Before Herman Loeffel moved to America, he lived in Baden, Lower Saxony, Germany. Born on April 18, 1874, he had fond memories of the Black Forest from his childhood. He spent a lot of time in the forest as his cousin, Henry Oswald, and he were responsible for picking up sticks to help fuel the family home. One day his cousin, Henry, got into trouble with the game warden for chopping down a tree. To escape the authorities, Henry fled to America to become a successful contractor in St. Louis. He encouraged Herman to move also.

On Jan. 16, 1941 Edward D. Hays published an article in The Southeast Missourian titled, “Louis Lorimier Was Not the First White Resident in the Cape District". A popular attorney, Edward Hays was mayor of Jackson from 1903-1907. He was elected Probate Judge of Cape County 1907-1918. Later, the old 14th Missouri district elected him U. S.. Congressman to go to Washington D. C. Before the move, he lived his whole life in Cape Girardeau County. Hays was a student of history. While researching history for his work, “Life of Louis Lorimer", Hays became engrossed in the story of the Lail family.

I continue with the Byrne family. Zerilda, the daughter of Cape Girardeau District Sheriff John Hays and her husband, Judge Peter Byrne, lived on their sizable plantation named Whitehall near the Elmwood estate of Louis Houck. As did their Houck neighbors, the Byrne couple managed their plantation through slave labor. At the time of Peter’s death, probate records show Whitehall was the home of eight slaves: Joe, Mary, Alice, Lizzy, Jane, Felia, Charley and Derry. Another slave, Abraham, was inherited by Zerilda when her father John died in 1836.

Of the many people I’ve read about, there are many ladies I would have loved to have known. Zerilda Byrnes is one of those ladies. The tales she could have shared about her life as a young girl growing up near the Neely’s Landing area among the Shawnee and Delaware tribes would have been fascinating.

Edwin Branch Deane was born in Virginia to Philip and Mary Holman Deane. As a child, Edwin moved with his family to Nicholsville, Kentucky. In 1830 as a 17-year-old, he crossed the Mississippi to Cape Girardeau and clerked at the general store of Amazi D. ...

After Louis and Charlotte Lorimier moved to Cape Girardeau in 1793 from the Ste. Genevieve area, they built their home near a spring overlooking the Mississippi River. It became known as the Red House. Sarah Bollinger Daughtery, daughter of George Frederick Bollinger, remembered visiting their home and recalled the design of it. ...

Cape Girardeau has new people moving into our city every day. Therefore, it seems fitting to recount an earliest bit of history from which we descend. Louis Lorimier is the man of the hour, even though our city's namesake is Ensign Girardot, a French trapper who established a trading post in the neighborhood of Cape Rock, three miles north of Cape Girardeau...

As a sentinel watching over its subjects, the Kage House at 120 Broadway proudly overlooks Spanish Street and old Harmony Street, renamed Broadway around 1900. Most of its residential neighbors are long gone; fortunately it has lovingly been preserved...

Recently I sat down with 102-year-old Kenny Haas, along with his two nieces, Patty Lessman and Carolyn Spinner, and grandson, Mark, at the Veterans Home. Kenny is the grandson of Joseph and Helen Fischer Haas, who purchased the old Lacey home in the early 1900s. He was energized remembering various incidents of his many visits to his grandparents' farm...

Sixty acres of rambling pastoral countryside between the old Jackson Road and Independence Street was purchased by the Alfred Lacey family in 1858. They built a sizable two-story brick home on the highest point -- now the location of Central Middle School -- facing Broadway, which would be their home until 1863...

Ever wonder who was behind the beautiful little park on Cape Rock Drive named Scivally Park? There was a gentleman ... a native of Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties, who became one of those civil servants of Missouri. Dennis Scivally, the son of a Bollinger County farm family, started a meager education by attending only two to four months per year in a one-room school near Gravel Hill. ...

