Adolph Karl Kiesler would be a century and a half old if he was still alive today. He was born on August 12, 1873, the son of Henry and Louise (Hooss) Kiesler. His mother was part of the prominent Hooss family in Perryville known for operating the Hooss Hotel. In fact, John Hooss, the hotel proprietor, was Louise’s brother, and he also married a Kiesler, so the parents of today’s birthday boy were not the only Kiesler/Hooss couple in Perryville. If you desire to do so, a prior story has been written about the other Hooss/Kiesler couple in the post, Hooss Celebrating Their 150th Anniversary? In today’s story, I had to make a decision about what to call Adolph Karl. Sometimes he was called Adolph, and other times he was called Charles. Since most records use Charles and that is what is found on his gravestone, that is the name I will use. Charles was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. A transcription of his baptism record is pictured here.

Charles is found in the 1880 census at the age of 6. His father was a fire insurance agent in Perryville.

Because we cannot view the 1890 census and Charles would get married before the 1900 census, we will now take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Mary Harriet Hattie Moore, who was born on October 21, 1876. Hattie was the daughter of Joseph and Susan (Hayden) Moore. The evidence indicates that the Moore’s were Roman Catholics, so I am unable to share any baptism information about Hattie. She is found in the 1880 census at the age of 3. Her father was a farmer in the Cinque Hommes Township.

Charles Kiesler married Hattie Moore on October 15, 1899. The marriage license for this couple shown below indicates that Rev. John D. Doherty performed the wedding. After a little searching, I discovered that Rev. Doherty is buried in the York Chapel Cemetery near Longtown, so he must have been the pastor at that congregation.

These newlyweds are found in the 1900 census living in Perryville where Charles was a dry goods dealer.

I think the Kiesler’s had 5 children. Several of them were born during the next decade. The 1910 census shows 4 children in their household. Charles was a bank cashier.

Charles had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. It says that Charles was a banker at the Perry County Bank in Perryville.

The 1920 census shows the Kiesler family with all 5 children. Charles was the vice president of a farm and loan company.

The Kiesler’s made a move during the 1920’s. They were living in St. Louis when the 1930 census was taken. Just the term, “farm loan”, was used to describe Charles’s occupation.

Charles Kiesler died in 1933 at the age of 60. His death certificate says he died while being a patient at the St. John’s Hospital in St. Louis. His usual occupation on this form says he was a broker.

After her husband’s death, Hattie Kiesler went to live with her daughter, Dorothy, who had married William Rushmore. They were living in the Pioneer Township of Rice County, Kansas.

Hattie Kiesler was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the time of her death in 1950. She was 73 years old when she died. Both Charles and Hattie Kiesler are buried in the Sunset Memorial Park in St. Louis.

While researching this story, I came across a few other prominent names from Perryville’s past and present, even though they haven’t been mentioned yet. I found names such as Layton and Rozier. I am thinking that there was a time when the name, Kiesler, was a well-known name around the business district of Perryville.