You will be reading another one of those stories that tells of a couple who were each born, baptized, confirmed, married, raised a family, died, and were buried at the same congregation. It all begins with the birth of a boy on November 6, 1887 by the name of Ernst Rudolf Miesner. His parents were Casper and Margaretha (Ehlers) Miesner. Here are photos of Claus and Margaretha.

Ernst was the 8th of 9 children born to these parents, and the last one died right away, so Ernst ended up being the baby of the family. Ernst’s baptism record can be found in the books of Salem Lutheran Church in Farrrar and is shown here.

Ernst was born during the years when Perry County kept birth records, so we can view his. I have to display it in two images.

We cannot view a census including Ernst until 1900 when he was 12 years old. His father was a farmer.

Next, we find Ernst in the 1910 census at the age of 22. He was working on his father’s farm.

The photo shown below is said to have been taken in 1912.

Now, we need to turn our attention to Ernst’s bride. Her name was Clara Anna Bertha Lohmann who was born on May 22, 1896. Her parents were Henry and Christine (Steffens) Lohmann. Here is a photo of Anna’s parents.

Anna was child #7 our of 8 in this Lohmann family. Like her future husband, Anna was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar. Her baptism record is pictured below.

Anna is found in the 1900 census at the age of 4. Her father was a farmer.

Next, Anna is found in the 1910 census in the same location. She was 13 years old according to this entry.

It must have been about this time when Anna had her confirmation photograph taken.

That leads us up to the marriage of Ernst Miesner and Anna Lohmann which occurred on April 14, 1914. This event took place at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar. The church record for this wedding is shown here.

The marriage license for this pair can also be viewed.

Our German Family Tree lists 7 children born to Ernst and Anna. All of them were baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar. In 1917, an article published in the Perry County Republican says that his father sold him his farm.

That explains the fact that when the 1915 plat maps were produced for Perry County, we find a property owned by Claus Miesner, but not Ernst.

I assume that Claus must have moved to Jacob, Illinois at about this time. His second wife died in 1918 and was buried in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Jacob. It was also about this time that Ernst had his World War I draft registration form completed.

When the 1920 census was taken, we find the Miesner family with 4 children. Ernst was a farmer.

Next, we find the Miesner’s in the 1930 census. In this entry, we see all 7 children.

As always (at least until the 1950 census is released to the public soon) the last census we can view is the one taken in 1940.

In 1942, Ernst was required to have a World War II draft card completed.

Later in their lives, Ernst and Anna had this photo taken.

If the date on the above photo is correct, Ernst died during that same year. His death certificate says he was 61 years old at the time of his death.

Anna Miesner would not die until 1974 at the age of 78. She died too recently to view her death certificate. Both Ernst and Anna Miesner are buried in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Farrar.

• 

• 

So, when Anna and Ernst were born, they were in Farrar for keeps.