Philadelphia 1889
Brewerytown, North Philadelphia
Charles and Auguste chose to settle in an area of North Philadelphia unofficially known to its inhabitants as "Brewerytowm," so-called because of the many breweries located there. Beginning in 1850 eventually over twenty German breweries were located in this one section of Philadelphia. At one time Philadelphia had over 700 breweries. Brewerytown was where it all began. Located along the banks of the the Schuylkill River and close to farms where hops could be grown, ice could also be cut from the frozen river in winter and readily stored in nearby caves.
In the late 19th century Brewerytown was an ethnic hodgepodge with a strong German majority. By the late 20th century Brewerytown was 93% Afro-American with an average income of $21,000.00. At present the community is going through rapid regentrification and becoming an upscale area adjacent to Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban parks in America. The Wackes kids spent many happy hours playing in the wooded park.
Immediately across the river is the famed Philadelphia Zoo.
Charles and Auguste chose to settle in an area of North Philadelphia unofficially known to its inhabitants as "Brewerytowm," so-called because of the many breweries located there. Beginning in 1850 eventually over twenty German breweries were located in this one section of Philadelphia. At one time Philadelphia had over 700 breweries. Brewerytown was where it all began. Located along the banks of the the Schuylkill River and close to farms where hops could be grown, ice could also be cut from the frozen river in winter and readily stored in nearby caves.
In the late 19th century Brewerytown was an ethnic hodgepodge with a strong German majority. By the late 20th century Brewerytown was 93% Afro-American with an average income of $21,000.00. At present the community is going through rapid regentrification and becoming an upscale area adjacent to Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban parks in America. The Wackes kids spent many happy hours playing in the wooded park.
Immediately across the river is the famed Philadelphia Zoo.
Census 1900
Freda (1885) and Charles, Jr. (1887) were born in Baltimore. All of the other children were born in Philadelphia, according to the 1900 and 1910 census. This means they had made the move to Philadelphia from Baltimore sometime between March 1887 when Charles, Jr. was born in Baltimore and September 1889 when Emma, their third child, was born in Philadelphia.
Note inaccurate data in the census. Freda and Charles (Charlie") were born in Baltimore not PA.
Census 1910
Ten years later when the 1910 Census was taken, Freda, Charles, Jr., and Emma were not listed in the household.
In 1909 Emil and Freda purchased the 442 Dufor St. residence from Karl. (Philadelphia Inquirer 1909-10-04 Vol. 161 Iss. 96 p. 4. Genealogybank.com)
Freda (1885) and Charles, Jr. (1887) were born in Baltimore. All of the other children were born in Philadelphia, according to the 1900 and 1910 census. This means they had made the move to Philadelphia from Baltimore sometime between March 1887 when Charles, Jr. was born in Baltimore and September 1889 when Emma, their third child, was born in Philadelphia.
Note inaccurate data in the census. Freda and Charles (Charlie") were born in Baltimore not PA.
- Wackes, Charles - Head - W/M - b Oct 1862, age 37, Married 16yrs - b Germany- married 1884, 16 yrs - Occupation "Metal" 12 mos employed - can read, write, speak English - owns house, mortgaged
- Wackes, Augustus - Wife - W/F - b Aug 1863, age 36-married 1884, 16 yrs - b Germany-can read, write, speak English
- Wackes, Frieda - Daughter - W/F - b. May 1885, age 15, single - b PA Map Colorer 12 mos employed
- Wackes, Charlie - Son - W/M - b. March 1887, age 13 - b PA -Messenger Boy 12 mos employed
- Wackes, Emma - Daughter - W/F - b. Sept 1889, age 10 - b PA - At School 10 mos attendance
- Wackes, Rosa - Son - W/F - b. July 1891, age 8 - b PA - At School 10 mos attendance
- Wackes, Florence - Son - W/F - b. April 1895, age 5 - b PA - At School 10 mos attendance
- Wackes, George - Son - W/M - b. May 1897, age 3 - b PA
- Wackes, Augustus - Son - W/M - b. July 1897, age 11/12 - b PA
Census 1910
Ten years later when the 1910 Census was taken, Freda, Charles, Jr., and Emma were not listed in the household.
