Village of Maeystown

Village of Maeystown. . The Village of Maeystown, originally known as Maeysville was founded in 1852 by Jacob Maeys, a German immigrant from Bavaria. Maeys purchased 100 acres and had the land surveyed and subdivided into streets and lots with the intention of attracting other German craftsmen and tradesmen to create a self-sustaining village. Purchasing this land was timely, because nearly one million German immigrants came to America in the decade following the unsuccessful German revolution of 1848. the immigrants traveled up the Mississippi from New Orleans, stopped briefly in St.Louis, then spread by the thousands into the surrounding areas of Missouri and Illinois. Jacob Maeys' lots sold rapidly. Among the first settlers were a blacksmith, cobbler, cooper, medical doctor, furniture maker, undertaker, miller saddler, tailor, wagon maker, tavern owner, hotel owner, horse trader, vinter, as well as butchers, carpenters, masons merchants, and farmers. these settlers built much of the village in the German style using local limestone and brick., [Asides:] , The stone building was built in 1852 to be used as a water- powered sawmill and later was converted to be a steam power flour mill. It was ultimately owned by Anton Zeitinger. The Zeitinger mill burn in 1868 and was rebuilt in 1880., Since that year this building has house many businesses: undertaker, casket maker, furniture maker, garage, gas station. warehouse and custom furniture workshop. In 1983 , the Maeystown Preservation Society bought the building and converted into the village museum., The language and cultural difference between Maeystown's German immigrants and non-German in neighboring communities caused conflicts. Because oppression was one of the main reasons German migrated to America, most German immigrants were abolitionists. During the Civil War, pro-slavery renegade groups came to town and on one occasion rode into Maeys general store on horseback, stealing all guns and ammunition in stock., There were also instances of fear and harassment during World War I because of anti-German sentiment, prompting the villagers to post guards at each entrance to the town. Maeystown remained exclusively German through the First World War. Residents spoke German in homes, on the streets, in shops and in church. the German service of worship took place at St.John's Church on Christmas morning in 1943. many descendants of these original settlers still reside in or near the village.