Brother Leo Thoma (-2G) is born 3 April 1866 in Altenschwand, Baden

Sister, Kunigunde Thoma, (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 21 Feb. 1868

Sister Bertha Thoma (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 17 Nov. 1869

Sister Rosina Thoma (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 10 April 1871

Mother, Rosa Schmid, died 22 Dec. 1871 in Altenschwand

Father marries Emilie Jaeger* (-3G) in Grafenhausen on 5 Feb. 1874

Half-Brother Emil Thoma* (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 29 Oct. 1974

Sister Bertha died in Altenschwand on 17 May 1875

Immigrated to U.S.A. in 1881; in St. Louis as early as 1883

Married to Mary Elizabeth H. Juengel, (-2G) on 30 Sep. (or 01 Oct.) 1889 in St. Louis

Son Otto H. L. Thoma (Jr.) (-1G) born 16 December 1890 at St. Louis, MO

Half brother Emil immigrates on 30 Dec. 1892, later moves in with Otto's family

Son Walter Thoma (-1G) born 18 April 1893 at Missouri

Daughter Clara Thoma (-1G) born 2 Oct. 1896 in St. Louis, MO

Father died on 05 Oct. 1910 in St. Louis, MO

Traveled with brother Leo to Europe in early 1925

Daughter Clara died on 16 June 1928

Died on 31 May 1930 after the Census, in St. Louis, MO

Buried on 03 June 1930 in New Marcus Cemetery

*marked my direct-line ancestors. The (-2G), etc., after the names indicated the number of generations before Erven Thoma

	Otto was born on 23 July 1864 in Altenschwand, a small town very near Rickenbach in the Waldshut district of southern Baden. The area is not far from the borders with Switzerland and France. The record of birth was made at the church in Rickenbach. His baptism was also recorded there.
The IGI database on the LDS Family Search has his baptism (christening on 24 Jul. 1864 at a catholic church) record (batch J969141, source call 0957339). Parents are listed as Fridolin Thoma and Maria Schmid. However the first name is spelled incorrectly as "Oddo."

Otto's parents owned an inn, the "Hirschen" (Stag) in Altenschwand which is still there today! No doubt Otto assisted at the inn. The inn is located across from the bus stop and war memorials on the main road from Rickenbach. I visited there in August 2004.

On the left is the church in Rickenbach (built in 1841-46) where Otto and his family were baptized and probably confirmed. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Here is the outside of the Hirschen (Stag) Inn as it appears today (August 2004). Click the thumbnail to enlarge the picture.
Here is a picture of the inside dining rooms at the Hirschen Inn, as they appeared in 2001. Click the thumbnail to enlarge the picture.

Brother Leo Thoma (-2G) is born 3 April 1866 in Altenschwand, Baden.

Sister, Kunigunde Thoma, (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 21 Feb. 1868.

Sister Bertha Thoma (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 17 Nov. 1869.

Below find three pictures of the old school house in Altenschwand where Otto probably went to elementary school. Presently there are not enough children in Altenschwand to warrant its own school, so the children go to the school in Rickenbach.

Here is a picture of the school house in Altenschwand (as it appeared in 1902?) where Otto went to elementary school from about 1870 to whenever he graduated or moved to the U.S.A. Part of the building or the smaller adjacent building was used for the city hall.
Here are pictures of the same school house as it appears today (in summer of 2004). The building is owned by the Altenschwand community and the upstairs is rented out for living space. There is also an attic that has a large storage area. Pictures show the front-side as well as the back. The small building once used as a city hall (see picture in row above) is no longer there..

Sister Rosina Thoma (-2G) is born in Altenschwand on 10 April 1871.

Otto's birth-mother, Rosa Schmid(-3G), died on 22 Dec. 1871 in Alternschwand, Baden.

Otto's father, Fridolin (-3G), remarries to Emilie Jaeger in Grafenhausen, Baden on 05 Feb. 1974

Half-brother, Emil Thoma (-2G) is born on 29 Oct. 1874 in Altenschwand, Baden.

His sister Bertha Thoma (-2G) died on 17 May 1875 in Altenschwand, Baden.

