Paul Stoerker

     Paul was born in Plum Hill, Washington County, Illinois, USA, on 8 October 1883.^1,2,3,4,5,6
          The Stoerkers moved to Plum Hill, Illinois in 1883, where they would remain for eight years. Paul was born here October 8, 1883.
     Paul married Josephine Martin who worked in the kitchen at Eden Seminary.
     Paul defied the rules of Eden of that day (which would have brought about his expulsion if discovered) by courting Josie. She made it safer for him by quitting her job at the seminary and getting employment elsewhere. They married after Paul's ordination, and had six children Theodore("Ted"), Paul Jr., Wilhelmine("Billie"), Laurence (who died in infancy), Manfred("Mannie"), and Lewis("Lew").
     In 1909, the Stoerkers were living at 307 North 9th St. Atchison, Kansas.
     On November 8, 1912 they were living at 416 West 4th St. Sedalia, Missouri. Flora Stoerker #63 was staying there at the time.
     As of June 1927, Paul was living in St. Louis, Missouri.
     Paul was pastor of Central Evangelical Church in Jefferson City, Missouri. He later moved to St. Louis, Missouri. During the 1930's he lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was still there in 1939.
     In 1944, Paul was a guest speaker at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church at Plum Hill, Illinois. They were celebrating their 100th anniversary. This was the same church that Paul's father Conrad Stoerker (#14) had served from 1883 to 1891.

     The following was written by Paul. It was forwarded to me by Paul’s grandson, Paul Albert Stoerker (#915).

MEMOIRS OF PAUL STOERKER

     Some day these notations will be welcome data on my life. Made with my own hand, they are quite authentic.
     I, Paul Stoerker, was born on October 8, 1883, at Plum Hill, Illinois where my father was the minister of St. John Evangelical Church at that time. I was the eldest of five sons of the Rev. Mr. Conrad Frederick Stoerker and his wife Wilhelmina nee Cune. Both parents were German born, father being a native of Buhr in the Province of Hanover, mother of Kaiserlautern near the Falls of the Rhine, Germany. Besides the five sons, there were six daughters in the family one of which, Hulda, was called away from earthly scenes at the tender age of seven years. Ten of us children grew up to mature life. Father was translated to the eternal spheres on June 13, 1927 at the age of seventy-six years; mother passed on on March 20, 1940 at the age of eighty-three years. One sister, Alma Orlowsky was called away in 1948 at the age of sixty-eight years.
     The devoutly Christian lives of my sainted parents are for me the direct inspiration to the Christian ministry. Parochial school, public school, Elmhurst College, Eden Seminary, and University home work of many years were the educational influences that fashioned my views of the things of life. I was ordained to the Christian ministry by my unforgettable father on July 23, 1905 in St. Peter Church at New Haven, Missouri. In the years to follow, Zion Church at Atchison, Kansas (1905-1910), Immanuel Church at Sedalia, Missouri (1910-1914), Central Church at Jefferson City, Missouri (1914-1922), St. Paul Church at St. Louis, Missouri (1922-1930), St. Peter Church at East End Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1930-1939), St. John Church at Chicago, Illinois (1939-1947), and St. John Community Church at Hinsdale, Illinois (1953-xxxx) were the recipients of the Christian service I was divinely privileged to render. Impaired health made my partial retirement from the ministry from 1947 to 1953 necessary.
     During the many years of my ministry I was privileged to serve the Church in special and larger ways as President of the West Missouri District and of the Missouri District respectively, as secretary of the Board of Sunday Schools, as secretary of the Board of Home Missions, and as a member of five quadrennial meetings of The Evangelical Synod of North America.
     My home and family life began with my marriage to Josephine Charlotte Martin on November 30, 1905. Five lovely matured children are giving us much joy, not only because they are economically and socially established, but especially because they are endeavoring to make their Christian influence felt in the circles where God has given them their work to do. It is my daily prayer that God’s grace may keep them in His ways and that love and contentment and peace may abide with them always. When I pass on, I will leave with them the blessings of my prayers. Lawrence, taken from us in his infancy, is waiting for us yonder.
     Let my burial be as simple as I have lived, with no ado, no eulogy, no flowers; a very simple service consisting of a scriptural reading and a prayer at a Funeral Director’s Chapel and held over a finally sealed casket, and then a very brief committal at the grave, that is my wish. memorial donations in lieu of flowers shall be equally divided between Elmhurst College and Eden Seminary.
     I am not choicy as to where that which is mortal about me shall rest. no sentiment is connected with the Eden Cemetery lot which is in my name. It was accepted as part-payment of Eden Cemetery indebtedness to me and may be sold at what it was priced at on the date of the deed. My good family shall have absolute freedom to choose another burial plot anywhere else for mother and me it they want us closer to their homes. And if our graves are to be marked, let it be done by two Wasuau Red Granite head stones (24” x 12”) inscribed merely “Paul Stoerker, Minister” and “Josephine Stoerker, his wife”. That is all.
     There is not estate to settle, no safety vault box to locate. I have only one bank account jointly with Ted; data of that account is found toward the back of my “Cash” book. My last will and testament and my insurance policies are in this portfolio. A few other papers with cedrtain requrests attached to them are also enclosed.

