F A M I L Y   o f   G E O R G E   W E T T E R O T H    

 

Compiled by Robert Buecher, 5400 Pernod Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63139-1537

e-mail:  rgb7847@aol.com

[revised: 30 July 2006]

 

 

[The following information corrects and updates the family sketch that was published on page 574 of the HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IL, VOLUME 1, published in 1988 by the St. Clair County, IL, Genealogical Society]

 

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George WETTEROTH was born 21 Jan. 1810 at Gross-Bieberau, Hessen Darmstadt, and baptised “Johann Georg WETTEROTH” on 23 January 1810 by the minister of the Evangelical Church there [1] .  He was the second child and first son of master locksmith, Johann Ludwig WETTEROTH (1777-1842) and his wife, Anna Maria (nee RUTZ) (1787-1840). 

 

His parents supposedly settled in the Millstadt [2]  area of St. Clair County, Illinois, in 1838 [3] , where the mother, Anna Maria, died on 27 January 1840 [4] and, his father,  Johann Ludwig , died on 10 September 1842 [5].  His parents were early members of Zion Evangelical Church at Millstadt which had been founded in Jan. 1836 by Rev. Johann Jacob RIESS.  Both are buried in the church's cemetery (Freivogel Cemetery) which is located south of Millstadt at the intersection of Saxtown Road and Mueller Road, although neither one has a tombstone.

 

Gross-Bieberau is a town in the County ["Landkreis"] of Dieburg and is located 12 kilometers (about 7 1/2 miles) southeast of the large city of Darmstadt.  In July 1993 after the reunification of Germany, its postal code number was “64401 Gross-Bieberau”.  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has filmed the Evangelical Church records for this town from 1576-1904.

 

George WETTEROTH emigrated to the United States by himself on the “Brig Weser” which left Bremen, Germany, and arrived at Baltimore, Maryland on 25 Aug. 1834.  The ship passenger list [6] records him as # 55, Georg WETTERODT [name mispelled]; age 24; occupation lock-smith; and his baggage consisted of “one part mankorn clothing”.  Nearly all the passengers aboard this ship were from the town of Gross-Bieberau.  On this same ship were the families of Johann Leonhard BALTZ and Carl SCHUCHMANN who were also early settlers of St. Clair County, Illinois.

 

It is not known if George went directly to St. Louis after his landing in Baltimore in August 1834. The next record that has been found for him is his marriage to Anna Katharina MUELLER in St. Louis, MO on 18 August 1837.  The wedding was performed by George W. WALL, pastor of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Church [7] [now Holy Ghost United Church of Christ] of St. Louis.  The witnesses were recorded as: “Wilhelm Mueller, father of the bride” and “Friederich Mueller, brother of the bride.” 

 

The marriage is also recorded with the City of St. Louis [8] .  This marriage record states:

 

I certify, that I have this day joined in the holy bonds of Matrimony, Mr. John George WETTERLOCK of Grossbiberau and Miss Mary Katharine MULLER of Branden, Hessia Darmstadt.

 

Certified by me this eighteenth day of the month of August A. D. 1837.

Recorded Sept. 1st 1837                     Revd. G. W. WALL, German Protestant Preacher

 

It should be noted that George's last name is mispelled and that the bride's name should be “Anna Katharina MUELLER”.  The record also mispells "Gross Bieberau" and "Brandau".

 

According to her baptism record [9], Anna Katharina MUELLER was born at 9 o'clock in the evening on 27 Nov. 1805 at Brandau, Hessen Darmstadt.  She was the 3rd child and 3rd daughter of master blacksmith, Johann Wilhelm MUELLER (1776-1840) and his wife, Anna Margaretha (nee BITSCH) (1780-1832). She was baptised on 1 December 1805.

 

Brandau is a small village in the County [“Landkreis”] of Dieburg and is located 14 kilometers (8 1/2 miles) south of the large city of Darmstadt.  Brandau is so small in size that it does not have its own postal code number and instead shares its number (64397) with the neighboring village of Modautal .  The town also does not have it’s own Evangelical church but instead is part of the “Evangelische Kirche” of the neighboring town of Neunkirchen.  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has microfilmed the Evangelical Church records for Neunkirchen (and Brandau) for the years 1596-1887.

