Joseph Hanrath was born on May 29, 1901, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of William and Helen (Hannekamp) Hanrath. The family made their home in Ward 14, where Joseph was joined by siblings William, Gertrude, Lena Helen, Bernard, John and Margaret. The father William died before 1910.
By 1920 only Helen and sons John and Joseph remained at home at 2318 Victor. Joseph was working in the sampler room of a shoe factory. Ten years later, Joseph was living on his own at 2843 Wisconsin in St. Louis, and employed as a salesman for the Permanent Products Company. His mother, Helen, died on December 28, 1924.
Joseph in 1940 was a lodger, living at 17 Christopher Street in Manhattan, New York. He was employed as an auto mechanic at a garage. His draft card at the beginning of World War II stated he worked for the Louis Weiner Garage on 38th Street in Brooklyn. He was described as white, 5'7" tall, 132 pounds, gray eyes, brown hair, and a "one inch scar on left wrist."
Joseph Hanrath died on November 21, 1980 at the Franklin Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. On November 14, 1981, he was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; U.S., WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; 1910, 1920, and 1940 censuses; U.S. Newspapers.com- St. Louis Post-Dispatch; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.