To those who survive me, I say with my name-sake Paul;
“And now, I commend you to God and to the word
of his grace, which is able to build you
up and to five you the inheritance
among all those who are
consecrated.”



                                             Paul Stoerker, Sr. He was the son of Conrad Friedrich Stoerker and Wilhelmine Cuno.

     Photo in 1893 in Morrison, Osage County, Missouri, USA.



     Photo of Conrad Stoerker with sons; Paul, Fred, and Theophil. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130.)



     Photo of Ella, Paul, ?, Freida, ?, and Alma Stoerker. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130.)


     Paul Stoerker was a minister.
     Paul Stoerker was listed as Fred Stoerker's son on the 1900 Federal Census in Plum Hill Township, Washington County, Illinois, USA, enumerated 2 June 1900.⁴ His birth date was listed as October 1883, age 16. He was born in Missouri. He was single . His father was born in Germany. His mother was born in Germany.⁴ He attended school for 10 months.⁴ He was able to read, able to write, and able to speak English.⁴

     Photo of Paul Stoerker(#59). Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers(#132.)



     Photo of Paul Stoerker(#59). Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers(#132.)



     Photo of Paul Stoerker in his new dodge. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers(#132.)

Paul Stoerker was ordained in 1905.⁷
     Paul Stoerker married Josephine Charlotte Martin, on 27 November 1905.^8,9 Other sources show he married Josephine Charlotte Martin at New Haven, Franklin County, Missouri, USA, on 30 November 1905.¹⁰

     Photo. Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd (#172). Back: Julia, Theophil, Flora, Adolph
Front: Gottlob, CF, Wilhelmine, Paul.¹¹



     Photo in 1907. Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd (#172). Standing -- Paul, Alma, Flora, Josephine, Ella, and Julia Stoerker, Frieda and Christian Mohr
Seated -- Conrad, Wilhelmine (holding Theodore) Stoeker
Ground -- Gottlob, Theophil, and Adolph Stoerker, Waldemar Mohr.¹¹


     They resided 207 North Ninth street, Atchison, Kansas, USA, in August 1909.¹²
     The following item appeared The Atchison Daily Champion, Atchison, Kansas, USA, on 7 August 1909



     Photo of Paul Stoerker(#59). Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers(#132.)



     Photo. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130)). Paul, Wilhelmine, and Conrad Stoerker.



     Photo of Paul, Josephine, Conrad, Ted, Wilhelmine, and Billie (in lap) Stoerker. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers(#132.)



     Photo.


     The following item appeared The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Missouri, USA, on 28 February 1910



     Photo. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130). Back Row: Julia, Theophil, Flora, and Adolph Stoerker
Front Row: Gottlob, Conrad, Wilhelmine, and Paul Stoerker.



     Photo. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130). Paul Stoerker standing, Adolph Stoerker sitting.


     Paul Stoerker, residing at Sedalia, Missouri received a postcard from Minna Stoerker,residing at at New Haven, Franklin County, Missouri, USA, on 10 September 1912.