		Otto, his brother Leo and their father (perhaps also a step-mother) came to this country in 1880 or 1881. The Baden Emigration Index (1866-1911) reports that Otto and Leo emigrated in 1881 from Altenschwand. I have not yet found them in a passenger list or index.
I did not find them in the Hamburg Passenger List Index for year 1881, so maybe they left from another port. The Rickenbach church records for Altenschwand indicate that Otto, Kunigunde and Rosa (Rosina) filed a petition on 12 Feb. 1881 to emigrate to the U.S. It also indicates that they came to Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Otto's first jobs in America were in the restaurant and wholesale wine business for five years. In the 1881 St. Louis Directory, no known Thoma appears. In the City Directory of 1882 no Otto or Leo Thoma is listed; perhaps they had not yet arrived in the area. In the 1883 Directory, Otto Thoma is a waiter, living at 216 Market. In the 1884 St. Louis Directory, Otto Thoma, bartender, is living at 711 S. Broadway. In the Gould's St. Louis City Directory of 1885, there is listed a waiter Otto Thoma living at 521 Gratiot. In the 1886 Directory he is listed as a bartender living at 838 S. 6th.

Otto H. Thoma (Sr.) was a partner in the Stettner-Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery. There was a brewery founded in St. Louis by Louis Milentz in 1858 which operated at 1535 Carondelet [South Broadway]. Following several ownership changes, Christian Stettner and Otto Thoma took over the brewery in 1886. They operated under the name Stettner and Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery. (To see a picture of a bottle from that brewery, click here.) In 1906, they moved the brewery to 128-130 Sidney Street. In 1908, they merged with the Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Company and operated as a branch of that concern until closing in 1913. As was typical of these brewers at the time, they only produced Weiss beer. His brother, Leo Thoma, assisted Otto in the brewery, then married and moved to Kansas City, MO where he set up his own brewery and later a bottling business.

In the Gould's City Directory of 1888 Otto is listed [details?]. Leo is also listed as a bottler living at 1535 S. Broadway.

Otto was naturalized on 10 Nov. 1888 in the Circuit Court of St. Louis. His native country was Germany and his age was 24. At the time of his immigration he was a minor. Witnesses were Caspar Gross and Otto's brother, Leo Thoma. (MO Archives vol. D, page 195.)

He married on either 30 Sep. or 01 Oct. 1889 to Mary Elizabeth Juengel (-2G) either at home or at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. There is no record of their marriage in the St. Louis City records.

The first picture shows Otto with his wife. It must be a wedding picture. The second picture show Otto alone, at a later date? Click on thumbs to enlarge the pictures.

In the Gould's City Directory of 1890, Otto is listed (living at 1718 S. 7th St.), and so is his brother Leo with a residence of 1503 S. 7th St. Otto and Christoph Stettner are partners in Stettner & Thoma brewery on Broadway at the SW corner with Marion, making weiss beer. Fridolin, the father of Otto and Leo and Emil, is also living at 1718 S. 7th though his name is listed as Frederick.

Son Otto H. L. Thoma (Jr.) (-1G) was born 16 Dec. 1890 at St. Louis, MO

The 1891 Directory shows Otlo [sic!] Thoma, working at Stettner & Thoma at the rear of 1535 S. Broadway, residing at 1718 S. 7th.

The Baden Emigration Index (1866-1911) reports that half brother Emil emigrated from Grafenhausen, Baden in 1892. The passenger list shows that Emil was destined for the home of Otto at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis. That means that Otto and his family moved there sometime between mid 1891 and late 1892.

Son Walter Thoma (-1G) was born 18 April 1893 in St. Louis, Missouri

The 1892-1895 Directories list Otto Thoma, working at Stettner & Thoma at the rear of 1535 S. Broadway, living at 2817 Wyoming. [In fact, he is a partner in this brewery company.]

This picture shows the two sons of Otto--Otto Jr. and Walter--taken before 1895. Click on thumbnail to enlarge the picture.

Daughter Clara was born 2 Oct. 1896 in St. Louis, MO. Her birth is recorded in the Register of Births--City of St. Louis, MO (vol. 79B, page 272). At this time the family is living at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis.

The 1896-99 St. Louis City Directories show Otto Thoma, of Stettner & Thoma at the rear of 1535 S. Broadway, living at 2817 Wyoming.

