The birthday boy for today’s post is Olga Justine Selma Meister, who was born on July 22, 1886. That means today would be Olga’s 140th birthday. Meister is the German word for “master”. Olga was the daughter of Emil and Selma (Lange) Meister. Emil and Selma had come to this country aboard the ship, Main, … More Master and Boss Maker in Leavenworth, KS
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 … More Another St. Louis Native Marries a Seminarian
Teacher Beyer may have had to take some time away from his students on this day 150 years ago when his wife was having a baby. Their 5th child, Lina Johanna Beyer, was born on March 10, 1875, so today would be a very special birthday for her. She was the daughter of George and … More Lena Beyer and “Mister Daisy”
Let me set the scene for today’s post. Fifteen years ago, when my wife and I were about to celebrate our 20th anniversary, we arranged to get together with our friends, the Chases from Minnesota, who had recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. This year, we decided to repeat that event for our 35th and 55th … More Amana and Altenburg
I found today’s tale because a wedding too place in East Perry County, Missouri on this day 130 years ago. Despite the couple’s beginning in Missouri, most of the story took place across the river in Illinois. The highlighted surname is Buchholz, and this Buchholz family is an isolated one in our German Family Tree. … More The Buchholz and Gentil Soap Opera
After writing two consecutive posts about Perry County personalities migrating to the West Coast (Oregon), I ran across a story that takes us the other direction. The one you are about to read is one that takes us to the East Coast (New York), with a stop in Michigan along the way. We begin with … More Braack, the Almond Gristmiller
I have to admit that after writing two consecutive posts that highlighted 150th birthdays, I looked to see if there was yet another one born on this day in 1872 to make it three consecutive days. I was unsuccessful. Instead, you will read the story of a family in which the date of September 4th … More Dad Dies on His Birthday
If you are a regular reader of this blog, or if you have studied the early history of Lutheranism in America, you no doubt have heard about two pastors that were part of the Gesellschaft that arrived in this country in 1839. Those two pastors were Rev. E.G.W. Keyl and Rev. C.F.W. Walther. In those … More The Keyl-Walther Couple
How does a young girl living in Uniontown, Missouri, the daughter of a farmer, manage to get to know a pastor who was attending the seminary in Springfield, Illinois, or serving a church near Springfield, Missouri, or, even worse, serving as a pastor in Ogalalla, Nebraska. She got to know such a pastor well enough … More Mrs. Joseph Schulz – Pastor’s Wife
The story I tell today comes from two entirely different directions. It begins in Jacob, Illinois, meanders through Perry County for a short time, and moves up to St. Louis. A spouse’s life begins in Tennesseee, makes its way to Vancouver, Washington, and that life, too, ends up in St. Louis where these two individuals … More Steamboat Mate’s Daughter to Submarine Chaser’s Wife
