You will read another story describing a couple that migrated to a different location after both the bride and the groom originated in our local area. Today’s pair landed in Denver, Colorado. The tale begins with a birthday girl.

Bertha Emma Josephine Putz was born on March 29, 1894, thus making today her 130th birthday. Bertha was the daughter of John and Selma (Koenig) Putz. A previous post was written about Bertha’s parents. It was titled, Putz’s Pipe Dream Becomes Park. It was John Putz’s dream that would later be realized when the Trail of Tears State Park was established. Bertha was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. In a binder we have in our research library for that church, we find this information regarding Bertha Putz.

Bertha is found in the 1900 census at the age of 6. Her father was a farmer in the Shawnee Township. Bertha was the oldest child in her family.

In 1904, John Putz was elected treasurer of Cape Girardeau County, so when the 1910 census was taken, we find the Putz’s living in Jackson, which was the county seat. Bertha was a teenager.

Now, we will look at the man who would become Bertha’s husband. His name was Vivian Crites, who was born on January 6, 1885. A later military document says he was born in Daisy, Missouri. Vivian was the son of Jefferson and Barbara (Friese) Crites. Prior to the 1900 census, Vivian’s father died in 1892. Vivian’s grandfather was the head of the Crites household that we find living in the Apple Creek Township in 1900. Vivian was 15 years old.

Next, we find Vivian in the 1910 census. His grandfather was still farming at the age of 73, but the family was then living in the Whitewater Township, which is found in Bollinger County.

Vivian Crites married Bertha Putz on March 29, 1912. That means Bertha was married on her 18th birthday. The information about Bertha shown earlier makes it look like these two were married at St. John’s, Pocahontas, but they were not. If you look at this couple’s Missouri marriage license below, it says they were married by a probate judge. It also is a record from Perry County, which surprised me a bit because Bertha was living in Cape Girardeau County, and Vivian had been living in Bollinger County. This form, however, says they were each from Jackson.

I figure this Crites couple must have moved away from this area quite soon after their marriage. Their first son, Harry, who was born in 1913, was born in Colorado. When Vivian had his World War I draft registration completed, he was living in Denver, Colorado. It says he was a motorman for the Denver Transit Company.

The 1920 census says that Vivian was a motorman for a street car. A son and a daughter were in the Crites family.

I was once again surprised. I would not have thought of Denver as being a city known for streetcars, but apparently it was. I found an article online that said at one time, Denver had one of the largest networks of streetcars in the country. Another article said the peak of streetcar activity took place in about 1917. A map of streetcar routes that existed in Denver in 1917 is displayed below.

Below is a photo of a Denver streetcar.

Vivian was not a streetcar motorman for very long. The 1920 census is the only one that gives him that occupation. The 1930 census says that Vivian was the proprietor of a business dealing with feed and coal. All 3 of their children are found in this entry.

The 1940 census shows the Crites household with two children. Vivian had a private hardware business.

When I looked at the World War II draft card that Vivian had completed in 1942, I got yet another surprise. On that form, it said Vivian was living in Seminole, Texas.

This is the only document that indicates the Crites couple living in Texas. It does possibly explain why the information about Bertha in the St. John’s, Pocahontas binder says she transferred to Texas. I also did discover that their son, Melvin’s, World War II draft card says he was living in Lubbock, Texas in 1942.

World War II would be a troublesome time for this Crites family. Both of their sons went off to war. Their oldest son, Harry, did not return. Harry was part of the crew of a B-17 bomber that went missing in 1944. Harry is one of the men in this photo of his crew.

The B-17 is commonly called the Flying Fortress and an example of such a plane is pictured below.

By the time of the 1950 census, Vivian and Bertha were back living in Denver. Vivian was an assistant manager for a retail lumberyard.

At some point in time, Vivian and Bertha had this photograph taken.

Vivian Crites died in 1982, not long after he and Bertha celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Vivian was 97 years old when he died. Bertha Crites lived long enough to make it into the 21st century. She died in 2000 at the age of 106. They are buried in the Mount Lindo Cemetery in Denver.

It is not often that I come across a couple that lives long enough to celebrate their 70th anniversary. And it is even more uncommon to run across a person who lives to the age of 106.

While I am on the subject of folks with long lives, let me tell you that 2 of our museum docents, Delbert and Dolores Schmidt, just told us yesterday that they will be stepping down from being longtime volunteers for us. Delbert will be celebrating his 96th birthday next month, and this duo has already celebrated their 70th anniversary. I don’t dare tell you how old Dolores is. They are an incredible duo, often called D & D, who have remained very active people well into their golden years. We are so grateful for their lengthy service.