The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-10-13
MRS. VIM. TRAUPE
CELEBRATES HER
S6TH BIRTHDAY
Came to Cape from Germany
in 1S52-Relatives Have
Surprise Party.
HER HOME WAS MADE
CIVIL WAR HOSPITAL
Once Fled Across River to Safety
in War-Liyes Alone
in Cape.

Mrs. Wilhelmina Traupe, for more
than half century resident of Cape
Girardeau, yesterday celebrated her
eighty-sixth birthday. Her birthday
was the occasion of a surprise party
at her home on the second floor at
Sprigg and Independence streets, when
large number of her relatives gath
cred for lunch and afternoon visit.
Mrs. Traupe is one of the city's most
remarkable characters. She lives by
herself in the house on the southeast
corner of Sprigg and independence
streets, where she and her husband
started housekeeping 63 years ago,
Just after they had been married.
She has been forced to leave that
place but twice, and only once did she
leave the premises entirely.
In the days of the Civil War, while
her husband, William Traupe, who died
in the Cape 81 years ago, was away
from home fighting with the Federal
troops, the Traupe residence on that
corner was converted into a military
hospital. 1t was a house on the out
skirts of the town at that time, and
was highly desirable as hospital for
the wounded soldiers.
Mrs. Traupe moved with her chill
dren out of the place into the home of
her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Klages,
who lived in a small house on the same
lot on which the Traupe home stood.
During the war, however, when the
city of Cape Girardeau was being at
tackled, Mrs. Traupe and her two chill
dren, who now are Mrs. John Schmidt
of GIT independence street, and Mrs.
Gus Stein of Morgan Oak and South
Ellis streets, were forced TO flee across
the river to East Cape to seek protec-
ton.
She remained away from home but
one day when she was allowed to re-
turn to her dOmicile. In recent years
she has resided alone at the place and
does all of her own houSework. She
carried her own kindlings, water and
all manner of provisions upstairs to
her residence herself
Yesterday when the party of chill
dren, grandchildren and great-grand-
children called at her door, she was
overcome with emotion and broke
down in tears.
She was born in the province of
Hanover, Germany, and came to the
United States in 1852. She was mar
ried the following year to Mr.. Traupe
Her mother, Mrs. Klages, who died
IS years ago, lived to be 50 years old.
Mrs. Traupe has been a member of the
Lutheran Church for years.
Among the visitors who called at her
home yesterday afternoon to help
celebrate her birthday were: Mr.. and
Mrs. Chris Stein of Gordonville. Mr..
Stein is 90 years old, and he walks
with step as spry and quick as a
man of so. He makes regular jour
neys afoot from Gordonville to the
Cape and often walks from the Cape
to Jackson. His wife is more than
20 years old.
Mrs. Traupe understands English
when it is spoken to her, but she con-
ducts all of her own discourse in the |
German tongue.
Her children are: Mrs. Schmidt and !
Mrs. Gus Stein.
The grandchildren are: Mrs. Henry |
Bangert, of Gordonville; Mrs. G. H. |
Gross, of sol William street, land Mr..
Gus Schmidt, of South Boulevard, all |
children of Mrs. Schmidt; Mrs. Linda
Oaks, of South Fountain street; Mrs.
Albert Kempe, of South Ellis street;
Arthur Stein, of South Ellis street;
William Stein and Gus Stein, of st.
Louis.
The great-grandchildren are: Alma
3angert, of Gordonville; Leona Gross,
If the Cape; Harry Stein, Katherine
Stein, Weldon Stein, and Ivan Oaks, all
If the Cape.
One brother also is living, Chris
ian Klages, who resides next door to
Mrs. Traupe on Sprigg street. Those
Who visited the Traupe residence yes
erday took with them flowers enough
o make veritable bower of her home,
md the materials for luncheon which
vas served in the afternoon.