Hi,
This is my first post to this list so any help or direction anyone can
provide would be helpful.
I'm researching my SCHLARMANN family from Steinfeld, Germany. Specifically:
Johann Heinrich SCHLARMANN (?-?) he married (unknown date) Maria Agnes
THEMANN (?-?). As far as I can tell they had 11 children and at least 3 of
the children (Arnold 1841-1918, Joseph Carl 1855-1937, and Maria Josephina
1858-1932), settled around the Dyersville, Iowa, USA area. I am descended
from Joseph Carl.
Maria Agnes had a sister by the name of Mary Anna THEMANN (1823-1907) and
she married John Henry MACKE (1817-1881) about 1862 in Damme, Germany. As
far as I know they were both born in Steinfeld and they emigrated to the
Dyersville, Iowa, USA area around 1869. One of the local history books
states that the Macke's lost both of their children at an early age (before
1873, I assume it was to Cholera, there was an epidemic around that time,
but I haven't found death notices yet and our death records start in
1880). Presumably Mary Anna wrote her sister Mary Agnes and asked if one of
her kids would be willing to help them on the farm in Dyersville, Iowa.
Somehow, Joseph got to go around 1872-1873. Arnold emigrated around 1890 and
Josephina around 1892. Most of these dates were pulled from their obituaries
and not from ship manifests.
What I'm trying to find out:
- Where would someone who lived in Steinfeld around 1872 (or 1890-1892 for
that matter) probably have gone to catch a boat to the USA? Would there be
any records of this and how could I obtain access to them.
- What resources are available to find out more about Johann Heinrich
SCHLARMANN and/or Maria Agnes THEMANN and their ancestors and descendants
who may have stayed in Germany? (Birth, death, cemetery records, etc).
- I have been unable to find the names of any cemeteries in the Steinfeld
area. Any hints or suggestions?
I'm just starting to study some of the history of Germany about that time.
What state of affairs was Steinfeld in after the Franco-Prussian war? I
wonder if this provided some encouragement for Joseph to emigrate.
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
Tom