Sunday, September 8, 2024

Story of Edward Westerhouse & Katherine Breithaupt, William Westerhouse, and Aurelia Westerhouse

Peter and Anna Westerhouse, middle son was Edward Westerhouse. At the age of five months, Edward moved with his parents and siblings from Lexington, Missouri to Eudora, Kansas Feb 1863.

Edward Westerhouse married Katherine Breithaupt on 11 Dec 1888, in Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, according to the marriage record found at the Douglas County Courthouse.

 Edward Westerhouse and Katherine Breithaupt marriage license - 8 Dec 1888

Edward and Katie settled on a farm in the Hesper community of Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, near the farm of Ben and Emma Foust. They had two children, Elmer born 3 Oct 1899 and Inez born 5 Feb 1892. Katherine died 27 May 1926 at the age of 58. 

Katie Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 14 Jun 1926

Edward continued to live at the farm for many years. He went to live with his daughter, Inez Westerhouse Griffin, for the last seven months of his life in Baldwin City, Douglas, Kansas and died 27 Feb 1945, based on his obituary. 

Edward Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 27 Feb 1945

Edward and Katherine Westerhouse shared gravestone at Hesper Friends Church Cemetery (Hesper, Kansas)


Katie Westerhouse gravestone at Hesper Friends Church Cemetery (Hesper, Kansas)


Edward Westerhouse gravestone at Hesper Friends Church Cemetery (Hesper, Kansas)


Edward and Katie Westerhouse son, Elmer Westerhouse married Elsie Opah Setzer 27 Sep 1916 at their home. By the 1920s Elmer and Elsie were both schoolteachers in Arcadia and Monrovia in Los Angeles County, California. Based on Elmer’s WW2 draft registration, they lived at 41 Forest Ave in Arcadia. Elsie died 7 May 1954 in Arcadia and Elmer died 15 Dec1958 in Arcadia. They are buried at the Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery, Monrovia, Los Angeles, California.


Elmer and Elsie Westerhouse gravestone at Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery (Monrovia, California)

Edward and Katie Westerhouse daughter, Inez Westerhouse married Eugene Albert Griffin 1 Jan 1928 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas. They resided in Eudora and Baldwin City. Eugene was a farmer and died 5 Feb 1955 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and is buried at the Hesper Friends Church Cemetery in Hesper. After Eugene’s death, Inez moved to California, living in Arcadia and Glendale. She died 1 Mar 1975 in Glendale and is buried with her husband at the Hesper Friends Church Cemetery in Hesper. 


Now on to William Westerhouse

Another Peter and Anna Westerhouse, middle son was William Westerhouse. William was born 14 Sep 1866 on Peter and Anna Westerhouse farm in Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, based on his death certificate. He never married and went by the names of Bill or Willie.  He lived with Peter and Anna Westerhouse and later Anna and Henry Eggers being a farm laborer, based on state and federal census. After Henry Eggers died, in 1908, William lived with his brother, Amos Westerhouse in the 1910s and later with brother, Edward Westerhouse in the 1920s.

William Westerhouse

Dec 1979, I interviewed, Amos Westerhouse Jr, William's nephew, about the burial. Amos described digging a grave for the bachelor William and said that he had placed the headstone at the foot of Willie's body instead of at his head.

William Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 14 Jun 1928

William Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 7 Jun 1928

William Westerhouse gravestone at Deay Cemetery (Eudora, Kansas)

Now on to Aurelia Westerhouse

Peter and Anna Westerhouse, youngest daughter was Aurelia Westerhouse. She may have been born about 1869, based on the 1870 federal census from Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, listing Aurelia as one years old and born in Kansas. 

1870 federal census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Peter Westerhouse household)

This was the only record ever found about her.  It is assumed she died between 1870 and 1875 in Eudora, Kansas, as she was not listed with the family in the 1875 Kansas state census from Eudora, Douglas, Kansas.  

1875 Kansas state census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Peter Westerhouse household) 

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