(1890-1900) 

William Ernst was born in Buffalo, New York on 8 Aug 1868 most likely soon after his parents emigrated from Germany. By 1880, William had lost his father and relocated to Falls City, Nebraska with his mother Louisa, brother Albert, and two sisters. It is of interest to note that both boys, William age 12, and Albert age 10, were listed as farm laborers in the 1880 US Federal Census. 

            In 1894, William married Fannie Gentner and within a few years, the family had four children. By 1896, William was working at TKWM in Salem as a weaver. William was very active in the Salem Evangelical Church and may have had a brother who was an evangelical pastor in Portland, OR. 

 In 1899, William moved his family to Seattle where he joined Ernst Bros. as a tinsmith. It is not clear what, if any, relationship William had with the owners of the firm but there were 20 other Ernst names listed in the 1900 Seattle City Directory (possible relatives). 

William and Fannie added one more daughter to the family in 1902 and continued to live and work in Seattle. In 1920, William was listed as a merchant in an unnamed tin shop. 

William passed away on November 14, 1923 at age 55. His wife Fannie lived until 1935. Both are buried in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle.  

1900 William Earnest  [William August Ernst] [William Ernst]. 32.  B Aug 1867 in NY. Rents home at 126 3rd Av N, Seattle, WA. Married HOH. Marriage Year: 1894. Years Married: 6.  Father and Mother b in Germany. Tinsmith. William Earnest 32, Annie Earnest 23 (parents b in Switzerland), Ester Earnest 5, Myrtle Earnest 4, Jasemine Earnest 2, Edward Earnest 1 (all children b in Oregon). 

1910 W A Ernest [W A Ernst] [William August Ernst]. 42.  B abt 1868 in Massachusetts. Owns home at 2223 Harvard St N. Married HOH. Father and Mother b in Germany. Works in Hardware Store. Years Married: 16.  Number of Children Born: 5.  Number of Children Living: 5. 

W A Ernest 42. Fannie Ernest 34. Esther Ernest 15. Myrtle Ernest 14. Jasmine Ernest 13, Edward Ernest 11, Ethel Ernest 8 (b in WA), Adolph Walters 21 (lodger). 

1920 William A Ernst. 49.  B abt 1871 in NY. Owns house at 2223 Harvard St W, Seattle, OR. Married HOH. Father and Mother b in Germany. Merchant, Tin Shop. William A Ernst 49, Fannie M Ernst 43, Myrtle R Ernst 23, Jasmine Ernst 22, Edward W Ernst 21, Doriene M Ernst 19, Esther Davies 24  

1892 Portland, A H Ernst (poss brother) Tinner, E Kroner 

1893 No Ernst in this CD 

1896 William A Ernst. 18Th 2 n State. Weaver. 

1899 Portland. Rev A Ernst (poss relative) Presiding Elder, Evangelical Assn. H 449 Hawthorn Ave. 

1900 Wm E Ernst, Tinsmith, CC Ernst. Res 711 John. (20 other Ernst names in this CD) 

1901 Seattle. William A Ernst. Rms at 10th Av W and Gaylor. Tinsmith, Ernst Bros.  

1902-1905 Seattle. William A Ernst. 2223 Harvard Av N. Tinner.  

Fannie Gentner Ernst. B 3 Feb 1876 in Kansas. D 1935 (55-59) in Seattle, WA. Lakeview Cemetery, Seattle, WA. 

William August Ernst and Fannie Gentner Ernst had a daughter, Myrtle Ruth Ernst Ward.  

M3 2007-010-0012     Photo

X2013.017.0002         Photo