Edward Henry Gapsch1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 8267, (1893 - 1991)
FatherRobert Edward Gapsch1,4,5 (4 Sep 1863 - 25 Jun 1946)
MotherMatilda Henriksdotter1,4,6 (24 Feb 1865 - 19 Mar 1926)

Key Events:

Birth: 25 Nov 1893, Portland, Oregon7,8,9
Marriage: 24 Dec 1916, Clark Co., Washington, Alma Cecelia Tenold (3 Sep 1897 - 6 Nov 1951)10,11,12
Divorce: 27 Apr 1925, Vancouver, Washington, Alma Cecelia Tenold (3 Sep 1897 - 6 Nov 1951)13
Marriage: before 1930, Geneva Beulah Hartman (1 Jan 1899 - 12 Oct 1994)14,15,16
Divorce: before Jul 1951, June Hartman (1 Jan 1899 - 12 Oct 1994)17,18,19
Marriage: 20 Oct 1951, Green's Chapel of Flowers, King Co., Washington, Dollie Rena Kingery (20 Jul 1906 - 22 May 1991)20,21
Divorce: 27 Apr 1954, Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, Dollie Rena Kingery (20 Jul 1906 - 22 May 1991)22,21
Marriage: 15 Jun 1955, Asotin Co., Washington, June Hartman (1 Jan 1899 - 12 Oct 1994)23,24,25
Death: 15 Sep 1991, Clatskanie, Columbia Co., Oregon26,27,28
ChartsDescendants of Edward and Sophie Gapsch
AncestryThe Gapsch Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Edward Henry Gapsch was born on 25 Nov 1893 in Portland, Oregon.7,8,9
     He used his middle name, Henry, almost universally.29,30,31
     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.32 He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of La Center, Washington in the household of his parents.33

An Early Auto Mechanic in La Center --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Edward married first Alma Cecelia Tenold, daughter of Nils G. Tenold and Marie O. Kuntson, on 24 Dec 1916 in Clark Co., Washington.10,11,12
     Henry was machinist in 1916 when he first married, and a mechanic in a home garage by 1920. He was an automobile salesman in 1930. By 1936 he was working at Mardens Garage in Woodland.34,35,36,37
     Henry registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at La Center, Washington, reporting he was employed as a self-employed mechanic.2
     Henry and Alma appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of La Center, Clark Co., Washington, enumerated 7 Jan 1920. Their daughter Dorine was listed as living with them.30
     Henry bought six lots in La Center, Clark Co., Washington, from his parents, Robert Edward Gapsch and Matilda Henriksdotter on 24 Aug 1920, for $10.38
     Henry and Alma were divorced on 27 Apr 1925 in Vancouver, Washington. He received an interlocutory degree on the ground of desertion.13

Moving between Vancouver, Montana, and Idaho --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Henry moved to Vancouver before 1926. He was living in 2405 F St., Vancouver, Washington, in Mar 1926 when he acted as informant for his mother's death certificate.39
     Henry married second Geneva Beulah Hartman, daughter of Winefield Washington Hartman and Ida Bertha Finecy, before 1930. She was by then going by the nickname June.14,15,16
     Henry and June appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, enumerated 9 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a home valued at $4,500.40 He applied for a Social Security Number 25 Nov 1936, while living at 2700 E 30, Vancouver, Washington, where he was employed by Mardens Garage in Woodland Washington.1
     Henry and June moved to Montana between 1935 and 1939, where he worked as a foreman for a mining company. In 1940 he reported that he had worked 60 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $3,200.41 They appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Madison Twp., Madison Co., Montana, enumerated 17 May 1940, reporting that they had each lived in Vancouver, Washington, in 1935.42
     A short time later they moved to Helena, were they were listed as living at 1101 Livingston Ave. in the 1941-42 edition of the Helena city directory, and he is shown as a miner.43,44
     Henry and June were divorced before Jul 1951.17,18,19
     Henry married third Dollie Rena Kingery, daughter of Fredrick McClellan Kingery and Cora Cordelia Miller, on 20 Oct 1951 in Green's Chapel of Flowers, King Co., Washington, with Rev. C. E. Rayburn officiating.20,21
     Henry and Dollie lived in Vancouver, Washington, for a few months after they married, then moved to Lewiston, Idaho in late Mar 1952.45
     He formed a partnership with Sam J. Alexander on 20 Mar 1952 which purchased the Lewis-Clark Garage in Lewiston, Idaho, from George Sarchet for $35,000. Henry's share was $15,000, paid in part by the sale of his Chrysler automobile for $3,054. His partner paid a like amount, with the balance financed by a loan of $20,000, which also provided working capital.45 Their press announcement on 1 Apr 1952 said that the consideration "was in the neighborhood of $50,000." The property included more than 400 front feet of space, two new car showrooms for the Chrysler dealership, a body and general repair shop, a service station, and a used car lot. Henry said he had formerly managed a Chrysler agency in Woodland, Washington.46
     Henry and his new partner held an open house so the public could meet the new owners on 17 May 1952. The opening was delayed, they said, so a complete line of Chrysler cars could be on display. Women who attended were given corsages of the newly patented Chrysler Imperial Rose.47 Henry apparently worked at the garage for several years, earning a salary of $750 per month. It seems the garage produced little profit beyond the salaries paid. Net income in 1952 was $30.57, and less that $690 the following year.45

