I am starting to research my ancestors in Germany and need help, please. I have looked in the Soltau church records and find the surname, but no link to my ancestors.
Hermann Hoops (Hoppe, other variations), born 08/30/1856, father Christ, mother unknown.
Maria Engel Hebenbrock (Havenbrok, Hevenbrock, etc.), born 11/10/1854, father Jacob, mother unknown.
They were from Soltau, married approximately 1880-1881. Hermann emigrated first, in about early 1882. Maria and Hermann's brother Heinrich came later in the summer of 1882. They settled in Green Isle, MN. Maria was pregnant on the trip over and delivered on the trip,but the baby died and was buried in NY. I have been unable to find any crossing records for Maria and Heinrich, and find two that could have been Hermann.
Any help in giving me direction for finding out more in Germany would be appreciated. I have the family from the time they arrived in the U.S.
Donna Allen
Arizona
Donna,
A check of a list of Evangelical-Lutheran parishes in Niedersachsen found at
indicates that there are two Evangelical parishes for Soltau. The parishes
are 1) Soltau-St. Johannis and 2) Soltau-Lutherkirche. Soltau is also a
church district and probably is a Kreis (approximately equivalent to a
"county" in the U.S.). The church district consists (or consisted?) of ten
civilian parishes and four military parishes. I mention this because it may
be possible that your ancestors came from one of the outlying parishes near
Soltau. I had a similar situation with my grandmother. She always said
that she was from the town of Stade on the Elbe River, however she was
actually born and lived in the village of Wohlerst in the parish of
Bargstedt about 13 miles or so south of Stade.
I wish you much luck and success in your research.
Fred Buck
Cincinnati, Ohio
Donna,
Look at http://www.online-ofb.de. There is a new one on line for Soltau.
It lists a Catharina Marie Engel HEBENBROCK
* 10.11.1854 in Harber, Soltau, Hannover, Preussen
Bemerkungen:(notes)
getauft: 19 Nov 1854, getauft in Soltau, Hannover, Preussen
Konfession: EV
However the fathers name is not Jacob. There are a lot of Hoops too.
Good luck
Wolfgang
"Donna Allen" <dballen@triconet.org> schrieb:
Donna,
St. Louis Post Dispatch
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
Sunday, 25 November 1951
Obituary
HEIDBRINK, IDA A., (nee Hoegemeier), 3960 Sullivan av., asleep in Jesus, Sat. Nov. 24, 1951, 4 a.m. beloved wife of William H. Heidebrink dear mother of Mrs. Ruth Gibson and William C. Heidbrink, dear mother-in-law, grandmother, sister of Mrs. Lena Schlegel, the late Henry Hoegemeier, Mrs. Henrietta Lampe, Mrs. Emilie Peters, Mrs Elizabeth Peters and Mrs Emma Bergmann, sister-in-law and aunt.
Funeral from CALVIN F. FEUTZ Funeral Home, 4828 Natural Bridge blvd., Mon. Nov. 26,
2 p.m. Internment Lake Charles Cemetery.
Barbie-Lew
On the off chance...
Hello Donna,
I've been traveling for the past weeks and I'm catching up on emails.
I see you are looking for people from Soltau. You must look here:
http://www.online-ofb.de/soltau/index_en.php
There are over 27,000 persons from Soltau. Maybe your family will be
there.
Good luck,
Barbara