Saturday, November 24, 2007

August Nehls: New Ulm Pioneer, Brickyard Stalwart

Drawn from August Nehl's obituary and an article entitled "Honorable Couple Is Married Fifty Years" first published in the Brown County Journal in April 1929 and in November 1930, respectively.
Edited by Jim Graupner

August Nehls, well-known pioneer resident of New Ulm and valued brickyard employee of Fred Aufderheide, died of kidney and bladder trouble at his home on South Valley Street, 77 years ago today. Twice he was "very generously" remembered by the New Ulm Brick & Tile yards for his service: initially as the brickyard celebrated his first quarter-century and again when he retired, after 40 years of continuous employment.

Nehls was born in Pyritz, province of Pomerania, Germany, 4 February 1847. He attended school in the village of Pyritz and later was apprenticed to a blacksmith and toolsmith, there.

In 1870, at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War (19 July 1870 - 10 May 1871), Nehls entered military service for Prussia and the North German Confederation. As a soldier in the Second company, Fifth Pommeranian Infantry, Regiment No. 42, Nehls is reported to have participated in a number of active encounters during the conflict. The following year peace was restored when France surrendered and Prussian Germany proclaimed itself the German Empire.
On 4 June 1874 Nehls sailed for America and came directly to New Ulm. Mr. Nehls first employment was as a hired farm hand in the vicinity. In April 1881, Fred Aufderheide hired him as a worker in brickyards, which Aufderheide had acquired the year before from __ Winklemann. So Nehls started his employment at the brickyard when it was in its infancy and continued his service there as the business expanded and prospered for the next 40 years.

On April 14, 1879, August was married to Rosa Hartneck by the Rev. Gustav Reim at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Ten children were born to this couple, three of whom preceded their father in death. Surviving Mr. Nehls were his widow, and the following children: Mrs. Fred Wandersee, Otto and John Nehls, New ulm; Mrs. Louis Johnson, Clarks Grove, Minn.; Mrs. Arthur Swenson, Albert Lea; Mrs. Fred Hager, Mankato, and Mrs. Hugo Hoffmann, Sleepy Eye. Also surviving the deseased were 14 grandchildren and a brother, William Nehls, of New Ulm.

Mr. Nehls was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm.




Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Emma Aufderheide Boock: 123rd Birth Anniversary

by Jim Graupner

Emma Aufderheide Boock's 123rd birth anniversary is today.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Fred Aufderheide's Immigration

by Darcy Kleeman Boock

Today I received some new information from Helga Johann auf der Heide regarding Fred Aufderheide's immigration. The Sophie she refers to is Fred's older sister who married Rosenfeld. The Heinrich Beineke she mentions might very well be Sophie Beineke Aufderheide's father. Did anyone know that he had immigrated? I copied Helga's two emails into an attachment.

Darcy

6 November 2007

Dear Darcy!

Yesterday I went to the library in Lengerich. Here is also a little archives. Mr. Berghoff are working here, he did me give the old book with the names of persons, they emigrated.

I find only one name "Johann auf der Heide". The name is: Sophie Friederike Johannaufderheyde. Eltern (parents) in Schwien Heuer (house from Schwien farm). Geboren (born)2. November 1841. Auswanderung (Emigration): August 1858.

Is it possible, that Sophie Friederike Johannaufderheyde was a sister to Friedrich Wilhelm Aufderheide?
Then I find the name: Heinrich Beineke, Heuerling, born 26.10.1791, emigrated 1859.

The book in Lengerich is not complete. Mr. Berghoff said, the people, they went secret to the U.S.A. were not registered in the book. Perhaps Friedrich Wilhelm Aufderheide went secret to U.S.A., if he would no go to the military. This was a often reason from the young mans.

Helga Johann auf der Heide



Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Google Map: Johann auf der Heide Farm

by Darcy Kleeman Boock

Hi, I'd like to share a Google Maps link with you where you can see the original Johann auf der Heide farm and also you will see where Gerhard and Helga Johann auf der Heide live.

The farm is in the center bottom of the map. There is a ring on the south side of the farm for liquid manure storage. If you follow the triangular shaped piece of land to the northern point of the triangle, you will see a dark roofed house on the right side of Nachtigallenweg, which is where Gerhard and Helga live.

You can zoom in and out on this map. Also use the arrows to manuever. Kattenvenne is to the west and a little north. Nachtigallenweg is the eastern border.

Enjoy!

Darcy

Link:

This email was sent to you by a user on Google Maps (http://maps.google.com)

Friday, October 26, 2007

Carol Gieseke Baer: 84th Birth Anniversary

by Jim Graupner

[Carol Gieseke Baer, born 26 October 1923 in New Ulm]

Ironically, I spent the entire day working with Carol's letters to Gertrude, yet missed the fact that today would be her 84th birthday anniversary. Carol grew up in New Ulm and graduated from DMLC as a Lutheran elementary school teacher. She taught in Mankato up until the time that she and George Baer were married. Soon after they were married, she and George traveled to Nigeria, where George served as a missionary. Carol and George's daughter, Pam, was born in Nigeria.

When they returned to New Ulm, George assisted as pastor at St. Paul's. Later Carol and George moved to Hazelton, SD, for five years and then to Emanuel Lutheran in St. Paul, where he had accepted calls. Finally, they moved to Watertown where George accepted a teaching position at Northwestern. Hertha nee Aufderheide and George Gieseke followed the Baers as they moved from New Ulm to St. Paul and to Watertown.

Carol passed away recently, having battled with cancer. She and George enjoyed having their daughter Pam and husband Robert Schmutzler, children, and grandchildren nearby in Watertown.

The 25 July 1912 letter from Carol's Grandfather Fred Aufderheide to her mother, Hertha Aufderheide, provides insight into the Aufderheide background that many of us share. Carol, as one of the youngest of the Aufderheide grandchildren (along with Arthur and his brother, Fred) and certainly connected with the Gieseke families of Nicollet and Brown Counties, maintained contact with friends and relatives throughout her life. She was passionate about family history and ensured with her letters that her family story would be a legacy for her own children.

Carol Elizabeth Gieseke (Mrs. George) Baer
George Theodore Gieseke and Hertha Margaret Cornelia Aufderheide
George Gieseke Sr. and Wilhelmine Marie Lange
Friederich Gieseke and Henrietta Voges

Carol Elizabeth Gieseke (Mrs. George) Baer
Hertha Margaret Cornelia Aufderheide and George Theodore Gieseke
Frederick William Aufderheide and Elise Maria Schapekahm
Eberhard Jacob Johann auf der Heide and Sophie Elisabeth Beineke (buried in Minneapolis)
Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide and Anne Marie Elisabeth Oberdalhoffs
Jorgen Johann auf der Heede and Anna

Jim

PS: There's something about October for Carol's family:

Pam: b. 6 October 1947
Carol: b. 26 October 1923
George and Hertha: m. 9 October 1917

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Ringel, Germany: Locating Aufderheide Origins

Discussion between Philip and Jim Aufderheide

[Ringel locale in the area of Lengerich, Germany]

Hmmm. You are right, Philip.

I went into one of the satellites and looked up Ringel, Germany. It appears now to be a wide spot in the road. Perhaps Fred was born on one of these several farms? Perhaps Ringel was never a thriving village. Interesting. I wonder how we could find what was there in 1853?
You know, as I find out more, it just brings up more questions. Isn't it fun?!

Jim Aufderheide

[Philip's Old German Roadmap]



Hi,

In answer to Jim A's mail with the aerial view of Ringel, I scanned my German road map of that area...showing Lengerich, Kattenvenne, Ringel ....and I might add, Wiethoff. Lienen is on the next page, so that doesn't show up.

If you would like to see an old map of the area, go back to Darcy's email of March 03, 2007...subject: Re: Aufderheide Pedigree

I too am enjoying this latest whirlwind of mails.

philip


Thanks, Philip.

You know, they all are in relatively close proximity. So I see Kattenvenne Moor on the map...but that is not a Heide, is it? Isn't a moor a Mark?And I went back and printed out Darcy's older map. Can't tell how large a hamlet Ringel it is. Question: if there really is not village there anymore, why is Ringel still on the map? Or is that like a township designation? We have Milford Township outside of New Ulm, but there are no buildings, per se, and really never were other than a township hall.I didn't notice the JAP when I copied and pasted.

I wonder if I should talk to my wife about going back to my original surname: JAN UP DE HEE. Actually, that almost sounds Dutch! I received an article from a friend about the origins of surnames. They apparently did not begin until the middle ages, and, with the changes in language, those developing surnames changed much into the 18th and 19th centuries.

Our JAN UP DE HEE to JOHANN AUF DER HEIDE to AUFDERHEIDE is a terrific example of that development.

Jim Aufderheide


To me this whole process is so exciting, so mentally fulfilling. What are the chances of a group of relatives with the will, the motivation, the interest, the intellect, the creativity that you folks have coming together on one endeavor like this? How absolutely fascinating! I am in awe watching a group like this!The view from satellite made me think of an older email exchange between you and Darcy where you talked about Fred being born in a small farm house in Ringel. What are the chances that one of those buildings around that wide spot in the road pictured in the satellite shot was where he was born? I wonder how we could ever know?Think of the importance to our families of that location...

Think of the importance to our families of the location of the farm in the picture that Gerhard and Helga sent us... What a rush!!!

Jim Aufderheide

Dear Jim,

Ringel is a "place", if not a little village. If there is such a thing as a township, this one would be Lengerich...since these little hamlets go by the name Lengerich-Ringel etc. "Moor" is a fen (=venne...remember that v is pronounced as our f in German) or bog, but is not unconnected to "Heide". "Mark" is usually used in this form to indicate a border area. However, I have also seen it used to indicate fields or woods that are used in common by a community. There may be other uses.I doubt that Ringel was ever larger than it is now. Farmers generally live together in Germany with their fields surrounding the little collection of houses.

The scale of the map can be seen by the red numbers which indicate the number of kilometers between the red markers on roads. The large numbers indicate distance between the large markers with a circle instead of a dot. I mile = 1.6 kilometers.I wonder if William Wiethoff came from WIETHOFF on this map. Did he know Bernadina Aufderheide before he emigrated? A peek into the book of emigrants from Lengerich that Heidi Johann adH mentioned might give some clues to that.

My 2 cents.

p.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide's Parents Confirmed; Additional Note: On death of Infant Girl

by Darcy Kleeman Boock
23 October 2007
Revision: 27 October 2007: "Infant Death," by Darcy Kleeman Boock*

[The farm Johann auf der Heide in Kattenvenne]

Kattenvenne, 23. October 2007

Dear Darcy!

Thank you for the E-Mail and the old picture from Fred /Elise. It is very interesting for us too, that we know from you.

Yes, it is so, the father from Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide was “Jörgen Johann aufr Heede” (born 1711, death 16.3.1798 – he was 87 years old -) He married Anna (family name ?), she was born 1734, death 4.6.1782, she was 48 ½ years old.

The family-book from the church in Lienen started in the year 1711 – and so, we cann’t find here all the dates earlier.

You write, the family from Fred Aufderheide moved from Lienen-Kattenvenne to Lengerich-Ringel, and so, we must look in the emigrant-book from Lengerich, perhaps we find here the name. We know a person, they has this book, and we’ll ask him for a look.

We sent you an old photo from the farm Johann auf der Heide (Gerhards brother is living here). Gerhard, his father, his grandfather and so on were born in this house.

A family-story (telled from Gerhards father Gustav) is so:

Once, in the Midlle Ages, three brothers with the names Johann, Gerd and Dierk came to Kattenvenne. Here, they find enough ground, and they settled here. Johann and Dierk became ground with heather, and they build a farm on the heather. Gerd became borderland /march, and build here his farm. In the time(maybe 1500), who family-names created, Johann’s family-name started with “Jan up de Hee”, Dierks family-name with “Dierk up de Hee” and Gerd’s family-name with “Gerd vor der Mark”. So you can find all the three family-names in Kattenvenne now.

A brother from Gerhards grandfather (Friedrich Johann auf der Heide, born 1860 in Kattenvenne) emigrated in 1881 to USA, first to St. Louis, his uncle (Gerd vor der Mark) was living there. His name chanced also to Fred Aufderheide. Today, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are living in Indianapolis. We visited their in September 2007.

Gerhard and Helga

Revision: Death of the twin baby girl, born 21 Feb 1800:

Hello All,

I didn't find a lot today at the Oakdale FHC, but I did make copies of some important family records. I also found the death of the twin baby girl born 21 Feb 1800 to Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide and Anna Marie Elisabeth Oberdalhoffs. She, Anna Catharine Elsabein, died 7 Mar 1800 and is listed as 12 days old, but that doesn't quite match up with her birthdate.I also failed to give you the parents of Anna Marie Elisabeth Oberdalhoffs. Her father is listed as Alte (old man) Averdalhoff and her mother is Catharina Herssmans. I've also seen this surname as Hersmanns, which I think is probably more correct.

Darcy

As Yet, Unconnected Aufderheide Lines

On Oct 23, 2007, at 11:37 AM, Jim Aufderheide wrote:

These are the earliest names I have from the New York group and the Ohio group.
First, the New York group:
Charles Frederick Auf der heide - born 1840, Germany - died 31 May 1899, New York
Second, the Ohio group:
Christian Aufderheide - born 14 Feb 1832, Germany - died 12 Nov 1896, Ohio

I wonder if either of these could be descendants of the Johann Hindrich line. If so, both groups have followed those descendants' children down to the present time here in America. Would be great to tie the lines together. Can you check and see, Darcy, with your German connection?

Jim Aufderheide

Additional Johann H. Johan auf der Heede Family Information Found

by Darcy Boock,

Hello All,

I went back to the LDS Family History Center in Oakdale Saturday and found the remaining four children of Johann Hindrich Johan auf der Heide/Heede and Anna Maria Sophie Magdalene Braeven/Breven.

6. Johan Ernst Wilhelm born 23 Mar 1791
7. Anna Sophia Elisabeth born 12 May 1793
8. Johan Wilm Rudolph born 6 May 1795
9. Anna Catharina Elisabeth born 10 May 1797

Gerhard Johan auf der Heide descends from the second oldest child Ernst Rudolf from the first marriage and the rest of you descend from the youngest child Eberhard Jacob from the second marriage.

This is amazing! To not only find someone by the same name of Johann auf der Heide living in Germany today, but to find him living near the old farmstead in Kattenvenne AND to have him be so closely related. WOW! And to think that they did this same research that I am doing now 24 years ago shows that they also have an interest in family history.

Gerhard and Helga also have taken the family back one more generation that I have not yet found. In the information they sent me they have the father of Johan Hindrich listed as Jörgen Johann auf der Heede, born 1711 and died 16 Mar 1798 and the mother as Anna, born 1734 and died 4 Jun 1782.

Darcy

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Isabel Aufderheide (1917-2007) Obit

Isabel B. Aufderheide
[Reprinted from THE JOURNAL 17 October 2007, New Ulm www.nujournal.com]
Note: The same obiturary was published in the Star Trib, www.startrib/obituaries.com; photo reprinted from the Star Trib article..

Aufderheide, Isabel B., age 90, a retired professor of English at the Minnesota School of Business and longtime authority on English usage, died at her home in Edina early Monday October 15, 2007, after a brief illness.

Ms. Aufderheide, a 1939 graduate of Macalester College, taught at the Business School for 39 years, beginning shortly after WWII and retiring in 1985. During her tenure, she also served as a consulting expert to The Minneapolis Star-Journal in the 1950s and its reader-generated, question-and-answer feature concerning proper English usage.

