Melcher Pottery

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Permalink Reply by Denise Melcher Goodale on February 8, 2012 at 10:09am

Ok, it is good that Rebecca found me and called me back!  I had forgetten this request for a comment.

 

In 1839 cousins Dennis and Anton Melcher boarded the brigg Julia and arrived in New Orleans.  I am left to imagine that they boarded a Steamboat and headed up the Mississippi River.  Dennis married Mary Ann Faust in 1842 and moved to Iowa in 1843.  Anton married Catharine Dannenhold in 1844 and settled in Louisville, KY.  The cousins learned the Pottery trade from their fathers and Grandfather in Germany.  There was revolution in the Black Forrest and all of the military age boys came to America.  German records list the boys births, but not their deaths and that is how we begin our research.

 

Dennis' family came to Iowa and worked at the Family trade.  Anton's brothers, John, Valentine and Henry came to America and worked in the Lousiville area.  All of the brothers and Cousins married and had families.  Several of the next generation were also potters who were trained by their Fathers and Uncles.  When the pottery industry began to change and slow generation 1 & 2 began to move to potteries throughout the US.  Henry to Illinois and Indiana.  John & Valentine to Indiana and Joseph to Texas. 

 

When Anton passed in 1854, his wife Catharine continued the family business until the Civil War.  Henry stayed home and ran the Pottery business.  John and Valentine served in the War.

 

I have some information that suggests that the Melcher Boys served in the Mexican Skirmish.  Does anyone have any confirming information or comments?

 

I wonder, why would the cousins leave their Country to avoid a war and join a war for a new Country of which they were not even citizens.  I believe this :"cause" would have had significant impact on the Iowa Melchers.

 

Let me know what you think.  Denise

Permalink Reply by Beth Partridge on March 30, 2013 at 6:13pm

I am also a descendent of Melchers from Baden. Mine were from Au Am Rhein, Baden which is not far from Oberweier. My Joseph Melcher came to Burlington, Iowa in the 1850's with his wife Mary and their sons Joseph and Herman. A daughter, Emma was born in Burlington. They were not in the pottery business. I have read about the Melcher's who were potters but my mother said we weren't related to them. I am finding that hard to believe because of how close the home towns were in Germany. Do you know if these two families are connected?