hegnauer.family
hegnauer.family
H0043 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Robert John Kamm

Born at Highland in 1857 and died at Bates County in 1934.

born Feb 1857 at Highland, Madison died 24 Jan 1934 at Bates County, Missouri

Also written Robt. Kamm, Robert J. Kamm

Highland and Bates County

Robert John Kamm was born in February 1857 at Highland, in Madison County, Illinois, the son of Swiss-born parents.1–2 "He came to Bates county when a boy from Illinois," his obituary says, and he grew up among the Swiss and German farm families of the Pleasant Gap neighbourhood.3 His parents have not been identified (see Research Notes).

Marriage

On 23 March 1883 the recorder at Butler issued a marriage licence to Robert Kamm and "Barbrie Hegnauer", both of Papinville, and five days later, on 28 March, a justice of the peace married them at the bride's home.4–5 Barbara Hegnauer was a daughter of the Swiss settler Luzius Hegnauer and a sister of the Pleasant Gap farmer Leonhard Hegnauer.6–7 Their first child, Maggie Elizabeth, was born in Pleasant Gap Township on 14 December 1883, and the birth register records Robert as a farmer, born at Highland.2, 8 A daughter Anna, born in February 1886, probably theirs, died at nine in 1895 and lies in the Reform Cemetery at Pleasant Gap.9 Christina Louise followed in January 1889,10 Lizzie B. in May 1893, Robert John in March 1896 and Oscar W. in June 1899.1 Bertha, the last, was born early in 1903.11

Tenant farmer and dairyman

In June 1900 Robert was renting a farm in Pleasant Gap Township; Barbara had borne seven children, of whom five were living.1 By April 1910 the family had moved to a rented farm in Osage Township, just outside Rich Hill, with the Grill family on the next farm.11 In January 1920 Robert, sixty-two, was running a dairy farm there, with Margaret, Robert, Oscar and Bertha at home and his daughter Christine and her husband, John P. Grill, next door.12 Barbara died of influenza at their home a mile and a half east of Rich Hill on 6 January 1923; Robert gave the particulars for her death certificate.6, 13 In March 1927 he and his daughter Maggie went to Rockville for the funeral of Barbara's brother Martin.14

Death

Robert died at eleven in the morning on Wednesday, 24 January 1934, at his home three miles northeast of Rich Hill, aged seventy-six. He left four daughters, Mrs. McVicker, Mrs. Grill, and Maggie and Bertha, and two sons, Robert and Oscar, who were at home. After a funeral on the Friday from the Booth & Boughan chapel, conducted by the Rev. J. Winchell Long, he was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery at Rich Hill, under the stone he shares with Barbara.3, 15

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Highland, 1857
  • Marriage to Barbara Hegnauer at Bates County, 1883
  • Death at Bates County, 1934
  • Burial at Rich Hill, 1934
  • 6 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Parents. Unknown. His parents' birthplace is Switzerland in the 1900 and 1920 censuses and Germany in 1910.
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Sources 1–2

1 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, 1857
2 Bates County, Missouri, 1883

Source 3

3 Rich Hill Mining Review, 1934

Sources 4–5

4 Bates County, Missouri, 1883
5 Missouri, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1883

Sources 6–7

6 Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death, 1923
7 Appleton City Journal, 1916

Source 8

8 Bates County, Missouri, 1883

Source 9

9 Find a Grave, memorial 99261773, 1886

Source 10

10 Missouri Division of Health, certificate of death, 1965

Source 11

11 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Osage Township

Source 12

12 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Osage Township

Source 13

13 Rich Hill Mining Review, 1923

Source 14

14 The Sedalia Democrat, 1927

Source 15

15 Find a Grave, memorial 125533319, 1859

Life in time

Feb 1857

Birth , Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 8, 11, 12, 15

How we know

  1. 1857 Birth Feb 1857 · Highland, Madison · proven

    The family tree gives 2 Feb 1857; no record seen gives the day.

    The 1900 census gives Feb 1857, Illinois, with both parents born in Switzerland. The two 1883 Bates County birth-register entries for his first child give his birthplace as Highland, Ills. His ages in 1910 (53, April) and 1920 (62, January) fit, as do the 1857 on his gravestone and the "76" of his obituary (January 1934). The day, 2 Feb, is in the family tree without a source for it.

