Dienstbier, Johann

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1845, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA
• Military Service: Between 1861 and 1865, Missouri, USA
• Occupation: Between 1865 and 1910, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; druggist and physician
• Census: 1880, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Notes:

Birth:
Johann's obituary notices in local newspapers state that he was born in 1838 and died at an age of over 77 years. His death certificate confirms this age, but records the year of birth as 1848, which is mathematically inconsistent when measured against the date of death. In light of the other details of Johann's birth provided in the obituaries, I have accepted 1838 as the correct year of birth, but this should be confirmed by further research.
     At some time early in his life, at least as early as his enlistment in the military during the Civil War, Johann Dienstbier had become known as John Dinsbeer. He used this form for the rest of his days. Some, but not all, members of his birth family appear to have also adopted this transformation.

Immigration:
Johann's obituary states that he emigrated to St. Louis in 1845 with his father. This date is also recorded in the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses. The obituary for his sister, Margaretha (Dinsbeer) Etling reports that she emigrated at the same time with her parents.

Military Service:
According to his obituary, Johann was among the first to enter military service after President Lincoln's call for volunteers. He served for three months with Company A, Rifle Battalion, attached to Frank Blair's regiment. He then served as a Private in Company B, General Fremont's Body Guard, Missouri Cavalry and participated in "the famous cavalry charge at Springfield, Mo., September 25, 1861." When the Body Guard was disbanded in November 1861, John served in Company C, First Regiment, Missouri State Militia Infantry and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He served with this regiment until the end of the war.

Census:
According to the 1880 U.S. enumeration, the household at 415 North T Street consisted of two roomers: J. Dinsbeer, a 40 year old, single, physician; and, Cecelia Lowrey, a 17 year old, single, telegraph operator. The census enumerator identified the houses on either side of this one as brothels.

Buried:
According to published obituaries, in anticipation of his death, John wrote his own obituary, issued detailed written instructions concerning his funeral service, and selected his casket. John was buried on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. with full military honors at the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks (section 29, grave 12466). Frank P. Blair Post No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic was in charge. As the newspaper notice stated: "There are to be no religious services other than those conducted by the G. A. R."

Died:
The following notice appeared in a St. Louis newspaper after John's death:

          Veteran, 77, Died After Planning Own Funeral

          Dr. John Dinsbeer Served
          Under Gen. Fremont In
          Civil War -- Burial Will
          Be in National Cemetery.

     Dr. John Dinsbeer, 77 years old, civil war veteran and for many years a practicing physician, died yesterday morning at his home, 3640 Wyoming street, after an illness of eight months. Before his death he wrote his own obituary, selected his casket and arranged for his funeral, which will be at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
     Dr Dinsbeer's body will be buried in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks with full military honors. The services will be in charge of Frank P. Blair Post No. 1, G.A.R.
     His obituary gives his birthplace in Muehlhousen, Bavaria, March 7, 1838. He came to St. Louis with his father in 1845. At the outbreak of the war he answered President Lincoln's call for volunteers and was among the first soldiers to go to Southeast Missouri.

          Served Under Fremont.

     He belonged to Company A, Rifle Battalion, attached to Frank Blair's regiment, and served for three months, then enlisting in Gen. Fremont's bodyguard and going to the Southwest with Gen. Fremont's army. He took part in the famous cavalry charge at Springfield, Mo., September 25, 1861, when 180 of Fremont's bodyguard defeated 2000 Confederates.
     When Gen. Fremont was superseded by Gen. Hunter and the bodyguard was mustered out of service, Dinsbeer joined Company C, First Infantry, Missouri State Militia, and was commissioned second lieutenant. he served with his regiment until the end of the war.

          Retired From Practice in 1906.

     At the close of the war he entered the practice of medicine and followed his profession until 1906, when he retired.
     During his last illness Dr. Dinsbeer summoned an undertaker and selected his casket and gave detailed directions for his funeral which will be carried out. There are to be no religious services other than those conducted by the G.A.R.
     Dr. Dinsbeer is survived by his widow, two sons and two daughters.

     An obituary from an undated and unidentified German language newspaper reported much the same information:

          Begräbnis eines Veteranen
          Dr. Dinsbeer wird heute mit militärischen Ehren bestattet werden.

     Dr. John Dinsbeer, der am Freitag in seiner Wohnung, No. 3640 Wyoming Straße, gestorben ist, wird heute Nachmittag auf dem National Friedhofe in den Jefferson Barracks mit militärischen Ehren beerdigt werden. Dr. Dinsbeer, ein Veteran des Bürgerkrieges, hat diesen Wunsch ausgesprochen, wie er auch sämtliche Arrangements für sein Begräbnis vor seinem Tod schrifltlich niedergelegt hat. Der Frank P. Blair Post, G.A.R, wird die Leitung der Feier übernehmen. Dr. Dinsbeer, der 77 Jahre alt geworden ist, wurde in Bayern geboren, kam jedoch schon im Jahre 1845 nach St. Louis. Im Verlaufe des Bürgerkrieges wurde er zum Second Leutnant ernannt. Nach dem Kriege ließ er sich in St. Louis als Arzt nieder und er übte seine Praxis mit Umsicht und Pflichttreue aus, bis er sich im Jahre 1906 zur Ruhe setzte. Dr. Dinsbeer wird von seiner Witwe, zwei Söhnen und zwei Töchtern überlebt.

