I will return to a surname that was part of the Gesellschaft that is found living in Altenburg during the early years of its existence, but it is a name that left this area shortly after the Civil War. That surname is Bracher, and that name, along with folks named, Braeuner and Fleischer, migrated to Bates County, Missouri. Today’s birthday boy was born and baptized in Altenburg right about the time when the Civil War was coming to an end, and his baptism record is found in our German Family Tree, but that is the only record found in the GFT for this person.

Julius Martin Bracher was born on December 14, 1864. At least, that is what his baptism record gives for his date of birth. When Martin was buried, his gravestone says he was born on December 13th, not the 14th. If he was born on the 14th, then today would be his 160th birthday. Martin was the son of Charles and Johanne (Braeuner) Bracher. Fred Eggers wrote a blog post about Martin’s parents and their move to Bates County, Missouri that was titled, An Early Out-Migration of Original Immigrants. Martin’s baptism record is found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, but since I am not in Altenburg for the next several days, I am unable to display any church records.

Martin is never found in a census entry for Perry County. By the time we find him in his first census in 1870, the Bracher family is found living in the Prairie Township of Bates County. Martin’s father was a farmer.

A couple of plat maps from 1895 show the Charles Bracher land located on the border between 2 townships. Also found on these images, you can also Fleischer and Braeuner farms. You can click the images to enlarge them.

In the 1880 census, we see this family’s surname spelled as Brocker, which is how Bracher is pronounced. Martin was 15 years old at the time. This time they were said to be living in the Rockville Township.

Since Martin would get married during the time between 1880 and 1900, we will now take a look at the woman who would become his bride. Her name was Augusta Hoffmann, who was born on September 6, 1867. She was the daughter of William and Christine (Krause) Hoffmann. Although the surnames Hoffmann and Krause are names found in our GFT, I found no connection to Augusta’s family and anyone in our local church records. Later census records say that Augusta was born in Germany and she came to America in 1874 or 1876. Although I should have been able to locate Augusta in the 1880 census, I failed to do so.

Martin Bracher married Augusta Hoffmann on September 16, 1888 at Zion Lutheran Church in Prairie City, Missouri. We are able to view this couple’s Missouri marriage license.

A family tree on Ancestry.com lists 5 children in this Bracher family, 4 girls and a boy. Prior to the 1900 census, this family made a move. We find them living in Fawn Creek, Kansas in 1900. Martin was a farmer. There were 4 children in their household.

Fawn Creek is found not far from the city of Coffeyville in the southeast part of that state. The map below show the locations of Rockville, Missouri and Fawn Creek, Kansas.

When the 1910 census was compiled, we find all 5 children in the Bracher entry. Their son was working at a glass factory, and a daughter was doing house work for a private home.

Their only son, Albert Carl Bracher, got married in 1915, and there was a group photo of the people gathered for that wedding. It includes both Martin and Augusta. Augusta is standing next to the bride, and Martin is the man standing behind and between them with a hat and mustache.

Next, we find the Bracher’s in the 1920 census. Martin and Augusta were in their 50’s, and only their youngest daugter was still living with them.

The 1930 census shows Martin and Augusta with an empty nest.

At some point in time, Martin had this photo taken of him.

The 1930 census would be the last one in which we find Augusta. She died in 1933 at the age of 65. Martin is found as a widower in the 1940 census. He was living with his son and his family in Fawn Creek.

Martin Bracher died in 1943 at the age of 78. Martin and Augusta are buried together in the Robbins Cemetery in Coffeyville. As I said before, this gravestone says Martin was born on December 13th.

Prairie City, Missouri and Coffeyville, Kansas are both locations where characters found in our German Family Tree ended up. These places may not have as many Perry County natives buried in their cemeteries like Sylvan Grove in Kansas, but if I discover more such connections, we may have to call them Perry County suburbs.