After the business college was bought by the International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) Corporation, she was honored as the company’s Employee of the Year in 1976.She was also an avid and accomplished bridge player and aficionado of crossword puzzles, routinely solving The New York Times puzzles in ink. She was a long-time supporter of the Guthrie Theater and Minnesota Public Radio.

She was keenly interested in Asian culture and politics and was an early devotee of foreign student exchange programs. She had been scheduled to engage in such a sojourn in Japan just prior to the breakout of hostilities that led to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Her exchange was cancelled by the Japanese.

Isabel Aufderheide was born April 5, 1917, in the tiny southwestern Minnesota village of Wanda. She was the first of five children born to Gustav and Anna MacDougall Aufderheide. The family moved to a farm near Lamberton when Isabel was a baby, and she graduated valedictorian from Lamberton High School. In the interim, her mother died when Isabel was 10.

After graduation from Macalester College, Ms. Aufderheide was an English teacher at Pelican Rapids and Glenwood high schools. She left teaching during WWII to serve as the official hostess in charge of the social program and facilities at Sioux City Airbase, in Iowa. She moved to Minneapolis after the war to join the faculty at the business college.

Ms Aufderheide is survived by her sister, Jean A. Stark of Tullahoma, Tenn., and 13 nieces and nephews. Her other sister, Wilma, became vice-president at controller of what was then Dayton-Hudson’s department stores. Both of her brothers, John and Ernest, were veterans of WWII.

Funeral Service Saturday, October 20, 12 NOON at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave. Mpls., with visitation a half hour prior. Interment Lakewood Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Elusive Oberdahlhoffs-Johann auf der Heide Marriage Date Found!

by Darcy Kleeman Boock
16 October 2007

With the help of Helga and Gerhard Johann auf der Heide, I now have a marriage date of 2 Nov 1798 for Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide and Anna Maria Elisabeth Oberdahlhoffs. Helga also verified my assumption that Johann Hindrich had been married previously, however, I never would have guessed that he had been married first to an ancestor of Gerhard's!

I had searched through those marriage records about 5 times and came to the conclusion that the marriage took place other than Lienen. I checked once more tonight since I had an exact date to look for and I finally found it, but it wasn't easy. The marriage records on the microfilm I was looking at this evening ended Oct. 1798. So what happened to Nov. and Dec.? On the last page of these marriage records there was a small notation (in German script) that said, "Seite 104 befindet sich am Schluß des ______."

AH HA! Find page 104 at the end of "something". I scrolled through death records for Lienen 1833-1898 and finally found the lone page 104 at the end of those and the elusive marriage record!. Joh. Hind. Joh. auf der Hiede was 49 years old when he married Anne Marie Elisabeth Oberdalhoffs, who was 28. Some of the wording is lost in the centerfold of the book, but my guess is that it says, "2ten Ehe" or his second wife.

I made a poor copy of this marriage record before the printer didn't work at all any more. Hopefully I can make another copy when the machine is repaired. I also found 5 of the 9 children from Joh. Hind. Joh. auf der Heide's first marriage before I ran out of time. I will search for the remaining children either Sat. or next week.

1. 24 Jun 1782 Johann Hindrich
2. 15 Feb 1784 Ernst Rudolf
3. 23 Jan 1786 Catharina Sophia Elisabeth
4. 8 Aug 1787 Anna Catharina Marie
5. 23 May 1789 Johan Berndt Friedrich Wilhelm

Joh. Hind. Johann auf der Heide's correct birth date should be 4 Jan 1749. I had found this birth/baptismal record earlier, but I wasn't sure it was the correct person until Helga verified this date. Anna Maria Elisabeth Oberdahlhoffs' correct birth date should be 5 Dec 1770.

Darcy

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Darcy Boock's Research Advances Johann auf der Heide Connection to Second Line

Here is an email that I sent last night to Gerhard and Helga Johann auf der Heide and their answer to me. Philip, I am happy to hear that you would be willing to translate my letters to them for me. How did I do on the first paragraph. My grammar probably stinks. Enjoy the news. We are getting closer.

"Darcy Boock" <gdboock@pressenter.com> schrieb: > Hallo Gerhard u. Helge. Heute hat ich ihr Brief erhaltet. Es ist sehr > interessiert. Ich finden vielen Namen Johann auf der Heide in die alte > Kirchenbücher von Lienen und auch von Lengerich microfilmed by die Kirche > von den Mormons. Ich habe vielen Namen in mein Database und addieren mehr > jeder Woche. Ich will Ihrer Ahnentafeln studieren und ein anderer Brief > schrieben Sie bald. Ich habe ein sehr Woche zu tun. Ich bin sehr glücklich > zu Sie finden. > > I need to write this part in English. Do you think that Johann Hindrich > Johann aufr Heede geboren 4 Jan. 1749 was married 1st to Anna Maria > Magdalene Breven and then after she died in 1798 that he married 2nd to > Anne Marie Elisabeth Oberdahlhoffs? Because Johnann Hindrich was 22-23 > years older than A. M. Elisabeth Oberdahlhoffs. I found a death record for > Johann Hindrich for 19 Juli 1816. You said that he died after 1811 and I > know that he died before 1841 when his son Eberhard Jacob was married. Do > you think this is our connection through a 2nd marriage? > > Darcy Boock > River Falls, Wisconsin USA > >

Hallo Darcy! Thank you for your E-mail. We think you are right with your supposition. 25 years ago I (Helga) make for my family genealogy intensive.

In my old manuscripts I find out:Johannaufrheede, Johann Hindrich (b. 04.01.1749 d. after 1811, 1. married 07.10.1781 with Anna Maria Magdalene Breven) together they had 9 children. His wife Anna died 03.08.1798 and then he maked 2. married (2.11.1798)with Anna Maria Elisabeth Oberdalhofs (b. 1770, d. 1837), they did have together 3 children (1.: 07.03.1802- son Rudolph - //2.: 20.04.1805 son Friedrich //3.: 02.10.1808 son Jacob ). I think, thats your ansisters.Perhaps, you have the same dates. Regards from Gerhard and Helga /Lienen-Kattenvenne / Germany

Monday, October 15, 2007

New Johann auf der Heide Letter to Darcy Boock

Today I received a letter from Gerhard and Helga Johann auf der Heide with two pedigree charts from Lienen-Kattenvenne. The letter is attached. I have a very busy week, so will not be able to do too much with the letter and my Johann auf der Heide database. I have emailed him to let him know that I am very interested in this family name and will write more later. Wanted to share this with everyone. This is all so exciting. Has anyone heard of Isadora Spurlock who is mentioned in the letter from Modesto, CA?

Darcy

Thursday, October 11, 2007

[Eliese] Elise Marie Schapekahm Aufderheide: 150th Birth Anniversary 1857 - 1929

by Jim Graupner, et. al.
[...with exerpts from writings by Gertrude Graupner, George Gieseke, Carol Gieseke Baer, Norbert Boock; genealogical information provided by Jim Aufderheide, Marilyn Boock Schmidt, and Darcy Kleeman Boock; translations by Philip Graupner, and materials from the Emma Marie Aufderheide Boock collection. Photo identification by Jim Graupner.]

Elise (Eliese) Maria Schapekahm Aufderheide
9 October 1857 Gehrde, Hanover - 6 August 1929 New Ulm

Elise (Eliese) Marie (Maria) Schapekahm Aufderheide was the third of five children born to Gerhard Johann Schapekahm (1820) and Maria Adelheit Kaiser (1829) 150 years ago on the 9th of October 1857 in Gehrde, Hanover, Germany. Her siblings included Johanne Margaretha Maria Schapekahm (born on 13 June 1852 in Rusfort, near Gehrde), Herman Gerhard (born 28 April 1855 in Gehrde), and Gehard Herman (Jr.), born 16 August 1860 in Rusfort, near Gehrde.

