31 May 2013

Rev. Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum

1852 — 1914

Biographical Material & Chronology

Rev. Andrew J. H. Bierbaum

(Minister of the Evangelical Church, Post-office, Holstein)

Rev. Mr. Bierbaum is a native of St. Charles county, born on his father's farm in that county, October 31, 1852.  His early youth was spent on the farm, assisting at such work as he could do and attending the neighborhood schools.  However, while he was yet a youth his parents removed to Warren county, where they made their permanent home.  In 1868 young Bierbaum entered the Central Wesleyan College, at Warrenton, where he took a two-years' course.  He then matriculated at the Missouri Seminary, where he studied for four years, and on the 5th of July, 1874, was regularly ordained a minister of the Evangelical Church of North America.  He shortly received a call from Wisconsin and went to that State, where he was engaged in the work of the ministry for five years.  While there, on the 15th of October, 1874, he was married to Miss Ernestine Fiebig, a daughter of August Fiebig, of Sheboygan county, that State.  Mr. Bierbaum returned to Warren county in 1879, and has since been occupied with the duties of the ministry in that county.  He is a man of fine scholarly attainments, thoroughly versed in theology, an able and eloquent preacher, and, above all, a profoundly earnest and zealous Christian minister.  Mr. and Mrs. Bierbaum have 5 children: Herman H., Daniel, Paul, Theodore and Emma.  Mr. B. was the sixth in the family of 10 children of H. H. and Wilhemina (Gosejacob) Bierbaum, both originally from Germany.

Source: History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren Counties, Missouri, Written and Compiled From the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources, Including a History Of Their Townships, Towns and Villages, Together With a Condensed History af Missouri; a Reliable and Detailed History of St. Charles, Montgomery and Warren Counties - Their Pioneer Record, Resources, Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens; General and Local Statistics of Great Value; Incidents and Reminiscences (St. Louis, Missouri: National Historical Company, 1885), pages 1,033-1,034.

A biographical sketch of Rev. Herman H. Bierbaum, published in 1907, included this brief chronology of the career of his father, Rev. A. J. H. Bierbaum.

Rev. H. H. Bierbaum, pastor of the Evangelical Trinity church of the town of Brookfield, comes of a family which has many representatives in the same work.  His father, Rev. A. J. H. Bierbaum, was born in Marthasville, Mo., Oct. 31, 1849, 1  and married Miss Ernestine Fiebig, who was born Feb. 5, 1853. 2   The former was ordained for the ministry in 1874, his first charge being at Prescott, Wis., where the subject of this sketch was born on Oct. 24, 1875.  His next charge was at Rhine, Sheboygan county, and he remained several years at each point.  He then returned to Warren county, Mo., taking a church at Holstein, where he remained for twelve years.  Later he spent two years in Denver, Col., then several years in Missouri, six years at Ada, Wis., several years in Iowa, and then came to Milwaukee, which is his present residence.  He has suffered from poor health which has necessitated considerable travel and some changes of residence.  There were eleven children in the family, of whom seven are living, 3  viz., Rev. H. H. Bierbaum, the subject of this sketch; Daniel, a minister, residing in Beecher, Ill., Paul, a minister, residing in Millville, Minn.; Theodore, a minister, residing in Old Ripley, Bond county, Ill.; Anna, unmarried, resides with her parents; Jonathan, now in college at Elmhurst, Ill., preparing for the ministry; and Emma, residing at home.

Source: Memoirs of Waukesha County from the Earliest Historical Times Down to the Present, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Towns, and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families in the County, Prepared from Data Obtained from Original Sources of Information, Theron W. Haight, editor (Madison, Wisconsin: Western Historical Association, 1907), pages 363-364.

Notes

  1. I think this date is clearly wrong in light of the published baptism register of the German evangelical church at Femme Osage, St. Charles County, Missouri (founded in 1833 as die deutsche evangelische Kirchengemeinde and known since 1957 as Femme Osage United Church of Christ), where the birth date was recorded as 31 October 1852 and baptism took place on 14 November 1852.

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  2. In various secondary sources and by calculation from data provided in census enumerations, etc., the year of birth could be 1853, 1854 or 1855. The year 1855 is the one used on the grave marker Ernestine and Andreas share in the Minier Cemetery at Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois.

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  3. The 1900 U. S. census also reported that only seven of the 11 children were still living.

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A Caution

Inspite of many similar details in the biographies, Rev. Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum should not be confused with Rev. Johann Hermann Heinrich Bierbaum (1841-1896), whose birth and baptism were also recorded in the register of the German evangelical church at Femme Osage, St. Charles County, Missouri. Both men were educated in Missouri and both were ordained in the German Evangelical church, serving churches in Wisconsin. Both of them also had a first marriage to a member of the Fiebig family of Wisconsin.

