I've been following a little trail of bread crumbs that Gussie's left me. So far in my research we first meet her in the 1880 Census and more details just waiting to be discovered:
- 1876-On August 13th Augusta Caroline Apel was born. (Maybe they named her Augusta because she was born in August)
- 1880 (Census YEAR)-She's 3 and the daughter of Henry and Amelia Apel. She was born in Missouri as Augusta Caroline Apel. Augusta's father Henry was born in Missouri and her mother Amelia was born in Prussia/Germany. Henry was a farmer. She's the oldest and had 2 other living siblings at the time: Mary and Christian. The family lived in Richland, Missouri.
- Missing Years 1881-1897
- In 1897 it's my speculation that the picture of the Apel Family is taken during this year. There are 6 living siblings now: Augusta, Mary, Chris, Henry, Frank and William, We know that William is the baby in the photo and from the 1900 census we know that he was born in Nov 1896, he's a plump little guy and looks about a year old.
- 1899-From a local obituary we learn that her father Henry dies unexpectedly at the young age of 45 from gall stones on June 13th leaving a Amelia and the 5-6 children behind.
- 1900 (Census YEAR)-\ Amelia Apel is now the head of household, since her husband just died the year before. Augusta, now 23, and her brothers Chris, Henry and William are still living at home in Chariton, Missouri. We learn that Amelia has had 8 children by this time but only 5 are living. Not yet verified but My speculation is that Mary got married and had left home by then and Frank perhaps passed away.
- 1900-The census must have been taken right before Augusta got married to William L. Agee. We have a marriage license record that shows they were married on June 20th, 1900 in Fayette, Missouri at the Court House
- 1901-Augusta has a baby boy: Frank Monroe Agee (maybe she named her first baby after her brother Frank)
- 1903-Augusta has baby girl: Anna Mae Agee** (**not verified with sources yet, but we known she had 4 children but only 3 were living by the 1910 census)
- 1905-Augusta has a baby girl: Wilmoth Lena Agee* (*Great Grandma comes into the world)
- 1908-Augusta's child Anna Mae dies** (**not verified sources yet, but we known she had 4 children but only 3 were living by the 1910 census)
- 1909-Augusta's husband William L. Agee must have passed away, as there is another marriage record for "Gussie" Agee to James Forrest on May 12th 1909.
- 1910 (Census YEAR)-Augusta shows up married with her new name Augusta C. Forrest she and her husband James live in Chariton, Missouri with the kids: Frank Agee and Wilmoth Lena Agee (from Augusta's first husband William) and their new baby Carl J. Forrest not even a year old when the census is taken. Census reveals that she is the mother of 4 children, but only 3 are living.
- 1920 (Census YEAR)-Augusta is now using that name Gussie Forrest is listed as head of household and widowed. James Forrest passed away sometime in the 10 years between censuses. Frank, Wilmoth Lena (shorten to Lena on the census) and Carl are all still living at home in Chariton Missouri
- 1930 (Census YEAR)-Gussie Forrest is now 53 and living alone in Chariton Missouri. Census reveals she was 23 years old at the time of her first marriage.
- 1940 (Census YEAR)-Here is where things get really interesting (at least in the family history world)-- the direct link to my Grandmother Betty Jean Baker and Gussie Forrest. This census reveals that Gussie's highest level of school completed was 3rd grade elementary Gussie's now 63, still head of house hold and the family is moving back into the nest. At 30 yrs old Carl's moved back in at some point and she has two more family members there as well; Herman Finders, as son in law, and Betty Jean Baker, a granddaughter, that's 11 years old. We know that at some point Lena Agee (great grandma) was married to Raymond Baker, had two children Porter Baker and Betty Jean Baker, was divorced and then married Herman Finders. A little strange that Lena is missing from the party? Still looking for clues.
And that is how Augusta Caroline Apel turns into Gussie Forrest
DIRECT LINE: Augusta Caroline Apel --> Wilmoth Lena Agee --> Betty Jean Baker -->Kurtis Van Camp --> Bryonny Michelle Van Camp
DIRECT LINE: Augusta Caroline Apel --> Wilmoth Lena Agee --> Betty Jean Baker -->Kurtis Van Camp --> Bryonny Michelle Van Camp
