St. Charles, Missouri
December 1
1925
Dr. G. Waldo Dunnington
Department of Mathematics
12 Edmondson Avenue
Washington and Lee University
Lexington,
Virginia
Dear Dr. Dunnington:
Your letter of November 18 to my mother, Mrs. C. H. Gauss, was duly
received and I ask that you pardon the delay in replying. I am
answering for her, also for my brother M. J. Gauss of St. Charles.
Certainly the American descendants of Carl Friedrich Gauss should appreciate
you intention to write his life story, as he seems to be little known,
except to persons like yourself. Probably I would not have known
of him myself if he had not been my great grandfather.
In case you have not the information, will say that the American descendants
of C. F. Gauss come from two sons of his second marriage (to Minna Waldeck),
Eugene and William. Eugene (my grandfather) settled here in St.
Charles, and William in St. Louis. Eugene Gauss was a man of brilliant
mind and was considered to have inherited much of his father's mentality.
He was educated at the University of Goettingen before coming to America.
He was more like his father in mind than any of the children, except
possibly his half-sister Minna, who married Professor Ewald and died
while young, leaving no children. She lived in Germany only.
It is only a coincidence that this daughter and the second wife were
both named Minna.
Several autograph letters are in the care of Lick Observatory.
We have some material in the way of letters (copies of translations),
several photographs, also old newspaper prints of statues, These
of course are valuable to us and could not be replaced, so I am sure
you will pardon me in saying that I would like to know a little more
definitely what material you would be interesed in and have not already.
We have a pastel portrait of Minna Waldeck Gauss (my great-grandmother)
which could not be sent, but we have a good photographic copy; I do
not know whether you would be interested in this or only in C. F. Gauss
himself. I shall try to find time in the near future to prepare
a list of the descendants of Eugene Gauss, if you desire it; those of
William Gauss could best be obtained from that branch, so if you are
not already in communication with any of them I can furnish you with
two or three names and addresses.
Thanking you for your interest and awaiting further information, I am,
Yours sincerely,
[Anne Durfee Gauss]
Home
