Johann Floersch

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

Bill of Sale – Johann & Elisabetha – Real Estate Property, April 22, 1843

Assignment of Power of Attorney by Johann Floersch, April 22, 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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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.

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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

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, … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

Platte County, MO

Weston, MO

Clay County, MO

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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

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.

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.

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 … Read more

Weston, MO

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 … Read more

Rock Creek Valley, KS

Weston, MO

Weston, MO

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 … Read more

Two Kinds… Although there were people in Missouri throughout the pre-Civil War period who abhorred the institution of slavery, those who advocated its abolition were a minority.  Their views were bitterly opposed and often suppressed by the irate proslavery forces.  There were two kinds of abolitionists:  (1) those who only advocated ending the system and … Read more