FRED KASSELL

Born: ca 1869 Missouri Parents: John M. Kassell and Francis Koffstetdr (sp?) and had at least one sister - Emma Kassell Campbell

Died: May 17, 1942; Boone Twp, Crawford County - lived in Sullivan, Missouri 1938 - 1942.
Fred's death certificate notes that he was a night watchman. According to family memories - he worked for the railroad and travelled around. Postcards written to Fred by his first wife Helen were addressed to Goodland, Kansas and Roosevelt, Colorado. He lived in Walnut Shade, Missouri in 1918, the year Helen died.

Married: Helen Smith born: 1876Baltimore, Maryland died: April 6, 1918 Ozark, Missouri. Helen was Catholic and rode a horse sidesaddle. She was tending to a sick member of her parish when she fell from the horse and horn of the saddle caught her and caused fatal injuries, according to family memories.

One child Malcolm Phillip Kassell born to Fred's first marriage.

Timeline:

Fred was born ca 1869 in Missouri - probably St. Louis
Fred worked for the railroad and moved around
Fred lived in both Goodland, Kansas and Roosevelt, Colorado before 1918
Fred, Helen and Malcolm lived in Walnut Shade, Missouri ca 1918
Helen, Fred's wife died April 6, 1918
Fred lived with his sister in 1920, St. Louis
Married his second wife, Margaret in 1921
Moved to Sullivan, Missouri ca 1938 and died May 17, 1942 in Boone Twp., Crawford County, MO.

St. Mark's Cemetery in Granite City, Illinois was left to ruin many years ago. It was located near the current Kirkpatrick Homes in Granite City. The Madison County Genealogical Society has published several cemetery books and in one of those, we found a HELEN KASSELL. This Helen died April 6, 1918, age 42 years old. Helen was taken to St. Mark's Cemetery for burial. My mom remembers as a child visiting the grave site of an relative with her great grandmother Emma Kassell Campbell and Emma told the family members at the that she just shouldn't have died like that. Mom never knew what was meant by that comment. And for many years, she thought that Malcolm's mother was a Christine. However, Malcolm's death certificate revealed Helen Smith Kassell as his mother. Who is Christine? A ca 1923 photo of Malcolm's 2nd cousin William Marvin Martin is signed Chris. Another family mystery to solve!

Married Second Wife: Margaret nee Smith Nov. 19, 1921, St. Charles, Mo. Margaret was 58 years old when Fred died in 1942. It is believed that she remarried and moved to St. Louis.

Fred is listed on the 1920 Census at 2935 N. 14th Street, St. Louis, Missouri as a widower and living with his sister Emma Kassell Campbell, a widow. Also in the household was Malcolm, Fred's son, James Raymond Campbell, Emma's son, and William Scott Martin, Emma's Grandson. William's parents: William Marvin Martin and Frances Louise Campbell Martin are not in the household. Where in the world were they?

The 1921 Gould's City Directory lists both Malcolm and Fred Kassell still living at the same residence. At some point in time, Fred and his second wife Margaret lived in Sullivan, Franklin County, Missouri. Sullivan is about 65 miles south and west of St. Louis, Missouri.

E-mail the author: ps53630@navix.net