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Note: John Peter also followed his father's trade of carpentry. He managed lumber yards at Morton, Minn., Dexter, Minn., and at Iona, Minn. from Mar. 17, 1908 until 1938 when he retired. His son, Frank, continued in the business. J. Peter died on May 8, 1953 of a stroke at 86 years.
Rose Ehleringer, History of the Gaasch Family (notebook compiled about 1966), page 32.
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In the year 1866 on the 28th of the month of August at about 11 o'clock in the morning before me, Anton August Collart, mayor, civil registrar of the commune of Bettemburg in the canton of Esch an der Alzett, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, appeared Peter Gaasch, aged 46 years, wagonmaker, residing in Bettemburg, who has presented to me a child of the male sex born in Bettemburg today at about 2 o'clock in the morning of the wife of the informant, Margaretha Vandivinit, aged 36 years, without occupation, residing with him, and to whom he has declared to want to give the first name Johann Peter�
[Signed] Peter Gaasch
Birth Record, Commune of Bettembourg, Luxembourg, 1866 record 34; Family History Library microfilm 1135122. [Excerpt is translated from German text. Names are spelled per text.]
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Luxembourg � In the week ending 26 March [1887], 197 persons have departed the central railway station for Antwerp, emigrating to America from there, departing about 26 March by the packet steamer Noordland of the Red Star Line, represented in Luxembourg by Messrs. Derulle-Wigreux & Son. Eighty-three of them were Luxembourger [including] J.P. Gaasch from Bettembourg.
Luxemburger Gazette (Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa), 19 April 1887, page 5, column 5; State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City. [Excerpts are roughly translated from German text.]
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The S.S. Noordland of the Red Star Line embarked from Antwerp, Belgium, on 26 March 1887 and arrived in New York on 8 April 1887. Its master was H.E. Nickels; 1002 of the 1048 passengers traveled in steerage, including:
John B. [sic] Gaasch, age 20, male, wheelwright, citizen of Luxembourg, native of Luxembourg, destination Redwood Falls, pieces of baggage 1, location of compartment Forward number 1, starting point Bettenberg [sic], intending to be permanent settler.
Nic Schaller, age 25, male, labourer, citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination Reading, pieces of baggage 1, location of compartment Forward number 1, starting point Hellingen, intending to be permanent settler.
Summary of excerpts from:
Passenger List of Steamship Noordland Arriving at New York 8 April 1887, list 367, passengers 606-607; National Archives microfilm 237, roll 505
New York Times (New York, New York), 7 April 1887
Morton Allen Directory
[Hellange is near Bettembourg; Nic Schaller likely was a traveling companion headed to Reading, Minnesota.]
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J. Peter Gaasch departed yesterday for Germany and other points of interest in Europe to spend the winter. Peter has relatives and friends abroad whom he has not seen for several years and, being amply able to afford the trip, proposes to renew old acquaintances. When asked if it was his intention to bring a permanent associate back with him, Peter promptly replied: "No, sir, there are lots of girls in this country."
Morton Enterprise (Morton, Renville County, Minnesota), 13 January 1899. Reprinted [?] January 1932, page 4, columns 2 and 3; Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.
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Back from [Luxembourg]
J. Peter Gaasch, who put in a good share of the winter traveling abroad, returned to Morton Tuesday. He was accompanied by a brother, John, and three sisters, the Misses Annie, Maggie and Mary. During his absence Peter spent most of his time in the community where his early days were spent, but he made a trip to Paris, London and other large cities and places of interest. He is looking and feeling well after the trip and is making ready to begin a big summer's work in the contracting and building business. In his work this summer he will be assisted by his brother who is also a mechanic.
Morton Enterprise, 31 March 1899, page 5, column 5.
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Peter Gaasch returned from his carpenter work at Aberdeen, S.D., Wednesday.
Morton Enterprise, 15 February 1907, page 3, column 3.
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Peter Gaasch has accepted the management of the Walker Lumber Company of this place, taking up his duties Monday last. In this selection the company is fortunate in securing a man of worth, well acquainted with farmers, from his twenty years residence in Morton, also in that Mr. Gaasch is a first class carpenter, more than that a cabinet maker by trade from his native country, Germany, and his judge of lumber is unquestionably the best in this state. His honesty will [guarantee] satisfaction to the firm.
Morton Enterprise, 8 March 1907, page 3, column 3.
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Peter Gaasch left Saturday for the northern [sic] part of the state where he has in view a betterment of his carpenter trade. If the location is desireable he will move his family from Morton in the near future.
Morton Enterprise, 19 April 1907, page 3, column 4.
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Mrs. J.P. Gaasch and family arrived Wednesday from Dexter, and are now residing in the Colman Lumber Company's residence. Mr. Gaasch arrived last week and is the new agent for the Colman company.
Iona Journal (Iona, Murray County, Minnesota), 3 April 1908, page 5, column 3; Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul. [The prior agent, George Schaeffer, accepted a new position with the Colman Lumber Company in Preston.]
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P.J. Gaasch is the latest to buy a car and on Friday he received a Ford from the local agent, J.F. Disch, and from now on P.J. will be [taking] his evening spins.
Iona Journal, 20 October 1916, page 1, column 6.
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The houses wired this week were the L.W. Galour, Ben Rieman and P.J. Gaasch [residences], and all are more than pleased with the lights.
Iona Journal, 28 February 1919, page 8, column 4.
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J. Peter Gaasch Dies at 86, Buried at Iona
J. Peter Gaasch of Iona passed away at his home on Friday, May 8, 1953 at 4:30 p.m. at the age of 86 years, 9 months and 20 days after an illness of two weeks. Death was caused by a stroke.
Mr. Gaasch was born August 28, 1866 at [Bettembourg], Luxembourg and resided there until [1887] when he moved to Morton, Minn. On July 17, 1900 he married Mary O'Toole, who preceded him in death on July 7, 1944. He was manager of the lumber yard in Iona from 1908 until 1938, when he retired from business life, and has since been a resident of Iona.
Funeral services were held on Monday, May 11 at 9 a.m. from the St. Columba Catholic church in Iona, Father J.P. Fasnacht conducting the Requiem High Mass. The St. Columba choir sang. Interment was at the St. Columba cemetery.
Pallbearers were Ted Blissenback, Rolland Anderson, John Hanno, John Scheuring, Ben Wagner and Leonard Biren.
Surviving are two daughters and one son, (Rose) Mrs. Ed Ehleringer of Iona, (Mary) Mrs. J.J. Hames of Brookfield, Ill. and Gerald of Iona. One son, Frank, preceded him in death on July 27, 1952. There are 17 grand children and a three weeks old great grand child�
Iona � Those from a distance attending the funeral services of J. Peter Gaasch on Monday were Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Hames of Brookfield, Ill.; Mrs. Norman Horvey and son of Denver, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Healy of Austin; Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Casey of Wahpeton, N.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Gaasch of Morton; Mrs. Anne Bernier and Francis of Morton; Mr. and Mrs. Dan Gaasch of St. Paul; Jack, Rosemary, Frances Casey and Mrs. Myrl Myhra, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Malsam and Charlie Schmaltz of Worthington, and Miss Florence Lieser of Britain, S.D.
Murray County Herald (Slayton, Murray County, Minnesota), 14 May 1953, page 3, columns 1 and 2, and page 5, column 1; Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.
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John Peter's last spoken word was "Mary." Was he calling to his daughter-in-law for help or rejoining his Mollie?
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While Gaasch is commonly pronounced "Gosh," the Iona contingent answers to "Gash." John Peter apparently grew tired of correcting his Irish neighbors.
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