Anton E. Ehlers

The following family record dated October 1914 was written about four years earlier by Anton E Ehlers and submitted by Joyce Marriot, his great granddaughter. It was also in the newspaper at the time of his death and was found in Esther Meyer's scrapbook.

"As my grandfather, Anton Ehlers who came to America in 184, liked it here quite well we left the Fatherland for America on August 14, 1853. On the 18th of August, Mother and brother Carl fell some seven feet. The former's neck being broken and she was buried the next night in the ocean in a strong box coffin and sail cloth near the Island of Helgoland. Brother Carl broke his arm in the fall but it was not noticed until healed and he died on October 5 and was buried in the same way. We arrived at New Orleans on October 10th; took steamboat for St Louis, arriving there October 29. Left St Louis the next day and arrived at Boonville November 1. From Boonville we came to this neighborhood on foot our things being hauled on ox-wagons. Those who came with us and settled here were Barnhard Witte and family, John Mangels and family, Jacob Cordes and family, Cord Ehlers and bride. John Koenke and Miss Betha Haase.

"In 1854 my father entered 200 acres in Sections 32 and 38, Township 44, Range 19. In 1859 I bought the land and paid $200 for it. On the 13th of June 1861 I enlisted in the Benton County Home Guards and was in the Battle at Cole Camp. I also served in the 2nd Regiment Mo Inft Vol from October 23, 1861 to March 11, 1863.

"In December 1865 I went home and there being five of us by name of Anton, my name was changed to Anton E, another to Anton A, one to Anton G and one to Anton C."