Recently I had success finding my Clayton County, Iowa, Lucas, Hildebrand, and Stendel ancestors in German church records.  Christoph Lucas and his wife Dorothea, nee Hildebrand, arrived in America in 1874, travelling with Dorothea’s brother Fritz Hildebrand, their son Frederick “Fritz” Lucas, their daughter Dorothea Lucas, and her future husband August Rieckhoff.  Their daughter Maria Lucas had arrived one year earlier in 1873 with her husband Gottfried Stendel.  The 1874 emigration passenger list leaving Hamburg shows that Christoph and his fellow travelers were from Gross Beuster, Brandenburg.  This location was further confirmed by Maria Lucas Stendel’s obituary which notes she was born in “Grotz Beuster.”  Her husband Gottfried Stendel’s obituary notes he was born in “Kleinbeuster,” which turns out to be the next nearest small town to Gross Beuster.  [Note: United States documents show that August Rieckhoff is from a different part of Germany and not from Gross Beuster.] They were all Lutheran and so I would hope to find Protestant (Evangelisch) German records. 

With this and other information gained from the U.S. census and other records, I had tried to find these ancestors in the German records available on familysearch.org, ancestry.com, and archion.de, but with no luck.  I decided to try to find where records might exist in Germany. 

My first step was to find out as much about Gross Beuster as possible.  One vital source for places in Germany is the Meyers Gazetteer (Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-lexikon des deutschen Reichs) which had the goal of including every place name in the German Empire (1871-1918).  This resource is available and searchable online at https://www.meyersgaz.org/

This gazetteer details that Gross Beuster is a village (Dorf), the parish (evangelisch Pfarrkirche), the District Office (Amtsbezirk), and where the Civil Registration Office (Standesamt) is located.  The Meyers Gazetteer provides additional place names that may be useful in finding where records are located:  Gross Beuster is also within the jurisdictions of Osterburg (the county or Kreis), Magdeburg (the Regierungsbezirk, a government district that is in hierarchy between the State and Kreis level), Seehausen Altmark (the Amtsgericht where the Lower District Court is located), Stendal (the Bezirkskommando, the District Military Command, where military records might be found), Sachsen (the Province or State), and Prussia (Preussen, the Kingdom).  These additional place names will prove useful in finding records in Germany. 

Since I know my ancestor’s town in Germany, I decided to try to find the current Protestant parish and to write to the pastor seeking records.  The Protestant church in Germany has very useful websites with searchable tools for finding parishes.  I first went to the Evangelische Kirche in Deutchland website https://www.ekd.de/en/Gemeindesuche-161.htm.  This resource allows you to enter place names to find a parish.  Neither Gross Beuster or Beuster provided any results.  So I tried the next place level up, the county or Kreis, Osterburg.  When I typed in Osterburg, the resource automatically offered me Osterburg (Altmark), both of which are part of the Gross Beuster entry in the Meyers gazetteer.  This result gave me a more specific website within the Evangelishe Kirche hierarchy, the Evangelische Kirche in MittelDeutchland https://www.ekmd.de/.  One of the options on this website was Gemeindesuche / Community Search.  I entered Gross Beuster – no result.  I entered Beuster – success.  I found the Pfarrbereich Beuster / Parish area for Beuster which provided me with a name and e-mail address provided for the current pastor. 

I could have e-mailed the pastor in English, but I decided to write my e-mail in German.  If this seems daunting, there are tools to assist.  One useful resource is the https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/German_Letter_Writing_Guide.  This gave me several useful phrases in German to use in my e-mail.  I wanted to say more than this guide provided, so I used google translate https://translate.google.com for additional phrases.  I simply drafted my e-mail in English; copied and pasted it into google translate; and used the German translation for my final e-mail.  [I would reverse this process when they e-mailed me back in German.] I decided to include in my initial e-mail all of the genealogical information I new about my Gross Beuster ancestors.  Here it is in English: 

“Subject: Genealogical investigation

Dear Pastor, I am researching my ancestors and need information from your church records.  My ancestors come from Gross Beuster. The person listed below is my ancestor.  I have listed all the genealogical information I know about this person: 

