Dear Joel, Neil, Gale Bob, Jb, Sylvia, Jrodenburg, Jane, and Werner,and just
now, Barbara,
I haven't stimulated this much list interest since a few years ago when I
asked about turnvereins on the St. Louis list! Everyone of you has had
really great ideas, and some of your emails quite lengthy--many people with
the gift of helps. Please know that I really appreciate every single one!
Below is a copy of the more extensive email I wrote to Joel and not the
list. I had just heard about the Castle Garden site but had not had a chance
to look at it before I got the info from Werner. Gale mentioned the Catholic
factor and I never did write the Catholic church in Hermann, Mo. That chore
is in my immediate plans.
Two years ago we went to St. Louis and stopped in Hermann on our way back to
Tucson. It is indeed beautiful, and I could see why it was hand-picked by a
search group from PA to make it the site of an all-German community---the
Fatherland in the U.S. The history is so interesting, and we were able to
buy a book on the settling of Hermann. After very difficult and extensive
clearing of the land, it was not found to be very good for the usual farm
crops. However, grapes did amazingly well, and there were many wineries. In
my reading I have found that many Germans were into wine as much as beer! An
added plus was and is the town's location on two rivers, the Gassconade and
the Missouri. At one time the shipping of wine from Herman ranked very high
in world production! In fact later 4 of Henry Meyer's sons were coopers in
St. Louis at Pioneer Cooperage! Prohibition killed the town! Unfortunately,
we were in Hermann on a Sunday, and we could not visit any offices, but we
did go through a couple of the wineries and a tiny museum there. I have a
few lovely pictures if anyone wants me to send them, I will be happy to do
so!
Thanks to all again!
Ginny in AZ
"Hi Joel,
Thanks so very much for your thoughts on my email request. I received quite
a few responses in English but yours was by far the most thoughtful. I never
know how much to put out on a mail list, but I do know pretty much about
this family. In my great grandfather, Fred Meyer's obituary, I found the
names of his siblings so that when I found a Henry Meyer I could tell he was
mine. That is indeed him in St. Louis, the 2nd ward East in 1870.
He died in St. Louis and supposedly was buried in Holy Ghost Cemetery until
most remains went to New and Old Pickers Cemetery which then became Gateway
Gardens.(I have looked on the St. Louis Library index for his obituary and
do not see him listed, but I am quite sure I found his death date when
searching in the library in St. Louis.) Then the city got involved in taking
over the cemetery etc. etc., and when I called for info they had a Henry
Meyer listed but not with the correct death date (July 25 1854) of my Henry.
Great Grandpa Fred (Henry's son) had his son baptized at St. Matthews
Evangelical Church in St. Louis, and that is the earliest record I can find
for ANY church affiliation. They sent me a copy of the baptizmal record but
said they had no other records of the family, even tho my grandfather had 2
younger brothers.
I do believe this family immigrated straight to Hermann, Gasconade Co., MO
as the St. Louis 1880 census gives the first of the American-born children
being born there. Long ago I wrote all the Herman churches and the
historical society about Henry.All responses were negative. I have not found
any evidence of the family in Gasconade Co except for the 1880 census. All
the rest of the children were born in St. Louis. In 1870 he is a laborer and
in 1880 he is a florist.
I found one naturalization card for 1857 for a Henry William Meyer, but
there is no way of knowing if it's him--the spaces for address and age are
blank! Do you know if the actual card would have more info than there is on
the database listing? And I do not know how far ahead a petition has to be
filed!! I searched immigration with ancestry.com and did not find him.
One really neat thing I have found is all Henry's probate records on the MO.
State Archives site, but alas no church is mentioned in any of them. Even
the funeral expenses give a burial plot number but do not mention the
cemetery or church! Adolph Meyer Livery and Undertaking Co. was the company,
and I don't know of any Adolphs in the family.
I know that your two emails took a lot of thought and time to put together,
and I really appreciate your work. I am open to all ideas at this point. I
am trying to write my Meyer story, and then I got involved here in more
research. I think I will leave the rest of the research to my kids! Thanks
again.
Ginny in AZ