The last of ten children born into a Boxdorfer family is today’s highlighted character and birthday girl. Margareth Pauline Boxdorfer was born on October 6, 1891, so today would be her 135th birthday. Pauline was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Rauh) Boxdorfer. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. An image of her baptism record is displayed here. I was able to find this actual baptism record because Ancestry.com now has plenty of church records from Immanuel, Perryville in its Missouri Synod collection.

Pauline was also born at a time when Perry County kept birth records. Pauline’s record is shown below in 2 images. Her first name is not included in this form. She is just called a female.

Pauline is found in the 1900 census at the age of 8. You can see that she was the youngest child in her family. Pauline’s father was a farmer in the Central Township. Some of her older brothers were helping their father on his farm.

Pauline was confirmed in 1905 at Immanuel, Perryville. Her confirmation class is shown here. Included in the same class was Hilda Angermann, whose story was told a few days ago on this blog, Angermann and the Fireman.

Next, we find Pauline as a teenager in the 1910 census. She was the only child still living with her parents. I am showing several other households in this image to demonstrate that there must have been a whole neighborhood of Boxdorfer farms.

By the time of the 1920 census, Pauline’s father had retired from farming and moved into Perryville. Just Henry, Elizabeth, and Pauline were again included in the Boxdorfer household. Both Pauline and her mother were called housekeepers.

Pauline never did get married. In 1921, her father died, so when the 1930 census was taken, we find just Elizabeth and Pauline in the Boxdorfer household. Neither one of them was given an occupation. However, since Elizabeth was 81 years old, Pauline was likely the primary housekeeper, which also must have included helping to take care of her elderly mother.

Pauline’s mother died in 1933, so when the 1940 census was taken, Pauline was living by herself in Perryville.

The last census the public can view is the one taken in 1950. Once again, we find Pauline living by herself with no occupation. The census taker indicated that Pauline was married, but that is incorrect.

Pauline would also be included in the 1960 census and the 1970 census. Someday, the public will be able to view those records. Sometime not long after 2030, we should be able to view the 1960 census.

This photo of Pauline can be found on her Findagrave.com site. It was taken later in her life.

Pauline Boxdorfer died in 1978 at the age of 86, too recently to view her death certificate. She is buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.

I have a soft spot in my heart for lifelong singles. I guess that is because I once thought I had a good chance of becoming one before my wife rocked my world by actually agreeing to get married to me. I have been a member of several Lutheran congregations during my life, and in my experience, I have gotten to know quite a few women who were never married. Single women do not have the responsibilities of married women, such as keeping a whole family fed and transporting children to athletic events. As a result, I have known several single women who were very active and faithful members of their churches, serving as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teachers, choir members, leaders in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and other church tasks normally done by women such as Altar Guild. I have a great deal of respect for the wonderful work done by these special women. I like to think that Pauline was such a servant at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville.