Tag Archives: Germany

Could Louise Be the Key?

Posted on by under Family History, Genealogy, Marriage, Reese Family, Research Process, Schröder Family, Schroeder Family

I still haven’t been able to figure out how or if Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm Schröder is related to Frederick Ludwig Schroeder.  I have been trying to collect as much information on Heinrich as I possibly can, which is difficult because he has so many names and most of his records are in German.  Finally, I came across a marriage record for him and Louise Wilhelmine Reese.  According to my grandma’s pedigree chart, Heinrich did marry a Louise Reese.

Louise Wilhelmine Reese was born on July 18, 1858 in Lemgo, Lippe, Germany.2  Her parents were Heinrich August Reese and Dorothe Henriette Catharine Sasse.1,2  She was christened on August 8, 1858 at Sankt Nicolai Evangelisch in Lemgo.1  Louise married Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm Schröder on January 26, 1882, also at Sankt Nicolai Evangelisch.2

I began to try a different tactic and looked for birth and baptism records containing Louise Reese Schröder.  My hope was that I would find her children.  So far, I’ve had no luck.  I will keep up the search for them, as well as immigration records for Heinrich and Louise after January 1882.  I have ordered the microfilm for these church records from Salt Lake City, to see if there is more information than the indexes yielded.

This information has been somewhat helpful in providing me clues and ideas to continue my search.  More importantly, if I can ever connect Heinrich and Frederick, I now have the names of Louise Reese’s parents, which I did not have before.  I’d call this attempt a moderate success.

Sources

  1. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N68C-67S : accessed 12 January 2016), Louise Wilhelmine Reese, 08 Aug 1858; citing ; FHL microfilm 582,486.

  2. “Deutschland Heiraten, 1558-1929,” database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JHNN-FNS : accessed 12 January 2016), Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm Schroeder and Luise Wilhelmine Reese, 26 Jan 1882; citing Sankt Nicolai Evangelisch, Lemgo, Lippe, Germany; FHL microfilm 582,486.

 

Pieces to the Schröder Puzzle

Posted on by under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Birth, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Schröder Family, Schroeder Family

A few months ago, I wrote about some confusion with dates regarding Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm Schröder.  Since then, I have been collecting records on all of his siblings to see how Frederick Ludwig Schroeder (my great great grandfather) could be related.

From German baptism records, I’ve learned that Heinrich’s parents, Friedrich Wilhelm Schröder and Auguste Wilhelmine Besser were the parents of eight children.

I’m thinking my Frederick must be a cousin to Heinrich, if he’s related at all.  I suppose it’s possible that he and Heinrich are the same person and Heinrich changed his name at some point, but that seems unlikely unless his name was changed around the time of the birth of Heinrich Wilhelm Rudolph.

Supposedly, my Frederick was born on December 12, 1850 in Germany (or Prussia).   So far, all I know for sure about Frederick is that he married Louise Reisenberg on May 8, 1882 in Lucas County, Ohio.9

Sources

  1. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N691-F7P : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Dorothee Helene Schroeder, 07 May 1838; citing ; FHL microfilm 582,899.
  2. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFN5-K82 : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Franz Wilhelm Schroeder, 17 Jan 1841; citing ; FHL microfilm 582,900.
  3. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTV2-8K9 : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Hermine Dorothee Schroeder, 29 Oct 1843; citing ; FHL microfilm 582,900.
  4. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5Q1-YLX : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Auguste Charlotte Schroeder, 25 Jan 1846; citing ; FHL microfilm 582,900.
  5. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NZ5S-DB9 : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Anne Wilhelmine Schroeder, 30 Apr 1848; citing ; FHL microfilm 1,050,751.
  6. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NZ5S-8XJ : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Heinrich Ludwig Schroeder, 05 Jan 1851; citing ; FHL microfilm 1,050,751.
  7. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NZ5S-7JR : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Carl Friedrich Schroeder, 14 Aug 1853; citing ; FHL microfilm 1,050,751.
  8. “Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” , FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFN5-PXM : accessed 12 August 2015), Friedrich Wilhelm Schroeder in entry for Heinrich Wilhelm Schroeder, 28 Mar 1858; citing ; FHL microfilm 582,900.
  9. Lucas County, Ohio Marriages 1920, Vol. 39, p.483, FamilySearch.org.

