Muehlhausen, Thuringia, Germany
John Christian Mohrstadt was born was born in Muehlhausen, Thuringia, in
1834, and came to this country in 1852. Mühlhausen is a city in the federal state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the Unstrut-Hainich district, and lies along the river Unstrut. Although an article at the time of his death said the trip to this country was made with the intention of travel and pleasure, the timing lend itself to the possibility that John may have participated in the revolution of 1848 in Germany. After this revolution was lost many of the young men left Germany for America, Australia and Africa, some by choice and some to escape the law.
1834, and came to this country in 1852. Mühlhausen is a city in the federal state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the Unstrut-Hainich district, and lies along the river Unstrut. Although an article at the time of his death said the trip to this country was made with the intention of travel and pleasure, the timing lend itself to the possibility that John may have participated in the revolution of 1848 in Germany. After this revolution was lost many of the young men left Germany for America, Australia and Africa, some by choice and some to escape the law.
Dantazig, Germany
Justine Schroder was born in Dantazig, Germany on the 18th of February
1840. We know little of her early life in Germany. We do have records of Justine arriving in New York City on December 19 1854 with Her Father Michael, mother Anna and brother Carl aboard the Ship Donau. From New York, we believe, they made their way to Cincinnati Ohio.
1840. We know little of her early life in Germany. We do have records of Justine arriving in New York City on December 19 1854 with Her Father Michael, mother Anna and brother Carl aboard the Ship Donau. From New York, we believe, they made their way to Cincinnati Ohio.
Cincinatti Ohio about 1850
During John trip to America he met Miss Justina Schroeder in Cincinnati and they were married in late 1850s. Their marriage is noted in the book titled Restored Hamilton County Marriages 1850-1859. John is listed as Carl.
Camp Jackson Memorial St. Louis
Currently we have no record for when John and Justine move to St. Louis and are unable to find them in the census for 1860. We do know that John served as a private in the 3rd Missouri Infantry from May 8th 1861 to August 18 1861. The couple would have arrived in St. Louis prior to this time.
This regiment was organized at Turner Hall in the City of St. Louis early in the year and was mustered into the US Services. The regiment participated in the Capture of Camp Jackson. It was mustered out on August 18, 1861 and John was discharged August 20, 1861. Camp Jackson was located in the
area between Grand Ave and Garrison St. and Lindell Blvd. and Laclede Ave. in St. Louis and part of the camps area is now the ground of Frost Campus of St. Louis University.
The 3rd US Reserve Corp also protected the Pacific & Southwest Branch Railroads, and took up an expedition to the Southwest, via Springfield, then turning northward, to join Lyon. The Third and Fifth Regiments, under command of Colonel Sigel, met a large force of the enemy ten miles north of Carthage, and, after a spirited engagement, made a successful retreat to Springfield. From here a portion of the Regiment, including John, returned to St. Louis on the 25th of July to be mustered out due to expiration of their term of service.
From January 30 1862 to October 1 1862 John was in Company K 5th Missouri Cavalry. The unit was organized at St. Joseph in 1862 and saw duty in Central District of Missouri till February, 1863. The units operations included Carroll, Ray and Livingston Counties, Grand River as well as Liberty and Sibley's Landing.
This regiment was organized at Turner Hall in the City of St. Louis early in the year and was mustered into the US Services. The regiment participated in the Capture of Camp Jackson. It was mustered out on August 18, 1861 and John was discharged August 20, 1861. Camp Jackson was located in the
area between Grand Ave and Garrison St. and Lindell Blvd. and Laclede Ave. in St. Louis and part of the camps area is now the ground of Frost Campus of St. Louis University.
The 3rd US Reserve Corp also protected the Pacific & Southwest Branch Railroads, and took up an expedition to the Southwest, via Springfield, then turning northward, to join Lyon. The Third and Fifth Regiments, under command of Colonel Sigel, met a large force of the enemy ten miles north of Carthage, and, after a spirited engagement, made a successful retreat to Springfield. From here a portion of the Regiment, including John, returned to St. Louis on the 25th of July to be mustered out due to expiration of their term of service.
From January 30 1862 to October 1 1862 John was in Company K 5th Missouri Cavalry. The unit was organized at St. Joseph in 1862 and saw duty in Central District of Missouri till February, 1863. The units operations included Carroll, Ray and Livingston Counties, Grand River as well as Liberty and Sibley's Landing.
African American Civil War Memorial
From August 26 1863 to December 5th 1865 John was a Captain in 56th USC Infantry, Arkansas Volunteers, 3rd Regiment Infantry (African Decent). This group was organized at St. Louis, Mo., August 12, 1863 and attached to District of Eastern Arkansas. The group was ordered to Helena, Ark, and post duty there and at Little Rock till March 1864. Expedition included from Helena up White River, and up St. Francis River. Later the designation of the regiment changed to 56th U.S.Colored Troops which was organized March 11, 1864 and attached to Department of Arkansas till September, 1866.
