Anthony Oliver Theophilus Astenius

Well-known Organist, Pianist & Composer

Son of John Olof Astenius and
Anna Caroline Lundquist

Marriage
To Rena Belle Gaugler
On 9 Apr 1901 at Berrien Springs, Michigan

California Death Certificate
Name: Anthony O. T. Astenius
Age: 59 years, 5 months, 16 days
Occupation: Organist
Birth: 9 Jun 1871 Michigan
Death: 25 Nov 1930 Long Beach, CA
Died at home: 121 Corinthians Walk, Long Beach, California
Residence: 10 years in Long Beach; 10 years in California.
Cause of Death: Heart disease; liver & stomach carcinoma.
Wife: Rena Astenius
Father: John Olof Astenius, born Sweden
Mother: Anna Lundquist, born Sweden
Informant: Rena Astenius, 121 Corinthians Walk, Long Beach
Entombment: 28 Nov 1930 Angeles Abbey Mausoleum, Compton, California
Cert # 1362 (image 2613)

Honored at Death
A Southern California musician and composer, A.O.T. Astenius of Long Beach, was honored at the last rites and his burial service by rendition of numbers of his own compositions. Six numbers were played by the organist of the Christian Science church, including his favorite, "Sunset in the Golden West," inspired by the sunset on a late afternoon at Redondo Beach. The musician represented the Long Beach Lions in the Civic club and was active in many movements for promoting civic beauty. (San Bernardino County Sun, Sunday, 30 Nov 1930, page 15)

Bio
ASTENIUS, Anthony Oliver Theophilus, musician; b. Ishpeming, Mich., June 9, 1871; s. John 0. and Anna C. (Lundquist) Astenius; attended pub. schs., Chicago; studied organ and harmony under in father, also piano and organ tuning, and earned money as tuner to pay expenses of edn. in music; studied piano with C. J. Schubert, Frederick Boscovitz, Emil Liebling and August Hyllested; organ with Henry Wey, James Watson; musical theory with Henry Schoenfeldt, Frederick Grant Gleason and Adolph Weidig; grad. Sheldon Sch. of Scientific Salesmanship, 1905; Mus. Prof., Northwestern Univ., 1908; m. Rena B. Gaugler, of Berrien Springs, Mich., Apr. 9, 1901; 1 son, George. Has appeared with marked success in concerts and recitals, as pianist and organist; also organist various churches; teacher of piano, organ and harmony since 1900. Independent Republican. Protestant. Mem. Ashlar Lodge No. 308, A. F. and A.M.; North West Chapter No. 224, R.A.M.; Aryan Grotto No. 18, M.O.V.P.E.R. Club: Prairie. Composer of numerous pieces for piano; “My Prayer” (for chorus or mixed quartette); etc. Recreation: travel. Home: 2630 Windsor Av. Office: Kimball Hall. (The Book of Chicagoans, a biographical dictionary of leading living men and women of the city of Chicago; page 23; published 1917, Chicago : A.N. Marquis)

News Item
The Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1917
Backyard Flag Raising Entertains Neighbors
"Why not be patriotic clear through?" Mr Astenius said, "and make our patriotism a backyard as well as a front window affair." It was with this idea that Mr. and Mrs. A.O. Astenius, musicians, 2630 Windsor avenue, Ravenswood, entertained fifty or more of their neighbors at a flag raising in their backyard yesterday afternoon.
There was a regular patriotic program, speeches, orations, songs, a poem by Capt. L Homan of the United States Navy, the flag raising, the salute, the "Star Spangled Banner," of course, and refreshments. (The Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1917, page 16, Vol 76, #181)

Bio
(Highlights)
A. O. T. ASTENIUS came to the musical circles of Long Beach in 1921. He was born in Ishpeming MI on June 9th, 1871, son of John O. and Anna C. ASTENIUS, natives of Vermland, Sweden. The father was a splendid organist and inventor, long associated with the Mason & Hamlin Organ Company and W. W. Kimball Company.
When A. O. T. was 5 he was taken to Stockholm Sweden by his parents. He studied under Prof. Henry WEY, A.ELFAKER, Emil LARSON, C.J. SCHUBER, Adolph WEIDIG, Frederick Grant GLEASON, James WATSON and Frederick BOSCOVITZ. At 13 he was the organist at the Swedish Lutheran Church at Linsborg KS.
In 1921 he came to Long Beach and in 1926 was the official organist of the International Lions Club convention held in San Francisco.
He married Miss Rena Belle GAUGLER, native of Michigan, and they had one son, George. (History of Long Beach and Vicinity, Vol. II, p. 677, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1927, California Local History - Rocq - , Calif. State Library History Room (RR), Call Number: qc 979.493 C3 Vol II)