- Freda had married Emil Gastler in 1905.
- Charles, Jr. had married Annie Ahrens in 1907.
- In 1910 Emma was living with Charles Jr. and Annie.
In 1909 Emil and Freda purchased the 442 Dufor St. residence from Karl. (Philadelphia Inquirer 1909-10-04 Vol. 161 Iss. 96 p. 4. Genealogybank.com)
In the same census of April 19, 1910, Charles, Sr. is listed as a naturalized citizen. This was not the case in the census of 1900.
Karl , who had listed his vocation as “waiter” when purchasing his ticket on the Salier, worked as a weaver after arriving in Baltimore. It was reported by his daughter, Rose, and she to her daughter, Florence, that Karl did not like the city of Baltimore nor the living or housing conditions. He moved his family to 432 Dufor Street in Philadelphia, probably around the year 1893. That is the first year his name appears in the Philadelphia registry. The 1893 Phila. registry shows his address as 432-442 Dufor Street because by that time he purchased the row house next door and combined both houses into one. His children attended the John H. Packard School. From 1893 through 1906 Karl’s occupation is listed in the directory as “spinner”. In 1909 the directory lists his occupation as “Milk” and his address as 2800 Cambridge Street. The directory also indicates that sometime after arriving in America, Karl Americanized his name to “Charles.”
The Children
After moving to Philadelphia in 1889, Auguste gave birth to eleven more children, including two sets of twins.
Auguste took a return trip to Germany in 1903 to visit her parents. She took Rose and Helen with her per passport records. Although both daughters are listed as “Rosie" in the ship's ("Kaiser Wilhelm II") passenger list, birthdates confirm that the two daughters were Rose and Helen. (New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Ancestry.com.; Port of Departure: Bremen, Ship Name: Kaiser Wilhelm II; Port of Arrival:New York, New York, Line: 20, Microfilm Serial: 15, Microfilm Roll: T715_384, Page Number: 124)
Ten of the thirteen Wackes children survived infancy. Emma was born in 1889, Florence, or “Lisi,” in 1891, Ottilie in 1893, Rose in 1894, George William in 1897, Augustus in 1899, the twins Helen and Frank in 1902, the twins Alice and Theodor Emil in 1904, and finally Annie in 1906. Ottilie died in 1894 at one year of age. Alice and Theodor died in infancy during July (Alice) and August (Theodor) 1904.
Two of their daughters, having survived infancy, died while young. Helen, a high school student, died of influenza in 1918 at the age of 16 years, eleven months. Annie was the youngest of the children, born in 1906. She died in 1927 at the age of 21 due to lead poisoning contracted as a result of working in a paint factory in Philadelphia.
Charlie (3 sons), George (4 sons), and Gustave (1 son) produced sons to perpetuate the family name. Frank never married and died in 1940 at the age of 39.
Karl , who had listed his vocation as “waiter” when purchasing his ticket on the Salier, worked as a weaver after arriving in Baltimore. It was reported by his daughter, Rose, and she to her daughter, Florence, that Karl did not like the city of Baltimore nor the living or housing conditions. He moved his family to 432 Dufor Street in Philadelphia, probably around the year 1893. That is the first year his name appears in the Philadelphia registry. The 1893 Phila. registry shows his address as 432-442 Dufor Street because by that time he purchased the row house next door and combined both houses into one. His children attended the John H. Packard School. From 1893 through 1906 Karl’s occupation is listed in the directory as “spinner”. In 1909 the directory lists his occupation as “Milk” and his address as 2800 Cambridge Street. The directory also indicates that sometime after arriving in America, Karl Americanized his name to “Charles.”
The Children
After moving to Philadelphia in 1889, Auguste gave birth to eleven more children, including two sets of twins.
