•  Baptized 30 June 1850 in the church in Rickenbach, Baden
•  Mother died 27 Jan 1869
• ----------------------------
•  Married to Emma Leber (-3G) on 7 Feb. 1878 in Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden
•  Moved to the area of Görwihl, Baden.
•  Daughter Louise was born 22 Jan. 1879 in Görwihl
•  Daughter Mary (Marie) born on 20 August 1880 in Görwihl
•  Brother Stephan Thoma (-3G) died 22 Oct. 1880
•  Immigrated in (late?) 1880 without wife and daughters
•  Brother Andreas Thoma #2 (-3G) died 27 Dec. 1881
•  Father died 29 Nov, 1884
•  His wife and daughters immigrated on 13 Oct. 1888
•  Sister Monika Thoma (-3G) died 19 Jan. 1897
•  Brother Josef Thoma (-3G) died 5 Apr. 1901
•  Family moved to Galt, CA in 1908
•  Sister Kunigunde Thoma (-3G) died 26 Nov. 1908
•  Sister Christina Thoma (-3G) died 9 June 1909
•  Brother Fridolin Thoma* (-3G) died 05 Oct. 1910 in St. Louis, MO
•  Family moved to Fruitvale district of Oakland, CA in 1911
•  Moved to Oakland, CA in 1914
•  Died 19 June 1914 in Oakland, CA
•  Buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland, CA
• --------
• Cited on the Altenschwand page
• Listed on the St. Louis page
• Listed on the California page
• The given name "Peter"
• The surname "Thoma"

He is listed in the family record with his parents and their 14 children.  This appears in the civil records of Altenschwand which is available on microfilm (LDS film #0957339, batch K969141).  His own family is listed in the Familiengeschichte der Gemeinde Görwihl.

Peter was the last child of his parents. Born before Peter were 13 other siblings: Josef (b. 14 Jan. 1826), Maria Eva (b. 3 Sept. 1827), Stephan (b. 26 Dec. 1828), Fridolin (b. 20 Jan. 1830), Johan (b. 12? June? 1832), Andreas (#1) (b. 18 April 1833, Carolina (b. 13 April 1834), Christina (b. 12 Oct. 1835), and Monika (b. 4 Feb. 1837), Dominik (b. 13 Mar. 1839), Kunigunde (b. 17 Apr. 1840), Andreas (#2) (b. 9 Sept. 1843), and Hieronymus (b. 30 Sept. 1846).

These siblings died before Peter was born: Maria Eva (d. 17 June 1829), Johan P. (d. in infancy), Andreas #1 (d. in infancy), and Karoline (Carolina) (d. 21 Feb. 1839).

*My direct-line ancestors

Peter was born in Altenschwand, Baden on 30 June 1850 and was baptized on 30 June 1850 in Rickenbach? (LDS FHL microfilm # 0957339.). His parents owned and operated the Hirschen Inn in Altenschwand. Pictures follow.

On the left is the church in Rickenbach where Peter was baptized and probably confirmed. On the right is a picture of the Hirschen Inn, outside, as it was in August 2004. Click this thumbnail to enlarge.
Click this thumbnail to enlarge the picture of the dining & patio rooms of the Hirschen Inn of today (2001).
He probably went to school in Altenschwand. Here is a picture of the schoolhouse there as it was at the beginning of the 20th century.
Here are two pictures of the same schoolhouse but taken in 2004. The second floor and attic are now rented out as an apartment. The first floor is now used by the local music society.

His mother died on 27 Jan. 1869 in Altenschwand, Baden.

He married Emma Leber on 07 Feb. 1878 in a R. Catholic cermony in Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden (LDS FHL microfilm # 0957078). Emma was born on 21 June 1854 in Unteralpfen.

They lived in Görwihl for a while. Daughter Louise was born in Görwihl on 22 Jan. 1879.

Brother Stephan Thoma (-3G) died on 22 Oct. 1880.

Another daughter, Mary (Marie) E., was born in Görwihl, Germany on 20 August 1880.

Shortly after Marie was born, Emma developed consumption and went to a sanitarium in the Alps where she stayed until 1888. Then she immigrated with her two daughters.

	Peter emigrated to the U.S. in 1880 and lived in St. Louis for a while before moving to another location. There is a Peter Thoma in the New York Passengers List, 1851-91 database. That person arrived in New York on the 7th of June 1879 on the ship Mosel from Bremen (list no. 579, roll 418, line 33).
He is a 30 year old farmer and he is with a wife Margarita and a child. I do not know if that is our Peter--for one thing his wife does not match. According to the 1900 Census our Peter immigrated in 1880. Neither Peter nor his family are listed in the Baden Emigration Index.

Brother Andreas Thoma #2 (-3G) died in Altenschwand on 27 Dec. 1881. Peter's father, Andreas (-4G) died on 29 Nov, 1884 in Altenschwand.

Peter's wife Emma and two daughters immigrated on 13 Oct. 1888. They came on the ship Waesland from Antwerp, Belgium.

