Today is the birthday of Johanne Amalie Bolz. She was born in St. Louis on April 26, 1847, so she would be celebrating her 178th birthday. Amalie was the daughter of Johann Traugott and Augusta (Wirth) Bolz. Each of Amalie’s parents were part of the Gesellschaft that arrived in Americia in 1839. Johann Traugott Bolz came aboard the Johann Georg by himself. We can see his name on the passenger list for that ship below. He was called a furrier.

Augusta Wirth came with a few other family members aboard the Republik. That passenger list is shown here. The Wirth’s were listed with some Schmidt’s, and they were all from Kahla, Germany. Those Schmidt’s were my ancestors. I have to think that the Wirth’s were friends with my Schmidt family. However, the Wirth’s remained in St. Louis while the Schmidt’s settled in Perry County.

Shortly after their arrival, Johann Traugot and Augusta got married in 1841. That wedding took place in St. Louis at about the time when Rev. Otto Herman Walther died. This couple’s marriage record states that they were married by Rev. Ottomar Fuerbringer. This couple’s first child, Johann Traugott Bolz, Jr. would later marry the daughter of Oscar Meyer. I wrote a story about him that was titled, My Bologna Has a First Name – It’s O-S-C-A-R. Yes, that was the famous Oscar Meyer that went on to establish the famous meat business.

Amalie Bolz was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. I can show you this baptism record that is part of an Excel spreadsheet we have for that congregation’s records.

A lot of people in St. Louis, especially young children, died in 1849 as a result of the Cholera Epidemic, but Amalie survived. Amalie is found in the 1850 census at the age of 3. Her family was living in St. Louis, and her father was called a carpenter.

Amalie may have survived the Cholera Epidemic, but her father died in 1850 of that disease. So, when we look at the 1860 census, Amalie’s mother was the head of the household. Amalie was a teenager.

Now, we will take a look at the man who would become Amalie’s husband. His name was Albert Gustav Henkel, who was born on May 22, 1845 in Germany. The only evidence of his parents’ names was his later death certificate which gave his father’s name as also being Albert Henkel. According to later census entries, Albert came to America in 1865, so he must have been about 20 years old when he made that trip. I am thinking that Albert came to this country in order to attend Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Albert Henkel married Amalie Bolz on January 19, 1869 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. Here is the church marriage record for this couple. It says that Albert was a pastor.

We can also view this St. Louis civil marriage record for this pair. They were married by Rev. Gottlieb Schaller.

By the time of the 1870 census, the Henkel’s were living in Burr Oak, Michigan. Rev. Henkel was the pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, which is found in south central Michigan. That congregation had been established in 1863. Amalie’s mother, Augusta Bolz, was living with them.

This is a photo of what St. John’s Lutheran Church looks like today.

The Henkel’s were still living in Burr Oak when the 1880 census was taken. This time, there were 3 children in their household. Augusta Bolz was still living with them.

In addition to the 3 children born to the Henkel’s in the 1870’s, there was another child that was born in 1875, but died before they were even able to give this child a name according the record below.

It would be another 20 years before we can view another census entry for the Henkel’s. Perhaps Rev. Henkel had served another congregation or two in the meantime, but when the 1900 census was taken, we find the Henkel’s living in Kingston, New York, and Albert was still a pastor. Kingston is located about 90 miles north of New York City. I am not sure what the name of Albert’s congregation was. Just one daughter remained in their household, along with Augusta Bolz, Amalie’s mother, who was then in her 80’s.

A New York state census was taken in 1905, and we find the Henkel’s still living in Kingston. Right above their entry, you will see that of Albert Henkel, Jr.

I think the Henkel’s moved back to St. Louis not long after the above census was taken. Amalie Henkel died in 1908 at the age of 60. We find her death record in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Louis.

An obituary for her can be read below.

In another obituary, this photo of Amalie was included.

Rev. Albert Henkel is found as a widower in the 1910 census. He was living in St. Louis with his daughter, Lydia and was still called a clergyman.

Rev. Henkel is found in one more census in 1920. This time, Lydia is listed as the head of the household. She is called a cashier at an ice cream company, and Albert was still called a minister at the age of 75.

Rev. Albert Henkel died in 1922 at the age of 77. We can view his death certificate below.

Here is an obituary for Albert.

Rev. Albert and Amalie Henkel are each buried in the New Bethlehem Cemetery in St. Louis.

I think a lot of young men who attended Concordia Seminary married young ladies from St. Louis. Rev. Albert Henkel appears to be one of them. It would be interesting if it could be determined how many pastors’ wives were born and raised in St. Louis. Perhaps a similar situation has taken place in Ft. Wayne, Indiana where another Lutheran seminary is located.