Frederick Flache and Catharine Halter*

Inspired by the writings of Gottfried Duden, many Germans sought to immigrate to Missouri in to be able to purchase cheap land and to have more business opportunities. "The first period brought us exclusively men of learning and standing, which cannot be said in reference to all the later comers who were divided so to speak into two classes men of the higher culture and others with but little education. Physicians, lawyers, clergymen, teachers, artists, professional men of all branches in one class, mechanics, peasants, journeymen, and laborers of all classes, formed the mass of the other."

"The party arrived in Baltimore in early June. Traveling by train, wagon, and steamboat, the immigrants reached St. Louis on July 2. (1834) (Source:The Letters Of Frederick Steines by Norma Steines Cunningham is a translation of correspondence, poetry, and songs written by a Missouri immigrant who was the first German schoolmaster west of the Mississippi River, Link
(Source: The Story of Old St. Louis, Thomas Edwin Spencer, 1914, p. 167, available on Google Books Link)

July 24, 1834 Frederick Flach age 34, arrived in the Port of Baltimore, Maryland on the ship Medora from Bremen, Germany with Hermine Flach age 7. The ship name sailed from Bremen Germany.

Dec 31, 1838 Frederick Flack marries Catharina Ann Halter in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She is listed as newly arrived from Germany on the marriage certificate. She may have been the daughter of Ludwig  (Lewis) Halter

Marriage Records from Frederick Flach Link

In 1840 Frederick Flach living in Apple Creek, Cape Girardeau, Missouri

In 1850, he is living in St Louis Ward 6, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri:
Frederick Flach age 50, occupation: Clerk

Catharine Flach age 31

William Flach age 10

Adeline Flach age 9

Frederick Flach age 6

Ida Flach age 4

Charles Flach age 2

Children born after 1850:
Mathilda Flach: 1851

Clementine Flach: 1852

George Flach: 1855

Lenora and Laura (twins) were born in 1858

During the years 1857-1858 he is a Justice of the Peace. The 1857 City Directory listed Frederick as a Justice of the Peace in the 2nd Ward with an office at 17 Carondelet, residing on Fulton. You can find a list of these records by searching for the lost marriage records of Frederick Flach.

Frederick Flach died from a stroke on 15 Mar 1858. (St Louis Death Records). He is buried in Holy Ghost Evangelical and Reformed Cemetery,also known as The Evangelical Protestant Cemetery Association of the Church of the Holy Ghost, or Holy Ghost Cemetery Link

Probate Records: Link

Catherine Flach states: "that at the time of the inventory of her deceased husband, there were was no grain, meat, vegetables, groceries or other provisions on hand or provided, necessary for the subsistance of the widow and her Children."

There is a declaration (image 27) by Charles Frassy that says, "that he was well acquainted with the

with the circumstances of the family of Frederick Flach, dec'd at the time of making the inventory, that there were no provisions in the house of any kind, and that the friends of the family had to provide for them."

The request was for an appropriation of $150, it is unclear if the money was provided.

Flatboat and a Keel Boat  By Unknown - Link- originally Pittsburgh History & Landmarks, Public Domain, Link

Heavy groceries constituted a distinct branch of the trade of St Louis for many years. The Colliers, the Lacklands, the Glasgows, were dealers in heavy groceries. They would be called importers now. They brought to St Louis sugar by the boat load, coffee, tea, and a few other staples in enormous quantities, selling them at small margin as desired by jobbers. The business experience of Henry Von Phul, who lived to be the oldest merchant in St Louis and died in his 91st year, dated back to the first decade of the century when he was employed by James Hart at Lexington, Ky. Mr Hart was the brother in law of Heny Clay, and the son of the man for whom Thomas H Benton was named. Young Von Phul began his commercial career by taking charge of keel boats loaded with flour, lead, and provisions. He floated down stream, stopping at the principal towns on the Mississippi river, trading his products for cotton. He continued this until he reached New Orleans where he sold the cotton and other products that had not been traded, as well as the keel boats. He then returned on horseback to Lexington where he made up another shipment and repeated the voyage and the trading.

Irwin and Ralph Meyer puzzle*

This photo is labeled Irwin and Ralph Meyer.  Irwin and Ralph were two of Frank Richard Meyer and Clementine Flach's children.

I found a birth certificate for Ralph (Alfred Leon) Meyer with a birth date of May 7, 1888.  The record lists parents as Frank Meyer and Clementine (first name only).  The Saint Louis death records give this information: Ralph Meyer Residence: 2929 Henrietta.  Ralph was buried in Holy Ghost Cemetery, but he was re-interred at St Marcus, a few days after Arthur Bain Meyer died. (1912)  This is confirmed by the St  Marcus Cemetery record which states that his body was removed from Holy Ghost Cemetery and re-interred at Saint Marcus a few days after Authur Bain was buried in 1912.

