William John Altenbernd

     The following information is from the records of John Altenbernd.
     William was known as "Willie" as a boy. He attended Kaw Valley School, District 12, Eudora Kansas. After an extended bachelorhood he married Flora Stoerker.
     I know distressing little about Dad's life before he met my mother. Dad almost never talked about himself to me. What I do know all comes from my mother, told to me after Dad's death in 1941.
     Dad was the youngest in a family of eight children. Dad's father died early on when Dad was teen age, and Dad took over the work of the farm, living there with his mother and his unmarried sister, Louise, until his mother's death. Then it was just he and Louise.
     Dad attended the same red brick Kaw Valley School that I did, only the enrollment was much larger then. There were more families with large numbers of children. There was even a family that lived in a log dirt lean to by the Kaw River who sent a couple of kids to school.
     Somewhere along the line Dad went to Kansas City and attended a Lutheran school for religious education, staying with one of the Hoelzel's I suppose. (I don't know if Dad's sisters, Reke and Kate, were married to the Hoelzel brothers yet at that time or not.)
     Dad never went to high school. He would have had to go away to do it since there was no high school around then, and, Dad said, "No one ever suggested going." Dad could make bad spelling and reading errors, but that was about all that betrayed his lack of education. On his own initiative, he was well read (but not in an academic or literary sense), and made himself knowledgeable of what was going on around the world. His was not a parochial mind.
     He never participated in sports as a child. He had buck teeth which must have been exceptionally bad (He wore dentures when I knew him), because he said he always had to take special care that a ball or something didn't hit him in the face and knock out his teeth. So he just didn't play. But all his life he was an avid fan as a spectator baseball, football, and basketball. I know he followed the exploits of Joe Louis, but I don't think he was a particularly enthusiastic boxing fan generally.
     My grandparents were Lutheran by heritage, but in the absence of a local Lutheran Church, they were among the founding families of St. Paul's German Evangelical Church in Eudora, Kansas. That was my grandparents' church until their deaths, but only dad and Uncle Carl stayed with St. Paul's later. (The other brothers and sisters reverted to the Lutheran faith when opportunity arose even Dad's sister Louise. Even though they lived together, Dad went to St. Paul's in Eudora and Louise went to the Lutheran Church in Lawrence.)
     Dad too retained a certain fondness for the Lutheran Church. He would listen to "The Lutheran Hour" on the radio, and occasionally during the Lenten Season he would go to Lawrence by himself to attend a Lutheran Lenten Service. This in no way negated or dissipated his loyalty and support of St. Paul's in Eudora.
     He would not go to the Lutheran Church Louise had gone to and to which Aunt Maggie Schaacke still went. He went to a different Lutheran Church. He had a sour feeling about that one even though the Lutheran Pastor who had caused it was long gone. After Louise's death, Dad had gone to see the Lutheran pastor there, only to be told the man had no time to see him. Then he found out that Dad had come to contribute a portion of Louise's estate to the church. Then the Lutheran pastor suddenly had all the time in the world. Such a mercenary attitude did not set will with Dad, and he never forgot it.
     Dad financed the education of a Lutheran Seminary student whom he never met. He simply made monthly contributions to the young man's support. There was never any contact between the two. I assume the young man never knew where the money came from or there surely would have been a thank you letter somewhere along the way.
     Dad gave a portion of Louise's estate to Elmhurst College (a UCC School in suburban Chicago) to establish the Louise Altenbernd Memorial Scholarship Fund. It yields $50 a semester and is still there. It isn't much anymore, but originally $50 a semester meant a lot to a needy student. One of my Eden Seminary Classmates (Oddly enough, I can't remember who) was one of the recipients of that and asked me once if Louise Altenbernd was a relation of mine.)
     Dad and Uncle Carl went together to attend the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. Dad also made frequent trips to St. Louis in later years (300 miles) to see baseball games, quite a trip in the 1920's.
     Dad never went fishing, despite living by the Kaw River. He found fishing to be boring. But he was a hunter. I used to go along with him, but it never rubbed off on me. I got no joy out of seeing squirrels and rabbits shot.
     Dad was especially proud of his shot gun, and he belonged to the Lawrence Gun Club, often going to shoot clay pigeons there in the evenings or on Sunday afternoons. He was a reasonably good shot.
     Dad enjoyed dining out, and would do so frequently, even alone, becoming close friends with George Spears, a Greek immigrant who owned the DeLuxe Cafe, one of the nicest places in Lawrence. He was also friends with the owner partners of the Green Lantern, also both Greek immigrants. Dad's favorite was a steak dinner.
