A Chattanooga, Ohio, Postcard from Charles Egger

I do not run across many postcards from Chattanooga, Ohio, but I recently found this one, postmarked 25 June 1912 from Rockford.

It is addressed to J.S. Egger, Hornick, Iowa.

1912 postcard from Charles Egger to his father Jacob S. Egger.

The sender, Charles, was writing to his father J.S. Egger:

June 25-12
Rockford, O
Dear Pa,
Well I got the Draft yesterday
I am well and hope you are all the same
Your son, Chas

At one time, around the turn of the century, Chattanooga had its very own post office. It was located in frame building that stood just south of where the Chatt Bar is today. The post office was in Samuel Egger’s Grocery, located on the first floor, while Egger’s Mortuary was located upstairs. Samuel Egger was also the local UCC minister. What an interesting variety of services provided by Rev. Samuel Egger, who lived in Mercer County the rest of his life.

1912 Chattanooga, Ohio, postcard from Charles Egger to his father Jacob S. Egger.

But who was this J.S. Egger that lived in Iowa, the person to whom the postcard was addressed?

In 1910 one Jacob S. Egger and his wife Augusta lived in Willow, Woodbury County, Iowa. They had been married 35 years and their nine children were living with them. One of their children was Charles L, age 25. Jacob S. Egger was born in Ohio and was a farmer. Jacob’s son Charles was born in Iowa and he was a farm hand. It appears the family moved to Iowa shortly after 1880 because son Albert was born in Ohio about 1880 and the next child, daughter Rosa was born in Iowa about 1881. [1]

In 1880 the Jacob S. Egger family lived in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1880, where Jacob S was a carpenter. [2] Son Charles Egger had not been born yet.

Going backward in time a little farther I learned that Jacob S. Egger married Augusta Steinhoff on 30 March 1875 in Monroe County, Ohio. [3]

Jacob S. Egger (1851-1947) and Augusta (Steinhoff) Egger (1856-1941) remained in Woodbury, Iowa, the rest of their lives. They are both buried in German City Cemetery, Holly Springs, Woodbury County, Iowa.

The information about Jacob S. Egger on FindaGrave.com, which looks like it might be his obituary, indicates that he was survived by, among others, a son Charles and a brother, Rev. Sam Egger, of Van Wert. [4]

So, Rev. Samuel Egger of Chatt and Jacob S. Egger of Iowa were brothers. Charles Egger was likely visiting his uncle Samuel in Chatt when he sent the postcard in 1912.

It appears that Charles Egger never married. Charles was born 1 January 1885 and died in 1961. He is also buried in Germany City Cemetery. His tombstone is simply inscribed Brother Charles L, 1885-1961. [5]

And what was this “Draft” that Charles referred to on the postcard? There was no military draft in 1912. That was not enacted until 18 May 1917, for WWI.

Was Charles referring to an illness? Did he catch a cold or the flu?

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willow, Woodbury, Iowa, ED 217, p.9B, dwelling 123, family 126, Jacob S Egger; Ancestry.com (accessed 14 Feb 2017); FHL microfilm 1374442, NARA microfilm T624, roll 429.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Summit, Monroe, Ohio, ED 132, p.603B, dwelling 50, family 51, Jacob S Egger; Ancestry.com (accessed 14 Feb 2017); FHL microfilm 1255050, NARA microfilm T9, roll 1050.

[3] Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993, Ancestry.com (accessed 16 Feb 2017); from FamilySearch Ohio Marriages, microfilm 000940297.

[4] FindaGrave.com, (accessed 16 Feb 2017); Augusta Minnie (Steinhoff) Egger memorial no.125760798; Jacob Samuel Egger memorial no. 125762120.  

[5] FindaGrave.com, (accessed 16 Feb 2017); Charles L Egger memorial no.126411700.  

 

6 comments

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    • sharon schaadt on February 17, 2017 at 9:16 am
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    Hi Karen,

    Thanks for posting this! Love it! My parents, Herb and Eda Schaadt, were married by Rev. Egger.

    Sharon Schaadt Cowen

    1. Well that is interesting. Rev. Egger was certainly a busy and interesting man. Thanks for writing.

  1. Could “draft” refer to money sent from father to son? Very intriguing…

    1. I never thought of that! I bet you are right. That makes so much sense. Thanks for thinking of that.

    • Linda Duff on July 11, 2017 at 5:08 pm
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    Karen,
    I was catching up on reading your posts when I saw the name S. Eggar. Knowing the name was familiar, I looked at my grandparents beautiful wedding certificate which hangs in our home. John & Icy Gehm were married on February 23, 1916 by S. Eggar, Chattanooga pastor. They are buried on Wabash Road along with many Gehms, including my mother.
    I always enjoy your posts.

    1. Thanks! That is interesting and I also see his name come up quite often. He is a nice part of Chatt’s history.

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