Skip to content
  • Johann Floersch Story: “State vs. Floersch…Late Justice”
    • Germany
    • Settlers
    • Killing
    • Trial
    • Prison
    • Aftermath
    • Civil War
  • Missouri – Helpful Links and Historical Info
  • Floersch Family Site – See Reunion 2022!
Michael Floersch, youngest son of Johann
Johann Floersch
  • Johann Floersch Story: “State vs. Floersch…Late Justice”
    • Germany
    • Settlers
    • Killing
    • Trial
    • Prison
    • Aftermath
    • Civil War
  • Missouri – Helpful Links and Historical Info
  • Floersch Family Site – See Reunion 2022!
Menu Close
  • Johann Floersch Story: “State vs. Floersch…Late Justice”
    • Germany
    • Settlers
    • Killing
    • Trial
    • Prison
    • Aftermath
    • Civil War
  • Missouri – Helpful Links and Historical Info
  • Floersch Family Site – See Reunion 2022!

Johann Floersch

  • Hochborn (Blödes Heim)June 4, 0782
    Blödes Heim in German means “dimwitted home”. Hochborn From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hochborn (until 1971: Blödesheim) is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. This Ortsgemeinde earned a Germany-wide media presence in early 2001 when a television spot from […]
  • Hesse-DarmstadtJune 4, 1567
    former landgraviate, Germany Alternate titles: Hessen-Darmstadt By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Date: 1567 – 1945 Key People: Wilhelm Heinrich August, Freiherr von GagernErnest Louis Related Places: Germany Hesse-Darmstadt, German Hessen-darmstadt, former landgraviate, grand duchy, and state of Germany. It was formed in 1567 in the division of old Hesse; after Hesse-Kassel was absorbed by […]
  • St. George Catholic Church, Frettenheim GermanyJanuary 1, 1759
    Written by Paul Floersch, sharing from extensive research on early life in Germany. (Frank Floersch lineage.  Johann, Michael, Frank, Paul Floersch Sr.,  Paul Floersch Jr, Mark Floersch, Paul Floersch) Theology has a way of being strikingly personal. This is one of the major points I have learned since I have been here in Rome.  It […]
  • The French Revolution and GermanyJune 4, 1789
    The French Revolution, which erupted in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille in Paris, at first gained the enthusiastic approval of some German intellectuals, who welcomed the proclamation of a constitution and a bill of rights. Within a few years, most of this support had dissipated, replaced by fear of a newly aggressive French […]
  • The Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt: A HistoryJune 4, 1806
    Pictured above: Ludwig I- First Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt I. A Brief Introduction The Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt (it would be more properly termed the Grand Duchy of Hesse but the former title will be used throughout this history to avoid confusion with the elector state of Hesse-Kassel) rose out of the ashes of the […]
  • Bill of Sale – Real Estate – GermanyApril 22, 1843
    Bill of Sale – Johann & Elisabetha – Real Estate Property, April 22, 1843
  • Assignment of Power of Attorney by Johann – GermanyApril 22, 1843
    Assignment of Power of Attorney by Johann Floersch, April 22, 1843
  • Land Register – GermanyMay 1, 1843
    Property registers afford a very specific artifact reflecting the conditions in place when Johann and family decided to emigrate from Germany to the United States in 1843. Political and social Conditions in Germany in Early 19th Century History marks the French Revolution as a period of major social and political change. The effects reverberated throughout […]
  • Robert Patton Purchase 160 Acres (Johann Later Purchase) MAY 23 1843May 23, 1843
    Earlier Township map showing Robert Patton having purchased the 160 acre 1/4 Section of Section 21 on May 23, 1843, just 5 months before John Floersch purchased it on Oct 23, 1843, from Robert Patton. Shown adjacent to this property is land purchased by Hall L. Wilkerson on 23 May, 1843. Hall Wilkerson was the […]
  • Family arrived in New Orleans on board the Queen VictoriaJuly 10, 1843
    Photo above: Port of New Orleans Where the Queen Victoria Arrived July 10, 1843 These files include a painting of the sailing ship Queen Victoria, built in 1838 at Bath Maine.Also included: – Copy of the original ship’s passenger list when it arrived at New Orleans on 10 July, 1843– A painting of the New […]
  • Johann Filed Declaration of Intent to become an American citizen JUL 29 1843July 29, 1843