 

Her father, Johann Wilhelm MUELLER, also known as Wilhelm MUELLER, first settled in St. Louis, MO about 1834 and about 1838 moved to the Millstadt area of St. Clair County, IL.  According to his burial record [10] , Wilhelm MUELLER died on 21 Dec. 1840 at the age of 64 years and was buried on his son's farm.  Her mother, Anna Margaretha (BITSCH) MUELLER had previously died on 20 March 1832 while the family still resided in Brandau, Germany. 

 

The George WETTEROTH family lived in St. Louis from their marriage in 1837 until at least 1844 and it was here that their three (3) children were born: Elizabeth in 1839, Louis in 1841, and Fred (Friedrich) in 1844.  Although this family resided in St. Louis, for some unknown reason the family is NOT listed in the St. Louis City Directories for 1836-37, 1838-39, and 1840-41.  The 1845 Directory, p. 183, lists a "Wetteroth, George, blacksmith, ws Sixth n of Chesnut" [westside of Sixth, north of Chesnut].  During the years that the WETTEROTH family lived in St. Louis, they belonged to the Holy Ghost Evangelical Church [11] and it is here where the couple were married in 1837 and where their daughter Elisabethe [12] was baptised in June 1839 and their son Louis [13] was baptised in May 1842.

 

The 1840 Federal Census [14] of the City of St. Louis, Ward 3, page 45, line 9, lists the family as:

 

George WHETROADE          [name mispelled; head of the house]

1 male 5-10 years old                   [name unknown]

1 male 30-40 years old                  [this was George born in 1810]

1 female under 5 years old              [this was Elizabeth born in 1839]

1 female 30-40 years old                [this was Anna Katharina born in 1805]

                                       

It is also known from records of the Circuit Court in St. Louis, that both “Johann George WETTERROFT [mispelled]” (age 30) and his brother, “Johann Peter WETTERROTH” (age 24) filed their Declarations of Intent to become American citizens on 15 June 1840 [15] .

 

Although he was living in St. Louis, on Feb. 29, 1840, George bought property in Section 9 of Township 2 South, Range 9 West [south part of Millstadt Township], in St. Clair Co., IL, from Thos. HOUGHAN [16] .

 

According to intestate records of St. Clair County, IL, “John George WETTEROTH of the County of St. Clair” died on or about the 13 September 1845.  On 6 October 1845 his widow, “Anna Catharine WETTEROTH of St. Clair County” was appointed administratix of his estate by John D. Hughes, Probate Justice of the Peace.

 

On 28 Sep. 1846, Anna K. WETTEROTH bought lot 56 in block 8 in Millstadt [then called Centreville] from Chas. L. WUNDT [17] .  This lot is located at the southeast corner of White and Main streets, where the Millstadt Post Office is located in 2006.  She probably chose Millstadt since  she had 2 sisters and a brother who were then residing in the Millstadt area.

 

The family is listed as follows in the 1850 Federal Census [18] [Roll 126; St. Clair County, IL; District 11, Centreville; page 311 (handwritten number); Family # 2421; census taken 30 Nov. 1850]:

 

WETHERODE [WETTEROTH],  Anna C.  ( * )  age 46;  female;  born in Germany

WETHERODE [WETTEROTH],  Elizabeth;   age 13;  female;  born in Mo.

WETHERODE [WETTEROTH],  Fredrick L. [Louis];   age 8;  male;  born in Mo.

WETHERODE [WETTEROTH],  John F. [Friedrich];   age 6;  male;  born in Mo.

 

            *  census lists her as having $1,000 in ‘real estate’

 

            ****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

In St. Clair County, IL, on 18 Feb. 1852, Anna married her second husband, George WAHLENMEYER.  The marriage was performed by Rev. John WETTLE and it was recorded with the Clerk of St. Clair County [19].  From his burial record at Zion Church, Millstadt, we learn that her second husband was born 26 January 1822 in Kaisersbach, Wuerttemberg and died in Millstadt at the home of his step-son, Fred WETTEROTH, on 8 May 1893.  Burial was in the Old Millstadt Cemetery, although no tombstone exists for him.

