Matilda Henriksdotter1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 8193, (1865 - 1926)
FatherHenrik Jakobsson1,4,5 (12 Jan 1824 - 8 Jan 1898)
MotherBeata Maria Johansdotter1,6 (2 Nov 1825 - 3 Aug 1912)

Key Events:

Birth: 24 Feb 1865, Påvals, Ytteresse, Esse, Finland7,8,9
Marriage: 4 Jun 1890, German Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon, Robert Edward Gapsch (4 Sep 1863 - 25 Jun 1946)10,11,12
Death: 19 Mar 1926, 508 East 16th St., Vancouver, Washington13,14
Burial: 26 Mar 1926, Park Hill Cemetery, Vancouver, Washington15,16,17
ChartsDescendants of Edward and Sophie Gapsch

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     
Mathilda Gapsch about 1890
photo courtesy Herb Spady
18 Matilda Henriksdotter was christened on 24 Feb 1865 at Esse.1 She was born on 24 Feb 1865 in Påvals, Ytteresse, Esse, Finland.7,8,9 She is sometimes known in Finland by the "farm name" Matilda Henriksdotter Påvals.

Immigrating to America --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Matilda emigrated from Finland departing 22 Sep 1888, according to the parish records. It seems likely she was the Matilda Henrikson who departed from Gothenburg, Sweden, 19 Oct 1888 aboard the Orlando, for Hull, England. She appears to have been traveling alone, as none of her 16 fellow passengers appear to be relatives.19 If that is the correct Matilda Herikson, she continued her voyage as on the SS Egypt, departing from Liverpool, England and arriving in New York 9 Nov 1888. She was a steerage-class passenger on the starboard side of the vessel.20,21,22
     Matilda adopted the surname Hendrickson after immigrating to the U.S.23,24,25

Starting a Family in Oregon --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Matilda married Robert Edward Gapsch, son of Edward W. Gapsch and Sophie Herfurt, on 4 Jun 1890 in German Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon, with Rev. Edard I. Doering officating.10,11,12
     Matilda and Robert were living in Columbia Hotel, Portland, Oregon, in 1891 where he was shown as a watchman and she as a domestic.26,27 They were living at 128 Mill St., Portland, Oregon, in Apr 1891 when their first child was born.28
     She and her husband sponsored the baptism of Albert Henry Johnson, her sister's son, 21 May 1893 in Portland, Oregon.29
     Matilda and Robert 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.30

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


     Matilda and Robert 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.31,32
     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.33
     Matilda and Robert 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.34
     She and her husband Robert, sold the 40 acres he had purchased from his brother Edward in 1914 to Forest Emery Reigel on 26 Dec 1918, for $1500. He was a brother of the husband of their late daughter Emma.35
Robert & Mathilda's Tombstone
photo courtesy "The Girls"

Moving to California for Her Health --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Matilda and Robert 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.36
     She and Robert sold six lots in La Center, Clark Co., Washington, to their son, Henry on 24 Aug 1920, for $10.37 On 7 Sep 1920 Matilda and Robert 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 1925.38
     Matilda and Robert 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.39,40,41
     Matilda died on 19 Mar 1926 in 508 East 16th St., Vancouver, Washington, at age 61, in her home.13,14 She was buried on 26 Mar 1926 in Park Hill Cemetery, Vancouver, Washington, next to her husband.15,16,17

Children:
     Children with Robert Edward Gapsch:

