our maternal grandfather          

  Brother Christopher V. Thake (-2G) is born ca. 3 Apr. 1878 in St. Louis, MO
  Sister Emilie Florence Thake (-2G) born on 18 Feb. 1880 in St. Louis, MO
  Sister Emilie died on 5 May 1888 in St. Louis, MO
  Sister Cecilia Thake (-2G) born on 4 Oct. 1889 in St. Louis, MO
  His brother Christopher dies on 6 Oct. 1892 in St. Louis, MO

  Married to Josephine Gruen* (Scharfenberger?) (-2G) on 21 April 1906 in St. Louis, MO
  Son Winfield Charles Jacob Thake (-1G) born 8 February 1907 in St. Louis, MO
  Daughter Beatrice was born at St. Louis, MO on 06 Mar. 1908
  Another daughter, Alice Thake* (-1G) was born 29 July 1909 in St. Louis, MO
  Wife Josephine Gruen* (Scharfenberger?) (-2G) died 3 Feb. 1913 at St. Louis, MO

  Married to Elizabeth Grupp (-2G) on 02 Nov. 1914 in Edwardsville, IL
  Mother Johanna S. Vossler* (-3G) died 16 Apr. 1930 in St. Louis County
  Father Eugene Charles Thake* (-3G) died 13 May 1936 in St. Louis County
  Died 9 March 1944 at St. Louis, MO
  Buried in Valhalla Cemetery, St. Louis

  Cited in Given Names - Meanings and Derivations - Info on the name "Erven"
  The given name "Eugene"
  The surname "Thake"
  Included in The Thake Family Group Chart
  Listed on the St. Louis page
  The 'Sleepy Hollow' clubhouse page
  Cited in St. Louis Public Library Obituary Index - for 1944

*marks my direct-line ancestors. The (-3G), etc., after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma

I think his birthday was June 26. A living relative says he was born in Collinsville, IL but the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 Census say in Missouri. There is no birth record in the Madison County Court House in Edwardsville, IL The license for his second marriage also indicates that he was born in St. Louis. Finally, a portion of a page from an old family Bible states that he was born in St. Louis. However I cannot find his birth record in the St. Louis Register of Births.

A sibling not listed above (born earlier) is Sibylla Thake (-2G) born in Oct. 1873 in St. Louis

Here are the listings for his father in the St. Louis City Directory. We can assume that Erven, his mother and siblings are also living at these locations:
In 1875 his father is listed as a laborer living at 3022 N. 13th St.
In 1876 as a porter living at 1316 Exchange (in the same street and block as his father-in-law, Christoph Vossler
In 1877 as a porter living at 1507 (or 1597?) Exchange. He is the only Eugene Thake.
In 1878 as a porter living at 1638 Wright. There is no other Eugene Thake listed.
In 1879 as a porter living at 1420 Monroe
Some or all of the above addresses may be for another Eugene Thake family. Our Eugene Thake and family may have lived in Collinsville during these years.

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 St. Louis 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.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1880 lists his father, Eugene, as a porter, living at 1420 St. Louis Ave. He is the only known Thake listed in this directory.

Erven, his parents, and his siblings are listed in the 3 June 1880 Missouri Census (vol. 34, district 107, sheet 11, line 24) as residents at 1420 St. Louis Ave. in St. Louis. Is St. Louis Ave. a new name for Monroe St.? His age is given as 5 years old; born in Missouri. His parents were born in Prussia. His siblings, all born in Missouri, are listed as Sylbilla (7), Christopher (2) and Emily (3 months, born in Feb.). His sister Cecilia was born in 1889 so does not appear here.

In the St. Louis City Directory for 1881 his father is listed as a packer living at 1525 Exchange. Erven would be 6 at this time. In the Gould's City Directory for 1885 and 1886 his father is listed as a packer (meat packer?) living at 1823 Warren in St. Louis. Presumably Erven is also living there since he is only 10 at this time. In the 1887 Directory Eugene C. Thake is listed as a porter living at 1823 Warren.

An early picture of Erven Thake and his brother Christopher V. Thake in their band uniforms, with their instruments. Picture was taken by Char (Charles?) Klotter, photographer, St. Louis, MO ca. 1887-90.

At the death of his sister Emily on 5 May 1888, Erven, his parents, brother and other sister are living at 1823 Warren in St. Louis. Sometime between May 1888 and perhaps the end of 1889 the family moved from 1823 Warren in St. Louis to 2511 Coleman in St. Louis. The St. Louis City Directories of 1890, 1891, and 1892 list Eugene C. Thake, foreman, living at 2511 Coleman. Naturally we can assume that his wife and four living children are also living there at this time. The 1891 Dir. shows Ervin Thake as a packer, living at 2511 Coleman. Erven is not listed in the 1892 Directory.

