J b:
Thank you so much, particularly for the specific FHL references. I had checked some but not nearly all of the ones you suggest. Very helpful.
Most of my information so far has come from census data in Macoupin County, obits, and records of the old German Evangelical Lutheran Church. Fortunately, when the church "disappeared", the original record books, in German, were preserved by an existing church in Carlinville.
The church records were the only place where I found a clue linking the two families. At the baptism of one of John Henry Frederick Miehe's children the witnesses were Peter Lorenz (son-in-law of Henry Miehe and my ggfather) and a Frau Wilhelmina Miehe (I'm relatively sure she was a dau-in-law of Henry Miehe).
There were several other Miehe's in Macoupin County, Illinois and some in St. Louis, Missouri, that I have been unable to connect in any way. But I agree with you, there were so few Miehe and Mieher families in the US at the time that proximity certainly suggests relationship.
Paddy
Most of my information so far has come from census data in Macoupin County, obits, and records of the old German Evangelical Lutheran Church. Fortunately, when the church "disappeared", the original record books, in German, were preserved by an existing church in Carlinville.
Consider yourself lucky then, as that is not a par for the course occurrence in many areas in the U.S. Church records more often than not are among those "hit and miss" records that you're actually fortunate to discover (likewise for records like marriage certificates, burial permits, recorded wills, homestead papers, etc. All are out there mind you, but not always easy to pinpoint). In some areas church ledgers are well preserved and there for the discovery. In other areas - and unfortunately under far too many scenarios from what I've seen - they've vanished into thin air, or have found their ways into nondescript resting places, sometimes in private hands (might as well be bear caves then). Always worth checking on for certain, only few should bet the farm on finding a goldmine along those lines in more situations than not.
The church records were the only place where I found a clue linking the two families. At the baptism of one of John Henry Frederick Miehe's children the witnesses were Peter Lorenz (son-in-law of Henry Miehe and my ggfather) and a Frau Wilhelmina Miehe (I'm relatively sure she was a dau-in-law of Henry Miehe).
There you go. Now you just have to determine what the precise connection is ... siblings, cousins, distant cousins. Oh the fun of tracking down and documenting these kinds of jigsaw puzzles.
There were several other Miehe's in Macoupin County, Illinois and some in St. Louis, Missouri, that I have been unable to connect in any way. But I agree with you, there were so few Miehe and Mieher families in the US at the time that proximity certainly suggests relationship.
Yes indeed. The more offbeat the name the better, at least when it comes to genealogy. Unusual names frame everything in town like settings, as opposed to a metropolises. I've got surnames like Schmidt, Schulz and Hammer as part of my Hildesheim rat pack and believe me, you don't want to go there unless you're like Armin and enjoy headbanging your monitor (he only learned that from me though). Some of mine also extend to Hameln and Hannover City, so it only spirals further out of control from there. Oh the joy I'll experience when I discover a Schlecktenlichtensteinberger in the bunch. Please Lord, send me one soon. I promise to be a good lad thereafter.
You're doing quite well as it is Paddy. Make sure to work that Macoupin County area well. The county level is the goldmine level in the USA, more than anything else (outside of inherited memorabilia I guess). If there is one thing our local governments have done well over the years, it has been to preserve the records within their jurisdiction, and allow free access to them. It has only been in the modern era that more and more records seem to be getting destroyed to make way for ever newer ones (often after being poorly microfilmed), or been excluded from open or easy perusal under newfangled statutes. It amounts to a damn curse for those pursuing genealogies.
Jb
Dear Paddy,
Misssouri State archives has online death cert. for a Louis Conrad Miehe. His occupations is listed as St. Louis Furniture Workers Association. His father name Charles, mom Henriette.
The 1880 census with this circa 1807 Henry with and Catherine list Henry's occupation as a retired carpenter.
The 1880 census with a Fredric Miehe, wife Rebecca lists his occupation as farmer..and that he was born Prussia. Rebecca born Indiana.
I think interesting that the Henry of the Henry/catherine Miehe couple from Macoupin used to be a carpenter and the St. Louis Miehe's were carpenters/furniture makers. Perhaps this is a clue?
Barbie-Lew
J b:
Thank you so much, particularly for the specific FHL references. I had checked some but not nearly all of the ones you suggest. Very helpful.
Most of my information so far has come from census data in Macoupin County, obits, and records of the old German Evangelical Lutheran Church. Fortunately, when the church "disappeared", the original record books, in German, were preserved by an existing church in Carlinville.
The church records were the only place where I found a clue linking the two families. At the baptism of one of John Henry Frederick Miehe's children the witnesses were Peter Lorenz (son-in-law of Henry Miehe and my ggfather) and a Frau Wilhelmina Miehe (I'm relatively sure she was a dau-in-law of Henry Miehe).
There were several other Miehe's in Macoupin County, Illinois and some in St. Louis, Missouri, that I have been unable to connect in any way. But I agree with you, there were so few Miehe and Mieher families in the US at the time that proximity certainly suggests relationship.
Paddy
This must be the L. C. Miehe (son of immigrants Carl Georg Miehe and Sophia
Heumann, sister of my great-grandma) who married Rosa Magdalene Sauerbrey.
Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks