Christian Wilhelm Regenhardt

Biographical Research

BIRTH: From the records of the Lutheran Church in Ahlshausen

Pg 86/87, number 6, year 1828 Baptism Record verifies

the following:

Name of Child: Christian Wilhelm

Name of Father: not given (see remarks below)

Name of mother: Johanne Justine Wilhelmina Wressig

Sponsor: Christian Wressig, Cottager here in Ahlshausen

Remarks: Born illegitimate. This illegitimate son of Johanne Wressig is indeed not formally recognized by the recorder of the church books as the child of the late linenweaver Wilhelm Regenhardt in Haieshausen, but he is openly recognized as his child according to reliable testimony. The mother assented to the decree of the Ducal Consistory of the 22 May 1841.

CONFIRMATION: Christian Wilhelm Wressig, called Ragenhardt

At the Niedersaschen State Archives in Wolfenbuttel the following information is taken from photocopies of the Lutheran Church records in the town of Ahlshausen:

Page 252, number 11, year 1841 Confirmation Book verifies the following:

Day of Confirmation: 18 April 1841, Ahlshausen

Name of Child: Wressig called Ragenhardt, Christian Wilhelm

- born in the year 1828, on the 20th of February.

Name of Mother: Johanne Justine Wilhelmine Wressig

Remarks: According to the Birth Register for the year 1828,

page 86, number 6, Wilhelm Regenhardt, linenweaver, is the father of this illegitimately born child.

Emmigration: At age 21, listed as a bricklayer from Haieshausen,

he left from the port of Bremen, Germany on the ship EDMOND and arrived in New Orleans 20 MAY, 1849 with one piece of luggage. His destinationwas listed as Cape Girardeau. He traveled with the Bohnsack family.

He became a member of Hanover Lutheran Church.

He married Johanna Dormeier in Cape on 1 SEPT 1853.

He was a Corporal in Captian Michael Dittinger's Company "C", Cape Girardeau, Missouri Home Guard Volunteers from 27 JUN 1861 to 29 SEPT 1861.

He was a Captain of Co. "B", Cape Girardeau County Regiment, Missouri Militia from 7 OCT 1862 to 15 June 1870. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Cape Girardeau and State Line Railroad Co. 21 MAY 1870.

Wilhelm remarried on 20 April 1879 to M. Louisa Meier. They had no children. She was born in Alivese, Braunschweig Province, Germany, on 3 July, 1831. She died 30 June 1903.

The following information about events of the life of William Regenhardt was taken from various newspaper articles and other sources as noted.

DATE: 1 May 1876

SLUG: City Council

LOCATED: 1983

From the Minutes of the City Council Meeting - 1 May 1876:

Wm. Regenhardt sworn in as new member (his signature is on this page).

He was appointed to these committees:

Ways and Means, Streets and Wharves.

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DATE: 21 Feb 1891

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: CAPE DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 2

LOCATED: 15 July 1983

Wm Regenhardt has contract to lay the foundation for D.A. Glenn's store building on Main Street.

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DATE: 21 Feb 1891

SLUG: Bio/Politics

NEWSPAPER: CAPE DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 3

LOCATED: 1983

We publish a communication today nominating William Regenhardt as the choice of the citizens of the 2nd and 3rd Wards for Mayor. Mr. Regenhardt is one of the gentlemen referred to by the little Main St. sheet as a wooly-mouthed and clabber-headed ignoramus. We will see later who runs the city.

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DATE: 21 Feb 1891

SLUG: Bio/Politics

NEWSPAPER: CAPE DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 5

LOCATED: 1983

The Next Mayor

Editor: Democrat:

Since the "Era", backed by its Main Street syndicate is attempting to direct who shall be Mayor, and at the same time giving the Germans and colored citizens continuous complaints of unsavory character, it will be well to inform the "Era" man that Main Street and Main Street influence has run the town for years, and the time has now arrived for a change. And to please the "Era" man we, citizens of the 2nd and 3rd Wards, nominate our worthy councilman and fellow citizen, W. Regenhardt, as our candidate for Mayor, and if he will accept, we are pleased to state that his friends will place him in the Mayoralty by a decidedly handsome majority. Let the people be heard and Main Street influence in our city affairs will be more limited.

