You are about to take a trip back in time, starting in St. Louis, and proceeding to New Wells, Frohna, and Seelitz in Missouri and Horse Prairie in Illinois. The Missouri and Illinois settings have the common thread of Rev. Martin Stephan. All of those places are connected to Diane Guelzow, whose husband’s family roots … More Acts of God – Part 3
You are going to read a type of story today that I usually do not even consider for this blog. My standard procedure for choosing stories is to find one that began before the turn of the 20th century. I do that for a reason. If I look into a story that begins in the … More Farm Mishap Kills Dirt Weinhold
Heinrich Gotthilf Kaufmann is our birthday boy today. He was born on August 4, 1852, the son of George and Regina (Goethe) Kaufmann. His father, George, was a teenager when he arrived in Perry County as a member of the New York Group in 1839. His parents were married not long before Rev. Gotthold Loeber’s … More Kaufmann Kinder Casualties
You will discover today that the life of Elizabeth Amalie Burroughs was a struggle from the beginning to the end. During her life, she could have been called an orphan (or an abandoned child), a foster child, a divorcee, a mother of two sets of twins, and a widow. There is also some indication that … More Lisette’s Labored Life
I have often run across stories crediting the town of Wittenberg, Missouri with being a place where orphans could find a home. I can think of three surnames off the top of my head that were involved in orphans being given homes. Those names were Burroughs, Mirly, and Nennert. After looking at some more evidence … More The Richter Adoption Agency
From 1976-1981, there was a popular TV series called Charlie’s Angels. Right now, there is a movie in the theaters by that title which attempts to recreate that show. The show highlighted three ladies who teamed as crime fighters. I have three daughters who have on occasion compared themselves to Charlie’s Angels. They even recreated … More Gottfried’s Angels
This post will have four major themes: A character would have been 200 years old today. A mother gives birth to three different sets of twins. All but one of the girls in this family who lived to adulthood never married. A name disappears. Johann Christian Friedrich Saalfeld was born on September 28, 1819. That … More Trios of Twins and Spinsters
Although today’s story was generated by first finding the birth of twin girls on this date, most of it will center on the life of a man whose short life was filled with plenty of accomplishments. Nora and Rosa Lueders were born on April 11, 1899. They were the daughters of Henry and Louise (Elbrecht) … More Fiehler’s Fateful Fall
Yesterday’s story was about Anton G. Meister. Today, we start with his father, Anton F. Meister. Anton arrived in America in December of 1860. We find him coming to this country all by himself aboard the Anna Delius. He was 20 years old at the time. He was born on October 22, 1840 in Germany. … More The Senior Meister and His Angel
Walter “Junior” Doering is one of our museum’s faithful supporters. He lives in Kentucky, but he and his wife often stop by the museum when they are in the neighborhood. Once a year, he shows up in town for the annual Boehme reunion. Today’s post will give the reason that he comes for that event. … More Junior’s Mom and Dad