A Precedent-Setting Divorce --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Henry and Dollie were divorced on 27 Apr 1954 in Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho.22,21
     After their brief marriage, Henry and Dollie's divorce seems to have been very acrimonious. She filed for divorce 6 Aug 1953, less than two years after their marriage, charging extreme cruelty. He filed a cross-complaint on the same grounds. The court granted her motion and made a property settlement, which he appealed. The Idaho Supreme Court decided his appeal 24 Nov 1954, upholding the divorce granted by the lower court, but in a long and detailed decision overturned many of the aspects of the property settlement. The appellate decision was evidently precedent-setting, as it has been cited by the Court some 50 times in of other cases over the years.45,48
     Henry remarried June Hartman on 15 Jun 1955 in Asotin Co., Washington, with Rev. Paul Dean Hill of Lewiston, Idaho, officiating.23,24,25

Creating a Pulp Wood Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     After his divorce, Henry sold his interest in the garage to his partner and returned to Washington and in 1956 organized Blue Mountain Reload Company. The company operated "reload stations" in Athena, Oregon, and Walla Walla, shipping about 17 rail cars of pulpwood per week to Scott Paper Company. He sold the company in 1960 to C. C. Wilson of Portland. He told reporters that in the four seasons it had operated the company it had put more than $1,000,000 in new payroll money in the Walla Walla area.49,50
     He died on 15 Sep 1991 in Clatskanie, Columbia Co., Oregon, at age 97.26,27,28

Children:
     Child with Alma Cecelia Tenold:

  • Dorine Katherine Gapsch51,52 (4 Aug 1918 - 13 Nov 1985)