 

Mathias Slaymaker: A Giant in the Woods (52 Ancestors #38)

Posted on by under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Slaymaker Family

I recently began researching Mathias Slaymaker at my dad’s request.  A preliminary search turned up a few historical books.  That is usually the case when I research an ancestor who lived in early Pennsylvania, which is why I love researching in Pennsylvania.  So much of it can be done online.  I can only imagine what I might turn up if I can ever make the trip.  The story of Mathias is as follows.

Mathias Schleiermacher was born in 1670 in Hesse-Kassel, Germany.4,5,8 He married Catharine Sciebel.1,4,8 While in Germany, Mathias and Catharine had two children, Lawrence and Margaret.3,4,5,6,7

The family came to America from Strasburg, Germany in about 1710.3,4,5,6 The family name was changed from Schleiermacher to Slaymaker.1,3,4,6 Mathias purchased one thousand acres of land from the Pennsylvania land office of the London Company. This acreage was called the “London Lands” and was located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mathias named this area Strasburg Township (now Paradise Township).2,3,4,5,6,7

Mathias built a log cabin near a clear spring and cleared the land for farming.3,6,7 Here, he and Catharine had five more children, Barbara, Matthias, John, Henry, and Daniel.3,4,5,6,7

Mathias was remarkable for his almost gigantic stature and great strength.3,6 Also, “his honesty and kindness in dealing with the Indians won for him their respect and friendship.”6 These qualities, along with his excellent German education, made him an asset to the people of Lancaster County, especially since the county was mostly wooded and filled with Indians.3

Mathias loved Lancaster County and contributed greatly to its improvement. Among many other contributions, he cleared lands, built school houses, and encouraged religious movements.3,6

Image from History of Lancaster County by I. Daniel Rupp, 1844.

Image from History of Lancaster County by I. Daniel Rupp, 1844.

Mathias Slaymaker lived a long and purposeful life. He died in Lancaster County on November 25, 1762.1,7

Sources

  1. C&P LaPlante Files. “Mathias Schleiermacher Slaymaker (1670 – 1761).” FindAGrave.com. N.p., 14 Mar. 2006. Web. 12 Sept. 2015. Memorial# 13617411.
  2. Egle, William Henry, ed. Pennsylvania Archives: Third Series. Vol. 17. Harrisburg: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897. Mocavo.com. Web. 22 Aug. 2015.
  3. Harris, Alexander. “Slaymaker Family.” A Biographical History of Lancaster County … Being a History of Early Settlers and Eminent Men of the County; as Also Much Other Unpublished Historical Information, Chiefly of a Local Character. Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr, 1872. 536-38. Print.
  4. “Murdoch Kendrick.” Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs. Ed. John W. Jordan. Vol. 1. New York: Lewis, 1911. 626-27. Print.
  5. Rupp, I. Daniel. History of Lancaster County: To Which Is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania. Lancaster, Penn.: Gilbert Hills, 1844. Mocavo.com. Web. 22 Aug. 2015. p.127.
  6. “Slaymaker.” Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. N.p.: J.H. Beers, 1903. 50-51. Mocavo.com. Web. 22 Aug. 2015.
  7. Slaymaker, Henry Cochran. “Will of Mathias Slaymaker.” History of the Descendants of Mathias Slaymaker Who Emigrated from Germany and Settled in the Eastern Part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, about 1710. Lancaster, PA: Publisher Not Identified, 1909. 38-39. Mocavo.com. Web. 22 Aug. 2015.
  8. Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database On-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.  Accessed 12 September 2015.

Louise Reisenberg: A Leap of Faith (52 Ancestors #17)

Posted on by under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Reisenberg Family, Schroeder Family, Stories

I am fortunate to have a family full of storytellers with long memories. What this means for me, though, is that my genealogical research primarily entails proving or disproving these stories. One story, on which I am currently working, is about my great great grandmother, Louise Reisenberg (or Risenburg).

Louise (Reisenberg) Schroeder, circa 1900.

Louise (Reisenberg) Schroeder, circa 1905.

Louise’s story, if I remember right, is as follows. One day, a sixteen year old Louise was working in the field on her family’s farm, she heard God tell her to leave her home and her family and go to America. She went back to the house and told her parents what God had told her to do. Her parents believed that she should do as God commanded and sold a cow to buy her passage to America. Louise didn’t speak a word of English, so she found a German family on the boat who were heading to Toledo, Ohio and she went with them. In Toledo, she got a job to support herself and married Frederick Schroeder.

Proving the story has been difficult, but I do believe that it is true based on what I have found so far.

