A baby girl was born on today’s date in Wittenberg, Missouri 150 years ago, and her story will be told in this post. The birthday girl is Bertha Rosina Josephine Lehner. She was the daughter of Peter and Hanna (Birner) Lehner. Bertha was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can take a look at an image of her baptism record here. It spills over two pages in the church books, so I have to show it in 2 images.

Bertha’s time in East Perry County was very short. A biography of her parents says that they moved to Pocahontas, which is located in northern Cape Girardeau County, in 1876. Her father became a partner in a general store in that village. So, when Bertha is found in the 1880 census, the Lehner’s were living in Pocahontas. Bertha was 5 years old, and her father is called a merchant.

Bertha would get married before we can view another census entry, so we will now take a look at the man who would become her husband. His name was Friedrich Ludwig Gerler, who was born on April 14, 1873. Fred, as he was called, was the son of Friedrich “Fritz” and Lena (Lindner) Gerler. Fred was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. His baptism record is pictured here.

Fred is found in the 1880 census at the age of 7. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Fred Gerler married Bertha Lehner on September 13, 1896 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. That congregation had been established in 1894. The Gerler/Lehner marriage is the very first one recorded in that congregation’s books.

The Missouri marriage license for this couple can also be viewed.

The German Family Tree lists 5 children born to Fred and Bertha. All of them were baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. In the 1900 census, there was just one child in the Gerler household. Fred was an engineer at a flour mill. Also living with them was Maria Birner, a 20 year-old girl who was called a servant.

By the time of the next census in 1910, the Gerler’s had 4 children. This time, Fred was called the manager of a flour mill in Pocahontas.

In about 1905, this photo was taken of the first 3 Gerler children, Hilda, the oldest, then Elsa, and the baby, Edgar.

This photo of Fred and two of his brothers, Adolph and Robert, was supposedly taken in 1912.

I think the photo below was taken prior to the next census. Their youngest daughter was born in 1913.

Fred had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. This document says he was both a farmer and a miller.

The 1920 census entry for the Gerler’s lists 4 children. Their son, Raymond, who was born in 1908 and appeared in the previous census, had died in 1911. Fred is called a farmer in this entry.

Next, we find the Gerler’s in the 1930 census. Just 2 children were still living with their parents. Fred was still farming, but this time, his son, Edgar, was working at the mill in Pocahontas.

Fred and Bertha were living with just their son, Edgar when the 1940 census was taken. Both Fred and Edgar were working as millers at the flour mill in Pocahontas.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1950. Fred and his son, Edgar, who never married, were both farming.

Later in their lives, Fred and Bertha had this photograph taken.

Fred Gerler died in 1960 at the age of 86. His usual occupation once again mentioned his work at the mill.

An obituary for Fred appeared in the Cash-Book Journal.

Bertha Gerler died in 1967 at the age of 92. Her death certificate may be viewed below.

Fred and Bertha Gerler are buried together in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Pocahontas.

Two years ago, when we hosted the Immigration Conference at our museum, a field trip to local businesses was taken. One of the stops was the business now called Bowman Milling in Pocahontas. This must have been the mill at which Fred worked. Here are some photos I took when we visited that mill which is still in operation.

Our next Immigration Conference will take place this coming October. I hope you consider attending this conference. Quite an outstanding program has been put together by our museum’s conference committee. The image below gives some information about that upcoming event. You can also click on the Conference 2025 tab on our website’s menu for more details.