How German Lutheran immigrants found their home in Perry County, Missouri
Abby Throndson, Aubrey Atkins, Jacob Richey, & Davis Dirks
When looking into the history of Perry County, Missouri, you’re sure to discover the prominence of the German Lutheran immigration movement in the late 1830s. These immigrants came to the United States following the publication of German explorer Gottfried Duden’s book “Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America,” which inspired German immigration to Missouri.
The German Lutherans ended up having a great impact on Perry County, Missouri, as well as religious life across the Midwest through the creation of the Missouri Synod.
Origins and motives for immigration
In the decades following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, groups from all across Germany began immigrating to the United States. For most, the reasons for emigration largely included economic and political instability in Germany following 1815 — a direct result of these wars.
The same can be said for many of the German immigrants from Saxony. Saxony suffered a series of major losses that peaked with Prussia taking a large portion of Saxon land. For the group of around 650 Lutherans in Saxony who eventually made their way to Perry County, Missouri, however, economic and political motivations were not nearly as important as religious ones.
With the Napoleonic Wars came the rise of unionism and rationalism, a school of thought that emphasized reason over religious belief. A very conservative religious group, the Lutherans directly opposed rationalism and unionism and feared for the conservation of their faith. Potentially their largest motivation for leaving, these two concepts are repeatedly referenced in Saxon writings about the departure from Saxony.
Paired with a state-controlled Lutheran church that allowed for little religious freedom and the increasing inability to oversee their own churches and schools, the Lutherans decided the situation was untenable.
Thanks to the inspiration of Martin Stephan and Gottfried Duden, these Saxons chose Missouri as their new home and set off in 1838.
Finding a new home in Missouri
Though 650 Saxons left for the United States in November 1838, only two-thirds of them made it. Four of the five chartered boats arrived in New Orleans — while one never made it, presumably lost at sea.
From their New Orleans landing, the Lutheran Saxons traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where some of the immigrants found jobs in trade, rather than farming. However, some still sought to create a settlement. While there was better land closer to St. Louis, a group of Lutheran Saxons headed south to Perry County to establish a settlement at Wittenberg, which had a landing on the Mississippi River.
From there, they branched off into several settlements in Brazeu Township, including Altenburg, which became the home of the first Evangelical Lutheran college west of the Mississippi River.
German Lutherans’ impact
When the Saxon Lutherans settled in Missouri, they made quick work of making it home. Louise Buenger Robbert wrote for the Missouri Historical Review, “even before they built permanent dwellings and within six months of their arrival, the German Lutherans organized schools for their children.”
The Lutherans valued education and thus created schools and opportunities for their children to learn. They founded schools in St. Louis and Perry County, including the Concordia Seminary, teaching children a wide variety of subjects like languages, math, natural history, geography and music.
Similarly, the Saxon immigrants valued religion and established churches where they were settled. Having immigrated for religious freedom, these worship spaces were especially important to them and gave them a sense of community and togetherness. Their contribution to religious life stretched beyond Perry County, though — the Concordia College led to the development of the Missouri Synod, which became the most powerful member of the nationwide Synodical Conference.
Trials and tribulations
A leader who influenced a great number of Germans to make the move to Missouri and Perry County, Martin Stephan’s legacy as part of the German immigration movement was nothing short of controversial.
He was a trusted figure by many and was believed to have a plan to bring success to anyone who came with him. Although, that only lasted until the plan became a reality.
He soon lost trust after their arrival after there were many negative allegations against him, some of which were over sexual misconduct and other highly negative matters. He had begun building his colony in Perry County, although he was almost an outsider by the time this was happening.
Stephan’s controversies nearly led to the demise of the settlement and newfound Evangelical Lutheran college, as many settlers felt uncertain about their place in the church after idolizing someone who ended up harming those around him.
However, the village came together and eventually decided to outcast and ban Stephan from the area in the Altenburg Debates. He was forced to move away, where he then settled in Prairie, Illinois. All his power was lost and he essentially ruined his image and lost all he had created.
It was an unfortunate matter as he could have been a leader for many more to make this journey although he ultimately was the one who led to his own demise.
Ultimately, the beginnings of German history in Perry County were not easy. The Lutherans faced many challenges — from even finding a place to settle, to sustaining their relationship with each other and making their settlement last. But the group persisted and brought German culture to Missouri, helping create the state culture we know today.