 

George's last name has numerous spellings and it is unclear which is the correct one.  It is spelled:

    

"WAHLENMEYER" on the marriage license in 1852;

"WAHLENMEIER" on his will in 1893;

"WAHLMEIER" on his wife's death certificate in 1887;

"WALLMEIER" on his wife's burial record at Zion Church in 1887 and on the 1870 Census;

"WAHLENMAYER" in the 1860 Census;

"WAHLMEYER" in the 1880 Census and in Anna's brief death notice published in the Weekly Advocate, Belleville, IL in 1887.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

The family is found as follows on the 1860 Federal Census [Roll 224; St. Clair Co., IL; Millstadt; page 44 & 45; dwelling/family # 312/332]:

 

WAHLENMAYER, Geo.;   age 37;   occupation: cooper;   born: Wuertemberg

WAHLENMAYER,  Anna C.;  age 54;   born: Hesse Darmstadt

WETTERROTH, Eliz.;   age 21;   born Missouri

WETTERROTH, Louis F.;   age 18;  occupation: Cooper;   born Missouri

WETTERROTH, John A. [Friedrich];   age 16;   born Missouri

SIEBERT, Geo. W.;   age 21;   occupation: Merchant Clerk;   born Illinois

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

The 1870 Federal Census of St. Clair County, IL lists them as: [Roll 280; Centreville [Millstadt]; page 9; printed page 590; family # 67/68; census taken 16 June 1870]:

 

WERTHROTH [Wetteroth],  Fred;   age 26;   occupation Cooper;   born Missouri

WALLMEIER, George;   age 52;   occupation:  Cooper;   born: Nassau

WALLMEIER, Catharine;  age 63;   occupation: Keeping house;   born: Darmstadt

 

Both Fred and his step-father, George, are listed in this census as being U. S. Citizens and George is noted as having a $600 personal estate.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

Fred WETTEROTH married Sophia WAGNER in August 1870 [20] and the two families are found as follows in the 1880 Federal Census [Roll 247; St. Clair County, IL: City of Millstadt; page 45; dwelling 165; family 188]:

 

WETHEROD [Wetteroth], Fred;  age 36;  Cooper;   born in Mo.  [note 1]

WETHEROD [Wetteroth], Sophia ;  age 29;  occupation: keeping house;  born in Louisiana [note 2]

WETHEROD [Wetteroth], Sophia ;  age 8;  dau. - at school ;  born in Ills

WETHEROD [Wetteroth], Louis;  age 6 ;  son - at school;  born in Ills.     

WETHEROD [Wetteroth], William ;  age 6/12;  son - at home ;  born in Ills.

 

family 189 WAHLMEYER, George;  age 58;  occupation: Cooper;  born in Wurtenberg & both parents

family 189 WAHLMEYER, Katherina;  age 74;  keeping house;  born in Hessen D. & both parents

 

    NOTE 1: both of Fred's parents are listed as being born in Hessen D. [Hessen Darmstadt]

 

    NOTE 2: both of Sophia's parents are listed as being born in Lothr. [Lothringen, France]

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

A street map of Millstadt that was published in an 1874 atlas [21], shows that "G. Wallmeyer" was living in the southeast part of town.

 

Different records give both April 25 and April 26 as the death date for Anna Katharina WAHLENMEYER.  Her death certificate records it as 5:45 A. M. on April 25, 1887 at the age of 81 years and 6 months.  Her burial record at Zion Church [22], Millstadt, states that she died April 26th and her brief death notice in the Belleville newspaper [23] gives it as April 25th.  She died in Millstadt from pneumonia which she had 2 weeks according to her doctor, J. K. BERKEBILE of Millstadt.  Her burial was on April 27 in the Old Millstadt Cemetery with burial services conducted by Rev. Andreas MUELLER of Zion Evangelical Church.  The undertaker is listed on her death certificate as "Peter STRAUSS, Millstadt".

