11

Title page of the Bible/New Testament that Barbara Kraus is thought to have brought with her when she immigrated to the USA.

Birth Record

Barbara kept a record of the births of her children on the back of the title page of her Bible/New Testament.

Births

• Maria Kirmse – born 7 February 1868
• Johann Kirmse – born 3 October 1869 – died 29 October 1869
• August Karl Kirmse – born 2 September 1870
• Joseph Kirmse – born 18 January 1873
• Wilhelm Kirmse – born 21 May 1875
• Louis Kirmse – born 9 November 1877
• Johanna Katherina Kirmse – born 13 June 1880.

Salem Lutheran Church – Baptism Records

• Maria Kirmse – Born: 7 Feb 1868 to Julius Kirmse & Barbara (Schuetz); Baptized: 24 Feb 1868; Sponsors: Georg & Mrs. Schuetz and Georg & Mrs. Krause.
• August Karl Kirmse – Born: 3 Sep 1870 to Julius Kirmse & Barbara (Kraus); Baptized: ; Sponsors: Friedrich A. & Katharina Schoenborn.
• Joseph Kirmse – Born: 18 Jan 1873 to Julius Kirmse & Barbara (Krause); Baptized: 22 Feb 1873; Sponsors: Andreas & Anna Stuebinger.
• Wilhelm Kirmse – Born: 31 May 1875 to Julius Kirmse & Barbara (Kraus); Baptised: 28 May 1875; Sponsors: Heinrich Bachmann, Caroline Boehme and Hermann Koenig.
• Louis Kirmse – Born: 9 Oct 1877 to Julius Kirmse & Barbara (Krause); Baptized: 12 Nov 1877; Sponsors: Georg & Kathar. Stubinger.
• Johanna Katharina – Born 13 Jun 1880 to Julius Kirmse & Barbara (Krause); Baptized 27 Jun 1880; Sponsors: Claus Detjen, Catharine Krause and Christiane Newberry.

Source Citation

Perry County Historical Society Book Committee. Lutheran Churches of Bois Brule & Salem Township. Salem Lutheran Church – Baptism Records, p. 69.

Notes

1. The printing date of the Bible/New Testament is 1862.  This also the year that Barbara Kraus immigrated to the USA. (See Chapter: When Did Barbara Kraus Immigrate?)  Barbara must have obtained her Bible/New Testament just before she immigrated – possibly a going away gift?
2. The birth dates of the Bible/New Testament birth record and the church baptism records agree except for Louis Kirmse.  Helen (Kirmse) Hacker said that her father, Louis Kirmse, who had always celebrated his birthday on November 9 was surprised when he applied for social security to find his baptism record had his birth date as being October 9. However, Louis’s church confirmation record shows his birth date as being November 9. Since the church baptism record was the only recognized record he had of his birth date, that is what is his birth date is in his Social Security record.  Louis’s church burial record and his gravestone also have his birth date as October 9.