FAMILY of LOUIS BUECHER & CHRISTINA HAMMEL

FAMILY of LOUIS BUECHER & CHRISTINA HAMMEL

Compiled by Robert Buecher, 5400 Pernod Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139-1537

E-mail: rgb7847@aol.com

[Revised: 28 July 2006]

[This information corrects and updates the family sketch that was published on page 172 of the HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IL, VOLUME 1, published in 1988]

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Louis BUECHER was born at or near Millstadt (then called Centreville) in St. Clair County, IL, on Thursday, 21 Sept. 1848. He was the first child of Heinrich BUECHER (1820-1893) and Maria Magdalena, nee HOFFMANN (1823-1851). Louis was baptised on 2 Oct. 1848 with the name of "Philipp Ludwig Buecher". The minister was Rev. George Schieferdecker, first pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church at Millstadt. His godparents were: "Johann Philipp Buecher" (an uncle on his father’s side); "Philipp Peter Hoffmann" (an uncle on his mother’s side); and "Miss Katharina Launhardt". His was the first baptism recorded at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Louis was confirmed at this same Lutheran church on Sunday, 13 April 1862 by Rev. Friedrich W. Holls. His confirmation scripture verse was I John, Chapter 2, Verse 17.

Louis BUECHER was married in Millstadt on Sunday, 2 Feb. 1873 to Miss Christina Catharine HAMMEL ^[1]. The couple were married by Rev. Jacob Knauss of Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, and the marriage is recorded in the church's records and with the Clerk of St. Clair County, IL ^[2]. Four sons and two daughters were born to this marriage.

Christina Catharine HAMMEL was born in Section 14 of Millstadt Township on Friday, 23 Sept. 1853. She was the 4th child and 2nd daughter of George HAMMEL (1802-1863) and Elizabeth, born HAMMEL (1819-1899). On 19 March 1854 she was baptized with the name of "Katherine Christina HAMMEL" by Rev. Jacob Knauss of Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt ^[3]. Her godparents were: Valentin Biehl, Heinrich Christmann, Katharina Miller (aunt on her mother's side), and Christina Freivogel.

Christina was later confirmed at Zion church on 14 April 1867 by Rev. Albert Zeller.

Louis BUECHER may have had several different occupations during his lifetime. The 1880 Census lists him as a "teamster". In a 1881 issue of the Belleville newspaper ^[4], there is a notice in the local news of Millstadt that Louis BUECHER was elected constable of Millstadt. His brief death notice in the Belleville POST ^[5] states that he had been a "Schankkellner" (bartender) for many years for Charles Probstmeyer.

Louis BUECHER died in Millstadt from a lung ailment at 9 o'clock in the evening on Sunday, 23 May 1886. He only reached the age of 37 years, 8 months, and 2 days and his death was only about 17 months after the birth of his last child, August, in Jan. 1885 . The funeral was held on May 25th with the services conducted by Rev. Emil Lenk of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial was in the Old Millstadt Cemetery ^[6] . The badly worn inscription on his tombstone reads:

LOUIS PH.

BUECHER

GEB. [Born]

21 Sept. 1848

GEST [Died]

23 Mai 1886

His widow, Christina, continued to reside in her home in the 100 block of East Laurel Street in Millstadt, until Aug. 1908. At that time she moved to the farm home of her brother-in-law, Jacob HOFFMANN, where her sons August & Louis were tilling Mr. Hoffmann's farm. She died there at the age of 59 years, 8 months, and 24 days at 2:30 a. m. on Monday, 16 June 1913 after an extended illness ^[7] . Her death certificate states that she had stomach cancer for 7 or 8 years. Her funeral took place on 19 June 1913 from the home of her son George, with burial in the Old Millstadt Cemetery. Rev. Paul Wendt of Zion Evangelical Church conducted the services. At the time of her death, Christina's surviving descendants included 3 sons (Louis, George, & August BUECHER); 2 daughters (Mrs. Jacob (Catherine) LEICHT and Mrs. Edward (Barbara) WEIS); and 20 grandchildren.

