Otto Michael Finger is today’s birthday boy. He was born on January 4, 1890, so today would be his 135th birthday. Otto was the son of Wilmar and Liberta (Telle) Finger. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. His baptism record from that congregation’s books is pictured here.

I figure that this photo of the Finger family was likely taken in about 1896 when Otto was 6 years old. Since Otto was the 4th son born into this family, he would be the boy standing on the far right next to his father. The Finger children attended The Ridge School.

Otto would likely have appeared in the 1890 census, but that year’s census records were destroyed in a fire. So, the first census in which we find Otto was the one taken in 1900. The two oldest Finger boys were already living elsewhere by the time of this census. I was unable to find Arthur in that year’s census, but the second-born, Paul, was a farm laborer living with the Martin Poppitz family in 1900. Otto was 10 years old, and his father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Next, we find Otto in the 1910 census at the age of 20. He was helping his father on his farm.

The 1915 plat maps for Perry County show where the Wilmar Finger farm was located.

The Finger house is shown in the picture below. It was quite a large home.

In 1917, Otto had his World War I draft registration completed. It said he was farming for himself in Seventy-Six, Missouri, which is near The Ridge.

Otto did serve as a soldier in that war. His military record is shown here.

Otto was no longer living with his parents when the 1920 census was taken. He was living in the Sugar Loaf Township in St. Clair County, Illinois, which is located near Dupo. He was a 30 year-old grocery store clerk. He was a boarder in the household of Raphael Hunter, who was an locomotive engineer.

Now, we will turn our attention to the woman who would become Otto’s bride. Her name was Rose Johnson, who was born on December 14, 1900 in Alexander County, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau. Rose was the daughter of William and Lula (Raines) Johnson. Since she was born so late in 1900, we do not find her in that year’s census. So, the first census in which we find Rose is in the 1910 census. She was 10 years old, and her family was living in the Clear Creek Township in Illinois. Her father did odd jobs.

Rose’s mother died in 1915, and her father is found living at a hotel in St. Louis and working as a traveling salesman. So, we find this unusual situation where Rose, at the age of 19, was living by herself with no occupation. She was living in McClure, Illinois, which is found in Alexander County not far from Cape Girardeau.

Otto Finger married Rose Johnson on April 2, 1923 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. The church record for that event is shown here in 2 images.

We can also view this Missouri marriage license for this couple. This form says Rose was from McClure, and Otto was from Seventy-Six.

Finally, we can also view this pair’s marriage certificate.

Otto and Rose had one child, a son named after his father, Otto Michael Finger, Jr., who was born in 1924. In the 1930 census, we find the Finger’s back living in the Sugar Loaf Township. A brother of Rose, Lowell Johnson, was living with them. Otto was a grocer, and Lowell was a clerk in Otto’s store.

We discover that the Finger’s made a move during the next decade. In the 1940 census, the small Finger family was living in McClure, Illinois where Otto was farming.

Otto had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. He is given a McClure address.

In the 1940’s, Otto and Rose’s son, Otto, Jr., was attending the Southeast Missouri State Teacher’s College in Cape Girardeau. I found his photo from the 1942 yearbook from that institution.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. Otto and Rose had an empty nest, and Otto was called a superintendent for some sort of manufacturing company.

At some point later in their lives, Otto and Rose had this photograph taken.

Otto Finger died in 1966 at the age of 76. Since he died at the St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, we are able to view his Missouri death certificate.

Rose Finger died in 1974 at the age of 73. Because we can only view Missouri death certificates up until 1973, if she died in Missouri, we are not able to view such a certificate. However, it is possible she died in Illinois. In any event, I am unable to display a death record for her.

Otto and Rose Finger are buried together in the Anna Cemetery in Anna, Illinois. Otto also has a plaque there recognizing his military service.

I had breakfast this morning with Lynn Degenhardt. He says that his original Degenhardt ancestor had his passage paid for by someone in the Finger family. Then later, Wilmar Finger came from Germany and settled in Perry County. Lynn thinks his Uncle Wilmar Degenhardt may have been named after Wilmar Finger. Lynn also told me that Otto was an accomplished pianist.

One more fact. Otto’s son, Otto, Jr. got married and also had just one child, a son named Otto Michael Finger III.