At the death of his brother on 6 Oct. 1892, Erven, his parents and his sisters are living at 2511 Coleman in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Directory of 1893 lists his father as a packer and Irving (Erven) as a locksmith, living at 2511 Coleman. The Directories of 1894-1899 list the father as a foreman still living at 2511 Coleman. Erven (as Irving E. Thake) is also found in the city directories for 1894-99 as a hatter at the same address.

At the time of his sister Sibylla's marriage (15 Nov. 1899), his father and family are living at 2511 Coleman in St. Louis. Erven is also listed in the St. Louis Directories, 1899-1900 as a hatter. He is living at 2511 Coleman with his parents. In 1900 his name is spelled Ervin E. Thake.

The 1900 Fed. Census for Missouri shows Eugene and his family living at Coleman (2511?) in St. Louis. His birth is given as June 1951 and his age as 48. He has been married 25 years. His immigration is given as 1851 and his years in the U.S. as 49. He is naturalized. His occupation seems to be "foreman training". He can read, write, and speak English. His wife Johanna is 45, born in Aug. 1854. The Census says she had 2 children and they are both living. [In fact, she had 5 children and 3 are living.] Her immigration is given as 1853 and the years in the U.S. as 47. [In fact she immigrated in 1855 and was born in 1853.] She can read, write, and speak English. Both Eugene and Johanna were born in Germany, and their parents were also born in Germany. No occupation is given for Johanna, but it is presumed to be housekeeper. With them is their son Erven, 24 years old, born June 1875. He is single, born in Missouri. Also living there is Cecilia, 10 years old, born in Oct. 1889 in Missouri, and at school. Also at the house is a boarder.

In the St. Louis Directory of 1901 Irvine (Erven) is listed as a musician, living at 2511 Coleman. In the Directories of 1902-4 Erven E. Thake (spelled Ervin in 1903-4) is a hatter at the same address. This is the also the address of his parents.

Click this thumbnail to enlarge this Collinsville, IL farm with family members left to right: Eugene Thake (father of Erven), Emilie Amelung (mother of Eugene), Sibylla Thake (sister of Erven), Johanna Vossler (wife of Eugene), Erven Thake. Date unknown, but probably after 1897 and certainly before 11 May 1904.

Between 1904 and Apr. 1906 Erven, his parents, and sister Cecilia moved from 2511 Coleman to 3814 Greer.

Just before his first marriage on 21 April 1906, he was living with his parents at 3814 Greer Ave. in St. Louis, MO. He and Josephine were married at Holy Ghost Church at 4916 Mardel in St. Louis; he was 30 and she 31. Josephine Gruen was living with her foster parents at 2702 N. 21st St. in St. Louis. (License No. 126038). The church is presently affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Formerly it may have been German Reformed or Evangelical (old German Lutheran).

Here is the Thake/Sandherr house at 3814 Greer Ave. in north St. Louis, only a couple streets from Lexington Ave. Date of the picture is unknown. Erven lived at the Greer house from ca. 1904-1906 with his parents. His parents continued living there until ca. 1930.
Click on this thumbnail to enlarge this wedding picture from 1906:

The 1907 St. Louis Dir. lists Ervin E. Thake, hatter, living at 2702 N. 21st St. They were living on 21st St. when their son, Winfield, was born on 08 Feb. 1907 in St. Louis.

The 1908 Dir. lists him as Irwin [sic!] E., hatter, living at 3828 Kennerly Ave. They were living on Kennerly Ave. when their second child, daughter Beatrice, was born on 06 Mar. 1908.

The Edwardsville Intelligencer of 24 Mar. 1908 (a newspaper in the capital of Madison County, IL) reported the transfer of all interest acquired through the will in the Emily C. Miller estate, from E. E. Thake and wife, et al, to E. E. Thake, qed.

The couple may have lived on Labadie St. (later changed name to LaSalle) for a while after his marriage. Labadie is one block south of Greer. Then they bought and moved to the house at 3922 Lexington Ave. in St. Louis, shortly before his daughter Alice was born (29 July 1909). The 1909 Dir. lists Irwin E. Thake, hatter, living at 3922 Lexington. He remained there until his death. See the picture of the Lexington property below.

The 1910 Fed. Census for Missouri (enum. district 339, sheet 8, dwelling #139, line 53) shows his family living at 3922 Lexington Ave. in St. Louis, MO.  He is 34 born in Missouri and has the occupation of hatter.  His parents were born in Germany.  His wife, listed as "Josie", is 35, born in Missouri.  Her parents were born in Germany.  She had three children, all are living. They own the mortgaged house.  The children are: Winfield C. (3), Beatrice (2), and Alice (8 months).  Living upstairs is the Edwin Brown family which is renting from the Thake family. (Soundex ref. 113 0339 0231).

The 1910 St. Louis Directory lists Irwin E. Thake, hat, r. 3922 Lexington.

