The birthday girl for today has been briefly discussed in a previous post, A Trio of Reformation Day Baptisms in Farrar. I will write a more detailed article about her life today.

Maria Melissa Aurich was born on December 27, 1892, so today would be her 133rd birthday. Melissa was the daughter of Adolph and Josephine (Antonier) Aurich. Melissa was born during the years when Perry County kept birth records. Below are 2 images of Melissa’s record.

Melissa did not get baptized as an infant. For some unknown reason, she was not baptized until 1897, and when she was baptized, there were 3 Aurich baptisms that took place at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar.

Melissa is found in the 1900 census at the age of 8. Her father was a farmer in the Union Township.

I think it must have been about this time that the Aurich’s had this family photo taken. Melissa is in the front row on the left.

When the 1910 census was taken, Melissa was 18 years old and was said to be a cook for a private family.

Since Melissa would get married during the next decade, I would normally spend time looking at her husband, but in this case, I have nothing to share, other than the fact that his name was Lee Franz. I don’t have a birthday, parents’ names, or census entries. Nor do I have a marriage record. As near as I can figure, Lee Franz married Melissa Aurich prior to 1914. Their only child, Rosalind, was born in 1914 in St. Louis. Then Lee Frantz disappears, and Melissa gets married again prior to the 1920 census. Let’s now look at the man who would become her second husband. She found him in Perry County.

Joseph Theodore Roth was born on September 1, 1884, the son of Christian and Magdalena (Landgraf) Roth. Theodore was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, but because I am not in Altenburg, I am unable to display a baptism image for him. However, I can show the Perry County birth record for him.

Theodore is found in the 1900 census at the age of 16. His father was a farmer in the Union Township.

Next, we find Theodore in the 1910 census at the age of 25. His father had died in 1905, so Theodore was the head of the household and doing the farming.

Theodore had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. He is given a Brazeau address and was called a blacksmith.

In the previous post about Melissa, I mentioned that I could not find a marriage record for her wedding to Theodore, but I have now located two of them. Theodore Roth married Melissa Frantz on December 27, 1919 at St. Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. We can view this church marriage record for this couple from the St. Trinity books.

I am also able to display this St. Louis marriage record for this pair.

Theodore and Melissa had one child, but that child was not born until 1930. In the 1920 census, we find this pair living in Frohna with one of Theodore’s sisters and a nephew. Theodore was a blacksmith.

In the 1930 census, we find just Theodore and Melissa in the Roth entry.

A boy named Shirley (yes, a boy named Shirley) was born later in 1930.

An article published in the Perry County Republican says that Melissa Roth was admitted into the State Hospital in Farmington in 1939 for treatment.

That is where we find Melissa when the 1940 census was taken.

Theodore is found living in Frohna without any other family and still working as a blacksmith.

Their young son, Shirley, was living in Cape Girardeau with his half-sister who had married Alfred Chiles, a cab driver.

I think I have only written about one person in the past who did not remain in the State Hospital for the rest of their life. Melissa is found back in Frohna when the 1950 census was taken living with her husband. Theodore was back to being a farmer.

Theodore Roth died in 1955 at the age of 67. His death certificate below says that he died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Melissa Roth lived until she was 98. She died in 1991. This photo of her was taken very late in her life.

Both Theodore and Melissa Roth have grave markers that were probably placed there by the congregation. They are buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna.

I cannot tell this story without mentioning another fact that I discovered about their family. Their son, Shirley Roth found a wife who was also named Shirley. And if that is not enough, his wife was born on December 27th, so she would be celebrating her 87th birthday today. Here’s a gravestone you won’t see every day. Two Shirley Roth’s buried together.

One other thing that I cannot resist. Here is an 8 second video of a famous movie scene. You will likely either groan or laugh.