Citations

  1. [S1386] "HisKi project," christening 9759149, Mathilda, daughter of Bonden Henrik Jakobsson Påvals and Beata Maria Johansdotter.
  2. [S3238] Rippikirja, Ähtävä, Finland, 1858-1866, pg 8, name as Mathilda, daughter of Henrik.
  3. [S3176] Orlando departure 19 Oct 1888, Göteborgs Poliskammare 1869-1950, shows name as Matilda Henrikson.
  4. [S3238] Rippikirja, Ähtävä, Finland, 1858-1866, pg 8.
  5. [S262] Matilda Gapsch, Certificate of Death.
  6. [S3238] Rippikirja, Ähtävä, Finland, 1858-1866, pg 8, shows the girl as daughter of Beata Maria's husband, and that they had married before the birth of the child.
  7. [S1386] "HisKi project," christening 9759149, Mathilda, daughter of Bonden Henrik Jakobsson Påvals and Beata Maria Johansdotter, shows date and village.
  8. [S3238] Rippikirja, Ähtävä, Finland, 1858-1866, pg 8, shows date, living at the farm, and does not show coming from elsewhere.
  9. [S262] Matilda Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows age 61 yrs. 0 mo. 27 days, date and country. Date shown has year as 1863, but age indicates 1865, which agrees with other sources.
  10. [S7298] Robert Gapsch and Matilda Hendrickson, marriage return, shows date, " G. L. Church," and officiant.
  11. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows married 10 years.
  12. [S3156] Polk's Portland City Directory, 1890, pg 571, shows Rev. Edward Doering as pastor; pg 579, shows church at "sw cor 7th and Washington."
  13. [S262] Matilda Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows date, place, city and county.
  14. [S62] Gilman, Knapp Mortuary Funerals, Vol 2, pg 6, shows date, place, city.
  15. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #26116589, Mathilda Gapsch, shows date, as 26th, that is was Robert's lot, and includes photo of stone showing both of them.
  16. [S262] Matilda Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows date, as 22nd, and cemetery.
  17. [S3183] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Cemeteries, "Park Hill - G," pg 5, shows date.
  18. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999, shows month and date, without correction to my "abt. 1890".
  19. [S3176] Orlando departure 19 Oct 1888, Göteborgs Poliskammare 1869-1950.
  20. [S3177] Egypt arrival 9 Nov 1888, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, shows Marthe Henderikson, age 22, citizen of England, as well as ten of her fellow passangers on the Orlando, each incorrectly identified as citizens of Germany; it seems apparent that the record was carelessly made.
  21. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, show year, as 1888.
  22. [S3165] Mrs. Mitilda Gapsch obituary, The Oregonian, shows year, as 1888.
  23. [S7298] Robert Gapsch and Matilda Hendrickson, marriage return.
  24. [S2872] Edward Henry Gapsch, Application for Account, shows name as Mathilda Hendrickson.
  25. [S2879] William Gustav Gapsch, Application for Account, shows name as Mathilda Hendrickson.
  26. [S245] Portland City Directory 1891.
  27. [S244] Portland City Directory 1890.
  28. [S246] (---?---) Gapsch, Portland birth records.
  29. [S1384] Albert Henry Johnson, baptismal certificate.
  30. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon.
  31. [S884] Deeds and Mortgages Clark Co., Washington, 52:417-9, Canadian and American Mortgage and Trust Co., Ltd. to Robert and Matilda Gapsch, agreement, 31 May 1902, and addendum canceling the timber payments.
  32. [S225] Plotting the location (currently near the intersection of NW 359th St and NW Pleasant View Dr.) on DeLorme Street Atlas USA and measuring from the center of the town of La Center yields just about 1.4 miles as the crow flies, and about 2.4 miles following modern streets and roads.
  33. [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.
  34. [S143] Robert E. Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  35. [S884] Deeds and Mortgages Clark Co., Washington, 127:55-6, Robert and Matilda Gapsch to Forest E. Reigel, deed, 27 Dec 1918.
  36. [S418] Robert E. Gapsch household, 1920 U.S. Census, Riverside Co., California.
  37. [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."
  38. [S884] Deeds and Mortgages Clark Co., Washington, 137:607, Robert and Matelda Gapsch to Charley Wampler, deed, 27 Sep 1920; and 142:142-3, Charley and Mattie Wampler to Robert Gapsch, mortgage, 7 Sep 1920.
  39. [S3165] Mrs. Mitilda Gapsch obituary, The Oregonian, shows year.
  40. [S262] Matilda Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows she lived there at her death, and that she had been in the "Registration Dist." for two years.
  41. [S261] Robert Edward Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows he lived there at his death.
  42. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows Emma as the daughter of Mathilda's husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  43. [S349] Erickson, "Family History - Maria Lovisa Henriksdotter."
  44. [S99] Questionnaire, Roberta Ellen Gapsch, 1 Sep 1999.
  45. [S2872] Edward Henry Gapsch, Application for Account.
  46. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 6, pg 49, record for Henry Gapsch.
  47. [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.
  48. [S2879] William Gustav Gapsch, Application for Account.
  49. [S34] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Marriages, vol. 7, pg 75, record for Gustav Gapsch.
  50. [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.
  51. [S1380] Alvina Louise Gapsch, Delayed Certificate of Birth.
  52. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows Alvina as the daughter of Mathilda's husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  53. [S418] Robert E. Gapsch household, 1920 U.S. Census, Riverside Co., California, shows Lucretia as the daughter of Mathida's husband.