The regiment’s service included post and garrison duty at Helena, Arkansas, till February, 1865 as well as action at Indian Bay, Muffleton Lodge, Wallace's Ferry and Big Creek.
Captain John C. Mohrstadt was later honored as one of the white officers whose name appears on the African American Civil War Memorial located in Washington DC. (Plaque Number: C-68)
The regiment’s service included post and garrison duty at Helena, Arkansas, till February, 1865 as well as action at Indian Bay, Muffleton Lodge, Wallace's Ferry and Big Creek.
Captain John C. Mohrstadt was later honored as one of the white officers whose name appears on the African American Civil War Memorial located in Washington DC. (Plaque Number: C-68)
St. Louis 1860
From the birthplaces of their children we know that the family did move several times during this period. Antoinette was born in St. Louis in March 1861.The family moved to Arkansas after March, 1863 when Emile was born and prior to Adolph birth in 1865. The family later moved to Tennessee where Charles was born in February, 1868. By the time of Herman's birth in July 1869, the family was again located in St. Louis, Missouri. Their sixth child, Oscar, was born in St. Louis in 1871. The move to Arkansas was for his command in 3rd Arkansas Infantry where he was mustered out of the service in November 10th 1865. Currently we are unaware of why the family moved to Tennessee.
Anzeiger des Westens building St. Louis Missouri
The1870 census finds the family in St. Louis and notes that John is a Clerk in an association office and a citizen. John worked for the Anzeiger des Westens, a German Newspaper, as a bookkeeper and business manager, from 1874-1885. An interesting article from the Globe Democrat on February 14th, 1876 showed that John and his wife Justine have a sense of humor. The article was on the Grand Masquerade Ball of the singing society Arion Des Westens. It noted that John and Justine wore a suit and a dress made entirely from the newspaper he worked for, The Anzeiger des Westens. This ball was part of the Carnival season that was widely celebrated in St. Louis at that time.
Mohrstadts and Unknown with Anna, Antoinette and Arthur At Train Station
The 1880 census finds John living at 3301 Caswell St. and he is noted as being a clerk at a printing company. From an article entitled Local Breverties from the St. Louis Post Dispatch dated May 6th 1881, we note that marriage of his oldest daughter Antoinette to Theodore Wuthenow took place at the residence on Caswell Street. Sometime after leaving the paper in 1885 and prior to the Veterans census in 1890 John relocated to Danville in Montgomery County Missouri. According to his granddaughter Vera Knorth, JC was the prosecuting Attorney of Montgomery County Missouri for many years
Mohrstadt Home at 3945 McRee in 1990
In 1901 they returned to St. Louis and located at 3945 McRee Avenue, just a few blocks from daughter Antoinette Wuthenow and appear in that years city directory. In May of 1907 John and Justine celebrated their golden (fiftieth) wedding anniversary with a party at the home of their daughter. John received a cane trimmed in gold and both received a clock. The event was noted in the newspaper. One week later on May 23 1907 John excused himself from his wife at approximately 2 PM, saying he was going to rest, he then shot himself. John had been suffering from locomotor ataxia, a disorder of the nervous system marked by disturbance of gait and difficulty in coordination of voluntary movements. The funeral took place from his home on Thursday May 23, 1907 after which he was cremated and then placed in Hillcrest Abbey in St. Louis Missouri. A number of articles in the local paper noted his passing.
The interior of the Columbarium
Justine lived for a few years after her husband death with son Charles’s family at 4162 Shaw Avenue. However in 1910 she returned to the house on McRee Avenue, where her son Oscar had been living and stayed there for the remainder of her days. She died on Friday January 16, 1914 at 10:00 A.M. after a short illness. Justine was cremated and then placed in Hillcrest Abbey in St. Louis Missouri.
It is interesting to note that 2 sons, Charles and Oscar, were both sheriffs of St. Louis at one time. Great-grandson John Prentiss attempted to keep the Globe Democrat Newspaper publishing in the mid 80's, purchasing and becoming its last Editor, however the attempt was not successful. Son Emil was appointed by Governor Lon V. Stephens as receiver of the Fifth National Bank when it failed in 1888. He later started and became president of the Bank of Dexter. He organized the Dexter Manufacturing Company, one of the largest in the community, and the first telephone company in the area. He also did extensive farming. His wife, the former Miss Elizabeth Brummond of Chicago, had her extensive musical training under Ziegfeld.
