Henry
and Frieda Sienknecht were fresh off the boat when they welcomed a
daughter into their home 131 years ago this week. Natives of
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, they had arrived in the U.S. just two
months earlier, sailing into New York harbor on November 26, 1883.
Frieda’s 18-month-old nephew, Henry Krambeck, immigrated with them as
their adopted son, Henry Sienknecht Jr., but the little girl
born January 30, 1884, in Hampton Bluffs, Illinois, was their first
child together – and the first born an American citizen.
She was baptized Louise Marie Dorothea Sienknecht at the Protestant Lutheran Church in Hampton Bluffs on July 27, 1884. Following tradition, she was named after three of her four godparents: her aunts, Louise Leethje and Mary Bohnstengel; and family friend, Dorothea Gerken. She would call herself Lillian or Lilly for her entire adult life.
The Sienknechts would have three more children in Illinois before moving to Tama County, Iowa, in 1893. It was there Lilly met Julius Staker. On January 30, 1902, Lilly turned 18. The next day, she and Julius took out a marriage license.
They were married February 12, 1902, in the Sienknecht home. Lilly’s maid of honor was Julius’ sister, Amanda Bern. His best man was her brother, Henry Sienknecht Jr. Their first child, Fred, was born on July 28, 1902. For the next 20 years motherhood would be Lilly’s main occupation. She would give birth in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1918, and 1922. By their 60th wedding anniversary in 1962, they would have 24 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Julius and Lilly retired in 1948, moving from their farm in Grant Township to the house they built in Lincoln. They became great-great-grandparents on December 6, 1964, a few weeks before Julius died on December 30 at age 86. She died just two months after her husband, on February 27, 1965, at age 81.
She was baptized Louise Marie Dorothea Sienknecht at the Protestant Lutheran Church in Hampton Bluffs on July 27, 1884. Following tradition, she was named after three of her four godparents: her aunts, Louise Leethje and Mary Bohnstengel; and family friend, Dorothea Gerken. She would call herself Lillian or Lilly for her entire adult life.
The Sienknechts would have three more children in Illinois before moving to Tama County, Iowa, in 1893. It was there Lilly met Julius Staker. On January 30, 1902, Lilly turned 18. The next day, she and Julius took out a marriage license.
They were married February 12, 1902, in the Sienknecht home. Lilly’s maid of honor was Julius’ sister, Amanda Bern. His best man was her brother, Henry Sienknecht Jr. Their first child, Fred, was born on July 28, 1902. For the next 20 years motherhood would be Lilly’s main occupation. She would give birth in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1918, and 1922. By their 60th wedding anniversary in 1962, they would have 24 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Julius and Lilly retired in 1948, moving from their farm in Grant Township to the house they built in Lincoln. They became great-great-grandparents on December 6, 1964, a few weeks before Julius died on December 30 at age 86. She died just two months after her husband, on February 27, 1965, at age 81.
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