I discovered that, among the 1700+ posts that have been published on this blog, a title has shown up a few other times. There are already two other posts titled, Martin and Martha, and another one titled, Martha and Martin. So, when I found another husband and wife who were named Martin and Martha today, I figured I at least had to change the title somewhat.

We begin by looking at today’s birthday girl, Martha Maria Walther, who was born on July 26, 1879. She was the daughter of Frank and Maria (Weseloh) Walther and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Martha’s baptism record is shown below.

The 1880 census for the Brazeau Township in Perry County shows Martha’s family. She was not even one year old yet.

Because we cannot view the 1890 census, the next one in which we find Martha was the one taken in 1900. She was no longer living with her parents. She was living with another family in St. Louis and working as a servant. She was probably helping to care for 3 children in that family who were 4 years old and younger.

Martha’s husband would be a man by the name of Martin Immanuel Kranawetter, who was born on July 21, 1872. That means Martha and Martin would have birthdays just 5 days apart. Martin’s parents were Joseph and Ernestine (Ruehling) Kranawetter. He was the firstborn child in his family. Martin was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. His baptism record from that congregation’s books is displayed here.

The Kranawetter family is found living in the Shawnee Township of Cape Girardeau County when the 1880 census was taken. Martin was 7 years old, and his father was a farmer.

Next, we find Martin in the 1900 census as a 27 year-old farm laborer.

On January 4, 1903, Martin Kranawetter married Martha Walther at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. The church record for this marriage is shown here.

The marriage license for this couple can also be displayed.

The Kranawetter Family Binder that we have in our research library contains the wedding photograph of Martin and Martha. Martha was one of those brides who wore a dark wedding dress with a white veil that was popular in those days.

Our German Family Tree lists 4 children born to this pair. All of them were baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. The first census in which we find Martin and Marha as a couple was the one taken in 1910. They had 3 children by then.

Next, we find the Kranawetter’s in the 1920 census. All 4 of their children are found in this entry. Right above Martin and Martha’s family you will see the Adolph Kranawetter household. Adolph was one of Martin’s younger brothers.

The last census in which we find Martin Kranawetter was the one taken in 1930.

In a set of plat maps produced in 1930, we find a parcel of land in the name of M. Kranawetter. Right next door is the farm of Ernst Walther, who was Martha’s brother.

Another photograph found in the Kranawetter binder is this one that shows Martin on the left along with some of his siblings.

Another photo in that binder is this one showing Martin, Martha, and all 4 of their children.

Martin Kranawetter died in 1939 at the age of 67. His death certificate is shown below.

Martha Kranawetter is found in the 1940 census living with her son, Arnold.

Martha Kranawetter died in 1965 at the age of 85. We can also view her death certificate.

Martin and Martha Kranawetter are each buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Pocahontas.

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I suppose it is not so surprising that I have written about several couples now that were made up of a groom by the name of Martin and a bride with the name of Martha. Those two first names were quite common around here. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is not the last story you read on this blog about a Martin and Martha.