     Translated into English:

          Funeral for a Veteran
          Dr. Dinsbeer Will be Buried Today with Military Honors

     Dr. John Dinsbeer, who died on Friday at his home, No. 3840 Wyoming Street, will be buried with military honors this afternoon in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Dr. Dinsbeer, a veteran of the Civil War, had expressed this wish as he prepared written arrangements for his funeral before his death. Frank P. Blair Post, G.A.R will be in charge of the services. Dr. Dinsbeer, who was 77 years old, was born in Bavaria, and came to St. Louis in 1845. In the course of the Civil War, he reached the rank of Second Lieutenant. After the war, he established himself as a doctor in St. Louis exercised his profession with circumspection and loyalty, until his retirement in 1906. Dr. Dinsbeer is survived by his widow, two sons and two daughters.

     John's death certificate records the primary cause of death as an aortic aneurysm (abdominal), with senility as a secondary cause.

Johann married [---?---], Charlotte Abt 1858. Charlotte was born Abt 1842–1843, Missouri, USA; died 21 Nov 1909, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
By the time of the 1880 U.S. census, Johann and Charlotte were divorced and living in separate households. The exact date of the end of their marriage is not known at this time.

Census (family):
According to the 1870 U.S. enumeration, the Dimbear [sic] household in Ward 9 consisted of John Dimbear, a 32 year old druggist, Charlotte Dimbear, age 29, keeping house, and five children: Kate (age 10); Lilly (age 7); John (age 5); Charles (age 3); and Rosa (age 5 months).

1. Dienstbier, Katherine was born Abt 1859–1860, Missouri, USA; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Dienstbier, Lilly was born Abt 1863, Missouri, USA; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Dienstbier, John was born Abt 1864–1865, Missouri, USA; died Yes, date unknown.
4. Dienstbier, Charles was born Abt 1867, Missouri, USA; died Yes, date unknown.
5. Dienstbier, Rosa was born Dec 1869, Missouri, USA; died Yes, date unknown.
6. Dienstbier, William was born Abt 1874, Missouri, USA; died Yes, date unknown.

Johann married Lowry, Mary Aft 1880. Mary (daughter of Lowry, John and Conley, Bridget) was born 1847, Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, USA; died 30 Jun 1894, Manhattan, New York County, New York, USA; was buried , Niles, Trumbull County, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
The exact date and the place of the marriage is not known at this time.
     In the light of Johann's third marriage in February 1892 and Mary's death in June 1894, it would appear that Johann and Mary's marriage ended in divorce, but details of this event are not known at this time.

Johann married Lybarger, Esther Bell 3 Feb 1892, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Esther (daughter of Lybarger, Edmund Samuel and Richardson, Helen) was born 2 Feb 1863, Chester, Randolph County, Illinois, USA; died 6 Apr 1943, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
According to her death certificate, Esther Dinsbeer [sic] was a widow of "Dr. John Dinsbeer."

Census (family):
According to the 1900 U.S. enumeration, the household at 814 Pine Street consisted of John Dinsbeer, a 62 year old physician and his wife, Esther Dinsbeer, age 38. They had been married for 8 years; Esther was not the mother of any children. Also living in the household was Alice R? Martin, a 25 year old, single, woman, working as a servant.

Census (family):
According to the 1910 U.S. enumeration, the household at 3640 Wyoming Street consisted of John Dinsbeer, a 73 year old physician and his wife, Esther Dinsbeer, age 47. This marriage was recorded as John's third and Esther's first; they had been married for 18 years. Esther was identified as the mother of six children, four of whom were still living.
     This number of children attributed to John and Esther's marriage seems to be in error. In the 1910 U.S. census, eight years into their marriage, they were living in a household without any children and Esther was identified in that enumeration as the mother of zero children. The six children referred to in the 1910 census may refer to the children born to John in his first marriage.

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1845, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA

Notes:

Immigration:
According to the obituaries of his son, John, and his daughter, Margaretha (Dinsbeer) Etling, this Mr. Dinsbeer emigrated from Germany in 1845 with his wife and at least John and Margaretha.

Heinrich married [---?---], [--?--]. [--?--] died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1845, USA

Notes:

Married:
In his will, Henry Dienstbier names as his heirs two children from the first marriage and three children from his third marriage. The second marriage is implied; no offspring, if there were any, are mentioned as heirs. The name of Henry's first wife is not known at this time.