I will begin with a lonely baptism record found in our German Family Tree. It is the only record found in our GFT for today’s birthday boy. Joseph Rudolph Gerhardt was born on January 28, 1900, thus making today his 125th birthday. Joseph was the son of Julius and Anna (Heintz) Gerhardt. He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. We can view his baptism record below.

Joseph was born early enough in 1900 to make it into that year’s census as a baby. His father was a carpenter in Old Appleton.

Next, we find Joseph in the 1910 census at the age of 10. He was the last child born into this Gerhardt family. Both his father and an older brother, Arthur, were carpenters in Old Appleton.

Joseph had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. Apparently, a few changes had taken place in the Gerhardt family. First of all, they were now living in Cape Girardeau. Secondly, by this time, Joseph had also followed in his father’s footsteps and had become a carpenter. His employer was his father.

We find Joseph in the 1920 census as the only son who was still living with his parents. He is given no occupation, but I think that was a mistake.

Now, we need to take a look at the woman who became Joseph’s bride. Her name was Agnes Butler, who was born on February 6, 1896. Agnes was the daughter of William and Mary (Rippitoe) Butler. I am not sure where she was born, but when she was 4 years old, she is found living near Sprinfield, Illinois in the Cass Township. The puzzling factor in the census entry below is that Agnes’s mother is the head of the household with no husband, yet she is called married. There were 5 children in this household, with the youngest being just one year old. I wondered whether this was the correct Butler family, but I confirmed that Agnes’s mother’s maiden name was Rippitoe, and there was a sister living in this household with that name.

The Butler family is found in the 1910 census living in Bollinger County. I think they may have been living near Lutesville. Both of Agnes’s parents are in the household this time. Her father was a sawyer at a lumber mill. Agnes was a teenager.

In the 1920 census, the Butler’s were living in Cape Girardeau where Agnes’s father was a machinist. Agnes was 23 years old in this entry.

Joseph Gerhardt married Agnes Butler on July 31, 1920. The Missouri marriage license below indicates that they were married by a justice of the peace.

I believe that this pair had 3 children, all girls. In the 1930 census, there was just on daughter in the household. Joseph was a carpenter.

The 1940 census gives evidence that 2 more daughters had been born during the previous decade. This time, Joseph is called a contractor.

Joseph had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. This form says he was self-employed.

The final census entry we can view is from the census taken in 1950. At the age of 50, Joseph was still a building contractor.

Joseph Gerhardt died in 1972 at the age of 72. We can take a look at his death certificate below.

We can also read Joseph’s obituary here.

Agnes Gerhardt died in 1981 at the age of 84. She died too recently to view her death certificate. Both Joseph and Agnes Gerhardt are buried in the Cape County Memorial Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

There is evidence that Julius Gerhardt passed his building skills on to several of his sons. I have to wonder if there was a time when there may have been a business with a name like Gerhardt & Sons Construction Company. There is mention in Joseph’s obituary that he continued to work in the construction business with one of his brothers. However, because Joseph had just daughters, he did not have the opportunity to pass his carpentry and building skills on to his descendants..