1837 Caroline Margarethe, daughter of Johann Michael Schäfer, farmer in Nellmersbach, and of Friederike born Müller, was born on December 21 in Nellmersbach and baptized the same day. Her sponsors were Christian Müller and his wife Margaretha. [1]
1850 On October 31, John Wagonblast (age 24) lived in Marion Twp, Buchanan County, Missouri, in the household of Michael Wagonblast (age 64), with Jacob (age 22), Christian (age 20), and Lewis Wagonblast (age 18). All were farmers born in Germany. Caleb Wagonblast (age 37) lived in the next household with Christina (age 25) and children Mary, Jacob, Margaret, and John (ages 7, 5, 3, and 1). [2]
1860 On June 21, John Wagenblast [spelled Jno Wagenblant] (age 33) and Caroline (age 23) lived in Rochester Township, Andrew County, Missouri. Both were born in "Wittemberg." John was a farmer. [3]
1870 On August 19, John Wagonblast (age 44), a farmer, and Caroline (age 34), keeping house, lived in Rochester Township, Andrew County, Missouri, with children Marion (age 9), Catherine (age 7), Mary (age 5), Emma (age 5), Caroline (age 3), and George (age 1), all born in Missouri. John and Caroline were born in Wurtemberg. [4]
1880 On June 3, the Wagenblast family lived in Monroe Township, Andrew County, Missouri: John (age 53) was a farmer. The occupation of his wife Carolina (age 42) was "keeps house." John and Caroline were born in Wurtemberg as were their parents. Their 10 children, all born in Missouri, were daughter Catharine (age 17), son Marion (age 19, works on farm), daughter Emma (age 15), daughter Mary (age 15, at school), son George (age 11, at school), daughter Annie (age 9), son Henry (age 7), daughter Flora (age 4), son Frank (age 3), and an unnamed daughter (age 1 month). [5]
1891 John Wagenblast died on Nov. 27 and was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Andrew County, Missouri. The inscription states that he was born Feb. 14, 1826. [6]
1900 On June 19, Caroline (age 62) lived in Monroe Township, Andrew County, Missouri, with her children Henry (age 26, born Sept 1873), Marion (age 39, born Sept 1860), Annie (age 28, born June 1871), Frank (age 21, born Dec 1878), Edith (age 20, born May 1880), and Charles (age 17, born July 1882). Henry was listed as the head of the household and a farmer. Marion and Frank were farm laborers, and Charles was at school. All of the children were born in Missouri. Caroline's year of immigration was 1856. She was a widow with 12 children, 11 living, and she was born in Germany as were her parents. [7]
1910 On April 21, Caroline M. Wagenblast (age 72) lived in Monroe Township, Andrew County, Missouri, with her daughter Edith (age 29) and Edith's husband Luther O. Brown (age 34) and son Donald L. Brown (age 1 11/12). Caroline was a widow and the mother of 12 children (11 living). She and her parents were born in Germany, and her year of immigration was 1856. Also in the household were Louis Schafer (age 57), uncle of Edith (and brother of Caroline) and Anna Wagenblast, sister of Edith and daughter of Caroline (sister-in-law of household head, Luther. Luther was a farmer. Edith and Anna were engaged in farm labor. The occupation of Caroline and Louis was "own income." [8]
1916 Caroline Wagenblast died on January 7 in Monroe Township, Andrew County, Missouri. Her death certificate states that she was born on December 19, 1837, and was 79 years and 17 days old. [9] She was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Andrew County, Missouri. The inscription states that she was born on December 19, 1837. [10] An obituary states,
Mrs. Caroline Wagenblast, seventy-eight years old, widow of John Wagenblast, died at 8:45 o'clock this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. J. Kelly at Avenue City. She is survived by five other daughters, Mrs. August Vogle and Mrs. H. A. Theis, Clarksdale, Mo.; Mrs. L. O. Brown and Miss Anna Wagenblast, Bolckow, Mo., and Mrs. Fred Keiser, Cosby, Mo.; and five sons, Marion Wagenblast, Whiting, Kan.; George Wagenblast, Cosby, Mo.; Henry Wagenblast, Tulsa Okla.; Frank Wagenblast, Jewell City, Kan.; and Charles Wagenblast, Helena, Mo.
Research Notes:
Edwin George Schafer wrote,
Caroline likely married early, whether in Germany before she came to the states or later is uncertain. She lived near the town of Avenue about ten miles from St. Joseph. There were eleven children in her family. By the year 1892 they were all living. Her husband's death occurred prior to that time.
Census records and the age of her oldest child suggest that Caroline married about 1859, about 3 years after she came to America.
[1] Evangelische Kirche Winnenden (OA. Waiblingen), Württemberg, Germany, Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1837-1844, FHL film 1056956, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[2] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] United States Federal Census, 1880, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[6] Find A Grave Memorial 126120078, [FindAGrave].
[7] United States Federal Census, 1900, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] United States Federal Census, 1910, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[9] Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910 - 1966, (search at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Records/Archives/ArchivesMvc/DeathCertificates/SearchResults), death date is stated incorrectly, but the report of the doctor indicates the correct date, [URL].
[10] Find A Grave Memorial 55526181, [FindAGrave].