    Copy of the original document filed in St. Louis, MO, by John Floersch 19 days after his arrival at the Port of New Orleans, registering his intention to become a citizen of the United States.
  • Johann Purchases 160 Acres From Robert PattonOctober 23, 1843
    Record from Platte County Recorder of deeds – for 800 pieces of money, likely German currency (Hamburg mark banco) would have to have been be converted to approximately US$278 (or $10,222 in 2015 dollars, see Historical currency converter).  October 23, 1843 Johann Floersch purchased 160 acres of land in Weston from Robert and Lucinda Patton […]
  • Estate of Henry Deitz: Assumpsit CaseMay 17, 1847
    On May 17, 1847, a hearing was held at the prompting of the Dietz Estate, seeking claims against Johann for services and provisions apparently provide at time the Floersch’s were settling into Weston. Following items were itemized: December 1843 8 days of labor on house at $1.25 per day – $10.00Pax 3 days worth attending […]
  • Jacob Granted US Citizenship JUN 3 1848June 3, 1848
  • Bridge Over Bee CreekJune 1, 1849
    A new State road having been opened on a straight course from Platte City to Weston, H.L. Wilkerson is appointed commissioner to construct a bridge over Bee Creek. June, 1849 H.L. Wilkerson agrees to build the bridge across Bee Creek on the direct road from Platte City to Weston for $2,200. August, 1849. -Annals of […]
  • THE JACKSON RESOLUTIONSJune 1, 1849
    According to the Paxton Annals of Platte County, Missouri, Hall Wilkerson is known to have voted in favor of the Jackson Resolutions, a strongly worded pro-slavery statement by the Missouri state legislature in 1849 -See Annals of Platte County, Missouri, by William McClung Paxton, p. 142 Early in the year 1849 there began a series […]
  • Phoenix Lodge No. 30 I.O.O.F. Buys Property in WestonAugust 1, 1849
    Independent Order of Odd Fellows Apparently there are similarities to the Free Masons. Masonry is not Christian, and at high levels is openly luciferian. To some degree, individual masons’ reluctance to reveal this to the “uninitiated” is due to ignorance of what happens in the higher degrees, but for some it’s a matter of fulfilling […]
  • California Gold Rush of 1849December 31, 1849
    Dec 31: The California emigration is the distinguishing feature of the year 1849. From three to four hundred of our most enterprising citizens fell victims to the gold fever. One-half never returned, and that half did well or died from home. The other half returned, broken in fortune, but satisfied with adventure. Paxton, p. 120
  • US Census RecordJanuary 1, 1850
  • An Abolitionist in WestonFebruary 1, 1850
    Frederick Starr, a Presbyterian minister from Rochester, N.Y., settles in Weston, as pastor of the Presbyterian Church. He was an outspoken Abolitionist: and during the border strife he fearlessly promulgated his principles, and built up, at Weston, a strong anti-slavery party. His life was often in danger from mob-violence. In the midst of the excitement, […]
  • CholeraJune 1, 1850
    The first visit of cholera to Platte City was this summer. A stranger got out of the stage, and commenced screaming and cramping, at the post office. A hasty consultation was held, and Judge Norton, H.H. Hope and W.M. Paxton determined to lead him to a vacant house, standing on the lot occupied the by […]
  • The Angelus: Reflections on the Missouri RiverJune 1, 1850
    By Paul Floersch – September 9, 2020 Joseph and I recently finished our canoe trip from Omaha to St. Louis. Joseph chose to continue down the Mississippi, and I returned home to resume Latin studies before entering the monastery, God willing, in October.For me, one of the most remarkable things about going down river on […]
  • JOHN BROWN IN KANSASJune 1, 1850
    Photo: The Life of John Brown, no. 16: In Spite of a Price on His Head, John Brown, in 1859, Liberated 12 Negroes From a Missouri Plantation [painting] / (photographed by Peter A. Juley & Son). See Civil War on the Western Border, The missouri-kansas conflict 1854-1865 Family lore has always alluded o the fact […]
  • Platte Lodge, No. 56, A.F. & A.M.February 28, 1851
    This lodge was incorporated by the Legislature, with N.M. Schrock, W.M.; W.E. Black, S.W.; and John E. Pitt, J.W. The lodge had been incorporated or charted by the Grand Lodge as early as 1846, and this legislative charter was to enable the lodge to hold the real estate it acquired the following year, when the […]
