Robert Edward Gapsch

Narrative:

      Robert Edward Gapsch was born on 4 Sep 1863 in Beiersdorf, Königreich Sachsen.^8,9,10 He was baptized on 13 Sep 1863 in St. Äegidien-Kirche, Altenhof, Königreich Sachsen, His godparents were his paternal grandfather, August Gapsch, his maternal grandmother, Johanna Christiane Goldner, and his mother's brother, Heinrich Wilhelm Herfurt.⁷ Robert was christened as Eduard Robert Herfurth. After his parents married the following year it appears he used his father's surname. He apparently used Robert as his given name, and adopted the spelling Robert Edward after he immigrated to the U.S.^22,23,3
     According to family stories, he was "farmed out" at a young age to a prosperous farmer. He had to get up before dawn to do chores, including blacking th master's boots, before running to school to avoid being whipped for being late.²⁴
     He arrived in New York with his parents, Edward W. Gapsch and Sophie Herfurt, on 23 Mar 1881, on the steamship Weser, having departed from the port of Bremen. They were shown on the passenger list as from Saxony, with a stated destination of St. Louis, and having traveled in steerage class.^25,26,27

Moving to the Northwest --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Robert moved west in the late 1880's. According to family lore he declared that "if I had wanted to live in Germany I wouldn't have left," a reference to the heavily German community where they lived near St. Louis. He started his journey with his uncle and godfather, Heinrich Wilhelm Herfurt, and his daughters. Supposedly his companions traveled only as far as "Indian Territory," Oklahoma, where they stayed, and no further evidence of them has been found. Robert continued to the Pacific Northwest, arriving in Portland, Oregon.²⁸
     His dislike for German influences was evident by the effort he took to speak English without any German accent. Those who knew him in later years said they heard no trace of it. When acquaintances spoke to him in German he responded in English unless the other person did not speak English.²⁹
     Robert married first Matilda Henriksdotter, daughter of Henrik Jakobsson and Beata Maria Johansdotter, on 4 Jun 1890 in German Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon, with Rev. Edard I. Doering officating.^11,12,13
     Robert and Matilda were living in Columbia Hotel, Portland, Oregon, in 1891 where he was shown as a watchman and she as a domestic.^30,31 They were living at 128 Mill St., Portland, Oregon, in Apr 1891 when their first child was born.³²
     He and his wife sponsored the baptism of Albert Henry Johnson, her sister's son, 21 May 1893 in Portland, Oregon.³³

From the City to the Farm --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Robert and Matilda appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Reedville, Washington Co., Oregon, enumerated 26 Jun 1900. Their children Emma, Edward, William, Alvina and Robert were listed as living with them.³⁴
     Robert was seems to have taken up farming when they moved to Reedville, and continued for many years.^35,36 He and Matilda purchased 120 acres about 2 miles northwest of La Center, Clark Co., Washington, on 5 Nov 1900, for $2000, from the Canadian and American Mortgage and Trust Co., Ltd. They paid $500 down, and in a complicated contract, agreed to pay the balance by 1 Dec 1906, with interest at 7%. Principal and interest were to be paid in installments, with title to all crops remaining with the seller until each installment was paid. The buyers could cut timber but one-third of the value was to be paid to the sellers, to be applied to the balance due. This provision was cancelled on 11 Dec 1901 after payment of $1000 against the purchase price had been made.^37,38 (See Map.)
     The move to La Center must have been quite an adventure. 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.³⁹
     On 26 Dec 1918 he and Matilda sold the 40 acres he had purchased from his brother Edward in 1914 to Forest Emery Reigel, for $1500.⁴⁰ The $1500 loan from 1918, the $1250 loan from 1919, and the $1350 loan from 1920 were all recorded as satisfied later that month.⁴¹
     Robert and Matilda appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of La Center, Clark Co., Washington, enumerated 26 Apr 1910. Their children Emma, William, Edward, Lucretia and Alvina were listed as living with them, as well as his brother, Edward Gapsch.⁴²
     Robert purchased 40 acres to the west of his existing farm on 22 Jul 1910, from Thomas Horn for $700, apparently paying in full.⁴³ On 11 Jul 1914 Robert bought from his brother Edward, the 40-acre parcel he had purchased in 1911, near in La Center, Clark Co., Washington. The purchase price is listed as $10 and assumption of the outstanding $400 mortgage.⁴⁴
     He was apparently more successful at farming than some of his neighbors, perhaps in part because he was more frugal. His youngest daughter, who married the son of a neighboring farmer, once told him "You had cream in your mush. We had skim milk. I don't remember drinking much milk. My sister and I drank coffee. It was cheaper than the milk we sold or fed to the pigs." Perhaps taking advantage of his ties in Portland, he went there weekly to see eggs and butter to one of hotels.⁴⁵
     Robert seems to have had other interests as well. In 1908 he incorporated the LaCenter Canning & Packing company in La Center, with Victor Martina and George Lawton. The company was capitalized at $12,000.⁴⁶ In the 1920 census, in California, and 1930, in Vancouver, he shows no occupation, apparently retired. But by 1940 he had evidently taken up work again at the Columbia Spruce Mills.^47,48,49

