The birthday girl for today is a woman named Edna Aurelia Schoen. Edna was definitely born on November 17th, but it is debatable whether she was born in 1895 or 1896. Our German Family Tree gives her birth year as 1895, which would indicate that she would be celebrating her 130th birthday today, but after I gathered all the documents for this post, I have concluded that it is our German Family Tree that is incorrect. I think Lynn Degenhardt’s finger hit the wrong number on his keyboard.

Edna was the daughter of Friedrich and Theresia (Kraml) Schoen. A prior post was written about Edna’s parents titled, A Beautiful Kraml. Edna was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. I am unable to display an actual baptism record for Edna. It gives Edna a birth year of 1896.

Edna is found in the 1900 census at the age of 3. The 1900 census gives a person’s month and year of birth, and this one says Edna was born in November of 1896. Her father was a dry goods merchant in Pocahontas.

When the 1910 census was taken, Edna was 14 years old. This was also the year that Edna was confirmed at St. John’s, Pocahontas. Her father was still a merchant in Pocahontas. Also included in this entry is Edna’s widowed maternal grandfather, Gottlieb Kraml, and his single daughter, Ida. Another previous post was written about Ida called, Ida Kraml – Unattached, Yet Attached.

Edna would get married in 1920, but not until after she appeared in that year’s census. She was listed as 22 years old, but I do not think that was correct. Ida Kraml was also in the household, and both Ida and Edna were called house keepers.

Now, we will take a look at the man who would become Edna’s husband. His name was Eberhard Walter Ruehling, who was born on April 29, 1888. Eberhard was the son of Herman and Pauline (Petzoldt) Ruehling. A post was written about Eberhard’s parents titled, A Ruehling-Petzoldt Pair. Because Eberhard’s mother was a daughter of Friedrich Florian Petzoldt, that qualifies Eberhard to be a grandson of “The Face” Petzoldt. Like was the case with Edna Schoen, Eberhard was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. The information for Eberhard found in the St. John’s binder is pictured below.

Eberhard is found in the 1900 census at the age of 12. His father was a farmer in the Shawnee Township. Since “The Face” Petzoldt had died in 1884, his widow, Christiane, was living with the Ruehling’s.

Next, we find Eberhard in the 1910 census at the age of 21. His mother had died in 1908, so his father was then a widower. Eberhard’s father was called a truck farmer, and Eberhard was a house carpenter.

Eberhard had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. He was not living in Missouri when he had this form completed. He was living in Vesper, Kansas and working for Christian Hansen as a carpenter.

Eberhard did serve in the military during that war. After he died, the application for a military headstone shown here gives details about his military service. He was called a mechanic in the Army.

Eberhard was still single when the 1920 census was taken. He was back living in the Shawnee Township and included in the Henry Putz household. Both Henry Putz and Eberhard were called carpenters.

Eberhard Ruehling married Edna Schoen on December 4, 1920 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. I am able to display 2 different civil marriage records from Cape Girardeau County for this wedding.

Our German Family Tree lists 3 children born to Eberhard and Edna. All 3 were baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. In the 1930 census, we find the Ruehling’s with 2 children. Eberhard was a carpenter in the Shawnee Township.

I was unsuccessful at finding the Ruehling’s in the 1940 census, but I have reason to believe they were still living in or near Pocahontas. When Eberhard had his World War II draft card completed in 1942, he is given a Pocahontas address. He was once again called a carpenter.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. The Ruehling’s had an empty nest, and this time Eberhard was called a cabinet maker for a lumber company.

Eberhard Ruehling died in 1969 at the age of 80. His death certificate below says he died at the St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Edna Ruehling died in 1978 at the age of 81, too recently to view her death certificate. Eberhard and Edna are buried together in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Pocahontas. As you can see on the gravestone, it says Edna was born in 1896.

Almost every time that I have written a post about a Schoen, I have referred to the fact that in German, the word, schoen, means beautiful. In the case for today’s tale, I have to say that a grandson of “The Face” managed to find a beautiful bride in Pocahontas.