Dear Gunter,
I am trying to put together the story of Franz Julius Espey who married Alma
Gode who was born in Oldenburg on 8 November 1854 for your Auswanderer site.
They married in Weimar, Texas on 30 Jul 1881. They had two children the
first a son who was born on 03 Jun 1882 and died soon after. The second a
son Julius Eitel Espey who was born on 7 May 1884 in Weimar Texas. In 1885
this Espey family moved back to Germany and lived there for 4 years before
returning to Texas in 1889. I am not sure where they lived in Germany when
they returned, as my US cousins just said it was Northern Germany. It may
have been Varel where Alma's sister Auguste Hermine Christine Gode had lived
before she died on 28 April 1882. You have Auguste's details already on
your site. She was married to Friedrich Wilhelm Gerjes who died in 1888 and
it was a year later in 1889 when the family moved back to Texas taking
Auguste and Friedrich's son Gustav Adolph Gerjes aged 14 with them. I have
two translations of letters, one written by the grandmother and mother of
Alma Gode, Wilhelmine Louise Janssen born Varel 11 Jun 1820 giving advice to
her grandson with regards to his new life in America and a little not from
Gustav when he arrives in Southampton. If you would put this type of
information on your site and would like these letters, please let me know.
I have Franz Julius Espey immigrating on 28 February 1873. He arrived at
the port of New Orleans, Louisiana, however he was born in or near near
Neviges, Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. I have today found out
that Alma travelled to the US after Franz Julius Espey had seen an
article/photo of her in a newspaper. He apparently made contact which led
to Alma immigrating to the US in 1881 to marry him. Alma was 27 when she
married Franz Julius Espey and I am told that Franz had been married twice
before marrying Alma. No one appears to have any specific details of the
immigration of Alma Gode. I have searched on the Ellis Island site but the
records are too late. I have also attempted to search on the Castle Garden
site but when I did no GODE names came up which I thought could not be
correct.
Gustav Alolph Gerjes
Citizenship Declaration: 15 October 1896, Bexar County Courthouse
Immigration: 13 August 1889, Arrived at the port of New York
Naturalization: 19 October 1898, Received citizenship papers, filed at
Bexar County Courthouse, San Antonio, Texas. Those in support of his
application were H. Morris and AM Cohen
Information from Email from Sr Jule Adele:
After both his parents died, Alma Gode/Espey took her 14 year old nephew to
the USA with they moved back to Texas after about 4 years in Germany.
Gustav Gerjes is buried at Alma's feet in a cemetery in San Antonio.
Thank you very much for all your assistance on my Gode Oldenburg family. I
have been very fortunate with my research in that area on my ancestors.
People have been most helpful and generous with their assistance.
Best Wishes
Marlene