  • Jacob Marries Anna Smitz MAR 3 1851March 3, 1851
    Holy Trinity Catholic ChurchWeston, MO Copy of the original handwritten marriage record of Jacob Florsch (sic) and Anna Smitz filed at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 407 Cherry St, Weston, Missouri. Rev. Father Francis Rutkowski, Roman Catholic priest, Pastor of the Most Holy Trinity Church in Weston Mo., Platte County
  • Jacob purchased Lot 92 / Block 8 from Gotfred & F. Hattenback – $450 ($15,000) MAY 6 1851May 6, 1851
  • John Floersch Charged for Selling Liquor to SlavesJuly 1, 1851
    Filed Sept 10, 1851 Ira Norris, Clerk The State vs. John Floersch Dealing with Slaves Witnesses James Serrat John Quermott John Heed… Luther State of Missouri County of Platte In the Circuit Court September Tenth 1851 Platte County to wit: The Grand Jury?? For the state of Missouri for the Body of the County of […]
  • “Murder Most Foul and Unnatural”October 20, 1851
    Headline from Weekly Tribune, Liberty, Missouri, October 31, 1851 – page 2, column 3. The newspaper articles from the Weekly Tribune of Liberty, MO, illustrate the inflammatory rhetoric published about the incident. This reflects the extreme bias which existed at that time toward these German immigrants who found themselves surrounded by radical pro-slavery elements in […]
  • John and Sons Committed to Platte County JailOctober 22, 1851
    Platte County, MO
  • Brought before Justice of the peace to determine probable causeOctober 22, 1851
  • Platte County Sheriff Delivers Prisoners to Clay CountyNovember 14, 1851
  • Notified that a special term of court would be heldNovember 18, 1851
  • Grand Jury Summoned Before Judge William B. Almond of the 12th Circuit at Platte City to Determine if Johann and Sons Should be TriedNovember 18, 1851
  • Johann signed promissory note for $1000 to Bird, Doniphan, & Rees for Legal defense services ($33,000) NOV 28 1851November 28, 1851
  • Grand Jury Returns Indictment: Murder in the First Degree!December 2, 1851
  • “Not guilty” plea enteredDecember 3, 1851
  • Testimony of WitnessesDecember 3, 1851
  • Jacob Floersch sells Lot 92 / Block 8 to Peter Floersch – $150 ($5000) DEC 10 1851December 10, 1851
    Weston, MO
  • Request for Bail and Change of VenueDecember 13, 1851
  • Venue change to 5th Circuit Clay CountyDecember 19, 1851
    Clay County, MO
  • Jurors Assigned for John Floersch TrialFebruary 19, 1852
    Severance is granted to the affect that John Floersch will be tried separately from Jacob, Philip & Mathias Floersch and William Tooms. Jurors assigned to John Floersch are: James Henshaw Washington Willow Charles W. Berryman Peter McCauley James T. Hadley St. Clair Demmote John H. Cockrell Abraham Lincoln John H. Williams Albert Lincoln Henry Mailes […]
  • Jury named. John Floersch requests his trial be severed from othersFebruary 19, 1852
  • John Remanded to Jail and Jury SequesteredFebruary 20, 1852
  • Clay Circuit Court in SessionFebruary 20, 1852
    Liberty Tribune, Feb. 20, 1852 The Clay Circuit Court is now in session, Judge Dunn presiding. The case of the State vs. Wright, sent from Platte county, closed on Wednesday. The jury sentenced W. to three years imprisonment in the penitentiary. The trial of the Floersh’s for the murder of Hall Wilkerson, of Platte, is […]
  • Johann mortgaged farm to Alexander Doniphan & James Baldwin – $600 ($20K) FEB 23 1852February 23, 1852
  • Jury finds Johann Florsch guilty of 2nd degree murderFebruary 24, 1852
  • John Floersch files motion for new trial – overruled by courtFebruary 25, 1852
  • The State vs FloershFebruary 27, 1852
    Liberty Tribune February 27, 1852 Indictment for the Murder of Hall Wilkerson, of Platte In this case on Wednesday morning last, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree, and assessed his punishment to twenty four years in the Penitentiary. Similar prosecutions are pending against his sons as partines […]
  • Johann Florsch arrives at state prison in Jefferson CityMarch 8, 1852
  • Floersch Boys Escape from Liberty JailMarch 12, 1852
    Liberty jail was only open for 23 years – it was eventually closed due to the conditions being declared “inhuman”. The jail was not designed with the prisoners in mind – rather security for the jailer of primary concern, who stayed in the ground level deck, while the prisoners were secured below. The only access […]
  • Floersch boys returned to Liberty JailMarch 13, 1852
