Ira Oscar Imel1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12401, (1871 - 1927)
FatherThomas Imel4,5,6 (3 Oct 1838 - 30 Jan 1917)
MotherVioletta Riegel4,7,8 (18 Feb 1844 - 31 Mar 1924)

Key Events:

Birth: 12 Dec 1871, Pennsylvania9,10,11
Marriage: Estella B. Gardner (Feb 1875 - 8 Dec 1947)12,13
Death: 30 Apr 1927, 827½ Sourth 8th St., St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri1
Burial: 2 May 1927, Mt. Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri14,15
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel
AncestryThe Reigel Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Ira Oscar Imel was born on 12 Dec 1871 in Pennsylvania.9,10,11 He was generally known by his middle name, Oscar.16,3
     He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., Missouri, in the household of his parents, Thomas Imel and Violetta Riegel.5
     Oscar had a highly varied career path. By 1887 he was working at George Cooke & Co, a china, glass, and queensware dealer, as a city buyer. The following year he was listed as a clerk there. In 1889 he was working as a packer at G. W. Chase & Son, the wholesale confectioner for whom his older brother George had worked for several years as a clerk and traveling salesman.17
     By 1890 he had taken up his father's trade, as a carpenter. That year he worked for the partnership operated by his father and uncle. He is listed as a carpenter in the city directories of 1894 and 1895, and that was his occupation reported in the 1900 census, even though he was clearly pursuing other occupations by then. Perhaps his father was hoping he would continue with the family business?18,19
     He was listed as a packer for the R. Douglas Crockery Co., another company dealing in china, glassware, and queensware, in 1893. By 1896 he was working for Kemper, Hundley & McDonald Dry Goods Co. He continued to work as a clerk for that company and its successor, Hundley-Frazer Dry Goods Co., until about 1899. In 1900 he was listed in the city directory as a solicitor, with no employer specified.20,21
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, in the household of his parents.6
     He began a long association with the beer and liquor business about 1901, when he began working for Hund & Eger bottling works, who were later identified as agent for Pabst Brewing Co. He worked for them until 1908, variously identified as a driver and teamster.22,23
     Oscar moved out of his parents' home about 1902, and roomed at 312 Francis. The 1910 city directory shows him returning to his parents' home in 1910, although he does not appear in the census that year, nor has he been found elsewhere.24
     Oscar became president and general manager of Adriano Bottling Co. about 1909. How he moved from being a teamster to chief officer in a company is unexplained. Wilber C. Crane was secretary and treasurer. In 1912 that firm became Imel & Crane Bottling, with Oscar retaining the same position. He continued in that position until 1915. In 1913 his older brother John assumed the offices of secretary and treasurer.25
     About 1914 Oscar left his parents' home and took up quarters at his bottling works, at 813 Patee.26 About 1916 he moved to the home of his sister Noma and her husband, at 2919 Charles, living there about two years.27
     About 1916 he became a bartender at A. C. Hassur, a saloon. He apparently continued at that trade until at least 1920.28,29
     Ira married Estella B. Gardner, daughter of Nelson Gardner and Sarah Jane [surname unknown].12,13
     Oscar and Estella moved to 116 Pauline St. after soon their marriage, living there until at least 1921. Since their marriage date has not been found, it is not clear whether they lived with a time with his sister first.30 They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 116 Pauline St., enumerated 9 Jan 1920, reporting that they rented their home.31
     By 1924 Oscar and Estella had moved to 517 N. 5th.32 By that time he had become a lodge secretary for Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge, a position he held until his death.32,33
     Oscar died on 30 Apr 1927 at 827½ Sourth 8th St., St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, his residence, at age 55.1 He was buried on 2 May 1927 in Mt. Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri, in his father's lot.14,15

Children:
     There were no children with Estella B. Gardner

Citations

  1. [S1364] Ira Oscar Imel, Certificate of Death.
  2. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri, shows given name as Ira O.
  3. [S1592] Thomas Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows name as Oscar Imel.
  4. [S237] Viletta Imel obituary, Gazette.
  5. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri.
  6. [S1592] Thomas Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri.
  7. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri, shows him as the son of her husband.
  8. [S1592] Thomas Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows him as the son of her husband, and the parents married longer than the age of the son.
  9. [S1364] Ira Oscar Imel, Certificate of Death, shows date, town as "unknown" and state a Kentucky.
  10. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri, shows age 8 and state.
  11. [S1592] Thomas Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows month, year, age 28 and state.
  12. [S4449] Iven O. Imel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows married.
  13. [S1364] Ira Oscar Imel, Certificate of Death, shows married.
  14. [S5422] Mount Mora Cemetery, online, record for Ira Oscar Imel, shows date, lot, and lot owner.
  15. [S1364] Ira Oscar Imel, Certificate of Death, shows date and cemetery.
  16. [S4458] Hoye's City Directory of St. Joseph, 1887 pg 216, 1888 pg 245, 1893 pg 269 all show name as Oscar Imel; 1890 pg 262 and 1894 pg 266 show name as I. Oscar Imel.
  17. [S4458] Hoye's City Directory of St. Joseph, 1887 pg 216; 1888 pp 113, 245; and 1889 pg 292.
  18. [S4458] Hoye's City Directory of St. Joseph, 1890 pg 262; 1894 pg 266; and 1885 pg 272.
  19. [S1592] Thomas Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows occupation as carpenter.
  20. [S4458] Hoye's City Directory of St. Joseph, 1893 pp 46, 269; and 1896 pp 268, 287.
  21. [S4466] Combe Printing Co's Directory of St. Joseph, 1898 pp 365, 362; 1899 pg 406; and 1900 pg 430.
  22. [S4466] Combe Printing Co's Directory of St. Joseph, 1902 pp 427, 480; 1903 pg 481.
  23. [S4467] Combe-Polk Directory Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1905 pg 505; and 1907 pp 491, 498.
  24. [S4466] Combe Printing Co's Directory of St. Joseph, 1902 pg 480 shows him as Ira Oscar living at home, and as Oscar lving at 314 Francis; 1904 pg 481 show him at 312 Francis.
  25. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1909 pp 83, 486; 1912 pg 406; 1913 pg 425; and 1915 pg 286.
  26. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1914 pg 263; 1915 pg 286.
  27. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1916 pg 268 shows Thomas and Oscar at 2919 Charles; 1917 pg 273 shows Charles there; he is not found after that date.
  28. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1916 pp 268, 644; and 1917 pg 273.
  29. [S4449] Iven O. Imel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows occupation as bartender, industry as saloon.
  30. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1921 pg 307.
  31. [S4449] Iven O. Imel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri.
  32. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1924 pg 316; and 1926 pg 240.
  33. [S1364] Ira Oscar Imel, Certificate of Death, shows occupation as lodge secretary, employer as F.O.E. Lodge.