Dora Theuerkauf
Born in 1862, her given name was Dorthea, and she was baptized in 1863 in Hannover Lutheran Church north of Cape Girardeau.
She was the 6th of 7 children.
Her father William was a farmer and baker. He operated the Theuerkauf Bakery on the southwest corner of Broadway and Sprigg. According to City Land Tax records, he owned 4 lots in 1872, 9 lots in the city in 1885. By 1890, the number had grown to 15. William died in 1889, and was buried in the old Lorimier Cemetary in Cape Girardeau. Dora's mother was Johanne Sophia Allers (1825-1869). William and Johanne were married 30 Nov 1851 in Cape Girardeau. Both were German immigrants.
It's not known when William began his bakery business, but according to Cape Girardeau County deed records, the bakery property was sold 14 Aug 1889 to Louis Miller just before he died 20 Sep 1889.
1880 Census: Living in Butler, MO Dora Theuerkauf is a member of the household of Arnold and Hermine Bremmerman at the time of the Census taking. Dora and Hermine are sisters.
Dora worked in St. Louis, living with her older brother Frederick (Fritz), who was a baker in St. Louis. Her younger sister Alvina also worked in St. Louis, also living with her brother at 1833 Garrison Ave. in St. Louis.
On 8 June 1892 Dora married Carl Kessler, who was from Peoria, Illinois. They were married in St. Marks Lutheran Church, the same church where Alvina married Edward F. Regenhardt 9 Sep 1891.
In the 1889-1890 St. Louis City Directory listing, Charles Kessler and Anthony Kessels operate a grocery at 1427 Benton Street. Charles lives next door at 1425 Benton.
In the 1891-1892 directory, Carl Kessler is working as a driver in St. Louis. Could he be a grocery driver for his uncle/father/brother/cousin, Charles Kessler?
The 1892 -1893 City Directory microfilm was missing when I was doing this research in May, 2003 at the St. Louis County Library.
In the 1893 - 94 directory, Henry Regenhardt (older brother of Edward) is listed as a grocer at 1427 Benton Street. There is no listing for Carl Kessler. I'm thinking that he and Dora moved to Peoria. There is no listing for Charles Kessler. Perhaps Henry has bought the grocery business from Charles Kessler and Anthony Kessels.
In the 1894 - 95 directory, Henry is again listed as a grocer at 1427 Benton Street. Then in the 1895 - 96 directory, Edward Regenhardt is listed as a grocer at 1427 Benton.
I have found out very little about Carl and Dora in Peoria.
Carl dies 25 Feb 1912 of uremic poisoning in Peoria He is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Bates County, Missouri.
In the 1920 Census, Dora, age 55, is a boarder in the home of John and Emma Walter in Peoria.
The 1920 Census lists Dora W. Kessler, a widow, living as a boarder at the home of John and Emma Walter at 200 Montana Street in Peoria. So, Carl has died before 1920. Carl died 25 Feb, 1912 per Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri records and tombstone.
She was the 6th of 7 children.
Her father William was a farmer and baker. He operated the Theuerkauf Bakery on the southwest corner of Broadway and Sprigg. According to City Land Tax records, he owned 4 lots in 1872, 9 lots in the city in 1885. By 1890, the number had grown to 15. William died in 1889, and was buried in the old Lorimier Cemetary in Cape Girardeau. Dora's mother was Johanne Sophia Allers (1825-1869). William and Johanne were married 30 Nov 1851 in Cape Girardeau. Both were German immigrants.
It's not known when William began his bakery business, but according to Cape Girardeau County deed records, the bakery property was sold 14 Aug 1889 to Louis Miller just before he died 20 Sep 1889.
1880 Census: Living in Butler, MO Dora Theuerkauf is a member of the household of Arnold and Hermine Bremmerman at the time of the Census taking. Dora and Hermine are sisters.
Dora worked in St. Louis, living with her older brother Frederick (Fritz), who was a baker in St. Louis. Her younger sister Alvina also worked in St. Louis, also living with her brother at 1833 Garrison Ave. in St. Louis.
On 8 June 1892 Dora married Carl Kessler, who was from Peoria, Illinois. They were married in St. Marks Lutheran Church, the same church where Alvina married Edward F. Regenhardt 9 Sep 1891.
In the 1889-1890 St. Louis City Directory listing, Charles Kessler and Anthony Kessels operate a grocery at 1427 Benton Street. Charles lives next door at 1425 Benton.
In the 1891-1892 directory, Carl Kessler is working as a driver in St. Louis. Could he be a grocery driver for his uncle/father/brother/cousin, Charles Kessler?
The 1892 -1893 City Directory microfilm was missing when I was doing this research in May, 2003 at the St. Louis County Library.