    Sources 1, 2, 8, 11, 12, 15

  2. 1883 Residence 23 Mar 1883 · Papinville, Bates · proven

    Both he and "Barbrie Hegnauer" were "of Papinville" (probably the post office) on their marriage licence.

    Stated in the marriage licence.

    Source 4

  3. 1883 Marriage, with Barbara Hegnauer 28 Mar 1883 · Bates County, Missouri · proven

    Licence issued at Butler on 23 Mar 1883 to Robert Kamm and "Barbrie Hegnauer", both "of Papinville", he over 21 and she over 18. A justice of the peace married them "at the residence of the bride" on 28 Mar 1883; the return was filed on 29 Mar 1883. Eight children, six living in 1910. Barbara died on 6 Jan 1923.

    The Bates County marriage licence and its return (Marriage License Record p. 237; image read in the survey of his wife's records) give the licence date, the marriage on 28 Mar 1883 at the bride's residence and the filing on 29 Mar. The Missouri Compiled Marriages index agrees on the date, and the 1900 census (married 17 years) and the 1910 census (married 27 years) both point to 1883. The Marriage Records index's "Robert Ramm" is a misreading of Kamm.

    Sources 1, 4, 5, 11

  4. 1883 Residence Dec 1883 · Pleasant Gap Township, Bates · proven

    Father of Maggie Elizabeth Kamm, born 14 Dec 1883 in Pleasant Gap Township: "Robt. Kamm", farmer, born Highland, Ills.; the mother Barbara Kamm, née Hegnauer, of Pleasant Gap Township.

    Both county birth registers name him as the father and give the family's residence as Pleasant Gap Township (images read in the survey of his wife's records).

    Sources 2, 8

  5. 1883 Daughter born: Margaret Elizabeth Kamm family event

    Their page →

  6. 1886 Daughter born: Anna Kamm family event

    Their page →

  7. 1889 Daughter born: Christina Louise Kamm family event

    Their page →

  8. 1893 Daughter born: Elizabeth B. Kamm family event

    Their page →

  9. 1896 Son born: Robert John Kamm Jr. family event

    Their page →

  10. 1899 Son born: Oscar W. Kamm family event

    Their page →

  11. 1900 Residence Pleasant Gap Township, Bates · proven

    Head, born Feb 1857, Illinois, parents born Switzerland; farmer, renting a farm; married 17 years; with his wife Barbara and children Margret E., Christina L., Lizzie B., Robert J. and Oscar W.; enumerated 16 Jun 1900.

    His wife Barbara (born June 1859, mother of 7 children, 5 living), the 17 years of marriage and the children's names identify the family (image read in the survey of his wife's records).

    Source 1

  12. 1903 Daughter born: Bertha Kamm family event

    Their page →

  13. 1910 Residence Osage Township, Bates · proven

    Outside Rich Hill City. Head, 53, married 27 years, born Illinois, parents born "Germany"; farmer, renting a farm; with Barbara and six children, Maggie, Christina, Lizzie, Robert, Oscar and Bertha. Indexed "Kenner". The John Grill family lived next door.

    All eight names and ages fit the family of 1900, with Bertha added; "Kenner" is a misreading of Kamm (image read in the survey of his wife's records).

    Source 11

  14. 1920 Residence Osage Township, Bates · proven

    Head, 62, renter, born Illinois, parents born Switzerland; operator of a dairy farm; with Barbara, Margaret, Robert, Oscar and Bertha. Indexed "Kamin". His daughter Christine and her husband John P. Grill lived next door. Enumerated 13–14 Jan 1920.

    His wife Barbara and the children Margaret, Robert, Oscar and Bertha fit the 1910 household (image read in the survey of his wife's records).

    Source 12

  15. 1923 Residence Jan 1923 · Osage Township, Bates · proven

    His home, a mile and a half east of Rich Hill, where his wife died on 6 Jan 1923; he gave his address as Rich Hill on her death certificate.

    He was the informant on his wife's death certificate (Osage Township), and her obituary places their home one and one-half miles east of Rich Hill.

    Sources 6, 13

  16. 1934 Death 24 Jan 1934 · Bates County, Missouri · proven

    At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 Jan 1934, at his home three miles northeast of Rich Hill; aged 76.

    His obituary in the Rich Hill Mining Review of Thursday, 25 Jan 1934, says he died at 11 a.m. "Wednesday" at his home three miles northeast of Rich Hill; the Wednesday before 25 Jan 1934 was the 24th. Find a Grave and the gravestone give 1934. His death certificate has not been seen; the township is therefore not given.

