Great Website for Finding Your German Ancestral Village

With family surnames of Schrader (Schroeder), Schmidt, Haessig, Steffen, Schulte, Trenkamp and Bohnenkamp, I knew that eventually I would need to focus on learning more about German geography and jurisdictions.

Other than place names on census and church records, I had no clue where to begin! I was not sure if I was reading the name of a village, duchy, province or state.

This weekend, I discovered a fantastic resource for getting past this stumbling block. It is a website called Meyers Gazetteer, and can be found by clicking the highlighted link.

I played around with the site using various place names I have for my German ancestors.  However, to give you a brief tutorial, I will focus on one area in particular.

In census records, I discovered that my paternal 2x great-grandfather came from Wachendorf. I also know that the majority of the original congregation of Adams Lutheran Church of Ripley County, Indiana came from a Lutheran Church in Heiligenfelde, Germany.

So, I will start from there...

I start with typing Wachendorf in the search box on the home page.

Type in place name in the search box

My results show several places named Wachendorf in Germany. You can tell by my pushpin icon, I have chosen the first result as my most promising lead. Past research shows census records also listing Hannover and Prussia as his birthplace. Also, a past Google Maps search has shown me a Wachendorf near Syke and Heiligenfelde.

Use your past research to help narrow
down best result, if possible.

When I click on the top result, I am given quite a bit of information that should help me in my research. You will first note several key words in old-style writing that should have key words you might recognize.

Next, will be a current map showing the location of your village, etc. I will go into detail about the map in just a minute, but first I would like to point out the cornucopia of helpful information underneath the map.

Details on the village you have entered
should help you in your research.

After reading the volume, page number, and other abbreviations right below the map, I was able to look at the details following it for an explanation of what the abbreviations meant. For example, "Type D. u. LGem" means that Wachendorf is a Dorf und Landgemeinde (village and rural community).

The details also tell you where the civil registration office is, in addition to which government district, province, etc., in which the village belongs.

Add in extra "markers" to aid your research.

Now, back to the maps...I love the feature that allows you to toggle back and forth between a present-day Google map and a historical map.

 You can also add features that you would like to locate within your map. My ancestors went to a Lutheran church in Heiligenfelde, so I added Protestant churches.

It was wonderful seeing how close these were on the historical map! It really put it into perspective!

The same Google map in its historical context

If you are not sure of the exact church your ancestors attended, or even the denomination, click on the "Ecclesiastical" tab. The website will bring up a list of the churches or synagogues nearby, listed with the closest first.

Click on Ecclesiastical tab to discover
nearby places of worship

As you can see for my family, the church in Heiligenfelde was only 2 miles away. This goes along with the information I already have regarding the church.

With so many German ancestors in my family tree, I am sure to be using this website often. It is getting bookmarked in my favorites right now!!

What do you think? For those of you with a German background, try it and tell me what you think!

Facts, Assumptions, and Outright Guesses

We are all guilty of it, and we know it!

I mean it's just human nature, right?!

Whenever we start something new, we always start off with the easier steps first. And, genealogy is no different!

You have seen my many posts about the Hillmans and Moores of Moores Hill area so far, and that is because their history goes back to early statehood years here in Indiana. You have not seen any posts about their East Coast years, because I have hit a brick wall at the moment.

And that is when we all switch over to another line of the tree, isn't it? Or is that just me? LOL

So, on to the Schrader line...

With Schraders, Schmidts, Langes, Steffens, Haessigs, (etc. etc.) taking up a lot of room on my family tree, I have had to learn a lot of German history to even begin my research into these lines. And how does that history tie into the specific dates and places of my ancestors?

Schrader/Lange

Before I even begin looking at my German history notes, I have to remember that my paternal great-grandfather, Albert Cordt, changed the spelling from Schroeder to Schrader. And, it was his father, Cordt Albert, and mother, Margaretha (Lange) that came from Germany in the late 1850's (1857, I think).

Here is where I am getting a little stuck, as I am trying to knock one brick at a time out of this brick wall.

And here, is where I have a combination of the facts, assumptions, and outright guesses that I was referring to in my title.

According to my research into German history, I have discovered that in 1848-1849 there were uprisings and riots. However, I was not able to find where these took place in Germany. I only am curious because it leads to some questions that I cannot answer just yet.

