Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Youth Society

Fred Ofgandt

Fred Ofgandt

Fred Ofgandt (aka Fritz Ofkant, Fred Ofkant) was born Feb. 24, 1889, in Pope or Ventspils (Windau), Latvia. He immigrated to the United States in 1913, sailing from Liverpool on the S.S. Haverford, according to his naturalization records.1 In June 1917, Ofgandt was working as an auto body builder at the Derham Body Company in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. He lived with his wife and two children, plus his mother-in-law, according to his draft registration card.2 He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1918.

Ofgandt was married to Emily Ofgandt and had three children: Edwin (born 1912 in Russia), William (born 1914 in Pennsylvania), and daughter Grace (born 1919 in Pennsylvania). In 1920, they lived at 826 N. 40th St. in Philadelphia, according to the U.S. census.3 Boarding with the family was John Dimberg, age 55. Fred and Emily Ofgandt divorced in 1935 in Florida, and in 1936 he married Lois Armstrong.4 Fred died in 1950 in Florida.5 At the age of 94, Emily Ofgandt died Jan. 31, 1987, in Florida.6

Notes

1. National Archives; Washington, D.C.; ARC Title: Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930; NAI Number: 203; Record Group Title: M1522

2. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6K7-J9K : 12 December 2014), Fred Ofgant, 1917-1918; citing Philadelphia City no 19, Pennsylvania, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,907,639.

3. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXMN-9KQ : accessed 18 January 2017), Fred Ofgant, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing ED 735, sheet 11A, line 20, family 249, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1627; FHL microfilm 1,821,627.

4. Ancestry.com. Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.; Ancestry.com. Florida, County Marriages, 1823-1982 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

5. Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

6. Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.