His first record of the naturalization process occured in 1888 with the Circuit Court in St. Louis. His country was Germany. The fields for age, witnesses, note, and residence are all blank. (MO Archives: C. C. C. C. record, vol. 06, page 339, dated 1888). His nephews, Otto and Leo, were naturalized in the same year.

The 1890 St. Louis Directory shows Peter Thoma, carpenter, living at the rear of 1507 S. 7th St. In the same year his nephew Leo Thoma (-2G) was living at 1503 S. 7th St.

Sister Monika Thoma (-3G) died on 19 Jan. 1897 in Baden.

The 1900 Census for Missouri (T623_899, supv. dist. 11, enum. dist. 373, p. 6B, lines 86-88, dated 05/06 June) has Peter Thoma and his family living in ward 25 of St. Louis at 4251 Arco Ave. They own the mortgaged house. He is 49 years old, born in Germany in June of 1850. He immigrated in 1880 and has been in the U.S. for 20 years and is naturalized. I cannot make out the occupation but the first part seems to be "March." His wife Emma is 45 years old, born in June of 1854 in Germany. She immigrated in 1888 and has been in the U.S. for 12 years. No occupation is listed for her. All their parents were also born in Germany. They have been married 22 years. They had two children; both are living. Their daughter Mary is single, 19 years old, and was born in August 1880 in Germany. She immigrated in 1888 and has been in the U.S. for 12 years. No occupation is listed for her. No one else is living in the household so I presume that they had a child before Mary who may be married and is living elsewhere.

Brother-priest Joseph Thoma (-3G) died on 05 Apr. 1901 in Baden.

A picture of daughters Mary (Marie) and Louis Thoma (-2G), dated perhaps between 1895 and 1905 and most likely taken in St. Louis. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
Picture of Peter Thoma (-3G). Date and place unknown, but certainly between 1880 and 1914, so it was most likely taken in St. Louis. Click thumbnail to enlarge.

Here are two pictures of the Peter Thoma grocery store at 4251 Arco Ave. in St. Louis. The left picture shows it as it was ca 1904. The woman in the picture is Peter's wife, Emma. The right picture shows the buildings as in 1995--the grocery store is now a residence. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. The house attached to the grocery store is 4249 Arco.

There are two Peter Thoma households in the 1902 St. Louis City Dir. One is at 614 and a half S. 4th St. The other is a grocer at 4251 Arco Ave (the latter is ours). The same is true in the 1903 Dir. and 1904 Dir. and 1905 Dir. In the 1906 St. Louis Dir. the Peter Thoma on 4th St. is not listed but the grocer is still listed, living at 4251 Arco. A Mary Thoma is living with him. In the 1907 Dir. the grocer Peter Thoma is still living at 4249 Arco.

Daughter Marie married Emil Claas (-2G) in 1907 (or 1906). Peter took in Emil as a partner and the grocery business was called Thoma and Claas. This was according to a living relative.

Between 1908 and 1910 the Claas family moved to Galt, CA.

Sister Kunigunde Thoma (-3G) died on 26 Nov. 1908 in Baden.

In the 1908 St. Louis Dir. Peter is listed at 4251 Arco without an occupation. According to a living relative, the store was closed or sold in 1908. In 1909 Peter is living at 4249 Arco.

Sister Christina Thoma (-3G) died on 09 June 1909 in Baden.

There is a Peter Thoma in the 1910 Census for Missouri (T624, roll 817, part 1, enum. dist. 213, page 205A, 13-WD, dwelling 155, family 277). He is a 59 year-old man living in St. Louis. This is most likely our Peter because the age matches. His occupation seems to be "Income." His wife is Emma, 55 years old. She has no occupation. They have been married 32 years which matches with the records from Görwihl, Baden above. Both were born in Germany as were their parents but they both read, write and speak English. They are renting at 4138 Michigan Ave. No others are living with them.

His brother and our great-grandfather, Fridolin Thoma (-3G), died on 05 Oct. 1910 in St. Louis.

In 1911, at some unknown date, Peter and family moved to the German-speaking community of the Fruitvale district of Oakland, CA. He and family moved to Oakland, CA (see below) in 1914.

Peter died on 19 June 1914 in Oakland, CA, according to a living relative. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland, CA in section V, station 11, area 20, #40. He was almost 64 years old.

The 1910 Fed. Census for the Alabama Township of Sacramento County, CA (enum. ist. 87, sheet 8A, welling 81, family 84, lines 9-13, dated 27 April) has the family of Emil F. Claas. He was born in Germany, is 32 years old, married for 4 years, immigrated in 1903, and was a farmer in general farming. Mary E his wife was also born in Germany, immigrated in 1890, is 30 years old, married for 4 years, 3 children born, 3 living. Those chilren are Mary L, 3 years old; Elsa M., 2 years old; and Fred P., 3 months old. The girls were born in Missouri and Fred was born in California. [Marie's parents are still in St. Louis.]