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DATE: 4 July 1891

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt is putting a rock foundation in D.A. Glenn's new store building on which the ceder sleepers for the floor will rest.

Wm Regenhardt has the contract for building a vault for the new bank <First National> and he is now getting the stone on the ground. The vault will be completed in time for the bank to open up for business on the 1st of August. All the stock for the new corporation has been taken and there are quite a number of people here who wanted stock but spoke too late to get it.

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DATE: 8 Aug 1891

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt has the contract to make a granitoid pavement in front of Glenn's new store building on Main Street.

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DATE: 15 Aug 1891

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 3

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt superintended the job of pulling down the walls of the Hirsch and Post Office buildings this forenoon. Since the walls are down the burnt district presents an ugly place on Main Street and it is to be hoped that the vacant lots will soon be covered with buildings better than the ones that were destroyed. <Fire was the previous Sunday>

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DATE: 26 Sep 1891

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 3

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt has the contract for the stone work for 3 new houses on Main Street.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 6 Feb 1892

SLUG: Bio/Politics

NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 6

LOCATED: 1983

William Regenhardt - on Street and Wharf Committee of City Council.

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DATE: 27 Feb 1892

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 1

LOCATED: 1983

A large number of friends of Wm. Regenhardt called on the old gentleman yesterday (Sunday, 21 Feb 1892) and as a token of their friendship presented him with a handsome gold-headed cane in honor of his 64th birthday. Mr. Regenhardt was looking for a call from his friends and he was prepared to receive them and he proved to be a generous host.

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DATE: 21 Mar 1892

SLUG: Bio/Politics

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 5

LOCATED: 1983

City Govenment Minutes: Petition signed by Trustees of German Methodist Church, and Wm. Regenhardt, Anton Haas, and other citizens was read. Petition asks the board to grade Independence St. between Sprigg and Ellis streets.

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DATE: 26 Mar 1892

SLUG: Bio/Politics

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 7

LOCATED: 1983

Cape Girardeau City Ticket (sample ballot for City Council election) - Wm. Regenhardt not on ballot.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 30 Apr 1892

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt went down to Poplar Bluff this morning to bid on a job of stone work.

________________________________________________________________

DATE: 7 May 1892

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 5

LOCATED: 1983

City Government Minutes - Wm Regenhardt's last meeting as City Councilman was 2 May 1892.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 4 June 1892

SLUG: Bio/Republican Convention

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 3

LOCATED: 1983

Wm. Regenhardt, delegate to the National Repbulican Convention, will leave tomorrow morning for Minneapolis (6/3/92 -Friday).

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 18 June 1892

SLUG: Bio/Republican Convention

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 1

LOCATED: 1983

Wm. Regenhardt returned home yesterday evening from Minneapolis, where he had been to help nominate the next President of the United States.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 13 Aug 1892

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 1

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt is making the foundation for the addition to the Lincoln School. <Located at Ellis and Meriweather Streets - where now is located an Auto Parts store parking lot.>

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 1 Oct 1892

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm. Regenhardt purchased the city lot that was sold by the Sheriff today at partition sale. He paid $75 for it.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 14 Jan 1893

SLUG: Bio/Runaway streetcar

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 3

LOCATED: 1983

Coming down the grade on Broadway yesterday (Tuesday 10 Jan 1893) car number one ran on to the mules and caused them to runaway. The car was full of passengers and many of them jumped out when the car was going at breakneck speed. Wm. Regenhardt was one of the passengers who jumped. His face struck the rock on the street and was badly bruised. Fortunately he was not seriously hurt. The brake on the car did not work and the car was unmanageable.

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DATE: 11 Mar 1893

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 1

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt is going to build a residence building on his lot up in Donnybrook. The building will be for rent as soon as it is completed. <Donneybrook is the area west of the old shoe factory on North Main Street>

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DATE: 11 Mar 1893

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 3

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt is going to build a nice residence building in the Giboney-Houck Addition. There will be no less than eight buildings put up in that part of the city this year and they will all be good buildings, too.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 13 May 1893

SLUG: Bio/Construction

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 4

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt will soon begin work on a granitoid pavement around the new Sturdivant Bank Building. When completed this will be the longest stretch of granitoid pavement in the city and it will make the grand new bank building show up to much better advantage.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 13 Jan 1894

