G'Sell, Ferdinand

Ferdinand G'SELL (1820-1895) and Josephine BOWERS (1826 - 1880)

possible ancestors

This page covers the life of Ferdinand G'SELL, his wife Josephine BOWERS, and their descendants, except their daughter Annette G'SELL, whose descendants are covered along with her husband, William GAMACHE.

Ferdinand G'SELL was born in France, about 1820. He came to America about 1840 and settled near the Mississippi in Carondelet, an area south of St Louis, which has since been incorporated into the city of St Louis.

Ferdinand Gsell

in the Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910

Name: Ferdinand Gsell

Death Date: 15 Aug 1895

Birth Date: abt 1820

County: St Louis

Death Location: St Louis

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 75

Gender: M (Male)

Ferdinand G'SELL married Josephine BOWERS on 4 Feb 1845.

Missouri Marriages to 1850

Name Josephine Bowars

Spouse Ferdinand Gisell

Marriage Date 4 Feb 1845

Marriage County St Louis

I have not been able to find the family in the 1850 Census. In fact, the only record of them before 1860 is the 1845 marriage record. By that time they had 5 children.

1860 US Census for St Louis, St Louis, MO, enumerated 15 Jun 1860

Gsell Ferdinand 40 1820 Male France

Gsell Josephine 34 1826 Female Tennessee

Gsell Alphonse 13 1847 Male Illinois

Gsell Ann 11 1849 Female Illinois

Gsell Josephine 6 1854 Female Missouri

Gsell Emile 2 1858 Female Missouri

Gsell Eliza 5/12 1860 Female Missouri

Flock Louis 30 1830 Male France

-- August 23 1837 Male France

In 1860, Ferdinand G'SELL is a brewer, and two of his workers are living with the family. The first 2 children were born in Illinois, so the family must have lived there for a few years.

Josephine G'SELL appears in a Tax Assessment List for 1865, as the owner of a Brewer. The list is for Missouri, and the location is Sowell, which I can't find. The rest of this document doesn't make sense to me. Maybe someone can help.

The fact that Josephine was on this list instead of Ferdinand seems to suggest that Ferdinand had died or was not at home in Apr 1865. Maybe he was involved in the Civil War.

1870 US Census for Carondelet, St Louis, MO

Gsell Fredrick 50 1820 France

Gsell Josephene 44 1826 Tennessee

Gsell Alphonse 23 1847 Illinois

Gsell Josephene 17 1853 Missouri

Gsell Emily 12 1858 Missouri

Gsell Eliza 10 1860 Missouri

Wilard Ameal 45 1825 France

Waghter Lawrence 35 1835 Baden

Welstenholm James 28 1842 England

In 1870 the family is found in Carondelet, St Louis County, MO. Ferdinand has been called Fredrick, but this is surely the same family, with the same children, exceppt Ann (Annette), who has married William GAMACHE. They have 3 workers staying with the family: Ameal is a stone mason, from France, and Lawrence and James are laborers. Ferdinand (Fredrick) is now a saloon keeper. He owns real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate $1,100.

1880 US Census for Dist 18, St Louis, St Louis, MO

Gsell Ferdinand 60 1820 Self Widower Saloon Alsace Alsace Alsace

Gsell Josephina 54 1826 Wife Married Keeping House Jackson, TN Virginia Virginia

Gsell Aphanso 30 1850 Son Single Brewer Alton, IL Alsace Jackson, TN

Gsell Anette 28 1852 Daughter Married at home Alton, IL Alsace Jackson, TN

Gsell Josephina 25 1855 Daughter Married at home Carondelet, MO Alsace Jackson, TN

Gsell Emily 21 1859 Daughter Single at home St Louis, MO Alsace Jackson, TN

Gsell Lizze 18 1862 Daughter Single St Louis, MO Alsace Jackson, TN

Schwartz Iranne K. 27 1853 Servant Single Servant Illinois Illinois Illinois

Gsell Arthur 16 1864 Cousin Single Barkeeper Summerfield, IL Alsace Alsace

Gsell Albert 27 1853 Cousin Single Clerk in Store St Louis, MO Alsace Alsace

Clair John 23 1857 Boarder Single Carpenter Cleveland, OH Cleveland, OH Cleveland, OH

Fullmer John 23 1857 Boarder Single Finisher Pennsylvania France France

Desualnier A. 30 1850 Boarder Single Painter France France France

Fack Joseph 40 1840 Boarder Single Laborer France France France

Loadgrass W. B. 22 1858 Boarder Single Blacksmith West Virginia West Virginia West Virginia

Bruil Emil 35 1845 Boarder Single Laborer France France France

Jaquelle Joseph 42 1838 Boarder Single Cook in Hotel France France France

Bourbon Joseph 35 1845 Boarder Single Carpenter France France France

Rush Charles 53 1827 Boarder Single Marble Polisher Ireland Ireland Ireland

Murry William 52 1828 Boarder Single Engineer New York New York New York

Maucer Martin 45 1835 Boarder Single Laborer France France France

Trebaul Adolph 40 1840 Boarder Single Laborer France France France

Fitzgerald Mike 40 1840 Boarder Single Laborer Ireland Ireland Ireland

In 1880, Ferdinand and Josephine are running a boarding house. They have 1 single white servant, 2 cousins, and 13 boarders, all single white men. All five children are living at home, including Annette (28) and Josephina (25), who are married, with children. I don't know where the rest of their families are. Alphonso (Alphonse) has taken over the brewing business. The daughters were listed "at home," although I'm sure there was plenty to do, with a saloon, brewery and boarding house!

This census taker was kind enough to include some extra details in the birth places, that don't usually appear in censuses. Ferdinand was born in the Alsace region of France. Josephina was born in Jackson, TN. I don't know if this is Jackson County or the city of Jackson, TN, which is not in Jackson County. The first 2 children of Ferdinand and Josephine were born in Alton, IL, which is on the Mississippi, about 20 miles north of St Louis. The third child was born in Carondelet, on the south side of St Louis, which would later be incorporated into the city of St Louis. The 4th and 5th child were born in St Louis. This could just mean St Louis County, which would include Carondelet, but if they were born in Carondelet, I don't know why the census taker wouldn't have written it as for the 3rd child. But the family is back in Carondelet in 1880, which had become a district in St Louis.

One of Ferdinand's cousins was born in St Louis, and another in Summerfield, IL, which is about 30 miles east of St Louis.

Sources

[G] G'Sell Family on Facebook

[M] The Miltenberger family of Alsace, by Val Miltenberger, 1954

Updated 26 Aug 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.