Among the immigrants arriving here in 1837 were John Christopher MEYER, born January 3, 1803, in Hagen. near Osnabrueck Hanover, Germany. On the same ship that brought him across the ocean came Anna Maria Angela BORSTADT, a daughter of Christian and Gertrude (TIPPEL) BORSTADT, born in Fuerstenau, near Osnabrueck, Hanover, January 9, 1813. They, with many others, left on board the sailing vessel Maria Brandt, owned by the King of Hanover, March 15, 1837, and reached New York July 4th* of the same year, the voyage requiring 110 days. After a short stop in New York the party left for the West, following the usual route by canal and river, the trip requiring about ten weeks until they reached St. Louis, where John Christopher MEYER and Anna Maria Angela BORSTADT were married in the old St. Louis Cathedral by Rev. Father Fischer September 5, 1837. The latter part of that month they came to Quincy, where they settled for life. In the spring of 1902 the writer of this narrative called on the widow, Angela MEYER, at that time in the eighty-ninth year of her life, for information about their trip to this country, and found her very bright in spite of her high old age, she relating among other things the following: "While we were coming up the Mississippi, near the Ohio River, my oldest sister, Elizabeth, wife of Gerhard NABER, was pushed off the boat by a brutal man and was drowned. Arriving in St. Louis, we remained there for awhile and then came to Quincy, where there were comparatively few houses. L. F. W. BUTZE, brother-in-law of Paul KONANTZ, conducted a small store. O. H. BROWNING's log cabin was still in existence, although he had built a frame house. In 1838 the first fine hotel, the Quincy House, was built, and my husband, who was a plasterer, worked on that building. One even-ing, after I had prepared supper, I went out to look whether my husband was coming home. A large animal came along the road, panting and growling. It was getting dusk, and not being able to distinguish the animal, I hurried into the house, being much frightened. Shortly afterward I heard several shots fired, and soon thereafter my husband came in, saying: 'Angela, do you wish any bear's meat? A bear has just been killed.'

"In the spring of 1838 about 500 Indians came through Quincy and continued their march eastward; they were headed by their chief and conducted themselves properly. While the first brick church of St. Boniface congregation was in the course of construction, at Seventh and Maine Streets, another contingent of Indians, about 300, came from the west and attended services in the unfinished church; they also went east, and they were well behaved."

John Christopher MEYER died August 6,1869, his wife living for many more years, she departing this life May 12, 1904, in her ninety-second year. Christian John MEYER, the oldest son of the couple, born May 1, 1840, followed the trade of plasterer; January 29, 1867, he married Anna Catherine WELBERG, born March 31, 1849; he died June 4, 1910.

Other children of John Christopher and Anna Maria Angela (BORSTADT) MEYER were: Josephine, born January 24, 1842, she being married to Henry FREIBURG January 21, 1862; Gerhard John, born March 20, 1844, married Barbara MAST, November 22, 1870, and he died May 27, 1914; Edward August MEYER, the ex-alderman, who represented the Second Ward in the city council, is a son of Gerhard and Barbara (MAST) MEYER; Emelia, born March 15, 1847, was married to John MAST, November 9, 1869, and both are living; William, born January 20, 1849, married Crescentia SOHN 1876, she was born November 6, 1855, and died May 8, 1891, he lives in Chicago; August born April 5, 1851, married Agnes Hilarda OTTMANN, she was born September 30, 1857, he died October 26, 1911; Frank, born June 12, 1854, married Ellen Loretta HINCHEY, she was born January 2, 1865, he died May 28, 1914; and Rosalia, born July 6, 1857, married Charles ROTHGEB June 4, 1878.

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY, HISTORY AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN by David Wilcox. Lewis Publishing, Vol. 1, 1919, pp. 325-327. [Of note is one of the Board of Advisory Editors of the book is Jos. J. FREIBURG, the grandson of Anna Maria Angela (BORSTADT) MEYER.]

*Actual arrival date in New York from Bremen of the Vessel Maria Brandt was June 29, 1837 as shown on the original passenger list of that vessel.