This post will highlight the marriage of a husband and wife who were each a child of a prominent downtown Perryville businessman. And they are some of my favorite kind of business names. One was the child of the proprietor of the Doerr Store…a rhyme; the other was the child of the proprietor of the Hooss Hotel…an alliteration. This couple would be celebrating a special wedding anniversary today. However, the only church record found indexed in our German Family Tree is the baptism of the bride. We will start with her.

Louise Josephine Hooss was born on March 16, 1870, the daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Cadenbach) Hooss. She often went by the name, Josie, so that is the name that I will use. Josie was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. I am unable to display that record because I’m still out of town, but I would only be able to show a transcription of it anyway, not an original image. Josie was born early enough in 1870 to be included in that year’s census. She was listed as being 4/12 years old…or 4 months. Her father was called a hotel keeper in Perryville. In addition to Hooss family members, this entry includes several folks that were staying at their hotel.

The only other census entry in which we find Josie unmarried is the one taken in 1880. This time her father was called a clerk in a store. Our German Family Tree lists 6 children in this Hooss family, and all of them were girls. We see all 6 girls in this entry. Another girl, Florence Verscheiden, was adopted into this family.

Now, we will take a look at the man who would become Josie’s husband. His name was Andrew Entler Doerr, who was born on September 16, 1868. Andrew was the son of Augustus and Mary (Entler) Doerr, so Andrew’s middle name was his mother’s maiden name. I do not know where Andrew was baptized, but I suspect it took place in a Catholic church. He is found in his first census in 1870 at the age of 1. There was another youngster, age 7, named Thomas Phillips, in this household. Thomas was a child from Mary Entler’s previous marriage to Robert Phillips. Andrew’s father is called a retail dry goods merchant.

In 1880, Andrew was 11 years old, and his father is called a merchant.

Here are photos of the Doerr Store (on the left) and the Hooss Hotel (on the right).

On October 15, 1893, Andrew Doerr married Josie Hooss. That makes today their 130th wedding anniversary. This couple’s marriage license shown below indicates that it took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Perryville.

All the evidence indicates that Andrew and Josie had no children. In the 1900 census, both Andrew and Josie had occupations. Andrew was a deputy county clerk, and Josie was a milliner.

Next, we find the Doerr’s in the 1910 census. Josie had the same job, but this time, Andrew was a bank cashier.

When the 1920 census was taken, Josie’s father is listed as the head of the household. Josie’s mother had died in 1918. At this point in time, Andrew was a postmaster. A man named Ralph Currie was a boarder in their house. He was a high school principal.

The 1930 census shows quite a large group living with the Doerr’s. Andrew was an assistant cashier at a bank. Both Andrew and Josie were in their 60’s.

In 1940, we once again see Andrew and Josie with others living with them. Andrew had the same job as in the previous census.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. At the age of 81, Andrew was still working at the bank. Several of the others in their household this time were Josie’s siblings. Ida Hooss had her story told in the post, Miss Hooss – Schoolmarm. As is seen in this census entry, Ida was still teaching at the age of 72.

Photos of Andrew and Josie Doerr are shown below. These photos appear to have been taken at the same time, but they are pictured separately.

Josie Doerr died in 1956 at the age of 86. We can read her obituary below.

Josie’s death certificate is pictured here

Andrew Doerr died in 1960 at the age of 91. We can also read his obituary which helps explain his work history a little better.

We can also view his death certificate.

Longtime customers at the Bank of Perryville must have gotten very familiar with Andrew Doerr. I picture him standing behind the counter with a longer line of customers than other cashiers. They may have wanted to be served by the endeared older man they considered not only to be a worker in the bank, but their friend.