Wäger von Goldingen SG

[Wolf]

Quelle: Zivilstandsregister-Doppel, Waldkich SG, Geburtsregister A

Den 03.06.1912 um 6 Uhr 30 Minuten vormittags ist geboren worden zu Waldkirch, in Scheiwil, Wäger Karl Gebhard, ehelicher Sohn des Wäger August Gebhard, Landwirt von Goldingen SG, wohnhaft in Waldkirch, und dessen Ehefrau Josefa Katharina Nicola, geb. Meli.

Den 02.09.1913 um 10 Uhr vormittags ist geboren worden zu Waldkirch, in Scheiwil, Wäger Rosa Martha, eheliche Tochter des Wäger August Gebhard, Landwirt von Goldingen SG, wohnhaft in Waldkirch-Scheiwil, und dessen Ehefrau Josefa Nicola Katharina, geb. Meli.

In den Jahren 1910-1915 wurden keine weiteren Geschwister registriert.

Ab 1901 wurde keine Eheschliessung der Eltern registriert - so haben also entweder vor 1901 oder andernorts geheiratet.

Weitere Informationen zur Familie werden dankend entgegen genommen.

Siehe unten für das Familienwappen.

[southard23]

Thank you Wolf!

I know that Gebhard Karl Wäger came to the United States in 1930 with the intention of going to Kimberly, Idaho to farm with his cousin Fridolin Meli, who I believe was his mothers brother. He was married in 1936 in California to my great grandmother Ina Townsend. They were divorced before he knew about her pregnancy with my grandmother. He died in 1950 in Los Angeles California.
Any information on either the Wäger family or the Meli family [comment: Meli should be discussed in a separate thread] would be much appreciated, I am trying to get my grandma a little information on who the other half of her family was.

[southard23]

I have kind of a strange question....
When searching for these names Wager would be the Surname, but for the one that says Wäger, August Gebhard, was his first name August and middle name Gebhard, or the other way around? Same question for Josefa Nicola Katharina, née Meli.
Thank you!

[Wolf]

When searching for these names Wager would be the surname, but for the one that says Wäger, August Gebhard, was his first name August and middle name Gebhard, or the other way around?

The problem is: the convention of first name and middle name is valid only for English speaking countries - but does not exist in German speaking countries. If a person has several given names, the "Rufname" (the one the family goes by) could be any of them. In earlier centuries the "first name" could even be the least important: all boys in the family would be named e.g. "Johannes xxxxxxx"; obviously they would not all be called "Johannes", but the "xxxxxxxx" would be the name to differentiate between them.

[Wolf]

Hello southard23,

have you made any progress with your research so far? If you could post info on earlier generations, your chances to find a "cousin" would increase.

Best regards - Wolf

[southard23]

I believe I have found Gebhard Wager's father, also Gebhard Wager.

Born: June 30, 1882 in Mörschwil, St Gallen
Died March 1, 1924 in Waldkirch, St Gallen

His parents were:
Josef Gottfried Wäger
M. Magdalena Liner

[southard23]

I also wonder where to look for a marriage record for Gebhard August and Josefa Katharina Meli. Would it be common to marry where the wife is from? I can't find a record in Waldkirch.

[Wolf]

Let me summarize (taking you findings as basis):

Wäger Karl Gebhard, born Waldkirch 03.06.1912, emigrated to the USA in 1930.

Parents:
Wäger August Gebhard von Goldingen, born Mörschwil 30.06.1882, + Waldkirch 01.03.1924 >>> Nachtrag: Details.
married (possibly before 1901 in Goldingen or somewhere else)
Meli Josefa Katharina Nicola

Grandparents:
Wäger Josef Gottfried (born about 1840/50?)
married
Liner Maria Magdalena

So I checked the Mörschwil baptisms 30.06.1882: Gebhard August, son of Gottfried Wäger of Goldingen and Magdalena Liner of Tablat, farmer in Unterbühl. Gebhard August married 24.07.1911 Katharina Meli - no mention where.

Next check: Bürgerregister Goldingen for Josef Gottfried Wäger: lists his son Gebhard August (1882) - and mentions that he married 1911 in Hauptwil - which would be Thurgau (nothing online).

