Pastor Schoech and the Brewmaster’s Daughter

You will be reading quite a different type of story today. Yes, it does have a birthday girl. However, neither of the characters that make up today’s married couple were Perry County, Missouri natives, nor could you track back into their family histories to find ties to Perry County names. Also, neither the husband or the wife ever show up in any census entries from Perry County. So, you might wonder how this story manages to get told on this blog. The answer comes from the fact that this couple just lived in Perry County from 1912 to 1919, so they managed to miss a census year while living here. This pair did have some children while living in this area, but those children were baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, so we cannot view any baptism records. The reason I will write this story is because the husband served as the pastor of Peace, Friedenberg. I find the story interesting because it takes us on a journey to several locations.

I will get to the birthday girl later, but I will begin with the birth of Joseph William Schoech. Joseph was born on July 22, 1877 in Port Hope, Michigan. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Schmucker) Schoech. Before I go on, let me say that I would pronounce this name as “shake”. Let me also state that Joseph’s father, Thomas, had married Elizabeth in Perry County, but in Perry County, Illinois, not Perry County, Missouri. Joseph is found in his first census in 1880 at the age of 2. In this entry, you discover that Joseph had a twin sister named Mary. That made them twins named Mary and Joseph. Joseph’s father was a Lutheran minister.

The history of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope says that they were able to call their first permanent pastor in 1876, so I think Rev. Thomas Schoech was the first pastor of that congregation. The church sanctuary shown below was not the building that was used in the early years of that congregation, but it is the building that is still used to this day.

Joseph is found in one more census before he was married. We discover that he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Lutheran pastor. We find him living in Utica, Michigan in the 1900 census. He was still living with his parents, but this entry says that both he and his father were ministers.

Below is a photo of the present-day sanctuary for Trinity Lutheran Church in Utica. My brother was a teacher at that congregation’s school for a while.

Just 2 years after the above census, Joseph would get married, and that event took place in St. Louis. Let’s take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Emilie Tanner, who also happens to be today’s birthday girl. Emilie was born on January 15, 1884. She was the daughter of Louis and Christina (Kraft) Tanner. Interestingly, Emilie was born in Pinckneyville, Illinois which is located in Perry County, Illinois. I think Joseph Schoech might have become acquainted with Emilie through contacts his mother had in Perry County, Illinois. Emilie was no longer found in Pinckneyville when the 1900 census was taken. The Tanner family was living in St. Louis where her father was a bartender.

Another source tells us that Emilie’s father was a brewmaster at the Green Tree Brewery in St. Louis. A story was written on this blog about others connected to Perry County who were involved in that brewery. That post was simply called, Green Tree Brewery.

Joseph Schoech married Emilie Tanner on October 1, 1902. I was unable to find documentation for this wedding, but it likely took place at one of the St. Louis Lutheran churches. Then, in 1905, Rev. Schoech became the pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in St. Louis. The list of past pastors at that congregation is pictured below. It indicates Pastor Schoech served that congregation from 1905-1912.

Below is a photo of Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

During that time span, the 1910 census was taken. We find the Schoech household with 3 children at that time. Joseph is called a Lutheran pastor. It also says their first 2 children had been born in Michigan.

That brings us to the time that the Schoech family was living in Perry County, Missouri. The list of past pastors of Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg (Perryville) is shown here.

I found this photo of Pastor Schoech in the Friedenberg Remembrances book, so it may have been taken during his time there.

Here is a photo of Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg.

Joseph had a World War I draft registration completed when he was living in Friedenberg, although this form gives Menfro as his address. His wife is called Millie on this form.

Right before the 1920 census was taken, Rev. Schoech took a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Lone Elm, Missouri. A photo of Zion Lutheran Church is displayed below.

We find the Schoech family living in the Clark Fork Township which is where Lone Elm is located.

Joseph and Emilie had 9 children according to an Ancestry family tree that I found. The last of those children was born during the year of the above census. Pastor Schoech would serve at this congregation for the rest of his active ministry. The list of pastors at Zion, Lone Elm shown here says he served from 1919-1948.

Next, we find the Schoech household in the 1930 census.

The last census in which we find the Schoech family living in Lone Elm was the one taken in 1940. Some of their children had gotten married by this time.

In 1942, Joseph had a World War II draft card completed despite being 65 years old. His address was given as Bunceton, which is a larger nearby town.

After retiring from the ministry, Joseph and Emilie moved to St. Louis. We find them living there in the 1950 census. These two had an empty nest.

Sometime later in her life, the photo below appeared in a newspaper when 6 Tanner sisters, including Emilie, gathered for a special occasion. Emilie is standing in the back on the left. The caption for this photo is where we discover that Emilie’s father was a brewmaster for the Green Tree Brewery.

Rev. Joseph Schoech died in 1968 at the age of 91. His death certificate indicates that he died while he was a patient at the Lutheran Hospital.

Emilie Schoech died in 1975 at the age of 90. Joseph and Emilie are buried together in the St. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in St. Louis.

At least 2 Schoech sons became Lutheran pastors, so we know of at least 3 consecutive generations in this family contained men that served as ministers.