In the 1893 - 94 directory, Henry Regenhardt (older brother of Edward) is listed as a grocer at 1427 Benton Street. There is no listing for Carl Kessler. I'm thinking that he and Dora moved to Peoria. There is no listing for Charles Kessler. Perhaps Henry has bought the grocery business from Charles Kessler and Anthony Kessels.
In the 1894 - 95 directory, Henry is again listed as a grocer at 1427 Benton Street. Then in the 1895 - 96 directory, Edward Regenhardt is listed as a grocer at 1427 Benton.
I have found out very little about Carl and Dora in Peoria.
Carl dies 25 Feb 1912 of uremic poisoning in Peoria He is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Bates County, Missouri.
In the 1920 Census, Dora, age 55, is a boarder in the home of John and Emma Walter in Peoria.
The 1920 Census lists Dora W. Kessler, a widow, living as a boarder at the home of John and Emma Walter at 200 Montana Street in Peoria. So, Carl has died before 1920. Carl died 25 Feb, 1912 per Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri records and tombstone.
Dora Theuerkauf passed away 5 August 1928 at the home of her sister, Alvina Regenhardt, in Cape Girardeau. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, MO. Butler is in Bates County. Bates County is south of Kansas City on the Missouri-Kansas state line.
Dora's husband, Carl Kessler was also buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, as were her sister, Hermina and her husband, Arnold Bremmerman and their 1 year-old son Fritz.
Hold Funeral Tuesday for Mrs. Kessler
Succumbs at Sister’s Home in Cape.
Mrs. Dora Kessler, 64 years old died from cancer at 9 a. m. Sunday at
the home of her sister, Mrs. Edward Regenhardt. 301 North Boulevard. She had been ill for several months. She came here six weeks ago from Peoria, Ill., where she had been visiting relatives of her husband, Carl Kessler, who died in 1911.
Mrs. Kessler was widely-known in Cape Girardeau, having spent many years of her life here following the death of her husband. She was born
Oct. 4, 1863, in Cape Girardeau. She was married to Carl Kessler in 1892 in St. Louis, and they made their home for sometime at Peoria.
Mrs. Kessler was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Theuerkauf,
pioneer family of Cape Girardeau.
Theuerkauf conducted a bakery on the corner of Sprigg street and
Broadway. The family was one of the oldest in Cape Girardeau.
Member of Trinity
Mrs. Kessler was a member of Trinity Lutheran denomination and
was an ardent worker in the church. She is survived by her sister, Mrs.Regenhardt, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Mrs. J. W. Hamilton of Dupo, Ill., a niece, arrived Sunday and Edward
and William Regenhardt, nephews, drove to Cape Girardeau from near Chicago to attend the funeral. Another niece, Mrs. William Wickert of Peoria, Ill., is expected tonight.
Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning at Brinkopf Funeral Home. Rev. F. H. Melzer, pastor of Trinity Lutheran church, will have charge of the services. Following the services the body will be accompanied by relatives to Butler, Mo., where interment will be in the family cemetery. The body will lie in state at the funeral home until time for the services. Theodore Regenhardt, who also is engaged in highway construction work near Chicago, will meet the group at St. Louis and proceed with them to Butler.
4 Aug 1928 SE Missourian pg 13
Succumbs at Sister’s Home in Cape.
Mrs. Dora Kessler, 64 years old died from cancer at 9 a. m. Sunday at
the home of her sister, Mrs. Edward Regenhardt. 301 North Boulevard. She had been ill for several months. She came here six weeks ago from Peoria, Ill., where she had been visiting relatives of her husband, Carl Kessler, who died in 1911.
Mrs. Kessler was widely-known in Cape Girardeau, having spent many years of her life here following the death of her husband. She was born
Oct. 4, 1863, in Cape Girardeau. She was married to Carl Kessler in 1892 in St. Louis, and they made their home for sometime at Peoria.
Mrs. Kessler was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Theuerkauf,
pioneer family of Cape Girardeau.
Theuerkauf conducted a bakery on the corner of Sprigg street and
Broadway. The family was one of the oldest in Cape Girardeau.
Member of Trinity
Mrs. Kessler was a member of Trinity Lutheran denomination and
was an ardent worker in the church. She is survived by her sister, Mrs.Regenhardt, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Mrs. J. W. Hamilton of Dupo, Ill., a niece, arrived Sunday and Edward
and William Regenhardt, nephews, drove to Cape Girardeau from near Chicago to attend the funeral. Another niece, Mrs. William Wickert of Peoria, Ill., is expected tonight.
Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning at Brinkopf Funeral Home. Rev. F. H. Melzer, pastor of Trinity Lutheran church, will have charge of the services. Following the services the body will be accompanied by relatives to Butler, Mo., where interment will be in the family cemetery. The body will lie in state at the funeral home until time for the services. Theodore Regenhardt, who also is engaged in highway construction work near Chicago, will meet the group at St. Louis and proceed with them to Butler.
4 Aug 1928 SE Missourian pg 13