- In this photo we see the beginning of a family. From your left to right, Henry and Catherine Bangert Mecker, a woman thought to be Aunt Ida Mecker (but I'm uncertain so if you've got any ideas, please let me know) and, Edwin Oscar Hornberger, son of slain deputy Oscar Edwin Hornberger. It is unknown as to whom the baby belongs, what the babies name is or any other information. Its obvious that the photo was taken on the small farm along E. Main St in the back yard about 1930 and long before the oldest of Edwin's children, Donn Paul (b:1941) was born. The baby would be about 80 yrs old now. You also can see why the Mecker's and Hornberger's made great athletes for Perryville High School during the early years. 6'6" Edwin went on to be an all conference football player for Perryville HS. These are tall strong men seen here.
The identification of Henry and Catherine was helped by searches in Immanuel Cemetery. On their stone in the cemetery are photos of both of them. But, our photo here, Ed is about 16 yrs old. We conclude this is a cousin, perhaps a Mecker but we're uncertain. Henry would be about 65 and Catherine about 66. Just a few years later, they would leave us, both in their 70's. Edwin Oscar is buried at Mt. Hope in south St. Louis County along Lemay-Ferry Rd. Edwin's children are: Donn Paul, Michelle-Kristin (buried at Immanuel) and Margaret Ellyn Hornberger Mueller.
The average life-span at this point was approx. 59 yrs.
- Perry County
Between 1920 and 1933 our nation was legally dry. Bars, beer barons and bottlers went out of business. We were living in the bootleg era. Beer and liquor had been outlawed. The entire nation, under the law of the land, went dry. This was the Prohibition Era. Many of our movies from back in the day then glorify the period as numbered among America’s most vivid historic epochs.
During this legal ban on drinking, there was money to be made and illegal whiskey stills were everywhere as people took sides, one way or another. In Perryville, on April 29, 1930, one of our own citizens paid the supreme price of enforcing the law of the land. Deputy Oscar Edwin Hornberger, in an attempt to arrest a bootlegger from St. Louis operating on a remote farm here in Perry County, lost his life in service to all of us.
The funeral was written up in the local papers and was said to be the largest gathering of attendees ever at any funeral in Perry County or surrounding areas, such was the popularity and esteem of Oscar.
The entire family and may other relatives and friends attended the wake and post-burial family dinner. We see in these accompanying photos many of those that were the closest family members, coming from Hornbergers, Meckers, Hackers, Sutterers, Ernst, and a host of other names related to the family. At the time of his death, Oscar's oldest child, Edwin Oscar, was only fifteen years of age. There were no social safety nets, no government bailouts, no handouts from the State and the government had only recently discovered the onset of its own economic catastrophe.
Two things kept them alive and well, family and faith. All of the extended family and they're friends pulled together to find employment for Dora and Edwin. All of the Lutherans pulled together to do the same thing. Life was not easy in those days and everyone faced the Great Depression but they faced it united in faith and family.
Over night, the children, Edwin, Harry and Delilah and mother, wife Dora Mecker Hornberger, were cast into virtual poverty. The Hornbergers came to Perry County and settled in 1839. It is thought they were among the earliest settlers perhaps preceeding those in the original 700 Families of Lutherans from the Old Country. In point of fact, Oscar's grandparents, Adam and Elizabeth Baer Hornberger, from Bavaria, Germany, now lay at rest in Peace Lutheran Cemetery. Michael Hornberger, a founder of the church at Altenburg-Frohna, is also buried at Immanuel. These folks are Oscar's grandparents. Oscar is buried by his wife at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in town. The other interesting fact is the old Bi-Centennial Hornberger Farm on the Crossville Road backs up to the farm where Dr. Walther lived near Altenburg which now serves as the Lutheran Museum along the Saxon Road.
Recently, after an 80 yr period of forgetfulness, the Perry County Sheriffs Deptartment, though the efforts of Gary Schaff, caused the placement of a memorial marker for Oscar on the town square at the court house.
- I hope someone can put a name these people.
Submitted by
Donn Hornberger
Poster-#-125-
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