The (-1G) after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma. Mary Elizabeth also went by the names Betty or Elizabeth or Mary E.

Her father (one of 9 children) was born on 16 Mar. 1827 in Lehnheim, Oberhessen, Hessen (in Germany). His parents were Johannes Juengel (Jr) (-4G) and Katharina Erb (-4G).

Her mother was born on 14 Jan. 1826, also in Lehnheim, Hessen. Their surnames were the same (Juengel) as they were distant relatives.

I do not yet know when Mary' Elizabeth's parents married.

Before Elisabeth's birth, these siblings were born: brother Lukas ca 1852, brother August ca 1854, sister Elisabeth Amalia Junegel on 03 Apr. 1856, and Edward ca 1860.

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Her future husband, Otto (Sr), and his brother Leo (Sr) and their father (perhaps also a step-mother) came to this country in 1880 or 1881. Otto's first jobs in America were in the restaurant and wholesale wine business for five years.
Her husband, Otto H. Thoma (Sr), was a partner in the Stettner-Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery. There was a brewery founded in St. Louis by Louis Milentz in 1858 which operated at 1535 Carondelet [South Broadway]. Following several ownership changes, Christian Stettner and Otto Thoma took over the brewery in 1886. They operated under the name Stettner and Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery. In 1906, they moved the brewery to 128-130 Sidney Street. In 1908, they merged with the Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Company and operated as a branch of that concern until closing in 1913. As was typical of these brewers at the time, they only produced Weiss beer. His brother, Leo Thoma (Sr), assisted Otto in the brewery, then married and moved to Kansas City, MO where he set up his own brewery and later a bottling business.

In the 1888 St. Louis City Directory (Gould's) Otto is listed.

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Mary Elizabeth Juengel (-2G) was baptized on 16 July 1865 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. Her sponsors were Heinrich Juengel (a pastor) who substituted for Joh. Juengel, Mrs. Margaretha Deckert, Mrs. Marie Horst and Niclaus Hoenig.

The 1870 Census for St. Louis, Missouri (roll M593_812, Ancestry.Com image #337, hand-entered page #200, printed page #166B, dwelling #1052, family #1720, lines 33-39) shows the family of Henry Juengel living in ward 3. [John] Henry is 45 (or 49?) years old, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, parents also of foreign birth. [His age here does not agree with other records.] He is a huckster. His wife, Elizab is 44 years old, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, parents also of foreign birth. She is keeping house. The children are: son Chas [Charles] 18, August 16, Amilia 14, Edward 10, Elizab 5. The eldest is a store clerk, August and Amilia are at home, the others have nothing in the occupation column. The children were all born in Missouri and their parents in a foreign country. Their real estate is valued at $26,500 and their personal property at $2500!

She was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in 1878.

In the 1880 Census for St. Louis, MO is found in two separate enumerations. The first enumeration listing Henry Jungel's family is found in supr. dist. 1, enum. dist. 44, ward 5, precinct 64, printed page #108B, hand-entered page #18, dwelling #121, family #192, lines 36-41, dated 08 June. The surname is misspelled as Juenger. They are living at 1514 S. 7th St. The father, Henry, is 53 years old and is a pedlar. He and his parents were born in Hessen. The mother, Elisabeth is 54 and is keeping house. She and her parents were born in Hessen also. Three children are listed; the other two are living elsewhere, on their own. Daughter Amalia is 24 and is at home. Son Edward is 20 and is also a pedlar. Daughter Elisabeth [subject of this web page] is 15 and is at home. All three children are single, were born in Missouri of parents born in Hessen. Living with the family is a boarder, Franziska Sunday who is at home but may also serve as a housekeeper for the family. She is 13 and was born in Missouri.

The second enumeration of the 1880 St. Census for this family, dated 11 Nov., is found in supv. dist 71, enum. dist. 109, ward 5, precinct 64, printed page #102C, hand-entered page #11, dwelling 67, family 121, lines 30-35. The family is still living at 1514 S. 7th St. Differences from the above enumeration are several. Henry is a huckster and his age apears to be 55. His wife Elizabeth's age is 55. The name of the first daughter appears to be Mollie but it is hard to read. She is house keeping. The son Edward is a huckster. Instead of Hessen, the Census-taker used Germany for the birth place of the parents and their parents. The female boarder is called Frances; her last name is hard to read. She is at school. She was born in Missouri but her parents in Germany.

Mary E. married Otto Thoma (-2G) on 01 Oct. 1889 in the St. Louis area at Trinity Lutheran Church. The proof is found in the church records and the St. Louis Genealogical Society magazine (StLGS XVIII 3, page 73, "Marriages in Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Louis 1879-90"), but there is no record of the marriage in the city's civil records. In this marriage record (which is #38/89 on the microfilm) the fathers of the bridal couple are listed, as well as the couple's birth dates.