Prior to the marriages, it seems very likely that the two Bierbaum men were related to each other and also that the two Fiebig women were relatives. However, my research to date has not yet found the connection that will confirm these suspicions.

Chronology

31 October 1852
Birth of Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum, son of Hermann Heinrich and Catharine Wilhelmine "Josie" (Gosejacob) Bierbaum in St. Charles County, Missouri.
14 November 1852
The baptism of Andreas was recorded in the register of the German evangelical church at Femme Osage, Missouri (founded in 1833 as the Deutsche Evangelische Kirchegemeinde and known since 1957 as Femme Osage United Church of Christ).
1868-1870
Andreas studied for two years at Central Wesleyan College, at Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri.
1870-1874

Andreas studied at the seminary founded at Marthasville, Warren County, Missouri in 1850 as the Evangelisches Predigerseminar (Evangelical Preacher’s Seminary). It eventually became the present-day Eden Theological Seminary, at Webster Groves, Missouri.

According to the 1870 U. S. census of Charrette Township, Warren County, Missouri, "Andrew Bierbaum", age 17, was a college student living in a household with 38 other college students. No information is given about the educational institution, but it seems likely that this was the seminary at Marthasville.

5 July 1874
Andreas was ordained on 5 July 1874 in Die Deutsche Evangelische Synode des Westens (The German Evangelical Synod of the West).
18 October 1874
Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum and Ernestine Louise Fiebig, a daughter of August Fiebig, were married in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
24 October 1875
Herman H. Bierbaum, son of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born at Prescott, Pierce County, Wisconsin.
1877
Die Deutsche Evangelische Synode des Westens (The German Evangelical Synod of the West) became known as Die Deutsche Evangelische Synode von Nord-Amerika (German Evangelical Synod of North America).
4 January 1878
Daniel Bierbaum, son of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born in Wisconsin. The birth place may have been Rhine, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Rev. A. J. H. Bierbaum's second charge following his ordination.
1879-1886
Rev. Bierbaum served as pastor of the church at Holstein, Warren County, Missouri, during which a new parsonage and a new brick church were built. In 1884, the congregation changed its name to the deutsche evangelische Immanuels Kirche zu Holstein (German Evangelical Immanuels Church of Holstein).
31 October 1879
Paul August Bierbaum, son of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born in Warren County, Missouri. His baptism on 23 November 1879 was recorded in the archives of the German Evangelical Church on Charrette, at Holstein, Missouri (known since 1957 as Immanuels United Church of Christ).
1880
According to the 1880 U. S. cenus, the Bierbaum family was living in Charrette Township, Warren County, Missouri. The household consisted of Andre [sic] Bierbaum, head of household, age 28, born in Missouri, married, a preacher; Ernestine Bierbaum, wife, age 25, born in Wisconsin, keeping house; Herman Bierbaum, son, age 4, born in Wisconsin; Daniel Bierbaum, son, age 2, born in Wisconsin; and Paul Bierbaum, son, age 7 months, born in October 1879 in Missouri. Also living with the family was Conrad Koch, a 48 year old, single, teacher, born in Prussia; and Mary Wulferkammer [sic], an 18 year old servant.
31 December 1881
Theodor Friedrich Bierbaum, son of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born in Warren County, Missouri. His baptism on 29 January 1882 was recorded in the archives of the German Evangelical Church on Charrette, at Holstein, Missouri (known since 1957 as Immanuels United Church of Christ).
13 May 1884

Emma Josephine Bierbaum, daughter of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born at Holstein, Warren County, Missouri. According to records from the Missouri State Archives for this birth published online, Emma Josephine was the sixth child born to her mother, Ernestine Louise Bierbaum.

Her baptism on 2 June 1884 was recorded in the archives of the German Evangelical Immanuels Church of Holstein, at Holstein, Missouri (known since 1957 as Immanuels United Church of Christ). The sponsor was Josephine Bierbaum.

