Lee, Marilyn and others --
I find it interesting that a number of people from this area (mine were from
Huesede, Kreis Wittlage) were gravitating to the Cleveland area in
mid-1860's. I have Moellenbrock, Goecke, and some unidentified Westerfeld
(with Barkhausen connections) coming to Cleveland's west side in Sept. 1865.
As mentioned previously, there were some Buscher females also living in
Huesede, and I have contact with a person from that same area with a Huge
ancestor.
I wonder what kind of publicity about Cleveland was going around which
attracted these particular folks from this area of Germany. Anyone know?
It may have been just simple "chain migration," whereby one person goes there
and writes letters back to his friends and relatives in the area. Or there
may have been a particular kind of work or occupation that attracted them.
My ancestors were farmers and (women) weavers and woodworkers (spinning
wheels, wooden shoes) in Wittlage, eking out a living on a small family plot
in Germany.
By 1866 one (Moellenbrock) is listed as "ship's carpenter," living in
Cleveland. This one moved westward through the "suburbs" and eventually
bought farmland in Olmsted Falls and raised his family there.
I'd be interested to know your ancestors' occupations and/or your theories as
to why your people from this area chose the Cleveland area -- if you know.
Kayle Brooks
San Diego CA