On today’s date back in 1885, a baby boy was born in Shawneetown, Missouri. Ferdinand Ernst Martin Rudert would call September 29, 1885 his date of birth. That means today would be his 140th birthday. Martin was the son of Ernst and Ernestine (Schneider) Rudert. The Lutheran Church in Shawneetown had not yet been established in 1885, so Martin was baptized just up the road at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. Since I am not at home in Altenburg, I am not able to display Martin’s baptism record. The Rudert’s are found in the 1900 census living in the Apple Creek Township. Martin was 14 years old, and his father was a farmer. Three of the Rudert sons, including Martin, were called farm laborers.

Martin was still single when the 1910 census was enumerated. He was living with his brother, Adolph, who had married Pauline Ladreiter. Both Adolph and Martin were called farmers. Right under their entry, you find the Rudert parents.

The above census was submitted on April 25th of 1910, and Martin got married on April 27th. Let’s now take a look at the woman who would become his wife. Her name was Magdalena Emilie Christiane Mirly, who was born on July 24, 1886. She was mostly called Lena during her life, so that is the name I will use. Lena was the daughter of Henry and Louisa (Wachter) Mirly. She was also baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. The only census entry in which we could possibly find Lena living with her parents would be the one taken in 1890, but that year’s census pages were destroyed in a fire. Both of Lena’s parents died in the 1890’s. In the 1900 census, we discover that Lena was living with her maternal grandmother, Christiane Wachter, who by that time was a widow with 2 sons. Lena was 13 years old at that time. This entry can be found in the census pages of the Shawnee Township.

Lena’s grandmother died in 1905, so when we find Lena in the 1910 census, she was living with her Uncle Theodore Wachter, who had married Anna Fiedler. Lena was 23 years old in this entry. This Shawnee Township census was submitted on April 21st, also just a matter of days prior to her wedding.

Martin Rudert married Lena Mirly on April 27, 1910. This wedding took place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, a congregation that had been established in 1909. This wedding must have been one of the first ones to be included in that congregation’s books. If I was at home, I could tell you if it was the first one or not. I am able to display 2 different civil marriage records for this event. First, here is the standard Missouri marriage license.

We can also view this marriage record that looks more like a certificate.

This wedding photograph of Martin and Lena can be found on Ancestry.com.

A child was born to this couple in 1914 and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, but that child died as a baby. In 1918, Martin had his World War I draft registration completed. It gave him a rural Oak Ridge address.

In the 1920 census, we find just Martin and Lena in their entry. Martin was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

A son named Vernon was born in 1924 and also baptized at Trinity, Shawneetown. So, when we look at this 1930 census entry for the Rudert’s we find the trio of mom, dad, and son.

The 1940 census includes a niece named Irene Dost in the Rudert household. Their son, Vernon, was helping his father on his farm.

Martin was required to complete a World War II draft card in 1942, even though he was in his 50’s.

At some point, Martin and Lena had this photo taken.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. In that year’s entry, Martin and Lena had an empty nest, and they had relocated to Jackson. Martin is called a farm helper. Martin and Lena were in their 60’s.

Another photo I found on Ancestry.com is this one in which Martin is getting a kiss from his granddaughter. This picture especially tickled me because my reason for not being in Altenburg is because we are visiting grandchildren, 2 twin granddaughters and a grandson.

Another photo including both Martin and Lena was taken later in their lives. I am guessing that it was taken at their home in Jackson.

Lena Rudert died in 1955 at the age of 64. Her death certificate below says she died as a result of a myocardial insufficiency.

Martin Rudert died in 1965 at the age of 79. His cause of death is given as chronic cholangitis on the death certificate shown here.

Martin and Lena Rudert are buried together in the Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

I have to think that Lena must have had her times of discouragement during the early years of her life. She lost both her parents prior to her teenage years and then lost her first child as an infant. I have to also think that her being blessed with a son when she was 37 years old must have been a real joy for her. I do not know how many grandchildren this Rudert couple had, but even if it was just one, I know that grandchildren are a real treat for their grandparents. I am experiencing that joy right now.