There is an Emma Thoma in the 1920 Census for Oakland, California (enum. dist. 89, stamped p. 81, precinct 149, hand-entered p. 14A, dwelling 120, family 357, dated 10 Jan.). She is 65 years old, born in Germany, parents also born in Germany. She immigrated in 1888 which date matches that in the 1900 Census. She is widowed. She is living in the household of her daughter Mary E. who is married to Emil Class (Claas?). The daughter is 39 years old, was born in Germany as were her parents. She also immigrated in 1888 which date matches the 1900 Census. The children of Emil and Mary were born in Germany, Missouri and California. [It could be that this is Emil's second marriage.] They are living at 594 on 13th St.

There is an Emma Thoma in the 1930 Census for Oakland, California (roll 107, enum. dist. 107 (170?), part of Brookland township, block 2076, dwelling 96, family 120). She is 75 years old, born in Germany as were her parents. She is widowed after being married at age 25. She is the mother-in-law to the head of household who is Emil Class and his family. She immigrated in 1888 which date matches that in the 1900 Census (see above). The wife of the family is Marie who is 49 years old, born in Germany, parents also born in Germany. Marie immigrated in 1888 which date matches Mary in the 1900 Census (see above).

Daughter Marie married Emil Claas on 16 Jan. 1906, in St. Louis. They had 8 children. The names of the children in order were Mary (Marie) L., Elizabeth (Elsa or Elsie) M., Frederick P. (Fred), Leona J. (Lee), Henrietta M., Agnus D. and a stillborn twin brother, Joseph F. (Joe), and Rita M. The first two children were born in 1907 and 1908 in Missouri; the third and fourth were born in Gault, California, and the remainder were born in Oakland, CA. The family moved to Gault, CA sometime before August 1908 and purchased a small vineyard. I have a post card to Marie from her first cousin's wife, Mr. O. Thoma (Mary Eliz. Juengel). [See her page for more information.] Marie is in the 1910 Census for Sacramento County, CA and the 1920 and 1930 Census for Oakland, CA (see above). According to a living relative, they moved to the Fruitvale district of Oakland, CA in 1911. Marie died on 27 Dec. 1958 in Alameda, CA. Her mother's maiden name was Laber. No S. S. # is given. Most of this info. appears in the Census sheets (see above) and the CA Death Index. Some information came from living relatives.

Emma lived to be 100 years old. There is an article about her in the Oakland Tribune of 02 June 1954 titled "Woman Who Saw Rise and Fall of Bismark is 100 Today." She died on 30 Sept. 1954 in Alameda, CA. She was born on 2 June 1854 in Germany. Her mother's maiden name was Striert. This information is in the California Death Index. She was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland, CA, next to her husband, in Section V, Station 11, Area 20, grave #39

Emil Claas was 25 years old when he immigrated to the U.S., leaving Hamburg on the ship Pennsylvania on 4 Oct. 1902 an arriving in New York on some unknown date. He traveled alone. He registered for the WWII draft on 12 Sep. 1918 in Oakland, CA. At that time he and his family were living at 594 Thirteenth St. He was described as short and slender and having brown hair and eyes. Emil Claas is in the California Death index as born on 17 May 1876 in another country [Germany] and died on 10 Mar. 1953 in Alameda, CA. His S. S. # was 552-22-3507. See above for the Census schedules where he appears. He married Marie Thoma in 1907 (or 1906), probably in St. Louis.

I do not know when his brothers Dominik and Hieronymus passed away.

Daughter Louise became a nun named Sister M. Callista in the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood on 30 Oct. 1899. She was an artist (painter). She died on 15 Dec. 1918 in O'Fallon, Missouri during the flu epidemic. This information came from two living relatives. The convent had been established in O'Fallon since 1875. Its history show its roots from southern Baden and Switzerland. I found her death certificate (#49862) in the MO Archives. This certificate confirms her birth year and country and her death date. However it states that she died at 4267 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis, not in O'Fallon. Her residence was the St. Elizabeth Institution at 3401 Arsenal St. in St. Louis. Her age was only about 39 and she died of a bronchio-pneumonia contributed by influenza. She was buried in O'Fallon, MO on the 17th. The informant was another sister at the St. Elizabeth Institution. The death certificate gives her parents' names as "unknown," but lists their birthplace as Germany. Her occupation is given as "nun."

On left: Picture of Marie Thoma and Emil Claas at their wedding (16 Jan. 1906). On right: Picture of Emil Claas later in life (date unknown). He became Peter's son-in-law when he married Marie. Click thumbnails to enlarge.
Picture of Mary Claas (née Thoma), Peter's daughter. Date unknown. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
On left: Peter's wife, Emma Leber. Date and place unknown. On right: Sister Callista (Louise Thoma, daughter of Peter Thoma) (-2G). Picture of Louise may have been taken in O'Fallon, MO at the convent. Date is unknown. Click thumbnails to enlarge.

Many of the pictures were supplied by a descendant of the Claas family. Some additional information was given by two descendants of the Claas family.

Created Mon., 9 June, 2000.

Updated 25 Aug. 2007.