Louise Reisenberg was born in Germany in November of 1860.1,5,6,8,10,11  She came to America in 1882, and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland on the Hermann on April 19th of that year, at the age of 21.1,5,6,8  From Maryland, she went on to Ohio, where she met Frederick Schroeder.  Fred and Louise married on May 8, 1882 in Lucas County, Ohio.2  Louise was a carpet weaver.5  Fred and Louise had six children:  Emma W., born circa 1883; Elizabeth A., born January 1885; Henry F., born circa 1887; Bertha Amelia, born March 30, 1890; John F., born October 1892; and George Herman, born September 21, 1896.3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Fred died sometime between 1896 and 1900.3,4,5  By 1900, Louise had been naturalized and could speak English.5  By 1930, she was living with her daughter, Bertha, and her son-in-law, Lloyd Bersticker.  She lived with them until she died in 1955.10,11

Most of the story couldn’t be directly proven with facts, but I feel that the facts support it.  A sixteen year old Louise could have heard God, and her parents could have sold the cow.  It may have taken some few years between the initial voice of God and setting off for America.  It also would have taken about a month for the actual voyage.  It seems likely to me that a non-English speaking young lady would have found a family to travel with that spoke her language.  I also have to wonder if maybe this family had connections to the Schroeders in Toledo.  Louise arrived in Maryland on April 19th and married Fred on May 8th, so maybe the family arranged it or suggested it.  Louise certainly did have a job as a carpet weaver.

Louise Reisenberg Schroeder is one of my ancestors about whom I am dying to know more.  She’s always been a bit of a mystery and I’m glad to have uncovered what I have so far.

Sources

1.  Baltimore, Maryland Passenger Lists Index, 1820-1897, FamilySearch.org.

2.  Lucas County, Ohio Marriages, 1789-1997, Vol. 3, p.379, FamilySearch.org.

3.  Ottawa County, Ohio Births, 1841-2003, Vol. 1, p.324, no. 94, FamilySearch.org.

4.  Ottawa County, Ohio Births 1891-1908, Vol. 2, p.245, no. 382, FamilySearch.org.

5.  1900 U.S. Federal Census, Benton, Ottawa, Ohio, p.12B, Ancestry.com.

6.  1910 U.S. Federal Census, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, p.9A, Ancestry.com.

7.  Genesee County, Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, Vol. 2, p.335, FamilySearch.org.

8.  1920 U.S. Federal Census, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, p.4A, Ancestry.com.

9.  Lucas County, Ohio Marriages 1920, Vol. 39, p.483, FamilySearch.org.

10.  1930 U.S. Federal Census, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, p.12B, Ancestry.com.

11.  1940 U.S. Federal Census, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, p.7B, Ancestry.com.

12.  The Blade Correspondent (Toledo), 5 October 1964, Obituary, Emma Damschroeder, found a copy in my grandparents’ box not cited.

Marie Neider: The Dancing Queen (52 Ancestors #06)

Posted on by under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Neider Family, Photographs, Stories

I know very little about my great grandmother, Marie Neider.  She was born in Lampertheim, Germany to parents Christian and Elisabeth Neider on January 25, 1922.  She had three daughters, one of whom died at the age of one, and one adopted son.  She was married to Rolf Wolfgang Wölfert genannt Schmidt.  She died in November of 1993, when I was ten years old.

My only memories of Oma (Marie) are vague at best.  She and Opa (Rolf) flew here from Germany to visit for a while when I was about one and a half.  I remember walking with Oma and Opa down a sidewalk.  I remember stopping to smell the roses on the rose bush with them.  I remember them giving me Äpfel (apples).  I remember Oma laughing a lot.

Years later, in 1989, I remember waiting with my family in the kitchen for a while.  The Berlin Wall had just come down and we were waiting for her phone call.  I remember my mom and grandmother talking to her, but I don’t remember getting to talk to her.  Although, I was six, so I may just not remember.

I recently asked my grandmother to tell me about her.  I’ve heard stories, both good and bad, over the years, but I really wanted to know what she was like.  She told me that Oma was a very social person.  She loved to go to parties and her favorite thing to do was dance.  Whenever she danced, she was happy.

Gottfried und Marie tanzen.

Gottfried und Marie tanzen.

There is much that I need to learn about her still.  I’m planning to take a class on German genealogy to learn how to find records over there.  My grandmother said that her sister has a book with information in it that she will see if she can get copies of for us.