Arthur Martin Gerler would be celebrating a special birthday today if he was still alive. Because he was born on July 15, 1898, today would have been his 125th birthday. Arthur was the son of Christian John Friedrich and Susanna (Vogel) Gerler. He was the 3rd of 9 children born to that couple. The first two Gerler children were baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. The next two, including Arthur, were baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Then the remaining children were baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. The chronicles of this Gerler family migrating across the Mississippi River and back were described in the post, Mayor of Birmingham. Arthur’s baptism record from the books of Christ, Jacob is displayed below. I have to display it in two images.

The Gerler family was still living in Illinois when the 1900 census was taken. Arthur was just one year old, and his father was a farmer in the Fountain Bluff Township.

Next, we find the Gerler household living in the Brazeau Township of Perry County again when the 1910 census was taken. That household had gotten considerably larger. Arthur was 11 years old at that time.

In 1913, Arthur was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. His confirmation record shown below mistakenly says that he was baptized in Altenburg, although his record is one of many on the same page that says Altenburg on the top of the page with ditto marks all the way down the column.

In 1918, Arthur had his World War I draft registration completed. It gives him an Altenburg address and says he was working on his father’s farm.

We find Arthur in the 1920 census at the age of 21. Again, it says he was working on his father’s farm.

Now, we will turn our attention to the woman who would become Arthur’s wife. Her name was Eleanor Zwosta, who was born on October 7, 1902. Eleanor was the daughter of Henry John and Julia (Grosse) Zwosta. Our German Family Tree does not indicate where Eleanor was baptized. When the 1910 census was taken, Eleanor is living in St. Louis. Her father had died prior to this time, and her mother by then had married Martin Degenhardt.

In 1915, Eleanor’s mother died, and the Zwosta children were moved back to Perry County. Eleanor was confirmed in 1917 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Her confirmation record is shown here.

When the 1920 census was taken, we find Eleanor living in the Arthur Palisch household. She was a 17 year old servant.

Arthur Gerler married Eleanor Zwosta on February 13, 1923. This couple’s marriage license is displayed below.

The wedding took place at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. The church marriage record is shown here in 2 images.

This couple had 2 children according to our German Family Tree. Both of them were girls. The 1930 census shows this Gerler family living in the Brazeau Township where Arthur was a farmer.

The 1940 census indicates that this Gerler family had moved across the river to Illinois again. They were living in Grand Tower, Illinois where Arthur was the operator of a farm.

In 1942, Arthur had his World War II draft card completed. It says Arthur was working for Harry Hines in Grand Tower.

The last census entry we can view is the one for 1950. It indicates that the Gerler’s were living in Union County, Illinois, probably quite near Grand Tower. Arthur and Eleanor had an empty nest, and Arthur was still called a farmer.

By the time of their deaths in 1975, Arthur and Eleanor had apparently migrated to St. Louis. Eleanor died on August 17, 1975 at the age of 72. Arthur died a week later on August 23rd at the age of 77. They are buried together in the Valhalla Cemetery in St. Louis.

Arthur Gerler is one of those folks who moved back and forth across the Mississippi River on several occasions during his lifetime.