After doing plenty of research on today’s couple, I discovered a fact that I had misinterpreted when I found it in our Germany Family Tree. The couple’s marriage did not take place as it is implied in our GFT at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. I also did not find too much of a connection to the Lutheran community with this pair. However, I will write the story anyway. It starts with a birthday boy.

Gilbert Elliot Brewer was born on March 12, 1896, so today would be his 130th birthday. Gilbert was the son of James and Anna (Fassold) Brewer. Gilbert’s mother is a person who is connected to our GFT. She was baptized and got married at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg. Before I move on, let me say that the church books of Peace, Friedenberg were destroyed in a fire. Later in time, some folks from that congregation made a gallant effort to reconstruct as many of their church records as possible and included them in a book that was published called Friedenberg Remembrances. In the case of Gilbert’s Brewer family, that book says that several of the Brewer children were baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran, but in the entry for Gilbert, it does not indicate that he was baptized and confirmed there. I think there is a possibility that he was, but I cannot say for sure.

Gilbert is found in the 1900 census at the age of 4. His father was a farmer in the Central Township.

The only other census entry in which we find Gilbert prior to his marriage is the one taken in 1910. Gilbert was 14 years old at the time, and if he was confirmed at Peace, Friedenberg, that event probably took place at about this time.

In the 1915 plat maps for Perry County, we can see that the Brewer farm was located outside Perryville and not far from where Peace Lutheran Church was located.

Gilbert had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. It gives him a Perryville address and calls him a farmer and thresher. What surprises me is that it does not say Gilbert was working for his father. Perhaps he had been able to acquire his own farmland by this time.

Now, we will take a look at the woman who became Gilbert’s bride. Her name was Isabella Rosa Bienlein, who was born on January 11, 1901. It is Isabell that I figured would be connected to our German Family Tree because several Bienlein stories have been written on this blog about people with that name. However, although Isabell is found in our GFT, we do not find her parents in that document. Isabell was the daughter of John and Christine (Heideburg) Bienlein. Actually, there is a bit of connection between this Biehlein family and our GFT, and it is described in a post titled, A Neighborhood Lutheran/Catholic Marriage. She is found in only one census entry prior to getting married. She was 9 years old when the 1910 census was taken. Her father was a farmer in the Salem Township.

Gilbert Brewer married Isabell Bienlein on April 30, 1918. The two civil marriage records shown below indicate that this pair was married by a Roman Catholic priest, not a Lutheran pastor. The GFT implies that this couple was married at Peace Lutheran Church, but that was not the case.

Family Search lists 3 children born to this couple. One of them died rather early. None of their children have baptism records in our German Family Tree, so I have to think that this Brewer couple became members of a Catholic church in the area. When the 1920 census was taken, there was one child in their household. Gilbert was a farmer in the Central Township.

In the 1930 census, it looks as if the Brewer family had made a move to a different farm. They are found living in the Bois Brule Township. The two children who lived to adulthood, a boy also named Gilbert and a girl named Elvira, are found in their household.

Next, we find the Brewer’s in the 1940 census. Once again, we find the Brewer’s in a different township. They were living in the Salem Township near Crosstown. I know that there was some severe flooding that had taken place in the Mississippi River bottoms, so that may have caused this move. Maybe a descendant in this family could tell why this family moved a few times. Their daughter had gotten married in 1939, so in this entry, we find Gilbert and Isabell, along with their son, who this time was called by his other name, Elvis.

Gilbert had his World War II draft card completed in 1942. He is given a Menfro address and a telephone originating at the Eggers Store in Farrar with a Crosstown exchange.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. Gilbert and Isabell had an empty nest and were still living near Crosstown in the Salem Township. Gilbert was called the farmer, and Isabell was a farm helper.

At some point later in their lives, Gilbert and Isabell had these photos taken. Someone has placed these photos on their Findagrave.com entries.

Isabell Brewer died in 1973 at the age of 72. Right now, we are able to view death certificates all the way up to 1975, so we are able to view the one for Isabell shown here.

Gilbert Brewer died in 1978 at the age of 81. It will not be long before the public can view his death certificate. Gilbert and Isabell are buried together in the Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery in Perryville.

I almost gave up on this story before writing it, but I am glad I pushed past that urge and kept plugging away. After all, how can one not write a story that includes two children who were called Elvira and Elvis? And one more thing. Gilbert Elvis Brewer was killed in action during World War II and is also buried in the same cemetery with his parents.