In the 1900 Fed. Census for Missouri (enum. district 154, sheet 10, line 52) from St. Louis (ward 10), Otto and his family are living at 2817 Wyoming St. in St. Louis. At this time (8 June 1900) he is 35 years old, born in July 1864, and has been married 10 years. 1880 is given as his year of immigration and he has been in the country 20 years. He owns his house and it is mortgaged. He can read and write and can speak English. His occupation is weiss beer brewer. His wife, Mary is 34 years old, born July 1865 in Missouri. She can also read, write, and speak English. Also present are their 3 children: Otto (Jr.) (listed as Otto H. L.) (10 years old, born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri), Walter (7 years old, b. in Apr. 1893 in Missouri), and Clara (3 years old, born in Oct. 1896 in Missouri). Clara is mistakenly called a son of feminine gender! Sons Otto and Walter are at school. Also living there is his half-brother, Emil Thoma (my grandfather), 26 years old, born Oct. 1873 [sic!] in Germany. Emil is called a boarder of no relation to Otto [sic!]. Emil's immigration is listed as 1894 [should be 1892] and his occupation is cabinet maker.

He is listed in the 1904 Gould's St. Louis City Directory as living at 2817 Wyoming and a partner in the Stettner-Thoma Brewery located at 1535 S. Broadway.

The house at 2817 Wyoming where Otto Thoma and family lived from ca. 1891 to ca 1926. The house still stands (in Aug. 2001) but was in very poor condition. Fortunately the house has been restored in 2006-7. Click here for pages from the restoration construction company. That web site has drawings and pictures and information. Click the thumbnail to enlarge.
Here is a picture of Otto and his children from ca. 1900, taken in the backyard at his home at 2817 Wyoming.

The 1905 St. Louis Dir. lists the Stettner & Thoma Brewery at the rear of 1535 N. B'way [Broadway]. The 1909 Dir. has Otto H. Thoma, clerk at 2936 LaSalle, living at 2817 Wyoming. I believe the latter refers to the son, Otto Jr.

The 1910 Fed. Census for Missouri (supv. dist. 10, enum. dist. 170, sheet 16B, family no. 379, lines 60-65) taken on 23 April has the Soundex index 102 0170 0379. The family is living still at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis City. Otto is 45 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1880, naturalized. He and his wife have been married 22 years. His parents were born in Germany. His wife, Elizabeth, is 44 and was born in Missouri. She is a clerk at a packing house and her parents were born in Germany. They own the house but it is mortgaged. Otto H., a son, is 19 and was born in Missouri. Walter A., a son, is 17 and was born in Missouri. Clara, a daughter, is 13 and was also born in Missouri. With the family is the wife's sister, Amalia Juenel (Juengel), 53 years old, born in Missouri, her parents in Germany.

There is a Freidolin Thoma, 80 years old, who was buried on 08 Oct. 1910 in the Otto Thoma lot (block 7, lot 41, grave 1) of the New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County. At that age in the year 1910, this Freidolin would have been born in 1830 which is the correct year for the birth of Otto's father. Although the German church family records indicate that Otto's father died on 27 June 1888 in Baden, I can show that that is an error, a case of mistaken identity with another Fridolin Thoma from Altenschwand, who has different parents and who married a sister (Monika) of our Fridolin.

The 1910 Directory has Otto Thoma, vice-president of Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Co. at 130 Sidney, living at 2545 Dodier. There is also a listing for Otto H. Thoma as a clerk at 2936 LaSalle, living at 2817 Wyoming. I need to see if this entry refers to Otto's son.

Click on this thumbnail to enlarge the picture of Otto Jr. (-1G). This picture might have been taken on his wedding date in Dec. 1912.

The 1913 Directory has 2817 Wyoming for Otto Sr.

The Gould's Red Book of 1914 lists the Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Co., Leonard H. Gross. president; Otto Thoma, vice-president; and Robert Dougherty, secretary and treasurer, at 130 Sidney. Elsewhere in the same book the brewery has two locations, 130 Sidney and 2545a Dodier. Curiously, the same 2545a Dodier also shows the business name, Columbia Weiss Beer Brewery. I believe that the Columbia business was operated as a branch of the Missouri brewery business. Later (during and after Prohibition) Otto and sons owned a Columbia Products Co.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1915 lists Otto Thoma as the vice-president of the Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Co. at 130 Sidney and living at 2817 Wyoming Ave. The 1916 Dir. has Otto Thoma, vice-pres. of Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Co. 130 Sidney, living at 2817 Wyoming. Otto Jr. has a separate listing at the same address, as a salesman at 2936 LaSalle. The 1917 Dir. has Otto H. Thoma with the same information as in 1916. Son Walter has a separate listing at the same address, bur son Otto Jr. is at a different address. The 1918 Dir. shows Otto H. Thoma, vice-pres. of Stettner-Thoma Weiss Beer Brewing Co., living at 2817 Wyoming. Otto Jr. and Walter have separate listings--Otto Jr. at a different address.