The Early Years in Gehrde

Sadly, when Eliese was five years old, her mother died on 14 April 1863, having never recovered from the stillbirth of her daughter on the 21st of February 1863. Eight years later, on 16 August 1871, Eliese, Johanne, Herman, and Gerhard Jr. emigrated with their father directly to New Ulm. Little is known about their lives in Gehrde, except that Eliese attended school, much as her mother had done.

Surviving are two composition books, one from Eliese's mother, Maria, and the other from Eliese. The compositions, written in the old German script, reveal little about their lives, except that they had received a practical education. Interestingly, they also clarify (or confuse) the name order and spelling preference for their names in their own hand. For example, Maria's Composition Book's title page reads "Maria Adelheit Kaiser Gehrde 4th October 1843" and the inside back cover reads "Johann Gerhard Schapkahm". Eliese's book has an ornate frontisepiece and no title page, but the contents of apparently formal business letters are signed in a variety of versions of Elise's name: "Mara Eliese Schapekabe", "Maria Eliese Schapekabe", "Elise Marie Schapekabe" and "Eliese Schapekabe." Perhaps she was trying out different versions that she might use for immigration purposes. The first page of Eliese's book contains a notation of her first two sons: "Wilhelm Johann Aufderheide geboren 17 April 1883" and "Karl Hermann Wilhelm Aufderheide geboren 19 August Morgan 1/2 4 ? 1889 gafundt 13 October" [jfg].




[Maria Adelheit Kaiser's school composition book at age 14 (1843) in Gehrde. Notation at the top from Emma Aufderheide Boock is recent. jfg collection]


[Details of writing examples in Eliese Schapekahm's Composition Book from early 1871, above. Below is the inside cover page with Wilhelm and Karl's birth notations. jfg collection]

Later notations.

When Eliese was 14 years old in 1871, she emigrated with her father and three brothers from Gehrde to America. Her girl classmates wrote notes with various sentiments and quotations written on them that she collected, as shown on the following note, dated Gehrde 28 May 1869. Many were from the spring of 1871 [jfg collection].



The obituary [REWIEW, 19 August 1891] for Eliese's father, Johann Gehard Schapekahm, born 17 May 1820, recounted that he was a soldier for eight years in Gehrde, Hanover. After emigration in 1871, his sons became contractors, builders and carpenters in New Ulm. Johann was characterized as "a respected and useful citizen" in his obituary.

Eliese Schapekahm and Friederich Aufderheide Marry in 1871

The following exerpt is drawn from an account of Fred Aufderheide and the New Ulm Brick & Tile Company, published in 1916 in the History of Brown County, F. A. Fritsche, M.D., Editor:

On March 25, 1881, Fred Aufderheide was united in marriage to Elisa Schapekahm, who was born in the town of Gerde, Hannover, October 9, 1857, daughter of Gerhard and Maria Adelheid (Kaiser) Schapekahm, both natives of that same section of Germany and the parents of four children Mrs. Aufderheide having a sister, Mary and two brothers Herman and Gerhard. Mrs. Schapekahm died in her native land in 1862 and Mr. Schapekahm and his children then came to the united States, settling in New Ulm, being seventy one years of age at the time of his death. Elisa Schapekahm was thirteen years old when she came to this country and she grew to womanhood in new Ulm, where she married Mr. Aufderheide.

The man Eliese married (1881) was a resourceful, successful, and enterprising entrepreneur. Like Eliese, Fred Aufderheide also emigrated from Germany when he was young--just 17 years old in 1870. After learning the brick-making trade in Cincinnati, he founded the New Ulm Brickyards with his brother-in-law, William Wiethoff, and became proprietor in 1875.

Already by 1885, Fred and Eliese could celebrate a thriving business at the brickyard with a workforce of maybe 18 workers; a family of two children: William, born in 1883 and Emma, born in 1884; and a beautiful new home at the brickyard. Soon, three more children were born to Fred and Elise: Karl (1889), Herman (1892), and Hertha (1894). Eliese played a key role in the success of the brickyard by managing a turn-of-the-century household, which included boarding a couple of workers and producing home-made meals for the workers.

[1885 Photo of Aufderheide brickyard home, soon after it was built]


The brickyard office was located in the house, with the office entrance (shown above) on the west side facing Minnesota Street, so brickyard business was conducted within the context of a household of domestic activity (laundry, cooking, cleaning, seamstering, chickens, gardening, etc.). Eliese had hired women who helped with the meals and ran errands. And, until the children were of middle-school age, they were educated by a hired tutor at home. Thereafter, they were taken to school by horse-drawn buggy during fall and spring or by a horse-drawn open sleigh in winter. And, of course, Phillip, the beloved carriage horse was every child's favorite.

[1910 photo of Philip pulling the cutter along Minnesota Street in front of the Aufderheide home, with brick-drying sheds in the background.]

Over the years, the brickyard operations expanded with of new methods of producing brick, the addition of tile production, and more efficient transportation and distribution of the products. Increasingly, sons Karl and Herman assumed greater responsibilities in brickyard operations and in January 1921, they purchased the business from their father. During these years, Fred's entrepreneural interests went beyond the brickyard, into banking, a funeral home, and land speculation out West.





In 1906, Elise and Fred celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with this portrait (detail), taken for the occasion. Their first-born, William, died in 1900. The four surviving Aufderheide children, standing behind their parents are: Emma Marie (m. Arthur Boock 1908), Karl Herman (m. Clara Weddendorf 1913), Herman John (m. Esther Sannwald 1917), and Hertha Margaret (m. George T. Gieseke 1917). They had ten grandchildren, all but Frederick born during their lifetime: Norbert Boock 1909, Gertrude Boock 1912, Carl John Aufderheide 1914, Esther Boock 1914, John (Jack) Aufderheide 1916, Howard Aufderheide 1918, Ruth and Robert (twins) Aufderheide 1919, Arthur Aufderheide 1923, Carol Gieseke 1923, and Frederick Aufderheide1928.



Photos and Remembrances

Ca. 1918 brickyard photo, possibly by Karl Aufderheide, of his parents Fred and Eliese and Karl's sons Carly anJohn. Without exception, Eliese's grandchildren recall both the work and play activities of the brickyard homestead with affection.











A large gathering at an outdoor venue to perhaps celebrate Eliese and Fred's 35th anniversary on 25 May 1916. Uncles John Schapekahm (with bowtie) and Wm Wiethoff (kneeling) are to the extreme left.

Revising my date from the 1983 Settler on The Aufderheides, where the date was estimated as 1920, perhaps this undated photo was taken by Karl Aufderheide (running into the photo from the left) on the occasion of Fred and Eliese's 30th Anniversary, 25 May 1921. One clue is the absence of John and Mary Schapekahm; another is the estimation of the ages of the kids.

IDs from left to right first row: Herman Raabe; Albert Plagens; Norbert Boock with ball; Jack Aufderheide; Ida Boock (Mrs. Adolph) Klause; Clara Weddendorf Aufderheide with Ruth and Robert (born 1919); Esther Sannwald Aufderheide with Howard (but not Arthur); John, Lester, and Willard Raabe; Olivia Raabe kneeling behind with twins Henry and Herman; Mrs. Ferdinand Sannwald kneeling; Carl (Carly) Aufderheide seated; Wilhelmine (Mrs. Christian Frederick) Boock; and Gertrude Boock. Back Row: Karl Aufderheide (kneeling from left); Andrew (from Morton); Ferdinand Sannwald; Grandpa Fred Aufderheide, Adolph Klause; Rose Plagens; Hertha (nee Aufderheide) and George Gieseke, Emma (nee Aufderheide) and Arthur Boock; Grandma Weddendorf; Herman Aufderheide,John Weddendorf; and Eliese Schapekahm Aufderheide

Perhaps this portrait was taken by Herman Aufderheide on the west side of the Aufderheide home in the summer of 1912. Emma Aufderheide (Mrs. Arthur) Boock was living in Spencer at this time. Karl Aufderheide and Clara Weddendorf would be married the following year on 12 July. From left: Clara Weddendorf, Eliese Schapekahm Aufderheide, Hertha Aufderheide, cousin Ida Schmidt from Minneapolis, Hertha Weddendorf, and Karl Aufderheide.






