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Husband: Christoph Lucas or Lukas (date of birth 14 October 1819)
Marriage date 1846 with wife: Dorothea Hildebrandt or Hilbrandt (date of birth 1817).
Son: Frederick Lucas (date of birth 6 September 1846)
Daughter: Maria Lucas (date of birth August 1848) marriage date 22 June 1873 with Gottfried Stendel (date of birth 1 March 1844, Klein Beuster)
Daughter: Dorothea Katherine Lucas (Date of birth 5 March 1852)
Brother of Dorothea Hildebrandt: Fritz Hildebrandt or Hilbrandt (date of birth 1816).
Gottfried and Maria Stendel Emigration date 16 July 1873 from Hamburg.
Christoph and Dorothea Lucas, children Frederick and Dorothea, and Fritz Hildebrandt Emigration date 25 March 1874 from Hamburg.
They all settled in Clayton County, Iowa.

Would you please let me know if it would be possible to get photocopies of your records and what they cost?  If you do not have the necessary documents, could you give me the address of the office where the relevant documents are located?  Thank you in advance for your help.  Best regards.” 

The pastor e-mailed me back the same day.  He referred me to the District Church Office in Stendal https://www.ekmd.de/kirche/kreiskirchenaemter/stendal/.  He wrote, “There you will find all the information.”  How optimistic!  On the district church office website, there is a list of Bereiche / Areas, one of which was “Church District Archive / Genealogy”!  Eureka!  This included the name of the person in charge of genealogy, Andrea Gagelmann, and an e-mail address for the church archive archiv.stendal@ekmd.de.  I sent the same e-mail.  About 5 days later, I received an e-mail response:

“Here in the Church Archives in Stendal, genealogical research is possible in filmed church books from Groß Beuster.  Unfortunately, there is no digitized form. If you hire me, we charge the following fees:  30 minutes of research = €20 / Each copy €0.50.  Your request is very extensive. (6 baptisms, 2 weddings).  I offer you to research your ancestors in Groß Beuster and to make copies of the church book entries for a maximum of €100.00.” [Note: I am quite fortunate to have ancestors in this area with a church archive that provides this service. Not all German church archives will do research. For example, the archive that should have records for August Rieckhoff makes it clear on their website that they do not do any research, but you are welcome to go to the archive or to hire a researcher to go to the archive during their limited hours by appointment with fees for copies, etc.]

I e-mailed back agreeing to the €100.00 maximum and asking how I could pay.  About 5 days later, I received an e-mail response.  Andrea Gagelmann had already done the research without any payment yet, and had success in finding my ancestors.  Amazing!  What a generous and trusting researcher.  An invoice was included noting that 4.5 hours of research had been completed and copies had been made, with a total charge of €97.50, which would need to be bank transferred to the District Church Archives bank account in Germany.  Once the funds are transferred, the documents would be e-mailed.  In the meantime, the e-mail provided some new information for me already.  The researcher found:

Christening of Christoph Lucas in Scharpenlohe – copy created
List of baptisms Hildebrand in Geestgottberg – copy made
Since I couldn’t find a baptism of Catharina Dorothea Hildebrand, I looked for the confirmation for you – made a copy
Marriage Lucas / Hildebrand 1845 – copy created
Baptism Lucas, Joachim Friedrich 1846 – copy created
Baptism Lucas, Sophie Maria Elisabeth 1848 – copy made
Marriage Lucas / Stendel 1873 – copy created
Baptism to Johann Gottfried Stendel from Klein Beuster – this church book has been lost.
Baptism Lucas, Catharina Dorothea Elisabeth 1852 – copy created
Baptism Christoph Friedrich Hildebrand 1815 – copy made

This e-mail revealed the spelling of the names Lucas and Hildebrand; additional town names Scharpenlohe and Geestgottberg (which the Meyers Gazetteer shows are near Gross Beuster); that no baptism was found for Catharina Dorothea Hildebrand, but a confirmation was found (many thanks to this detail oriented and alternative seeking researcher); that the church book for Klein Beuster has been lost; more complete names for several of these ancestors; and dates corresponding to or close enough to the dates I already knew. 