    Sources 3, 15

  17. 1934 Burial about 26 Jan 1934 · Rich Hill, Bates · proven

    Green Lawn (Greenlawn) Cemetery, Rich Hill, in the Kamm family lot (plot 02-075), with his wife Barbara; shared headstone "KAMM / ROBERT / 1857—1934 / HIS WIFE / BARBARA / 1859—1923 / AT REST". Funeral on Friday from the Booth & Boughan chapel, Rev. J. Winchell Long.

    The obituary, published the day after his death, announced the funeral for Friday [26 Jan 1934] from the Booth & Boughan chapel with burial in Greenlawn; the burial date is inferred from it. Find a Grave (with photographs of the shared stone) places him in Green Lawn Cemetery beside his wife.

    Sources 3, 15

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

6 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. 1 Highland, Madison County Birth Feb 1857
  2. 2 Papinville, Bates County Residence 23 Mar 1883
  3. 3 Bates County, Missouri Marriage 28 Mar 1883 · Death 24 Jan 1934
  4. 4 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County Residence Dec 1883 · Residence 1900
  5. 5 Osage Township, Bates County Residence 1910 · Residence 1920 · Residence Jan 1923
  6. 6 Rich Hill, Bates County Burial about 26 Jan 1934

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

This page Robert John Kamm 1857–1934
Wife · m. 28 Mar 1883 Barbara Hegnauer 1859–1923
Daughter Margaret Elizabeth Kamm 1883–c. 1949 Daughter Anna Kamm 1886–1895 Daughter Christina Louise Kamm 1889–1965 Daughter Elizabeth B. Kamm 1893–c. 1979 Son Robert John Kamm Jr. 1896–aft. 1934 Son Oscar W. Kamm 1899–c. 1980 Daughter Bertha Kamm c. 1903–c. 1988
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Records

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Deaths and burials 4 records · 1923–1934
  • 11 Jan 1923 confirmed Obituary of wife Barbara “Robert Kamm”, husband Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06125
  • 11 Jan 1923 confirmed Obituary of wife Barbara “Robert Kamm”, husband Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06134
  • 3 Apr 1927 confirmed Newspaper item (funeral attendance) “Robert Kamm”, mentioned Sedalia, Pettis County Newspapers.com · O06185
  • 25 Jan 1934 confirmed Obituary “Robert Kamm” Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06208
The evidence 10 facts with their grades, 17 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth Feb 1857 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 1 , 2 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 15
Residence 23 Mar 1883 Papinville, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 4
Marriage with Barbara Hegnauer 28 Mar 1883 Bates County, Missouri, United States proven 1 , 4 , 5 , 11
Residence Dec 1883 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 2 , 8
Residence 1900 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 1
Residence 1910 Osage Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 11
Residence 1920 Osage Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 12
Residence Jan 1923 Osage Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 6 , 13
Death 24 Jan 1934 Bates County, Missouri, United States proven 3 , 15
Burial about 26 Jan 1934 Rich Hill, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 3 , 15

Research notes

  • Sources: The censuses of 1900–1920, the 1883 licence and birth registers, his wife's death certificate and the newspaper items were read on screen during the survey of his wife's records. His own death certificate (1934) has not been seen.
  • Birth: Feb 1857 (1900 census) at Highland, Illinois (1883 birth registers).1, 2 The family tree's 2 Feb 1857 has no source for the day. The birth registers' age for him is partly illegible (2[6?]); 26 in Dec 1883 fits Feb 1857.
  • Parents: Unknown. His parents' birthplace is Switzerland in the 1900 and 1920 censuses and Germany in 1910.1, 11, 12 He may have been a son of John Peter Kamm (8 May 1822 – 7 Jun 1903, Reform Cemetery, Pleasant Gap; Find a Grave 99082880), the "J. P. Kamm" of the 1877 plat, whose land lay near Leonhard Hegnauer's, and the "John Kamm", born May 1822 in Switzerland, who was Leonhard's neighbour in 1900; but that rests only on the surname, the Swiss origin and the neighbourhood, and a second landowner, "J. Kamm", also held land there in 1877.16 If so, the 1890 quitclaim "Leonard Hegnauer et al to John Kamm" may have been a family transfer.17 The Highland Kamms are a lead too: Susanna Hirschi, Leonhard Hegnauer's wife, had a sister Magdalena who married Jacob M. Kamm in 1854 and died at Highland in 1903 (Find a Grave). Leads: the 1860 and 1870 censuses of Madison County, Illinois, and Bates County; Robert's death certificate (1934), which should name his parents; the Bates County deed books.
  • Death place: His obituary places his home three miles northeast of Rich Hill; the township (probably Osage or Mound) is not stated, so the death is recorded at county level.3
  • Burial date: 26 Jan 1934 is inferred from the obituary's funeral "Friday"; no record gives it.3
  • Children: Eight born, six living in 1910.11 See Barbara's profile for the reckoning of the eight, including the probable daughter Anna (1886–1895) and one unnamed child who died before 1900.
  • Not him: Robert K. Kamm (born 1872), a son of Jacob M. Kamm and Magdalena Hirschi of Highland, is a younger man.

