Today’s main character is part of our German Family Tree for just one reason. That is because his baptism record is found in the books of Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois. He did not remain there long. This post will tell where this birthday boy would spend almost all his life.

Herman Heinrich Johannes Kistenmacher was born on November 18, 1894, so today would be his 130th birthday. Herman was the son of Johannes and Katherina (Weseloh) Kistenmacher. A previous post, Boxmaker’s Wives and Kids, told the story of Herman’s parents. In that post, it was said that the name, Kistenmacher, means “boxmaker”. Herman’s baptism record from the books of Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Illinois is pictured here in 2 images.

Let me give a bit of a history about Herman’s mother. Katherina Weseloh had previously married Friedrich Rathjen, and that couple had 4 children. Then, in 1891, Friedrich died, leaving Katherina as a widow. Katherina then married Johannes Kistenmacher in January of 1894. Herman, born later that year in November, was the first of 2 Kistenmacher children born to Johannes and Katherina. Then, just prior to the 1900 census was taken, Katherina died in 1899. We find John Kistenmacher with a blended family of Kistenmacher’s and Rathjen’s in the 1900 census. Herman’s father was a farmer in the Fountain Bluff Township.

During the next decade, the Kistenmacher’s made a move to St. Louis, Missouri. It appears that the Rathjen stepchildren remained in Illinois. In 1903, Herman’s father married Margaret Krekel in St. Louis. That couple had a set of twins in 1904. So, when the 1910 census was enumerated, we see this Kistenmacher household. Herman was 15 years old and is called a clerk for a leather company. His father was a packer for a millinery.

Herman had his World War I draft registration form completed in 1917. This document says that Herman’s employer was the Howe’s Brothers Leather Company.

Herman got married prior to the next census, so let’s take a look at the woman who would become his bride. He found that bride in St. Louis. Her name was Katherine Augusta Lutz, who was born on September 12, 1897. Katherine was the daughter of Albert and Ida (Werner) Lutz. I am unaware of where Katherine was baptized. She is found in her first census in 1900 at the age of 2. It looks as if her father was called a salon keeper in this entry, but based on the subsequent census entry, I think that he was a saloon keeper.

Next, we find the Lutz’s in the 1910 census. Katherine was 12 years old at the time. This time, her father was a retail merchant at a grocery and saloon business.

Herman Kistenmacher married Katherine Lutz on March 21, 1918. The St. Louis marriage record shown here says they were married by Rev. Louis Buchheimer. Rev. Buchheimer was the pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Louis.

One of the first things that happened after this couple’s wedding was that Herman was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army in July of 1918. Not only that, he was sent overseas to join the fight. His military record shown below says he served in Europe for almost a year, returning in August of 1919.

In the 1920 census, Herman and Katherine were still childless. Herman was still a clerk at the leather company. Included in their household was Herman’s younger sister, Minette.

The Kistenmacher’s are found in the 1930 census with their 3 children, all born in the previous decade. This time, it says that Herman was a foreman for the Brown Shoe Company.

When the 1940 census was taken, Herman was called the foreman in a shoe factory The children were all teenagers.

In 1942, Herman had his World War II draft card completed. His address places him quite near Forest Park in St. Louis, a park that was created when the 1904 World’s Fair took place. Once again, it says that Herman’s employer was the Brown Shoe Company.

The Brown Shoe Company became famous for producing shoes for children. Their shoes for boys were called Buster Brown Shoes. I am including a short 8 minute video that tells the history of the Brown Shoe Company. It tells the story about how the Brown Shoe Company began using the cartoon character, Buster Brown, as a result of a chance meeting with a cartoon maker at the World’s Fair in 1904. That cartoonist had created the characters, Buster Brown, his friend Mary Jane, and his dog, Tige.

The last census entry the public can view is the one taken in 1950. In that year’s entry, we see Herman and Katherine with an empty nest. Herman is called the manager of a floor at the shoe manufacturer.

Herman Kistenmacher died in 1985 at the age of 90; Katherine Kistenmacher died in 1988, also at the age of 90. Herman’s service in the military during World War I qualified both he and his wife to be buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Growing up in St. Louis, I became very familiar with the name of the Brown Shoe Company and their signature Buster Brown shoes. I likely wore some Buster Brown shoes during my childhood. Perhaps some of our readers remember wearing shoes made by the Brown Shoe Company. Although the company carries a different name these days, it still is in operation in the St. Louis area.