Once the bank transfer had been successfully completed, I received the actual documents.  My researcher in Germany sent me the church records I had ordered.  It’s 16 pages and adds two sets of Great 4 grandparents, plus brothers and sisters of my Great 3 grandmother.  The documents verify and confirm information I already knew, plus provide me with original documentation and a lot of additional information, too.  

What I already knew:  Maria Lucas (date of birth August 1848) marriage date 22 June 1873 with Gottfried Stendel (date of birth 1 March 1844, Klein Beuster)
Document received:  Marriage Record 1873
What I found out:
Full name of groom: Johann Gottfried Stendel
Full name of bride:  Marie Sophie Elisabeth Lucas
Age of groom:  29 7/12 [should be 3/12]
Age and Birthdate of bride:  24 11/12 5 July 1848
Occupation of groom:  Zimmerman = Carpenter
Names of groom’s parents:  Friedrich Wilhelm Stendel and Christiane Elisabeth Schulze
Place of marriage: Gross Beuster
Place of residence of parents of groom:  Klein Beuster
Spelling of bride’s parents’ last names:  Lucas and Hildebrand
Confirmed: marriage date; birthdate of groom; birthplace of groom; parents of bride

What I already knew: Dorothea Katherine Lucas (Date of birth 5 March 1852). Document received:  Birth and Baptism 1852.
What I found out:
Full Name:  Catharina Dorothea Elisabeth
Birthplace:  Gross Beuster
Baptism Date:  18 April 1852
Residence as of 5 March 1852 of parents:  Gross Beuster
Names of godparents:  Difficult to read:  1.  Too difficult to make out reasonably, but will keep trying; 2.  First Name? Wolert; 3.  Johann Ludwig Lucas (relation?)
Confirmed:  Birthdate; names of parents.

What I already knew:  Maria Lucas (date of birth August 1848)
Document received:  Birth and Baptism 1848
What I found out:
Birthdate different than marriage record:  5 August 1848
Birth location:  Geestgottberg
Baptism date:  13 August 1848
Names of godparents:  Difficult to read: 1.  First Name? Brummer of Geestgottberg;       2.  Too difficult to make out reasonably, but will keep trying; 3.  First Name? Hildebrand (relation?) of Scharpenlohe?
Residence of parents as of 5 August 1848: Geestgottberg
Occupation of father:  Zimmerman = Carpenter
Confirmed:  Full name same as on marriage record; names of parents

What I already knew:  Frederick Lucas (date of birth 6 September 1846)
Document received:  Birth and Baptism 1846
What I found out:
Full Name:  Joachim Friedrich Lucas
Place of Birth: Geestgottberg
Baptism date:  20 September 1846
Names of godparents:  Difficult to read: 1.  Johann Ludwig Hildebrand (relation?) of Geestgottberg; 2.  First Name? Hagan? of Geestgottberg; 3.  Too difficult to make out reasonably, but will keep trying; 4.  Too difficult to make out reasonably, but will keep trying; 5.  First Name? Lucas (relation?)
Occupation of father:  Zimmerergeselle = Journeyman Carpenter
Confirmed:  Date of Birth; names of parents

What I already knew:  Christoph Lucas or Lukas (date of birth 14 October 1819) Marriage date 1846 with wife: Dorothea Hildebrandt or Hilbrandt (date of birth 1817).
Document received:  Marriage 1845
What I found out:  Full name of bride:  Catharina Dorothea Hildebrand
Marriage date:  23 November 1845
Marriage place:  Gross Beuster
Birthplace of groom:  Scharpenlohe
Residence of groom:  Geestgottberg
Names of parents of groom:  Christoph Lucas and Dorothea Sophie Meier
Names of parents of bride: Christoph Friedrich Hildebrand and Margaretha Sophie Meier
Age of Groom:  26 (approximate birth year 1819)
Age of Bride:  29 (approximate birth year 1816)
Residence of groom’s parents: Scharpenlohe
Residence of bride’s parents: Geestgottberg
Confirmed:  Name of groom

What I already knew:  Dorothea Hildebrandt or Hilbrandt (date of birth 1817).
Document received:  Confirmation 1831
What I found out:
Year of Confirmation:  1831
Place of Confirmation:  Geestgottberg
Age at Confirmation:  14 4/12 [approximate birthdate from September 1816 to             August 1817]
Confirmed:   Father’s name; Name same as on marriage record

