Rupert Kress was a US Army veteran who served as a First Sergeant in Europe in World War II. Rupert and Lucy raised their family at the Gerhart Kress home place at the bottom of the Kress hill. Rupert farmed and also drove a school bus in later years.
As a young woman, Lucy helped out with the family of her cousin, Ignatz Schockling after Ignatz's wife (Gertrude Schwallie) gave birth to her children.
Records conflict on dates of birth and birth order of brothers Gerhart and Leo Kress:
Snider has: Leo 3 Sep 1877
Gerhard 20 Mar 18801900 census has: Gerhart Sep 1879
Leo Mar 1880
(Note that the 1900 census is unlikely to be correct, since there's only a six month difference between the dates.)Thirty-one year old Gerhart Kress lived with his mother and several adult siblings at the time of the 1910 census.
On September 12, 1918 self employed farmer, Gerhard Kress (38 - DOB Mar 20, 1880) registered for the military draft. According to his draft registration card, he lived at RFD #1, Caldwell, Noble Co. Ohio and his nearest relative was Veronica Kress of the same address. His physical description is given as: tall with a medium build, dark brown eyes and black hair.
In 1920, 39 year old farmer Gahard Kress lived with his wife, Veronica (32) on a farm they owned in Enoch Twp., Noble Co., Ohio. Living with them were their children Florence (3 yrs 3 mos), and Rupert (1 yr 1 mo).
In 1930, Gerhart Kress (50) owned a farm in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio. Living with him were his wife Frona H. (43), children Florence M. (13), Rupert E. (11) and Howard A. (9), and Gerhart's unmarried brother John (66). All of the children attended school. Adjacent farms in the census belonged to widow Mary (Sorg) Coleman and Isadore Snider.
On April 27, 1942, 62 year old, self-employed farmer, Gerhard Kress (dob: March 20, 1880, pob: Noble Co., Ohio) of Stock Twp., Caldwell Rt. 1, Noble Co., Ohio registered for the military draft. His draft registration card lists Frona Kress of Caldwell, Ohio as the person who will always know his address. His physical description is given as height: 6'; weight: 185 lbs., eyes: brown, hair: gray; complexion: light.
A wedding announcement appeared in the Caldwell Journal-Leader on 17 Nov 1915:
FULDA -- Gernard Kress and Miss Verona Schott
were married here Monday morning. [15 Nov 1915]The obituary of Veronica Schott Kress appeared on page 1 of the Zanesville Times Recorder on 5 Nov 1959:
MRS. KRESS OF CALDWELL DIES AT 72
CALDWELL - Mrs. Veronica Kress, 72, of Caldwell
died at 2 p.m. Wednesday [4 Nov 1959] at Marietta
Memorial Hospital where she was taken last week
following a stroke. Her husband Gerhard died four
years ago.
She was a member of St. Philomena Catholic
church at St. Ann’s Guild here.
Mrs. Kress was born here Feb. 24 1887, to Peter
and Margaret Yeagle Schott. She resided here all
her life.
Surviving are two sons and a daughter, Howard of
Caldwell, Rupert of Caldwell Route 1, and Mrs. Florence
Smithberger of Whipple; a brother, Clarence, and a
sister, Mrs. Mollie Rohrig, both of Caldwell; and nine
grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Estadt Funeral Home where
rosary rites will be held at 8 p.m. today and at 8:30 p.m.
Friday. Funeral services at 9 a.m. Saturday will be con-
ducted at the church by the Rev. Fr. Stephen J. Pekella,
with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery.