The asterisk (*) marks direct-line ancestors. The (-2G), etc., after names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma.

His parents married on 25 Sept. 1869 in St. Louis, MO. They may have had a daughter, Jacqueline. There is a record of the death of Jacqueline Catherine Green on 15 Aug. 1870 in St. Louis. She lived at 2721 Walnut (St. Louis Death Records, vol. 3, p. 316). She was probably the girl listed in the 1870 Census for Jacob and Rachel Green (M593_816, printed page 351, hand-entered p. 95, dwelling 584, family 598, lines 25-27, dated 23 June).

No Jacob M. Gruen appears in the St. Louis City Directory until 1870 where he is listed as a bartender with C. Jenne & Co. living at 2628 Tayon Ave. This company was a wine dealer and importer located on Market St. at the SE corner of 5th St. The owner, Charles Jenne, is the head of household at the same address as Jacob.

The 1871 St. Louis City Directory lists a J. Green with the listing for C. Jenne & Co. in the business section of the 1871 St. Louis Directory. This is probably a misspelling of J. Gruen who was living and working with Charles Jenne a year earlier. "Gruen" (German) = "Green" (English). The company address is given as 420 Market. Charles Jenne (and probably also Jacob M. Gruen and his wife) is living at 2628 Market [sic! Tayon?]. Jacob Gruen is listed in the 1872 St. Louis Directory as a partner with Charles Jenne in the Charles Jenne & Co., wine dealers, at 420 Market. Jacob does not have a separate residence listing in this directory; he is perhaps living with Charles Jenne at 2628 Market. The 1873 Directory repeats the 1872 information. The 1874 Directory does not list our Jacob M. Gruen or Charles Jenne in the business or residential sections. The 1875 Directory has Jacob M. Gruen with a saloon at 420 Market and residence at 2624 Market. The 1876 Directory has the same information. The St. Louis City Directory of 1877 lists Jacob M. Gruen with a wine business at 420 Market and residence at 27?6 Market. Notice that this business address is the same as that for C. Jenne & Co. in 1871. Could it be that Charles Jenne died between 1871 and 1877 and Jacoc Gruen took over the business? The Directory of 1878 lists Jacob Gruen, wine dealer at 420 Market, living at 2706 Manchester Rd. [sic! Market?].

Josephine Scharfenberger (-2G) was unofficially adopted ca 1877 and raised by the Gruen family that at one time lived near the Greer Ave. (north St. Louis) address where the Eugene Thake family lived. So she was not a true Gruen; her blood ancestors are uncertain, but her birth surname may be Scharfenberger (see below). Her parents may have been Joseph Scharfenberger (-3G) and Maria Magdalena Jenne who may have been related to Charles Jenne, the business partner of George Gruen's father. Joseph died in 1877.

The 1880 Census for Missouri (first enumeration, T9_723, supv. dist. 1, enum. dist. 132, page 16, sheet 33D, dwelling 117, family 142, lines41-46, dated 4 June) has a Jacob Gruen family in St. Louis. The head, Jacob Gruen, is a wine merchant. He is 36 years old, born in Baden. His parents were also born in Baden. His wife, the family housekeeper, is named Regina. She is 29 years old, born in Missouri. Her parents were born in Darmstadt in Hesse. Their son, George, is 8 years old, born in Missouri. Also is the household is a boarder, Josephine Scharfenberger, 9 years old. She was born in Missouri; her father in Bavaria; her mother in Baden. I belive this was the same person as Josephine Gruen in the 1900 Census, although the ages do not quite match (neither do the ages of Jacob). Also in the household is a servant girl, Carolina Mueller(?), 16 years old. Carolina was born in Illinois; her father in Germany and her mother in Darmstadt in Hesse. They are living at 2710 Laclede Ave. in St. Louis, MO.

The 1880 Census for St. Louis, Missouri (second enumeration, T9_733, supv. dist. 71, enum. dist. 342, page 10, sheet 225B, dwelling 54, family 85, lines 18-23, dated 10 Nov.) shows the Jacob M. Gruen family living at 2710 Laclede Ave. The head, Jacob Gruen, is a wine merchant. He is 36 years old, born in Germany. His parents were also born in Germany. His wife is named Rachel [sic! mistake?] and has no occupation listed. She was born in Missouri; her parents in Germany. Their son John G. Gruen is 9 and is employed in a store. George J. Gruen, father of Jacob, is 70 and widowed. He is a wagon driver (perhaps for the family wine business). He and his parents were born in Germany. Fred Gruen, cousin of Jacob, is 21 and single, and is employed as a cellar man (probably in the family wine business). He and his parents were born in Germany. On the line above Jacob we find Josie Schaffenberger [spelling?], an adopted child of 9 years old. She was born in Missouri of parents born in Germany. [I am assuming that she should be included in the Jacob Gruen family--see the first enumeration.]. The servant girl seen in the first enumeration is not listed.

The 1880 Census for Missouri has another Jacob Gruen. For details, see his page. The 1880 St. Louis City Directory has Jacob M. Gruen with a saloon at 420 Market and a residence at 2706 Market [sic! Laclede?].

In the 1881 St. Louis City Directory Jacob M. Gruen is listed with a saloon at 418 Market and a home at 2706 Laclede. The 1882 Direcory has Jacob M. Gruen with a saloon at 418 Market and a residence at 2710 Manchester Rd. The 1883 Directory has Jacob M. Gruen with a saloon at 418 Market and residence at 2710 Market. The 1884 Dir. has George J. Gruen, team., living at 2710 Market.

In the St. Louis Death Records, 1850-1908, Jacob's father's (George's grandfather) death (26 July 1885) is listed. He is living at 16 S. Beaumont with the Jacob Gruen family.

In the 1885 St. Louis Dir. we see Jacob M. Gruen with a saloon at 418 Market and a residence at 16 S. Beaumont. The 1886 and 1887 Directories have the same information. Between 1887 and 1900 the family moved to 414 Market. A book titled "The German Element in St. Louis" (found in the library of the Missouri Historical Society) mentions that Jacob M. Gruen had a tavern on Market street for many years in a building that was formerly occupied by the Donegan & Co., a dry goods merchant, in the 1860's. The 1889 roster of the General Lyon Post No. 2 of the Department of Missouri Grand Army of the Republic lists Jacob M. Gruen who served in the Union Army first as a private in Co. A, 4th Infantry, Volunteers from Missouri, then as a private in Co. a of the 1st Cavalry, Volunteers from Missouri, and finally as the Chief Orderly of the 1st Cavalry, Missouri Cavalry Division. this roster states that he was a wine merchant with a business at 418 Market St. in St. Louis.

The 1890 Veteran's Schedule (home #45, family #66, dated June 1890), taken from the now lost 1890 Census (11th Census of the U.S., supv. dist. 1, enum. dist. 5, p. 1), gives the Civil War service record of Jacob M. Gruen that we listed in a paragraph above. The address given for Jacob in June 1890 is 414 Market St. This enumeration was recorded by a Charles Zimmermann [related to Regina?] There is also a veterans' schedule for the other Jacob Gruen who was living at this time on Hickory St. (supv. dist. 1, enum. dist. 196, house #66, family #82).

The 1890 Census was destroyed in a fire so no family details are available, but the 1890 St. Louis City Directory lists two George Gruen's. One is a collector, boarding at 414 Market. That one is probably the son of our Jacob M. Gruen (-3G). The other is a George E. Gruen, a salesman for the American Wine Co., who is living at 2220 Hickory. The latter is a son of the other Jacob Gruen, partner in J. Gruen & Bro. For more information on him and his brother John, click here.

The 1891 St. Louis Directory lists a Gruen's Hotel at 414 Market. The 1892 Dir. has George J. Gruen, salesman for Jacob M. Gruen (his father), living at2702 N. 21st St.

Married Alfreda (Frieda) (née ?) ca. 1894/95.