What I already knew: Christoph Lucas or Lukas (date of birth 14 October 1819)
Document received:  Birth and Baptism 1819
What I found out:
Date of birth:  10 October 1819
Date of baptism:  24 October 1819
Father’s name:  Different from 1845 marriage record:  Gottfried Lucas
Father’s occupation:  Tagelohner = Day Laborer
Birthplace of parents:  Scharpenlohe
Godparents: 1.  Christoph Theek?; 2.  Peter Firkel?; 3.  Gottlieb Schlieke of Scharpenlohe; 4.  Friedrich Wilhelm Rote?; 5.  Anna Dorothea Hamann of Scharpenlohe; 6.  Maria Dorothea Betke of Scharpenlohe
Confirmed:  Same as on marriage record: Name; Mother’s name; Place of birth;

What I already knew:  Fritz Hildebrandt or Hilbrandt (date of birth 1816).
Document received:  Birth and Baptism 1815
What I found out:
Full Name:  Christoph Friedrich Hildebrand
Date of Birth:  23 July 1815
Date of Baptism:  30 July 1815
Place of Birth:  Geestgottberg
Confirmed:  Parents’ names same as on sister’s marriage record

What I already knew:  Fritz Hildebrand born 1815; Dorothea Hildebrand born 1816
Document received:  List of Hildebrand Births in Geestgottberg
What I found out:
Additional children of Christoph Friedrich and Margaretha Sophie Meier Hildebrand:
            Marie Dorothea Sophie born 22 April 1819
            Twins:  Peter and Johann Christoph Wilhelm born 12 December 1822
            Christoph Wilhelm born 7 July 1825
Confirmed:  Christoph Friedrich’s birthdate / parents / birthplace
Question:  Why doesn’t Catharina Dorothea Hildebrand born ca. 1816 appear here?
            Location and parents confirmed from 1831 Confirmation and 1845 Marriage

My researcher had noted in the e-mail that “children of a Catharina Dorothea Hildebrand can also be found on page 3 (example: July 22, 1801).”  However, 1801 is far too early a date to be the ancestor I knew of to have children, so she is a mystery.  I believe she is a half-sister of my fourth great grandfather, but this will need further research.

Document received: List of Hildebrand Births in Geestgottberg 1726-1828
What I found out:
There’s a different Catharina Dorothea Hildebrand from a previous generation. 
Conjecture from evidence:  She is the half sister of my newly found G4 Christoph Friedrich Hildebrand
Children of Peter Hildebrand and Sophia Schulz:
            24 February 1779 Catherina Dorothea Hildebrand
            5 March 1782 Martin Hildebrand
            4 February 1785 Christoph Wilhelm Hildebrand
            19 March 1788 Michael Heinrich Hildebrand
Children of Peter Hildebrand and Catharina Maria Schulz:
            23 March 1792 Christoph Friedrich Hildebrand
            10 June 1795 Christian Hildebrand
            9 July 1798 Maria Dorothea Hildebrand

One goal in American genealogy is to trace each family line back to each immigrant.  That goal can be difficult when the family arrived in colonial America.  Such is the case with the Robertson / Thompson families.  Based on evidence collected so far, almost all of the immigrants arrived either in the 1700s or the 1600s.  There is still much work to do.  Only the few immigrants listed below have been identified so far, and more documentation is needed for them, as well.  As a result, I will be working on this research for a while until I feel all effective research has been done and all available resources have been consulted. 

Below are listed the known [as of August 24, 2022] immigrant ancestors of my wife Lorie Robertson, first indicating their relationship to Lorie and then listed in order of their arrival in America. Also noted is to which of Lorie’s grandparents they are related: Philip Isaac P. I. Thompson, Mamie Lavonia Coker, Gaston Robertson, Jr., or Mattie Belle Smith.

I have identified only 9 known names of immigrant ancestors, with the surnames Heald, Bancroft, Robertson, Bowman, Black, McArthur, and Harlan.

No immigrants have been identified yet on the Thompson lines; although Stephen I. Thompson may have been born in Canada (born 29 February 1864, married 8 December 1886 to Florence Alice Adelaide Lawson East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, died 21 April 1934, Gulfport, Harrison, Mississippi).

Also, the Robertson Genealogy Book prepared 1 February 1978 by Max Herman Jordan of Ocean Springs, Mississippi notes that on the Robertson Line, Norvell Robertson I is Lorie’s G4 Grandfather.  Norvell is descended from Lorie’s G9 or G10 Grandfather Thomas Norvell (originally Neuville), who was a Frenchman who came to Wright County, Virginia, and settled about 1620.  The Robertson book also notes that Benjamin Powell from North Carolina and then Georgia is Lorie’s G5 Grandfather, and is of Welsh descent, the family having immigrated from Wales, but Benjamin is most likely not an immigrant. 

Immigrant Ancestors:  Robertson / Thompson Families :

G7 Grandparents:

Samuel Heald born 12 September 1668 Mobberley, Cheshire, Old England; married Mary Bancroft born 13 May 1673 Eccleston, Cheshire, Old England; Immigrated before 1713; died 1736 Kennet Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, Colonial America [Mattie Belle Smith].

Jeoffrey Robertson born 1654 Scotland; Immigrated before 1700; married to Elizabeth Bowman; died 1734 Henrico, Virginia, Colonial America [Gaston Robertson, Jr.]. 

G6 Grandparents:

Malcolm Black born Jura, Scotland 1690, died North Carolina 1740.  Married Catherine McArthur [Mamie Lavonia Coker]. 

Sarah Heald born 19 May 1692 Mobberly, Cheshire, Old England (daughter of Samuel Heald and Mary Bancroft); Immigrated before 1713; married 1713 New Castle, Delaware, Colonial America to Aaron Harlan born 24 October 1685 Donnahlong Parish, County Down, Ulster Province, Ireland; Immigrated 1687 [to Ireland? Date to America? if 1687 to America then with his parents since he’d only be 2]; Sarah died 1747–1748 Kennet Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, Colonial America; Aaron died November 1732 Kennet Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, Colonial America [Mattie Belle Smith].

G5 Grandparents:

Archibald [Ray?] Black born Jura, Scotland 1725, died Cumberland County, North Carolina 1792.  Married Christian [Surname Unknown; Carmichael?]. Immigrated 1754. Sources:  The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783 book by David Dobson, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1989, Baltimore, MD database on-line], Ancestry.com, page 20, image 32: “servant, res. Kiles Jura Argyll, sh. 1754, to Cape Fear N.C. (SRO.GD64\5.21).”  SRO = Scottish Records Office, Edinburgh; sh = voluntarily shipped; tr = transported [Mamie Lavonia Coker].

In order by approximate date of arrival:

1620:  Thomas Norvell (originally Neuville)

Before 1700:  Jeoffrey Robertson and Elizabeth Bowman [Gaston Robertson, Jr.]. 

Early 1700s:  Malcolm Black and Catherine McArthur [Mamie Lavonia Coker]. 

Early 1700s:  Unknown Powell from Wales

Before 1713:  Samuel Heald and Mary Bancroft [Mattie Belle Smith].

Before 1713:  Sarah Heald [Mattie Belle Smith].

Before 1713 (possibly 1687):  Aaron Harlan [Mattie Belle Smith].

1754:  Archibald [Ray?] Black [Mamie Lavonia Coker].

Below are listed my known [as of August 13, 2022] German ancestors, first listed in order indicating their relationship to me and then listed in order of their arrival in America. Also noted is to which of my grandparents they are related: Hervey Dahlstrom, Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom, or Lena Manske Gronlund. [Note: The ancestors of my great grandfather Swan Gronlund are all Swedish with no German connection.]

I have 26 known individual names of ancestors born in what is now Germany or was Prussia / Germanic territory.  All but 4 are immigrants.  All but 4 died in the colonies or U.S.  There are 15 distinct surnames:

Englert; Baier [Beyer]; Hoth; Mueller; Lucas; Hilbrandt; Mandelkow; Dahlstrom (1); Dahlstrom (2); Kohls; Kohlts; Dupratz; Mahnke; Rieckhoff; Manske.

