It is an honor for me to have the title of Burgermeister of this year's Heritage Festival.

I was born to Leo and Jo Ruth Talley Amacher in 1953. Leo was the grandson of Peter John and Barbara Deuker Amacher who traveled by covered wagon from Collinsville, Illinois to Hohenwald arriving in August 1895, a trip of some twenty days. My paternal grandfather was one of nine children raised by Peter and Barbara. His name was also Peter John. He married Lena Schmidt, and they had twin sons, Leo and Leon Amacher. Lena was one of seven children of Theresia Steinwinder Schiller Schmidt Zimmermann who...