"Ein Prosit Der Gemutlichkeit" is translated "I salute to our cozy friendship and good times we're having together." This verse was probably heard many times around Casper Ludwig's brewery and saloon establishments in Old Appleton during the mid 1800s...

In 1797 the Spanish Governor of Louisiana Territory issued an ordinance that strenuously objected to settlers coming into the area who were not Catholic. This included Protestant preachers. Several years later, Germans from North Carolina began to settle the territory on the rivers of Whitewater in the district of Cape Girardeau. ...

Overlooking Broadway (old Jackson Road) at the southwest corner of Lorimier Street sat one of the oldest mansions of Cape Girardeau, known as the Doyle Home. Built about 1830 by Edward and Eliza Jane Evans, the home was surrounded by large locust trees, an impressive sight as one crested the hill...

On the north end of the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus, there is a marker that states: "In the 1790s the Spanish governor of Territory granted Louis Lorimier permission to operate a ferry service near his home at Cape Girardeau..."...

The Himmelberger lumber business dates back to 1867 when John "Isaac" Himmelberger started a large sawmill operations near Logansport, Indiana, on the Wabash River. The business was expanded in 1880 to Buffington, Missouri, in Stoddard County. (Mr. Buffington was the owner of the local sawmill.)...

During the 1800s and 1900s, most merchandise anyone would want to buy could be found in downtown Cape Girardeau or the Haarig area of Good Hope. Broadway was predominately the street of beautiful homes. In 1905, a young man, William Richard Townsend, brought his family to Cape Girardeau from Indiana and founded the Second-Hand Furniture Store in 1914 after spending time in ministerial service for the Pentecostal denomination...

Snow swirled in the doorway of Vogelsanger's Hardware Store 120 years ago, Dec. 20, 1902, as patrons entered. "Hot biscuits and free coffee served free all this week at Vogelsanger's," read the ad in the Cape Girardeau Democrat newspaper. It was Christmas shopping time on Main Street, and Vogelsanger's new Majestic ranges were on exhibit, as well as countless other gift ideas...

As a young lad, William Wilson was reared in the vicinity of Old Appleton, the son of carpenter Benjamin Wilson and his wife Jenne. Education for him was the rural schools until a friend of the family, Dr. Moses S. Harris of Perry County, Missouri, suggested he could tutor William in preparation for medical school. Eager to enter medicine, William attended and graduated from Bellevue College Medical School in New York...

Robert Sturdivant was a devoted benefactor to Cape Girardeau through education, fair association and evolvement of the railroad. In March 1873, Louis Houck heard through friends in Jefferson City the state wanted to establish a college somewhere in the southeastern part of the state. The town which offered the highest monetary incentive would acquire the institution. Houck, who over the years sought the wise counsel of Sturdivant, asked his advise on the matter...

It is said that after business hours, "Colonel" Robert Sturdivant loved to walk down to the river and watch the steamboats come and go. He was a people person, and everyone knew him. Arriving as a young lad of 17 on horseback from Virginia, Robert jumped into one business venture after another, some successful, some not. He first joined his brother-in-law, Edwin White, in a merchantile business. They went bankrupt in 1839...

No words could wake up a sleepy river town faster than "Steamboat's a comin'!" Arrival of a river vessel meant more than fresh supplies. It meant news from the outside world. Between 1800 and into the next century, until the arrival of the Frisco Railroad, nearly everyone from the north or south came to Cape Girardeau by the river. No wonder, the then little roadways were not much more than "mudways."...

Surviving snow storms, severe cold weather, ice filled and flooded rivers, Col. Christopher Hays and family left Pennsylvania in 1787 headed westward to the Missouri Territory. On the journey, the family recalled seeing throngs of buffalo crossing a frozen river...

Brass foot rails and spittoons adorned many a saloon before the turn of the century. It was during this time Cape Girardeau businessmen realized much of the city's money was going to St. Louis breweries. The Cape Girardeau Democrat, for instance, mentioned the summer of 1891, "The Ulhs beer depot on the levy received a train car of Anheuser Busch."...