[Note: I have documentation for Nelson Englert, born 1805 in New York. However, the documentation is still tenuous for linking him with certainty to the line leading back to Ulrich Englert and his son Adam Englert, and to the Baier [Beyer] line. I have a good argument for the connection and I am continuing to work on documentation. Also, Nelson’s wife Susan’s maiden name is noted in her obituary as France; however, in the area of Pennsylvania where she is from, I only find families with the names Franz or Frantz, so there most likely are additional German ancestors on this line, which I also am continuing to work on documenting.]

Great (7) Grandparents

Ulrich Englert born late 1600s, Germany [Palatine], Emigration, 15 June 1728, Rotterdam via Deal, England, Immigration 11 September 1728, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ship Goodwill, (Hervey Dahlstrom)

Great (6) Grandparents

Adam Englert born early 1700s, Germany [Palatine], Emigration, 15 June 1728, Rotterdam via Deal, England, Immigration 11 September 1728, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ship Goodwill, and Anna Apollonia (Unknown) (Hervey Dahlstrom)

Johann Leonhardt Baier [Beyer] born 5 February 1714, Germany, and Anna Christina (Unknown) born December 1716, Germany, Emigration 1741, Rotterdam via Deal, England, Immigration 16 October 1741, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ship Molly (Hervey Dahlstrom)

Great (5) Grandparents

Anna Maria Baier [Beyer] born 4 December 1737, Germany, Emigration 1741, Rotterdam via Deal, England, Immigration 16 October 1741, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ship Molly [marries Jacob Englert, born in Pennsylvania, son of Adam Englert] (Hervey Dahlstrom)

Great Great Great Grandparents

Frederich Hoth born 1813, Germany, and Karoline Mueller born November 1818, Germany, Emigration 1 October 1868, Hamburg, Immigration, New York, New York, Ship Palmerston (Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

Christoph Lucas born 4 October 1819, Germany, and Dorothea Hilbrandt born 1817, Prussia, Emigration 25 March 1874, Hamburg, Immigration 10 April 1874, New York, New York, Ship Holsatia (Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

Christian Mandelkow [died in Primen, Mecklenburg], and Maria Dahlstrom born 1 February 1802, Primen, Mecklenburg, Emigration 15 April 1858, Hamburg, Immigration 26 May 1858, New York, New York, Ship Main (Hervey Dahlstrom)

Kohls (A.) [No details; no evidence of immigration] (Lena Manske Gronlund)

August Kohlts [No details; no evidence of immigration] (Lena Manske Gronlund)

Johann Dupratz [No details; no evidence of immigration] (Lena Manske Gronlund)

Great Great Grandparents

Josehim Joachim Joseph Mahnke born August 1835, Mecklenburg, Immigration 1869, and Dorothea Hoth born 31 August 1845, Emigration 1 October 1868, Hamburg, Immigration, New York, New York, Ship Palmerston (Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

August Rieckhoff born 3 August 1851, Mecklenburg, and Dorothea Lucas born 5 March 1852, Prussia, Emigration 25 March 1874, Hamburg, Immigration 10 April 1874, New York, New York, Ship Holsatia (Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

Charles Carl Fredrich Theodor Dahlstrom born 25 June 1830, Pommern, Prussia, and Maria Dorothea Fridericke Mandelkow born 5 October 1830, Prussia, Emigration 15 April 1861, Hamburg, Immigration 29 May 1861, New York, New York, Ship Polynesia (Hervey Dahlstrom)

Johann Ludwig Manske born 18 September 1806, Ballenberg, Belgard, Pommern, Prussia, (Koslin) and Charlotte “Lottie” Sophie Caroline Kohls born 2 February 1815, Technow, Koslin, Pommern, Prussia, Emigration 31 March 1880, Hamburg, Immigration 16 April 1880 , New York, New York, Ship Lessing (Lena Manske Gronlund)

August Augustus Friedrich Wilhelm Kohlts born 24 June 1834 Pommern, Cochem-Zell, Rheinland-Pfalz, Prussia, and Emilie Antonie Auguste Albertine Dupratz born 6 May 1840 Pommern, Prussia, Emigration 2 April 1860 Hamburg, Immigration 12 May 1860 New York, New York,  Ship Sir Robert Peel (Lena Manske Gronlund)

