Robert Reppel's Journey to United States

My grandfather, Robert Reppel, was born in the small village of Mussig in Alsace, France. He was the third of 3 sons born to Melanie Breitel and Francois Joseph Reppel. His father Joseph was the village baker.

His oldest brother Rene would inherit the family business. Papa and his other brother Maurice would need to find their own livelihoods. As a child Bob was trained as a baker in the family business. He also worked in the fields as a farm hand.

Bob was a mere 16 years old when he was conscripted into Kaiser's army. At the end of the war, his job prospects in his native Alsace were poor. He was also facing additional military service due to France's required military service. So Robert made the decision to immigrate to North America. His planned destination - Leipzig, Saskatchewan, Canada where his brother Maurice who emigrated in 1911 was living.

Robert made his way to Le Havre, France. Le Havre is the second largest port in France.  It is located in North Western France. It was the home port to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT), France's most important cruise lines. CGT provided cargo and passenger service to the Americas and the Mediterranean.

Traveling with Robert was 16 year old Marie Sittler. Due to illness or injury, Marie was left behind in Alsace when her family immigrated to Canada. Robert escorted her to Leipzig where she was reunited with her family.

Bob secured passage to Canada on the S.S. Californie. The Californie was brought into service in November 1905 for service between Le Havre and New York. In 1919 and 1920 it made 3 voyages to Canada. In 1927 it was transformed into cargo liner and finally demolished in 1934.

SS Californie

A record of Robert's journey can be found in the Canada Passer Lists, 1881-1922 database on the Family Search website. According to the ships manifest, the S.S. Californie departed Le Havre, France on October 30th, 1919 bound for Quebec with 130 passengers on board. The ships Manifest shows the ship arrived in Quebec on November 19th.

Robert was enumerated on line 22 of the first page of the passenger list and Marie is listed on line 25. The following is a transcription of his information.

  1. No on list: - 22
  2. Ticket Number: 11730
  3. Amount of cash in Dollars: 450 Frs.
  4. Name in Full - Reppel Robert
  5. Age of adults male . - 19
  6. Age of adults female . -
  7. Age of children under age 14 male -
  8. Age of children under age 14 female -
  9. Married, Single, or Widowed - S

10. Have you ever been in Canada before? - No
11. If so When: -  Brother Maurice Reppel
12. If so Where: -
13. If so How Long: -
14. Do you intend to permanently reside in Canada? - No
15. Are you able to read: YES
16. Are you able to write: YES 
17. Country of birth:. - France
18. Number of Passenger. - 22
19. Race of People: - French

20. Destination Post Office: - Leipzig

21. Destination Province: - Sask

22. Occupation in your former country: - farmer

23. Intended Occupation in Canada: - farmer

24. Have you ever worked as a farmer, farm laborer, gardener, stableman, or miner: - Yes

25. If so which: - 

26. How Long: - 3 years

27. When: - 1912 - 1915

28. Religious Denomination: - Catholic

Robert was carrying 450 French Francs. According to Insee currency converter, 450 old French Francs is worth approximately 592 Euros or 775 US dollars in today's currency.

A year later, Robert, Maurice and Maurice's family left Saskatchewan. Their final destination was Peoria, Illinois and the home of George Yehl, a friend  from their home town of Mussig, Alsace, France.

They purchased tickets from the Canadian Pacific Ocean Services, Ltd. The exact embarkation and debarkation ports are unknown. But their journey included a stop in the port of Winnipeg, Manitoba where on December 24, 1920 they applied for admission to the United States.

The Canadian Pacific Line was a company under the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was formed in 1881, and the company soon entered into ship-owning. In the beginning, passenger service was limited to Lake Superior and the Great Lakes.

Robert was enumerated on line 3 of sheet 4. The following is a transcription of his Admission request.

