Blessed with a Baby Boy!

April 7, 1932  Cold north wind.  We were blessed with a baby boy.  Dr. Botkin and Mrs. C. Dalke attended the birth.  The children went to Meade.

 Bonus post.  The Siemens rejoiced as their sixth child and fourth son was born.  At that time most children were born at home, including virtually all who lived in rural areas.  So the country doctor was on call day and night to respond when a woman went into labor (or any emergency).  A midwife always helped with the birth as well.  Often she had been trained by an older midwife, but she might also be just an experienced neighbor woman.  Mrs. Anna Dalke was Margaret’s sister and probably had some experience helping with births since she also delivered Anna in 1934.

Although Cornelius does not mention it, they named the baby Elmer Cornelius.  Elmer was the only Siemens child not to bear a traditional Mennonite name.  Since his older brother Henry had been named for Margaret’s father, this son should have been named Gerhard, for Cornelius’ father.  But Cornelius did not want any children named Gerhard because he had four brothers named Gerhard who had died in childhood.  So they picked Elmer for reasons unknown.  

Interestingly, Elmer had the childhood nickname of Peter, which was a traditional Mennonite name.  In school when the children put their initial on their pencil, Elmer wanted his marked with a “P” instead of an “E.”