I have seen several cases of a married couples being made up of a man and a woman who share the same surname. I have written quite a few blog posts that include such pairs. Today’s tale goes one step farther. You will read a story in which a Bergmann marries a Bergmann, plus the groom’s parents were made up of a marriage between a Bergmann and another Bergmann. That’s a new one for me. I haven’t seen that before.

We will start with the bride in today’s couple, who also happens to be today’s birthday girl. She also happens to be the one for whom we find less information. Anna Margaret Bergmann was born on November 20, 1836 in Kasendorf, Bavaria, Germany. If you scan through family histories on Ancestry.com, the names for Anna’s parents that show up most frequently are Joseph Friedrich and Anna Marie (Mosapp) Bergmann. Our German Family Tree does not indicate the names of her parents. One document in GFT states Anna came to America in 1854, and another says she came in 1857. Since she was married in 1858, we do not find her in an American census until she has a husband.

Anna’s husband would be another Bergmann. His name was Ferdinand Ernst Bergmann. He was born on September 6, 1832, the son of two Bergmann’s, George Ernst and Kunigunde Margaretha (Bergmann) Bergmann. Ferdinand’s father is often called “Creek George” Bergmann to distinguish him from another George Bergmann who was called “Siding George”. Our German Family Tree says Ferdinand was born in Feulersdorf, Bavaria, Germany. A later census record indicates that Ferdinand’s Bergmann family arrived in America in 1839. Ferdinand can be found in the 1850 census at the age of 18.

Ferdinand Ernst Bergmann married Anna Margaret Bergmann on September 21, 1858. Below is a civil marriage record for that event. They were married by Rev. Charles Theodore Gruber at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg.

Our GFT says that this couple had 7 children. We find this Bergmann couple in the 1860 census with one very young child. Sadly, that child would die the next year in 1861.

When the Civil War broke out, Ferdinand served in the military with the Union forces. He served as part of the 64th Regiment of the Enrolled Missouri Militia. After the war, we find this Bergmann household in the 1870 census. Four more children had been born into this family. Ferdinand was a farmer.

Next, we find Ferdinand and Anna in the 1880 census. This entry shows 6 children and a pair of boarders, one of which was a midwife.

We have to wait until 1900 to see the next census including this couple.

Next, we find the Bergman household in 1910. This entry shows Ferdinand and Anna in a separate household from their son’s household. His name was Albert Bergmann.

Just a quick side note. Their son, Albert Bergmann, married Louise Strueve who was another member of the Strueve family that originated around Friedheim. That surname was discussed a few days ago in the post, Stueve or Struve or Streuve?

When the 1915 plat maps were produced, we find several Bergmann properties not far from Perryville, including a small one attributed to F.E. Bergmann. They are found in the red oval in this image.

The last census in which we find this pair was the one taken in 1920. Once again, you see the Albert Bergmann household nearby.

Ferdinand and Anna were captured in the photo below taken sometime during their later years. I love Anna’s smile and the way she has her hands folded in front of her.

Ferdinand Bergmann died in 1924 at the age of 92. Here is his death certificate. This is yet another document that states that his parents were both Bergmann’s.

A transcription of Ferdinand’s obituary can be found on Findagrave.com. Because of its length, I have to display it in two images.

After Ferdinand’s death, an application for a military headstone was completed for him. It states that Ferdinand’s rank was Sergeant.

Anna Bergmann died in 1927 at the age of 90. Her death certificate makes it look like Anna’s parents were also both Bergmann’s, but that is not supported by family histories on Ancestry. I also take issue with the fact that her parents being given the names George and Louise.

Ferdinand and Anna Bergmann are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville. Ferdinand’s military record is included on this gravestone.

This tale certainly has its share of Bergmann’s. One advantage of this fact is that all of the images I needed for this post could be placed in the file folder that we have labeled as “Bergmann”. I usually have to file these images in at least two different folders. I don’t think this will be the last post I write involving a husband and wife having the same surname, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is the last one in which I find another such couple in the previous generation like I did in this family.