Theodore was born on September 30 1854 in Illinois, second child and son of William Wuthenow and Fanny Langer
Theodore Wuthenow
In the 1860 we find Theodore living with his father, a grocer, his mother and sisters in Danvers, McLean County, Illinois. We have picture of him again visiting Danvers in 1909, this time with his teenage children. It would seem that he had good memories of this time of his life. At some point in the late 1860's Fanny took her two daughters and left William, leaving Theodore with him.
Wuthenow Home
Danvers Illinois
Danvers Illinois
Antoinette Mohrstadt was born March 27, 1861, the first Child and only daughter of John C. and Justinea (Schroder) Mohrstadt. This was the beginning of the Civil War, her father was in the union army and was away through much of the war. However after
the wars conclusion, her father stayed in the military and the family moved to be with him at his assignment in Arkansas in 1865 and Tennessee in 1867. The family then returned to St. Louis by 1869 and were considered to be well off and educated. Antionettes father held a prominent job as the business manager of a major newspaper, the Anzeiger des Westens. Antionette was raised in a home on Caswell Street in St. Louis. We know that she went to school through the time that she was 19.
Antoinette Mohrstadt
In 1881 and 1882 Theodore is listed as clerking for the Adolph Moll Grocery at 612 Franklin Ave. There is some indication that Mr. Moll may be his uncle. It is in this store that he meets Antoinette Mohrstadt who will become his wife. The marriage takes place in May 5th, 1881 at her parents' home at 3301 Caswell Street. An item appeared in the social section of the May 6th 1881 St. Louis Post Dispatch about the wedding.
Antoinette Wuthenow and daughters
In 1884 Theodore opens his own grocery store at 908 Manchester Road, which is the corner of Papin. (Currently South Vandeventer and Papin). His store was in existence until 1913. There were living quarters in the rear and it is here that the couple first resided. An ad from November 20, 1889 St. Louis Post Dispatch finds a classified ad for a store for sale, it also say the owner is sick. However the store was never sold. Two major events happen in this time frame that may have affected the decision, the death of his father in December 1890 (William had lived in St. Louis since 1888) and the purchase of the residence at 4339 McRee Ave. It is here that they raise their family of which three girls and one boy survived into adulthood, Olga, Anna, Antoinette and Arthur. Additional children that died young were Clara, Delores, and Twins Edwin and Theodore and Viola who died at birth.
Wuthenow Home
In the summer of 1895 Theodore returned to Germany. We have records of his return through Ellis Island on September 9 1895. Interestingly, he lists his nationality as German. According to a family story Fanny, his mother, took her two daughters and either returned to Germany or went to California. This may well have been the trip where he was seeking her in the old country. The outcome is unknown although it was said that she did not want to stay in communication with him.
SS Amsterdam
In the society section of the August 16, 1903 St. Louis Post Dispatch we note there is a section on a party given by Miss Olga Wuthenow at his residence.
"Miss Olga Wuthenow of 4307 McRee Avenue entertained friends Tuesday in honor of Mesers. Arthur and Curtis Wuthenow who departed Friday for their home in Chicago. The evening was spent in dancing and games." It then gives a list of the people that attended. Arthur and Curtis are Theodore's younger half-brothers. This article indicates that he stayed in touch with that part of the family.
"Miss Olga Wuthenow of 4307 McRee Avenue entertained friends Tuesday in honor of Mesers. Arthur and Curtis Wuthenow who departed Friday for their home in Chicago. The evening was spent in dancing and games." It then gives a list of the people that attended. Arthur and Curtis are Theodore's younger half-brothers. This article indicates that he stayed in touch with that part of the family.
Theodore Wuthenow passes on December 18, 1913 of Nephritis Chronic, an inflammation of the tissues. His death certificate, as reported by his wife Antoinette, noted that he was a retail grocer and had been retired approximately four years. It also noted that he was born in Illinois and gives the names of his parents as William Wuthenow and Fanny Langer, both of Germany.
The funeral was held Monday March 15 at 2 PM from the residence to New Pickers Cemetery. This was reported in the death notice in the St. Louis Globe on December 13, 1913.It notes that he was a member of Botanical Camp# 229 Woodman of the World, a Fraternal Insurance Society. His stone was a Woodsman of the World stone. The paper also asks that Chicago, Seattle and New York paper copy. This would indicate that he was still in communication with his younger half brothers. He was buried in New Pickers Cemetery, currently call Gatewood Gardens, off Gravois Ave in South St. Louis. Unfortunately in the 1990's this
cemetery went under new management that removed many of the burials and if his stone remains is unknown.
Wuthenow Memorials
Gatewood Gardens
Gatewood Gardens
Antoinette lived with her daughter Anna and her husband Daniel Brennan after the death of her husband. At the time of the 1920 cencus they are living at 5196 Kensington Avenue in St. Louis
Antoinette died on September 25, 1926 and the funeral was held at the Mullen Funeral Home. The minister from Cote Brilliant Presbyterian Church delivered the sermon. She was buried at New Picker Cemetery now called Gatesworth Garden and owned by the city. During the 1990 when a disreputable company was running the cemetery, many burials were disinterred to make room for new. Whether her stone is still there is not known at this time.
Antoinette Wuthenow Memorial