Census
1885 Census, Lindsborg, McPherson, Kansas, Mar 1
-J O Astenius 39, laborer, born Sweden, came to KS from IL
-Annie C Astenius 44, housekeeper, came to KS from IL
-Teofie* Astenius 13, born Michigan, came to KS from IL
-Benjamin Astenius 12, born Michigan, "
-Rachel Astenius 11, born Michigan, "
-Joseph Astenius 9, born Michigan, "
-Niamy Astenius 8 , born Michigan, "
-Lydia Astenius 6, born Sweden, "
-David Astenius 5, born Sweden, "
-Cornelian Astenius 2, born IL, "
-Luther Astenius 4M, born Kansas

1900 Census, Chicago Ward 15, Cook, Illinois; 1078 North California St; June 9th
-John Astenius, head, age 53, born Jun 1846, married 39 years, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, immigration 1868 in US 32 years, Piano Tuner
-Anna C Astenius, wife, age 60 , born May 1840, married 39 years, 10 children born, 9 living, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, immigration 1870 in US 30 years
-Teofilus* A O Astenius, son, age 28 , born Jun 1871, born Michigan, parents born Sweden, musician
-Benjamin J G Astenius, son, age 27, born Jul 1872, born Illinois, parents born Sweden, piano tuner
-Joseph E R Astenius, son, age 25 , born Oct 1874, born Illinois, parents born Sweden, musician helper
-Ray A W [looks like N] Astenius, daughter, age 26, born Sep 1873, born Illinois, parents born Sweden.
-Lydia M H Astenius, daughter, age 24 , born Feb 1876, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, stenographer
-David N C Astenius, son, age 21 , born Jan 1879, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, newspaper man
-Luther C S Astenius, son, age 15, born Dec 1884, born Kansas, parents born Sweden,
-Esther C R Astenius, daughter, age 16 , born Jun 1883, born Illinois, parents born Sweden, stenographer

1910 Census, Chicago Ward 26, Cook, Illinois; 1920 Warner Ave, Apr 24th
-A O T Astenius, head, age 35, 1st marriage, married 9 years, born Michigan, parents born Sweden, musician teacher, rent home
-Rena Astenius, wife, age 33, 1st marriage, married 9 years, 1 child born, 1 living, born Michigan, parents born Pennsylvania
-George Astenius, son, age 8, born Illinois, parents born Michigan
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1920 census, Chicago Ward 26, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; 2680 Windsor Ave (next to Wilson Ave); Jan 7th
-Theophilus* Asturias, head, age 45, born Michigan, parents born Sweden, own home with mortgage, musician string
-Rena B Asturias, wife, age 41, born Michigan, parents born Pennsylvania
-George Asturias, son, age 17, born Illinois, parents born Michigan

1930 Census, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California; 121 Corinthian
-Anthony* O T Asturias, head, age 58 , married age 29, born Michigan, parents born Sweden, instructor organist music, own home $9000, not a veteran
-Rena B Asturias , wife, age 55, married age 26, born Michigan, parents born Pennsylvania,

Michigan Marriage Record
Bridegroom: A.O. Theop L. Astenius, age 28, residence Chicago, Ill, born Michigan, occupation organist; father John O, mother Anna
Bride: Rena B Gaugler, age 24, residence Berrien Springs, born Berrien Springs, Michigan; father D.G.W. mother Elizabeth.
License Date: 8 Apr 1901
Marriage Date: 9 Apr 1901
Place of Marriage: Berrien Springs, Michigan
Married By: John Boon, Minister
Witnesses: Mrs O.J. Pennell of Berrien Springs, & George W. Eidson of Berrien Springs.
Source: Return of Marriages in the County of Berrien, for the Quarter Ending June 30th 1901, p 237
Record # 149