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

Siblings born before him were Caspar Ricklin (-2G) (b. in 1844), Barbara Ricklin (b. in 1846), Philomena Ricklin (b. in 1848), M. Theresa Ricklin (b. in 1850), Josef Ricklin (-2G) (b. in 1852), Sofia Ricklin (-2G) (b. in 1854), Johann Ricklin (-2G), (b. in 1856), Maria J. Ricklin (-2G) (b. in 1858), Marie A. Ricklin (-2G) (b. in 1860), and Robert Ricklin (-2G) (b. in 1862). All siblings were born in Switzerland.

Severin was born in St. Gallen near Zurich in Switzerland. A living descendant says he was born on 09 Mar. 1866 in St. Gallenkappel, St. Gallen, Switzerland. His father's dates are 1820 to 24 Apr. 1904 and his mother's dates are 1821 to 25 Jul. 1882. He came to the U.S. in 1890. One family source says his birth date was 9 Mar. 1866 though his obituary says it was 52 years, 4 months, 16 days before his death date. The names of his parents were supplied by the same family source. The grave monument in Sunset Mem. Park says he was born on 03 Sep. 1866.

The death certificate states that he had lived in St. Louis for 32 years which means that he arrived in St. Louis ca 1887. Maybe he immigrated at that time.

In the 1897 St. Louis Directory Severin Ricklin is listed as a baker living at 4437 S. 16th (He is the only Ricklin listed). In the 1898 Directory he is a baker living at 4405 Virginia Ave.

Severin and Hedwig were married on 25 May 1898 by a Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. P. Francis Albers, of 3140 Meramec St. in St. Louis.  The church was probably nearby (St. Anthony of Padua?).  At the time Severin was 31 years old, living at 4405 Virginia Ave. in St. Louis.  Hedwig was 20 years old, living at 4460 S. 17th St. in St. Louis.

Here is the wedding picture of Erhard Severin Ricklin and Hedwig M. Winge. Hedwig's older sister, standing on our right, was the maid of honor and made the dresses. The man on our right is a friend, Joe Alaska, who served as best man. Date of picture: 25 May 1898. Picture may have been taken at the church, St. Anthony of Padua, or at a studio or home.

The St. Louis Directory of 1899 lists E. Severin Ricklin, a baker, living at 3300 Morgan (He is the only Rickin).

The Social Security application of his son, Severin Moritz Ricklin (#489-09-6572) gives Hedwig Winge as his mother and Severin Ricklin as the father.

Erhard Severin is found in the 1900 Fed. Census (vol. 98, reel 897, enumeration dist. 315, sheet 6, line 36, family 108) with his wife living at 3300 Morgan in St. Louis. His wife is 22 years old, born in Sept. 1877 in Germany. She immigrated in 1880 and her parents were born in Germany. Her name is misspelled "Hedwick". Erhard S. Ricklin, is 33 years old, born in Sept. 1866 in Switzerland. Erhard Severin is a baker who immigrated in 1890 and been in the U.S. for 9 years. His parents were also born in Switzerland. Severin and Hedwig have been married 2 years; there are no children yet. They are renting. Also living there is a Robert J. Heinzer, a boarder, 22 years old, born 1877 in Missouri. He is also a baker, probably working for Severin and his wife.

His bake shop was formerly at 17th and Morgan (3300 Morgan), then at 4403 Virginia Ave. in St. Louis city. Later his widow had the bakery at 4401 Virginia where her sister Emma and her husband once had a saloon.

Severin's Family in ca 1915. E. Severin is the father on the right and his wife Hedwig (Hattie) is on the left. All of their children are included here.
Here is a picture of the buildings at 4401 and 4403 Virginia Ave. (at Osceola) taken before 1919 I think. The Severin Bakery, downstairs on the left, is the one owned by Erhard Severin and Hedwig. The corner saloon was owned by Severin's sister-in-law, Emma, and her husband Fred Marty.
Here is a recent picture of the same buildings at 4401 and 4403 Virginia Ave. (taken in early 2002). The living quarters for several of the Winge and Ricklin families were upstairs. The bakery was downstairs.

The 1910 Fed. Census Soundex for Missouri (104 0206 0328) (supv. dist. 10, ward 13, district 206, sheet 15, dwelling 305, family 338, lines 53-57dated 29-30 Apr.) has Sevrin Ricklin,40, living at 4404 13th St. South in St. Louis.  He and his parents were born in Switzerland and their native language was German. The immigration of Severin Ricklin was in 1890 (or 1870) and he is naturalized by 1910. His wife Hedwig is 32, and was born in Germany, as were her parents. One daughter is 8, born in Missouri; a daughter Martha is 5, born in Missouri; and a son Severin, is also 5, born in Missouri.  The actual Census says Hedwig had four children but 3 are living.  It says they have been married 10 years (does it read 13?) [actually 12 years].  They all speak English.

A talk with one of his children revealed that a George was a Swiss baker who lived with the Ricklin family for a while. George made fancy baked goods and confections but these were not so popular with the local patrons who preferred the breads and stollens.

Here is a picture of members of the Winge, Ricklin and Thoma families from ca 1911.  Severin is the man seated in the front row with bushy hair behind the little table.  Three of his children are also in the picture.  Click thumbnail to enlarge.

The 1918 St. Louis City Dir. shows Severin Ricklin, baker at 4403 Virginia Ave, residence at same location.

He died before the 1920 Census, on 19 Jan. 1919. The obituary in the St. Louis Post Dispatch shows that all four of his children were living. His age was 52 years, 4 months and 16 days. He died at 3 PM. Funeral was handled by Schumacher at 3013 Meremac St. on Wed, 22 Jan. 1919. Disposition was by Missouri Crematory but a visit to Sunset Memorial Park suggests that he was buried (or his ashes were buried) next to his parents-in-law. A living relative says he was cremated and the ashes buried at Sunset. He was living at 4403 Virginia in St. Louis.

The Missouri Archives has his death certificate (#4097) which gives his birth date as 03 Sep. 1866 in Switzerland and his parents as Ehrhardt Ricklin and an unknown mother, both born in Switzerland. He was a baker and lived in St. Louis for 32 years. He died at 3 PM on 19 Jan. 1919 at home (4403 Virginia) in St. Louis. Cause of death was carcinoma of oesophagus which he had for 8 months, contributed by lobar pneumonia of the left lung which he had for 3 days. The doctor was Charles Sherwin who attended Severin from July 1918 until Jan. 1919. He did have an operation in Sep. of 1918. At the time of his death he was of the age 52 years, 4 months and 16 days. According to the death certificate the funeral was handled by Wm. Schumacher of 3013 Meramec, he was cremated at the MO Crematory, and then buried on 22 Jan. The informant was his wife, Hedwig of 4403 Virginia.

Click on this thumbnail to enlarge the picture of the Winge-Ricklin grave monument at Sunset Memorial Park in St. Louis.

Created 24 June, 2000. Last updated on 13 Apr. 2006.