Treasure Chest Thursday - Signature of John B. Wastell

Below is a photograph of the actual signature of John B. Wastell. It was taken from the Marriage Bond Books located at the Louisville Metro Archives in Louisville, Kentucky. He signed this on 26 February 1856. The cosigner on the bond was John W. Watt.

John B. Wastell married Victorine Catharine Zulime Brandebourg on 28 Feb 1856 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky at the home of Edmund F. Jones. Catharine Brandebourg was a witness.

Obituary of Professor John B. Wastell

PROF. WASTELL DEAD

The Famous Old Dancing Teacher

Gives Up the Ghost After a

Long Illness.

Prof. John B. Wastell, the well known teacher of dancing, died this morning at 11:15 o’clock at the family residence, 2005 West Market street. His demise was not unexpected, for it has been apparent for some weeks past that his days were numbered. About four months ago, after giving a lesson to a number of members of the Louisville Light Infantry, he was taken ill of a complication of disease. Daily he grew worse and the best medical attention failed to relieve him. For the past few days he had been unconscious, experiencing no pain, but slowly dying.

A few moments before his death he opened his eyes, looking lovingly at his family who were gathered about his bedside and then breathed his last. The funeral arrangements have not been made, but the interment will be at Cave Hill cemetery.

Prof. Wastell was one of the best known men in Louisville, and everybody will be sorry to learn of his death. He was born in London in 1819, and after receiving a first class education, his parents placed him in Her Majesty’s Theater, where he served a seven years apprenticeship. Then he left the stage and began giving dancing lessons. One of his classes was the Dickens Club, composed of twelve members, of which Charles Dickens was the President. Thackeray also belonged to it.

The new world offered bright inducements to the young men of the mother country and finally Prof. Wastell came to this country. After teaching in Canada, New York and Chicago a friend persuaded him to come to Louisville. This was thirty-seven years ago and since that time he had constantly been teaching. At a recent exhibition of his classes were ladies and gentlemen whose mothers and fathers he had taught to dance. They had also learned from him and he was ten teaching their children.

Among his pupils who acquired greatness on the stage were Charlotta Grisi and Tonlona. During Jenny Lind’s career before the public he was frequently called upon to assist at rehearsals and often appeared upon the stage with her himself. In addition to being highly educated in the area of Terpsichore he was also possessed of literary talent and frequently contributed to the daily press. He composed the “Tout le Monde quadrille” which he sent to France and it became very fashionable there.

He left a wife and three children, Miss Menie E., Ernest C. and Louis W.

The Louisville Times
Wednesday, Jun 12, 1889

Short Marriage for Louis Wastell and Flora Young

Randy Seavers at Genea-Musings mentioned searching The Library of Congress Chronicling America historic newspapers. What a great reminder to check for new listings! I found that the Daily Public Ledger, Maysville, KY had been added! I know that Louis Wastell had married a woman who lived in Maysville, KY. Maybe I could find out a bit more about them.

From previous research, I had found the marriage of Louis W. Wastell and Flora C. Young, on 15 October 1908, in the database, Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914 on Ancestry.com. The couple was married in Maysville, Mason, Kentucky at the home of Mr. H. C. Young. According to this record, Louis was 36 years old and a farmer from Louisville, Kentucky. Flora was 26 years old from Flemingsburg, Fleming, Kentucky.

Records pertaining to Louis W. Wastell, have his birth ranging from 1860 to 1872. Since the 1870 Federal Census indicates that Louis was 4 years old, it is safe to assume that he was born prior to 1870. The 1900 Federal Census indicates that Flora was born in May 1881 so from my calculations, she would have been 27 at the time of the marriage.

Here is the newspaper clipping from the Daily Public Ledger, Maysville, KY, October 16, 1908:

~~~~~~~
Mr. Louis W. Wastell, aged, 36, of Louisville, and Miss Flora Young, aged 26, of Flemingsburg, were married at the home of the bride's brother, Mr. L. H. Young, in West Second street, last evening at 5 o'clock, Rev. F. W. Harrop, Pastor of the Third Street M. E. church, officating.

Prof. Wastell is the popular Director at the Princess Skating Rink, while his bride is a well known trained nurse.

Their friends join in hearty congratulations and good wishes.
~~~~~~~
This was not the first marriage for Louis Wastell. In 1900, he had been married to Emma for 2 years and was living in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. I have not yet found their marriage record, a divorce record or death record for Emma. The roller skating reference is interesting. From many other newspaper articles and advertisements, Louis Wastell traveled the region giving skating performances with Louise White who was from Cincinnati, Ohio. Was this a contributing factor to the demise of the subject marriage??? We may never know.

Divorce clipping from the Daily Public Ledger, November 2, 1910:

There was no heading and it was buried among other articles. They were married about 24 months.

Louis and Flora were not living together on the 1910 census. Flora was living with her sister and brother-in-law in Flemingsburg, Fleming, Kentucky and Louis was living in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio and was listed as a lodger.