The descendants of the Peter Meuth family discover that unsolved mysteries and pride in family heritage are what make genealogy a great way of bringing family together. Johann Meuth (1782 - 1837) and Sophia Wagner (1784 - 1848) had 12 children born in Würges, Nassau, Germany. After the death of their parents, eight of the Meuth children, Johannes, Johann Peter, Elizabeth, George, Karl Josef, Andreas, Johann Franz and Johannes John immigrated to Texas between 1846 and 1856. They settled at Meuth Hill with the exception of the youngest son, John, born in 1830. Sometime after his arrival at Meuth Hill in 1849, John left Texas and became an unsolved mystery.

The Rockne Historical Association has collected a wealth of historical and genealogical information about early settlers in Rockne, Texas, Bastrop County. In March 2008, Diane Fuerst, a John Meuth descendant, came across the Rockne Historical Association Website. She discovered not only the origins of over 900 John Meuth descendants in Missouri, but helped the Texas Meuths solve the mystery of the missing youngest son.

The mystery solved, it was time for the Texas Meuths and the Missouri Meuths to reunite. Nine descendants of Peter Meuth traveled 900 miles from Rockne, Texas to attend a Missouri Meuth reunion in Millwood, Missouri. Benjamin Saucedo drove while Blondena Saucedo navigated and Ovon Goertz, Theresa Shumake, Olivia Bartsch, Gloria and Clyde Hoffman prayed, talked, laughed and mostly slept in the roomy van. Charlie and Marian Nelson met the group in Troy, Missouri after visiting Nelson cousins along the way.

After lunch together, the group piled into the van for the last leg of the trip. We drove through farm country and small communities, no larger than Rockne, surrounded by fields of corn and soybeans. The vivid colors of green everywhere was like an artist’s palette and quite a contrast to the brown parched land in Texas.

Diane Fuerst and Mary Jane Quade were waiting in Silex, to escort the Texans to Millwood. These two descendants of John Meuth were the epitome of loving cousins. “Hugs around” before moving on to Millwood where the group explored St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery. More nice cousins had marked all the Meuth graves with flags so it was easy to find their tombstones. The Cemetery, with many beautiful and unusual old markers, is large and neatly maintained. The weather was great for trekking around the cemetery, the town and the home place where John Meuth had lived. An old barn still stands on the acreage that he owned.

It was an inspiring tour and the invitation to share more “home town” hospitality was just the thing to highlight a perfect day. Mary Jane and her husband Lloyd Quade served extra large portions of her homemade apple pie made with apples from their garden. Gathered together on a spacious screen porch, the newfound relatives enjoyed the camaraderie.

August 17, 2008 - The big day arrived and the Texans gathered for 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Millwood. After Mass, more photos were taken as the attendees began to arrive at 11:00 o’clock for the reunion across the street at the Knight’s building. There was some time for introductions before the big rush at the table Ovon Goertz and Marian Nelson set up with books, genealogies and charts. The interest was gratifying but how can one remember all these “cousins”? Benjamin Saucedo took pictures all along and there will be plenty memories to share. It was awesome!

Ivo Meuth was the honored guest celebrating his 95th birthday. He is the last living grandson of John Meuth. Ivo and his lovely wife, Marie, greeted and talked to his well-wishers. He also answered a question for the Texas Meuths stating that John came to St. Louis from Texas and worked there as a shoemaker. John later went to Hamburg, Illinois where he married before settling in Lincoln County Missouri.

The following excerpt appeared in an article in the Troy Tree Press, Jan. 1985.
“. . . John Meuth received a good education in the German language, and when fourteen years of age began learning the shoemaker’s trade. He was only about six years old when his father died and when he was about sixteen his mother also died. Having received his property, he left it in the hands of his guardian, and in 1849, he started for America. For several years, he worked at his trade, chopped cordwood, etc., and in 1854, he married Miss Ellen Gleson, a native of Ireland. Now was the time to send for his money, and he proceeded to do so, but found that his guardian had made way with the whole of it. In 1856, he moved to Lincoln County, MO. Here his wife died, and the following year he married Miss Margaret Kaster, a native of Hanover, Germany. Nine children were the fruits of this union, eight now living, four sons and four daughters. For twenty-six years, Mr. Meuth has lived on his present homestead, which consists of 620 acres. He is a Democrat in politics and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church. His first wife was also a member of the same church.”

The search for “roots” can be rewarding, gratifying and even exciting!