Click on this thumbnail to enlargen Mary Elizabeth's wedding picture, taken in Fall 1889.

The 1890 St. Louis Directory lists Otto living at 1718 S. 7th and a partner in the Stettner-Thoma Brewery, making weiss beer (wheat beer) on Broadway at the SW corner with Marion.

The 1891 St. Louis City Directory shows Otlo [sic!] Thoma (Stettner & Thoma), bus. at rear of 1535 S. Broadway, res. at 1718 S. 7th. The 1892 Directory shows Stettner & Thoma at the rear of 1535 S. Broadway and Otto Thoma's residence at 2817 Wyoming. The latter is the address that Emil Thoma gave for his destination on the ship passenger list at the end of 1892 when he emigrated. The 1893-96 Directories have the same listing as in 1892.

Daughter Clara was born on 2 Oct. 1896 in St. Louis (city). Her birth is recorded in the Register of Births--City of St. Louis, MO (vol. 79B, page 272). At this time the family is living at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis.

The 1897-99 Directories have the same listing as in 1892-96.

In the 1900 Census from St. Louis, (ward 10, enum. district 154, sheet 10, line 52) Mary (Eliz) and her family are living at 2817 Wyoming St. in St. Louis. At this time (June 8) her husband, Otto, is 35 years old and has been married 10 years. 1880 is given as his year of immigration and he has been in the country 20 years. He owns his house and it is mortgaged. He can read and write and can speak English. Mary is 34 years old, born July 1865 in Missouri. She can also read, write, and speak English. Also present are her 3 children: Otto (Jr) (10, born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri), Walter (b. in Apr. 1893 in Missouri), and Clara (born in Oct. 1896 in Missouri). Clara is mistakenly called a son of feminine gender! Also living there is her husband's half-brother, Emil Thoma* (-2G) (my grandfather), 26 years old, born Oct. 1873 [sic!] in Germany. Emil is called a boarder of no relation to Otto [sic!]. Emil's immigration is listed as 1894 [should be 1892] and his occupation is cabinet maker.

The 1900 (1910?) St. Louis Directory lists Otto Thoma, vp of MO Weiss Beer Brewing Co. at 130 Sidney, living at 2245 Dodier. I need to check on this.

Her father John Henry Juengel died on 28 Jan. 1902 in St. Louis and was buried in Concordia Lutheran Cemetery (lot #180) in St. Louis.

The house at 2817 Wyoming where Otto Thoma and family lived from ca 1891 to after 1920. The house still stands (in Aug. 2001) but is in very poor condition. It is being restored (in 2007).

The 1904 St. Louis Directory (Gould's) has Otto Thoma living at 2817 Wyoming and a partner in the Stettner-Thoma Brewery at 1535 S. Broadway. The 1905 St. Louis Dir. lists the Stettner & Thoma Brewery at the rear of 1535 N. B'way [Broadway].

I have a postcard, stamped 06 Aug. 1908, from Mrs. O. Thoma (Mary Eliz. Juengel) and family to her husband's first cousin Mrs. Mary Claas (Marie Thoma, daughter of Peter Thoma). It was obtained from a Thoma relative. No address is indicated except Galt Cali [CA]; evidently back in 1908 the town is small enough that the Post Office did not need a street address. The front of the postcard has a picture of the Eads bridge, the Mississippi River and some river boats and the name, "Mrs. O. Thoma and Family". The back of the card has the one-cent stamp, the postmark and cancellation, the address information and the following message [original spellings retained]:

Dear Cosin     recivied Your Post Card and glad to hear Your all well    we are all well and busy caning     with Love & best wishes

Her mother, Elisabeth Amalia, died on 15 Dec. 1908 in St. Louis and was buried in Concordia Lutheran Cemetery (lot #180) in St. Louis. She was 82 years, 11 months, 1 day of age. [She her page for more information.]

The 1910 Fed. Census for Missouri (supv. dist. 10, enum.dist. 170, sheet 16B, family no. 379, lines 60-65) taken on 23 April has the Soundex index 102 0170 0379. The family is living still at 2817 Wyoming in ward 11 of St. Louis City. Otto is 45 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1880, naturalized. He and his wife have been married 22 years. His parents were born in Germany. Mary Elizabeth, is 44 and was born in Missouri. She is a clerk at a packing house and her parents were born in Germany. They own the house but it is mortgaged. Otto H., a son, is 19 and was born in Missouri. Walter A., a son, is 17 and was born in Missouri. Clara, a daughter, is 13 and was also born in Missouri. With the family is Mary's sister, Amalia Juenel (Juengel), 53 years old, born in Missouri, her parents in Germany.

