County of village: Warren County
Location of village: Very south in county almost to the border (Missouri River); crossroads of MO-N & Smith Creek Rd./Mill Rd.
County is mid-date central toward eastern portion of state
Elevation: 640 feet (195 m)
Population: under 50
"Holstein - A town in the southwest part of Charrette Township. It was formerly known as Lehmberg's Store. Ernest Lehmberg was the first merchant at the site, and established a store there in 1843. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, October 18, 1807. He married Miss Charlotta Tiamann on March 3, 1837, and came to what is now Warren County in that year. He was the first postmaster at the new community, and held the position for thirty years. He was also one of the twelve founders of the Holstein Evangelical Church. Goodwin lists the post office as Holstein in 1867. It is said by some authorities to have been named for the province of Holstein, Germany, by early settlers who came from there. The important northern province of Holstein, which formerly belonged to Denmark, was annexed by Prussia in 1867. It is perhaps the most famous for its breed of large black and white dairy cattle known as Holsteins, and this may have had something to do with the name, for there are many cattle of that breed in the section. The local pronunciation of the name has been Americanized. It is possible that the town was named, not for the German province, but for H. Holstein, who with his brother-in-law, William Kunze, built the mills at Holstein in 1871 and operated them for ten years, according to the BIOG. RECORD. Ernest Lehmberg, the founder, did not come from Holstein but from Westphalia. However, the dates would indicate that it was named Holstein before Mr. Holstein came. Another early settler, Frederick Kock (for whom cf. Kock's Branch, below), was also a native of Germany, part unknown. The nickname Cow Town is also applied to the place, evidently on account of the association of the name, Holstein." ~ Missouri History, Goodwin; Maps and History of Missouri, Eaton; County Atlas, 1877, page 5; History of St. Charles, pages 1030, 1042-3; Williams N.E. MISSOURI I, page 675; Post Graduate & Biography Record, pages 324; 972
"Holstein Charette Township
"Louis Bresenmeyer operated the hotel. Louis Lehmberg had a general store; William Oberhellman and August Brueggenjohann were the dealers in General merchandise, furniture and farm produce ... The business was established originally by Ruge Bros. in 1876. Julius P. Ruge was the physician in 1882. Frank Trau was dealer in Hardware and Tinner.
"It was the home of the "Private and Benevolent Association of Holstein." The organization was organized "for the purpose of mutual assistance among its members in case of loss or damage by fire." The first board of directors were H. A. Schappenhurst, Henry Hackmann, Gerhard Hackman, Henry Oberhallman and William Strubber.: History of Warren Co., Pages 1034, 1042, 1050, 1053, 1022.
Holstein, 13 miles south of Warrenton, had a public school, 2 churches -- German Evangelist and German Lutheran -- 2 stores and about 60 inhabitants." ~ Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, 1874, page 627.