The 1920 Fed. Census (vol. 105, district 206, sheet 10, line 21) lists Otto and his family still living at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis. He is 55 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1878 and naturalized in 1885. With him is his wife, Mary E., 54 years old, born in Missouri, and the daughter, Clara, 23 years old, born in Missouri. Also living there is Amalia Juengel, the wife's sister, 63 years old, born in Missouri (1910 Census says born in Germany). The two sons, Otto and Walter, are no longer living at home with their parents; they are married. I have only examined the Soundex Index.

This picture shows the only daughter of Otto and Mary Elisabeth--Clara Thoma (-1G). This picture may have been taken at her wedding in June 1921.

The 1922 St. Louis Directory shows Otto H. Thoma, bottler at 2545 W. Dodier., and the family still living at 2817 Wyoming. The 1924 Dir. has Otto H. Thoma, pres. Columbia Products Co., living at 2817 Wyoming. Otto Jr. and Walter have separate listings, both at different addresses. The 1925 Dir. has Otto Thoma (Columbia Products Co.) h2817 Wyoming.

Otto applied for a U.S. passport that was issued on 05 Feb. 1925. The application gives this information: He was born in Germany on 23 Jul. 1864. His father was Fridolin, deceased. He emigrated from Baden, Germany ca Oct. 1879 and resided the whole time since then in St. Louis. On 10 Oct. 1888 he (and his brother) was naturalied in the Circuit Court of St. Louis. His occupation was merchant. The purpose of leaving the country is to travel and return within six months. The application states the destination is to all countries but since he is to travel with his brother, we know from Leo's application that they are to travel in England, Holland, Germany and Switzerland. It is most likely that they visited their birth place, Altenschwand in the Baden province. Otto (and his brother) planned to board the ship Cleveland leaving from the New York port on 05 Mar. 1925. On the application Otto gave his business, 2545 West Dodier St., as the address where he wanted the passport delivered. His physical description is on the application: 60 years old, 5' 6" height, medium forehead, grey eyes, regular nose, mustached mouth, square chin, grey hair, fair complexion, oval face and regular nose. The picture on the application is below.

This picture is attached to Otto's passport and application, dated 05 Feb. 1925.

Otto and his brother Leo returned to the U. S. at the port of New York on 29 May 1925. They arrived on the ship Rotterdam which had departed from Southhampton, England. On the record (roll T715_3659, p. 215, lines 7 and 8) their addresses are given: 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis for Otto and 3821 Terrace in Kansas City for Leo. Their ages (61 and 58) and naturalizations are also given.

Otto and his businesses are mentioned on p. 266 in "Who's Who in North St. Louis", published by the North St. Louis Business Men's Assoc. in 1925. At that time he owned and operated the Columbia Products Company at 2545 West Dodier Street in St. Louis, MO. That company were canners of Columbia and Bavarian malt extracts and dealers in domestic and imported hops, crown, porcelain stoppers and cappers. His sons assisted in this business. To see a copy of this article, click here.

The 1926 St. Louis Directory has Otto Thoma of Columbia Products Co. living at 2817 Wyoming. His son Otto and daughter Clara are living elsewhere. His son Walter is also living at 2817 Wyoming. The 1927 Dir. has Otto Thoma (Columbia Products Co.) h3675 Wilmington.

Theodore (Ted) Winge (brother-in-law to Otto's half-brother Emil) helped build the new home of Otto and his wife at 3675 Wilmington. Unfortunately, Otto did not get to live very long after moving in (ca. 1927), but his widow and sons' families continued to live there for some years. The new house is a 2-family house.

Daughter Clara died on 16 June 1928 and was buried in the family lot (block 7, lot 41) in New St. Marcus Cemetery.

In 1928? Otto filed a Declaration of Intent with the District Court of the Eastern Div., Eastern Judicial District of Missouri. (Declaration #21888 on page 270 of vol. 47 (LDS film 1749655; SLCL 70).

The 1929 St. Louis Directory has Otto H. Thoma of Columbia Products Co. living at 3675 Wilmington Ave. with his wife, his son Walter and Walter's wife Elvira. His son Otto is living at 4129 Fillmore with his own family. Clara died a year before. Walter is a manager at the family business, Columbia Products Co.