The 1913 Directory has Otto Thoma, vp of MO Weiss Beer Brewing Co. at 130 Sidney, living at 2817 Wyoming.

The 1915 St. Louis Directory lists Otto Thoma as vp of MO Weiss Beer Brewing Co. at 130 Sidney, living at 2817 Wyoming. The 1916 Dir. has Otto Thoma, vice-pres. of Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Co. 130 Sidney, with a residence at 2817 Wyoming. Otto Jr. has a separate listing at the same address. The 1917 Dir. listing is the same as in 1916 except his middle initial is given. The sons have a different listings, Otto Jr. at another address. The 1918 Dir. has Otto H. Thoma, v. pres. of Stettner & Thoma Weiss Beer Brewing Co., with a home at 2817 Wyoming. Otto Jr. & Walter have separate listings, Otto Jr. at a different address.

The 1920 Fed. Census (vol. 105, district 206, sheet 10, line 21) lists Mary and her family still living at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis. Her husband is 55 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1878 and naturalized in 1885. Mary E. is 54 years old, born in Missouri, and the daughter, Clara, is 23 years old, born in Missouri. Also living there is Amalia Juengel, Mary's sister, 63 years old, born in Missouri. The two sons, Otto and Walter, are no longer living at home with their parents.

The 1922 St. Louis Directory lists Otto H. Thoma, bottles business at 2545 W. Dodier, with a home at 2817 Wyoming. The 1924 Dir. shows Otto H. Thoma, pres. of Columbia Products Co., with a home at 2817 Wyoming. Otto Jr. and Walter have separate listings at different addresses.

Her husband and his businesses are mentioned on p. 266 in "Who's Who in North St. Louis", published by the North St. Louis Business Men's Assoc. in 1925. At that time he owned and operated the Columbia Products Company at 2545 West Dodier Street in St. Louis, MO. That company were canners of Columbia and Bavarian malt extracts and dealers in domestic and imported hops, crown, porcelain stoppers and cappers.

The 1925 Directory shows Otto Thoma (Columbia Products Co.) with a home at 2817 Wyoming. The 1926 Directory lists Otto Thoma of Columbia Products Co, head of household at 2817 Wyoming. Their son Walter C. Thoma is listed separately as a salesman, living with his parents. The 1927 Dir. shows Otto Thoma (Columbia Products Co.) residing at 3675 Wilmington Ave.

Her sister Amalia died on 19 Mar. 1927 in St. Louis and was buried in Concordia Lutheran Cemetery (lot 1 of section 1, lot # 160). Her daughter Clara died on 16 June 1928 and was buried in New Marcus Cemetery on Gravois in St. Louis County.

Sometime between 1926 and 1928 the family moved from 2817 Wyoming to 3675 Wilmington, a house newly built by Theodore Winge (-2G), who is a brother-in-law of Otto's half-brother Emil Thoma.

The 1929 Directory lists Otto H. Thoma of Columbia Products Co., head of household at 3675 Wilmington. Their son, Walter O., with a separate listing at the same address, is a manager at Columbia Products Co.

In the Standard Masonic Directory of St. Louis and St. Louis County (1929) there is listed an Otto Thoma living at 3675 Wilmington in St. Louis. He is a member of the 2nd Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the St. Louis Chapter 8 of Royal Arch Masons, 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite, and a member of Moolah Temple (AAONMS).

The 1930 Directory does not list Otto (I) or Mary Eliz., but it does list Walter and his wife Elvira as well as Otto H. (II) and his wife Edna.

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1234, enum. dist. 471, page 9A, lines 1-4) lists Mary E. Thoma [née Juengel], 64 years old, living in St. Louis (city). On the same Census page we find her husband, Otto J. Thoma, 65 years old, born in "Deutschland", "White" race, living in St. Louis (city). We also find Walter C. Thoma [their son], 36. Otto owns the house which is valued at $15,000 and contains a radio set. Otto was married at age 25 and Mary at age 24. His immigration is marked as 1891 [sic!] and his naturalizaion is marked as "Na". His occupation is marked as "Retired" and his industry as "Merchant". Otto and his parents were born in Germany. Mary E. was born in Missouri and her parents in Darmstadt, Germany. Walter was married at age 22 and his wife at age 21. Walter was born in Missouri; his wife in Germany and her parents in Germany. Walter's occupation is marked as "Manufacturer" and his industry as "Malt extract". He was not a veteran and was currently employed. Otto and Olivia spoke German before coming to the U.S. but all four are now able to read, write and speak English. Olivia's immigration is marked as "Un" [unknown?] and her naturalization as "Na". Neither she nor Mary have an occupation. [Otto's (Sr.) son, Otto (Jr) is married, living elsewhere. Otto's (Sr.)and Mary's daughter, Clara, is deceased (in 1928).]