The St. Louis Directory of 1895 has George J. Gruen, wine, residence at 2936 Barrett. The 1896 Dir. has George Gruen, manager for J. M. Gruen (his father), living at 1720 Elliot Ave. The 1897 Dir. has George J. Gruen, manager for J. M. Gruen, living at 1720 Elliot Ave.

Daughter Elsa was born in June 1897 in Missouri.

The 1898 St. Louis Dir. has George J. Gruen, deputy collector at City Hall, living at 1720 Elliot Ave. The 1899 Dir. has the same information.

In the 1900 Census for Missouri the head of the household at 2702 N. 21st St. in St. Louis is Jacob Gruen. He is 58 years old, born in Aug. 1841 in Germany, with parents also born in Germany. Jacob is naturalized, came to the U.S. in 1865 and has lived in the U.S. for 35 years. He is a wine merchant. Also in the household in Jacob's wife of 30 years, Dina (same as Regina in the 1880 Census). Dina is 47 years old, born in Nov. 1852 in Missouri. Dina's father and mother were born in Germany. Dina can read and write and can speak English. In the household there is a Josephine Gruen, listed as a daughter, born in August 1872 and 27 years old. (See the 1880 Census where she is listed as Josephine Scharfenberger). She was born in Missouri. According to this Census, Josephine's father was born in Germany and her mother in Missouri--but this is probably referring to her foster parents, the Gruen's. The Census also states that she can read and write and can speak English.  George is not listed because he was probably living on his own.

In the 1900 Census for Missouri (T623_897, supv. dist. 11, enum. dist. 304, sheet 8A, printed page #287, dwelling 90, family 133, lines 23-25, dated 11 June) we do find Geo. J. Gruen and family living at 1717 Elliot Ave. in ward 20 of St. Louis. They are renting. He is a 28 year old clerk at a collector's agency. He was born in Sept. 1871 in Missouri, his father in Germany and his mother in Missouri. He and his wife have been married 5 years. His wife, Alfreda, is 27 years old, was born in Dec. 1872 in Missouri, parents born in Germany. Their daughter, Elsa, is 2 years old [nearly 3], born in June 1897 in Missouri. All can read, write and speak English.

On Josephine's marriage license (21 Apr. 1906) her foster parents' address is given as 2702 N. 21st St. in St. Louis, MO. George and Alfreda were attendants/witnesses at this wedding which was at Holy Ghost Evang. Church on Grand and Page. Josephine appears in the 1910 Missouri Census - Sondex Index for T200 with the reference to 111 0339 0231. Her nickname Josie is used, she is 35 years old and is born in Missouri. She is listed with her husband and three children.

He, his wife, and his daughter are mentioned and named in the obituary of his father, Jacob M. Gruen (-3G) (St. Louis Post Dispatch, 28 Oct. 1907, p. 12). George's middle initial is given. Jacob and his wife Regina were the foster parents of my maternal grandmother, Josephine. The father Jacob died on 26 Oct. and was buried on the 29th in Bethany Cemetery.

The 1910 Fed. Census for Missouri (St. Louis ward 19, supv. dist. 10, enum. dist. 308, sheet 5B, stamped page 197, dwelling 63, family 89, lines 80-83, not dated) has the George A. Gruen family living at 1812 N. Leffingwell Ave. George is a 38 year-old salesman for a wine company [probably what he inherited from his father}. He was born in Missouri of German parents. His wife Alfrida is a 37 year-old woman with no occupation. She was born in Missouri of a German father and a mother from Missouri. She had one child, which child is still living. The daughter Elsie is 12 years old and was born in Missouri of Missouri parents. Also living there is Clara Stuckman, the sister of Alfrida. She is 30 and single so we can assume that Alfrida's maiden name is also Stuckman. Clara was born in Missouri of a German father and a Missouri mother (same as Alfrida).

George J. Gruen is listed in several St. Louis Directories. In 1910 he is a clerk living at 1812a N. Leffingwell Ave. The 1910 Dir. also lists a George J. Gruen, salesman at 219 Pine, living at 1720 Elliot Ave. The directories of 1911-1914 list George J. Gruen, salesman at 219 Pine, living at 3963 Palm.

