William Gustav Gapsch1,2,3

ID# 8266, (1895 - 1980)
FatherRobert Edward Gapsch1,4,5 (4 Sep 1863 - 25 Jun 1946)
MotherMatilda Henriksdotter1,4,6 (24 Feb 1865 - 19 Mar 1926)

Key Events:

Birth: 14 Feb 1895, Reedville, Washington Co., Oregon7,8,9
Marriage: 5 Sep 1917, La Center, Clark Co., Washington, Anna Marie Erstad (27 Sep 1896 - 19 Oct 1967)10,11,12
Marriage: 14 Feb 1970, Faith Baptist Church, Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, Selma Amelia Erstad (15 Aug 1904 - 8 Apr 1994)13,14,15
Death: 26 Apr 1980, Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington16,17
Burial: 30 Apr 1980, Park Hill Cemetery, Vancouver, Washington18
ChartsDescendants of Edward and Sophie Gapsch
AncestryThe Gapsch Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     William Gustav Gapsch was born on 14 Feb 1895 in Reedville, Washington Co., Oregon.7,8,9 He was known to family as Gus.19,20
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Reedville, Washington Co., Oregon, in the household of his parents, Robert Edward Gapsch and Matilda Henriksdotter.5
     He moved to La Center, Washington, with his parents, after they bought the farm there in Nov 1900. They loaded all their goods on a wagon, and herded the dairy cows all the way, some 50 miles, crossing the Columbia River on a ferry.21 He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of La Center, Washington in the household of his parents.22
     Gus registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at La Center, Washington, reporting he was a self-employed farmer.23
     William married first Anna Marie Erstad, daughter of Ole Eric Erstad and Marie S. Rudy, on 5 Sep 1917 in La Center, Clark Co., Washington.10,11,12
     Gus and Anna appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Portland, Oregon, at 288 18th St. N., enumerated 17 Jan 1920. Their son Robert was listed as living with them.24
     Gus and Anna appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon, at 1238 East 9th St. North, enumerated 8 Apr 1930, reporting the family owned a home valued at $1500, but did not own a radio. Their children Robert, Harold and Howard were listed as living with them, They were living next door to his sister Lucretia and her family.25
     Gus applied for a Social Security Number 30 Nov 1936, while living at 5862 NE 9 Ave., Portland, Oregon, where he was employed by Pacific Meat Company at Kenton Station, Portland, Oregon.1
     William and Anna appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon, at 5862 N E 9th Ave., enumerated 8 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $1,500, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Their children Harold and Howard were listed as living with them.26
     Gus was a farmer when he married in 1917, but had become a shipyard machinist by 1920. By 1930 he was a helper at a packing plant, and later a butcher at Pacific Meat Co.27,28,29,30,31
     His wife died on 19 Oct 1967 in Vancouver, Washington.32,33,34
     After Anna's death, Gus married her sister, Selma Amelia Erstad, on 14 Feb 1970 at the Faith Baptist Church, Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, with Rev. Howard M. Hart officiating.13,14,15
     William died on 26 Apr 1980 in Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, at age 85.16,17 He was buried on 30 Apr 1980 in Park Hill Cemetery, Vancouver, Washington, sharing a stone with his first wife, and next to his second wife, her sister.18

Children:
     Children with Anna Marie Erstad:

  • Robert William Gapsch24,25,35 (27 Jul 1919 - 10 Dec 1938)
  • Harold Oscar Gapsch36,25,26 (4 Dec 1921 - 5 Feb 1985)
  • Howard Vernon Gapsch37,38,25 (6 Dec 1924 - 29 Aug 1999)

Children:
     There were no children with Selma Amelia Erstad

Citations

  1. [S2879] William Gustav Gapsch, Application for Account.
  2. [S143] Robert E. Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows name as William G Gapsch.
  3. [S3206] William Gus Gapsch, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, William Gus Gapschserial no. 8845 Jun 19171991535.
  4. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 7, pg 75, record for Gustav Gapsch.
  5. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon.
  6. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows as the son of her husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  7. [S3206] William Gus Gapsch, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, town, and state.
  8. [S2879] William Gustav Gapsch, Application for Account, shows date, town, county, and state.
  9. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows month, year, age 5, and state.
  10. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 7, pg 75, shows date and county.
  11. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999, shows date and city.
  12. [S1739] William G. Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon, shows married, with him age 24 and her 21 when first married.
  13. [S2847] William G. Gapsch and Selma A. Erstad, Certificate of Marriage, shows date, city, county, state, and officiant.
  14. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999, shows date and city, state.
  15. [S101] Interview, Ruth Riggs Reigel, by telephone 27 May 1999, noted Anna and Selma were sisters.
  16. [S919] "Washington Death Index, 1940-2014," Ancestry.com, record for William G Gapsch, cert. no. 009775, shows date and county.
  17. [S102] Questionnaire, Sally Jo Reigel, 19 Jun 1999, shows city and state.
  18. [S3183] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Cemeteries, "Park Hill - G," pg 5.
  19. [S3183] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Cemeteries, "Park Hill - G," pg 5, shows name as William Gus Gapsch, from tombstone inscription.
  20. [S2874] Harold Oscar Gapsch, Application for Account, shows name as Gus Gapsch.
  21. [S5706] Myron D. Spady letter to author, 23 Dec 2000, citing stories told him by his uncle Henry, one of Robert and Matilda's children.
  22. [S143] Robert E. Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  23. [S3206] William Gus Gapsch, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  24. [S152] William G. Gapsch household, 1920 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon.
  25. [S1739] William G. Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon.
  26. [S5295] William G. Gapsch household, 1940 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon.
  27. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 7, pg 75, shows occupation as farmer.
  28. [S152] William G. Gapsch household, 1920 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon, shows occupation as shipyard machinist.
  29. [S1739] William G. Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon, shows occupation as helper at a packing plant.
  30. [S2879] William Gustav Gapsch, Application for Account, shows employed by Pacific Meat Company at Kenton Station, Portland, Oregon.
  31. [S5295] William G. Gapsch household, 1940 U.S. Census, Multnomah Co., Oregon, shows occupation as scaler, industry as slauter.
  32. [S919] "Washington Death Index, 1940-2014," Ancestry.com, record for Anna M Gapsch, cert. no. 021931, shows date and county.
  33. [S3183] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Cemeteries, "Park Hill - G," pg 5, shows year from tombstone inscription, and date from unidentified source.
  34. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999, shows date.
  35. [S102] Questionnaire, Sally Jo Reigel, 19 Jun 1999, 6/19/1999 Notes.
  36. [S2874] Harold Oscar Gapsch, Application for Account.
  37. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999.
  38. [S2853] Howard Vernon Gapsch, Application for Account.