The deceased, Fred William Ludwig Wirth was born on September 2, 1837 at Gehlenbeck, Isenstedt, Westphalia, Prussia. He was the son of August Ferdinand Wirth and his wife Sophia Charlotte, nee Fincke. (Christened on 10 Sep 1837 by Reverend Redecker, Godfathers were Friedrich Moehlmeier of Nr. 6 and Carl Schutte at No. 24.)
A few days after his birth, he was baptized by the Reverend Redecker. After attending the village school until the age 15, he was confirmed and admitted to Holy Communion on the 25th day of April 1852.
His parents were farmers and owned a piece of land large enough to support a small family. The father seemed to have been a very strict man and a devoted Christian. Believing that America would offer him a better chance for the temporal welfare and support of his children, he decided to emigrate. This came to pass in 1854, when the entire family repaired to Bremerhafen. (They departed from Bremen on October 15, 1853 on board the ship �Martha�, the captain was Glockgeter. The travel arrangements were made by Pokrantz & Company. I am not sure when they arrived in New Orleans but it could very well have been in January 1854.) But God had willed it otherwise.
Owing, perhaps, to the great masses of immigrants that gathered there from all parts of Germany and to the subsequent close and deficient of them, an epidemic of Cholera morbus ensured and destroyed the lives of many, the parents of Fred being among them. Within several weeks the great masses were naturally reduced and Fred Wirth with his 3 sisters made their way to America without their parents.
How dismal the outlook must have been for them. The deceased made favorable��..of Mr. & Mrs. Feldmoure and Mr. Bramlier and sister who conscientiously devoted themselves to the welfare of the poor orphans.
They settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where the deceased was given a job in a candy factory at a salary of 3 dollars per month, while the sisters found homes in private families. The Rev. Bringer of St. Louis provided a home for the youngest sister.
After 1 � years work in the candy factory the young Fred sought work on the farm and hired out as a farmhand for 5 � years in Pleasant Ridge, Madison County. (Madison County is in Illinois. (This is also were my great, great grandfather, William von Behren, was stated as residing on his Civil War documents.)
On December 16, 1860, he married Miss Maria Sophia Louise Fahrenholz. This union was blessed with 8 children of which 2 preceded him in death and 6 are surviving. His wife died on August 17, 1908, 15 years ago.
The names of his surviving children are: Henry Wirth of Strasburg, Mrs. Lizzie Cress, wife of Wm. Cress of Strasburg, Mrs. Anna Evans of Springfield, Mrs. Caroline Tins of Worden and Mrs. Emma Schroeder of Worden. Two of his sisters, Mrs. Henry Diepholz and Mrs. Wm. Von Behren are surviving him.
In 1867 the deceased had disposed of his farm at Pleasant Ridge and had come to Strasburg where he lived for 56 years. He was a man of rare qualities and true Christian persuasion. He is know to his entire community for his openness, his rectitude and to the St. Paul� Lutheran Church as a true upright resigned Christian who was even ready to serve in the Lord�s kingdom. For 21 years he conducted the offices of elder of the church and under his trusteeship, which lasted for 9 years, this present church was built.
To the Pastor who visited him in his long and trying sickness, he is known as a very humble Christian who was ever ready to confess his sins and shortcomings and who implicitly trusted in the saving grace of God for Jesus sake. Scripture passages assuring that the blood and merit of Christ cleanses a sinner from all his iniquity were particularly cherished by him and a favorite verse of his was: (verse was not added in my copy.)
He died at 3:45 AM on July 17, 1923. He attained to the age of 85 years, 10 months and 15 days. Those surviving him are two sisters, 6 children, 20 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Susan Von Behren
Von Behren Genealogies
www.vonbehren.org