The (-2G), etc., after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma.

Her husband was born in July 1863 in the state of Westphalia, Germany. He immigrated in 1880. Frieda was born in Oct. 1868, also in Westphalia.

There is a Frieda Peters who immigrated in 1852 at age 36 but these dates make it impossible for this to be our Frieda. Anyway the 1930 Census says Frieda immigrated in 1882.

I presume Frieda and Henry were married in the United States ca 1887 (see 1930 Census) when she was 19.

Before Louise was born, another child, Henry (Jr), was born in Dec. 1889. I question this because of the closeness of his birth to hers. Can twins be born over two weeks apart? (However,see the discrepancies in the Census sheets for Louise's age.)

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 her family living in St. Louis. Her husband, Henry Cossmann [note spelling variation], is 38 years old, born in July 1863 in Germany. Freada [note spelling variation], is 32, born in Oct. 1868 in Germany. Their son Henry is 11, born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri. Their daughter Louis is 10, born in Jan. 1890 in Missouri. Their son Otto is 8, born in Nov. 1892 in Missouri.

I could not find Louise and her family in the 1910 Soundex index for Missouri.

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

Another 1920 Census entry shows her son Henry 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.

Her husband died in 1921 and was buried in Ste. Peter and Paul Cemetery in section 38, lot 2098. He was born in 1862. 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 their daughter was buried decades later (section 38, lot 2098).

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1233, enum. dist. 450, page 13B, dwelling 198, family 337, Ancestry.Com image #0690) shows Lulu [Louise] Cossman, 39 years old, living at 3825a Minnesota in ward 11, block 1626 of St. Louis with her mother Freda [note spelling variation] who is 61 years old, born in Germany. Her mother owns the house, valued at $4,000 and they have a radio. Lulu is single and does office work for a packing company. She was born in Missouri but her parents were born in Germany. Freda's parents were born in Germany; she immigrated in 1882 and is naturalized. Freda was first married when 19. Freda has a job cleaning an office. Both women can read, write and speak English and are not in school.

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

Created 11 Dec. 2001. Updated on 29 Jan. 2005.