Francis Charles Berg

Francis Charles Berg. His full name before emigrating to America was Franz Karl Joseph Walter Schamberger. After his arrival in the United States in 1859 he changed his name to Francis Charles Berg. His nickname was Frank. He was born on September 30, 1848 at Würzburg, Uberfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria. He was Catholic. He immigrated on May 2, 1859 to New York, New York; He arrived on the steamer Bremen from Bremen and Southampton, a 2,398 1/4 ton ship carrying 425 passengers. At the time the ship was only about one year old. He was listed on the ship's log as 9 years old and traveling with his sister, Theresa, aged 8 years.

He was enumerated with Franz Berg on the 1860 U.S. Census at Central Township, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, he was listed as an 11-year-old white male born in Germany and had attended school during the year.

He was the best man at the marriage of David Rosemann and Maria Theresa Berg on October 10, 1867 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.

He was enumerated with Christ Killiger on the 1870 U.S. Census at Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, he was listed as a 22-year-old white male and was living with Christ Killiger, a wine-grower near Barretts Station Road and Dougherty Ferry Road and was working on a farm.

     Francis Charles Berg married Barbara Josephine Bëhm, daughter of Joseph Bëhm and Anna Mary Matég, circa 1872 at Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri; Barbara was the daughter of Joseph Böhm, a merchant in the City of St. Louis and Mary Matég, daughter of Matthew Matég, a farmer in pago Brzchane, Bohemia. The witnesses were Martin Falletka and Matthew Czerny. The register lists Matthew Mateg as her father, according to a Weber family source he was actually her husband which appears likely as evidenced by the name of her daughter: Veronica Mateg.

He was a sponsor for Francis Charles Rosemann's baptism on September 11, 1872 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kirkwood. He lived from 1880 to 1893 at Des Peres, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was a farmer from 1880 to 1893 in Des Peres.

Francis Charles Berg is a head of household on the 1880 U. S. Census at Central Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, as "Francis C. Berg" he was listed as a 30-year-old white male born in Germany and was a farmer. Enumerated with Francis were Barbara Josephine Bëhm, Joseph Francis Berg, David Carl Berg, and Mary Emma Berg. Francis Charles Berg is enumerated on the Agriculture Schedule of the on June 17, 1880 U.S. Census at Central Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. He owned 5 acres of tilled land and 5 acres of permanent meadows, pastures, orchards, vineyards valued at $1,500.00. He also owned farm implements valued at $20.00 and live stock valued at $50.00. His livestock consisted of one horse, two mules and four cows. He had one acre in oats, 1 in rye, 1 in Indian Corn, 1/2 in apples, 1/2 in potatoes, 1/2 in peaches and 1/4 acre in vineyards. He had sold produce valued at $30.00 during the year.

He was a sponsor for Frederick Leonard Rosemann's baptism on January 30, 1881 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.

He and Mary Hazlewood obtained a marriage license on October 25, 1890 at County Clerk's Office, Clayton, St. Louis County, Missouri, recorded in book 2, page 338. Francis Charles Berg married Mary Hazlewood on October 25, 1890 at St. Louis, Independent City, Missouri; civil ceremony in the office of George Greg, Justice of the Peace.

Francis Charles Berg is a head of household on the June, 1900 U. S. Census at Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, as "Francis Charles Berg" He was shown as a 51 year old white male born September 1848 in Germany and had been married 10 years. He was a naturalized citizen having immigrated to the U. S. in 1859 and had been in the U. S. for 41 years, was employed as a gardener and could read, write and speak English. He owned a home, which was mortgaged. Enumerated with Francis were Mary Hazlewood, Leonard Maximilian Berg, Theresa Antonia E. Berg, Arthur Earl William Berg, Cecelia Beatrice Berg, and John F. Revell. He was a Justice of the Peace circa 1900 in Kirkwood.

Francis Charles Berg is a head of household on the April 27, 1910 U. S. Census at Bonhomme Township, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, as "Francis C. Burg" He was a 62 year old white male born in Germany, been married 14 years and worked as a laborer in a nursery. He owned a house 208 Denny Road that was mortgaged. Enumerated with Francis were Mary Hazlewood, Leonard Maximilian Berg, Theresa Antonia E. Berg, Arthur Earl William Berg, Cecelia Beatrice Berg, Albert S. Berg, and Frederick C. Berg (s/Franz Berg). He lived in 1910 at 208 Denny Road, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.

Later in life he wore a beard to cover his chin that was injured when he was kicked by a mule as a child.

He died on November 26, 1914 at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood, at age 66. His obituary stated: "Former Justice Of The Peace in St. Louis County, died at the home of his son, Henry Berg in Kirkwood. Berg was born in Hamburg Germany, but has been in America since he was 9 years old. He was married twice and is survived by twelve children, all-living in St. Louis and St. Louis County. The funeral will be Saturday." His funeral was held on November 27, 1914 from at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood, the residence of Henry Berg, his son.

Details from the funeral bill from Bopp's Kirkwood Chapel:

Other information from bill:

He was buried on November 27, 1914 at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Kirkwood, he had purchased a lot in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery Kirkwood, Missouri in section 1, row 16, lot 5, purchase number 1. The graves purchased were numbers 1, 2 and 3; he was buried in lot 2. A new stone was placed on the grave, lot 21 in 1957 by Mayme E. Williams, his daughter. It was made of polished Barre granite and duplicated the inscription of the old stone:

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