Edward W. Gapsch1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 8286, (1842 - 1931)
FatherAugust Gapsch4,5
MotherJohanna Christiane Grundmann4 (15 Sep 1801 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 6 Feb 1842, Klosterbuch, Königreich Sachsen6,7,8
Marriage: 5 Jun 1864, St. Äegidien-Kirche, Altenhof, Königreich Sachsen, Sophie Herfurt (13 Jun 1840 - 23 Aug 1910)9,10,11
Death: 23 Mar 1931, Affton, St. Louis Co., Missouri12,13
Burial: 25 Mar 1931, St. Johns Old Cemetery, Mehlville, Missouri14,15,16
ChartsDescendants of Edward and Sophie Gapsch
Known Ancestors of Edward and Sophie Gapsch
AncestryThe Gapsch Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     
Edward Gapsch
photo courtesy Herb Spady
Edward W. Gapsch was born on 6 Feb 1842 Klosterbuch, Königreich Sachsen.6,7,8 He was baptized on 13 Feb 1842 in St. Äegidien-Kirche, Altenhof, Königreich Sachsen. His godparents were Johann Gottfried Kern, house owner, the maiden Wilhelmine, eldest daughter of Johann Christian Winkler, house owner, and Julius Friedrich Wilhelm Dresler, journeyman tailor, the eldest legitimate son of Johann Gottlieb Dresler, house owner, all of Klosterbuch.17
     Edward was christened as Friedrich Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch, and apparently used Eduard as his given name. After his immigration to the U.S. he used the Americanized spelling Edward W.17,5,18

An "Early" Son --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Edward and Sophie's first son, Robert Edward, was born some nine months before they married, while he was still a soldier. Illegitimate births were not exactly rare at the time, and at least in this case it appears the families were supportive of the new parents, since Edward's father and Sophie's mother both acted as godparents of the child.19
     Edward married Sophie Herfurt, daughter of Johann Karl Gottlob Herfurt and Johanna Christiane Goldner, on 5 Jun 1864 in St. Äegidien-Kirche, Altenhof, Königreich Sachsen.9,10,11
     He acted as godfather in the baptism of Georg Albert Gapsch, his brother's son, on 14 Jul 1867 in St. Matthäi Kirche, Leisnig.20

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


     Edward and Sophie arrived in New York on 23 Mar 1881, with their children Robert, Gustav, Emilie and Moritz, 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. Sophie's brother, Heinrich Wilhelm Herfurt, and his family traveled with them.21,22,23 According to family lore, they each had a hand made trunk 2½ by 2½ by 7 feet in size full of clothes and blankets with their initials on them.24 Sophie's brother, Heinrich Wilhelm Herfurt, and his family traveled with them.25 Edward and Sophie settled in Mehlville, St. Louis Co., Missouri, with their family.26

The Mason Becomes a Farmer --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Edward was reported to be a Maurer (mason or bricklayer) when he married in 1864, and his occupation was recorded as bricklayer when he immigrated. Years later he told his granddaughter Alvina that he had been a stone mason. But in 1867, when he was godfather to his nephew Albert, his occupation was reported as Handarbeiter, or day laborer. It is unclear whether this means that he was unable to find work as a mason, or perhaps he was not considered a skilled craftsman.27,28,29
Edward and Sophie Gapsch tombstone
courtesy Ronald Sommers
After his arrival in Missouri it seems his principal occupation was as a truck farmer. He had his own farm by 1900.30,31,32
     Edward and Sophie appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Carondelet Twp., St. Louis Co., Missouri, enumerated 1 Jun 1900, reporting that the family owned its farm, which was mortgaged. Their son Edward was listed as living with them.1
     Edward and Sophie appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Carondelet Twp., St. Louis Co., Missouri, at Lemay Ferry Rd., enumerated 4 May 1910, reporting they owned their farm, which was mortgaged.3
     His wife died on 23 Aug 1910 in Lemay Rd., Mehlville, St. Louis Co., Missouri.33,13,34
     Edward appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Affton, St. Louis Co., Missouri, in the household of his son Moritz G. Gapsch and daughter-in-law Johanna Pruetzel.35 He appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Carondelet Twp., St. Louis Co., Missouri, in the household of his son, Moritz G. Gapsch and wife Johanna Pruetzel, reporting that he had not become a naturalized citizen.36
     Edward died on 23 Mar 1931 in Affton, St. Louis Co., Missouri, at age 89.12,13 He was buried on 25 Mar 1931 in St. Johns Old Cemetery, Mehlville, Missouri, next to his wife.14,15,16