Eliese's Aunt Mary and Uncle John Hermann Schapekahm for a family gathering at the brickyard for Easter Sunday 20 April 1919. Esther Sannwald Aufderheide's mother is "comforting" Eliese from the giggles of presumably something happy. The Schapekahms departed New Ulm in September 1920 to live near their children in Milwaukee.

Gadgets and New Technologies Added Excitement


Relatives who knew Fred and Eliese thought highly of them; this regard is reflected in the anecdotes included below. A number of wonderful photographs of Eliese and Fred with their children, grandchildren, friends and relatives have survived; it's a legacy that not every family is fortunate to have.

With the development of excellent studio photographic technology, family portraits were in vogue. With early Twentieth Century advancements in portable personal cameras, candid snapshots and outside group photos could be taken by amateur photo-enthusiasts. Three family photographers of that time were Karl Aufderheide, George Gieseke, Jr., and Hertha Aufderheide Gieseke. It's hard to attribute photos to specific individuals, but one might infer, in context with the subject, who might have taken the picture.

George had a Graflex camera and developed his own photos. Hopefully, some of his photographs might yet emerge. I interviewed George at nearly 100 years old at his home in Watertown, Wisconsin. With a bright smile opening on his face, he spoke reverantly about Hertha's mother. "Elizabeth? Well, she was a very pleasant person; very congenial. She served all the meals during the day and also on Sundays when the whole relationship got together; she always served the food. She was great in taking care of the grandchildren; that is the boys, Gertrude and my daughter, Carol. She was a very friendly person."

The Aufderheide's had a penchant for other technologies as well, whether they were an Edison phonograph or a radio kit that they could assemble, but especially new automobiles. Fred Aufderheide, who never drove his cars, but nonetheless purchased them, originally had a Dodge which Hertha drove for him.

Uncle George remembered that his own first car was a two-passenger Model-T Ford which he and Hertha loved to drive. The car in the picture above shows Hertha and Herman in that very Ford at the brickyard, in 1917, the year she and George were married (at the brickyard homestead). [Photo presumably by George Gieseke. Fall 1917]







George recalled, "Hertha drove cars throughout her life. At age 14, she drove the Dodge car for her father, Fred Aufderheide. The old gent bought a Dodge car, a five-passenger open-top car--curtain top--and she did any driving when the old man wanted to go anywhere; her father or mother wanted to go anywhere and she did the driving. The car was later given to Hertha after we were married and she continued driving for her parents."


Karlie Aufderheide with Grandma Eliese feeding the chickens kitchen scraps as one of the Aufderheide dogs monitors the action. Photo probably taken by Karl Aufderheide in 1916, the year Karlie got a little brother named John, but known as Jack.


This photo, perhaps taken by George Gieseke, might be from 1924 at the brickyard, with the George Giesekes, Herman Aufderheides, and the Arthur Boocks. Front row left: Eliese Aufderheide, Gertrude Boock, Arthur Aufderheide, Fred Aufderheide; Back row left: Hertha Aufderheide Gieseke with daughter Carol, Emma Aufderheide Boock, Howard Aufderheide, Norbert Boock, Esther (Sandy) nee Sannwald Aufderheide and Herman Aufderheide.



On the hill to the west of Minnesota Street from the brickyard and east of what is now 19th Steet is a great hill for sledding. There are a number of photos of college-aged members of the Aufderheide family and friends taken in winter. Hertha Aufderheide and Norbert Boock are identified in this photo, along with another Aufderheide dog named Bruno.

This photo was taken on the northwest corner of the Aufderheide house near the office entrance, probably taken in 1924. From the left are Grandma Eliese (seated) holding a pet dog; Norbert and Gertrude Boock are in front with Carol Gieseke; Hertha Aufderheide Gieseke, Emma Aufderheide Boock, and Grandpa Fred Aufderheide. Most probably George Gieseke is taking the photo. At that time the Boocks lived with the Giesekes, having sold their home on State Street.

[Note: Additional rememberances by Norbert and Gertrude Boock, the oldest grandchildren of Fred and Eliese will be posted separately. Previous articles about the Aufderheides and the Brickyard and the Aufderheide homestead can be found in the archieves of this blog. jfg]

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

1871 Letter to Johann Plath

Contextual commentary by Jim Aufderheide
Translation from the original letter by Philip Graupner

This interesting letter from F. Camentz is to my Great Great Grandfather Johann Plath, father of my Great Grandmother Hermine Plath Weddendorf. The Plaths were from Röbel, Germany and the letter confirms the date of their arrival I had from family lore, August of 1867.

It is clear from the letter that Johann maintained ties to his home. The familiarity in the letter indicates a friendship. What really fascinates me is the casual commentary on their lives, and the desire to come to America, clearly a land of opportunity. The questions and comments on opportunity in the New Ulm area again indicate an ongoing correspondence. Fascinating! It is clear that part of the reason for the growing German community in New Ulm was the letters going home from those already here, encouraging others to follow to this new land.

Checks of local records and census records don't show an F. Camentz here in New Ulm; I wonder what happened? While there are Camentz shown in Chicago area census records, they do not seem to match this person.

I find it intriguing that Camentz ran a lime kiln. My Great Grandfather Fred Aufderheide founded the family tile business on property purchased from one of the largest lime kiln operators in the area in 1880, a William Winkelmann. The remains of one of Winkelmann's lime kilns still exists in the woods south of New Ulm.

What is even more wonderful is that this letter from 1871 still exists for us to glimpse at the past! [Jim Aufderheide, 10 October 2007]




(A transcription of the 1871 Letter from F. Camentz to Plath)

Lieber Freund Plath!

Vier Jahre sind bereits verfloßen, seitdem wir uns zum letzten Male sahen, aber es wird hoffentlich keine 20 Wochen mehr dauern, daß wir Alle das Vergnügung haben werden einander good day zu sagen. Ich habe nämlich meinen Kalkofen und mein Haus verkauft, Bertha wird confirmiert, und Fritz hat um 3 Wochen seine Lehrzeit beim Herrn Carl Schubart beendet, und meine Frau und Großmutter sind auch gar nicht abgeneigt dahin zu kommen. Aus Deinem letzten Briefe ersah ich, daß New Ulm sich furchtbar hebt, und so sind da wahrscheinlich ganz gute Geschäfte zu machen. Da Du schon bescheid weißt in der Gegend, so bist Du wohl so gut und schreibst mir ob Fritz sein Geschäft da wohl fortsetzen kann, und ob in der Nähe von New Ulm Waßer ist. Auch hast Du wohl die Güte und schreibst wie viel Dir die Reise von Chicago nach New Ulm gekostet hat, (Daß heißt à Person), und wie theuer die Acker in der Umgegend ist, denn es sind aus Röbel Mehrere, welche dahinzukommen gedenken. Auch habe ich mit dem Mädchen, welches früher bei Dir diente u. an welches Du geschrieben hast gesprochen, sie hat sehr großen Lust Dir nachzukommen. Bitte schreibe mir auch, wie es da mit der Kürschnerei geht.
Hoffentlich wird dieser Brief Dir und die Deinen bei guter Gesundheit antreffen. Bitte schreibe recht bald wieder. In der Hoffnung auf ein baldiges Wiedersehen, schließt
Dein
Freund
F. Camentz

Röbel,
d.16.3.71

Viele Grüße von uns Allen.