  • John Floersch arrives at state penitentiary in Jefferson City MissouriMarch 18, 1852
  • 3 Floersh’s Escape From Liberty JailMarch 26, 1852
    Liberty Tribune Newspaper, March 26, 1852 We omitted to state last week that the 3 Floersh’s (sic), charged with the murder of Wilkinson, made their escape on the night of the 12th by undermining the foundation of the jail. They were arrested next day, and lodged in jail. They traveled all night and were arrested […]
  • Witnesses Requested to AppearJune 7, 1852
  • Jurors Named for Jacob, Philip, Mathias Floersch and William ToomsJune 14, 1852
    On June 14, 1852, jurors were assigned to the case. These are identified as: John Memfee Solomon Welton William B. Clark Howard Everett John Howard William Youngman Isaac Frampton William Smith (aka Hiram?) John C. Hawkins Samuel Stevenson George Stacy John C. Mosby Judge assigned to the trial: George W. Dunn
  • Jury named under Judge DunnJune 14, 1852
  • Tooms found innocent. Witnesses for State file appearance bondsJune 15, 1852
  • Floersch boys state they cannot go safely to trial without their witnesses and asks court for reasons they are not appearing even though they were subpoenaedJune 15, 1852
  • Trial of Floersh’s for Murder CalledJune 18, 1852
    Liberty Tribune June 18, 1852 The trial of the Floersh’s for the murder of Hall L. Wilkerson, of Platte was called on Tuesday last, at the instance of the Attorneys for defendants, was deferred to August. Toombs, the American, who was implicated in the same bloody transaction, was acquitted.
  • Floersch boys returned to Platte County JailPrisoners returned to Platte jail for safe keepingAugust 19, 1852
  • Circuit Court Commences for Trial of the Floersh’s for Killing of Hall WilkersonNovember 5, 1852
    Liberty Tribune, November 11, 1852 Circuit Court commences in this city (a called term) on Monday next for the trail of the Floersh’s for the killing of Hall L. Wilkerson. Other business, also, will be taken up in consequence of the adjournment of the regular term in August, produced by the illness of Judge Dunn.
  • Jacob & Philip Floersch plead guilty to lesser charges. Mathias released. Matthias Floersch set free.November 11, 1852
  • The State vs Philip Floersh and OthersNovember 11, 1852
    Liberty Tribune, November 12, 1852 The State vs. Philip Floersh and others – This case was finally disposed of in the Circuit Court on yesterday. Philip Floersh plead guilty of murder in the second degree, and the Circuit Attorney accepted the plea, and the Court assessed his punishment to imprisonment in the penitentiary of the […]
  • Philip and Jacob arrive at state penitentiary in Jefferson City, MO.November 18, 1852
  • John Floersch dies in prisonJanuary 13, 1853
  • Peter Floersch purchased Lot 183/Block 16 from Elijah & Margaret Cody – $400 ($13K) JUN 7 1853June 7, 1853
    Weston, MO
  • The Shocking Truth: Wilkerson Shot and Wounded Old Man Floersh!July 20, 1853
    Petition for Pardon, Weston, MO July 20, 1853 To his excellency Gov Price We your petitioners would respectfully solicit your excellency to extend your pardoning power to Philip and Jacob Floersh who are now confined in the penitentiary for the murder of Hall L. Wilkerson in October 1851. At the time the act was committed […]
  • Jacob & Philip Floersch granted pardon & releaseJuly 28, 1853
  • Michael Floersch arrives in Rock Creek Valley, KSAugust 24, 1854
    Rock Creek Valley, KS
  • Elizabeth Floersch Sells Platte County Farm to John Pitt – $600 ($20K) JUN 15 1855June 15, 1855
  • Peter Mortgages Lot 92 Block 8 Weston to Joseph Kurtz SEP 29 1859September 29, 1859
  • Civil War BeginsApril 1, 1861
  • Battle of Bee Creek fought on land formerly owned by Johann FlorschNovember 11, 1861
    Weston, MO
  • Civil War endsMay 26, 1865
  • Peter Floersch sells Lots 92 and 183 in Weston to Mr. RumpelNovember 30, 1866
    Weston, MO
  • Mystery Haunts Feudal House Where Slaves Were Auctioned – St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph Missouri, Sunday, December 7, 1930December 7, 1930
  • Half-Way House: A Platte County Landmark and MoreMay 13, 1936
    Photo above “Halfway House, Platte City-Weston toll Road, Hwy. 273” from Memories of Weston, Missouri, Vol. II Millennium Edition – 1837 to 2000, p. 16 The Half-way House, Underground Railroad, and John McCurdy Records from the Platte County Civil Court and from the Weston Court of Common Pleas, show that one John McCurdy was frequently […]