Irwin's death certificate lists his birth date as May 7, 1888, but I have not found a birth certificate for him.

If they were twins, you would think that both births would have been recorded. Also, if they were twins, I doubt this is Ralph in the photo.  More likely, this is Clementine (1890) or Elmer (1892).

Jackson Glenn- Elizabeth Branstetter Anniversary 1903

Family Record

56th Anniversary of Mr and Mrs J D Glenn was Selebrated at Mounds I. T. 1903. Jacon D Glenn was married to Elizabeth A Bransteter May 11th 1848 Their offSpring is as follows

Permilla Glenn was married to J.U. Matlock Sept 12th 1866

Children born 4 boys 7 girls

Grandchildren 22

Elizabeth E Glenn was married to Wm Carter

Children born 4 boys 3 girls

Grandchildren 7

Michael Glenn was married to Emma Attaberry

children born 1 son Grand Children 2

Page 2:

Minerva Glenn was married to Napoleon Carter

Children born 9 boys 2 girls

Mary J Glenn was married to Napolion Carter Sep 24th 1897

Children 1 boy 1 girl

Ollie A Glenn was married to Green C Beckham June 12th 1884

Childron born 2 boys 4 girls

Robert J Glenn was married to Ida E Berryhill Aug 9th 1894

Children 1 boy 2 girls

Ella Glenn was married to J. E. Petty Jan 17th 1892

Children born 1 Son

Back of page 1:
mother was Borned

1830

makes her 73

I started to mounds on 7 february 1893

Cum back the 13

(Transcription of letter)

Page 1

Back of page 1

Page 2

Ollie Glenn's Bible

Grace Ella Beckham

Hazel, Frieda, Grace and Bessie Beckham

Grace Ella Beckham

Grace Ella Beckham was born on January 12, 1902 in Phelps County, Missouri. She was the youngest child of Green Columbus Beckham and Ollie Agusta Glenn. She married Sydney Martin Copeland, son of William T Copeland and Martha Jane Allen, on January 20, 1921. They were marrried by the Reverend Edward M Romine.

Hazel Beckham Mikkelson and Grace Beckham Copeland

They have two children: Ivan (1921) and June (1923).

Dorothy, Bill Eckstein; Ivan & June Copeland; Kenneth & Lauren Beckham

On January 17, 1939, Ivan enlisted in the Navy in St Louis, Missouri. In april of the same year, he married Genieve Hudson.

On October 12, 1942, Sydney enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Jefferson Barracks.

The war years must have been very hard for Grace and June. June married Raymond E Prouhet in 1945.

After the war, they moved to Colorado Springs, but they continued to to stay in touch with their family in Missouri and they visited often.

Sydney died on May 17, 1991 and Grace died on October 6, 1994. They are buried in the St James Cemetery, St James, Phelps County, Missouri.

Bessie Beckham and George Rinehart

Wedding Photo

George and Bessie were married on July 9, 1909. Children were Delmer Bernd (1911-1982), Ollie Marie (1916-2005), George Milton (1923-2002) and Edna Ella Elizabeth ( 1928-2007).

In 1910, George and Bessie were living in Johnson Township, Maries County, Missouri

Bessie Beckham Rinehart & Delmer, Hazel Mikkelson, Green Beckham, Ollie Glenn Beckham, Mary Carter, Fred Eckstein, Frieda Eckstein, Grace Copeland, Christina Beckham, Elizabeth Glenn holding Virginia Beckham and Ollie Marie Rinehart, Roy Beckham & Vivian

September 12, 1918 WW I Draft Registration

In 1920, George and Bessie were living in Johnson Township, Maries County, Missouri with their son Delmar and their daughter Ollie Marie.

Delmar and Ollie Marie

In 1930, George and Bessie were living in Johnson Township, Maries County, Missouri, with son George and daughters Ollie Marie and Edna. George's father, John Rinehart, was living with them. Delmar is working a farm belonging to Frank and Emily Kastner in Washington, Dallas County, Iowa. 

Clarence Hendrix, John Wright, Tom Branstetter, John Clark Dawson Copeland, Mary Clark, Mary Lutz, Kate Penecost, Bessie Rinehart, George Rinehart, Rosie Wright, John Rinehart, Sophia Branstetter, George Lutz

 Bessie died on August 5, 1935.

Brother Ragsdale at Bessie's funeral

Bessie in buried in Oak Grove Cemetery