AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

Andrew Groeninger

MOTHER

Johanna Simnesmeyer

WIFE

Elizabeth A Schenck
3 Dec 1871 - 19 Jun 1949

CHILDREN

Fred Philip Groeninger
b. 20 Jul 1889

Biography of Jacob F Groeninger
by Susan Brooke
March 20`5

Jacob F Groeninger first shows up in 1885, at the age of nineteen, when he is listed in the Evansville City Directory as a molder living at 515 6th Ave, the same address as his widowed mother.  He married Elizabeth Schenck in 1887 just one month before the death of his mother.  In the 1900 census he and Elizabeth and their son Frederick, then aged 10, were living at 112 Fountain Av in Pidgeon, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Jacob was listed as a  stove moulder.  

In 1911 his son, Fred, was shot twice in the stomach by a restaurant keeper and thought to be dying.  However, Fred lived to be at least sixty-nine.  Fred, was twenty-one at the time of the shooting.  An article The Daily Republican of Evansville on April 20, 1911 reads, "In a quarrel here Fred Groeninger, a stove molder, was shot twice in the stomach by Harry Toranatta, a restaurant keeper, and is dying. Toranatta was arrested."

Sometime after that Jacob got into the saloon business.  There is an interesting article about him and his fellow saloon keepers in the Indianapolis News of Monday, Aug 16, 1915.  He and thirteen other saloon keepers of Evansville were accused of selling liquor on a Sunday.  If found guilty the fine would be $25.  The following year Jacob F Groeninger and his wife Elizabeth were listed in the 1916 City Directory, as a saloon keeper residing at 144 Fountain.  In 1917 their son Fred was drafted and he listed his occupation as bartender living at 144 Fountain Ave.  His next of kin was Jacob Groeninger.

Jacob died in 1918 at the age of fifty-two.  After his death, his son Fred went back to stove work.  In the 1920 census Fred is listed as a Mounter - stove work.  In 1930 Fred lists his occupation as "none."  Then in 1934 Fred's occupation is listed as "restaurant."  But in 1940 he was listed as "laborer."  And in his 1942 draft card his occupation is "none."  Fred continued to be listed in the city directories until 1958.

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