[Wolf]

Wäger Josef Gottfried, * 27.02.1843, + Mörschwil 30.05.1903 (Details)
oo Mörschwil 17.02.1873
Liner Maria Magdalena von Tablat, + 28.02.1845, + Mörschwil 31.07.1905

Wäger Caspar Melchior, * 11.12.1814, + Kaltbrunn 26.01.1893 (Details)
oo 17.01.1842
Städeli Theresia von Uznach, * 09.03.1816

Wäger Josef Anton, ≈ 16.08.1775, Bauer im Sack, + 09.04.1861 (Details)
oo 10.11.1800
Oberholzer Anna Maria von Goldingen, ≈ 16.10.1775, + 22.03.1844

Wäger Joan Balz, juvenis, ≈ Goldingen 03.09.1744 (Details)
oo Goldingen 21.01.1770
Oberholzer Maria Elisabetha, virgo

Weger Joan Balz, juvenis
oo Goldingen 15.04.1742
Rüegg Maria Elisabetha, vidua

[southard23]

Thank you so much, this is incredible! It looks like his family was in a fairly small area for several generations, I wonder what would lead my great grandpa to leave Switzerland when it looks like the family really moved very little.

[southard23]

One more question. Is there restrictions on birth records around 1915? I know they are unavailable for a certain amount of years. It looks like most of these families had several children and I wonder if Gebhard and Katharina had more children besides the two after 1913, I just can't access it yet.

Also, are there burial records in Switzerland or was cremation more common in the past?

[Wolf]

Is there restrictions on birth records around 1915?

There is nothing special about 1915. Generally birth records younger than 100 years have restricted access - so, if you had checked in 2016, 1915 woiuld have been the limit - but now 1924.
Josef Gottfried Wäger has listed his son Gebhard August and gives "IV 42" (vol. 4, page 42) as reference - this book is not yet online (containing birth data after 1924) - but you could ask at the State Archive (https://www.sg.ch/kultur/staatsarchiv/kontakt.html) whether they send you a copy of this section. With the exact reference it won't be time consuming to find and I expect they will send you this free of charge by mail. If they do - would be interesting to see it here in the forum.

Also, are there burial records in Switzerland or was cremation more common in the past?

Until fairly recently (in the sense of genealogy) cremation was not very popular - and even almost all cremated people would be buried in a cemetery and show up in burial registers. More recently (at least since 1876) all deaths will be registered in the official death registers anyway.

[Wolf]

Wäger Maria Magdalena, * (wo?) 24.09.1871, + Niederurnen GL 27.12.1898
oo Niederurnen GL 15.05.1894
Steinmann Melchior, * Niederurnen GL 22.07.1868, + Niederurnen GL 08.06.1911

Wäger Joseph Anselm, * 29.06.1841, Schuster, + Goldingen 30.10.1899
oo 21.04.1869
Ricklin Maria Christina von St.Gallenkappel, * 31.08.1846, + Gommiswald 11.09.1876

Wäger Johann Anton, * 07.09.1807, aus dem Sack, + Goldingen 23.05.1884
oo 15.07.1839
Eberhard Barbara Rosalia von Masletrangen, * 31.07.1816

Wäger Josef Anton, * 16.08.1775, Bauer im Sack, + 09.04.1861 (weiter siehe oben)

[Wolf]

Wäger Josef Alois, * 04.09.1841

Wäger Jakob Joseph Zölestin, * 25.01.1796, + 05.09.1853
oo 20.08.1827
Oberholzer Maria Crescentia von Goldingen (* in Oberholz), ≈ Eschenbach 23.02.1806, + 05.05.1844

Wäger Josef Anselm, ≈ Goldingen 15.12.1755, + 18.12.1815
oo Goldingen 07.06.1779
Gübeli Maria Anna, ≈ Goldingen 27.05.1757, + 16.02.1828

Wäger Anselm, ≈ Goldingen 04.04.1722, + 04.02.1780
oo Goldingen 17.04.1751
Oberholzer Anna Maria, ≈ Goldingen 14.04.1731, + 16.12.1791

Wäger Joseph
oo Goldinngen 27.01.1709
Vettiger Maria

[Wolf]

SG-Wäger-Goldingen-koloriert.jpg

Quelle: Sammlung Familienwappen Verena Roesli im Staatsarchiv St.Gallen

[southard23]

That is amazing! So the difference between the middle and third is that part of the family broke off to another area?

Than you for the suggestion to contact the State Archive! They did get back to me, I have attached what they sent. I can get a general idea of the names and dates, but I'm having trouble translating the notes. This one shows several siblings of Gebhard Karl, which was one of my big questions.
I have also attached the birth registry for Gebhard Karl.

