My Genealogy Hound

Henry Oeters was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1845, and is the second of the four children of Otto Henry and Mary (Foglepole) Oeters, the latter of whom died in 1849, after which the father of our subject married Miss Mary Pulce, who bore him seven children. Otto Henry Oeters, a native of Meyenburg, Hanover, Germany, was born April 21, 1815, a son of Conrad Oeters, a shoemaker by trade. He came to the United States in 1836, spending some time in New York, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Vicksburg. He came to St. Louis in 1842, and was successfully engaged in shoemaking until the great fire, when he lost everything. With his characteristic energy he soon retrieved his losses, and in 1838 established the Oeters Leather Company, and the Rock Spring Tannery Company, in both of which he owned large interests. He was one of the founders, builders, and most faithful members of the Church of the Holy Ghost. He was also a member of the I. O. O. F., and director of the German Fire Insurance Company. His death occurred November 27, 1886. Henry Oeters received his education at Oakfield Academy and St. Louis High School. In 1861 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the tanner’s trade, and the following year enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in a severe skirmish near Hartsville, Tenn., where he was captured by Gen. John Morgan, but was paroled eight days later. He served as body guard for Gen. Payne, while stationed at Gallatin, Tenn., and was mustered out at Nashville, June 29, 1864, having served three years. The following two years he was engaged as an apprentice at the tanning trade in Cincinnati, when he returned to St. Louis, and one month later to the farm where he now resides, which consists of 400 acres of land, on which is located a very extensive deposit of sand, superior in quality to the celebrated Crystal City Sand, and tested 97 per cent silica. Mr. Oeters was married, in 1873, to Miss Amelia Shude, by which marriage four children were born: Otto, Anna, Julia and Louisa. Mrs. Oeters died in 1879, and in 1880 Mr. Oeters married Louisa Alt. They have four children: Eddie (deceased), Gesene (deceased), Otto Henry and Lena. Mr. and Mrs. Oeters are members of the Evangelical Church. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. and G. A. R.