William Gabriel Smutzer (1868 - 1931)

Born 2 Feb 1868 in Indiana

Husband of Conradena (Baumgarten) Smutzer — married 29 Oct 1885 in LaPorte, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 24 Feb 1931 at age 63 in Michigan City, Indiana

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Biography

In the 1880 Census William was living with his parents, Fred and Beata “Catharine” in Michigan City, Indiana. He was 12 years old and listed as “Willie” on the census. ^[1]

On October 25, 1885, William married Conradena Baumgarten in LaPorte County, Indiana. (Names were spelled as William Schmutzer and Consadine Baungarten).

In the 1900 Census William and Dena Smutzer were living in Michigan City, Indiana with their 5 children, Alice, Alva, Mildred, Irene, and Louis Smutzer. His occupation was a locomotive engineer. They were living at 219 Spring Street. (See photo insert). ^[2]

In Michigan City directories from 1902 to 1909 they show William was employed as an engineer with the Michigan Central Rail Road, and the family was living at 509 1/2 Franklin.

In the 1910 Census William (43) and Dena 43) have been married for 25 years. The we’re living in Michigan City, Indiana with their five children, Alva, Louis, “Millie”, and Irene. William was employed as a locomotive engineer. They were living at 509 1/2 Franklin.

In the 1916 Michigan City Directory William listed his occupation as engineer with M.C.R.R. They were living at 122 W 10th. Alva listed her occupation as as an operator with the Merchant Mutual Telephone Company.

In the 1920 Census William and Dena were living in Michigan City, Indiana. Their daughter, Alva, was also living in the home. William listed his occupation as a locomotive engineer. They were living at 122 W 10th. ^[3]

In the 1929 Michigan City Directory, William was listed his occupation as an engineer with M.C.R.R., and his daughter Mildred listed her occupation as a stenographer for Pullman Company. They were living at 122 W 10th.

On February 24, 1931, William passed away from Coronary Endarteritis, in Michigan City, Indiana at the age of 63 years and 22 days. The death certificate states he was employed as a locomotive engineer for 45 years with the Michigan Central Railroad.

William and Dena are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City, Indiana. Their gravestones have been photographed and are still readable. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH9J-V81 : Sun Jan 14 01:46:43 UTC 2024), Entry for Fredk. Smutzer and Beata Catharine Smutzer, 1880.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM1Y-NMT : Thu Oct 05 04:38:13 UTC 2023), Entry for William G Smutzer and Dena Smutzer, 1900.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFWZ-6S4 : Sat Dec 23 10:39:02 UTC 2023), Entry for William G Smutzer and Dena Smutzer, 1920.
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133299395/william-gabriel-smutzer

• Family tree information handed down by Katherine Siegmund Schaefer. Also census records, family articles, findagrave.com, ancestry.com