Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg has had a lot of pastors over the years. Most of them spent a relatively short time in Altenburg before moving on to another congregation elsewhere. Today, you will read the story of a pastor of Immanuel who spent a short time here also. However, his stint at Immanuel did not result in his moving on to another congregation. His time at Immanuel came to an end because of his sickness and death. His wife, who happens to be today’s birthday girl, remained in Altenburg much longer than her husband.

Johann R. Meyer was born on February 7, 1878 in Aargau, Switzerland. I was unable to determine the names of John’s parents. John came to America in 1905 when he was about 27 years old. This naturalization record establishes that time of entry into this country.

I figure that John must have gotten his training to become a pastor in Switzerland or some other place in Europe. Perhaps one of his first stops in the United States was in Texas. That is where he got married in 1906. We will now look at the woman that he married.

Rosalie Jauch was born on June 21, 1881, so today would be her 145th birthday. Rosalie was born in Degersheim, Switzerland. She was the daughter of Martin and Katharina (Naef) Jauch. I located this transcription of a Swiss baptism record for Rosalie.

According to a later census entry, Rosalie came to America in 1906, the same year in which she got married. John Meyer married Rosalie Jauch in Galveston County, Texas. The Texas marriage record below does not specify a date for this wedding. Since Galveston was a point of entry into the United States, perhaps Rosalie already knew John in Switzerland, and he met her in Galveston when she arrived in this country and then were married there. I do think that John was likely also a pastor in Texas because the first 2 Meyer children were born in Texas.

When the 1910 census was taken, we find the Meyer’s living in Wishek, North Dakota where John was a minister at a church. A recently-born child was said to be born in North Dakota.

The naturalization form that was pictured earlier placed the Meyer family in Avery, Oklahoma in 1916. Then, in 1918, John had his World War I draft registration completed. He is given an Avery, Oklahoma address and is called a minister of a Lutheran church.

When the 1920 census was taken, the Meyer’s were living in Bessie, Oklahoma, which was another town farther west in Oklahoma. There were 9 children in their household, 6 of which were daughters. Once again, John was called a Lutheran minister.

In 1923, the Meyer family moved to Altenburg, and John became the pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Pastor Meyer would serve Immanuel from 1923-1927. In 1927, he became ill enough that he had to step down as that church’s pastor. Just 2 years later, Rev. Meyer would die in 1929 at the age of 51. His death certificate below says that he died at the Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis as a result of stomach cancer.

The books of Immanel, Altenburg include Pastor Meyer’s death record.

An article about Pastor Meyer’s death appeared in the Perry County Republican.

Below is a short paragraph in a history that was written about the churches in East Perry County in 1989 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Stephanite immigration. It mentions some things that took place when Pastor Meyer was serving at Immanuel.

Rosalie Meyer was a widow when the 1930 census was taken, but I failed to find her in that year’s census. Then, in 1940, we find Rosalie living by herself in Altenburg.

I also failed to locate Rosalie in the 1950 census. Since she also died in St. Louis, perhaps she was living there with someone in her family. Rosalie died in 1951 at the age of 69. Martha Schade, the informant on this document, was one of Rosalie’s daughters.

We also find Rosalie’s death record in the books of Immanuel, Altenburg.

An obituary for Rosalie that was published in the Perry County Republican can be read below.

Both Rev. John and Rosalie Meyer are buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.

Although Pastor Meyer only served at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg for a few short years, that congregation’s books contain quite a few confirmation records for the many Meyer children. Also, even though his time was so short, John, along with his wife, are buried in that congregation’s cemetery. I did not visit that cemetery to check this out, but I think there is a possibility that Pastor Meyer is buried in the older portion of that cemetery, and Rosalie may be buried in the newer section.