Singleton Husband Kimmel was born into a family of patriots. His father, Dr. Peter Kimmel, fashioned cannon balls in his forges near Pittsburgh for the War of 1812. Unfortunately, Singleton's mother, Phoebe died during his birth in 1797. As a young boy, Singleton loved creeks and rivers and soon learned the river could be a catalyst for a lucrative career. ...

Mary Langlois, along with her family moved to Cape Girardeau in the mid 1850s. In her writing, "Miss Mary Remembered," she tells of living on Spanish Street when the Horrell House sat on the banks of the Mississippi. "The back and front galleries were the same, up and down. It was built on a high foundation like the homes in New Orleans to keep the living quarters from dampness. The slave quarter were little brick buildings behind the gardens...and there was a big brick barn."...

St. Vincent's Young Ladies Academy was perched on a knoll at the corner of Good Hope and Williams streets, spreading over the east side of the block of Spanish. With an awesome view, it faced the Mississippi River, as did most homes on that side of Spanish...

In 1607, the Bahn family served as cartmen in the old country transporting wine east from Benshausen to the sea and bringing back corn, dried fish, salt and linen fabric. However, with the advent of the railroads their profession declined rapidly. Times became difficult in Germany in the early 1800s. ...

The St. Avit family loved the holidays. Each year, the Christmas season was busy and profitable. Their popular mercantile/grocery store at the southeast corner of Spanish and Independence streets was fully stocked with beautiful porcelain, textiles and other goods, not only from their native France, but other European countries. ...

One of the most historic homes in Cape Girardeau is on the Southeast Missouri State University north campus. It was given the descriptive name of "Wildwood" by President Dr. W.W. Parker's wife in 1923. The rambling home has rustic beginnings back to the 1860s, when the two-story stone wine cellar (still a part of the home) was used for wine making from 1865-79 on the land of Michael Dittlinger, Civil War soldier and judge, who bought the property in 1865. ...

Two centuries ago, a little band of Scotch-Irish pioneers of the Presbyterian faith came from North Carolina, through the Cumberland Gap, and crossed the Mississippi River at Moccasin Spring aboard Mr. Green's ferry. They established the Apple Creek Presbyterian Church in a shady grove, just a half-mile east of Pocahontas to launch their mission...

On a prominent corner of Broadway and West End Boulevard stands the 15-foot replica of the nation's Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Many citizens of Cape Girardeau have admired this corner at Capaha Park, but do you know the history of the impressive statue?...

At the turn of the century, Harmony Street (Broadway) was dotted with multi-storied, pretentious manors. Positioned at a prominent lot on the corner of Fountain and Hormony was the home of popular attorney Robert Love Wilson and wife, Jennie. Robert was born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, in 1838. ...

Growing up I loved the poem by Longfellow, "The Village Blacksmith." I recall the lines, "Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands. The smith a mighty man was he, with large and sinewy hands." During the 1840s when the poem was written, there were a lot more blacksmiths in Cape than chestnut trees. ...

Dr. Wilson Brown's prominence as doctor and community-minded citizen took him to the halls of the Missouri capital as the representative from Scott County in 1838-1839. Later, Gov. Austin King appointed him as state auditor Jan. 5, 1849. It was a difficult time in Jefferson City in 1849 as cholera had landed on the Missouri River levee aboard a steamship. ...

Dr. Wilson Brown began his long trek to Missouri from Maryland in March 1823. A daily journal describes his 29-day trip, traveling approximately 20 miles per day. In spite of broken equipment, sickness, washed out roads and turbulent weather, including a tornado in Kentucky, he was elated to finally see the Mississippi River. With his wagon and horses, Dr. Brown crossed the river at Gill's Ferry, a mile above Grand Tower on April 22...

As a young boy, Bernard "Barney" Kraft loved running errands for the family bakery. It was an adventure, and after all, it was all he knew. His German family had always lived above their bakery: His father, Adam; mother, Elizabeth (nee Huhn); and the six children, Gertrude, Ferdinand, Bernard, Otto, Bertha and Katherine...