The Frenchmen are beaten from the German and shall pay, in five years, five thousand millions of france, and Elsaß and Lothringen have fallen to Germany. (sic)


(Translation of the 1871 Letter from F. Camentz to Plath)


Dear Friend Plath!

Four years have slipped away since we last saw each other, but hopefully it will not be more than 20 weeks before we have the pleasure of saying “good day” to each other. For I have sold my lime kiln and my house, Bertha has been confirmed and Fritz will have finished his apprenticeship with Mr. Carl Schubart in about 3 weeks, and my wife and grandmother are not at all against coming there. From your last letter, I saw that New Ulm has risen greatly and therefore, it is likely that one could do a good business there. Since you are familiar with the region, be so good and write to me if Fritz could continue his business there, and if there is water near New Ulm. Also, be so good and write me how much the trip from Chicago to New Ulm cost you (per person), and how expensive farm land is in the area, for there are several people from Röbel that are thinking of coming there. Also, I talked to the girl who used to work for you and to whom you had written. She would like very much to come to you. Please write too, how the furrier business is going there.

Hopefully this letter will reach you and yours in good health. Please write back soon. In the hope of seeing you again soon, I will close.

Your
Friend
F. Camentz

Röbel, the 16th of March, 1871

The Frenchmen are beaten by the Germans and in five years must pay five billion Franc, and Alsace and Lorraine have become German territory.


(translator notes: 1871 saw the end of the Franco-Prussian War and the beginning of the Second German Empire.
Röbel is a town on Lake Müritz in the Mecklenburg Lake District.)

[Translation and translator notes by Philip Graupner, 10 October 2007)

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Keeping Our Family's Story: What's Ahead?

by Jim Graupner



Photo: Jim Graupner, Jim Aufderheide, and Herb Schaper at the Kaiserhoff Restaurant in New Ulm, on 8 October 2007 met to share ideas and information about family history.


One can hardly imagine a more pleasant day than driving to New Ulm from the Twin Cities through the beautiful autumn colors of the Minnesota River Valley to spend some time with the likes of Jim Aufderheide and Herb Schaper. Arriving at Jim and Sylvia's beautifully restored home above Pioneer Park (originally, the Otto Schell home), Jim invited me into a bay-windowed alcove with a cup of hot coffee and a plate of doughnuts. Our conversation soon centered on current interests in our family history endeavors.

An informal agenda emerged: 1. Organization and Coordination of Archival Materials and Genealogy, 2. Bequesting Collections, and 3. Family History Workshop/Reunion. These aren't new topics of discussion, but many of us "keepers" seem ready to move forward to coordinate our efforts, even as we pursue our individual interests in family history and genealogical work, and formulate plans for a family reunion in the near future.

What's so gratifying to me is the enlightened, altruistic approach that Jim Aufderheide, Darcy Kleeman Boock, Herb Schaper, Julie Humes, Marilyn Boock Schmidt, Philip Graupner and others have brought to this time-consuming passion. Essentially, that approach is to gather, document, archive, and produce family history resources for our own generation and the generations of this great family that follow.

Organization and Coordination:

Our interest in the area of organization and coordination is to set up software that makes the transfer of digitized resources, like genealogies, efficient. Jim Graupner, for example, is the furthest behind with digitized genealogical information, both on the Boock-Aufderheide side, which had been done extensively by Darcy, Herb, and Jim Aufderheide, and on the Graupner-Glaser side, which has not been digitized extensively. Of course, every family's genealogical interests will probably be unique, but the sharing of existing resources makes the work much easier.

The software that are currently being utilized include: Reunion (Mac) by Jim Aufderheide, Family Tree Maker (PC) by Herb Schaper, and PAF by Darcy Boock. Jim A. uses File Maker for organizing documents, articles, and photos, and Herb uses Access for the same purpose. These or like programs with cross platform capabilities can be used with either Macs or PCs.

Darcy alerted this information to me through the following email:

Hi Jim, Once you download a family tree software program of some sort on your computer Jim A. and I can export our files to you. Then you don't have to reenter all the information but are still able to edit it. Right now I have separate files for each family name, but there is a way to merge them. I'm just not sure how yet. I think Jim A. uses Family Tree Maker, or was that the program that Herb uses. I think Jim has a Mac, so he may be using Reunion or something else. I use the free downloadable program from LDS www.familysearch.org called PAF (Personal Ancestral File). It is a very easy program to use. Check it out.Darcy

Bequesting Collections:

It's fairly intuitive to understand the sociological value that family histories can have; in some cases the collections of artifacts, prepared materials, and verified family records are the life's avocation of family historians. They may also have value both as real and intellectual property. Keepers generally want these collections to remain as durable legacies, available to those left behind. The question remains, however, how the collections can be maintained, protected, and available.

Sadly, despite efforts to the contrary, family history collections often do not endure. Horror stories of boxes of materials and photos being jetisoned upon the incapacitation or death of collectors, museums selling collections or making access to materials difficult, anachronistic technologies rendering resources virtually unavailable, etc. abound. Families need to address this issue. I've submitted some of my work and materials to the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Madison; they are generally interested in primary documents and printed materials and photographs and have contacted Philip and me to discuss what and how our collections may be maintained. We've considered providing some level of financial support for making our materials available for research in the WSHS.

Other may consider passing on their work and materials to other family members who may be interested--I'd guess that's how most of the Keepers have gotten the stuff that they now have.

Jim Aufderheide has frequently said that making his work freely accessible to family members who are interested is the best way to ensure that it will endure and expand for future generations. Digital libraries make this mission possible.

Family History Workshop/Reunion:

Darcy Boock, Jim Aufderheide, Philip Graupner, Julie Humes, and Herb Schaper--and perhaps others, have raised the idea for a family reunion in New Ulm for the descendants of the original family immigrants. Darcy recently reiterated this idea, calling for concrete planning. Philip has offered a practical "how to" based on his experience with helping organize The Graupner/Glaser Family Reunion, the next of which will be held in Door County in July 2008. Darcy recently wrote:

Hi Philip, What is the date of the Graupner Reunion and where will it be held? We really would like to get going planning a Boock, Aufderheide, Schapekahm, Ruemke, etc. Reunion in New Ulm, but I will need some help from you. Like how should I start??? Where in New Ulm would be the best place to hold such a reunion? Can you give me a little heads up on the planning that you have done on the Graupner Reunion? How soon did you start planning and sending out information before the actual reunion will take place?Jim A., Jim G., Marilyn, Julie any ideas. If our niece Christi Boock is already working on planning the next Dave Boock, Jerry Boock, Marilyn Boock Schmidt Reunion for the summer of 2009, I think we better get going also.Darcy

Another approach, in the meantime, may be to have those most involved in keeping family history to meet relatively soon to come prepared to meet, share materials, demonstrate use of data base and family history software, possibly set protocals on how materials are digitized, referenced, filed, shared, and plan the structure and program of the family reunion, etc. This preliminary step is compelling to me because it's relative easy to set up, it involves a smaller group, and I'm sure to make some progress getting my own stuff organized and available.

Okay, this is some of what we shared. Immediately, we knew that all the Keepers needed to be involved in clarifying what our next steps should be. For my part, although I am less familiar with planning a Reunion, I'm pretty sure that we could plan an effective workshop--I know that Darcy sets these up regularly. I'd immediately volunteer to work with anyone who thought that a workshop might be useful.










Sunday, October 07, 2007

Pamela Jean Baer Schmutzler: Congratulations!

by Jim Graupner

Pamela Jean Baer Schmutzler and her wonderful family celebrated her 60th birthday, Friday evening. Hard to believe, as always, that time passes so quickly when looking at this three-generation photo of Pam, age two, with her mother, Carol Gieseke Baer, and her maternal grandparents, Hertha Aufderheide Gieseke and George T. Gieske.

