Great Grandpa Gottwerth

My great-grandpa was Gottwerth Schmidt.  He came to America with Joachim as a 4-year old.  The following information is included in Mary Dillan's Altenburg book:
     According to Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri, G.F. Schmidt received a limited education in the German congregational schools and the night schools at Altenburgh.  He farmed until 1862 when he became a clerk in a store.  He and Dr. Ernst Buenger purchased a store and became partners in the spring of 1863 and managed until 1867 when they dissolved their partnership and Gottwerth went into the general store business alone.  He ran a lucrative business which served the surrounding county.
    Gottwerth immigrated in 1839 with his parents and Naturalized in 1856.  He was Justice of the Peace for 10 years and Notary Public for 8 years.

Great-Great Grandpa Joachim

The following information about my great-great grandfather can be found in Mary Dillon's book, "Altenburg Missouri." 
Joachim Schmidt was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1795, and was a locksmith who came to America in January of 1839.  The family came to Perry County where he farmed until his death in 1870.  His wife, Maria Charlotte Sybille Saalfeld died in St. Louis on April 15, 1891.  Joachim and his wife had three children:  Gottwerth Friedrich born September 7, 1834 in Duchy Saxe-Altenburg Germany (Kahla), Eva Magdalena born November 13, 1838 and died March 31, 1839 in St. Louis and Maria Magdalena born February 11, 1843 in Germany and died on December 3, 1936.

Just a few notes:
*Gottwerth was my great grandfather.
*I do not understand how Maria Magdalena was born in Germany.  I really think that is a mistake.
*Maria must have been a popular name in my family.  There are two mentioned above, and Gottwerth also named one of his daughters Maria.

C.F.W. Walther - 200th Birthday

The LCMS community will be celebrating the 200th birthday of C.F.W. Walther on October 25.  C.F.W. was instrumental to the Lutheran settlement here in Perry County, MO and is also given credit for the establishment of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  I am sure that special events will be scheduled in many Lutheran churches, but especially here in Perry County and in St. Louis, where Walther served as pastor.