There are three George Gruen's in the S.S. Death Index but none of them have early enough birth dates. One has a S. S. number issued in Missouri but he could not be a son of the George above. Perhaps he is a son of another St. Louis Gruen (John?). There is a George Gruen listed in the St. Louis Public Library Obituary Index with a burial/death notice in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of 04 May 1911 on p. 16.

His foster sister, Josephine Scharfenberger (Gruen) died on Feb. 1913 in St. Louis. She was married to Erven Eugene Thake and had three children. All were living at 3922 Lexington Ave.

The St. Louis City Dir. of 1915 lists George J. Gruen, salesman at 219 Pine; no residence address is given but I presume it is 3963 Palm.. Most likely Frieda is also living there; perhaps their daughter Elsie too. The 1916 St. Louis Directory has George J. Gruen, salesman at 219 Pine, living at 3963 Palm. The 1917 Directory has him living at the same address. A George Jacob Gruen registered for the WWI draft, but he was born on 12 June 1889 so he is not our George. (Board 1, roll 1683863)

The 1920 Fed. Census for Missouri (St. Louis ward 21, enum. dist. 183, sheet 22B, dwelling 328, family 567, dated 23 Jan.) shows the family of Geo. J. Gruen living at 3963 Palm St. George is a 48 year-old salesman at an auto company. His wife, Alfrida, is 41. Living with them is his mother, Regina Gruen, a 68 year-old widow. Also living there is the sister of Alfrida, Clara [Stuckmann] who is a 39 year-old stenographer. [Regina, the mother of George, died ca. 11 Dec. the same year].

There is a G. Gruen listed in the St. Louis Public Library Obituary Index with a burial/death notice in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of 29 Nov. 1920 on p. 15. He could be related to the other Jacob Gruen or to John Gruen.

His mother died 11 Dec. 1920 and was buried on the 14th in Bethany Cemetery. There is an obituary for her in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of 12 Dec. 1920 on p. 7 in section B.

An Elsa A. Froning (née Gruen) died on 01 May 1924 in St. Louis (city). An obituary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of 01 May, p. 34 and a burial notice appeared on 03 May, p. 7. This could be the daughter of George and Alfreda. The death certificate in the MO Archives is #15874.

Sometime between the 1920 and 1930 Census George and Alfreda divorced.

The 1926 St. Louis County Dir. has a Geo. J. Gruen, bldg. contr. at 355 Sylvester Ave. in Webster Groves, home address the same. There is a Geo. J. Gruen in the 1930 County Dir. who is an aviator instructor with a home at 15 Glenoak Pl. in Webster Groves.

The 1930 Census for Missouri (roll 1238, supv. dist. 8, enum. dist. 96-66, printed page #91, hand-entered page 10A, line 40, dated 11April) has a Geo. J. Gruen, 59 years old who is a lodger in a large rooming house/hotel on Locust St. in St. Louis. He is a clerk at a service club garage and was working there at present. He was married at age 23 but is now divorced. He was born in Missouri, his father in Germany and his mother in Missouri. He is not a veteran. He can read and write English. This could be our George.

There is a 1930 Census (T626_1223, enum. dist. 25, p. 8B) listing for another George Gruen living in St. Louis. The one is only 40 years old who is living with a Maud Angel Gruen, 35. He is perhaps the one with the S. S. number 488-03-9092, with the parents George Edward Gruen and Elizabeth Schuler.

The St. Louis City Dir. of 1936 has a Geo. J. Gruen, clerk at Union Elec. L. & P. Co., residing at 3208 Olive.

Records in the St. Louis County Library show a George Gruen who died on 11 Nov. 1937 and was buried in Bethany Cemetery. This is probably our George Gruen. According to the St. Louis Genealogical Society web site, Traffic Fatalities database, a George Gruen died at age 66 from a traffic accident he had as a pedestrian, on 07 Nov. 1937 at 6 PM at Compton and Olive with a streetcar. His address was 3208 Olive. The MO Archives has a death certificate (No. 39473).

Created Mon. Apr. 3, 2000.  Updated 23 May 2006.