The (-1G), etc. after the names, indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma.

A brother, Otto H. L. Thoma (Jr) (-1G) was born before Clara, on 16 Dec. 1889 in St. Louis, MO. Another brother, Walter Thoma (-1G), was born before Clara on 18 April 1893 in St. Louis, MO.

A man named Christian Stettner and Clara's father Otto Thoma (Sr) (-2G) took over a St. Louis brewery in 1886. They operated under the name Stettner and Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery. 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. Clara's uncle, Leo Thoma (-2G), assisted Otto in the brewery, as did Walter and his brother Otto (Jr)

Clara's birth is recorded in the St. Louis Birth Registry, vol. 79B, p. 272. On the index card for births, her father is marked as simply "H." and her mother as "E.".

In the 1900 Census from St. Louis (enum. dist. 154, sheet 10, line 52), Clara, her parents and siblings are living at 2817 Wyoming St. in St. Louis. At this time (June 8) the father is 35 years old and has been married 10 years. 1880 is given as his year of immigration and he has been in the country 20 years. The father owns his house and it is mortgaged. He can read and write and can speak English. Clara's mother is 34, born in Missouri in July 1865. She can read, write and speak English. She had three children and all are living. Clara's brother Otto (Jr) is 10, born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri. Walter is 7, born in Apr. 1893 in Missouri. The two boys are at school at the time of the Census. Clara is 3, born in Oct. 1896 in Missouri. Living with the family is the father's half-brother, Emil Thoma* (-2G).

Otto Thoma and Children The girl is Clara. The older boy is Orro (jr) and the younger is Walter. Picture was brobably taken ca 1900 at their home on Wyoming in St. Louis. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.
Otto Thoma Family Home The house at 2817 Wyoming where Otto Thoma and family lived from ca 1891 to after 1920. The house still stands (in Mar. 2007) but is in very poor condition, however it will be restored.

The 1904 St. Louis Directory lists her father as a partner in the Stettner-Thoma Brewery located at 1535 S. Broadway and living at 2817 Wyoming.

The 1910 Fed. Census for Missouri (district 170, sheet 163?) taken on 23 April has the Soundex index 102 0170 0379. The family is living still at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis City. The father, Otto, is 45 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1880, naturalized. He and his wife have been married 22 years. The parents of the father were born in Germany. The mother, Elizabeth, is 44 and was born in Missouri. She is a clerk at a packing house and her parents were born in Germany. Clara's parents own the house but it is mortgaged. Otto's brother, Otto (Jr) is 19 and was born in Missouri. Walter A. is 17 and was born in Missouri. Clara, is 13 and was also born in Missouri. With the family is the mother's sister, Amalia Juenel (Juengel), 53 years old, born in Germany.

Winge - Ricklin - Thoma Families Here is a group picture of members of the three families taken ca 1911 at the Winge home in St. Louis. Clara is standing in the back row on our left. C;ick on the thumbnail to enlarge the picture.

The St. Louis City Directory for 1915 has a separate listing for Clara and gives her middle initial as "A". She is living with her parents at 2817 Wyoming. Her father is listed as the vice-president of the Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Co. at 130 Sidney.

The St. Louis Directory of 1916 shows Clara A. Thoma, living at 2817 Wyoming. No occupation was given.

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. Clara's father is 55 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1878 and naturalized in 1885. Clara's mother, Mary E., 54 years old, born in Missouri. Clara, is 23 years old, born in Missouri. Also living there is Amalia Juengel, the mother's sister, 63 years old, born in Missouri (1910 Census says born in Missouri). But Clara's brothers, Walter and Otto (Jr), are no longer living with their parents.

Clara and Oliver J. Baker (-1G) applied for a marriage license which was issued on 28 June 1921 in St. Louis (license #250741, vol. 98, p. 2).

Wedding ? Picture of Clara Taken ca. 28-30 June 1921.. Click on this thumbnail to enlarge the picture of Clara:

Clara and Oliver had one child, June Ellen Baker (0G), born ca 1925.

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. I believe that Walter and Otto (Jr) assisted in this business too.

The 1927 St. Louis Directory shows Clara Thoma, stenographer, residing at 6942 Salzburger Ave.

Clara died on 16 June 1928 and was buried in New St. Marcus Cemetery (block 7, lot 41, grave 6) in St. Louis County. Her obituary (Post-Dispatch of Sunday 17 June 1928, Part Eight, pages 1-6A) states that she died at 4 P.M. on Sat. 16 June 1928 at the age of 31. She was living at 3675a Wilmington in St. Louis. Mentioned in the obituary are her husband Oliver J. Baker, her daughter June Ellen Baker, her parents Otto and Elizabeth Thoma (-2G), her brothers Otto H. Thoma Jr. and Walter C. Thoma, and her mother-in-law Mrs. Pauline Baker (-2G). The obituary says Clara was a sister-in-law, cousin, niece and aunt. The funeral was Tuesday 19 June at 3 P.M. from Ziegenheim Bros. chapel at 2623 Cherokee St. in St. Louis.

Her death certificate (file#: 22246) says she died at 4 PM at Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis from cerebral hemorage apoplexy contributed by nervous hypertention. Her home was 3675a Wilmington in ward 1 of St. Louis. She was a housewife, the wife of Oliver J. Baker. The names and birthplaces of both parents are given. The funeral home was Ziegenheim Bros at 2623 Cherokee and burial was in New Marcus Cemetery on 19 June.

This was her home for a brief period before she died: 3675 Wilmington in St. Louis.	to be added
This is Clara's headstone in lot 41, block 7, New Marcus Cemetery, St. Louis County

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Her father died on 31 May 1930. Her mother died on 22 May 1960 in St. Louis. Both were buried in New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County.

Her brother Walter died in Sep. 1963 in St. Louis.

Her brother Otto (Jr) died in Apr. 1966 in Shreveport, LA.

Her widowed husband, Oliver,.remarried ca. 1929 to a Dorothy. He died sometime after 1930, perhaps on 17 May 1953.

Clara's daughter, June, married a Mr. VanCryer (?) after 1942. She died in 1979.

Created 19 June, 2000. Updated 16 Mar. 2007.