Today, I will begin by looking at a man named Albert Winkler. Eventually, I will get around to discussing today’s birthday girl. Albert Louis Charles Winkler was born on March 14, 1881, the son of William and Marie (Schmidt) Winkler. Albert was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. His baptism record from that congregation’s books is displayed here.
Because he was born after 1880, and since we cannot view the 1890 census, the first census in which we could find Albert is the one taken in 1900. However, I failed miserably in my efforts to find him in that year’s census. I do know that he would have been about 19 years old, and he was not living with his father. His mother had died around 1882 when Albert was very young.
Now, we will take a look at the woman who would become Albert’s first wife. Her name was Frieda Matilda Haupt, who was born on February 12, 1882. Frieda was the daughter of Henry and Sabina (Haupt) Haupt. There is proof in the Cape Girardeau marriage record for Frieda’s parents’ wedding shown below that this was indeed the marriage of a Haupt to another Haupt. That wedding took place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim.
Frieda was also baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim, and we can view her baptism record here.
Frieda is found in the 1900 census at the age of 18. Her father was a farmer in the Whitewater Township of Cape Girardeau County.
The Haupt family had a photo taken, probably not long before the above census was enumerated. Another baby, a girl named Clara, was born in 1900 and is not seen in this photo. Frieda is identified as being in the back row, second from the right.
Albert Winkler married Frieda Haupt on April 8, 1902. The 2 civil marriage records below say that they were both from Kurreville and were married by Rev. Joseph Schulz.
Rev. Schulz was the pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Kurreville according to this list of early pastors at that congregation.
I was unable to find any documentation for it, but it appears that Frieda died shortly after this couple was married. If we could view the Zion, Kurreville books, perhaps we would find a death record for her. Also, she may be buried in the Kurreville Cemetery, but only 4% of that cemetery’s grave sites have photos.
Albert Winkler would get married again, so let’s take a look at the woman who would become his 2nd wife. Her name was Marie Karoline Bertha Grass, who was born on December 30, 1875, so she is today’s birthday girl. Bertha would be celebrating her 150th birthday today. She was the daughter of Henry and Friedericke (Bangert) Grass. Bertha was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Even though she was born in 1875, she was not baptized until January of 1876.
Bertha is found in the 1880 census at the age of 4. Her father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.
Bertha was still single when the 1900 census was taken. She was not living with her parents. Instead, she was living with Charles and Henry Grass, two of her brothers. Charles was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.
Albert Winkler married Bertha Grass on December 27, 1903. They were married by the same pastor as the one who married Albert and Frieda a year earlier. Bertha was married 3 days before her 28th birthday.
I think this couple had 5 children. Family Search only lists 4 of them, but one they do not list is a son named Friedrich who was born in 1907 and baptized at Trinity, Friedheim. He is the only child that has a baptism record in our German Family Tree. Two of their children died as infants. In the 1910 census, we find the Winkler’s with 2 sons. Albert was a farmer in the Whitewater Township in Cape Girardeau County.
Albert had his World War I draft registration completed when America entered that war. He is given an Oak Ridge address.
One more child was born in 1911, so in the 1920 census, we find the Winkler’s with 3 children. Albert’s father was also living with Albert and Bertha. This time, Albert was a farmer in the Byrd Township.
Next, we find the Winkler’s in the 1930 census living in Cape Girardeau. Albert was a truck driver for the highway department. One daughter was also working at the shoe factory. Albert’s father was still living with them also.
The 1940 census shows that the Winkler’s had once again relocated. This time, they were living in Jackson. Albert and Bertha had an empty nest, and Albert was still driving truck for the highway department.
Albert had his World War II draft card completed in 1942 even though he was already 61 years old.
In the 1950 census, we find Albert and Bertha living with their daughter, Laura, and her husband, Henry Voshage, who was a farmer in the Byrd Township. Albert was still working for the highway department at the age of 69.
Bertha Winkler died in 1953 at the age of 78. Apparently, right about the time of the 1950 census, she was admitted into the State Hospital in Farmington.
There is a bit of evidence that Albert got married once again. His 3rd wife was Addie (Speck) Tidwell. I think Albert was also Addie’s 3rd husband. I do not know when these two were married, but Addie is listed on Albert’s death certificate.
Albert Winkler died in 1961 at the age of 80. His death certificate shown here says that he died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.
Albert and Bertha Winkler are buried together in the Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.
Addie Winkler died in 1976, and I am able to let you read her obituary.
In closing, let me tell you one of the reasons I was attracted to this story. Recently, Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim got a new pastor, and his name is Rev. Michael Winckler. He spells his name just a bit differently that Albert. I wonder if Pastor Winkler is aware that he is not the first Winkler at Friedheim. I also hope he does not mind that I stole his Facebook profile photo to display here.