Auguste took a return trip to Germany in 1903 to visit her parents. She took Rose and Helen with her per passport records. Although both daughters are listed as “Rosie" in the ship's ("Kaiser Wilhelm II") passenger list, birthdates confirm that the two daughters were Rose and Helen. (New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Ancestry.com.; Port of Departure: Bremen, Ship Name: Kaiser Wilhelm II; Port of Arrival:New York, New York, Line: 20, Microfilm Serial: 15, Microfilm Roll: T715_384, Page Number: 124)
Ten of the thirteen Wackes children survived infancy. Emma was born in 1889, Florence, or “Lisi,” in 1891, Ottilie in 1893, Rose in 1894, George William in 1897, Augustus in 1899, the twins Helen and Frank in 1902, the twins Alice and Theodor Emil in 1904, and finally Annie in 1906. Ottilie died in 1894 at one year of age. Alice and Theodor died in infancy during July (Alice) and August (Theodor) 1904.
Two of their daughters, having survived infancy, died while young. Helen, a high school student, died of influenza in 1918 at the age of 16 years, eleven months. Annie was the youngest of the children, born in 1906. She died in 1927 at the age of 21 due to lead poisoning contracted as a result of working in a paint factory in Philadelphia.
Charlie (3 sons), George (4 sons), and Gustave (1 son) produced sons to perpetuate the family name. Frank never married and died in 1940 at the age of 39.
Church Life |
,Although born in March 1887, my grandfather, Charlie, was not taken to the Lutheran church by his parents for baptism until August 27, 1891, four years later. Why the delay, I wondered? I visited German Lutheran churches in Baltimore to examine their records and with Maryland Lutheran Church records--no records of his baptism (or his parents' marriage) were found for Baltimore.
The probable reasons were several-fold. The newly arrived couple, Karl and Auguste, did not perhaps seek out a church home in Baltimore. And it seems that shortly after the birth of Charles II they began their plans to leave Baltimore and move northward to Philadelphia. There is also no evidence that Charlie or any of his siblings were confirmed in the Lutheran Church, although this is historically a usual practice for Lutheran children at about the age of fifteen. Charles Sr. had been confirmed back in Suhl but neither he nor Auguste encouraged their children to do the same. Rose told her daughter Florence that for her family the church was for baptisms, marriages, and funerals. However, during desperate times the family harkened back to their Lutheran roots. Charlie was baptized in 1891 at the age of four, together with two--year old Emma.. The move to Philadelphia and probable contact with St. John’s Lutheran Church may have precipitated these “catch up” baptisms. The church was located on Wharton Street near Sixth in an area of Philadelphia known as Southwark. Eight years later in 1899 Karl and Auguste took Flora (Florence, b. 8 April 1895), George (b. 13 May 1897), and Gustav Adolph (b. 7 July 1899) for baptism on September 3rd at St. John's. Freda, Karl (Charlie), and Adolph Graf served as godparents. (St. John's Baptismal Records at Ancestry.com). Where was Rose Ann (b. 1894)? Later Charlie, age 17, would stand in as godparent for the baptism of his younger sibling Francis (Frank) on July 28, 1904 at St. John’s. The occasion was the burial of Alice, the infant twin of Theodor Emil, who was born on March 2, 1904. While at the church for the infant Alice's burial, the three-year old twins, Frank and Helen, born in 1891, were baptized, together with Theodor Emil. Freda stood as godparent for Helen and Emma for Theodor Emil. Theodor died on August 1, 1904. (St. John's Baptismal Records at Ancestry.com). What is interesting about St. John’s Lutheran Church is that it was founded in 1840 by German immigrants from Alsace! They separated from the historic Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia (where Charlie's wife Annie Ahrens was baptized) over "lax doctrine." St. John's also was one of the original Lutheran churches to leave the mainline Lutheran denomination to form the new Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, in protest over the liberal theology and practices of the American Lutheran Church. (From http://www.stjohnspringfieldpa.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2011/11/Glimpses-1.pdf) After they married and left home, several of the children became active members of churches, as did their children and grandchildren after them. |
We believe, teach and confess the 'Gospel,' that Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, died on the cross for the sins of the world, that all might be saved through him. According to Scripture alone, by faith alone we trust that this 'by grace alone' promise in Christ alone is God’s once-for-all answer to the problem of evil in ourselves and our world." (From St. John's current web site: http://www.stjohnspringfieldpa.org) |
Old St. John's Lutheran Church
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Wackes Dairy
Family in 1920-21 |
Charles launched a dairy business in 1904. In large part he was encouraged by the success of entrepreneurial enterprises in America, where hard work and quality products enabled immigrants like Charles to blaze a new trail. He also wanted to operate a business in which his sons could participate.
