The birthday boy for today is Oscar John Bergmann, who was born on September 2, 1890. That makes today his 135th birthday. Oscar was the firstborn child of John Valentine and Anna (Muench) Bergmann. He was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, so we cannot view an image of his baptism record. Oscar is found in the 1900 census at the age of 9. His father was a farmer in the Central Township.

I figure that this photo was taken of the John V. Bergmann family at about the time of the above census. Oscar, since he was the oldest, must be the boy standing on the left in the back row.

The only other census entry in which we find Oscar prior to his marriage is the one taken in 1910. Oscar, at the age of 19, was helping his father on his farm.

Oscar had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. He is called a farmer and also a sub. agent for the Chevrolet Auto Company on this document. Oscar’s last name on this form is not spelled with the double “n” at the end. From this time on, it looks as if that is the spelling that Oscar would use on forms. On the line which asked if there were any exemptions, it says he had physical disabilities along with the words, “gall stone”.

As it turned out, Oscar was called into service during that war. According to his military record shown below, Oscar spent almost a year overseas.

It would not be long after Oscar was discharged from the Army that he got married. I have to wonder if he corresponded with his future wife while he was serving overseas. Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become his bride.

Hedwig Rosetta Ochs was born on February 19, 1896, the daughter of Henry and Josephine (Rauh) Ochs. Like Oscar, Hedwig was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. She is found in the 1900 census at the age of 4. You can see that Hedwig (called Hattie) was part of a rather large Ochs household. Her father was a farmer in the Central Township.

I think it may have been about this time that a photo was taken of 4 Ochs children. I think that Hedwig may be the youngest child in this photo, although it is possible that the youngest one may be a boy. It was not unusual to have young boys wearing dresses at an early age in those days. I am thinking that if Clayton Erdmann is reading this story, he could clear this up.

As was the case with Oscar, the only other census in which we find Hedwig prior to her wedding was the one taken in 1910. She was 14 years old at the time. Hedwig had been confirmed at Peace, Friedenberg a year earlier in 1909.

Oscar Bergman married Hedwig Ochs on October 5, 1919 at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. I am only able to display 2 civil marriage records for this couple. Here is the Missouri marriage license for this pair. It says that Oscar was from Perryville, and Hattie was from Menfro.

I am also able to display this marriage certificate for this couple.

There was also an article published in the Perry County Republican about the Bergman/Ochs wedding. I will display it below in 3 images that may have to be clicked to enlarge them. It is a rather descriptive article.

Oscar and Hedwig had just one child, a son named Ralph, who was born in 1920. However, Ralph had not been born yet when the 1920 census was taken. We find just Oscar and Hedwig in that year’s census entry. Oscar was farming in the Cinque Hommes Township.

Next, we find the Bergman’s in the 1930 census. In it, we find the trio of Bergman family members.

During the years, 1931-1932, Hedwig’s father, Henry Ochs, was elected to the Missouri State House of Representatives. In the 1940 census, Oscar is called the chairman of the A.C.A. I have now discovered that A.C.A. was the Agricultural Conservation Association.

Oscar had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. On this form, it says that he was a farm owner as well as being involved with the Perry County A.C.A.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. Included in the Bergman household was the family of their son, Ralph, who had married Doris Kramer in 1945. Ralph was helping Oscar with the farming.

Oscar Bergman died in 1962 at the age of 71. We are able to view his death certificate below.

An obituary for Oscar printed in the Perry County Republican can be viewed here.

Hedwig Bergman died in 1976 at the age of 80. She died too recently to view a death certificate or locate an obituary in a newspaper archive. Oscar and Hedwig Bergman are buried together in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

I have written a few stories on this blog now that have illustrated that there were a few people in the Bergmann family tree that decided to eliminate an “n” from their surname. Oscar is one of them. I can tell you that his parents each have gravestones that are engraved with the names spelled Bergmann. The change to Bergman took place during Oscar’s lifetime.