A little info that they sent:

Gebhard August was a farmer (“Landwirt”). At the time of his marriage he lived in Hauptwil (https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/001872/2007-11-29/; maybe also of interest: https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/famn/?lg=e ).

Your great grandfather had passed away in Los Angeles. Here is annotated: “According to the death certificate he was married”. Apparently your great grandfather never sent this information back home (at least not officially).

[Wolf]

That is amazing! So the difference between the middle and third is that part of the family broke off to another area?

Do you mean Vorfahren Josef Alois Wäger (1841-?)? That's a different line - not connected (within the time frame covered so far) with your line: we discuss everything for a given family (defined by surname and place of citizenship) in a single thread - so people interested in this family easily see potential connections - and there might be connections a few generations earlier .

Now for the attachments you received from the State Archive:
1) The birth certificate will be more or less self-explanatory, I hope. Just one comment: Karl Gebhard was born in Scheiwil, a hamlet belonging to Waldkirch. He got married in Hauptwil, and lived with this family in Störshirten, a hamlet belonging to Hauptwil.
2) The Bürgerregister sheet: I will transcribe this and post it as a separate contribution.

[Wolf]

Wäger Gebhard August, * Mörschwil 30.06.1882, Sohn von Josef Gottfried Wäger und Maria Magdalena Liner, Landwirt in Störshirten-Hauptwil, + Waldkirch 01.03.1924. Es werden 2 Heimatscheine erwähnt, weitere bei einigen der Kinder.
oo Hauptwil 21.07.1911
Meli Josepha Katharina Nikola, * Wangs 21.03.1887, Tochter von Anton Meli von Wangs und Katharina Kalberer, + Chur 12.03.1947

Kinder: alle geboren in Waldkirch
03.06.1912 Karl Gebhard, + Los Angeles (Kalifornien) 09.08.1947, gemäss Todesurkunde verheiratet gewesen
02.09.1913 Rosa Martha, oo Lugano 25.10.1952 Müller Willy Walter von Sigriswil (Bern)
13.01.1916 Marthe Theresia, oo Domat/Ems 10.05.1948 Roos Josef Johann von Kaltbrunn
22.03.1917 Joseph August, oo Chur 17.09.1948, siehe II 277 [was nicht den Band II des Bürgerregisters meint]
02.09.1918 Johann Anton, oo Prince George (Britisch Kolumbien, Kanada) 29.12.1955 Else Berta Fey(?), deutsche Staatsangehörige, siehe VI 21 [vmtl. nicht Band VI des Bürgerregisters]
21.02.1922 Anna Katharina, oo Las Vegas (Nevada, USA) 08.06.1966 Hans Reumer von Reichenburg SZ [Ergänzung siehe unten]
23.06.1923 Maria Magdalena, oo Chur 14.10.1952 Martin Alexander Loretz von Vals (Graubünden)

Quelle: Bürgerregister Goldingen, Band IV; Seite 42, Familie 86 (nicht online - siehe Anhang oben)

As the State Archive already mentioned: Karl Gebhard's death notice had been sent to the Goldingen Civil Registry Office - but not that had married in the USA - do you details?

Both, for Gebhard August and several children, a "Heimatschein" (citizenship certificate) is mentioned. This document was required e.g. for passport applications and if getting married in a different than the home parish.

For Joseph August and Johann Anton there are references to other registers - but the numbers don't correspond to the Bürgerregister ("II 277" would be online - but a page with this number doesn't exist, and the family number refers to a completely different familiy).

Comment on Anton Meli's family: the Bürgerregister entry in Vilters-Wangs would be of interest. It is not in volumes 1 & 2 (which are online) … more likely in vol.3 (or ever 4): although we don't have an exact reference, you could ask at the State Archive - the first two volumes have nice name indices, so finding the required sheet should not be time consuming.

[southard23]

Thats great. I only knew of one sibling that Karl Gebhard had.
It's interesting how late in life some of them got married. Would these possibly be second marriages or would that have been documented?

I do have record of Karl Gebhard's first marriage and his divorce in the United States, as well as his Naturalization records, I'll find them and add them here. He was married a second time and was married when he passed.
I am curious how his death record got back to Switzerland. I wonder if his wife sent it or if it is custom for the United States to send it back to the where someone immigrated from.

Lots of new great information and lots of new questions!