Form 3 Canada - List or Manifest of Alien Passengers Applying for Admission to the United States from Foreign Contiguous Territory - Required by regulations of Secretary of labor of the United States under the Immigration Act

Sheet No. 4 Port of Winnipeg, Man.  Month of Dec 24, 1920. Class D

  1. No on list. - 3
  2. Head Tax Status. GN 43665
  3. Name in Full - Family name - REPPELL ; Given name - ROBERT
  4. Age Yrs. - 20
  5. Sex - M
  6. Married or Single - S
  7 Calling or Occupation - Baker
  8. Able to - Read: YES   What language: French  Write - YES
  9. Nationality. (citizenship). - France
10. Race or people. - French
11. Last permanent residence - Leipzig, Sask. Canada
12. The name and complete address of nearest relative or friend whence alien came -
          father, Joseph living in Mussig, Alsace Lorraine
13. Final destination (Intended future permanent residence) -
          State - Illinois     City or Town - Peoria



























14. No on list - 3
15. Whether having a ticket to such final destination - Yes
16. By whom was passage paid? (Whether alien paid his own passage, whether paid by relative,                whether paid by any other person, or by an corporation, society, municipally or government.)
       SELF 349029
17. Whether in possession of $50, and if less how much? - 100.
18. Whether ever before in the United States; and if so when and where? No
       If Yes- Year or period of years - , Where - .
       Date of last departure - .
19. Whether going to join a relative or friend; state name and complete address and if relative, exact          relationship - Friend George Yehl Peoria, Illinois *
20. Purpose of coming to United States.
       - Whether alien intends to returns to country whence he came after - No
       - Length of time alien intends to remain in the United States - Perm
       - Whether alien intends to become a citizen of the United States - Yes
21. Ever in prison or almshouse or institution for care and treatment of the insane or supported by             charity? If so which? - No
22. Whether a Polygamist. - No
23. Whether an anarchist. - No
24 Whether a person who believes in or advocates the overthrow by force or violence of the             Government of the United States or all forms of law etc. - No
26. Whether arrested and deported within one year. - No
27. Condition of health, mental and physical. - Good
28. Deformed or crippled. Nature, length of time and cause. - No
29. Height - Feet - 5 , Inches - 6 ,
30. Complexion. - Fair
31. Color of - Hair - Lt Bro, Eyes - Gray
32. Marks of identification. - None
33. Place of birth - Country - France, city or Town - Mussig

Supplemental Information required by Immigration Regulation

34. Seaport or Landing - Quebec 

35. Date of Landing - Nov. 13, 1919 

36. Name of SS - California 

37. Date of Embarkation - 11/26/30

Six years later while living in Gunnison, Colorado Robert obtained his US citizenship.

Robert Reppel and the Sunbeam Bakery

My grandparents Bertha McDowell and Robert Reppel met while they were both residents in Gunnison, Colorado.

Gunnison is located in central Colorado at the bottom of several valleys. Due to its location in the Rocky Mountains, cold air in all the valleys settles into Gunnison making it one of the coldest places in the United States during the winter.

Gunnison is the home to Western State College which recently became Western State Colorado University.  The college was originally chartered in 1901 and opened for classes in 1911 as Colorado State Normal School. In 1923, the name was changed to Western State College to reflect the curriculum expansion from a teaching institution to a liberal arts college. Western was the first public college west of the Mississippi River to be designated a liberal arts college. Both of my grandparents attended classes at Western.

Prior to his arrival in Gunnison, Robert was a resident of Peoria, Illinois where he was employed as a baker. Based on entries in the Peoria city directory, the last year Robert was listed as a resident in was 1923. After leaving Illinois around 1924, Robert would never live in Illinois again.

We will never know exactly when he moved to Gunnison, but in the fall of 1924 24-year-old Robert was a student at Western State College.  To finance his education, Robert was working as a baker for the "Co-op". During a recent visit to Colorado, my sister took my mother, sister, and I to the Gunnison Pioneer Museum. Hidden in one of their buildings was a repository of old newspapers. They were bound into large newspaper size books by year and by publication.

