Person:Johannes Setzer (1)

As a young man, he was married to Maria Christiane Matilde Grüning.^[3] There is no record of any children being a part of the family later, so it is unknown if they had any. In 1821, he married Amalia Setzer, who was 20 years his junior. They had 14 children in 20 years, the youngest only two when he died.

The family bible survives, containing the handwritten record of the births of all the children along with their godparents. Other Setzers listed as godparents (who might therefore be relatives) are Maria Catharina Christiane Setzer (m. Tack), L., and Ernestine Friedericke Juliane. Letters written by his daughter also indicate that one of his brothers married one of Amalia's sisters.^[4]

In Hamburg, he was a wholesale merchant dealing with Spain and northern Africa. Partner was Spanish consul. Conditions were likely less than ideal, however, because he packed his pregnant wife and six children onto a ship to America in 1838. They had planned to go to Texas, but stories of violence discouraged him. Instead they proceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis and then the town of Washington on the Missouri River. They heard about Hermann in about 1839 and moved there. He purchased two lots on Front Street in March 1840, but never settled on them. Instead, the family settled on property about 4 miles west of town in a house with a view of the river.^[5]

Henry was retirement age by the time he settled in Hermann and his “retirement plan” consisted of money on deposite at the Bank of the State of Missouri which paid over $100 semi-annually. Henry and Amalia joined what became the St. Pauls United Churnch of Christ and hosted religious meetings in their home. Though little is known of their lifestyles, the inventory taken following Amalia’s death lists a number of books, a writing desk, a fair amount of wine, silver, linens and pictures. Of their 14 children, 7 survived. The only surving males carrying on the Setzer name were Henry, Carl and John, all of whom moved west and severed contact with their Missouri family.^[6]

References

1. ↑ Morrow, James Peter. The Monnig Family: A Story of Germany and America. (Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States: Privately published, 1981).
2. ↑ Letters from Bertha Setzer Williams to Hugo Monnig 1913-1915, reprinted, in Morrow, James Peter. The Monnig Family: A Story of Germany and America. (Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States: Privately published, 1981).

   "Died of pneumonia at age 67."

3. ↑ The Monnig Family
4. ↑ Letters from Bertha Setzer Williams to Hugo Monnig, 1913-1915.
5. ↑ Letters from Bertha Setzer Williams to Hugo Monnig, 1913-1915.
6. ↑ The Monnig Family