In the Standard Masonic Directory of St. Louis and St. Louis County (1929) there is listed an Otto Thoma living at 3675 Wilmington in St. Louis. He is a member of the 2nd Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the St. Louis Chapter 8 of Royal Arch Masons, 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite, and a member of Moolah Temple (AAONMS). Otto Jr. is also listed in this directory.

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1234, enum. dist. 471, page 9A, lines 1-4) shows Otto J. Thoma, 65 years old, born in "Deutschland", of the "White" race, living in St. Louis (city) at 3675a Wilmington (in ward 13, block 5865). On the same Census page we find his wife, Mary E. Thoma, 64, his son Walter C. Thoma, 36, and Walter's wife, Olivia [sic! Elvira?], 35. Otto owns the house which is valued at $15,000 and contains a radio set. Otto was married at age 25 and Mary at age 24. His immigration is marked as 1891 [sic!] and his naturalization is marked as "Na". His occupation is marked as "Retired" and his industry as "Merchant". Otto and his parents were born in Germany. Mary E. was born in Missouri and her parents in Darmstadt, Germany. Walter was married at age 22 and his wife at age 21. Walter was born in Missouri; his wife in Germany and her parents in Germany. Walter's occupation is marked as "Manufacturer" and his industry as "Malt extract". He was not a veteran and was currently employed. Otto and Olivia spoke German before coming to the U.S. but all four are now able to read, write and speak English. Olivia's immigration is marked as "Un" [unknown?] and her naturalization as "Na". Neither she nor Mary have an occupation. [Otto's (Sr.) son, Otto (Jr.) is married, living elsewhere. Otto's (Sr.) and Mary's daughter, Clara, is deceased (in 1928).]

Actually, in 1930, his son Otto (Jr.) and the son's family are living downstairs at 3675 Wilmington. That family consists of Otto (Jr.) (39), his wife Edna (37), and his three children (13, 12, and 5 years old). See his page for more details.

His death occurred ca. 31 May 1930, after the Census. He is not listed in the 1930 and succeeding directories. He was buried in the family lot (block 7, lot 41, grave 3) in New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County. His wife is listed as a widow in the 1931, 1932, and subsequent directories. His wife, sons, brother, half-brother, and sister Rosina died after he did.

His death certificate (file # 18198) says he died early in the morning on 31 May 1930 at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Cause of death was senile dementia contributed by chronic mycarditis. He was 65 years, 10 months, 8 days old and was born in Germany on 23 July 1864. His parents' names are marked unknown; they were also born in Germany. He was an office clerk at Columbia Products Co. (his son Walter's business) His residence was 3675 Wilmington. Ziegenhein at 2623 Cherokee was the funeral parlor. Otto was buried in New St. Marcus Cemetery on 03 June.

Here is a picture of the headstone on Otto's grave (block 7, lot 41, grave 3) in New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County. Click thumbnail to enlarge.

I am still searching for his appearance on a passenger list. I have examined Germans to America and microfilm indices for parts of Boston, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia and New Orleans. Possible dates are 12 Feb. 1881 and 4 Oct. 1880. I also searched the Hamburg Passenger List Index for 1881 and found no entry. I also need to find the marriage and death certificate of Otto.

There was an Otto Thoma who was buried in St. Matthew Cemetery in St. Louis on 01 Feb. 1880. His age was only 3 months, 16 days. However I would dismiss this person from inclusion in our family because none of our Thoma people were in the United States at the end of 1879. There was also an Otto Thoma, stillborn, who was buried in Concordia Cemetery in St. Louis on 19 Aug. 1904. I would also dismiss that baby because the 1904 date is probably too late for Mary Elizabeth and too early for either of her sons to father. Besides, Otto Sr. and Mary Elizabeth would not use the name Otto again when their first Otto Jr. is still living.

Otto's wife continued to live in the Wilmington house. She lived until 22 May 1960 and was buried in the New St. Marcus Cemetery on the 25th. His son Walter died in 1963 and his son Otto in 1966. Walter is probably buried in St. Louis. Otto Jr. is buried in Shreveport, LA.

Some of the information about the breweries of Otto and Leo Thoma was supplied by Hank Herbst, who is associated with the St. Louis Brews. His E-mail is H2beer@aol.com.

The Missouri Historical Society Photographs and Prints Collection has pictures of the Columbia Brewing Co. for the year 1900 in folder #26 in box 2109. I do not know if this is the same company that Otto owned.

Created Wed, 28 Apr. 2000.

Updated 22 Jul. 2008.