     Photo.



     Photo of Fred and Paul Stoerker. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130.)¹¹



     Photo of Fred, Hilda, Ted, Conrad, and Paul Stoerker in August 1915 at Parsonage, Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130.)



     Photo between 16 August 1915 and 25 August 1915 in Missouri, USA. Motor Trip.


     The following item appeared Jefferson City Post-Tribune, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA, on 14 June 1916



     Photo at Eudora Township, Douglas County, Kansas, USA. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130). Fred, Hilda, Ted, Conrad, and Paul Stoerker at the parsonage in Eudora, Kansas.



     Photo of Back: Ella Stoeker, Rev Bronke, Josephine, Theophil, Flora, Paul, Hilda, Fred, Julia Stoerker
Front: Adolph, Conrad, Wilhelmine and Gottlob Stoerker
Hartsburg, Missouri Hartsburg, Missouri, USA. Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd (#172).¹¹


     Paul Stoerker was employed as minister on 12 September 1918 at Central Evangelical Church, 721 Washington Street, Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, USA.³
     They resided at 713 Washington Street, Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, USA, on 12 September 1918.³
     The start of World War I caused the United States to institute a draft registration. As the war continued to drag on, they instituted their third and final draft registration. This added men who were between the ages of 18 and 21, and 31 to 45 years of age. It included younger men than the previous registrations, those who were born between September 12, 1897 and September 12, 1900; and added an older group of men, born between September 12, 1873 and September 12, 1888. Paul Stoerker filled out a draft card on 12 September 1918 at 713 Washington Street, Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, USA. He was employed as a minister at Central Evangelical Church. He was described as medium height and slender build, with gray eyes and brown hair. Josephine Charlotte Stoerker was listed as his nearest relative.³
     Paul Stoerker was employed in 1921 at Central Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA.¹⁶
     They resided at 713 Washington, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA, in 1921.¹⁶

     Photo of Paul Stoerker(#59). Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd(#172.)



     Photo of Stoerker Golden Wedding Anniversary -- Back - Theophil, Julia, Paul, Conrad, Ella, Fred, Adolph -- Front - Alma, Wilhelmine, Frieda, Flora, and Gottlob on 2 November 1926. Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd (#172.)¹⁴


     He resided in St Louis, Independent City, Missouri, USA, in 1927.¹⁷
     Paul Stoerker residing at in St Charles, St Charles County, Missouri, USA, sent a telegram to Flora Stoerker on 13 June 1927.

     Paul Stoerker received a letter from Wilhelmine Stoerker on 6 January 1933.

     Paul Stoerker was employed on 27 April 1942 at St John Ev & Reformed Church, 2448 North Moffatt Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA.¹
     On 16 September 1940, President Roosevelt signed into law the first peacetime Selective Service Act. During WWII, the Selective Service System conducted six draft registrations. The fourth registration was on April 27, 1942 for males between the ages of 45 and 65 not eligible for military service. Paul Stoerker registered for the 4th draft on 27 April 1942 while living at 2442 Moffott Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA. His serial# was 2225. His phone number was Humboldt0696. His date of birth was listed as October 8, 1883 at Plum Hillm, Illinois. He was employed at St. John Ev & Reformed Church, 2448 N Moffott St., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Josephine Charlotte Stoerker was listed as the person who would always know his address.¹
     They resided 2442 Moffatt Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA, on 27 April 1942.¹ His race was white. He was 5'11'' and his weight was 210. He had grey eyes and brown hair. His complexion was light.¹

     Photo of Theophil, Adolph, Fred, and Paul Stoerker. Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd(#172.)¹¹


     Paul Stoerker was mentioned in a lettter sent by Adolph Stoerker residing at Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, USA, to Flora Altenbernd on 23 November 1948.


     Photo of Theophil, Adolph, Fred, and Paul Stoerker. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130.)


     Paul died on 12 January 1955 in Hinsdale, DuPage County, Illinois, USA, at age 71.^21,7 He was buried after 12 January 1955 in the St Peter's Cemetery located in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA.^8,6