Vital Information
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Henry David Christian Eggers |
| Born | 24 Dec 1861, Dittmer, Jefferson County, MO (death cert says Dittmer, not Hillsboro as FaG states) |
| Died | 27 Mar 1943, St. Louis, MO |
| Father | Heinrich Eggers Sr. (born Germany, likely Hanover per 1870 Census) |
| Mother | Mary Grupe (born Germany; death cert #8250) |
| Stepmother | Maria Grunhold/Gruenholtz (Heinrich Sr.'s second wife; per Saint Martins UCC baptism records 1883-1888) |
| Spouse | Henrietta Rose Eggers |
| Siblings | Fritz Eggers, Matilda Eggers, Lizzie Eggers, Emma Eggers (per 1880 Census, children of Heinrich Sr. + Mary Grupe) |
| Half-siblings | Johann Heinrich Eggers (b. 21 Apr 1883) and others (per Saint Martins baptism records, children of Heinrich Sr. + Maria geb. Grunhold) |
| Children | Walter Henry Eggers Sr. |
| FindAGrave | #14767570 |
Biography
Henry David Christian Eggers was born on 24 December 1861 in Dittmer, Jefferson County, Missouri, to Heinrich Eggers Sr. (born Germany, likely Hanover) and Mary Grupe (born Germany). He married Henrietta Rose, a German immigrant, and together they raised a family in the Dittmer and St. Louis area. Henry died on 27 March 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a farmer and a widower (Henrietta died 1937). Burial: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County.
Parentage reconstruction. Multiple primary sources establish Henry Dan's family:
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Death certificate #8250 (MO, 1943): Father "Henry Eggers" born Germany; mother's maiden name "Mary Grupe" born Germany. Informant: Mrs. Frieda Hersby (daughter Freda), 2317 Russell Blvd. Birthplace: Dittmer, MO (not Hillsboro as FaG states).
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1920 Census (Meramec Twp, Jefferson Co, MO): Henry D Eggers (age 58, head) with wife Henrette (age 54, born Germany) and children Walter (24), Ella (13), Freda (13). Parents both born Germany.
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1880 Census (Meramec Twp, per Geni.com): Henry Dan (~age 19) in parents' household with father Henry, mother Mary, and siblings Fritz, Matilda, Lizzie, Emma.
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Saint Martins UCC baptism records (Dittmer, FamilySearch DGS 7834293): Entry #273 (1883) records baptism of "Johann Heinrich," child of Heinrich Eggers and Maria Eggers geb. Grunhold, with sponsor "John Gruppe." Separate entries (1889-1897) record baptisms of children of Heinrich Eggers and Henriette Eggers geb. Rose, including one born 25 Feb 1895 (= Walter Henry Eggers).
Resolution: Heinrich Eggers Sr. married twice. His first wife was Mary Grupe (Henry Dan's biological mother). After Mary's death, he married Maria Grunhold/Gruenholtz (Henry Dan's stepmother). The church records from 1883-1888 show children of Heinrich Sr. + Maria Grunhold; records from 1889-1897 show children of Henry Dan + Henrietta Rose. The FaG contributor confused the stepmother (Maria Grunhold) with the biological mother (Mary Grupe). The "Gronholt" in the FaG tree was a garbled version of "Gruenholtz/Grunhold." The FaG-linked parents "Henrich Eggers (1837-1908)" buried in Minnesota and "Maria E. Gronholt (1844-1918)" buried in North Dakota are an entirely different family.
Connection to Walter Eggers Sr. confirmed by 1920 Census (Walter listed as "Son" in Henry Dan's household).
Immigration status of parents. Heinrich Eggers Sr. and Mary Grupe both born Germany per death certificate #8250 and census records. 1870 census narrows origin to Hanover (Kingdom of Hanover, now Lower Saxony). No passenger manifest or naturalization record found for either parent. Saint Martins UCC church records (FamilySearch microfilm 2047661, baptisms 1857-1907) may contain immigration data. Jefferson County has a naturalization index covering 1791-1992 at the county clerk's office. The church's sponsor "John Gruppe" (1883 baptism) confirms the Grupe/Gruppe family was present in the Dittmer community.