Children:
     There were no children with Geneva Beulah Hartman

Children:
     There were no children with Dollie Rena Kingery

Citations

  1. [S2872] Edward Henry Gapsch, Application for Account.
  2. [S1974] Edward Henry Gapsch, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  3. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 6, pg 49, shows name as Henry Gapsch.
  4. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 6, pg 49, record for Henry 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 him as the son of her husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  7. [S2872] Edward Henry Gapsch, Application for Account, shows age 43, date, city, as Portland, and state.
  8. [S1974] Edward Henry Gapsch, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, town, as Jion or perhaps Zion, and state.
  9. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 6, pg 49, shows age 23 when married 24 Dec 1916, town as Sullivan, and state.
  10. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 6, pg 49, shows date, as 24th, county, and state.
  11. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999, shows date, as 25th, and town as Woodland, indicating it is questionable.
  12. [S204] Henry Gapsh household, 1920 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows married.
  13. [S3162] "Four Decrees Granted," The Oregonian, 28 Apr 1925.
  14. [S7261] Henru E. Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows married.
  15. [S2875] Geneva Beulah Hartman Gapsch, Application for Account, signed 24 Apr 1939 shows as married and signed Mrs. June Gapsch.
  16. [S5296] Edward H. Gapsch household, 1940 U.S. Census, Madison Co., Montana, shows married.
  17. [S1451] Lawrence M. Rains and June H. Gapsch, marriage certificate, shows she remarried 28 Jul 1951.
  18. [S1465] Interview, Ella Reigel, 23 Jul 2000, recalling that Henry was married to Dolly by the time of the birth of Ella's daughter Maxine.
  19. [S326] Questionnaire, Betty Jeane Spady, 22 Dec 2000, shows they were divorced for a short while after she became involved with a religious group.
  20. [S2846] E. Henry Gapsch and Dollie Rena Kingery, marriage certificate, shows date, city, county, state, and officiant.
  21. [S1476] Gapsch v. Gapsch, Supreme Court of Idaho, 76 Idaho 44, 277 P.2d 278 (Idaho, 1954), shows date.
  22. [S1480] Gapsch v. Gapsch, Tenth District Court, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, vol. 15: 510-1, Nez Perce County Clerk, shows date.
  23. [S1450] E. Henry Gapsch and June H. Rains, marriage certificate, shows date, county, and officiant.
  24. [S110] Personal knowledge of author, recalling that Henry's marriage to Dolly was short-lived, and then he re-married June.
  25. [S930] "Oregon Death Index, 1903-98," Ancestry.com, record for Edward Henry Gapsch, shows spouse as June.
  26. [S130] "Social Security Death Index," Rootsweb.com, record for Edward H. Gapsch, Soc. Sec. No. 533-10-0083, shows date.
  27. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999, shows town.
  28. [S930] "Oregon Death Index, 1903-98," Ancestry.com, record for Edward Henry Gapsch, shows date, county, and cert. # 91-18480.
  29. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows name as Henry Gapsch.
  30. [S204] Henry Gapsh household, 1920 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  31. [S3161] "Portlander Buys Plant," The Oregonian, 29 Jul 1860, shows name as Henry E. Gapsch.
  32. [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.
  33. [S143] Robert E. Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  34. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 6, pg 49.
  35. [S204] Henry Gapsh household, 1920 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows occupation as mechanic in a home garage, working on his own account.
  36. [S7261] Henru E. Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows occupation as salesman, industry as autos.
  37. [S2872] Edward Henry Gapsch, Application for Account, shows employed by Mardens Garage in Woodland Washington.
  38. [S884] Deeds and Mortgages Clark Co., Washington, 140:78, Robert and Matilda Gapsch to Henry J. Gapsch, deed, 6 Dec 1920. No other Gapsch family is known in the area, so "Henry J." would appear to be their son, Edward Henry. He is know to have lived in La Center after this time, and often went by "Henry" although no other record shows "Henry J."
  39. [S262] Matilda Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows Hentry as informant.
  40. [S7261] Henru E. Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  41. [S5296] Edward H. Gapsch household, 1940 U.S. Census, Madison Co., Montana, shows occupation as foreman, industry as mining.
  42. [S5296] Edward H. Gapsch household, 1940 U.S. Census, Madison Co., Montana.
  43. [S3155] Polk's Helena City Directory, 1941-42, pg 105, shows address as 1101, town, and state.
  44. [S3258] "Lewis-Clark Garage Sold," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 2 Apr 1952, shows address as 1103.
  45. [S1476] Gapsch v. Gapsch, Supreme Court of Idaho, 76 Idaho 44, 277 P.2d 278 (Idaho, 1954).
  46. [S3258] "Lewis-Clark Garage Sold," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 2 Apr 1952.
  47. [S3260] "Oregon Men Buy Lewiston Garage New Garage Owners Plan Open House," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 16 May 1952.
  48. [S1477] FastCase.com, online, shows 49 cases that cited "Gapsch v. Gapsch" from 1956 through 2004. Most of the cases were divorces, with a few estate settlements and other matters, involving several different issues raised in the Gapsh decision.
  49. [S3259] "Oregon Men Buy Lewiston Garage," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 19 Oct 1955, shows Alexander sold the garage, and Henry had sold his interest "several months ago."
  50. [S3161] "Portlander Buys Plant," The Oregonian, 29 Jul 1860, describes Blue Mountian Reload Company.
  51. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999.
  52. [S349] Erickson, "Family History - Maria Lovisa Henriksdotter."