I pulled out 1924 Gunnison News-Champion book and began paging through it. In the Friday October 3rd edition, was an article listing new students attending Western State College. There is black and white was proof my 24 year old grandfather having emigrated from France a mere 5 years earlier was attending Western State College. According to my mother his classes included Chemistry and English for latter of which he failed.

In the 1925 Gunnison News-Champion book we found Bertha McDowell listed among the list of new students at Western. Since there was no photocopier in the area, I pulled out my pocket camera and attempted to get photos of the newspaper articles. Unfortunately some of the photos are out of focus or didn't capture the complete article.

Based on family stories, we knew Papa had been a partner in a Bakery business in Gunnison. The family story was the partner ran off with the assets and stuck Papa with the bills.  Articles and advertisements in the newspapers document one of my grandfather's earliest business ventures, the Sunbeam Bakery.

We found short articles regarding the soon to open bakery in two different local newspapers, the Gunnison News-Champion and the Gunnison Republican.

Beginning the first week of November Bob and his partner Ray began advertising their bakery in the Gunnison Republican. The ads appeared during every edition beginning November 5th, 1925 until June 10th, 1926.

Weekly ads appeared in the Gunnison Republican first announcing the opening and later their weekly specials.

Soon after this there was a small article in the newspaper indicating that Ray Carroll was taking over the Bakery as a sole proprietor. Unfortunately the photo of this article was out of focus and unusable.

After this article, no further advertisements were found in the following months for the bakery. The July 8th edition of the Gunnison Republican contained a list of local businesses. This was last word of the bakery that we could find; there were no weekly ads.

After leaving the museum we went to lunch on Main Street. The restaurant was less than a block from the location of the Sunbeam bakery. So after lunch we walked down the street to look at the building. We took a few pictures in front of the bakery.

Sunbeam Bakery was located in 2 story building on Main Street

John Garton - (1661 - 1698)

My 8th great grandfather

The lineage is as follows:

8 - John Garton & Martha [Garton]
    7 - Catherine Garton [Petty] & Thomas Petty
        6 - John P. Petty & Rebecca Sims [Petty]
            5 - Rebecca Petty [Boston] & Joseph Boston
                4 - Reuben G Boston & Sarah Hawkins [Boston]
                    3 - Francis "Fanny" Boston [Dale] & Lewis Luntsford Dale
                        2 - Mary Ellen Dale [Powell] & William Henry Powell
                            1 - William Constance Powell & Gertrude Marguerite Fix [Powell]
                                 0 - Maude Gertrude Powell [Gates] - Herbert Ellis Gates (grandparents)

The following is a compilation of data found on the web. Most of it didn't have sources listed.

There is a nice write-up on John in Find a grave, unfortunately it contains an obvious error in the year of his birth.

John Garton is said to have been born in 1661 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. Old Rappahannock County was formed in 1656 from Lancaster County and became extinct in 1692 when it was divided into Essex and Richmond counties. The name "Rappahannock" comes from the Algonquian word lappihanne (also noted as toppehannock), meaning "river of quick, rising water" or "where the tide ebbs and flows."
Rappahannock County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metropolitan Area.

John's parents are believed to be Capt. William Garton (1649-1709) of Christ Church Parish and Margarett Angell [Garton] (1639-1702) although I have seen no documentation to support this. According to Leland Garton in the MyHeritage message logs on Garton Line from England to VA, William named his first born son John after his father John Garton (1615 - 1698).

If John is a son of William Garton, his known siblings were:
     Catherine Garton (1673 - 1748)
     Uriah Garton (1672 - 1755)
     James Garton (1677 - ?)
     Margaret Garton (1678 - ?)
     Anthony Garton (1679 - 1763
     Ester Garton (1680 - ?)

Other researchers have theorized that John and William may be brothers or cousins.John wasn't named in William's will; however John died before William. If John and his family had already received their share, they might not have been listed in the will. In any event they were probably related.

