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FormatJournal Article
Author, AnalyticKrause, Bonnie J.
Title, AnalyticThe German Saxon Community in the Illinois Mississippi River Bottoms
Journal TitleYearbook of German-American Studies
Date of Publication2004
Volume ID39
Location in Work23-36, ill.
Language or Document TypeEnglish
ISSN0741-2827
AbstractDuring the early nineteenth century, thousands of Germans immigrated, enticed by [Gottfried] Duden's Report [on a Journey to the Western States of North America]. One of those inspired to lead others to emigrate from Saxony, the Saxon Duchies and Saxon Province of Prussia was Martin Stephan, an ultra conservative clergyman. . . . By 1837 he formed an Emigration Association with plans to move from Dresden to Hamburg . . . from Hamburg . . . to New Orleans, then to St. Louis by steamboat. In St. Louis the group would choose a site for their colony. . . . Between 3 and 18 November 1838, 665 people departed from Bremen on five ships. One ship, the Amalia with fifty-eight people on board, was lost at sea. The remaining voyagers arrived in St. Louis during January and February 1839. Four-fifths of the immigrants were farmers and craftsmen. In May 1839, they purchased 4,475 acres of private and government land for $9,234.25 in Perry County, Missouri. The Missouri colonists later separated into six major settlements: Altenburg, Nieder Frohna, Dresden, Seelitz, Johannisberg, and Wittenberg. The Missouri colonies continued to grow and eventually crossed the Mississippi River to create a new colony in Fountain Bluff, Jackson County, Illinois.
NotesIncludes bibliographical references
Call NumberMKI Periodicals
MKI TermsGerman Americans -- Illinois/ Emigration and immigration (Germany-US)/ German Americans -- Missouri/ Lutherans/ Personal narratives