated 16th January 1927. It specified that the farm estate should go to Gilbert, and his automobile to be shared by Herman, Louis and Albert. It also detailed arrangements for the headstone and upkeep of the three graves. The balance of all other money was to be shared equally between Otto and Katie's five children. Finally there were several bequests of personal items to his extended family.
It is difficult to ignore the fact that Otto and both his wives died from respiratory ailments, possibly contributed to by the atmosphere of a mining environment.
While the requirements of bureaucracy tell us many facts about our ancestors, they do not help as much when it comes to assisting us discover what a predecessor was really like. However, there are many clues that can help us in our understanding. The fact that Otto turned his hand (and no doubt his carpenter’s lathe) to many different tasks, tells us that he was an adaptable, imaginative and possibly ingenious man. Skills such as marketing, administration, weather awareness (daily and annual), and land management would have played a big part in the fruit farmer's life. His correspondence with the local newspapers, while rather self-opinionated, gives us some guide as to his standard of education. Even if the letters were edited, the complex sentence structure that he used showed that he did have a great ability in this direction. These letters show that he was very fluent in the English language, as well as having a thorough knowledge of European history and politics..
The organisation and foresight that went in to the writing of his will show us that he was a compassionate man, wanting to treat his family well. A family photograph shows Otto early in the 20th century on a shooting expedition with his 4 sons. This tells us that he was a careful man, believing in strict discipline, acknowledging the responsibilities of parenthood, even in the rough and tumble of an afternoon in the local forest. Otto's four boys look well groomed. Choosing, in his late sixties, to take a new wife, probably on the recommendation of friends or family, show that he valued the companionship that he had lost following the death of his first wife Katie.
In his footsteps, Elsie must have played an important part in her husband’s grocery business, eldest son Louis followed Otto’s carpenter trade, Herman became a successful school teacher, Albert became the proprietor of a photography business, while Gilbert managed the family farm. All five siblings raised their own families, with about 20 children thinking of Otto as their grandfather.
Children of Katherine M Schafer and Otto Alexander Lueddecke
Elsie Elizabeth Lueddecke. Elsie Elizabeth was born on 2 December 1891 in Pilot Knob, Iron, Missouri, United States. She died on 1 January 1972 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. She married Martin Friedrich Roth on 25 June 1914.
Children:
Louis Charles Lueddecke Jr. Louis Charles was born on 11 September 1893 in Missouri, United States. He died on 25 June 1970. He married Agnes Elizabeth Bush on 22 February 1920.
Children:
Herman William Lueddecke. Herman William was born on 8 August 1895 in Missouri, United States. He died on 29 April 1984 in Missouri, United States. He married Eura Adeline Moore on 28 August 1921 in Doniphan, Ripley, Missouri, United States.
Children:
Albert Henry Lueddecke. Albert Henry was born on 24 August 1897 in Missouri, United States. He died on 30 September 1988 in Hardin, Kentucky, United States. He married Alice McAtee on 12 November 1927.
Children:
Gilbert W Lueddecke. Gilbert W was born on 8 April 1901 in Missouri, United States. He died on 12 July 1971 in ARCADIA VALLEY MEMORIAL PARK, Iron, Missouri, United States. He married Hilda Pauline Roth in 1924.
Children:
Elsie Elizabeth Lueddecke. Elsie Elizabeth was born on 2 December 1891 in Pilot Knob, Iron, Missouri, United States. She died on 1 January 1972 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. She married Martin Friedrich Roth on 25 June 1914.
Children:
- John William Roth. John William was born on 8 April 1915 in Missouri, United States. He died on 30 April 1982.
- Raymond Theodore Roth. Raymond Theodore was born on 9 October 1916 in Missouri, United States. He died on 24 December 2010 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. He married Unknown.
- Walton Harold Roth. Walton Harold was born on 9 February 1919 in Missouri, United States. He died on 21 November 1997. He married Unknown.
- Martin Roth Jr. Martin was born in 1927 in Missouri, United States. He died on 21 July 1931.
Louis Charles Lueddecke Jr. Louis Charles was born on 11 September 1893 in Missouri, United States. He died on 25 June 1970. He married Agnes Elizabeth Bush on 22 February 1920.
Children:
- 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
Herman William Lueddecke. Herman William was born on 8 August 1895 in Missouri, United States. He died on 29 April 1984 in Missouri, United States. He married Eura Adeline Moore on 28 August 1921 in Doniphan, Ripley, Missouri, United States.
Children:
- Elsie Louise Lueddecke. Elsie Louise was born in 1923.
- Nola June Lueddecke. Nola June was born on 26 June 1924. She married John Sokolic on 2 February 1944 in California, United States.
- Peggy Jane Lueddecke. Peggy Jane was born in 1930 in Doniphan, Ripley, Missouri, United States. She married Robert Lee Harris on 26 June 1951 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
- Hermina W Lueddecke. Hermina W was born on 16 February 1935. She died on 3 December 2007. She married Frederick D Hubert.
Albert Henry Lueddecke. Albert Henry was born on 24 August 1897 in Missouri, United States. He died on 30 September 1988 in Hardin, Kentucky, United States. He married Alice McAtee on 12 November 1927.
Children:
- Florence Marie Lueddecke. Florence Marie was born in 1929. She died on 1 February 1974. She married Gerald Orth Howell. She also married Thomas Robertson.
- Ida Jane Lueddecke. Ida Jane was born on 13 June 1931. She died on 25 April 2011. She married Robert Glenn Harned on 29 June 1957 in St Louis, Missouri, United States.
- Katherine Alice Lueddecke. Katherine Alice was born on 23 July 1940. She married Michael John Laird on 3 August 1963.
Gilbert W Lueddecke. Gilbert W was born on 8 April 1901 in Missouri, United States. He died on 12 July 1971 in ARCADIA VALLEY MEMORIAL PARK, Iron, Missouri, United States. He married Hilda Pauline Roth in 1924.
Children:
- Nelda Katherine Lueddecke. Nelda Katherine was born on 22 April 1926. She died on 15 February 1998.
- Nora Pauline Lueddecke. Nora Pauline was born on 3 February 1928. She died on 6 October 1934.
- Dorothy Hilda Lueddecke. Dorothy Hilda was born on 6 September 1929 in Pilot Knob, Iron, Missouri, United States. She died on 2 May 2002 in St Louis, Missouri, United States. She married Wendell Eugene Thomure on 27 June 1948.
- Marvin Gilbert Lueddecke. Marvin Gilbert was born on 18 July 1931 in Pilot Knob, Iron, Missouri, United States. He died on 25 January 2018 in Piedmont, Wayne, Missouri, United States. He married Carnelia Fern Ford on 18 June 1955.
- Harold Martin Lueddecke. Harold Martin was born in 1937. He married Wilma Lou Reed on 19 January 1958.
