You are about to read another story about lifelong bachelors. Like a few other such stories that have been told on this blog, this one includes more than one sibling in a family who each remain single all their lives.

I will begin with the older of 2 brothers in a Petzoldt family. Carl Richard Petzoldt was born on October 8, 1876, the 5th of 12 children listed in our German Family Tree for Richard and Johanne (Lindner) Petzoldt. All of their children were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg except for one baby that was stillborn. Several documents refer to this Petzoldt child as Richard C. to distinguish him from his father, Richard, so that is what I will do. Richard C.’s baptism record is shown here.

Another brother,Theodor Wilhelm Petzoldt was born on August 1, 1884, so that means today would be his 130th birthday. Since their father, Richard, was a son of Friedrich Florian Petzoldt, that qualifies both Richard C. and Theodore to be a grandsons of “The Face”. Two images of Theodore’s baptism record are displayed below.

In the late 1890’s, this photograph of the Richard Petzoldt farmily was taken. I have a caption for this photo, but it is a bit confusing. I figure that Richard C. and Theodore are 2 of the 3 younger looking boys standing behind their parents.

Richard C. is found in the 1880 census at the age of 3. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Since we are unable to view the 1890 census, we do not see Theodore in a census until he is a teenager in 1900. He and his older brother, Richard C. were helping on their father’s farm in the Brazeau Township.

The Richard Petzoldt farm was located south of Altenburg where the Apple Creek formed the border between Perry and Cape Girardeau Counties.

Next, we find Richard C. and Theodore in the 1910 census. Richard, along with 3 of his sons, including Richard C. and Theodore, were doing the farming, as well as a hired hand named Herman Ruehling. Ida Schade is another Petzoldt daughter who was widowed by this time with a son named Hieronymous.

In 1916, Richard C. and Theodore’s parents celebrated their 50th anniversary and had this photo taken. Richard C. is in the back row, second from the left, and Theodore is standing in the back row on the far right.

Richard C. and Theodore had their World War I draft registration completed in 1918 on the same day. Here is the one for Richard C.

Here is Theodore’s form. Both he and his brother are called farmers on these documents.

The 1920 census indicates that the father, Richard, was a retired farmer, and it specifically says that 3 sons were running the farm, two of them being Richard C. and Theodore.

Richard Petzoldt died in 1927, and his wife died in 1929, so in the 1930 census, we find just Richard C. and Theodore in the household. They were farming together.

Richard C. and Theodore were still found farming together when the 1940 census was taken.

The last census we are permitted to view was the one taken in 1950. Richard C., at the age of 73, was no longer farminng, and Theodore is the only one who is said to be farming. Theodore was 65 years old at the time.

Richard C. Petzoldt died in 1962 at the age of 85. His death certificate is pictured here.

Theodore Petzoldt died in 1970 at the age of 86. We can also view his death certificate.

Richard C. and Theodore Petzoldt are each buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

Even though both Richard C. and Theodore never found a woman to be partners for life, they lived their lives together and became farming partners. I am somewhat amazed that 2 bachelors such as these two managed to live well into their 80’s. Having been a bachelor until the age of 39 myself, I know how terrible my eating habits were when I was single. I wonder how these two in their golden years managed to eat well and stay healthy.