Our German Ancestors

It was 9^th grade at Ridgeview Junior High when I got an assignment in English to write a paper on my ancestors.   I was fortunate that all my grandparents were living and I could ask each of them about their parents and grandparents.  What I got was names and some anecdotal information.  Of all the papers I’ve written through school – including all the way through graduate school – that little 9th grade English paper is the only one I’ve ever kept.  Yep! Still have it.  Obviously you can see where my priorities have been for the last 40 some odd years. 

As simplistic as the information was, it proved to be extremely helpful, especially in tracking down some lines of the family that I had little connection with as a youngster.  In particular, my Grandpa Al Metzner’s mother’s family – the Reiters and Schoppmanns of Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Lizzie Reiter Metzner, ca. 1920

The Reiter side of the family begins with Grandpa Al’s mother, Lisetta “Lizzie” Reiter (1874-1958).  She was a Midwest girl – born and bred in Indiana.  Her parents were Conrad Reiter and Sophie Schoppmann.  Conrad and his parents were the immigrants on the Reiter side.  Sophie’s parents and two sets of grandparents were the immigrants on the Schoppmann side.  

Both of the families came from the area of Westphalia in northwest Germany and arrived in America in the mid-1840s.  We don’t know why they decided to come to America but I suspect it was to find better opportunities.  The website ic.galegroup. com explains it quite well …

• Although political turbulence and religious repression in Europe triggered small waves of German migration to the United States, most historians note that the mass migrations were mainly motivated by the desire for economic opportunity and prosperity. For many years rural Germans had lived on small family farms. As the German states faced industrialization, the old way of rural life was quickly disappearing. Many were forced to move into cities and learn new skills. Yet, with unemployment in Germany rising, the cities did not always hold much hope. Among those who emigrated, some had few options left in Germany and sought more opportunity. Steady migrations were ongoing starting in the early nineteenth century. 

The Reiter/Schoppmann family came from the area in Westfalen (Westphalia) circled in white.

For anyone who has moved away from home, you know how tough it can be.  There is uncertainty, fear, and loneliness, but also some excitement about what may lie ahead.  But when I think about these migrations of our ancestors – leaving their home, their family, their friends – I think it must have been gut-wrenching.  They didn’t have the instant communication we have today and for many it could take months to hear from a loved one back home; and, in most cases families would never see each other again.  Based on that factor alone, taking the leap to emigrate seems to have been a very brave thing to do.  I do, however, find one comfort in the fact that, for most 19th century immigrants to America, they came in family groups or with friends. So, perhaps, not such a lonely prospect after all.

  

That is almost certainly what happened with our Reiter/Schoppmann and extended families. Several family groups came in the mid-1840s and all settled in a small are of Adams County, Indiana. 

Lizzie Reiter’s ancestors came over in 2-4 groups.  I say 2-4 because I have only found the passenger records for two groups.  The others came at different times--together or separately we don't know since I’ve yet to find their passenger records.

Here are the immigration facts that we know:

On 19 Oct. 1844, a small group of people arrived at the Port of New York on the passenger ship Charleston.  All were destined for “Washington.”       I am almost certain that meant Washington Township in Adams County, Indiana.  The group included two brothers, Henry and Dietrich Schoppmann; Dietrich’s future wife Sophie Hakemeyer; and two others who may have been family friends – Friedrich Meyer and Karoline Emme. Dietrich Schoppmann and Sophie Hakemeyer (Hockemeier) [circled in green above] were the grandparents of our Lizzie Reiter. 

    Henry Schoppmann 26 [male] Butcher New York Washington

     Dietrich ditto           22 [male]  Farmer  Prussia      ditto 

     Sophia Hakemeyer  23 female  Farmgirl Westphalen  ditto

What is interesting about this record is that it appears to indicate that Henry Schoppman was already living in America when he arrived on this particular passage. The record identifies him as a butcher in New York City. That tells me he immigrated at an earlier date then went back to Germany, perhaps to encourage and bring others back with him.
 

At some point, Henry and Dietrich Schoppmann’s parents (circled in orange above) and siblings also emigrated to America, as did Sophie Hockemeier’s parents and siblings (circled in navy blue), but the records of those journeys have also not been found.

The other family that has been found is circled in red – the Reiters.  This family immigrated to the U.S. and landed at the Port of Baltimore on 2 August 1845 -- father Friedrich, mother Elisabeth (Lizzetta), and seven children. The youngest, Conrad (Lizzie Reiter’s father), was just three years old.  Conrad’s younger brother, Johann Herman, was born 14 days after they arrived.  One can only imagine the discomfort of that 2-month voyage for a very pregnant Lizzetta.  

    Friedr. Reyter [from Selenfeld]  [farmer]  [destination Baltimore] age 46

      Elisab.  same as above                                                                     age 44

      Louise   same                                                                                   age 22

      Fried.     same                                                                                   age 20

      Wilh      same                                                                                   age 18

      Diedr     same                                                                                   age 15

      Sophie   same                                                                                   age 12

      Heinr.    same                                                                                   age   8

      Conr.     same                                                                                   age   3

 

The Reiter family settled in Adams County, Indiana by 1848 as evidenced by Friedrich Reiter’s 1848 Naturalization document.  It states:

I Frederick Reiter an alien, do make the following report of myself, to wit I am a native of the Canton of Windheim in Prussia born on the 2nd day of January AD 1797.  I emigrated from the port of Bremen on the 2nd day of June AD 1845 and arrived at the Port of Baltimore in the United States of America, on the 2nd day of August AD 1845 and [one] my allegiance to Frederick William 4th King of Prussia and I reporte my sons and daughters as follows to wit Wilhelmina aged now 19 years, Diederick aged now about 18 years, Sophia aged 15 years, Henry aged 12 years, Conrad aged 7 years who came with me to the United States and who were then less than Eighteen years of age. And I do solemnly swear that it is bona fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States of America and of the state of Indiana, and I renounce and abjune forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign power potentate state and sovereignty whatever and [forhand____] to Frederick William Fourth King of Prussia.                        Signed Friderick Reider     Sworn to and subscribed before me the 28th day of November 1848, Samuel L. Rugg Clk 

And with that, our Reiter family became citizens of their new country. There is lots more to come...stayed tuned!

