The * (asterisk) marks direct-line ancestors. The (-5G), etc. after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma

The LDS Family History web site, IGI database, gives an entry for a Heinrich Cossmann, baptized on 11 Aug. 1862 at the Roman Catholic Church in Rumbeck, Westphalia, Prussia. His parents were Franz Cossmann and Catharine Schilling. (FHL film #0997211, dated 1859-1874). The grave stone of our Henry gives 1862 as his birth year so this database probably refers to our Henry.

It is unknown if he had siblings.

He immigrated in 1880 so he may have missed that year's Census, but perhaps he was in the second enumeration which was probably taken in Nov.

His future wife immigrated in 1882.

They married ca. 1887 in the U. S., probably in St. Louis, MO. Frieda was 19 at the time.

Son Henry was born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1890 shows a Henry C. Cossmann, steward, living at 2228 Morgan. The surname has the extra "n" at the end.

Daughter Louise Anna Cossman (-2G) born 18 Jan. 1891 (1890?) in St. Louis, MO.

Son Otto was born in Nov. 1892 in Missouri.

The 1900 Fed. Census for Missouri (enum. dist. 159, sheet 10, line 59) shows his family living in St. Louis. Henry Cossmann [note spelling variation], is 38 years old, born in July 1863 in Germany. His mother, Freada [note spelling variation], is 32, born in Oct. 1868 in Germany. Son Henry is 11, born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri. Daughter Louis is 10, born in Jan. 1890 in Missouri. Son Otto is 8, born in Nov. 1892 in Missouri.

I could not find Henry and his family in the 1910 Soundex index for Missouri.

The 1920 Fed. Census for Missouri (vol. 98, enum. dist. 254, sheet 9, line 57) shows Henry's family living in St. Louis at 3825 Minnesota. Henry Cossman is 56, born in Westphalia, Germany, immigrated in 1880 and naturalized in 1904. His wife, Frieda, is 51, also born in Westphalia, citizenship classified as NR. Daughter Louise is 28, born in Missouri and son Otto is 27, born in Missouri.

Another 1920 Census entry shows his son Henry (-2G) living in Carthage, Jasper County, MO (enum. dist. 87, page 4A, dwelling 75, family 83). He is 30 years old; his wife Elizabeth is 27 and his son Harold is 2 and 5/12.

He died on 25 June 1921 and was buried ca. 29 June in Ste. Peter and Paul Cemetery in section 38, lot 2098. There is an obituary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of 26 June on p. 9B and a burial notice in the same newspaper on 29 June on p. 24. The name is given as Henry Cossman (with one "n"). He was buried in the Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in St. Louis County, in the same lot where his daughter was buried decades later (section 38, lot 2098). His death certificate is in the MO Archives (file #16302; registered #5253). It gives the father's name as Joseph who was born in Germany and the mother's name as "unknown". She was also born in Germany as was Henry on 11 June 1863. Henry was a cook and was living at 3825a Minnesota in ward 13 of St. Louis. According to the death certificate Henry died at home on 25 June 1921 at 7:30 PM of chronic myocarditis. He was aged 58 years, and 14 days. The doctor was Julius Hanck of 3555a Arsenal. Henry was buried in Sts Peter and Paul Cemetery on 28 Jun. 1921. The undertaker was Ziegenheim Bros., 2623 Cherokee St. The informant was his wife Frieda.

Here is a picture of lot 2098 in Ste. Peter and Paul Cemetery in St. Louis. It shows the graves and stones for Henry , his daughter Louisa (née Cossman; married Winge) and her first husband, Elmer Compass.

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His wife died in July 1951 in St. Louis (city) (MO Archives death certificate #24441).

I do not know when his sons Otto and Henry died, but both died after 1920.

His daughter Louise married our grand uncle William Richard Winge (-2G). She did not have children. She died on 09 Mar. 1982 in St. Louis County.

A Catherine Cossman (Henry's mother or sister?) died in May 1944 in St. Louis (city) (MO Archives death certificate #16260).

Created 03 Oct. 2003. Updated 25 Apr. 2006.