His first wife, Josephine Scharfenberger* (-2G), died on 03 Feb. 1913 of TB and was buried in Valhalla Cemetery. They were living at 3922 Lexington at the time. The story is told that the body was laid out at home and the funeral procession was by horse-drawn hearse from their home to the cemetery.

In the 1913 St. Louis Directory we see Irwin E. Thake, hat [hatter], living at 3922 Lexington Ave. In this year we also find Diana [Regina] Gruen [née Zimmermann], widow of Jacob M. Gruen, living with Erven and his family. Regina and Jacob were the foster parents of Erven's first wife, Josephine who died in this same year (see above).

Erven was married for the second time to Elizabeth Hutchinson, a widow (maiden name Grupp), on 02 Nov. 1914 in Edwardsville, IL the county seat of Madison County. She was 32 years old and he was 38. The license says Erven was born in St. Louis, MO. Both were living in St. Louis city at the time but no address is given. His occupation was given as hatter. It was the second marriage for both parties. All four parents' names were given. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. R. Robertson of the M. E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church in Edwardsville. The groom's sister Cecelia T. Thake (-2G) was a witness.

Click this thumbnail to enlarge the wedding (?) picture of Erven and Elizabeth (02 Nov. 1914):

The St. Louis City Directory of 1915 lists Irwin E. Thake, a hatter, living at 3922 Lexington Ave.

The Edwardsville Intelligencer of 12 Feb. 1915 (a newspaper in the capital of Madison County, IL) reports that Erven E. Thake signed a deed for lots 7 and 8 in block 5 of the Maple Home Subdivision in Collinsville to a Guy B. Cramner for the sum of $375+.

Erven registered with draft board 21 in St. Louis on 12 Sep. 1918. At the time he was 42 years old and was born on 26 Jun. 1875. He was described as of medium height and build and had blue eyes and gray hair. He was a musician at the American Theater on 7th and Market. He and his wife Elizabeth were living at 3922 Lexington in precinct 14 of St. Louis. (World War I Draft Reg., 1917-18, roll 1683853, serial 2247, order 1719)

 The 1920 Fed. Census for Missouri (vol. 113, enum. district 421, sheet 17) shows the Erven Thake family continuing to live at 3922 Lexington Ave. in St. Louis, MO.  Erven is 43, Elizabeth (his second wife) is 37, Winfield is 12, Beatrice is 11 and Alice is 10. Erven's birthplace is given as Missouri and his occupation as musician. His parents' birthplaces are given as Germany. His children were all born in Missouri.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1922 lists Erven E. Thake, a hatter, living at 3922 Lexington Ave. The 1924 Dir. shows Ervin E. Thake h3922 Lexington Ave. [no occupation given]. The 1925 Dir. has the same information plus his occupation, hatter. The 1926 Directory lists Erven E. Thake as a hatter living at 3922a Lexington. His son, Winfield, is separately listed at the same address. The 1927 Dir. has Ervin E. Thake, sec.-treas. of Universal Hat Shop Inc., h39221 Lexington.

In the Standard Masonic Directory of St. Louis and St. Louis County, 1929, Erven Thake is listed as a member of Lodge 576 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and a member of Alhambra Grotto (MOVPER). He was living at 3922 Lexington at the time. His son Winfield was also a member of Lodge 576 in 1929 and was living at 3922a Lexington in St. Louis. Otto Thoma (Jr.) was also a member of Alhambra at this time.

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1243, enum. dist. 99, page 19B, lines 56-60, dated April 16) shows Erven E. Thake, 54 years old, born in Missouri, white race, living in St. Louis (city) (ward 21, block 5189) at 3922 Lexington Ave. His parents were born in Germany. He was first married at age 24. His occupation is hatter in a hat shop. He is not in school but can read, write, and speak English. We also find his wife, Elizabeth, 48 years old, born in Missouri. Her parents were born in Missouri. She was first married at age 30. She is not in school but can read, write, and speak English. She has no occupation. They own the house valued at $6,000. We also find his three children: son Winfield C. Thake, 23, musician in a theater; daughter Alice, 20, stenographer in an insurance company; and daughter Beatrice (21 or 22). Winfield was not working at this time. All three children were born in Missouri of Missouri parents and were single. Neither of the men were war veterans.

Mother Johanna S. Vossler* (-3G) died in St. Louis County on 16 Apr. 1930, the same day that the Census taker visited Erven's home.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1930 lists Erven E. Thake as secretary-treasurer at Universal Hat Shop, Inc. The 1932 Directory lists him as secretary.

