Yesterday’s character, Lulu Fassel, would have called today’s main character, Uncle Ed. Edward Fassel was born on September 22, 1861, so today would be his 165th birthday. Edward was the son of Edward and Maria (Friedewald) Fassel. He was often called Edward, Jr. Although his later death certificate would say that he was born in Germany, I do not think that was the case. A descendant of Edward, Roy Fassel, had told me that Edward, Jr. was baptized at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. Early in his life, his father spent some time in the Union Army where he became sickly. Below is a description of Edward, Sr.’s Civil War military record.

The Fassel’s then settled in Wittenberg. That is where we find them living when the 1870 census was taken. Edward, Jr. was 8 years old, and his father was a cooper in Wittenberg.

Edward’s father died in 1877, so when we look at the 1880 census for the Fassel family, we find his mother, Mary, as the head of the household. Edward was 18 years old, and he and his younger brother, John, were both called coopers.

Since Edward would get married during the next decade, we will now take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Josephine Margaretha Elisabeth Lueders, who was born on February 20, 1865. Josephine was the daughter of William and Theresa (Lehner) Lueders. Josephine was born in Wittenberg, and perhaps she was baptized in that river town, but her baptism record is found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Her baptism record is pictured here.

Josephine is found in the 1870 census at the age of 5. Her father was a retail dry goods merchant in Wittenberg. He operated the Wm. A. Lueders General Merchandise Store.

Below is an early photo of the Lueders Store in Wittenberg.

In the 1880 census, Josephine was a teenager. At the bottom of this entry, you will see Josephine’s baby brother, Otto. He is a main character in my Wittenberg books.

Edward Fassel married Josephine Lueders on September 11, 1887. This may be another case where the wedding may have taken place in the church/school building in Wittenberg, but the marriage record is found in the Trinity, Altenburg books. We can view that church record here.

I will display 2 civil marriage records for this pair.

Our German Family Tree lists 6 children born to Edward and Josephine. The first 5 have baptism records in the Trinity, Altenburg books. The last one which was born after St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wittenberg got its own pastor in 1903 was baptized at that church in 1906. When the 1900 census was taken, there were 4 children in the Fassel household. Edward was a cooper in Wittenberg.

The Fassel’s are found in the 1910 census with all 5 of their children. Their son, Arthur, was working at the Goehring Store in Frohna at that time. This time, Edward was called a salesman at a general store. He was likely working at the Lueders Store, which at that time was operated by Otto Lueders.

Next, we find the Fassel’s in the 1920 census with the same 5 children. Edward was called a flour packer at a flour mill. That would have been Joseph Weinhold’s flour mill.

The Fassel’s made a move during the next decade. In the 1930 census, we find them living in St. Louis with 3 single children. Edward, at the age of 68, was a handy man for the Busch brewery. Their son, Otto, was a janitor at an electric company.

In the 1940 census, the Fassel’s were once again living with their 3 unmarried children. Those 3 would be lifelong singles. Edward was a laborer for a brewery, and his son, Otto, was a shipping clerk for a paper company.

Josephine Fassel died in 1944 at the age of 79. Her death certificate says that she died at the Lutheran Hospital as a result of pneumonia.

Edward is found as a widower in the 1950 census. At the age of 88, he is the head of the Fassel household. The same 3 single children, ages 49, 56, and 61, were living with Edward. Only Otto had an occupation, and he was working at a brewery.

Edward Fassel died in 1952 at the age of 90. His death certificate says that he also died at the Lutheran Hospital. He had fractured his skull as a result of a fall on some stone steps.

Edward and Josephine Fassel are buried together in the Our Redeemer Cemetery in Affton. Their daughter, Laura, who died about 10 years after her father had died, was also buried with them.

Edward, Jr.’s great grandson, Roy Fassel, sent me some photos of this Fassel couple and their children. First, here are photos of Edward, Jr. and Josephine.

Next, here is a photograph that was taken of Edward and Josephine and all 6 of their children. Apparently, Edward, Jr. sported a rather impressive mustache during much of his life.

Finally, here is a photo of 4 generations in this Fassel family. From left to right, Roy Fassel, his father, Milton, then Milton’s father, Arthur, and then Arthur’s father, Edward, Jr.

I did not expect to write 2 consecutive posts about people in the Fassel family. The Fassel’s only take up a little over 4 pages in our Germany Family Tree. Many of the Fassel’s have connections to the little town of Wittenberg. Yesterday’s story started in Wittenberg and ended up in Cape Girardeau. This particular story started in Wittenberg, but ended up in St. Louis. I would like to thank Roy Fassel for his help with this story.

One more thing. I decided to see if any Fassel’s were mentioned in my Wittenberg books. I did find a mention about Otto Fassel, the son of Edward and Josephine. In that excerpt, Joseph Weinhold is asked if he knew of a man named Otto Fassel, who was interested in the job of a railroad telegrapher. Joseph responds by saying that he had not heard of Otto. Now, I know that this could not have been true. After all, Otto was living in Wittenberg in 1900 and 1910 census, and by the time of the conversation in my book, Joseph’s daughter was engaged to Josephine’s brother, Otto Lueders. I really tried to keep my books accurate about their characters, but I have since discovered several small errors. This is now one of them.