I will highlight a couple with Perry County roots that would be celebrating a special wedding anniversary today. This pair spent a considerable portion of their lives in Perry County, but then spent their later lives in St. Louis. Both the bride and the groom, Anna Rauh and Adam Knoll, have names which have been found in previous posts on this blog, but they are not the same people.
Johann Adam Knoll was born on January 19, 1849, the son of Johann Michael and Kunigunda Anna (Amschler) Knoll. Adam was born in Germany, but when he was just an infant, his family came to America. The Knoll family made the voyage aboard the ship, Alesto, later in 1849. Their names are found on the passenger list for that ship below.
In the 1850 census, we find Adam at the age of 2, although I think he was only 1. Adam’s father was a farmer in the Cinque Hommes Township.
In the 1860 census, Adam was 11 years old, and his family is still found in the same township.
The last census in which we find Adam prior to his marriage is the one taken in 1870. At least, I think this may be the right census entry for him. I honestly cannot tell which one of the males in this entry would be Adam. The best choice might be the 23 year-old named John.
Now, we will turn our attention to the woman who would become Adam’s wife. Her name was Anna H. Rauh, who was born on September 15, 1854. She was the daughter of Johann and Elizabeth (Baer) Rauh. Anna was likely baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. I failed to find Anna’s family in the 1860 census. Then, in the 1870 census, we find Anna at the age of 15. Her father was a farmer in the Cinque Hommes Township.
Adam Knoll married Anna Rauh on November 6, 1874, thus making today their 150th wedding anniversary. They were married at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg so we cannot view a church marriage record. However, I am able to display 2 different civil records for this event. In both of them, Pastor Voigt listed several different married couples that included Adam and Anna. Here is the first one.
A second Perry County marriage record is displayed here.
According to our German Family Tree, this couple had 5 children. In the 1880 census, we find 3 children in the Knoll household. Adam was a blacksmith in the Union Township.
It would be 20 years before we can view another census entry, and in the interim, the Knoll’s relocated to St. Louis. The earliest record I found of Adam living in that city is a city directory from 1895. It says he was a blacksmith in Wellston.
The 1900 census shows the Knoll’s with all 5 of their children. Adam is once again called a blacksmith. One son was also a blacksmith, and another was a tinner.
Next, we find the Knoll’s in the 1910 census. Adam was still a blacksmith. A daughter was a seamstress in a shirt factory, and a son was a musician.
The last census in which we find Adam was the one taken in 1920. Adam was a 70 year-old blacksmith, and two of his children were salespeople.
Adam Knoll died in 1922 at the age of 73. His death certificate shown below says he was a shoe merchant, not a blacksmith.
Anna is found in the 1930 census at the age of 76. Her son, Arthur was the head of the household, and he was once again called a musician at a theater. Clara, a single daughter, was also still living with her mother and brother.
Anna Knoll died in 1935 at the age of 80 as a result of pneumonia. Her death certificate below says she was born in Fredericktown, but that is likely meant to say Friedenberg.
Adam and Anna Knoll are buried together in the St. Peter’s Cemetery in Normandy, a community located in North St. Louis.
The blacksmith, Adam Knoll, lived his life at a time when his profession was a vital one, but by the time of his death, the blacksmithing trade was becoming extinct. Also, like many other stories told on this blog, this one is yet another one that tells the tale of some Perry County natives that relocated to the big city of St. Louis later in their lives.