Arthur Osterkamp (1887-1974)

Born: July 31, 1887

Died: March 5, 1974

Arthur A. Osterkamp was the second child of Emil and Christina Osterkamp. Arthur was born on July 31, 1887, at the family home, 1121 Soulard Street, St. Louis. By 1900, the family had moved to 2261 Indiana Avenue, St. Louis, where they would stay until about the early 1920s. In 1910, at age 22, Arthur was a shoe company clerk, like his brothers, Charles and Walter. As a young man, he was slender, tall for his time (five feet, eleven inches), with grey eyes and dark brown hair.

Arthur and Walter registered for military service on June 5, 1917, two months after the United States entered World War I, but both claimed an exemption from service because they supported their mother, who had been a widow since the death of their father three years earlier. As of 1917, and until at least 1930, Arthur was a traveling salesman with Bridge & Beach Manufacturing Company, 501 S. Main Street, St. Louis. By 1925, Arthur and his mother lived at 3810 Wyoming Street, St. Louis.

For a time in 1925, Arthur worked as a cook on a passenger ship sailing from Hamburg, Germany to New York. Although he was a third generation American, his German heritage remained very strong, as the ship's log described him as German in race and nationality.

In 1929, about a year-and-a-half after his mother died, Arthur married 33-year-old Jaunieta Wade, born January 1, 1896 to John and Lillie Wade, who had lived in Jefferson County, Illinois. Arthur and Jaunieta initially lived at 3640 Dover Place, St. Louis.

By 1947, Arthur and Jaunieta operated a real estate office in St. Louis.

Arthur died on March 5, 1974 in St. Louis. Jaunieta died of respiratory failure and pulmonary emphysema on February 11, 1979, in Madison County, Illinois, and is buried at Sunset Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 10180 Gravois Road, Affton, Missouri.

Family
Wife: Jaunieta Osterkamp (1896-1979)

Parents: Emil Osterkamp (1853-1914) Christina Osterkamp (Hanewinkel) (1856-1927)

Siblings: Charles Osterkamp (1884-1947) Walter H. Osterkamp (1890-1963) Ella Osterkamp (1893-1894)

Grandparents: Hicke Osterkamp (1819-1889) Caroline Osterkamp (Nicolai) (1829-1884) Joannes Heinrich Hanewinkel (1810-1897) Josephina Kurten Hanewinkel (1819-1891)

Trivia
In the early 1950s, Arthur testified in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County in a lawsuit concerning the validity of a deed of trust and promissory notes that had been executed at his real estate office. The Missouri Supreme Court later reviewed the decision and quoted his testimony.