Hello,
I am new to this site. I am looking for any information on my Benecke and Backhaus ancestors who were from Hannover. My ggg Grandparents were Heinrich Christoph and Maria Margaretha (Geffert) Behnecke. They were the parents of Jurgen Christoph Benecke who was a Hauswirt at Eddelstorf. He was born January 11, 199 in Eddelstorf and died after 1852.
On November 21, 1829, he married Catherine Sophie Riest at Altmendingen. Catherine was born Sept. 6, 1805 at Bostelwiebeck and died after 1852. Her parents were Jurgen Heinrich Riest and Catherine Elisabeth Geffert.
They had three children, Catherina Dorothea born July 23, 1830 and died Sept. 19, 1830; Jurgen heinrich Christoph born April 18, 1832 and died April 9, 1851; and Johann Heinrich Benecke, born January 9, 1840 in Edelsdorf, Germany and emigrated to America sometime between May and October of 1883.
Johann Heinrich was married twice, first to Catherine Dorthea Burmester. They had two sons, William and Henry. Catherine died in Germany.
On Oct. 7, 1878 Johann married Elizabeth Backhaus who was born May 16, 1853 in Gruensvolde, Bornsen, the daughter of Johann (or Jurgens) and Marguerita (Kolhmeier) Backhaus. Marguerita Backhaus also emigrated to America in 1883. Johann and Elizabeth had two children before leaving Germany, Herman who was born Oct. 22, 1879, and Gustav who was born in March of 1882 and died on the voyage to America.
After arriving in America, they lived in Jefferson County, Minnesota, near New Albin, Iowa. They had four more children, Dorthea, Helena, Adolph and Alfred (twins). Adolph was my grandfather.
If anyone knows any relatives of any of the above, or any information about the areas in Germany mentioned, I would like to hear from you!
Lila Burmeister
Minnesota, USA