This is the only photo I have of my great-great grandfather, Christian William Regenhardt. He is foreground right, above the black arrow, walking away from the camera with a cane.
The photo is captioned "First boiler moved into Cape - Grandpa R."
The house in the background is owned by John Frank Schwepker, who owned a grocery store at the corner of Broadway and Main. His house is on the northeast corner of Good Hope and Lorimier, and is still standing today.
I have not been able to determine an approximate date of this photo. Maybe the 1890s. I have not yet determined the destination of the boiler.
Below is the same photo after I restored it.
Christian William Regenhardt
Biographical Resrarch
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 destination was listed as Cape Girardeau. He traveled with the Bohnsack, Herbst, Probst and Funke families.
LIFE IN CAPE GIRARDEAU:
He became a member of Hanover Lutheran Church.
He married Johanna Dormeier in Cape on 1 SEP 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.
He was a member of the Cape Girardeau City Council from 1876 to 1892.
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
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 21 Feb 1891
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 21 Feb 1891
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.
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 4 July 1891
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
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 8 Aug 1891
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 15 Aug 1891
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 26 Sep 1891
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
NEWSPAPER: DEMOCRAT
PG. 3 COL. 6
LOCATED: 1983
William Regenhardt - on Street and Wharf Committee of City Council.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 27 Feb 1892
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 21 Mar 1892
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 26 Mar 1892
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
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
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
NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT
PG. 3 COL. 3
LOCATED: 1983
Wm. Regenhardt, delegate to the National Republican Convention, will leave tomorrow morning for Minneapolis (6/3/92 -Friday).
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 18 June 1892
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
NEWSPAPER: WEEKLY DEMOCRAT
PG. 3 COL. 1
LOCATED: 1983
Wm Regenhardt is making the foundation for the addition to the Lincoln School.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 1 Oct 1892
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
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 11 Mar 1893
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 11 Mar 1893
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
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
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
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
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. (Circuit Court - Common Pleas)
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 19 Jan 1895
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
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 6 July 1895
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
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 27 Aug 1898
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
_________________________________________________________________
DATE: 11 Apr 1903
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 conscious 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.
Mr. Regenhardt was born February 20, 1828 at Alshausen, Braunschweig, Germany.