As we begin the year 2024, I have to adjust some of my search priorities. Some of the special years I will searchin 2024 are 1824 (200 years ago), 1849 (175 years), 1874 (150 years), and 1899 (125 years). Today, I found the character for this post who was born in 1899. I am guessing that a lot of folks talked about that year being the last year of a century. I also admit that I am hoping to find a story this year for this blog in which a person lives more than 100 years and is one of those rare people who entered 2 different centuries during their lifetime. It remains to be seen.

Today’s birthday boy is Herman Emanuel Walter Engert, who was born on January 1, 1899 in Jacob, Illinois. Walter was the son of Henry and Mary (Lungwitz) Engert. Both of Walter’s parents were born and raised in Perry County, Missouri but had later moved to Jackson County, Illinois. However, Walter’s baptism record, along with several other older siblings, is found in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Even though the Engert’s had moved to Illinois, for a while, they brought their children back to Perry County to be baptized.

Walter is found in his first census in 1900 at the age of 1. His father was a farmer in the Fountain Bluff Township. You can see on this entry that Walter’s parents had been married for 6 years, and their first child, who was born in Illinois, was 5 years old. That indicates the Engert’s had moved across the river shortly after they were married.

In the 1910 census, Walter was 11 years old. If I read it correctly, this entry says that Walter’s father was a saloon keeper selling liquor. 

Walter was confirmed in 1912 at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. Then when Walter was required to complete his World War I draft registration in 1918, we find him living in Murphysboro, and he was unemployed.

Walter is found in the 1920 census still living with his parents in Murphysboro. His father was the proprietor of a restaurant, an older brother was managing a grocery store, and Walter was working in the cutting department at a shoe factory.

Walter would get married later that year, so we will now take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Lydia E. Hanson, who was born on October 7, 1898 in Murphysboro. Lydia was the daughter of Sylvester and Harriet (Etherton) Hanson. She is found in her first census living in Murphysboro where her father was a farmer. Lydia was just one year old.

In the 1910 census, Lydia was 11 years old, and this time her father is called a county sheriff. In addition to the Hanson family members, there were quite a few individuals on this census page and some more on the next page who were described as prisoners.

In the 1920 census, Lydia, at the age of 21, was a stenographer for a shoe factory. I think that is likely where Walter got to know Lydia. Her father is called a special agent for the railroad.

Although I found no documentation for it, it is reported on Ancestry.com family trees that Walter Engert married Lydia Hanson on June 26, 1920. I located this wedding photo of this couple.

I also located this photo of just Lydia, which was reportedly taken in 1925.

Walter and Lydia had just one child, a boy named Byron who was born in 1923. Before the 1930 census was taken, the Engert’s relocated. In that year’s census, we find them living in Evansville, Indiana. Walter was a salesman at a department store.

The 1940 census shows that the Engert’s were still living in Evansville. This time, Walter was the owner of a gas station. Their son,, Byron was a teenager.

In 1942, Walter was required to complete a World War II draft card. It says he was self-employed, and his business was located at Lincoln & Dexter. Perhaps that is where his gas station was.

I looked on an internet map site and discovered that there appears to be a gas station presently located at the Lincoln/Dexter intersection in Evansville.

Tragedy struck the Engert family during World War II. Their son, Byron, became involved in that war. When Byron was in Florida in 1944, he was training to become a Navy pilot, but was killed in a training flight. Prior to his death, he went back to his home in Evansville on leave and had this photo taken.

A newspaper article/obituary was published after he died and was later placed on Findagrave.com by a contributor. When images like this are placed on that site, they are almost always difficult to read. This one certainly is, but I will display it to give another photo of Byron.

Walter and Lydia are found in one more census that we can view, the one taken in 1950. Both of them were working at a department store. in their early 50’s. 

Walter Engert died in 1979 at the age of 80. In Missouri, I cannot view death certificates for 1979, but they are available to view in Indiana. Below is Walter’s death certificate.

Lydia Engert died in 1991 at the age of 92. Her Indiana death certificate says she died at the Newburgh Health Care Center.

Walter, Lydia, and their son, Byron, are buried together in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville.

Walter and Lydia Engert are an example of a couple who outlived their only child. That is not the desire of any parents, but some, like this couple, are thrust into situations where this happens. The end result in today’s couple is that they would not be blessed with any direct descendants since their only son died before he was married and had children.