[Wolf]

It's interesting how late in life some of them got married. Would these possibly be second marriages or would that have been documented?

The list above is taken from the "Bürgerregister" and usually all marriages (if more than one) would be mentioned - exception: later marriages after closure of the record might be missing.

I am curious how his death record got back to Switzerland. I wonder if his wife sent it or if it is custom for the United States to send it back to the place where someone immigrated from.

Has nothing to do especially with the USA - but Swiss citizenship rules: if a Swiss citizen wanted to keep his citizenship rights, including his children being born after emigration to get Swiss citizenship, status changes (like marriage) and children's births had to be reported to the Swiss place of citizenship - usually by the Swiss embassy. If this had happened a new sheet in the register would have been set up, and there would be a reference in the sheet you had uploaded - but there is none; so obviously there were no reports (for whatever reason) - just the death notice reached Goldingen - difficult to say, why and how.

[Wolf]

Wäger Josef Gottfried, */≈ Uznach 17./18.02.1843 [§], Sohn von Kaspar Melchior Wäger und Theresia Städeli, "Sack Toni Kaspars" [§§] * Oberhirschland, lebt in Mörschwil, + Mörschwil 30.05.1903
oo Mörschwil 17.02.1873
Liner Maria Magdalena, * [Arbon TG] 28.2.1845, Tochter von Josef Liner von Tablat und Maria Magdalena Grüßig(?), + Mörschwil 31.07.1905

Kinder:
14.12.1873 Josef Wilhelm, oo Horn TG 11.05.1906 (siehe III 227)
25.11.1874 Johann Gottfried, oo Mörschwil 08.04.1904 (siehe III 218)
09.04.1876 Maria Josepha, + St.Gallen 14.01.1956
06.05.1878 Johann Joseph, + St.Gallen 01.02.1965
01.08.1879 Johann Baptist, + Mörschwil 04.10.1917
06.12.1800 Magdalena Paulina, + Bern 10.08.1966
30.06.1882 Gebhard August, oo Hauptwil 21.07.1911 (siehe IV 42)
15.01.1884 Karl Anton, oo Hauptwil 10.08.1907 (siehe IV 5)
03.07.1886 Franz Alois, + Mörschwil 26.07.1886
18.02.1891 Franz Anton, oo Rorschach 19.04.1923 (siehe IV 167)

Quelle: Bürgerregister Goldingen, Band II; Seite 216, Familie 465

[§] Laut Taufbuch */≈ 17./18.02.1843, die Angabe im Bürgerregister * 27.02.1843 ist also ziemlich sicher ein Schreibfehler.

[§§] Der Dorfname "Sack Toni Kaspars" leitet sich her aus den Vornamen des Vaters (Kaspar Melchior) und des Grossvaters (Josef Anton, Bauer im Sack).

Josef Gottfried was known in the village as "Sack Toni Kaspars" - derived from the gives names of his father (Kaspar Melchior) and his grandfather (Josef Anton, "Toni", farmer in Sack).

[Wolf]

Wäger Caspar Melchior, * 11.12.1814, Sohn von Josef Anton Wäger und Anna Maria Oberholzer, Familie wohnt Oberhirschland, + Kaltbrunn 26.01.1893
oo 17.01.1842
Städeli Theresia, * 09.03.1816, Tochter von Clemens Städeli von Uznach und Katharina Hüppi

Kinder:
17.02.1843 Josef Gottfried, oo 17.02.1873 (siehe II 216)
24.04.1844 Joseph Engelbert, + Ernetschwil 29.04.1910
20.04.1848 Maria Anna Cäzilia, oo Kaltbrunn 02.08.1875 Josef Anton Zölestin Rüegg von St.Gallenkappel in Kaltbrunn
11.08.1849 Joseph Ferdinand, geb. in Uznach, oo 08.04.1877 (siehe III 7)
13.05.1852 Joseph Wilhelm, oo Kaltbrunn 12.06.1881 (siehe III 33)
04.09.1856 Maria Katharina Bertha, oo Kaltbrunn 26.01.1874 Sebastian Zahner von Kaltbrunn

Quelle: Bürgerregister Goldingen, Band I; Seite 204, Familie 497

[Wolf]

