George Wm. Juenger, son of George and Elizabeth Juenger, of Carmi

George William Juenger was known to our family as "Uncle Bill" and to Carmi friends as "George.  He was born December 23, 1908 in White County, son of George and Elizabeth (Renschler) Juenger.  He followed in the Juenger family tradition of farming and his farm was near Crossville, IL where he resided with his wife, Wanda (Armstrong), and daughter, Linda, until he retired and moved to Carmi. He visited his farm daily and at 84 he met his demise there, when he was caught between two grain wagons on September 23, 1992. He is buried at Stokes-Campbell Cemetery.  His wife, Wanda, born August 19, 1911 and died March 23, 1998.  Daughter, Linda Raney, grandson, Dale Raney, and grandchildren reside in Carmi.

Uncle Bill was very respectful of family history.  He took family drives to show us Barth Cemetery where his parents, George and Elizabeth (Renschler) Juenger, grandmother, Maria (Stehl) Juenger Lough, great-grandparents Renschler and Graulich are buried.  Having never known grandparents, we gained a respect for our family.  Uncle Bill began and continued to hold the Mt. Vernon version of the Juenger Reunion.  Uncle Bill attended the Washington County Juenger Reunion that had been going on for years, but he wanted to honor his grandmother who had come to the Carmi with his father and his brother, Conrad Juenger, in the 1890's.  Three other brothers also came but returned to the Darmstadt area. 

Uncle Bill passed on the information of his great-grandparents, Heinrich and Susanna (Koehler) coming from Deitzenbach, Germany and arriving in New Orleans in 1846.  George's grandfather, George III, age three, and his sister, age eight, moved up the Mississippi River to Mud Creek to be pioneers on the Illinois prairie.

Juenger Tombstones at Barth Cemetery

The tombstones of George and Elizabeth (Renschler) Juenger family members who were deceased from 1902 - 1940 and are buried at St. John's UCC Cemetery called Barth Cemetery by family members.  The cemetery has a German heritage with many families originating from Baden, Germany. Located in Burnt Prairie Township, the cemetery is about five miles from Carmi, IL.

Infant son, Norman Edgar Juenger, was born and died February 1, 1920 and is buried in McIntosh Cemetery in Beaver Creek Township in Hamilton County, IL where the family had resided in ther 1910's.

Tombstone of Maria (Stehl) Juenger Lough in Barth Cemetery.

Maria is buried near her son, George Juenger, and his family.  Maria came to the Carmi, IL area after 1890 with five of her youngest children. Sons, Conrad and George Juenger, stayed in the Carmi area and were farmers.  Maria married Nicolas Lough.

The name "Mitchel" should be Michael, the five year old son of George III known as Old Buck or Old Hickory and Maria Juenger. Nettie (married Paul Metelman), Mary (married Fred Bollmeier,Sr.), George (married Elizabeth Renschler), Conrad (married Effie Fulkerson), Louis (married Hannah Erb), and Michael (married Kate Bollmeier). Catherine (married Otto Blum) and Henry (married Catherine Erb) are not listed on the tombstone.

George III Juenger is buried at Biddleborn Cemetery near Darmstadt, IL  His children, Nettie Metelman and Louis Juenger are also buried at Biddleborn.

Juenger Tombstones at Barth Cemetery 1902-1940

George and Elizabeth Juenger are buried at St. John's Cemetery, commonly called Barth Cemetery.  Nearby are tombstones of John Juneger who died at 6 months old, daughters, Nellie and Effie who died of typhoid fever in 1914, seventeen year old daughter, Carrie.

The church and cemetery were begun by families who originated from Baden, Germany.

Photo of George and Elizabeth Juenger after their daughter, Carrie's funeral in 1935

This photo allows us to see our grandparents' faces. This was a very sad day when their beautiful 17 year old died of a ruptured appendix. These are our grandparents who had passed before we were born.  Grandma later died of a "broken heart" in 1936 and Grandpa died in 1940.

Visit to St. John's Cemetery near Carmi

While the cousins were together this week, we visited St. John's UCC Cemetery, sometimes called Barth Cemetery, near Carmi, IL. 
Buried here are:
George and Elizabeth (Renschler) Juenger along with oldest son, John, who died infancy, daughters, Nellie and Effie who died of typhoid fever in 1914, and seventeen year old Carrie who died of a ruptured appendix.
          George Juenger 1873-1940 and Elizabeth Juenger 1877-1936
          John Juenger, son of G and L Juenger, born May 9, 1902, died October 25, 1902, age 6 months, 16 days.
          Nellie Juenger 1905-1914 and Effie Juenger 1913-1914
          Carrie Edna Juenger June 20. 1918- October 20, 1935

Also close by is George's mother, Maria Stehl Juenger Lough, who was married to George Juenger, "Old Hickory" before she divorced him in 1890 in Nashville, IL.  She moved to Carmi area with five of her young children, including my grandfather, George, and married Nicholas Lough.  Her tombstone has her youngest child as Mitchell but should read "Michael". Not mentioned are Henry and Catharine.

On tombstone:  Mary, wife of Nicolas Lough
                          Born December 17, 1847
                          Died December 11, 1906
                               AT REST
                          Mother of Nettie, Mary, George,
                         Conrad, Louis, and Mitchell Juenger

Visit with Aunt Lil and Schmidt cousins Edna and Norma

My sisters and brother visited our cousins Edna and Norma and his wife, Sue, at Edna's Living Legacy Homestead Monday and Tuesday.  Our 98 year old Aunt Lil was also with us.  We spent a lot of time talking and sharing family history.  What a wonderful experience and we will do it again next year perhaps.  Thanks to Edna for being such a generous hostess.