To California for Matilda's Health --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 15 Feb 1916 Robert leased his farm (excluding 5 acres) to John Staadt for a term of 5 years, commencing 1 Mar 1916. It would seem likely this was in connection with moving to California, which according to family lore was for the benefit of his wife's health. The lessee agreed to pay $30 per month and to cultivate the farm in a "careful and husband-like manner," protect the trees and maintain the buildings. All straw and manure made on the premises was to be spread there, and not removed. The lease included livestock: ten cows, five steer calves, one dark bay horse about 9 years old, one light bay horse age 15 years, and 48 chickens. No stock was permitted to run on cultivated fields during the rainy season. Implements were also included: a mower, hay rake, hay tedder, hay fork and attachments, potato digger, disk, harrow, plow, cultivator, wagon, fan mill, feed cutter, root cutter, power grinder, cider mill, and cream separator, all of which were to be kept in the machine shed when not in use, and kept in good repair. The tools were to be used only by the lessee, and not loaned or hired out. The lessee had the right to cut firewood for his own use. The lessor reserved the right to remove the saw mill.⁵⁰
     The transaction was not successful. In Feb 1917 Robert filed an affidavit declaring the lease forfeited because the lessee failed to pay any of the rent and had abandoned the property in Apr 1916.⁵¹
     On 26 Dec 1918 he and Matilda sold the 40 acres he had purchased from his brother Edward in 1914 to Forest Emery Reigel, for $1500. He was a brother of the husband of their late daughter Emma.⁴⁰
     Robert and Matilda appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Beaumont, Riverside Co., California, at 460 Euclid Ave., enumerated 7 Jan 1920, where they are shown as owning their home, free from mortgage. Their daughter Lucretia was listed as living with them.⁵²
     He and Matilda sold six lots in La Center, Clark Co., Washington, to their son, Henry on 24 Aug 1920, for $10.⁵³ On 7 Sep 1920 Robert and Matilda sold the 40 acres he had purchased in 1910 to Charley Wampler for $6500. Robert took a mortgage for $4500 against the property, at 6% interest. It was to be repaid by 1 Oct 1926, but was actually repaid 5 Feb 1925.⁵⁴
     Robert filed a Declaration of Intention to become naturalized on 10 Feb 1917 in Clark Co., Washington, but did not complete the process before moving to southern California.⁵⁵ He filed a Petition for Naturalization on 4 Jan 1922 in Riverside, California.⁵⁶ His naturalization certificate was issued by the Superior Court in Riverside on 26 Jun 1922.^57,58

Back to Washington --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Robert and Matilda moved to 508 E. 16th St., Vancouver, Washington, in 1923 where they lived until she died, and he continued to live there after he remarried.^59,60,61 She died on 19 Mar 1926 at that home.^62,63
     Robert married second Charlotte Anne Bright, daughter of Robert Bright and Milessa Crondell, between 1926 and 1930.^14,15,16
     Robert and Charlotte appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, at 508 E. 16th St., enumerated 5 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home valued at $3000, and did not own a radio.⁶⁴
     Robert and Charlotte appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, at 508 E. 16th, enumerated 11 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $2,500, and had lived in the same house in 1935.⁶⁵
     Robert reported in April that he had not been employed the prior year, and was not seeking work. But he applied for a Social Security Number 9 Nov 1940, reporting that he was employed by Columbia Spruce Mills, at Ft. W. 12 St., Vancouver, Washington.^65,5
     Robert died on 25 Jun 1946 in 508 E. 16th St., Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington, at age 82, in his home.^17,18 He was buried on 28 Jun 1946 in Park Hill Cemetery, Vancouver, Washington, in his lot, next to his first wife.^19,20,21