Helen's Story

As I was thinking about writing today's blog, I had to ask myself if this was the right thing to do.  The story isn't very flattering to our ancestors.  I could just stick to stories that are funny, charming, and shed a positive light on the family, but how unrealistic is that???  So, I've decided to tell this story because it reveals something about the attitudes within our family three and four generations ago, but mostly because it's just a pretty good story. It is about my Aunt Helen Metzner McCarthy Kramer (1897-1984), the daughter of Louis Metzner (1872-1930) and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Reiter Metzner (1874-1958).

Lizzie Metzner holding Paula, with Albert (right) and Gordon, 1954

My first memory of Aunt Helen was when I was probably 3 or 4 years old.  I remember a trip to her house in Chicago, but it wasn't Aunt Helen that made an impression on me that particular day. What I remember most distinctly was an old woman sitting in the living room looking very stern.  I have never forgotten that woman's face -- it's etched in my brain.

No one told me at the time who she was. It wasn't until I saw a picture of her years later that I figured it out. She was my great-grandmother, Lizzie Reiter Metzner.  It was the only occasion that I consciously remember seeing her, and I probably never saw her again. She died in 1958. I imagine she had an incredible impact on Aunt Helen's life based on the story I'm about to tell.  Let's start with a little background ...

Helen Kramer, 1954

Aunt Helen and Uncle Al Kramer moved to Grand Rapids some time in the 1960s.  They became a fixture at family events and I have to say that I enjoyed Aunt Helen's company, even though most of the older generation described her as, you might say, "a piece of work." Aunt Helen had a great smile and laugh.  I loved her, and Uncle Al, too.






I didn't know much about Uncle Al.  What I did know was that he was Jewish. Having been raised Christian (Lutheran to be exact), I thought it was pretty special to have someone Jewish in our family.  Funny though, no one ever talked about it, and neither did Uncle Al.  I have no idea how I found out that he was Jewish -- it seems like I just always knew.

Uncle Al died in 1969.  It wasn't until Aunt Helen  passed in 1984 that I heard this story from my Uncle Bud Metzner. I just sat on it until last year when curiosity got the best of me.

Uncle Bud said Aunt Helen was married to Uncle Al twice.  On the occasion of their first marriage (Nov. 13, 1924, in Muskegon, Mich.) she was told by her parents to have it annulled. They didn't approve of her being married to a Jewish man.  So, as a dutiful daughter, Helen divorced Al on July 11, 1925.

I was a bit surprised to hear that that kind of attitude existed in our family -- it wasn't one that I was raised with.  But I was especially bothered to hear the next part of the story.  According to Uncle Bud, Aunt Helen had a plan to be so rich that no one could ever tell her what to do again...and once she was rich, she'd remarry Uncle Al. Ahhh...the plot thickens.       

Uncle Bud continued the story, telling me that Aunt Helen found a rich man to marry, inherited all his money, then went back and remarried Uncle Al.  And that was the end of the story, at least from Uncle Bud.   

Last year I decided to get to the bottom of the story. How much of it was really true? I started digging and found that the facts were true. Now, whether or not Aunt Helen ever proclaimed that she was going to get rich so no one could ever tell her what to do again...that I can't say for sure. But knowing Aunt Helen, it certainly sounds plausible.  She didn't take any "guff" (so to speak) from anyone.

Based on a few tidbits of information found over the last year, I can tell you that Helen moved to Cleveland, Ohio soon after her 1924 marriage to Al. She is found in the 1925 Cleveland City Directory listed as a bookkeeper; and 11 months after her divorce was granted from Al  (on July 11, 1925) she married a very wealthy Cleveland-area businessman, Charles Thomas McCarthy, on June 11, 1926.  McCarthy was about 20 years Helen's senior. He owned an electrotype factory and, according to the 1930 U.S. Census, he and Helen were the wealthiest residents on their street -- their property was valued at $50,000 while surrounding neighbors were between $8,000-$12,000.

Marriage Record for Charles McCarthy and Helen B. Metzner, June 15, 1926

What happened after 1930 is not clear.  Charles died around 1935-1936 (record of his death cannot be found on-line) and by 1937 Helen is no longer listed in Cleveland-area city directories.  A second marriage record for Helen and Al has not been found, but I suspect the couple reunited in Chicago around 1937 and married shortly thereafter.

What this story says about Aunt Helen is that she was a very determined woman, even though her way of achieving her goal was, in my opinion, less than stellar.       But she was, obviously, deeply in love and wasn't going to be stopped.  Good for her... I think.

The story also reveals an attitude of anti-semitism that existed in our family a century ago.  Of course I'd be naive to say "not in OUR family." Then, as now, it is a prevalent and unfortunate attitude. I'm happy that I don't see it in our family today.  Maybe Uncle Al's presence in the family helped those generations before us change their perceptions of Jewish people and not pass it on to their descendants.

That really is the end of the story. But I wonder what affect Helen's second marriage to Al had on her relationship with her mother, Lizzie Metzner. It's clear that Helen "got rich" to spite her parents. But the fact that Helen and her mother are together in photographs after Al and Helen "re-united" in marriage, indicates that Grandma Lizzie must have finally accepted Helen's relationship with Al ... or did she? Could that stern look that I remember so well have been the face of disapproval? I surely hope not, but we'll never really know.