John is believed to have married a lady named Martha around 1680 in Richmond, Virginia. He and Martha are credited with the following children:
     John Garton Jr. (c. 1677 - 1721)
     Richard Garton (c. 1681 - 1702)
     Catherine Garton [Petty]  (1683 - 1748) my ancestor
     Ruth Garton [Boyd] (c. 1685 -1733)
     Mathew Garton  (c. 1687 - ?)

John was probably a planter by trade. Researchers state he served as the Sheriff of Richmond county in1690. Another researcher listed the following fact: Richmond County Court 7th Dec 1693. Ordered that John Garton offitiate as Survayor of the Highways this present yare from Rappa Creeke to Stoney Hill.

John Garton of Richmond and Orange counties died after June 17, 1698 in Richmond, Virginia. He was about 38 years old at the time of his death. We have no details on his death. I believe he probably had knowledge of his impending death as he left a will. In earlier times, it was common to write a will when death was believed to be eminent.

In his will dated 17 June 1698  he mentioned his wife Martha and five children, viz: (1) Richard Garton; (2) John Garton; (3) Mathew Garton; (4) Katherine (Catherine) Garton [Petty]; and (5) Ruth Garton.

The will was recorded in the lost Will book # 1 (1692-1699). Thus we have no details of his estate. Plantation appraised for 17,504 pounds of tobacco in June, 1697.

On March 6th, 1701, Thomas and Katherine Petty appeared in court with her mother Martha Garton as plaintiffs in a suit against Robert Post, executor of John's estate. Apparently Robert died before distributing the estate.

On 7 May 1702 the records for Richmond Co., VA show that Thomas and Katherine Patty and Martha Garton won their suit. Robert Post was ordered to pay 3000 pounds in tobacco. (Richmond Co., OB 3. pp. 85, 168)

Richmond Co. Court 7th of May 1702 Pg 159 Widdo of the said JOHN GARTON deced, One thousand pounds of tobbo; and to the Surviveing Children of the said JOHN GARTON Two thousand pounds of tobbo to be equally divided being in full of all theire Right and Interest ot the Estate of the said JOHN GARTON deced. The Plts and Defts to beare and equall part in the costs of the said suite to which award the Plts, and the Defts agreeing; this Court doth Confirme the same and do order that the said ROBERT POST & c. Deft to pary the above named MARTHA GARTON, Widdow of the saif JOHN GARTON. One thousand pounds of tobbo; and to surviveing Children of the said JOHN GARTON. Two thousand pounds of tobbo als.

Cora Elizabeth Powell Mathias

My paternal great Aunt 

Cora was born on June 8th, 1897 in O'Fallon, Illinois. She was the third daughter of  Gertrude Marguerite Fix and William Constance Powell (affectionately known as Mom & Dad Powell) to reach adulthood.

We are lucky Cora's oldest sister Blanche loved genealogy and family history. Blanche documented the life story of her family members including Cora's. I recently was sent some lovely pictures of Cora and her family by one of Bill Mathias's nieces.  So while posting the pictures, I thought I would document Cora's life.

The first known record of Cora was in the 1900 US census. On June 18th, 1900, her family was living in a rental home in Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois. 3-year-old Cora was living with her parents William (age 29) and Gertrude (29), and her sisters Blanche (8) and Mabelle (6). William's occupation was listed as common laborer. Blanche and Mabelle both attended school in the prior year.

Cora is also listed in the 1910 US census with her parents and siblings. On April 18th, 1910, her family was living on 158 Seminary street in Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois. Her parents William (age 38) and Gertrude (age 27) had been married 19 years and had 6 children all living. It was a first marriage for the pair. William was working in the coal mines. Living with them were Blanche (17), Mabelle (15), Cora (14), George (9), Maude (6) and Dorothy (3 months).

