A young man named Ernst Rudert arrived in America as the Civil War was coming to an end in 1864. He was just a teenager and made the voyage by himself aboard the ship, America. The passenger list displayed here for that ship says Ernst was from Gefell.

I find it interesting that the person listed right below Ernst was a 69 year-old woman with the name Johanna Chr. Bergt. She was from Burgstadt, which is where the Frohna Bergt’s, who were part of the Gesellschaft, were from. There is no evidence of a woman by this name in our German Family Tree. I figure that the only record that would have shown up in our GFT would have been a death record, and she may have died during the time period of the Koestering Hole. Was she related to the other Bergt’s in East Perry County? This sounds like a question that could be answered by our friend in Germany, Tim Yamnitz, who is such an outstanding researcher.

Back to Ernst Rudert. Christof Erdmann Ernst Rudert was born on February 1, 1848, so if he was still alive today, he would be celebrating a special 175th birthday. Ernst was the son of Gustav and Sophia (Roth) Rudert, both of whom remained in Germany. If Ernst arrived in 1864, I should have been able to find him in the 1870 census, but I failed.

Ernst would get married in 1871, so we will take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Ernestine Sophia Schneider, who was born on January 13, 1850. Ernestine was the daughter of John and Sophia (Wachter) Schneider. She was also born in Germany and later came to this country. In her case, it wasn’t long after she was born that she made that voyage. Her parents brought her to the United States in 1853 when Ernestine was just 2 1/2 years old. They made the trip aboard the ship, Minerva.

We find Ernestine in the 1860 census when she was 10 years old. Her father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

Ten years later, we find Ernestine in the 1870 census at the age of 20. There is a puzzling item in this census. Carolina Schneider was born in 1858 and baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Why wasn’t she listed in the 1860 census? Did the census taker miss her?

Ernst Rudert married Ernestine Schneider on June 22, 1871 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. The roads are still icy, and I’m not ready to get out there on them yet, so I can only display what is found in our German Family Tree concerning this wedding.

[NewWellsMO]: Rudert Christof Erdm Ernst and Schneider Ernstine Karol Soph married on 22 Jun 1871

I am able to display a civil record of this marriage. Pastor Lehmann recorded several weddings at the same time that he conducted. The Rudert/Schneider wedding is the last one listed in the image below.

Our German Family Tree lists 8 children born to Ernst and Ernestine. All of them were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. Three children had been born before the 1880 census, but one of them died in infancy. The entry shown here is a combination of Rudert’s and Schneider’s. In addition to the 2 Rudert children, there is a Robert Rudert who was Ernst’s uncle. Robert is another person that is not found in our German Family Tree, so I do not know anything about him. Ernestine’s mother, Sophia Schneider is included in this household, along with two more of Sophia’s children. Apparently Ernestine’s father had died prior to 1880. Ernst is called a wagoner and a farmer in this entry.

The next census we can view is the one taken in 1900 after 20 years have gone by. Five children are in this Rudert family. Ernst was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township. Three of his sons were helping him on his farm.

Next, we find the Rudert’s in the 1910 census. It would be the last one in which we find Ernestine. Only their youngest daughter, Clara, was still living with Ernst and Ernestine.

Ernestine Rudert died in 1918 at the age of 67. Death certificates are great places to discover the names of a person’s parents. Ernestine’s parents are confirmed to be John and Sophia (Wachter) Schneider. Our German Family Tree does not include Ernestine as one of that couple’s children. I think Lynn Degenhardt is going to have to clean up part of the Schneider portion of our German Famiy Tree.

Ernst is found in the 1920 census as a widower. He was living in the Shawnee Township with his son, Gustav, who was a harness and shoe repairer. Ernst had no occupation.

Ernst Rudert died in 1928 at the age of 80. He died two days after his 80th birthday. This death certificate is also where we find out Ernst’s parents’ names, including his mother’s maiden name.

Both of the above death certificates indicate that Ernst and Ernestine Rudert were buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Shawneetown. Findagrave.com also includes an entry for each of these Rudert’s. However, only Ernst has a gravestone photo.

I am seeing the sun attempting to peek out of the clouds outside. Perhaps some melting of ice will take place today, and I will be able to make the trip to the museum to get photos of church records soon. I’m experiencing some symptoms of cabin fever.