The Argus, Jan. 26, 1865: "Our sincere thanks to the citizens at large ... soldiers and officers of the post for subduing the fire in the St. Charles Hotel." Early efforts were made to establish a Cape Girardeau Fire Department in its early days. However, it was not until after the Civil War, 1866, the first formal fire department -- The Good Intent Fire Department -- was established under Mayor G.H. Cramer...

Born in Bonne Terre, Missouri, young Frederick Groves, 19, moved to Cape Girardeau in 1911. He hit the ground running ... or rather driving, as he soon opened a new Ford dealership in the H & H Building showroom at Fountain Street on Broadway. A friend of Groves, Dr. F. D. Rhodes, helped him pick out the right name, Ford Groves...

"Cape Girardeau's Most Satisfactory Clothing Store Worthy of the Name." Thus was the first advertisement in The Daily Republican on Nov. 21-22, 1907, for the new Buckner-Ragsdale Store, a landmark on North Main and Broadway. The story begins when William "Buck" Ragsdale came to Cape Girardeau to acquire a buggy at Kage Livery Stable. ...

"Don't criticize the young -- they are the future of the community; don't criticize the old -- they are its heritage." Thus, believed Leo "Lee" Albert, as written in his "Memories of Cape Girardeau and Old Man River." He died two weeks after completing his manuscript...

Moses Austin didn't mind the distance from the hills of Virginia to the hills of the Missouri Territory to scope out his future. He had heard "the richest lead deposits in the world could be found there." He read evidence in Chavalier de Luzier's writings of 1796, "There is a great quantity of iron, lead, copper ore ... ...

A reporter from The Southeast Missourian, October 1929, asked Cape Girardeau's leading citizens what the most outstanding community undertaking was since 1900. Without a doubt, it was the addition of the shoe factory. All agree, there was a need for more industry, more jobs, and weekly paychecks...

Within the original 6,000-acre Spanish land grant that Don Louis Lorimier received in 1795-1797 was a 365-acre farm deeded to Thomas Jefferson Rodney, son of Thomas Smith Rodney and Maria Louise, daughter of Louis Lorimier and wife, Charlotte Bougaunville Pemanpieh...

"A Ring Around the Rosies, A Pocketful of Posies, A-Tishoo, A-tishoo, We All Fall Down." This childhood nursery rhyme is thought to have its origin during the Black Plague in London, 1655. It denoted a terrible rash, flowers as a preventative, sneezing, and eventual death. This was thought to be the message...

It was a destination for many local health conscious residents: Schumer Springs -- a bubbling oasis in the midst of the cornfields of Perry County. Following the Native Americans, Frank Schumer discovered the natural springs on his property shortly after serving in the Civil War. To his delight, the mineral springs were very therapeutic, giving him relief from the maladies he suffered...

J.W. Gerhardt's attributes of hard work and frugality came from his German roots. With the humble beginnings of a third-grade education, J.W. was a self-taught builder, researcher and historian of local Native Americans, as well as horticulturist who could name every plant's Latin nomenclature...

Civil War Union military leaders occupied Cape Girardeau on July 10, 1861. Knowing the importance of the press, the First Wisconsin Cavalry confiscated Matthew Moore's Cape Girardeau Eagle newspaper. (Moore was owner of the Sherwood House and a Southern sympathizer.) He and his family quickly exited the city, leaving the house to W.H. Morris, another Southern sympathizer. The home was quickly overtaken by the Union officers...

During the Christmas season, it was indeed a pleasure to visit one of Cape Girardeau's oldest and most historic homes. As I approached the original 8-foot door decorated with festive wreathe and greenery, it was opened by the present owner, Charles Kent. Obviously very interested in the home's preservation, he ushered me throughout, pointing out features going back throughout its illustrious history...