Working notes

  • Find a Grave 125533319; d. 24 Jan 1934 near Rich Hill; bur. Green Lawn

Sources

  1. 1

    1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, sheet 7A (stamped 256), enumerated 16 June 1900 by Leonard Hegnauer, dwelling 123, family 126, Robert J. Kamm (head, born Feb 1857, Illinois, father and mother born Switzerland; farmer, rents a farm; married 17 years), with Barbara (wife, born June 1859, Missouri, mother of 7 children, 5 living) and children Margret E. (Dec 1883), Christina L. (Jan 1889), Lizzie B. (May 1893), Robert J. (Mch 1896) and Oscar W. (June 1899); roll 839; image 4118756_00517; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    Bates County, Missouri, Permanent Record of Births, "K", entry no. 3: Maggie E. Kamm, female, 1st child, born 14 December 1883, Pleasant Gap [Township]; father Robt. Kamm, farmer, born Highland, Ills., age 2[6?]; mother Barbara Kamm, maiden name Hegnauer, 24, born Gasconade Co., Mo., residence Pleasant Gap Tp.; reported by Geo. W. Wilson, Papinville; in "Missouri, U.S., Birth Registers, 1847–2003," database with images, Ancestry.com, image vrmmo1833_c19551-0036.

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    "Robert Kamm, 76, Dies," Rich Hill Mining Review (Rich Hill, Missouri), 25 January 1934, p. 8: died at 11 a.m. Wednesday [24 January 1934] at the home three miles northeast [of Rich Hill]; "He came to Bates county when a boy from Illinois"; survived by four daughters, Mrs. J. E. Vicker [McVicker], Mrs. J. H. [sic] Grill, and Misses Maggie and Bertha Kamm, and two sons, Robert and Oscar, of the home; funeral Friday from the Booth & Boughan chapel, Rev. J. Winchell Long; burial Greenlawn; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/1000241687).

  4. 4

    Bates County, Missouri, Marriage License Record, p. 237: licence of Robert Kamm of Papinville, over 21, and Barbrie Hegnauer of Papinville, over 18, issued 23 March 1883 by J. R. Simpson, Recorder; return of J. H. C[linton?], Justice of the Peace, of their marriage at the residence of the bride on 28 March 1883, filed 29 March 1883; in "Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805–2002," database with images, Ancestry.com, image vrmmo1833_c24989-0152 (the index's "Robert Ramm" is a misreading). Also "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800–1991," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record QKZ7-XDZP

    Ancestry

  5. 5

    "Missouri, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851–1900," database, Ancestry.com, Robert Kamm and Barbrie Hegnauer, 28 March 1883, Bates County.

    Ancestry

  6. 6

    Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death (index no. 99-B; Reg. Dist. 53, registered no. 5), "Barbera" [Barbara] Kamm, died 6 January 1923, Osage Township, Bates County; married, husband Robert Kamm; born 1859-6-1; informant Robert Kamm, Rich Hill; cause influenza; burial Green Lawn; filed 8 January 1923; in "Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910–1971," database with images, Ancestry.com, image 1923_00000132-00094.

    Ancestry

  7. 7

    "Passing of a Pioneer: Leonard Hegnauer, Well Known German Citizen Succumbs to Paralysis After Brief Illness," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 9 November 1916, p. 1 (his surviving sisters Mrs. Krattley of Carthage and Mrs. Kamm of Rich Hill); image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863313858).