     Dad traveled a lot before his marriage, usually on arranged tours. I don't know where all he traveled, but I know he enjoyed the West. I know he once took a boat trip through the Panama Canal. Whether or not he went on from there to the West Coast, I don't know.
     Over the years Dad dated Hilda Ziesnies (I knew her later as Mrs. Dana Kidd) and a woman named Hattie (I don't know her maiden name) whom I knew as Mrs. Douglas Harris. There must have been others too, but I don't know who they were.
     Dad enjoyed alcoholic beverages, but there was never a time I knew him to be drunk of tipsy, and there are no stories about him in that regard. Even after Prohibition was repealed, Kansas remained a dry state, except for 3.2% beer. Dad had no qualms about buying whiskey in Kansas City, MO, and smuggling it home. Sometimes he bought from Kansas bootleggers. Potato buyers could seal a deal with Dad for a car load of potatoes by throwing in a fifth of whiskey.
     Dad also chewed tobacco (Days o Work) and smoked cigars (White Owl).
     Dad had his clothes tailor made and got shaves at the barber shop. He never shaved himself.
     He always had an eye for a pretty girl ( a harmless admiration), a trait that never changed even after his marriage. He had what he called his "daughters" all over Eudora. He was open with his compliments to them. This never bothered Mon, knowing it was admiration for a pretty sight and nothing more. He was always delighted at seeing young men that he knew out on a date. "So and so has got himself a skirt," he would say.
     He liked children and had a remarkable ability to make immediate friends with any of them even strangers on the street. There is a story Mom told me about the two of them walking down the street of Lawrence one day. A young mother was walking toward them with a little boy in hand who was screaming and pulling and giving her fits. When they got to Dad, Dad stooped down and said to the little boy, "Hey now, what's the idea of pulling something like this?" The little boy immediately quieted down. The grateful young mother thanked Dad.
     I assume Dad's early politics were Democratic like the rest of the Altenbernds. I know he had a continuing admiration for Al Smith, the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1928. He had little use for Herbert Hoover, blaming him for the depression. But he didn't like Franklin Roosevelt either for reasons I don't know. He was unenthusiastically voting Republican in the years I knew him.
     He had a particular thing against Theodore Roosevelt. Occasionally there would be a movie with some actor playing T.R. Dad would unfailingly give a disgusted grunt and make a face when he came on screen.
     Dad never swore in my hearing. I really don't think he ever swore.
     He would laugh at drunks when he saw them out somewhere. Getting drunk was no sign of maturity or manliness so far as Dad was concerned. Drinking was for pleasure, not for getting drunk. That difference was clear and distinct to Dad.
     I can't remember anything special about my 12th birthday, May 5, 1941. It had to be on a Monday that year, so it was a school day. I was in the sixth grade at the little red brick, one room Kaw Valley School. Miss Coila Thurber, to become Mrs. Kenneth Hegeman during the summer, was my teacher, and would remain so for the next two years. She was my favorite teacher of grade school days. She was 24, brunette, and quite pretty. I had quite a crush on her in fact. My folks liked her too, especially Dad who always had an admiring, and innocent, eye for a pretty girl. Dad liked to tease her about her impending marriage. Kenneth (or Kay as he was known) Hegeman worked at Green Brothers farm implement place in Lawrence, and Dad knew him from there.
     I wish I could remember that birthday because it was to be the last one of its kind. There would be no more birthdays with my father present. I do remember that I got a little stamp album from my father as a present. I had recently gotten interested in stamp collecting. It proved to be a fortunate new hobby for my, occupying my mind and interest at a time when my nice, safe little world became pretty thoroughly shattered.
     Other than that, I have no memory of my 12th birthday. I don't even remember what Mom gave me.
     Saturday night was always something of a ritual. Dad would quit work early, get cleaned up, and prepare for an evening in Lawrence. That meant supper out, usually at the DeLuxe Restaurant, sometimes at the Green Lantern. The DeLuxe was the nice place. Dad knew the proprietors of both places on a personal, first name basis the waitresses too. As I said, he always had an eye for a pretty girl. (There was one set of tables at the DeLuxe Dad always avoided because he thought the waitress was ugly. She really wasn't that bad, as I recall, but the others were prettier.)
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     William was born at home as were all of the Altenbernd children.
     On August 2, 1919, Will wrote a check to Eudora State Bank for $10,000 for the construction of the new farm house.
     Will died on May 24, 1941. Services were held May 27, 1941 at St. Paul's Evangelical Church in Eudora, Kansas. He was then laid to rest at the Eudora Cemetery. Pall bearers were Herbert Altenbernd (#100), Homer Altenbernd (#101), Elmer Altenbernd (#82), Albert Wichman (#157), Oscar Broers, and Veral Neis. Services were conducted by Rev. H. Reifschneider.
     Several days after Will's death, Flora (#63) received a letter of condolences from their United States Congressman, U.S. Guyer.