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The Louis Buecher family is found as follows on the various United States censuses that were taken:

1880 Census; Microfilm Roll # 247; St. Clair County, IL; Village of Millstadt; page 48; taken 22 June 1880; dwelling # 192; family # 218:

Buecher, Louis; age 32; occupation “Teamster”; born in Ills.

Buecher, Christina; age 27; wife; keepinghouse; born in Ills.

Buecher, Katharina; age 5; daughter; at home; born in Ills.

Buecher, Babara [Barbara]; age 3; daughter; at home; born in Ills.

Buecher, Louis; age 7/12 months; son; at home; born in Ills.

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1900 Census; Microfilm Roll # 341; St. Clair County, IL; Millstadt; Sheet 5A, line 17; Supervisor District No. 15; Enumeration District No. 119; census taken 4 June 1900; dwelling # 84; family # 88; residing on Laurel Street:

Buecher, Christina; Head of the family; widowed; born Sept. 1853; age 46; born in Illinois [NOTE]

Buecher, Gustav [August]; Son; single; born Jan. 1885; age 15; born in Illinois

Hammel, Jacob; brother [of Christina]; widowed; born Feb. 1839; age 61; born in Illinois

[NOTE: Christina is listed as being the mother of 6 children, with 5 living in 1900]

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1910 Census; Microfilm Roll # 323; St. Clair County, IL; Millstadt Township; Sheet 1A; Supervisor District No. 13; Enumeration District No. 151; census taken 15 April 1910; Dwelling # 2; Family # 2:

Buecher, August F. ; single; age 25; born Illinois

Buecher, Christinia; mother; widowed; age 56; born in Illinois [NOTE]

[NOTE: Christina is listed as being mother to 6 children, 5 now living]

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Buecher, Louis W.; married 1 yr.; age 30; born Illinois

Buecher, Hilda M.; wife – married 1 yr.; age 22; born Illinois

Buecher, Vernon E. L.; son; age 6/12; born Illinois

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The following children were born to Louis Buecher and Christina Catharine Hammel:

1.) Catherine BUECHER

born: 7 July 1874 in Millstadt, IL

died: 22 January 1949 in Caseyville, IL

married: Jacob LEICHT on 26 December 1893 in Millstadt

2.) Heinrich Johann BUECHER

born: 19 August 1875 Millstadt, IL

died: 1 July 1876 Millstadt, IL

3.) Barbara Magdalena BUECHER

born: 5 May 1877 Millstadt, IL

died: 13 March 1954 Belleville, IL

married: Edward George WEIS on 11 Oct. 1896 in Millstadt

4.) Louis William BUECHER

born: 12 October 1879 Millstadt, IL

died: 29 November 1946 Millstadt, IL

married: Hilda PETRI on 22 November 1908 in Millstadt

5.) George Henry BUECHER

born: 8 March 1881 Millstadt, IL

died: 2 February 1968 Belleville, IL

married: Hilda Katherine WETTEROTH on 26 November 1908 in Millstadt

6.) August Friedrich BUECHER

born: 1 January 1885 Millstadt, IL

died: 22 June 1965 Winter Haven, FL

married: Elfrieda Emma WEIS on 31 May 1925 in Millstadt, IL

^[1] Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL; marriage records, year 1873, entry # 1

^[2] Clerk of St. Clair County, IL; marriage license # 57

^[3] Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL; baptism records, year 1854, entry # 7

^[4] Weekly Advocate, Belleville, IL; issue of Friday, November 11, 1881, page 6, column 1

^[5] Belleville Post, Belleville, IL; (German newspaper) weekly issue of May 28, 1886, page 3, column 1

^[6] The cemetery is also known as the “Centerville Cemetery” and is located at the corner of South Jefferson and West Harrison Streets. It was established on May 4, 1844 on land owned by Henry Randlemann. A complete list of the tombstone inscriptions from this cemetery was published in the St. Clair County [IL] Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 10 (1987), No. 2, pp. 65 - 87

^[7] Millstadt Enterprise, Millstadt, IL; obituary of “Catharine Christina Buecher” published on Friday, June 20, 1913, page 1