Milk delivery was a fundamental part of daily life in the early 20th century. Dairy farmers brought fresh milk to milk depots where it was sold wholesale to local dairies. The depots gradually became centers to pasteurize the milk after a link between unpasteurized milk and infant mortality was established. Charles purchased his milk supply from the Milk Depot in Brewertown at 1327 Marston Street. His milk bottles were labeled, Wackes Dairy 1327 Marston Street. This was proof to his customers of healthy, pasteurized milk. He had two delivery wagons and also sold dairy products from his store at 2800 There is an interesting history of milk at http://www.mylittlehomestead.com/historyofrawmilk.html. The milk depot itself was sold to a developer and will be converted to $200,000+ condos in a revitalized Brewerytown. Its story and photos are available at http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/brewerytown/happenings-on-the-1300-block-of-north-marston-street. Census 1920 According to the 1920 census Florence (25), George (23), Augustus (21), Frank (listed as Francis, 18) and Annie (listed as Anna, 14) are living in the household at 2800 Cambridge Street. No occupation is listed for Florence and Annie, but all three sons (George, "Gus," and Frank) are listed as milk deliverers in their father’s dairy business. Charles, Jr. married in 1907 and by 1918 had his own family six. In the 1923 City Directory is listed as "Foreman" in the family business. Freda married earlier in 1904 and located in New Jersey. Annie died of lead poisoning in 1923, age 17, contracted from her work in a paint factory. This was the last census (January 1920) in which Charles, Sr., age 57, was listed. |
Settling the EstateObituary
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Charles, Sr. contracted lobar pneumonia in May 1920. After six days of medical treatment he died while at home on Sunday, May 23, 1920. He was 57 years of age. Marie was executrix of his estate. Charles was buried on May 27, 1920 in Greenmount Cemetery in Philadelphia.
He emigrated from Suhl with very little and arrived in the U. S. at age 22. By age 42 he was able to purchase two adjoining row houses and convert them into one large home for his large family, and by age 47 purchased a 8,184 square foot building to house a thriving dairy business and home for his family. In 1923 Auguste and her four sons were still operating the Wackes dairy business, but evidently Charles' sons either could not, did not desire to, or could not agree how to jointly maintain the business. Ultimately Marie sold the business, according to the story given to Florence Hipple by her mother, Rose, to a competitor, Turner and Wescott Dairy. Marie also sold the 2800 Cambridge Street property and moved to River Road in Delair, New Jersey, next to her oldest daughter, Freda. There she died at the age of 67. When he died, Charles left a thriving business, a debt-free building, and a number of rental properties. However, when the Great Depression hit in 1929, the people renting the properties could not pay their rents. When Marie died in 1930, she died holding title to properties, rentals and mortgages, but died without leaving a will. Many of the properties had to be sold in order to divide the assets among the eight surviving children. Many of the properties were sold at significant loss due to the Depression. With greater wisdom the outcome could have been much better. According to Rose, a feud developed among the children over the disposition of the estate. This produced two unfortunate results. The properties were sold for far less than they would have just a few years later. And, some degree of alienation developed between the children. Charles Jr. and Freda stayed in contact because the children of Charlie recounted fond memories of trips to her farm in New Jersey. And when Charlie registered for the draft in World War I, he listed his sister, Florence, as the next of kin to be notified. WACKES — May 23, Karl L., beloved husband of Augusta Wackes (nee Graf), aged 57. Relatives and friends, invited to funeral Thurs. 2 P. M. 2800 Cambridge St. Internment Greenmount Cem. Remains may be viewed Wed. eve. (Philadelphia Inquirer, May 25, 1920) |