When I first noticed that there was a potential story for today’s date that would tell the story of a man named Henry Ochs, I immediately thought that his story had already been told on this blog. In fact, there was a rather prominent man by that name who has already had his story told here. That post, authored by Clayton Erdmann, was titled Junior, Judge, and Representative. However, that Henry Ochs was born 20 years prior to the birth of another Henry Ochs who is a main character in today’s tale. Despite being born 2 decades apart, these two Henry’s were in the same “generation” and would be called 2nd cousins. We will eventually get around to today’s Henry, but first we will focus on his bride, who happens to be today’s birthday girl.

Albertine Louise Vogt was born on February 6,1883, so today would be her 142nd birthday. Albertine was the daughter of Gottlieb and Barbara (Springer) Vogt. She was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, so I am unable to display her baptism record. Not only am I unable to display a baptism record for Albertine, but I also failed to find her in the 1900 census. She would have been about 17 years old, and I know she was not living with her parents, but my efforts to locate her in that year’s census were unsuccessful. That means that the first census in which I located her was after she was married. So, we will now look at the Henry Ochs that she married.

Heinrich Johann Ochs was born on July 3, 1882, the son of Peter and Elise (Gausmann) Ochs. Henry was born in Darmstaedt, Illinois. A story written about Henry’s parents titled, To Darmstadt, Illinois and Back, documented the fact that for a while, this Ochs family lived in Illinois. However, by the time Henry shows up in the 1900 census, we find his family living in Perryville. The only member of the family who had an occupation was an older brother who was a grocery clerk. Henry was 17 years old at the time.

Henry Ochs married Albertine Vogt on June 16, 1907 at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. We can look at this couple’s Missouri marriage license below.

An article was published in the Perry County Republican about this wedding.

This couple had just one child, a daughter named Erna, born in 1908. Erna was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. I am displaying her baptism record below.

In the 1910 census, we see the trio of Henry, Albertine, and Erna. Henry was called a house painter in Perryville.

Henry had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. His occupation was listed as “restaurant”. and was self-employed.

In the 1920 census, we find the same three members in the Ochs household, and it says Henry was a restaurant keeper.

The 1930 census includes a 15 year-old girl named Minnie Ruch, and she is called a step-daughter. Henry’s later obituary says he had a foster daughter named Minnie. This time, Henry was called a salesman for a general store.

Erna Ochs married George Bass in 1933. She and her husband were living with Henry and Albertine when the 1940 census was taken. Henry was a clerk in a dry goods store, and George Bass was working at the shoe factory in Perryville.

Henry had a World War II draft card completed in 1942. It gives him a Perryville address but gives no information about his employment.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. Henry was a clerk in a department store. Two lodgers were living with the Ochs’s. The 24 year-old woman was working at the shoe factory. Henry and Albertine were in their 60’s.

Henry Ochs died in 1962 at the age of 79. His death certificate indicates that his usual occupation was a sales clerk in a department store. He died at the Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville.

Henry has a death record in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. It states that he died as a result of a heart condition.

An obituary was printed in the Perry County Republican for Henry. It mentions that he once operated a restaurant and later worked at the Rozier Mercantile Company.

Albertine Ochs died in 1968 at the age of 85. Her death certificate below says she died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Albertine also has a death record in the Immanuel, Perryville books.

Henry and Albertine Ochs are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

Now you know the story of another Henry Ochs. He was another one who was likely known by many in the Perryville area because he operated a restaurant and also served the public at the very prominent Rozier’s department store in town. The Ochs name is still quite visible on businesses as you drive through Perryville.