A Fassel family moved into Perry County after the Civil War and, although they seemed to have their beginnings in the Roman Catholic Church, some of them became tied to Lutherans through marriage. That is how the Fassel’s get into our German Family Tree. Today’s birthday girl was a local Lutheran who married one of these Fassel’s. You will be told her story today.

Amalia Pauline Winter was born on March 17, 1872, the daughter of August and Maria (Mangelsdorf) Winter. She was born on St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday that is arguably more of a Catholic celebration. Pauline was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, Missouri. Below is an image of her baptism record from that church’s books.

Pauline is found in the 1880 census at the age of 8. Her father was a wagon maker. This would be the only census entry in which we find Pauline as being single.

Next, we will turn our attention to the Fassel family. I contacted our museum’s friend, Roy Fassel, for some help with his family’s history. The original Fassel to show up in Missouri was Edward Fassel, Sr., who arrived in America in 1853. Roy told me that Edward was found in the 1860 census living in Cape Girardeau and working as a bar keeper. I was unable to find that entry. I did find a Cape Girardeau marriage record that says Edward married Maria Elizabeth Friedenwald on December 4, 1860. This couple was married by a justice of the peace.

Edward Fassel, Sr. served the Union Army in the Civil War. Below are two documents showing his service in that war.

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One child, Edward, Jr., was born before he went off to war, and others were born afterwards. The first two sons were baptized at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. Documentation for those baptisms are shown below.

A son named Charles was born on April 28, 1869, and a record from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau records his birth. His later death certificate says Charles was born on April 22.

The 1870 census shows the Fassel family living in Wittenberg where Edward, Sr. was a cooper. There is also a daughter named Rosa listed as another child. Charles, who would become Pauline Winter’s spouse, was 1 year old at the time.

In 1877, Edward Fassel, Sr. died. Although there is no church death record for him (he died during the time of the Koestering Hole), and I could find no evidence of him being a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, he is buried in their cemetery.

The Fassel household, headed by Mary Fassel can be seen in the 1880 census. Several other Fassel siblings of Charles can be seen on this list, including another Charles who was just 2 years old. This scenerio can be explained by the possibility that Edward’s first wife had died and he remarried another woman, Mary Jones, who had some connection to Illinois. You cannot see it on this image, but one of the children was born in Illinois. Perhaps some of the children on this form may have been her children by another marriage.

On February 8, 1891, Charles Fassel married Pauline Winter at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. We can take a look at the church record for this marriage.

We can also view this couple’s marriage license.

Our German Family Tree states that this couple had 4 children, one which died at 2 years of age. The first 3 children, born in the 1890’s, have their baptism records in the Trinity, Altenburg books. It’s somewhat likely that they may have been baptized in the church building located in Wittenberg. When St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was officially established in 1903, we find the Charles Fassel family as members there. Their family is recorded as becoming members on May 10, 1903, which was one week after that congregation had their first official worship service.

The last child born to this couple in 1910 was baptized at St. Paul’s. I was unable to find the Fassel family in the 1900 census. When the 1910 census was taken, we find this Fassel household. Their oldest son, Edgar, would have been 18 years old at this time, and he is not found still living with his parents.

Charles is described as a driver for a livery stable in the above census. His brother had married Josephine Lueders, and her brothers operated a livery stable in Wittenberg. That is likely where Charles worked. Next, we find the Fassel family in the 1920 census. This time, Charles was called a cooper.

There was a disastrous flood in Wittenberg in 1927, and that event caused many folks to leave that town. Likely, that happened to the Fassel family. In the 1930 census, we find them living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Charles was a lumber man. I have included the Albert Holschen household. Albert had married Louise (Lulu) Fassel and was also a lumber man.

Charles Fassel died in 1934 at the age of 64. His death certificate says he died at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Pauline Fassel can still be found in the 1940 census where we find her living with the Albert Holschen family as well as her daughter, Wilma.

Pauline died in 1950 at the age of 78. Her death certificate says she also died at St. Francis Hospital.

Charles and Pauline Fassel are buried in the Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

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Several of the Fassel men that lived in Perry County had the occupation of cooper at some time in their lives.

I want to thank Roy Fassel for his contributions to today’s story. I may have to write a post about his ancestor, Edward Fassel, Jr., the older brother of Charles, someday.