The Family Tree

The Frauenthal connection — how they all tie together

The surname “Frauenthal” is held by only ~58 people worldwide. All American Frauenthals almost certainly descend from Joseph Mayer Frauenthal (1790-1844) of Marienthal, Bavaria, whose grandfather Meyer adopted the name from an Austrian town. Joseph’s sons scattered across America: Guillaume/Wilhelm to France then New York, Max to Mississippi then Arkansas, and others to Pennsylvania. The Titanic Frauenthals (Henry, Isaac) were sons of Samuel Frauenthal of Wilkes-Barre, PA. Paul’s grandfather Edward may be another of Samuel’s sons — Samuel had a son named Edward (1854-1922). If so, Henry and Isaac are Bernice’s uncles and Barney’s great-uncles. Paul needs to confirm when his grandfather Edward died to verify this connection.

Open questions

• Edward’s wife — RESOLVED: Lillian Gapen Frauenthal (confirmed by Paul)
• Jean Aubuchon’s connection — Her parents were Cliff and Lucille Aubuchon (per Hollywood Reporter). The autobiography calls her “my mother’s bachelorette sister.” How exactly does Jean connect to the Frauenthal family?
• Cliff Aubuchon — Called “mother’s brother-in-law” in autobiography. Father of Jean. Did he marry a Frauenthal daughter?
• Roger Mueller — Is he Muriel’s son? Who was Muriel’s husband (Mr. Mueller)?
• Roger’s siblings, wife, children — completely unknown
• Alec Ebsworth’s father — Grenadier Guards, Military Cross, killed 1918. First name unknown. CWGC search inconclusive without first name
• The Titanic Frauenthals — Henry, Isaac, Clara (from Samuel Frauenthal of Bavaria/PA). Are they related to Edward’s family? The surname is extremely rare
• Max Frauenthal — founded Conway and Heber Springs, AR. From Marienthal, Bavaria. Same family?
• “Barney W. Frauenthal” — wrote the 1902 St. Louis tourist guide. Paul unsure if this was Barney or Edward

Sources for this tree

Every fact is tagged. autobiography = A World of Possibility (2012). Smithsonian = oral history (2017). Paul says = direct testimony from Paul Walhus in conversation. obituary = Flintoft’s/NYT/STL Post-Dispatch. Frick = Frick Archives Directory. ProPublica = 990 filings. All source files at /sources/.