Today, America remembers the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Meanwhile, back in Perry County, Leo Lintner’s family had probably made plans to celebrate his 60th birthday during that year. News of the attack on Pearl Harbor likely put a big damper on their plans, as well as Leo’s future December 7th birthdays.

Leon Ferdinand Lintner, often called Leo, was born on December 7, 1881, making today his 141st birthday. Leo was the son of John and Anna (Bergmann) Lintner. There were a dozen children born in this Lintner family, and Leo was the 9th child in the order of birth. He was likely baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. Since we cannot view the 1890 census, the first one in which we find Leo was the one taken in 1900. That entry would also be the only one in which we find Leo as a single man at the age of 18. He and a few other brothers were working on his father’s farm in the Central Township of Perry County.

Since he would get married before the next census was taken, we will take a look at the woman who would become his wife. Her name was Johanna Katherine Wagner, who often went by the name, Katie. That name even shows up on her gravestone. She was born on March 9, 1880, the daughter of John and Kunigunda (Fassold) Wagner. Katie was child #3 out of 5 children born to her parents. During her early life, we find evidence that her parents were members of Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, and Cross Lutheran Church near Longtown. Katie was the only child in this Wagner family to be baptized at Concordia, Frohna. An image of her baptism record is pictured here.

Katie was born early enough in 1880 to make it into the census taken during that year. She was just months old. This is the only entry in which we find her called Johanne. Her father was a blacksmith in the Central Township.

It would be 20 years later before we can view Katie in another census in 1900. Her father had died in 1887. Katie was not found living with her mother in 1900. She was in the household made up of Catherine and Eva Lang, two sisters who were operating a boarding house in St. Louis. Katie is listed as one of 3 cousins living in this household. Katie is called a dishwasher.

Leo Lintner married Katie Wagner on November 23, 1903 at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. The marriage license for this wedding is shown below.

Our German Family Tree lists 4 children born to this couple, 3 girls followed by 1 boy. We find the Lintner’s in the 1910 census with the 3 daughters. Leo was a farmer.

In 1918, Leo had a World War I draft registration completed. He had a Menfro address.

The 1920 census includes all 4 of the Lintner children.

Next, we find Leo and Katie in the 1930 census. Only their son, Harry, remained in their household.

Also in the 1930 census, we find 2 of the Lintner daughters, Lenita and Flora, living in Perryville where they were working for the shoe factory.

In the 1940 census, we find that Flora had returned to live with her parents.

In 1942, Leo was required to complete a World War II draft card.

The last census we can view that included Leo and Katie was the one taken in 1950. Flora and her husband, Fred Hoehn, who look like their surname is still Lintner, not Hoehn, were living in their household.

Katie Lintner died in 1957 at the age of 77. We can view her death certificate.

Leo Lintner died in 1969 at the age of 87. His death certificate says he died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. The cause of death was prostate cancer.

Leo and Katie are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

Today, we can remember Leo’s birthday, but more importantly, we should always remember that day of infamy, the day when our country was attacked and over 2000 American soldiers were killed, leading to our entrance into World War II.