Johann Heinrich "Christian" Amelung
Submitted by: Marcine Lohman (Amelung)
Other spellings of the name: Abelunge, Abelunke, Ameling, Amelunck, Amelung, Amelunke, and Amelungk
Johann Heinrich "Christian" Amelung was born 26 Sep 1832 in Klein Rhüden am Harz (Seesen), Braunschweig, Germany to Heinrich "Christian" Amelunke and Johanne Marie Friederike Klusmann, and died 06 Aug 1903 in Pilot Knob, Iron County, Missouri. The family immigrated to Gordonville, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri having arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana on 15 Nov 1847 aboard the ship Mattakeeset from Bremen, Germany.
Passenger List
He married Johanna Marie Magdalene Bodenstein on 05 Jan 1854 in St. Francois County, Missouri, the daughter of Johann Bodenstein and Johanna Achtermann. Johanna was born on 09 Feb 1833 in Hahausen, Goslar, Hannover, Preussen, and died on 04 Dec 1918, from the Influenza epidemic, in Pilot Knob, Iron County, Missouri.
According to his obituary, Chris was age 14 when they arrived. Once over here, he studied Machinist/Engineering at Iron Mountain and shortly thereafter worked at the Furnace in Pilot Knob, Missouri. His wife, Johanna, immigrated in 1853 with her parents and lived on a neighboring farm close by in Gordonville.
Christian Amelung was called to his eternal reward at 2:30 p.m. August 6, 1903. Death was due to paralysis, which developed a few months ago. Deceased was born seventy-one years ago, September 26, near Hanover, Germany and came to Jackson, Mo., with his parents at fourteen years of age. He learned the trade of engineering and mechanism at Iron Mountain, from which place he came to Pilot Knob in 1856, filling the position of engineer, machinist and Master Mechanic for the Pilot Knob Co. during the productive years of their management. He was an active member of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, from which place the funeral services were conducted by Rev. Schlesselmann, and his remains laid to rest in the Pilot Knob cemetery.
He was a good, kind husband, a father in its truest sense, and will long be mourned by the family and the community where he so long faithfully labored. He was married to Johanna Bodenstein in 1852, who with the following children survive him: William and Herman of Pilot Knob; John and Mrs. Edwin Watters, of Iron Mountain; Henry J. of St. Louis, and Edward H., of Saginaw,Mich.
I knew Mr. Amelung for over forty-five years and in all that time he never did an act unworthy a good man. He was truly one of " natures noblemen," and played his humble part patiently, faithfully and cheerfully. He sleeps the final sleep, but the living are the richer and better because of his having been.
On June 7, 1905, after Christian's death, Johanna purchased the property of Caroline E. Jacquith from her heirs. This is the House/Saloon located at 202 S. Bogy Street where her son, Herman, ran the saloon.
On her obituary in the Iron County Register, it is mentioned that all of her living children attended the funeral. The obituary reads as follows:
Mrs. Johanna Amelung
Died at Pilot Knob,Mo., Wednesday, December 4, 1918; Mrs. Johanna Amelung, nee Bodenstein, aged 85 years and 10 months.
The subject of this memorial was born in Yerze, Brunswick, Germany and there reared to maidenhood. In 1855 she came to America, and one year later, at Pilot Knob, was united in Marriage to Christian Amelung. To this union were born six children all of whom survive her: William and Henry of Granite City, Ills.; John and Herman, of Pilot Knob; Edward H. of Indianapolis; and Mrs. Ed Waters, of Festus, Mo. Twenty-Eight grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren have descended from the happy union of sixty years ago.
In 1903 Christian Amelung, the consort of the deceased, after nearly fifty years of connubial felicity, passed to the Great Beyond, regretted by all who knew his honest and kindly nature. Since his death the widow has lived in the care, welfare and happiness of the family, and the children have made good in all the essentials of life and character, vindicating the love and teaching of their parents. They were all present to pay the last sad tribute to the mother who bore them. To them I tender my sympathy in the hour of their bereavement.
[Marcine's Note: Her immigration was actually in 1853 as one year later she married her husband in 1854. Plus they immigrated from Jerze, Germany, she was actually born in Hahausen, Germany.]
At the time of Johanna's death, an article ran in the newspaper acknowledging an Influenza Epidemic. This was part of the nationwide epidemic that caused the death of a great many people.
Children of Christian Amelung and Johanna Bodenstein are: