Siblings born before Emilie were: Sibylla J. Thake (Oct. 1873), Erven Eugene Thake* (b. 26 June 1875), and Christopher V. Thake (b. ca 3 Apr. 1878). A sibling born after Emilie's death was Cecelia Thake (b. 4 Oct. 1889)

The Registry of Births--City of St. Louis (located in the St. Louis Public Library) list the birth of a Johanna Thake, daughter of Eugene C. Thake and Johanna Thake of 1420 Spring Ave., on 18 Feb. 1880. It states that both parents were born in Germany. (No. 699 in the Registry). This is a surprise. Since it is unlikely that there was another Eugene C. and Johanna Thake in the St. Louis area and no twin is listed, the only plausible explanation is that the child was originally given the name Johanna, after her mother. Then her name was changed to Emilie after her grandmother between her birth and the Census. Her middle name appears in the 1880 Census (vol. 80, district 261, sheet 9) and also in the Death Register (see below).

A living relative said she was born in Collinsville but the 1880 Census and the registry of births says St. Louis, Missouri. There are no birth records for her at Edwardsville, IL (the county seat), so I am believing the St. Louis records given in the previous paragraph. Besides, her parents were living in St. Louis at the time of her birth.

Her paternal grandmother's name was also Emilie (see Emilie Henriette Friedrike Amelung) (-4G).

Emilie Florence Thake was baptized at Unabhangigen Evangelische Protestantischen Kirche (from 1936-98 named Independent Congregational Church) on 11 Apr. 1880 (church baptism records p. 206; St. Louis County Library EVUC-111) (Baptism #75). Her parents' names are given and her grandmother, Emilie Thake Miller, was the only godparent. At this time the church was located at 13th and Webster Sts. Webster was later named Tyler.

The 1880 Fed. Census (first enumeration) of St. Louis, Missouri on 3 June (vol. 34, district 107, sheet 11, line 29) list her, her parents and 3 of her siblings. Her father is 29, his occupation is a packer at a warehouse; her mother is 27, her occupation is housekeeper. Both parents were born in Prussia. Sister Sibylla Thake is 7; brother Erven Thake is 5; brother Christopher Thake is 2; Emily is 3 months old, born in Feb. All children were born in Missouri.. They are living at 1420 St. Louis Ave. in St. Louis, MO. Her sister Cecilia has not been born yet.

In the 1880 St. Louis Directory her father is listed as a porter living at 1420 St. Louis Ave. (Is this a new name for Monroe St.?) His middle initial is given.  He is the only Eugene Thake and the only know Thake in that year.

Between the 1880 Census enumerations the family moved from 1420 St. Louis Ave. to 1525 Exchange.

The 1880 Fed. Census for Missouri (second enumeration: vol. 80, supv. dist. 71, district 261, sheet 9, stamped page #140A, line 20, dwelling 36, family 82, dated 10 Nov.) lists a Eugene Thake family living at 1525 Exchange (same address as in the city directory above). He is a 29 year-old packer, born in Germany. His wife Sybille is 26 years old, born in Germany. His daughter Johanna is 6, son Eugene is 4, son Victor is 2, and daughter Florence is 3 months. This information is from the Soundex Index and Census sheet.

The 1881 St. Louis City Directory lists her father, as a packer, living at 1525 Exchange. In the 1882 St. Louis Directory Eugene C. Thake, porter, is living at the same address. There is no listing in the 1883 Directory. In the 1884 and 1885 St. Louis City Directories, Eugene is listed as a packer (meat? warehouse?) living at 1823 Warren.  He is the only Eugene Thake listed. 

Click this thumbnail to enlargen this picture of Emilie and sister Sibylla from ca. 1883:
Click this thumbnail to enlargen this picture of Emilie and sister Sibylla from ca. 1886:

In the 1886 Dir. Eugene C. Thake, packer, is listed living at 1823 Warren. In the 1887 Directory her father, Eugene C. Thake, is listed as a porter living at 1823 Warren.

She was never married, had no children, and died in childhood at ca. age 8. The Death Register of St. Louis, found on microfilm in the St. Louis Public Library (vol. 21, p. 221; also in Missouri Archives C646-3 and SLGS rolls 321 and County Lib. RDSL 29), lists Emily Florence Thake (#3356) who died on 5 May 1888 (registered on the 6th). She died of typhoid and was buried in Collinsville, IL. Her age was given as 8 years, 2 months and 19 days. She lived at 1823 Warren St. in St. Louis in ward 16. There is no listing for her in the St. Louis Public Library Obituary Index for 1888, but the St. Louis Post Dispatch of 7 May 1888, p. 7, has a summary of the Health Dept. Burial Certificate which simply reads: Emily F. Shake [sic!], 8 years, 1823 Warren St., typhoid fever.

There is a cemetery record of an Amelia Thake who died of typhoid and was buried on 7 May 1888 in the invalid lot (section E, lot 27, grave 3) of Glenwood Cemetery in Collinsville, IL. There is a note in the cemetery records that she was born ca. 1880 and was 8 years old at death. These dates correspond to dates from other sources (see Death Record above). There is no grave marker in Glenwood and I have been told that the grave is technically under the driveway and that is verified by the cemetery map. However the section/lot names have been changed a couple times. Glenwood Cemetery is behind Webster School right in central Collinsville; it is owned by First United Preby. Church. For more information contact the church or Doris M. Bauer, 503 Bethel Rd. R. Rte #1, Caseyville, IL 62232-2408.

According to family sources, however, she was buried in a cemetery in the Collinsville area and her grandmother Emilie was buried next to her. The grandmother's death certificate says she was buried in the Public Cemetery. According to the researcher for Glenwood Cemetery, "Public Cemetery" usually meant Glenwood. Indeed there is a Emilie (Amilia) Miller of the right age buried in Glenwood. When the cemetery administration wanted to move some graves lot owners were given notice. Perhaps this was as late as 1944 when little Emily's brother Erven Thake died and sister Cecilia Thake was left to decide. But the graves of our two Emilys in Glenwood were not moved and there is no disinterment document; now the graves are most likely still in lot 27 which is under a cemetery roadway.

The approximate location of Emilie's grave is where the woman is standing in the picture. Picture was taken in the summer of 2002 at Glenwood Cemetery, Collinsville, IL Also buried near the standing woman is Emilie's grandmother, Emilie Amelung, and her second husband, William E. Miller.

Created Mon, Apr 24, 2000.  Updated 01 Dec. 2005.