Wäger Josef Anton, ≈ Goldingen 16.08.1775, Sohn von Johann Balthasar Wäger ex Sack und Elisabetha Oberholzer, Bauer im Sack ("Sacktoni"), + 09.04.1861
oo 10.11.1800
Oberholzer Anna Maria, ≈ Goldingen 16.10.1775, Tochter von Antonius Oberholzer ex Sack und Maria Anna Oberholzer, + 22.03.1844

Kinder:
20.11.1801 Maria Elisabetha, oo 26.04.1824 Bathasar Christian Raymann von hier (siehe I 135)
24.07.1805 Jakob Anton, oo 08.10.1841 Maria Crescentia Hüppi von Gommiswald (siehe I 203)
07.09.1807 Johann Anton, oo 15.07.1839 Barbara Rosalia Eberhard von Maseltrangen (siehe I 192)
24.11.1808 Josef Niklaus, oo 10.04.1837 Maria Anna Barbara Hofmann von hier (siehe I 205)
30.07.1812 Maria Francisca
11.12.1814 Caspar Melchior, oo 17.01.1842 Theresia Städeli von Uznach (siehe I 204)

Quelle: Bürgerregister Goldingen, Band I; Seite 160, Familie 402

[Wolf]

Wäger Joan Balz, ≈ Goldingen 03.09.1744, Sohn von Joan Balz Weger und Maria Elisabetha Rüegg, +/■ Goldingen 16./19.02.1819 (Altersschwäche) im Alter von 75 Jahren
ooI Goldingen 21.01.1770
Oberholzer Maria Elisabetha, + Goldingen 22.04.1784 im Alter von 40 Jahren - als Taufeinträge kämen infrage 19.03.1743 (Melchior Oberholzer & Maria Anna Gübeli) und 10.01.1745 (Conradius Oberholzer & Verena Vettiger)

Kinder:
05.11.1770 Joseph Anselmus (jung verstorben?)
25.11.1772 Balthasar Kaspar (jung verstorben?)
18.08.1774 Josephus Antonius (jung verstorben?)
16.08.1775 Josef Anton, oo 1800 Anna Maria Oberholzer, + 1861
30.04.1777 Joannes Melchior, + 1867
04.04.1779 Catharina Barbara (jung verstorben?)
24.11.1780 Anna Maria
01.02.1783 Maria Verena (Zwilling), + 21.01.1856
01.02.1783 Maria Francisca (Zwilling - jung verstorben?)
Problem bei den Sterbeeinträgen von Kindern: Name nicht angegeben, nur der Vater, oft ohne Altersangabe, die Vermutung "jung verstorben?" beruht auf einem Kreuz beim Taufeintrag.

Wäger Joan Balz (1744-1819)
ooII Goldingen 31.01.1785
Blöchliger Catharina Barbara, * Juni 1747 (errechnet) [§], 1785 ooII als Witwe, +/■ Goldingen 27./30.11.1812 (Lungenentzündung) im Alter von 65 Jahren und 6 Monaten

Kinder:
23.03.1787 Maria Crescentia, + 14.04.1864
27.05.1789 Franciscus Aloysius, + 14.09.1844
ab 1791 nicht mehr kontrolliert

Quelle: Kirchenbuch Goldingen 1734-1799 und 1799-1829 (Einträge jeweils verlinkt)

[§] Ein passender Taufeintrag findet sich in Goldingen nicht - aber 28.05.1747 Anna Catharina des Jacob Blöchliger und der Anna Maria Widmer.

[Wolf]

Wäger Gebhard August, * Mörschwil 30.06.1882, Sohn von Josef Gottfried Wäger und Maria Magdalena Liner, Landwirt in Störshirten-Hauptwil, + Waldkirch 01.03.1924. Es werden 2 Heimatscheine erwähnt, weitere bei einigen der Kinder.
oo Hauptwil 21.07.1911
Meli Josepha Katharina Nikola, * Wangs 21.03.1887, Tochter von Anton Meli von Wangs und Katharina Kalberer, + Chur 12.03.1947

Kinder: alle geboren in Waldkirch
[...]
21.02.1922 Anna Katharina, oo Las Vegas (Nevada, USA) 08.06.1966 Hans Reumer von Reichenburg SZ
[...]

Kathy Devlin writes on Switzerland-gen:

At a glance, I found Anna Katharine Wager divorced from Hans Reumer in Orange County, Calif Feb 1975. Both born 1922, married 1966 Source: Ancestry.com: U.S. Divorce Index 1966-1984, Provo, UT, USA Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2007

Thank you, Kathy, for this info !