Here is a picture of the extended Thake family and friends at the Thake's club house, "Sleepy Hollow" in Missouri. It was taken ca. 1930-36. Erven is the seated man on our right, who is wearing glasses. His hands are on his ankles. Click the thumbnail to enlarge.
Here is a picture of three relatives at the "Sleepy Hollow" Club House in Jedburgh, MO. The man in the middle is our great-grandfather, Eugene. Our grandfather Erven Thake is on our left and our uncle Winfield Thake is on our right. The picture was taken in July 1934.

He and his family continued to reside at the 3922 Lexington property.  Alice and Winfield eventually got married (6 Sept. 1934 and 29 Feb. 1936 respectively) and moved away.  However, Alice, her husband Emil Otto Thoma* (-1G), and their children (inc. me) later moved into the 3922 Lexington residence, at which time (around 1945/7) Erven, Elizabeth and daughter Beatrice moved upstairs.  This (3922a) was Erven Thake's last residence.

Father Eugene Charles Thake* (-3G) died 13 May 1936 in St. Louis County.

The 1936 St. Louis Dir. has Erven E. (Eliz) Thake, sec-treas. of Thake Hat Shops Inc., home at 3922a Lexington Ave. The same directory lists the business, thake Hat Shops Inc., Jos Van Raalte pres., 515a Pine. The 1937 St. Louis Directory has Erven E. Thake (with wife Eliz), sec.-treas. of Trake [sic!] Hat Shopes Inc., home at 3922a Lexington. There is a separate business listing for the Thake Hat Shops at 315a Pine with Jos Van Raalte pres., Leslie Liepman vp, and Erven T. Thake sec.-treas.

The Edwardsville Intelligencer newspaper of Edwardsville, IL, on Thurs. 25 Aug. 1938 (p. 9), reports a real estate transfer from Erven E. Thake et al. to Guy B. Cranmer, to lots in block 1 and 2 of the Maple Home Addition in Collinsville, IL for only $1.

The 1939 Dir. has Erven E. Thake (Eliz) sec.-treas. of Thake Hat Shops Inc., home at 3922a Lexington. Thake Hat Shop Inc. has a business listing at 515a Pine [either this address or the one given in 1937 is incorrect].

Here is a picture of grandfather Erven and grandson Erven, taken 26 June 1937 on their joint birthdays.
"The Three Erven's". Left to Right: Erven Thake, Erven Thoma, Erven Sandherr. Picture taken in Oct. 1938 at the "Sleepy Hollow" Club House that Erven Thake owned near the Meramec River in Missouri.
Here is the front of the house at 3922 Lexington in north St. Louis, where the Thake family lived from ca. 1909-1956. Erven E. Thake is shoveling the snow. Picture was taken in January 1940.
A picture from June 1940 taken at the "club house" (weekend property) in Missouri. Charles (Chuck) Thake (2 years, 5 months) and Erven Thoma (4 years) on either side of their grandfather, Erven Thake.
Elizabeth Grupp and Erven Thake. Taken in the back yard of 325 W. Adams in Kirkwood, MO (home of his sister Cecelia) on Thanksgiving Day, in November, 1940.

The Edwardsville Intelligencer newspaper of Edwardsville, IL for Monday 20 May 1940 (p.8 ), reports a real estate transfer from Erwin E. Thake to Geo. A. Lochmann of lots 14 and 15, block 5 of Maple Home Subdivision, Collinsville, IL for only $1. At the same time, other relatives transfered real estate in the same Subdivision in Collinsville.

The 1942 St. Louis Dir. lists Erven E. (Eliz) Thake. sec-treas. of Thake Hat Shops Inc, with a home at 3922 Lexington. The shop is still at 515a Pine.

Erven passed away on 09 Mar. 1944 from a cancer in his stomach, I think. He was buried in the Thake lots (lots 154-55, section 4) in Valhalla Cemetery.

--------------------

His second wife, Elizabeth, and his three children all outlived him.

I remember grandfather and his smoking pipe, his French Horn, and his hat business.  Erven Eugene played the French horn from childhood. His brother Christopher also played a brass instrument. The brothers probably got their music introduction and encouragement from their mother and a sister of his mother.  Erven and his second wife exposed their children to music. He played French Horn in park band concerts in St. Louis, as a sub for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and in other places. Forest Park has a band stand in the middle of a small lake. [Did the musicians swim to get to the stand?] For a while he had a men's hat business (Thake Hat Shop) in downtown St. Louis at 515a Pine St.. It was in operation at least sometime between 1939 and 1944, although he was a hatter as early as 1910. They cleaned and blocked felt hats. Inside there was a shoe-shine man. I (Erven Thoma) remember visiting the place. On weekends he enjoyed going to the family cottage ("Sleepy Hollow" Club House) in Jegburgh, near the Meramec River and a train line. There he could fish and play horseshoes with his son (and with me) and friends. He passed away in the year I had just started piano lessons. I wish we could have made music together.

Created Wed, Apr. 12, 2000. Updated on 02 Feb. 2009.