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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Louis A. Ambs, the subject of this sketch, is one of the young and leading business men of Union, Franklin Co., Mo., and proprietor of the leading harness and saddle establishment in the place. He was born in the city of St. Louis, Mo., August 16, 1859, and is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dotzel) Ambs, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father born in 1824, and the mother in 1822. The father immigrated to America in 1844, and located in St. Louis, Mo. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, but for the last thirty years of his life was-engaged in the wholesale liquor business in St. Louis, first under the firm title of Jacob Ambs & Co., and last of Jacob Ambs Distilling Company. He was quite prominent in business circles in St. Louis, and was a highly respected citizen. His death occurred in July, 1885. The mother died in February, 1881, and was the daughter of George Dotzel, who settled in Union, Franklin Co., Mo., and carried on a boot and shoe business until his death. Our subject was reared in St. Louis, and received a good education in the common schools and in a private German institute. At the age of fifteen he learned the saddle and harness-maker’s trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. For the next seven years he was engaged as traveling salesman for his father’s business, and two more years were passed in traveling for J. D. Sickle’s Saddlery Company, of St. Louis. In 1880 he married Miss Rosa Spilker, daughter of August Spilker, of St. Louis, who now makes his home with his daughter. To this union one son, Lewis Jacob, was born, July 21, 1881. Mr. Ambs located in Union in the spring of 1887, and opened up his present business. He erected a large, two-story building in Oak Street, where he has a large and increasing business.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Franklin County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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