He was Perryville's oldest Citizen. Held in high esteem by all who knew him. Was 96 years old.

Louis Doerr, Perryville's oldest citizen, died at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, last Saturday morning, December 29th, at about 8 o'clock. On Wednesday, December 19th, Mr. Doerr fell at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chloe Brown, and sustained a broken hip.  He was getting along fairly well, but later grew worse and last Saturday morning he passed away.

Mr. Doerr was born on a farm near Perryville, September 9, 1838.  He was the son of Andrew and Christina Doerr, and at the time of his death he was 96 years, 3 months and 20 days old.  His parents were natives of Germany.

He was married to Rosa Pfieffer April 10, 1868, in St. Louis, and 3 children were born to this union, a son, Arthur, who died Oct. 2, 1890, and Mrs. Chloe Brown and Mrs. Samuel Bond.  The two daughters survive, and both are residents of this city.  Mrs. Doerr's wife died January 12, 1921, and since then he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Samuel Bond, except the last four months which he spent with Mrs. Chloe Brown.  He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Doerr saw Perryville grow from a few hundred inhabitants to a city of more than 3000 people.  He knew all the oldest houses in this city.  He saw the old reap hook displaced by the scythe and cradle, and saw the mower and binder and the modern tractor make their appearance, and the old horsepower displaced by steam engines, and the horse and buggy set aside for the automobile, a more modern conveyance, and the advent of the modern airplane.   His was indeed an eventful life -- almost a century -- that is really surprising.

For many years Mr. Doerr was in the general merchandise business beginning as a salesman in a general store at St Mary's MO., and in 1866 he established a general store there.  Two years later he sold his stock of goods and opened a general store in Perryville, and quite a number of years ago he sold his stock of merchandise, and a few years ago Lurk Brothers purchased the building he occupied.

Mr. Doerr, although 96 years old, still made his rounds about the main business sections here, every day, if the weather was favorable.  His mind was keen for a man of such ripe old age, and he could still read without glasses.  He was honest in dealing with his fellowmen, and true to his legions of admiring friends.  We feel sure that this community has profited by his long quiet and useful life.  He leaves to his children that most precious legacy of all -- good honest name.

The funeral took place from the Young and Fenwick Funeral Home Sunday afternoon at 1:45 to the Lutheran Church in this city where the services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Am M. Lohmann, after which the body of this aged and highly respected citizen was laid to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery near Perryville.

The large concourse of relatives and friends that gathered to show their last respects for a dear departed friend is evidence of the high esteem in which Mr. Doerr was held.