Other sources show William John Altenbernd was born on 24 Nov 1884.¹
     William was born in Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA, on 24 Nov 1885.^2,3 He was the son of Friedrich Wilhelm Altenbernd and Katharine Hill.
     His common name was Willie. Other sources show William John Altenbernd was born in Nov 1886 in Kansas, USA.⁴
     Photo of Carl and Will Altenbernd in 1888. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo in 1888.
     He was a student at Kaw Valley, District No. 12, Douglas County, Kansas, USA, in 1898.⁵
     Photo.
     William John Altenbernd was listed as Friedrich Wilhelm Altenbernd's son on the 1900 Federal Census of Eudora Township, Douglas County, Kansas, enumerated 11 Jun 1900.⁶ His birth date was listed as November 1886, age 13. He was born in Kansas. His father was born in Germany. His mother was born in Germany.⁴ His occupation was student. He was able to read, able to write, and able to speak English.⁴ He attended school for 6 months.⁴
     William worked. He worked as Farmer.
     Photo at Panana Canal.
     Photo of the Altenbernd Family c 1912. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).⁷
     Photo.
     Photo of Herb Altenberd, Will Altenbernd, Irene Schaake. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo taken by Photo is missing on this tag.
     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. William John Altenbernd filled out a draft card on 12 Sep 1918 at RFD 2, Douglas County, Kansas, USA. He was employed as a farmer. He was described as medium height and stout build, with gray eyes and dark brown partially bald hair. Carl Conrad Altenbernd was listed as his nearest relative.⁸
     Photo in 1919 in Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA.
     Photo.
     Photo.
     Photo.
     William John Altenbernd was afflicted with baldness. He was bald at a young age.
     Photo of William Altenbernd and Fred Stoerker. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo of Hilda Stoerker, Flora Stoerker, Will Altenbernd, Wilhelmine Stoerker, Alma Stoerker
on ground: Frederick and Eleanor Stoerker
unknown who is being held. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo of On cot left to right -- ?, Ed Schaake, ?
In rear - ?,?,?, Harry Young
On right - William Altenbernd, Carl Altenbernd. Original photo in the possession of Sheila Altenbernd (#172).⁹
     William John Altenbernd married Flora Stoerker, daughter of Conrad Friedrich Stoerker and Wilhelmine Cuno, in Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri, USA, on 24 May 1927.^9,2
     William John Altenbernd received a letter from Wilhelmine Stoerker c Jan 1929.

     William John Altenbernd received a letter from Wilhelmine Stoerker on 21 Dec 1929.

     William John Altenbernd, residing at RR2, Lawrence, Kansas received a letter from Wilhelmine Stoerker from Lawrence, Kansas,residing at at 1021 South 4th Street, St Charles, St Charles County, Missouri, USA, on 28 Dec 1929. The original is in German.