• I will have to look closer at my notes, but this is only approximately 8 years before the Schraders bought their land outside of Batesville.
• When did they leave Germany?
• Where did they leave from in Germany?
• I know where the German church is that much of the congregation of Adam’s Lutheran Church originated. This would be Heiligenfelde, that you see on the map below.
• And since they have been a member of this church since arriving in Indiana, I would have to assume they are from same area. This assumption is based on several factors:



• On census records, they are listed as being from Hannover, Westphalia, and from Prussia.
• This is consistent with where the church is located.
• This is consistent with the location names for the area. Hannover is still a town.
• Researching German history, Westphalia and Prussia are names of this region during this time period.

And, this is all I have. Just a bunch of facts, assumptions, and outright guesses!!

If anyone reading this post happens to know much more about Germany (or this area
specifically), I would love some help!

Thanks so very much! Brick walls are so very much easier with a little help
along the way!!

Brushing up on the History of Alsace-Lorraine

If I were to guess, many of you paid just enough attention in your history classes to pass tests and finish assignments. I was not much different. And I am also willing to bet that most of you regret this, once you started researching your family history.

I know I do! I have learned more about German history in the last year than I’ve known my whole lifetime!

Sign posted at Oldenburg, Indiana Freudenfest

And because what I’ve learned may help some of you in your own research, I would like to pass on a little of my findings.

Alsace-Lorraine is an area of a little over 5,000 square miles in France that runs along the present-day borders of Switzerland to the south, and Germany to the east and north.

Map of Alsae-Lorraine region (Encyclopedia Britannica)

In German, Alsace-Lorraine is known as Elsass-Lothringen. I have also seen Alsace written as ElsaB (what resembles a B in English, is actually a German S). If someone could help me elaborate on the German alphabet a bit, I wouldn’t mind the assistance.

As far back as the 800’s, Alsace was incorporated into Lothringen. Through the Treaty of Mersen in 870, it was united with the German territories. And for roughly 800 years, it remained firmly within the German border, and created a centuries-old German heritage by the local residents.

It wasn’t until the 1600’s when the French began to influence that “centuries-old German heritage”.  Between the Wars of Religion, and the Thirty Years’ War, this influence grew to the point of some of the cities requesting help from France. With the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 giving France an “informal protectorate” over Alsace, the French influence was becoming much more than mere influence.

King Louis XIV established full control of the area during his reign, and Alsace was completely incorporated into France by the French Revolution in 1789. The residents of this region continued to speak a German dialect all of their own, known as Alsatian.

For almost seventy years, this was the way of life for the people of Alsace-Lorraine. The residents of this area actively participated in French life, and the use of French continued to spread throughout the region. The centuries-old German heritage, and the language, was still firmly fixed rooted in the people. But many of them also embraced the French culture and language, too.

And at this point in the history of Alsace-Lorraine, the region begins to be at the center of a major tug-of-war between the two countries.  In 1870, Germany goes through a major upheaval and becomes a unified country. Shortly thereafter, in 1871, the two countries go to battle in the Franco-German War. A result of this war is that Alsace becomes annexed to Germany.

With two world wars being fought on these lands, the region was bounced back and forth several times throughout the next several decades. After World War I ended in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles handed Alsace-Lorraine back to the French. Near the beginning of World War II, in 1940, it was given back to the Germans. With the fall of the Third Reich, it was retroceded back to the French in 1945, where it remains to the present-day.

How does this affect your family research?

Depending on the time that your ancestor lived in the “old country”, that “old country” may have changed hands once or twice. This would then affect what nationality they were at that time, and where those records might be kept.

For example, my cousin, David, has records of our shared ancestor living in Merkwiller-Pechelbronn, in the Alsace-Lorraine area. He left this area, I presume, in 1871. My presumption being that he is recorded as boarding a ship in Hamburg, Germany in June 1871. His name is recorded as being Henri, and nationality as French. His residence listed as ElsaB (Alsace).

In other records, you will find his name as Heinrich. Nine years after he arrived in Indiana, he was already an Americanized “Henry” in the 1880 census. What is interesting is his place of birth on the two census records. According to the 1880 census he was born in Prussia; and the 1900 census, it was Germany.

So, in my family research, knowing all of this history of Alsace-Lorraine helps tremendously.  He was born in 1846; however, I am not sure if he was born in Merkwiller-Pechelbronn. If he was born west of the Rhine River, he would have been born in France.  Born east of the Rhine River, Prussia would be correct. Germany, as a unified country, did not exist yet.

The Germania - the ship that took my 2x-great grandfather to America

He sailed to America in June of 1871. Although I am not aware of the exact date that Alsace-Lorraine was annexed to Germany, but it was in the year of 1871. So, he very easily could’ve been a French citizen that was born in Prussia, when he boarded that ship in Hamburg, Germany.