For Cape Girardeau Police Chief Jefferson "Jeff" Hutson, Oct. 7, 1922, was like most mornings as he said goodbye to his wife and young children at their 343 N. Henderson St. home. As usual, he drove a few blocks to the police/fire station at 538 Independence St., present location of the Cape River Heritage Museum...

Roth Tobacco Co., one of Cape Girardeau's earliest factories, was established by Ludwig "Louis" Roth in 1874. Born in Germany, Louis, at the age of 6 journeyed to America with his parents to Frohna, Missouri. After marrying, he moved to Cape Girardeau in 1853, where he took the job as a cooper. Deciding to change careers, Louis went on to make pipe and chewing tobacco, as there were already plenty cigar makers in town...

It was a perfect spot ... under a spreading canopy of giant oaks and poplars, near a bubbling spring. They came with horses, buggies and wagons filled with baskets of fried chicken and cured ham from their smokehouses. These early Methodists of the territory came to camp meetings from 1806-1819 to lift their voices to the Heavens, singing hymns such as Charles Wesley's "O for a Thousand Tongues."...

Cape Rock's history unfolded when Ensign Sieur Girardot (Girardeau), upon resignation as officer of the French army in Kaskaskia, Illinois, came across to the west side of the Mississippi River and founded a trading post at Cape de la Roche, known as Cape Rock...

Union soldiers in faded blue uniforms chose their ladies for a dance at the popular St. Charles Hotel. It was a celebratory cotillion held on April 26, 1863, following the Union success during the Battle of Cape Girardeau. Hoop skirts twirled to tunes such as "Soldiers Joy," "Lancers Quadrille" and "Money Mush Reel."...

It was to have been the dream home of the charismatic bootheel Congressman Samuel Caruthers for whom Caruthersville was named. In fact, the home was well under pen and construction of Edwin Branch Deane when Caruthers' life was abruptly ended in 1860 at the age of 40. Caruthers had always admired Ashland, the Kentucky home of Henry Clay, and asked Deane to duplicate it...

Around 1805 several Ellis family brothers came from Georgia to the Missouri Territory. Each astute in his career, Erasmus became one of Jackson's first doctors; Soloman, a Cape Girardeau attorney; and Charles was appointed assessor in the Cape Girardeau District and was instrumental in presiding over the dispersement of Louis Lorimier's extensive land holdings, to be divided into lots at $100 each...

Thomas Parrish Green came to the Missouri Territory in 1817 from Chatham, North Carolina. He was a well known ordained Baptist minister during the time when there was an upsurge of the denomination in Southeast Missouri. It was March 1818 when he was called to pastor the historic Bethel Baptist Church south of Jackson, a position he kept until 1826 when Elder Benjamin Thompson was called as leader. It was because of Green's due diligence that the old Bethel's minutes were preserved...

Fifty-three years ago on Oct. 30, 1966, the dedication of the first public Cape Girardeau County park took place along Interstate 55, just south of the central junction of Highway 61. It was named Klaus Park to honor Frederick "Alvin" Klaus, who had served Cape Girardeau County over 20 years as deputy sheriff (1944-47), sheriff (1947-56) and county judge (1958-65)...

At 623 N. Main St. is a quaint brick French Colonial house and smokehouse, witness to many neighborhood changes since coming into existence 162 years ago. Deemed one of the oldest homes in Cape Girardeau, the Reynolds House sits forlorn as the world seems to pass it by unnoticed...

Since working with the Founder's Collection at the Cape Girardeau County History Center, I've acquired an appreciation for the Whitelaw family of Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Turn back the clock to the early 1800s. Nicholas Whitelaw and his wife, Elizabeth (Beaszley), came to Missouri from Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1818. ...

The old streets of Jackson were deserted except for the occasional wagon that bumped along carrying those who had perished of the Asiatic cholera and bilious fever that raged in the countryside. It was the summer of 1852 and Cape Girardeau County's "round two" of the disease.... The first onslaught of 1833 took 128 citizens...