Friedrich/Fridolin Gerspacher/Gersbacher

145 years ago today, on 15 September 1871, the oldest child of my 2nd-great-grandparents Johann Gerspacher/John Gersbacher and Kunigunde Dreier, was born. His birth name was Friedrich Gerspacher, but he was later known as Fridolin. His paternal grandfather and maternal great-grandfather were both named Fridolin, so perhaps his parents had intended to name him Fridolin, but the priest recorded his name as Friedrich and that became his official name at birth.

Faller, Helmut. Familiengeschichte der Gemeinde Görwihl. Bad Säckingen : H. Faller, 2000.

When he was eleven years old, he and his mother and siblings left his hometown of Niederwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany. The family sailed from Bremen on the Braunschweig and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland on 26 July 1883. They then joined Fridolin's father in St. Louis, Missouri. After arriving in the United States, he was also known as Fred or Frederick.

Gerspacher family, Braunschweig passenger list. Baltimore, Maryland. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Baltimore, Maryland, 1820-1891. Microfilm Publication M255. RG 36. 50 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Ancestry.com. Baltimore, Passenger Lists, 1820-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. 

In 1889, he worked as a manager for the Union News Co.

Gould's St. Louis Directory for 1889. St. Louis, MO: Gould Directory Co. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

In 1891, he worked as a bottler.

Gould's St. Louis Directory for 1891. St. Louis, MO: Gould Directory Co. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

He died in St. Louis, Missouri on 30 May 1892, when he was only 20 years old. The cause of death was oedema of the lungs. He was buried in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, section 010K, lot 0024E.

St. Louis, Missouri. Burial certificate no. 3863, Friedoline Gersbacker, 1892. Ancestry.com. Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.