Men by the name of Henry Miesner have been mentioned many times in previous posts on this blog. After doing a quick search, I think I have written 3 previous stories that had as one of their main characters a man with that name. So, I will refer to today’s Henry Miesner as Henry IV. I simply cannot resist telling his story today because he was born on this day 200 years ago. Even though Henry IV has been mentioned in previous stories, I have not told his complete story yet. I will attempt to tell that tale today.

Heinrich Miesner was born on January 19, 1822 in Scheeßel, Germany. Henry was the son of Johann and Adelheid (Brunkhorst) Miesner. We can take a look at Henry’s baptism record from his family’s parish in Scheeßel. It is easy enough for me to find the date, January 19, and the names, Johann Miesner, Adelheid geb. Brunkhorst, and Heinrich on this form, but I am clueless about what the rest of the document says.

As long as I am discussing Scheeßel records, I will take the time to discuss the birth and baptism of the woman who would become Henry’s wife. Her name was Maria Bellmann, who was born on July 14, 1823. She was the daughter of Heinrich and Maria (Hoyns) Bellmann. At this point, let me also point out that this post is not the first to discuss a woman by the name of Maria Bellmann. Like her future husband, Maria was baptized at the same parish in Scheeßel, and we can view her German baptism record as well.

I am unable to find any more German records for either of these two individuals, nor was I able to find a record of their marriage. However, family trees on Ancestry.com state that they were married on April 15, 1853. Perhaps some day, one of our German followers will locate such a document for us.

Henry and Maria Miesner brought their family to America in 1866. They, as well as several others who would settle in Perry County, travelled aboard the ship, Carl, that arrived in New Orleans in October of that year. Three Miesner children are listed on the passenger list for this family. One could argue that there were 4 children because it looks like Maria was pregnant when she arrived. A child of theirs was born and baptized at Concordia, Frohna in November of 1866.

Here is the baptism record for Claus Dietrich Miesner who was born in 1866.

We find Henry and his family in the 1870 census living in the Brazeau Township. The same 3 sons that were listed on the Carl passenger list are found in the household. I am guessing that Claus Dietrich, born in 1866, did not live long.

Maria Miesner died in 1877 at the age of 54. A translation of her death record in the Concordia Lutheran Church books says that she died of dropsy. Here is an image of that record.

Maria Miesner was buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna.

The Union Township was established in the 1870’s, so when the 1880 census was taken, we find Henry living in that township. Just his son, Friedrich, was still living in his household.

We have to wait 20 years before we can view Henry in another census, and it happens to have been taken in the same year of his death. At the age of 78, Henry was called the landlord. He was living in the household of his son, Friedrich, and his family.

Henry died on Christmas Eve in 1900 at the age of 78. I am a little surprised that Henry’s death record, as well as his burial, took place at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. I did not find any other church record in Henry’s family indicating any of them being members of that congregation. A transcription of his death record states that he died of senility. Below are two images of that death record from Immanuel’s books.

I have seen cases like this before, but I think I will always be amazed that a burial would take place on a special day like Christmas Day. In early January of 1901, this article appeared in the Perry County Republican describing Henry’s death. This article disagrees with the Immanuel death record. It says Henry died on December 23rd.

Henry Miesner was buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, but as of this writing, there is no gravestone photo on Findagrave.com for him. However, I made a trip to that cemetery this morning and I am almost certain that I found his gravestone and took a photo of it. It is one of those stones that is impossible to read. However, if you look at the chart located in the fellowship hall that maps out where grave sites are located in the old portion of their cemetery, you will find Henry’s name.

Although I could not read Henry’s gravestone, it was located between a Holschen grave and a Rabold grave just like this chart describes.

Perhaps if Diane Anderson trusts my judgment that this is the correct gravestone for Henry Miesner, she could use this photo and place it on Findagrave.com.

If we place the Henry Miesner’s in chronological order, I think it may be more appropriate to call this Henry Miesner, Henry the First. You may have to forgive me for this, but I cannot get this tune out of my brain today, so I’m going to give you an earworm that may last a while for you too. Listen at your own risk.