    Ancestry

  8. 8

    Bates County, Missouri, Register of Births, p. 10, no. 126, returned 27 December 1883: Maggie Elizabeth Kamm, female, 1st child, born December 1[4], 1883, Pleasant Gap Tp.; father Robt Kamm, farmer, born Highland, Ills.; mother Barbara Kamm, née Hegnauer, 24, born Gasconade Co., Mo.; reported by Geo. W. Wilson, Papinville; in "Missouri, U.S., Birth Registers, 1847–2003," database with images, Ancestry.com, image vrmmo1833_c19551-0079.

    Ancestry

  9. 9

    Find a Grave, memorial 99261773, Anna Kamm (20 Feb 1886 – 18 Sep 1895), Reform Cemetery, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri; inscription as transcribed by the contributor, "Daughter of R & B Kamm" (the memorial's other text reads "Daughter of B & B Kamm"); the stone in the photograph (Larry Spangler, 2012) is illegible (findagrave.com/memorial/99261773/anna-kamm).

  10. 10

    Missouri Division of Health, certificate of death, state file no. 65-046886, Christine Louise Grill, died 12 December 1965, Bates County Hospital, Butler; born 5 January 1889, Bates County; father Robert Kamm; mother's maiden name Barbara Hagnaur; informant her husband John P. Grill; in "Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910–1971," database with images, Ancestry.com, image 1965_00046886-02472.

    Ancestry

  11. 11

    1910 U.S. Federal Census, Osage Township (excluding Rich Hill City), Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 15, sheet 6A, enumerated 22 April 1910, dwelling 61, family 61, Robert Kamm [indexed Kenner] (head, 53, married 27 years, born Illinois, parents born Germany; farmer, rents a farm), with Barbara (wife, 50, mother of 8 children, 6 living) and children Maggie (26), Christina (21), Lizzie (16), Robert (14), Oscar (10) and Bertha (7); next dwelling (62) John Grill (53), with his wife Louise and son John P.; roll T624_768; image 31111_4330351-00902; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  12. 12

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Osage Township (incorporated place Rich Hill City), Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 16, sheet 3B, enumerated 13–14 January 1920, dwelling 63, family 63, Robert Kamm [indexed Kamin] (head, 62, renter, born Illinois, parents born Switzerland; operator, dairy farm), with Barbara (wife, 59), Margaret (35, servant), Robert (23, farmer), Oscar (20, deliveryman, dairy farm) and Bertha (16); next household (64) John P. Grill (25, farmer), with Christine (31), Lenora (7) and Louisa (mother, 65); roll T625_905; image 4312392-00330; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  13. 13

    "Mrs. Robert Kamm Dies," Rich Hill Mining Review (Rich Hill, Missouri), 11 January 1923, p. 5: died Saturday night, 6 January 1923, at her home one and one-half miles east; survived by the husband, four daughters, Mrs. John Grill, Mrs. Edw. McVickers, and Misses Maggie and Bertha Kamm, and two sons, Robert and Oscar, of the home address; funeral Tuesday at the home, Rev. E. D. Lewis; burial in Greenlawn cemetery; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/1000206435).

  14. 14

    "Rockville News," The Sedalia Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri), 3 April 1927, p. 15: "Robert Kamm and daughter, Miss Maggie of Rich Hill attended the funeral of Martin Hegnauer Monday"; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/74381916).

  15. 15

    Find a Grave, memorial 125533319, Robert John Kamm Sr. (1857–1934), Green Lawn Cemetery, Rich Hill, Bates County, Missouri, plot 02-075, with photographs of the headstone he shares with his wife, "KAMM / ROBERT / 1857—1934 / HIS WIFE / BARBARA / 1859—1923 / AT REST" (Past Memories, 2014; Old RC, 2025) (findagrave.com/memorial/125533319); indexed in "U.S., Find a Grave Index," Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  16. 16

    Plat of Pleasant Gap Township (T39N R30W), 1877 atlas of Bates County, Missouri: "J. P. Kamm 156.94" and "J. Kamm 160" in Secs. 34–35, near "L. Hegnau[e]r 80" in Sec. 36; scan shared by Susanna Vogt (sujavo), "Bates County, MO 1877 Atlas," Ancestry member tree 37158608, 31 October 2023.

    Ancestry

  17. 17

    "Abstract of Deeds," Butler Daily Democrat (Butler, Missouri), 21 March 1890, p. 4, quit claim deeds: "Leonard Hegnauer et al to John Kamm, und[ivided] interest in se ¼ sec 27 twp 39 r 30"; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/999292856).