     Photo of Will Altenbernd in stocking cap. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo early 1930's in Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA.
     William John Altenbernd was mentioned in a lettter sent by Friedaricka Elizabeth Hoelzel residing at at 2732 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA, to Flora Altenbernd on 1 Jul 1931.
Dearest Flora,

I have intended writing to you for some time. We enjoyed getting John's picture so much, it is very good of him. I showed it to Mrs. Kobrock and she immediately said that he is a Stoerker in looks. Of course that is true and is very complementary to you. Thanks a lot for the picture.

It has been so very hot here for two weeks and for those who are and have to be busy in the sun I feel plenty sorry, for it is more than I appreciate and I can stay in and make myself as nearly comfortable as possible. I mean the heat is more than I appreciate. I guess Will and Carl are digging potatoes now, and I so hope they get a good price. It is so discouraging to put the money and labor in for a crop and then get such prices as the farmers are getting for wheat. I am about sure that never before has wheat been so cheap. The country is full of food supplies and there are so many people coming to my door every day for a little to eat. Prices with us too have changed a great deal. So many people are out of work. Emil has had no extra business all year, so we are dependent on our rental income. I am very thankful that we saved our money when we made good money. I know so many people who lived off their entire income and now feel the depression very heavily. Claire starts her vacation Friday, she is looking forward to a good time with Harvey. He is taking a 12 weeks summer course in Midland and wants Claire there for one month. She will live in Dr. Martin's home but will have her meals and recreation with Harvey. He preached in our church the last two Sundays and did remarkably well. Dr. Band is in Portland and paid Harvey to fill his pulpit. Ruth is rather lonesome, she enjoyed her year at K.U. so much. I guess she will go again next year. Carl is home again, just got back from a 10 day trip to Oklahoma City. I often think about Louis. Have Will and Carl heard from him? I am truly sorry the way things stand with him but I know what it would mean to us had we listened to his plea.

I am piecing a flower garden quilt. I love it. I like to talk quilts to people who like that kind of work, And now I must close and would like to hear from or better yet to see you after the heat is over. Claire and Harvey will be here after the 10th of Aug. Come down sometime when they are here.

With love

Reaka.¹³
     Photo of Frieda Mohr, Flora, John, and Will Altenbernd in 1933 in Colorado, USA. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo of Christian and Frieda Mohr, Will, John, and Flora Altenbernd, Waldemar Mohr in 1933 in Colorado, USA. Original photo in the possession of Sue Myers (#130).
     Photo.
     Photo late 1930's in Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA.
     William John Altenbernd was listed as the head of household on the 1940 US Federal Census of Eudora Township, Douglas County, Kansas, enumerated 13 May 1940. Also living in the household were his wife, Flora , and his son, John Stoerker. His age at his last birth date was listed as 54. He was born in Kansas. He was married. He owned his home. The value of the property was $3500. He did live on a farm. He had not attended school since March 1, 1940. His highest grade completed was 8th.¹⁴ His address on April 1, 1935 was Eudora Township, Kansas. It did a farm.¹⁴ He worked 40 hours the week of March 25 to March 30, 1940. His occupation is farmer . He worked in the farming industry. He worked 52 weeks in 1939. His salary was $0 . He did have other sources of income. He also appears on farm schedule 148.¹⁴
     William died on 24 May 1941 in Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA, at age 55.⁹ He was buried on 27 May 1941 in the Eudora City Cemetery located in Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas, USA. His grave is in section E lot 478.^15,9,16
     William John Altenbernd was mentioned in a lettter sent by residing at House of Representatives, Washington DC, USA, to Flora Altenbernd,residing at Rural Route #2, Lawrence, Kansas on 28 May 1941. Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
May 28, 1941

Mrs. William Altenbernd
Rural Route #2
Lawerence, Kansas

My dear Mrs. Altenbernd,

I was sorry to read in the Lawrence Journal World of the death of your good husband, and I want to extend to you and to the members of your family, my sincere and heartfeld condolences in this time of sorrow. Mr. Altenbernd was a fine mand and his early passing is a real loss to the community and to his many friends,

Mrs Guyer wishes to join me in this expression of profound sympathy and extends condolences in your bereavement.

Sincerely yours,

U.S. Guyer.¹⁷