Our birthday boy for this post is Otto Joseph Amberger, who was born on October 20, 1889. That means today would be his 135th birthday. One of the more interesting things about Otto and his wife, is that these two are found in 3 census entries before being baptized. Otto was the son of Joseph and Mary (Cutrell) Amberger. Some of you may already be asking, “How could a son of Mary and Joseph not be baptized right away?” I might answer, “Even Jesus was about 30 years old when he was baptized.” Otto is found in the 1900 census at the age of 9, although I think he was at least 10. His father was a farmer in the Bois Brule Township.

The only other census in which Otto is found as an unmarried man was the one taken in 1910. Otto and his younger brother, Frank, were helping their father on his farm.

Since Otto would get married in the next decade, we will now look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Ella Edith Phillips, who was born on November 24, 1897. Ella was the daughter of Joseph and Zoia (Brown) Phillips. Ella is found in the 1900 census at the age of 2. Her father was a farmer in the Bois Brule Township. Ella had a younger sister who is called Bulla on this entry.

Next, we find Ella in the 1910 census at the age of 12. She was called a lodger in the Hinkle family. Right above the Hinkle’s, you find another Hinkle household that includes a 10 year-old lodger named Stella Phillips. I think this is Ella’s younger sister who was called Bulla in the previous census. I know that Ella’s parents were still living, so I find it unusual that two of their young daughters were living in other households.

Otto Amberger married Ella Phillips on August 4, 1914. Ella was just 16 years old when she got married. This couple was married by a probate judge as indicated in the Missouri marriage license shown here. The probate judge was Thomas Hooss, whose surname was mentioned in yesterday’s post about early residents of Perryville.

We can also view this marriage certificate for this couple.

In 1915, plat maps were produced for Perry County. In that atlas, we find 2 interesting maps. First, the image below shows the Jos. Phillips farm not far from the village of Sereno, which is found in the Bois Brule Township. We also see a parcel of land owned by John Amberger, who might have been Otto’s father who was actually named John Joseph Amberger.

Another plat map shows some land owned by J. Amberger. This area is also in the Bois Brule Township. The Armberger land is located near Crains Island, which is actually in the state of Illinois even though the river mainly flows on the east side of that island. Other channels of river water flow on the west side of Crains Island, with another flowing to the west of the Amberger land. So, the Amberger land was also on another island which is called Island No. 19 on this map. Also, you can find the village of Belgique on this image.

Recently, our friends at the Perry County Historical Society put a post on Facebook about Belgique, and that post included this photo of the Modde/Steyn and Co. Store in Belgique. It makes me wonder if there are any Amberger’s in the group of men in front of that store. Also, the Catholic church is seen on the right side of the photo. You can also see a parcel of land owned by a Modde on the above plat map right in Belgique.

A modern map of this area calls Island No. 19, Puckett’s Island. You can see two channels of water, both called Missouri Chute on this map.

Otto had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. He is given a Belgique address, and it says he was born in Sereno.

Different resources seem to indicate that Otto and Ella had 9 children. I find it interesting that this pair had 3 children born before their parents were baptized, and those 3 were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. In the 1920 census, the Amberger’s had 2 children. Ella’s sister was also living with them. Otto was a farmer in the Bois Brule Township.

On November 19, 1922, four different adults were baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. Another man who was baptized was Frank Armberger, Otto’s younger brother. Frank was also married when he was baptized. He had married Beatrice Christisen, who had been baptized as an infant at Immanuel, Perryville. There was also a woman, Elizabeth Hoff, who was baptized that day. She was the wife of Arthur Hoff, another member of Immanuel. The sponsors for all 4 of these baptisms were the same pair, William Preusse and George Angermann. Pastor Lohman did the baptizing. There is also evidence that Otto and Ella were also confirmed that same day.

These baptisms took place on a Sunday. I can just imagine the possibility that Otto and Ella’s children might have been standing around the baptismal font witnessing the baptisms of their parents. Those children would have been about 7, 4, and 2 years old.

The 1930 census displays 5 children in the Amberger household. Right under the Amberger’s, you see that of Joseph L. Phillips, who was Ella’s younger brother.

When the 1940 census was taken, we see 6 children. Otto is still said to be farming, but it also includes the work trucking to describe his occupation. You cannot see it here, but at the top of this census page, it gives the location as Puckett’s Island.

Otto had a World War II draft card completed in 1942. He once again is given a Belgique address.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. One more child had been born in the previous decade.

Otto Amberger died in June of 1959 at the age of 70. His death certificate shown below says he died at a medical center in Columbia, Missouri..

Ella Amberger died not even a month later in July of 1959. Her death certificate says she died in Perry County. She was 61 years old when she died.

Otto and Ella Amberger are buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

This story has so many interesting situations and locations in it. I know this is the first time I have ever written a post about a husband and wife both getting baptized after several of their own children were already baptized. I think it may be the only such a story that I will ever write on this blog.