Hello,
My ancestors came to the US in 1874. The only location they gave for their birthplace was Prussia.
The family name of Becker is very common and is found everywhere. My grandfather only remembered that the family came from along the Rhine, perhaps near Koeln. I have been searching for many years and I am hoping the list will have some ideas to help me.
My 2nd great-grandfather Hermann Becker was born in 1829. In about 1858 he married Henrietta Nathaus or Nathause, born about 1827. They changed the name to Baker here in America.
They had the following children all born in Germany.
Heinrich born 1859, Mary born 1860, Anna born 1861, and Joseph born 1864.
They were Catholic, as were the other German passengers on their ship to America. They settled in Iowa. I know that people often traveled to America with others from the same area of Germany and in searching for the other passengers on their ship several families came from the area near Kesseling in Rheinland.
The name Nathaus was found on two documents here. I have searched the German phone book Online and the name Nathaus is found mainly in Westphalia, not in Rheinland.
Do you think I should focus my search near Kesseling or should I try searching various Nathaus families?
Vielen Dank fuer Ihre Helfe!
Bette Baker Bellefeuille