[Pam's father, George Baer, is the photographer, taking the photo in front of their home in Hazelton, North Dakota, where he had taken the pastorship of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (July 1950) .]


[Left: portrait of Robert E. and Pamela Schmutzler (1982); Right: portrait of their two children, Brent and Tami Schmutzler (1982). Pam and Bob have six grandchildren.]

It's safe to say that Pamela Baer is the only descendant of Fred and Elise Schapekahm Aufderheide to have been born in Africa. The circumstances surrounding her birth are very interesting. I'll try to recount some of the details by drawing from an article Carol Gieseke Baer, Pam's mother, wrote for the Autumn 1983, The Settler, entitled "Recollections."

Carol Gieseke graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1944, and was called to teach First and Second Grades at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato. She and George Baer had been dating, when in 1945 he was called as a missionary for the Synodical Conference in Nigeria, West Africa. In the year that followed, George persuaded Carol to resign her position, marry him, and travel to Nigeria.

"George was ready to go to Nigeria in the summer of 1945, but after World War II it was extremely difficult to get air or sea transportation. After many months of waiting, the Mission Board finally decided to send George to the Synodical Conference Black Mission in Alabama until June 1946. Thus, I was able to finish my second year of teaching and we were married in Mankato at Immanuel Lutheran Church June 25, 1946."

After some difficulty locating a new car that they could take to Africa, they left New Ulm to their departure point in New York on September 14, 1946. Fortunately, the newlyweds stopped in Burlington, Wisconsin, where Carol's cousin Gertrude Boock Graupner and Carl lived, with their family of three little boys. [Photo of George and Carol, standing, and Carl with Jim, Ken and Philip. The new Ford Deluxe stands next to the '38 Chevy at Hall's Point in September, 1946.]

When the Baers got to New York, they boxed up the Ford for shipment to Nigeria. After some delays they finally departed (October 8th) for Robert's Field, Liberia, via Newfoundland, Shannon, Lisbon, and Dakar, Senegal. "To our dismay, that [Robert's Field] was as far as the travel agency booked us, plus many other missionaries. We spent eleven days there waiting for a plane that had room to fly us to Nigeria. Planes were always full, and no advance reservations were possible. Therefore, we finally flew north on Air France's tri-motor, German Junker at almost tree-top level to Sierra Leone. After a day there, we boarded a ship which took us down to Lagos, Nigeria, in six days." From Lagos it took several days by train to Aba (Nov. 2), which was 45 miles from their destination, which was traversed by car through the jungle to Obot Idim, their home for three years. They were quickly immersed into a very different world.

"Our first home at the Mission headquarters, Obot Idim, was a bush house which was built of a framework of bamboo poles covered with mud, a thatched roof of palm leaf mats, and a cement floor. Walls inside and out were covered with a fine white sand. The doors and windows were without glass or screens. Wooden shutters on the windows were seldom closed. A veranda around the house helped to keep it cool in the 90 degree to 100 degree constant, humid heat. Mosquito nettings attached to a frame completely surrounded our bed from after 4 P.M. until morning. Yellow fever and malaria were threats even though we had shots and took an anti-malarial drug daily." The home got its electricity from a portable light plant. This was the home into which Pam would be brought when she was born.
"...our daughter, Pamela Jean, was born October 6, 1947 in Calabar. The hospital for "whites," or Europeans, as we were called, had eight beds. The doctor and nurses were from England. Aides were native blacks. T get to Calabar we traveled one hour by car and two on a river launch; so it meant going several weeks early. We brought back our bouncing, eight-p0und daughter who immediately became a U. S. citizen by registration at the American Consul's office in Lagos."


This photo was taken on a trip to Watertown tavelled by Norbert and Marian Boock and Carl and Gertrude Graupner in October, 1967. Pam would have been 20 years old and about to be married to Robert Edwin Schmultzer on 30 December 1967, in Watertown. [From Left: Marian and Norbert Boock, George and Hertha Gieseke, Gertrude Graupner, and Carol Gieseke Baer.]

The connection between Art and Emma Aufderheide Boock and George and Hertha Aufderheide Gieseke was especially close, not only because Emma and Hertha were sisters, but because the Boocks lived with the Giesekes for a time from 1924, and later purchased a house together. Gertrude baby sat Carol and later were best friends. Carol was a bridesmaid in Gertrude and Carl's wedding in 1939, both graduated from DMLC and taught at parochial schools before they were married.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Further Johann auf der Heide Research

by Darcy Kleeman Boock
Note: See Johann Heinrich Johann auf der Heide Descendency Chart on right side bar; from Jim Aufderheide.
The photo copy of the Lienen church record from 1800, below, is from Darcy Kleeman Boock, whose translation of the document is found at the end of this posting.

Hello All You Fellow Family History Researchers,

I have been doing more research on the Aufderheide line in the Lienen church records. As I stated in my last post I was researching for another brother of Eberhard Jacob Johann auf der Heide, who was the father of Fred William Aufderheide. I found the older brother and additonal children born to this family, but still have not been able to locate the marriage of his parents. A brother Conrad Rudolph Johann auf der Heede was born 7 Mar 1802 and was baptized 19 Mar 1802 (documentation FHL microfilm #526268, entry 33 under baptisms for the year 1802). I looked further and found twins born 21 Feb 1800! The little boy was stillborn, but the girl survived and was named Anna Catharina Elsabein Johann auf der Heide. She was baptized 28 Feb 1800 (documentation FHL microfilm #526268, entries 16 and 17 respectively under baptisms for the year 1800). Since none of these children were listed as illegitimate, the marriage of their parents Johann Heinrich/Hindrich Johann auf der Heide and Anne Marie Elisabeth Oberdahlhoffs had to have taken place before 1800. I searched marriage records from 1784-1798 and did not locate the marriage record, so will go back and search the marriages again for 1799-1805 and look more closely at the records. It is very possible that if Johann Heinrich's wife was not from Lienen, that the marriage took place elsewhere. I found very few Oberdahlhoffs listed in these church records and the earlier ones were spelled Averdahlhoffs (Anyway, I think this is probably the same family). I attached a copy of the birth record for the twins with a translation, so you can see what kind of records I am looking at. Philip, am I close on the transcription of the schrift?

I am now finding the surname Johann auf der Heide as Johann auf der Heiden, auf der Heyde, auf der Heede, and Johan aufrheede, and auf der spelled aufr and Apr, so spellings are getting a little tricky and I have to search the names carefully.

By using the Formula of 8870 to calculate the birthdate from the age at death, I calculated Johann Heinrich auf der Heide'e birth to be 18 Jan 1748. I did not locate this birth, but found one for 4 Jan 1749, but no parents are listed! I will search these early records again.

It is amazing the number of twins I have found in the Lienen church records. I have never seen so many twins before. I also noticed that a village south of Lienen is Twillingen, which means twins. Interesting!More research this week...........Darcy

Birth/Baptismal Record, Transcription and Translation
of Twins Born to
Johann Heinrich/Hindrich Johann auf der Heide and His Wife Anne Marie Elisabeth Oberdahlhoffs of Kattenvenne.

21 February 1800
Lienen Church Records
Lienen, Kreis Tecklenburg, Westphalia, Germany

Transcription

No. 16: Der Col: Johan Hind: Johan auf der Heide ist von seiner Frau A: Marie Elisab: Oberdalhofs d. 21ten Feb ein Todtes Sohnlein geboren welches d. 22ten begrabt.

No. 17: Der Colon: Johan Hind: Johan auf der Heide _____ von seiner Frau 2 Zwillinge geboren 1 Sohn und 1 Tochter, von der Sohnlein todtger Welt gebornenne beide sind geboren d. 21ten Feb: und des Tochterlein getauftt 28ten, und genannt Anna Catharina Elsabein. Gev. [abbreviation for Gevatter] Anna Cathar: Heidgress, Marie Elsab: Evers üm Wittenbroks, John: Ernst Dregger.