 

No tombstone has been found for either Anna or her second husband, George.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

The following three (3) children were born to George Wetteroth & Anna Katharina Mueller:

 

1.)  Elisabeth WETTEROTH 

            born:  12 April 1839 Saint Louis, Missouri

            died:  12 May 1904 Millstadt, Illinois

            married:  Jacob SEIB on 18 March 1863 in Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL

 

2.)  Louis WETTEROTH

            born:  18 Dec. 1841 Saint Louis, MO

            died:  7 July 1926 Millstadt, IL

            married:  Dorothea Elise FLITTNER on 12 April 1866 in Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt

 

3.)  Fred WETTEROTH

            born:  25 February 1844 Saint Louis, MO  [24]

            died:  18 April 1907 Belleville, IL

            married:  Sophia WAGNER on 9 August 1870 in Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL

 

 

 


[1]  Evangelische Kirche, Gross Bieberau (Kreis Dieburg); “Taufen” (Baptisms), 1810.  Microfilm # 1197450.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City

[2]  Millstadt was originally founded in March 1837 with the name of “Centreville” since it was mid-way between Belleville & Columbia.  The new town of Centreville was platted & surveyed on 13 March 1837 with 40 lots.  This is the part of town roughly bounded by Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe Streets.  On Sept. 14, 1878, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Centreville passed a revised ordinance to change the name of the village to “Village of Millstadt”.

[3]  Evangelische Kirche, Gross Bieberau;  “Familienbuecher” (1801-1858), Family # 95.  Microfilm # 1197455.  FHL

[4]  Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, Illinois;  burial records, 1840 # 2 “Anna Margaretha Wetterroth”

[5]  ibid;  burial records, 1842 # 6 “Johann Ludwig Wetterroth”

[6]  U. S. National Archives Microfilm Series M255 (Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Baltimore, 1820-1891), microfilm roll # M 255-01; ship # 52

[7]  Harmon, Dr. Shirley & Esther Laumbattus;  Holy Ghost United Church of Christ of St. Louis, Missouri, Baptism & Marriage Records 1833-1843. (published by Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 2002), page 13

[8]  Recorder of Deeds, City of St. Louis, Missouri;  Book 2, page 59. 

[9]  Evangelische Kirche Neunkirchen (Kreis Dieburg) [includes Brandau];  “Taufen” (Baptisms), year 1805, entry # 76 “Anna Katharina Mueller”.  Microfilm # 1600054.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City.

[10]  Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL;  burial records, 1840 # 16 “Johann Wilhelm Mueller”

[11]  Holy Ghost Evangelical Church was formed in 1834 and was the first German Protestant Church in St. Louis city.  The congregation met in Methodist and Presbyterian churches until 1840 when the congregation dedicated its first building on the northwest corner of 7th St. and Clark Ave.   A larger church at 8th & Walnut Streets served from 1858 - 1895.

[12]  Harmon, Dr. Shirley & Esther Laumbattus;  Holy Ghost United Church of Christ of St. Louis, Missouri, Baptism & Marriage Records 1833-1843. (published by Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 2002), page 109, baptism of  “Elisabetha Wetteroth”

[13] Holy Ghost United Church of Christ of St. Louis, Missouri, Baptism & Marriage Records 1833-1843; page 169, baptism of  “Friederich Ludwig Wetteroth”

[14]  the 1840 Federal Census of the US, only lists the name of the head of the household followed by the number of males and females in various age categories

[15]  Declaration of Intent, St. Louis [Missouri] Circuit Court; recorded in Volume S, pages 124 & 125

[16]  Recorder of Deeds,  St. Clair County, Illinois, Book L, page 74

[17]  Recorder of Deeds, St. Clair County, IL;  Book Q, page 583

[18]  The 1850 Federal Census of the US is the first one to attempt to name each living person in 1850 and give their age (in years), their state or country of birth, and their occupation.

[19]  Clerk of St. Clair County, Illinois; marriage license # 3203

[20]  Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, Illinois;  marriage records, 1870 # 10, “Johann Friedrich Wetterroth & Sophie Wagner”

[21]  An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Clair Co., Illinois.  (Published by Warner & Beers, Chicago; 1874); page 92

[22]  Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL; burial record, 1887 # 166 “Anna Katharine Wallmeier”

[23]  WEEKLY ADVOCATE, Belleville, IL, Friday, April 29, 1887, page 5, column 1

[24]  Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, Illinois;  baptism records, 1844 # 9 “Johann Friedrich Wetteroth”