Children:
     Children with Sophie Herfurt

According to family lore Edward and Sophie had two sons who died before they immigrated, one of blood poisoning and one fell out of his baby buggy. There may have been others unknown born in the U.S.24,46

Citations

  1. [S1509] Edward W. Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri.
  2. [S366] Edward Gapsch, Certificate of Death.
  3. [S1721] Edward Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri.
  4. [S2072] Langheinrich, "Taufeintrag: Friedrich, Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch", shows him as fifth child.
  5. [S2102] Langheinrich, "Trauung [marriage]: Friedrich, Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch and Sophie Herfurt."
  6. [S2072] Langheinrich, "Taufeintrag: Friedrich, Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch", shows date and village.
  7. [S366] Edward Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows date and country, as Germany.
  8. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passenger 249, shows age 40 and "country to which belonging" as Saxony.
  9. [S2102] Langheinrich, "Trauung [marriage]: Friedrich, Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch and Sophie Herfurt", shows date and church.
  10. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passenger 249, shows them apparently as husband and wife with their children.
  11. [S1509] Edward W. Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri, shows married, 36 years.
  12. [S366] Edward Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows date, town, and county.
  13. [S5704] Edward Gapsch and Sophie Gapsch joint tombstone, Old St. John's Cemetery, shows date.
  14. [S366] Edward Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows date, and cemetery.
  15. [S5704] Edward Gapsch and Sophie Gapsch joint tombstone, Old St. John's Cemetery.
  16. [S351] Edna Gapsch, notes, "Edward Gapsch Family 1st Generation," shows cemetery and town.
  17. [S2072] Langheinrich, "Taufeintrag: Friedrich, Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch."
  18. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passenger 249, shows name as Ed Gapsch.
  19. [S2121] Langheinrich, "Taufeintrag [christening]: Eduard Robert Herfurth", shows date, and godparents.
  20. [S2108] Langheinrich, "Taufeintrag [christening]: Georg Albert Gapsch."
  21. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passengers 249-254, shows ship, state of origin, departure city, arrival city and date, class of accommodations, and destination.
  22. [S151] Robert Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Oregon, shows he immigrated in 1882.
  23. [S1890] Moritz Gapsch household, 1920 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri, shows Moritz and Edward immigrated in 1881.
  24. [S4105] Alvina Myers letter to Howard Gapsch, unknown date.
  25. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passengers 255-261.
  26. [S2007] Interview, Edna Gapsch, 26 Feb 2001.
  27. [S2102] Langheinrich, "Trauung [marriage]: Friedrich, Wilhelm Eduard Gapsch and Sophie Herfurt", shows occupation as Maurer.
  28. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passenger 249, shows occupation as bricklayer.
  29. [S1457] Interview, Alvina Myers, 2 Jun 2008, recalled her grandfather told her he had been a stone mason, and had built the stonework for road culverts.
  30. [S1509] Edward W. Gapsch household, 1900 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri, shows occupation as farmer, on his own farm.
  31. [S1721] Edward Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri, shows occupation as famer, on a truck farm.
  32. [S366] Edward Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows occupation as farmer.
  33. [S367] Sophia Gapsch, Certificate of Death, shows date, place, town and county.
  34. [S351] Edna Gapsch, notes, "Edward Gapsch Family 1st Generation," shows date.
  35. [S1890] Moritz Gapsch household, 1920 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri.
  36. [S1859] Moritz Gapsch household, 1930 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri.
  37. [S2121] Langheinrich, "Taufeintrag [christening]: Eduard Robert Herfurth", shows that the mother stated he was the father, and this was affirmed by the subsequent marriage of the parents.
  38. [S2856] Robert Edward Gapsch, Application for Account.
  39. [S669] Weser arrival 23 Mar 1881, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, passengers 249-254, shows them apparently as parent and child.
  40. [S351] Edna Gapsch, notes, "Edward Gapsch Family 1st Generation."
  41. [S1005] William Weber and Emma Gapsch, Application for License to Marry, Consent of Parent section shows him as her father.
  42. [S1076] Moritz Gapsch, Sr., Standard Certificate of Death.
  43. [S326] Questionnaire, Betty Jeane Spady, 22 Dec 2000.
  44. [S1385] Minna Martha Gapsch, death register, shows surname as Gapsch and born in St. Louis; Edward and Sophie are the only Gapsch family known to in this area at that time.
  45. [S2863] Edward Gapsch, Application for Account.
  46. [S1721] Edward Gapsch household, 1910 U.S. Census, St. Louis Co., Missouri, shows her as the mother of 12 children, with four living.