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 3 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm. Regenhardt is apt to be out again. The old gentleman had a lengthy wrestle with the grip, and he was down in bed for a week or two.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 1 Sep 1894

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 5 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm. Regenhardt purchased some real estate on Fountain Street the other day.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 8 Sep 1894

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 5 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

In the case of Regenhardt vs. Hass, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Regenhardt. (Ciruit Court - Common Pleas)

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DATE: 19 Jan 1895

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 6 COL. 1

LOCATED: 1 Aug 1983

Wm Regenhardt, who was confined to his room last week, is able to be out again.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 16 Feb 1895

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 6 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1 Aug 1983

Wm Regenhardt went out to Jackson this morning and got back in time for dinner.

C. F. Betten will move his family to Jackson as soon as Wm Regenhardt completes the new house he is building out there.

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DATE: 6 July 1895

SLUG: Bio/Construction

SOURCE: City Council Minutes

LOCATED: 1 Aug 1983

The City Council has contracted with Wm Regenhardt for a hose house in the 2nd Ward. Mr. Regenhardt will build the house and lease it to the City for 5 years. (on Broadway near Ellis on Wm Regenhardt's lot)

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 19 Apr 1898

SLUG: Bio/City Council

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. COL.

LOCATED: 1983

Mayor had contracted with parties to quarry sandstone on Lorimier St. north of Mill St. But Wm Regenhardt appeared before Council stating that they were quarrying on his property.

City Engineer requested to locate lines of Lorimier from south side of Mill St. to the north side of Mason St. MOTION CARRIED.

Property owners on Meriweather from Ellis to Pacific asked Wm Regenhardt to ask the City Council to put in sewer pipe on Meriweather.

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DATE: 27 Aug 1898

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 5 COL. 5

LOCATED: 25 July 1983

Wm Regenhardt has been confined to his bed several days.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 3 Sep 1898

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. COL.

LOCATED: 25 July 1983

Wm Regenhardt is still in his room but he is now improving.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 10 Sep 1898

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 5 COL. 1

LOCATED: 25 July 1983

Wm Regenhardt, assignee of Stein Brothers, sold a lot of notes and accounts last Saturday. They didn't bring enough money to pay for advertising them.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 28 Jan 1899

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 5 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt made his final settlement yesterday, as asignee of Stein Brothers.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 29 Dec 1900

SLUG: Bio/Cape Brewery

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 1 COL. 6

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt is on Board of Directors (and President of Stockholders) of the Cape Brewery and Ice Co.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 4 Jan 1902

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 4 COL. 2

LOCATED: 1983

Wm Regenhardt went out to Allenville this morning to lookout after the interests of the Cape Brewery and Ice. Co.

_________________________________________________________________

DATE: 28 Mar 1903

SLUG: Bio

NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT

PG. 5 COL. 3

LOCATED: Aug 1983

Wm Regenhardt, one of the oldest and best citizens of the city, lies dangerously ill at his home on West Independence St. Mr. Regenhardt is past 74 years of age, and is suffering from an attack of la grippe.

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DATE: 11 Apr 1903

SLUG: William Regenhardt obituary

NEWSPAPER: Weekly Democrat

LOCATED: July 1983, Cape Library

A GOOD MAN GONE

William Regenhardt Passed Away Tuesday Morning

A Life Crowned with Good Deeds Comes to an End

William Regenhardt, aged and respected citizen, known and loved by every man, woman, and child in Cape Girardeau, passed away at 10:30 last Tuesday morning at his home on Independence Street, between Sprigg and Frederick, after a life of usefulness and good deeds that is seldom if ever equalled.

No man has ever lived in Cape Girardeau who was better known or liked. He had lived here for years and was always spoken of with respect, good will, and reverence. A better man and a better friend never lived, and in his death Cape Girardeau and its people lose a valuable man.

The news of his death came as a great shock, as it was given out last night that he was much better and that the chances for his recovery were improved. This morning, however, it became apparent that the end was near and the family and friends were summoned to his bedside. The end came peacefully, the aged sufferer being concious to the last.

The deceased was 75 years old, having passed the birthday in February. He leaves a widow, two sons and one daughter, who were at the bedside when the last breath was drawn.