| Notes |
- Birth date has sometimes been listed as 1859 rather than 1860, this is probably because his parents said they were married in 1858 but the marriage license is clearly for 1859.
Death Cert. says he died in the General Hospital in MO. Had been residing at 811 West 18th Street in St. Louis. Male, White, married, wife Jennie F. Sonnenberg, Peter was born: April 24,, 1859 in Illinois, age at death 78 years 3 months and 9 days., Railroad worker. Born: Joliet, IL., son of Martin Sonnenberg born in Germany, and Katie Smith born Germany, informant: Mrs. Jennie Sonnenberg of 811 W. 18th. Street.. Burial: Place: Clay Center, Ks. date Aug. 4, 1938. Undertaker: D.W. Newcomers, Address: City.
Died: Aug. 3, 1938 at 10:00 A.M., Chronic Adhesive Pericarditis, Dilation of heart Rt., Pulmonary edema: Cerrhosis of Liver. There was an Autopsy.
Dr. P.F. DeMaria, at the General Hospital. ( Registar of Vital Statistics Clifford A. Dennis Feb. 8, 2001)
Kansas City Star Obit:
Peter Sonnenberg. Mr. Sonnenberg, 811 West 18th Street, passed away Aug 3, 1938, aged 79 years. Services and internment Clay Center, KS. Rosary 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel on Paseo on Brush Creek Blvd. D.W. Newcomer's Sons.
1900 Census, Wakefield, Clay County, KS:
Peter Sonnenberg, 39 years old, born in April 1861 in IL, Father born Ger, Mother born Ger, Farmer
Jennie, 26 years old, Born in KS, Father born in MO, Mother born in Iowa
Martin, son, born in Feb in KS
1920 Census, Kansas City, MO, Jackson County:
Peter Sonnenberg, 63 years old, born IL, Laborer, Father born Poland, Mother born Germany
Jennie F., age unclear, Born Ks
Martin, 19 years old, born KS
1930 Census, Kansas City, MO, Jackson County:
Peter Sonnenberg, 70 years old, born IL, Father born Poland, Mother born Germany, unemployed
Jennie F, 58 years old, born KS, Landlady for apartment
Age at lst marriage: 28 and 16
According to his granddaughter, Shirley Sonnenberg Miller, when Peter died he had to be carried down the stairs from the second floor on a kitchen chair because the stairs were too curved to carry him down on a long board. He played the violin and it is still in the possession of his granddaughter. Mrs. Miller also pointed out that Peter had been blinded when about 55 years old in an accident which also caused partial deafness. He and his wife Jennie were the managers for three apartment buildings and they also lived in one of them, his granddaughter (Shirley Sonnenberg) lived in the same building downstairs.
It should be pointed out that Peter married Jennie Florence Harrison who was the sister of Peter Benjamin Harrison. Peter Harrison married the neice of Peter Sonnenberg (Mary who was the daughter of George Sonnenberg, George was the brother of Peter Sonnenberg--both sons of Martin Sonnenberg.)
There has been some confusion over the place of birth of Peter, but according to his own statements in all census records,as well as his parents statements when he was a minor,church records, and Peter's death certificate, Peter was born in IL. It is clear that his parents were Martin Sonnenberg and Catharina Schmidt as stated on all records, and that they did not meet or marry in Germany but in IL after immigrating from Germany (Martin abt 1854 and Catharina in 1857) so Peter could not have been born in Germany. Catharine states in her widow's pension application that she did not meet Martin until he was 19 years old and already in this country. In addition, Peter is listed in the church records at St. Aloysious Church in Effingham County, IL as being the first born of Martin and Catharina and born in September, 1860 in IL. Peter is listed as the son of Catharina Schmidt Sonnenberg in her obit where he is listed as her surviving son in KS. Peter is named after Catharina's father, Peter Schmidt, and
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1860 - 1938 (78 years)