Although I know all of this may seem as clear as mud. And, if you have no family ties to the Alsace-Lorraine region, or even to the country of Germany itself, this whole post will make you feel like you are back in world history class trying to stifle a yawn.

To any of my readers whose family trees take them back to this part of Europe, I sincerely hope that my post has helped at least a little.  Now that I even have a little more understanding of the history, I have a lot more questions for David at the family reunion next month regarding old Henri, Heinrich, Henry!!

Henry, Heinrich, Henri...Still a Haessig!

Henry, by any other name, is still a Haessig, right? (To slightly paraphrase Shakespeare! Lol) 

I think that I have procrastinated researching this side of my family tree, because I thought it might be a little harder than some of the others.  Honestly, who wants to start with doing the hard work!

But I am so glad that I have started looking into the Haessigs.  Although, first, I had to start by looking into a little bit of German history, and specifically the Alsace-Lorraine, area. Today's post will focus more on the Haessig family. But, I do plan on getting into more of that in a future post, because it is quite interesting.  It kept changing hands between France and Germany, and this affects some key details in your research.

I have to apologize a little here for just a moment. I have just moved, and have much of my paperwork still in boxes. But I can fill you in on what I have in one handy binder that I kept close to me in the move.  

The following picture is of my 2x-great grandfather, Heinrich, Henri, or Henry, Haessig (depending on what records you find!) and his family.  He was born in the Alsace-Lorraine area, and imigrated to the United States in 1871.  

The Haessigs-(seated) Sophia Anna Kuntz Haessig, Heinrich (Henri) Haessig. Standing - (L. to R.) George Philip Haessig, Caroline H. Haessig, Henry George Haessig, Emile Salome Haessig, George Jacob Eperle (stepson).

I was lucky enough to not only find the passenger list from when he landed in New York, but also from his departure in Hamburg, Germany.

Henri Haessig in the Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, for Henri Haessig

"Henri's" info from N.Y. Passenger List

In these records, he is listed as Henri. In other records that must still be tucked into my boxes, I have found him listed as Heinrich. Later, after living in Indiana for several years, census records will list him as Henry. I am so very glad that they chose to name their son (my great-grandfather) Henry!

I am also very fortunate that my research has lead me to other descendents of Heinrich "Henry" Haessig that I had never met until just the last few years. 

• Charlie Haessig ~ son of George Philip Haessig. Among many accomplishments, Charlie was also a survivor of the bombing at Pearl Harbor. I was lucky to get to know this man at one of our Haessig Family Reunions.
• His four children are all wonderful, too. One of his sons has delved much deeper into the Haessig family history, and has been a godsend as I research our shared history.  (These are living relatives, and I will only add there names as I have permission.)
• I was also introduced to another of George Haessig's grandchildren recently because of this blog.  The "Haessig Researcher" cousin mentioned just above had told his first cousin to check out my blog.  I am glad that she did.  She has written me about some wonderful memories she had of her grandfather, and also filled me in on our family's quilting heritage.

As I started this blog, I had hopes of meeting new relatives as I discovered my heritage.  It looks like I am starting down the right path!  I hope that I meet many more!!

(As I unpack my other papers, and am in touch with more of my Haessig researchers, I will hopefully fill in a few more of the blanks within this post.

Next up, a quick lesson on general German history, and specifically the Alsace-Lorraine area!  Stay tuned!!

Welcome to This Hoosier's Heritage

     Welcome to my new blog!  As I've been researching my family tree, I have discovered so much more about history and my heritage in general, also.  As you might have guessed from the picture above, I have a fair amount of German heritage in my family.

     This sign means so much more to me than just decoration at a local German festival near my hometown. My great-great grandfather came from the New Alsace (Elsass) area of Germany in 1871.  Although he was born into a very German heritage, he actually was a French citizen when he left for the New Country.

     I discovered that I needed to brush up on my history a little to understand what was happening at that time.  The Alsace-Lorraine area sat on the border of France and Germany. It changed hands several times. When Germany became one unified country in 1870, the area belonged to France. It stayed in French possession until World War I.

     As I research further into my other German ancestors, I have discovered that I have to keep my Germany timeline cheat sheet near me to look at the years. What years did my other ancestors leave the Old Country for America? What was happening in Germany at that time?

     So, as you look further back into your ancestors' lives, don't forget to look a little closer at your history books, also.  This might just give you a few clues into why they chose to come to a whole new country.