Today’s birthday girl is Hilda Margaretha Elisabeth Angermann. Hilda was the daughter of George and Margaret (Sandler) Angermann. Below is a photo of Hilda’s parents that has shown up in a previous blog post.

Hilda was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We can view her baptism record below.

Hilda is found in the 1900 census at the age of 7. Her father was a farmer in the Central Township.

Next, we find Hilda in the 1910 census as a teenager.

Five years later, Hilda married a man from St. Louis, so I think sometime prior to her marriage, she may have spent time in that city and met him there. His name was Edward Melvin Reuter, who was born on January 11th or January 12th in 1889. Edward was the son of Bernard and Hulda (Horn) Reuter. I have no baptism information for him. Edward’s father died in 1896, so in the 1900 census, his mother was the head of the Reuter household. Edward was 12 years old at the time. His mother had no occupation, but his older sister, at the age of 14, is called a seamstress.

In the 1910 census, Edward was 22 years old and working as a tuck pointer for a bricklaying business.

Edward Reuter traveled to Perryville to get married to Hilda Angermann. Their wedding took place on April 4, 1915 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We can view the church marriage record for this couple.

I am also able to show 2 different civil marriage documents for this wedding.

Edward had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. He is given a St. Louis address and was employed by the city of St. Louis. Edward’s military documents say he was born on January 11th.

Edward and Hilda had just one child, a daughter named Mildred born in 1916. In the 1920 census, we find Edward, Hilda, and Mildred living in St. Louis. Edward was a fireman for the city.

When the 1930 census was taken, we find the same trio in the Reuter household. Edward would be called a fireman in all the remaining census entries we can view.

Edward and Hilda had an empty nest when the 1940 census was taken. Their daughter had gotten married in 1933.

Edward had a World War II draft card completed when America got involved in that war, even though he was already 54 years old.

The 1950 census is the last one we can view. At the age of 60 (although I think he was at least 61), Edward was still a fireman for the city of St. Louis.

Edward Reuter died in 1963 at the age of 74. His death certificate says he died of a ruptured heart. He is also called a retired fireman. This form gives Edward a birthday of January 12th.

Hilda Reuter died in 1969 at the age of 77. She died at the St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Edward and Hilda Reuter’s remains are found in the Hillcrest Abbey Crematory in St. Louis.

This is one of many stories about women who were born and raised in Perry County and later met their husbands in St. Louis. That is where Hilda spent the rest of her life. That does not necessarily mean that today’s character, Hilda Reuter, did not ever get back to Perry County. I have the think quite a few family occasions took place in and around Perryville that drew Hilda back here. I am sure that she must have returned for her parents’ funerals which took place in 1958 and 1960.