NameJudge Urs Joseph STAMPFLI
Immigration1853, Jefferson City, Cole Co, MO
Census8 Jun 1870, Jefferson City, Cole Co, MO
Census1880, Jefferson City, Cole Co, MO
Census1900, Jefferson City, Cole Co, MO
Census Memo333 E. High St.
Burial3 Apr 1918, St. Peter’s Cem, Jefferson City, Cole, MO [7], [263]
OccupationJudge, dealer in furniture and undertakers' goods.
Other spousesJosephine Whilomena Freyvogel
Urs Joseph came to the US with his father and his second wife in 1853. His father was naturalized at that time and Urs thought that since he was a minor he was also naturalized. This was not the case, and the error wasn't discovered until 1902 when he was planning a trip back to Europe. Urs went by Joseph once he arrived in the US.[
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Served as soldier in Civil War for 3 months; discharged for health reasons. Appointed deputy sheriff and collector in 1866 under G.H. Dulle. Elected alderman (1875-1880) for Jeff City, then elected presiding justice of Cole County Court from 1882 to 1886.[
[683]] He was a postmaster in Jefferson City from February 28, 1890-March 18, 1894 (after which is brother-in-law George Vaughn took over). The postoffice was located at the corner of Jefferson St. and High St. and was destroyed in the 1920s when the current capitol was built. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of America and the Jefferson City Building and Loan Association. [
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Filed for a pension first on October 13, 1892, age 52. Says he was dischanged for disability Nov 6, 1863 (2 years after enlistment). Another application served in Co. B, 1st Regmt, US Reserve Home Guard from June 20 to October 1 1861 or 2 (reports vary), and Co E 9th Regmt Provisional. The application was supported by an affadavit from Victor Zuber, who also served in B Company. His address is given as 700 W. Elm in Jeff City, occupation in 1861 as printer. 5 foot 8 inches, 163 lbs.
One affadavit from Joseph states that he was the one on the muster rolls marked as “Joseph Stampfli No. 1, Jr.” and that the one marked as “Joseph Stampfli No. 2, Sr.” is dead about 6-7 years.
An illegibly signed 1902 letter on Cox and Dunn stationary (real estate agents in Jeff City) asks if a man not a citizen of the US can get a pension and further says that he was only in home guard in 1864 anyway. (Likely related to his confusion over his citizenship status)
Joseph ran a “furniture and undertaking business” in Jefferson City until 1898, when he sold it to Mrs. L.M. Walther. The sale was the subject of a lawsuit that went to the Missouri Court of Appeals in 1900 (91 Mo. App. 398). It seems Joseph agreed, in writing, to sell Mrs. Walther his business and goods for $4600 on Nov. 2, 1898. He also told her he would not go into business again in those areas himself. Unfortunately, he did go into the furniture and undertaking business (apparently a popular combo) in September 1899 and Mrs. Walther sued. Her hardship got her a jury verdict of $2000, but Joseph appealed. As a matter of law, Joseph’s oral agreement was not part of the contract, so Mrs. Walther could not recover, said the Court of Appeals. However, because of “extreme hardship,” the court allowed the case to be remanded so Mrs. Walther could try again (on another theory of recovery, one supposes). Joseph’s attorney in the matter was George J. Stampfli, presumably his son.
Pension papers give his birthdate, place, wives and children. Section listing marriage to Elizabeth says only “Elizabeth Kolkmeyer. August 1874 (crossed out) 1861. Died [cut off] in answer to ‘state the name, date and place of marriage and date and place of death.”[
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