According to Blanche's bio, Cora went to the Normal school and became a teacher. When Cora was 20 years old she married William Mathias. The couple was married January 1st, 1917 in Franklin, Missouri. A copy of the marriage record was obtained from the Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 database in Ancestry.com. The record states both Cora and William were residents of Collinsville.

On March 4th, 1918, Cora gave birth to a baby daughter in St. Clair, County, Illinois. They named the child Gertrude Mae after Cora's mother.

On June 5th, 1918 William and Cora were living in Kansas City, Missouri. On his WWI draft registration card William, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri was employed by the Morris & Co. in Kansas City, Kansas as a clerk. William was born on July 30, 1886 in Decatur, Illinois and had two dependents, a wife and child. He was described as 5'3" tall, 148 lbs., blue eyes, and brown hair. It was notated that he was bowlegged and suffered from hemorrhoids.

It appears the Mathias family didn't stay in Kansas City very long. On August 185h,  1919 Cora gave birth to a second daughter who they named Marguerite Georgette.

According to the 1920 US Census, on January 7th, 1920, the Mathias family was living in Collinsville, Illinois. William, age 31 was working as a stock clerk at a packing plant. With him were Cora age 22, Gertrude 21 months, and Marguerite 5 months. The family had two boarders, Oscar Schneider, age 22 and Ralph Wyatt, age 17.

On August 30th, 1921 Cora gave birth to a son. William Leroy Mathias was born in Collinsville. William would complete their family.

It appears that the Mathias family was missed in the 1930 census. Their street was the dividing line between enumeration districts 23 and 24. The Mathias family was living in the home formerly occupied by her parents located at 258 N. Seminary. The families located at 240, 244 and 264 Seminary were enumerated on page 25 of district 24. It appears the homes at 246, 252, and 258 all enumerated in the 1920 and 1940 censuses were missed.

According to the 1940 US Census, On April 3rd, 1940, the Mathias family was living at 258 Seminary in Collinsville, Illinois in a home they owned. William, age 52 with 2 years of high school education was working as a salesmen in the "Meat W-R" industry with a $3600 income. With him were Cora age 42, with 1 year of college, Margy age 20 with 2 years of college, Gertrude "Atkins" 22 with 3 years of college and her husband Gene Atkins age 23 with 3 years of high school. Gertrude was working as a hospital nurse making $225 and Gene was working as a mechanic at the meat packing plant although the census indicated he had worked all 52 weeks in the previous year, no income was listed for him. The Lorenz family was renting a home at the same address in a separate residence.

Gertrude

Their son Bill was not living at home, he had enlisted in the Navy on January 4th, 1939. In February of 1940 Bill was admitted to the naval hostpial in Honolulu having  been burned while working aboard the USS Dayton. Bill's injury didn't prevent him from serving 11 years in the Navy.

In 1942, 53-year-old William was required to register for the WWII draft. He was living at 960 St. Louis Road in Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois. He was working for the Hunter Packing Company located at 2nd and Lynch in East St. Louis, Ill. The registration card lists his birth as July 30, 1888 in Decatur, Illinois. He listed his wife Cora at the same address as the contact person who would always know where he was.

In 1942, Cora paternal aunt, Elizabeth Powell died. Cora was appointed as the administrator of the estate. 

Family photos document the couple went to Arizona several times to visit with family.

Newspaper clippings show Cora was a member of the Baptist church, and active in the local chapter of the Daughters of Union Veterans (DUV).

The following is a picture of Cora's oldest 2 grandchildren, Jeannie Atkins, daughter of Gertrude born in 1943 and David Stillerman, son of Marguerite.

In January 1967, Cora and Will celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary.

Later that same year Cora passed away on Oct. 2nd, 1967 at the age of 70.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch listed a burial permit on Oct. 6th for Cora Elizabeth Mathias. My records show Cora was buried in St. John's cemetery in Collinsville, Illinois.

William passed away in October 1976 at the age of 88.