Translation

Entry number 16 under births/baptisms for the year 1800: The farmer on a full-size farm (Colon) Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide’s wife Anne Marie Elisabeth Oberdalhofs gave birth to a stillborn little son on the 21st of February [1800], who was buried on the 22nd.

Entry number 17 under births/baptisms for the year 1800: The farmer on a full-size farm (Colon) Johann Hindrich Johann auf der Heide’s wife gave birth to (2) twins, one son and one daughter, but the little son was born dead into the world; both were born on the 21st February [1800] and the little daughter was baptized the 28th [of Feb] and named Anna Catharina Elsabein [Johann auf der Heide]. The baptismal sponsors were Anna Catharina Heidgress, Marie Elsabein Evers from near Wittenbroks [probably Westerbeck just to the west of Lienen], Johann Ernst Dregger.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Aufderheide Ancestor Documentation: Darcy Boock

Documentation of Aufderheide Ancestry in Germany

Letter from Darcy Boock, 28 August 2007

[Wedding photo portrait of Elise Schapekahm and Fred Aufderheide from Elaine Schapekahm; posted by Darcy Boock]

Hello All, I am continuing my quest to find more information on the Aufderheides in Germany. I have several microfilms on loan from the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City and plan to order two others tomorrow evening. I spent quite a bit of time viewing those films last week now that the wedding is over and we are back from delivering wedding gifts to Andrea and Jedd in Atlanta.

This week I start back to school, but I can still squeeze in one more evening of research this week.I found Frederich Wilhelm Aufderheide's father's birth record in the Lienen church records. Eberhard Jacob Johann auf der Heide was born 2 Sep 1808. FHL (LDS Family History Library) microfilm # 526269 entry 99 for 1808 would be the documentation for Eberhard Jacob. Some of you may already have this information, but now I actually saw the church record and not an extraction, which Jim A. already had. His father is listed as Johann Heinrich Johann auf der Heide, his mother Marie Elisabeth Johann auf der Heide, nee Oberdalhoffs. So what I am finding in the old church records is that the surname was originally Johann auf der Heide and sometimes spelled Johann auf der Heyde, but the i and y are interchangeable.

When the families immigrated from Germany the surname was changed to Aufderheide. In doing research on the Internet to try to learn more about Lienen I found a Gerhard Johann auf der Heide who is the head master of the Lienen Elementary School and I have composed a letter that I hope to send out to him this week. Maybe we will learn more about this family and in particular the family name.

I then found the death record of Marie Elisabeth Johann auf der Heide, nee Oberdalhoffs. She died 11 Mar 1837 at the age of 66 years and 6 months. I calculated her birth to be abt. 11 Sep 1771. On her death record it lists that she has three sons, so I started searching for the other two. I found Friedrich Jacob Johann auf der Heide, born 23 Apr 1805, but haven't been able to find the other one yet. I need to order another microfilm. FHL (LDS Family History Library) microfilm #526269, Entry 34 for 1805 would be the documentation for Friedrich Jacob. I also checked for a marriage record for Johann Heinrich Johann ADH and Marie Elisabeth Oberdalhoffs. I could not find it on the microfilms that I have on loan, so the marriage would have taken place before 1799 and I am guessing the other son was born about 1800-1802.

When Eberhard Jacob Johann ADH and Sophie Elisabeth Beineke married on 2 Apr1841 in Lienen, his father was listed as deceased, so I knew to look for his death record before that date. I finally found it! Actually I found the deaths of two Johann Heinrich Johann ADH, but one was listed as living in Kattenvenne and the other in Höste. I know from other records that your ancestor lived in Kattenvenne (in the church records spelled Kattenfenne, but again the v and f are interchangeable), so I now know which one is your ancestor. Johann Heinrich Johann ADH died 19 Jul 1816 at the age of 68 years and 6 months. So Johann Heinrich and his wife died close to the same age, but over 20 years apart. This looks a little fishy to me and I will continue my research. There is no doubt that they were married and that he was 23 years older than her, but could he have been married before? The column that tells how many children survive him is missing on this earlier death record, so unfortunatey that isn't going to help me any. He was 60 when Eberhard Jacob Johann ADH was born! If I can find their marriage record that will tell me if he is a widower and that I should look for an earlier marriage record and the births of other children. We'll see what turns up.....I'm excited to share what I have found so far.

I have also attached a photo of Fred and Elise that I don't think anyone else has. I cleaned the photo up as much as I could with my software. Darcy

[Darcy's Addendum, dated 30 August 2007)

Good Morning Everyone, A couple of additions to my post of last evening. The photograph of Fred ADH and Elise Schapekahm was given to me by Elaine Schapekahm. This original photo is 2½" x 4". She also gave me the original 2½" x 4" photos of Fred and Elise that the large drawings were made from.I forgot to mention that Johann Heinrich Johann auf der Heide died (1816) of consumption (tuberculosis) after one year under a doctor's care. Anyway that is what I would take the meaning to be if it lists cause of death to be con[s]umption with doctor 1 year.

Another find that I made is that Marie ADH, Fred's older sister, was baptized as Catharine Sophie Friederike ADH. I could not find her in the year 1840, but I found her birth to be 2 Nov 1841. The date we had previously was 2 Nov 1840, which would have made her birth illegitimate. She was baptized 9 Nov 1841. The documentation for this birth/baptism is FHL microfilm #465570, Entry 128 for the year 1841. Adolph ADH, Fred's oldest brother, still eludes me, but I will keep searching for him. Darcy

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Marilyn and Fred Schmidt: Married 45 Years

Happy Anniversary, Marilyn and Fred!


Marilyn Boock and Frederick G. Schmidt celebrate their 45th Wedding Anniversary today. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer, Wisconsin on Sunday, 12 August 1962. The following is from the Marshfield News Herald:


Trinity Lutheran Church of Spencer was the scene of a wedding ceremony Sunday, aug. 12, when at 4 p.m. matrimonial vows were exchanged by Miss Marilyn Jane Boock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norbert Boock, Spencer, and Frederick G. Schmidt, son of the Rev. and Mrs. herbert Schmidt, St. Thomas, N. D.


The groom's father performed the ceremony and the bride's father gave his daughter in marriage. Philip Graupner, the organist, played "aria in F Major," by Handel, and "Trumpet Voluntary in D," by Purcell.


Two white bouquets and palms provided a setting for the wedding.


The bride's white floor-length gown of silk organza had a neckline and gown front trimmed with re-embroidered Alencon lace. Her bouffant veil was secured to a pearl and crystal crown and she carried white pompons and red roses in cascade formation.


The bridal aids--Miss Magdelene Streufert, St. Louis, Mo., the maid of honor, and Mrs. George Ness Jr., Marshfield, the bridesmaid--were attired in aqua street-length gowns of silk organza, the full back drawn together by satin roses.


Paul Schmidt, St. Thomas, N. D., was best man; David Boock, Spencer, was the groomsman; and Steve, Leon and Bob Schmidt, all of St. Thomas, N. D., ushered. [The flower girl (top photo) was Cheri Plath Stromberg (Bill and Bonnie Oelrich Plath's daughter).]
The wedding supper was served in the church parlors, after which a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents. Wedding guests came from St. Louis, Mo.; Chicago, Ill.; St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Brainerd, Minn.; St. Thomas, N. D., and from Milwaukee, Marshfield, Bonduel and Lac du Flambeau.
Following a northern Wisconsin honeymoon, the Schmidts will reside at 6316 N. Rosebury, st. Louis, Mo.
Mr. Schmidt, a theological student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., is a 1961 graudate of Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind. Mrs. Schmidt, who was graduated from Spencer High School, will receive her bachelor of science degree from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 16. She has been employed as a teacher in Bonduel, Wis., and Dundee, Ill.