29 July 1886
Ernst Hermann Bierbaum, son of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born at Holstein, Warren County, Missouri. His baptism on 22 August 1886 was recorded in the archives of the German Evangelical Immanuels Church of Holstein, at Holstein, Missouri (known since 1957 as Immanuels United Church of Christ). The sponsor was Hermann Fiebig.
about 1887
According to the biographical sketch of his son, Rev. Herman H. Bierbaum, published in 1907, Rev. A. J. H. Bierbaum spent about 2 years in Denver, Colorado between his pastorates at Holstein, Missouri. This information is difficult to reconcile with the reported birth of his daughter, Anna, in Missouri in 1887.
March 1887
Anna Bierbaum, daughter of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born in Missouri. So far, the date and place of this birth has only been found in one federal census and one state census. It is possible the reported information was not completely accurate.
1888-1890
Rev. Bierbaum returned to serve the church at Holstein, Missouri.
11 July 1890
Jonathan Conrad Bierbaum, son of Andreas J. H. and Ernestine L. (Fiebig) Bierbaum, was born in Warren County, Missouri. His baptism on 10 August 1890 was recorded in the archives of the German Evangelical Immanuels Church of Holstein, at Holstein, Missouri (known since 1957 as Immanuels United Church of Christ). The sponsor was Conrad Koch.
1890-1897
Rev. Bierbaum was the pastor of Evangelische St. Johannis Gemeinde (St. John's Evangelical Church) at Herman, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
1895

According to the 1895 census by the state of Wisconsin, the Bierbaums were living at Herman, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. The household consisted of 3 white males and 3 white females; ages were not provided. Only the head of the household was named: A. J. H. Bierbaum.

According to the biographical sketch of his son, Rev. Herman H. Bierbaum, published in 1907, after his second time in Missouri, Rev. A. J. H. Bierbaum served for six years at Ada, Wisconsin. Ada is an unincorporated section of Herman, Wisconsin.

1900
According to the 1900 U. S. census, the Bierbaums were living in Lincoln Township, Worth County, Iowa. The household consisted of Andrew H. Bierbaum, a 40 year old clergyman, married for 25 years; Fiebig E. L. [sic] Bierbaum, a 45 year old mother of 11 children (7 of whom were still living); and their children, all attending school: Paul A. Bierbaum, born October 1879 in Missouri; Annie Bierbaum, born in March 1887 in Missouri; Jonathan C. Bierbaum, born in July 1890 in Missouri; and Emma L. Bierbaum, born in October 1895 in Wisconsin.
12 October 1902
Daniel Bierbaum and Bertha Maria Siemers were married in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
1905

A census by the state of Wisconsin shows the Bierbaum family living at Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The household consisted of Andrew J. Bierbaum, a 52 year old minister; his wife, Ernestina Bierbaum, age 50; and their children: Paul A. Bierbaum, age 24, a minister; Theodore F. Bierbaum, age 22, a minister; Anna Bierbaum, age 17; Jonathan R. [sic] Bierbaum, age 15, a student; and, Emma L. Bierbaum, age 10.

According to the biographical sketch of his son, Rev. Herman H. Bierbaum, published in 1907, after his second time in Missouri, Rev. A. J. H. Bierbaum was still a resident of Milwaukee at that time.

16 May 1913
Rev. Paul August Bierbaum died. He was buried in Minier Cemetery, Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois.
16 September 1914
Rev. Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum died. He was buried in Minier Cemetery, Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois.
30 Apr 1919
Jonathan Conrad Bierbaum and Marie Magdaline Hoflander were married in Cooper County, Missouri.
1930
According to the 1930 U. S. census, Ernestine Bierbaum was living in Widner Township, Knox County, Indiana. According to the enumeration, she was 75 year old widow living in the home of her son, Daniel Bierbaum, a 52 year old minister in the Evangelical Church and his wife, Bertha Bierbaum, also age 52. Also in the home were two of Daniel & Bertha's children: Milton Bierbaum, age 22, at school; and Erna Bierbaum, age 18, at school.
30 March 1937
Ernestine Louise (Fiebig) Bierbaum died at Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. She was buried in Minier Cemetery, Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois, next to her husband, Rev. Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum.
1943
Rev. Daniel Bierbaum died. He was buried in Minier Cemetery, Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois.
1953
Bertha Maria (Siemers) Bierbaum died. She was buried in Minier Cemetery, Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois, next to her husband, Rev. Daniel Bierbaum.
26 January 1977
Rev. Jonathan Conrad Bierbaum died.
6 November 1985
Marie Magdaline (Hoflander) Bierbaum died at Higginsville, Lafayette County, Missouri. She was buried in the cemetery of St. John's United Church of Christ (formerly Billingsville Evangelical Church) at Billingsville, Cooper County, Missouri.

Brief Genealogy

Andreas Johann Heinrich Bierbaum's family

His father's 1st marriage

His father's 2nd marriage

Ernestine Louise Fiebig's family

Details of the birth family of Ernestine Louise Fiebig (1854-1937) are not currently known.

Bierbaum - Fiebig family

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