Actually, in 1930, her son Otto (Jr) and the son's family are living downstairs at 3675 Wilmington. That family consists of Otto (Jr) (39), his wife Edna (37), and his three children (13, 12, and 5 years old). See his page for more details.

Mary's husband died on 31 May 1930, after the Census. His death certificate (file # 18198) says he died early in the morning on 31 May 1930 at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Cause of death was senile dementia contributed by chronic mycarditis. He was 65 years, 10 months, 8 days old and was born in Germany on 23 July 1864. His parents' names are marked unknown; they were also born in Germany. He was an office clerk at Columbia Products Co. His residence was 3675 Wilmington. Ziegenhein at 2623 Cherokee was the funeral parlor. He was buried (block 7, lot 41, grave 3) in New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County.

The 1931 St. Louis Directory lists Eliz. Thoma, the widow of Otto Thoma (I), residing at 3675a Wilmington Ave. The 1932 Dir. lists Eliz. Thoma, the widow of Otto H. Thoma (I), head of household at 3675 Wilmington Ave.

The 1937 St. Louis Directory lists Mary E. Thoma (widow of Otto) with a home at 3675a Wilmington Ave. The 1939 Directory has the same information, except it calls her Eliz. The 1941 Directory has Eliz. Thoma (widow of Otto) living at 3675a Wilmington Ave. The 1944 Dir. has Eliz. Thoma (widow of Otto) with a home at 3675a Wilmington Ave.

There is a medical case history (#79555, roll Y-930) for a Mary Thoma at a city hospital, dated 15 Nov. 1947. I do not know which Mary Thoma this refers to.

The 1955 St. Louis Directory has Mrs. Mary E. Thoma still living at 3675a Wilmington. The 1956 Dir. shows Mrs. Mary E. Thoma with a home at 3675a Wilmington Ave. The 1958 Dir. has Mrs. Mary E. Thoma with a home at 3675 Wilmington. The 1959 Dir. has Mrs. Mary E. Thoma with a home at 3675a Wilmington Ave.

She died 22 May 1960 at the Lutheran Convalescent Home in St. Louis. Her residence at this time was 3675 Wilmington in St. Louis. She was 94 years old. The death certificate reports that her father was Henry Juengel and her mother's first name was Elizabeth (no maiden surname is given). She had no Social Security number, was never in the Armed Forces and her occupation was given as housekeeper. Her deceased husband's name was Otto Thoma, and the death certificate informant was her son Otto Thoma, who was living at 4948 and a half Fyler. According to the death certificate, she was born in St. Louis on 03 July 1865. She was attended by Dr. W. A. Rohlfing (of 4724 Gravois) on 01 Apr., 21 May and 22 May in 1960 but she died at 7:35 AM on the 22nd of chronic myocarditis due to generalized arteriosclerosis which she had had for 5 years. Her funeral was handled by John L. Ziegenhein & Sons at 7027 Gravois. On the 25th her body was removed to New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County. She was buried next to her husband (block 7, lot 41, grave 4). There is no gravestone.

Apparently she did not have a Social Security card/number. There was a Mary Thoma with the S.S. #493-40-4063 which was issued in Missouri in 1954. However, her birth and death years are different than our Mary Elizabeth Thoma.

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There was an Otto Thoma who was buried in St. Matthew Cemetery in St. Louis on 01 Feb. 1880. His age was only 3 months, 16 days. However I would dismiss this person frominclusion in our family because none of our Thoma people were in the United States at the end of 1879. There was also an Otto Thoma, stillborn, who was buried in Concordia Cemetery in St. Louis on 19 Aug. 1904. I would also dismiss that baby because the 1904 date is probably too late for Mary Elizabeth and too early for either of her sons to father.

The Social Security application of her son Otto (Jr.), dated 14 May 1941, gives Elesebeth H. Juengel as his mother. Son Walter died in 1963 and son Otto in 1966.

Some of the information about the brewery and business of Otto Thoma was supplied by Hank Herbst who is associated with the St. Louis Brews. His E-Mail is H2beer@aol.com.

Most of the information on the ancestry of Mary Elizabeth, as well as her baptism and marriage information, and leads on the correct Census, came from a descendant of her uncle. My appreciation is extended to this person for all the help. This person can be contacted at jmk-pcmo1@juno.com

Created 17 June, 2000. Updated on 20 Mar. 2007.