Today’s birthday girl leads us to a tragic story from Perryville’s past. It begins with the birth of Dora Matilda Mecker, who was born on May 10, 1891. That makes today her 135th birthday. Dora was the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Bangert) Mecker. Dora was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Her baptism record is pictured below.

Dora’s family must have moved from Friedheim to a farm near Perryville not long after she was born. The next Mecker child born in 1894 was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. Dora is found in the 1900 census at the age of 8. Her father was a farmer in the Central Township.

Next, we find Dora in the 1910 census when she was a teenager.

In the 1915 plat maps atlas, we find the Henry Mecker farm not far from Perryville, I have also highlighted the Hornberger farm, which was where Dora’s husband was born and raised.

Now, we will take a look at the man who would become Dora’s husband. His name was Oscar Edwin Hornberger, who was born on November 1, 1891. Oscar was the son of Michael and Margaretta (Hacker) Hornberger. Oscar was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, so I am unable to display his baptism record. We find Oscar in the 1900 census at the age of 8. His father was a farmer in the Central Township.

When the 1910 census was taken, Oscar was 18 years old. Although he is given no occupation, I suspect he was helping his father on his farm.

Oscar Hornberger married Dora Mecker on November 16, 1913 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We can view this couple’s church marriage record here.

We can also take a look at 2 different civil records for this wedding.

Oscar had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. It gives him a Menfro address and says he was farming for himself. He had a wife and 2 children at that time.

Our German Family Tree lists 4 children born to Oscar and Dora. Their firstborn child died after about a month. In the 1920 census, we see the Hornberger household with 3 children. Oscar was a farmer in the Central Township.

Oscar had this photo of himself taken at some point in time. It has been colorized.

The Hornberger’s are found in the 1930 census with the same 3 children. This time, it says that Oscar was a city policeman and living in Perryville.

The above census entry was submitted on April 3, 1930, and Oscar Hornberger died on April 19th of that year. His death was a tragic one. After just 4 months on the job as a policeman, Oscar was shot during a raid to arrest a man who was making illegal alcohol during the time period of Prohibition. An article about his death was published in the Perry County Republican, and I am going to let you read it to get the details of that story. One of the important aspects of the story is the fact that he was shot by his fellow policeman, Elliott Nelson. I will display this article in 3 images.

As mentioned in the above article, Oscar died in St. Louis at the Lutheran Hospital according to his death certificate below. Oscar was just 38 years old at the time of his death. The informant on this document was Rev. Lohmann, Oscar’s pastor at Immanuel, Perryville.

Also found in the 1930 census is this entry for George Mecker, who was Dora’s brother. Included in this entry was the prisoner who was apprehended the day after Oscar was shot. His name was Rocco Passananti. George was called the sheriff.

Later in 1930, the following article appeared in the Perry County Sun. It tells the story of what happened to Rocco Passananti. The last paragraph indicates the opinion that the reporter had for this man.

Dora is found as a widow in the 1940 census. Just her daughter, Delilah, was living with her, along with a boarder named Christina Hatfield. Delilah and Christina were working at the shoe factory, and Dora was cleaning house for a private family.

Finally, Dora is found in the 1950 census at the age of 58. She was living with her daughter, Delilah, who had married Wilmer Duvall. Wilmer and Delilah were working at the shoe factory.

Dora Hornberger died in 1952 at the age of 61. We can view her death certificate below.

Dora’s obituary can be read here.

The time period after Oscar’s violent death must have been very challenging for the remaining members of the Hornberger family, a mother and three children in their pre-teen and early teen years. The whole Perryville community must have grieved over the loss of one of their young police officers, and must have felt so sorry that he lost his life after such a short time with the police force. Oscar’s admission on his death bed that he did not hold Elliott Nelson responsible for his death must have made this situation easier for this family.