Recent Comments

  • Mary Dolan on “Not guilty” plea entered
  • Christi Floersch Macklin on Johann Floersch Story: “State vs. Floersch…Late Justice”
  • Gene Floersch on Johann Floersch Story: “State vs. Floersch…Late Justice”

Categories

  • Aftermath
  • Civil War
  • Germany
  • Killing
  • Prison
  • Settlers
  • Trial
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 1936
  • December 1930
  • November 1866
  • May 1865
  • November 1861
  • April 1861
  • September 1859
  • June 1855
  • August 1854
  • July 1853
  • June 1853
  • January 1853
  • November 1852
  • August 1852
  • June 1852
  • March 1852
  • February 1852
  • December 1851
  • November 1851
  • October 1851
  • July 1851
  • May 1851
  • March 1851
  • February 1851
  • June 1850
  • February 1850
  • January 1850
  • December 1849
  • August 1849
  • June 1849
  • June 1848
  • May 1847
  • October 1843
  • July 1843
  • May 1843
  • April 1843
  • June 1806
  • June 1789
  • January 1759
  • June 1567
  • June 782

Life Events Calendar

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« May    

Tags

5th Circuit Clay County Abolitionist Alexander Doniphan Anna Smitz Assumpsit Bird Doniphan & Rees Blodesheim California Cholera Floersch Boys Freemason French Revolution Gold Rush Gotfred & F. Hattenback Grand Jury Hall L. Wilkerson Hall Wilkerson Henry Dietz Hesse-Darmstadt Hochborn Jacob James Baldwin Johann John Brown Judge Brown Judge William B. Almond Jury Liquor Sale M. Oliver Maria Elizabeth Mathias Michael Missouri Pardon Paul Floersch Peter Philip Platte County Jail Robert Patton Slavery Trial US Census War Weston William Tooms
  • Johann Floersch Story: “State vs. Floersch…Late Justice”
    • Germany
    • Settlers
    • Killing
    • Trial
    • Prison
    • Aftermath
    • Civil War
  • Missouri – Helpful Links and Historical Info
  • Floersch Family Site – See Reunion 2022!
In The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck asked if we don't know our heritage, how can we know who we are? The dictionary defines heritage as an inheritance, something that is passed down from preceding generations, heritage includes the treasure trove of values and the traditions which were cherished by our ancestors and appreciated enough today to be saved by our descendants of tomorrow. Our heritage is determined by our ancestors, associates, teachers and mentors, it is tempered by our environs and the times in which we live. It is not the honor that we take with us, but the heritage that we leave behind that forms the perception of a society and its communities. As quoted in "A History of Weston", video conceived, written and compiled by Patrick O'Malley, available at the Weston Museum - see http://www.westonhistoricalmuseum.org/ © Copyright 2021 - johannfloersch.net