Great Grand Father

Ludwig Johann Friedrich Manske born 24 March 1855 Crossin, Pommern, Prussia, Emigration 8 April 1879, Hamburg, Immigration 23 April 1879, New York, New York Ship Frisia (Lena Manske Gronlund)

German Ancestors by date of arrival:

15 June 1728, Emigration, Rotterdam via Deal, England, Immigration 11 September 1728, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ship Goodwill, Ulrich ENGLERT born late 1600s, Germany [Palatine], Great(7)-grandparents, and Adam ENGLERT born early 1700s, Germany [Palatine], [probable that Adam’s wife Anna Apollonia (Unknown Surname) also arrived on the Goodwill], (Great (6) Grandparents, Hervey Dahlstrom)

1741, Emigration, Rotterdam via Deal, England, Immigration 16 October 1741, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ship Molly, Johann Leonhardt BAIER [BEYER] born 5 February 1714, Germany, [Palatine], [probable that Johann’s wife Anna Christina (Unknown Surname) also arrived on the Molly, born December 1716, Germany], (Great (6) Grandparents, Hervey Dahlstrom) [and also probable that daughter Anna Maria Baier, also arrived on the Molly, born 4 December 1737], (Great (5) Grandparent, Hervey Dahlstrom)

15 April 1858, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration 26 May 1858, New York, New York, Ship Main, Maria Dahlstrom MANDELKOW, born 1 February 1802, Priemen, Mecklenburg (Great Great Great Grandparents, Hervey Dahlstrom)

2 April 1860, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration 12 May 1860 New York, New York, Ship Sir Robert Peel, August Augustus Friedrich Wilhelm KOHLTS born 24 June 1834 Pommern, Cochem-Zell, Rheinland-Pfalz, Prussia, and Emilie Antonie Auguste Albertine DUPRATZ born 6 May 1840 Pommern, Prussia, (Great Great Grandparents, Lena Manske Gronlund)

15 April 1861, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration 29 May 1861, New York, New York, Ship Polynesia, Charles Carl Fredrich Theodor DAHLSTROM born 25 June 1830, Pommern, Prussia, and Maria Dorothea Fridericke MANDELKOW born 5 October 1830, Prussia, (Great Great Grandparents, Hervey Dahlstrom)

1 October 1868, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration, New York, New York, Ship Palmerston, Frederich HOTH born 1813, Germany, and Karoline MUELLER born November 1818, Germany, (Great Great Great Grandparents, Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom), and their daughter Dorothea HOTH, born 31 August 1845, (Great Great Grandparent, Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

1869, Immigration, Josehim Joachim Joseph MAHNKE born August 1835, Mecklenburg, (Great Great Grandparent, Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

25 March 1874, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration 10 April 1874, New York, New York, Ship Holsatia, Christoph LUCAS born 4 October 1819, Germany, and Dorothea HILBRANDT born 1817, Prussia, (Great Great Great Grandparents, Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom), and their daughter Dorothea LUCAS born 5 March 1852, Prussia, and future son-in-law August RIECKHOFF born 3 August 1851, Mecklenburg, (Great Great Grandparents, Mahelia Mahnke Dahlstrom)

8 April 1879, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration 23 April 1879, New York, New York Ship Frisia, Ludwig Johann Friedrich MANSKE born 24 March 1855 Crossin, Pommern, Prussia, Emigration (Great Grand Father, Lena Manske Gronlund)

31 March 1880, Emigration, Hamburg, Immigration 16 April 1880 , New York, New York, Ship Lessing, Johann Ludwig MANSKE born 18 September 1806, Ballenberg, Belgard, Pommern, Prussia, (Koslin) and Charlotte “Lottie” Sophie Caroline KOHLS born 2 February 1815, Technow, Koslin, Pommern, Prussia, (Great Great Grandparents, Lena Manske Gronlund)

In addition to my very first look at my very first page of the 1950 Census which resulted in my finding my maternal grandfather, I also found a number of additional ancestors, for both my research in the Gronlund / Dahlstrom families and in the Robertson / Thompson families. 

Gronlund / Dahlstrom

My Paternal Grandparents:

Minnesota, St. Louis County, Duluth, Enumeration District 88-127, Sheet 4, April 14, 1950:

Line #8:  Street Name:  24^th Avenue; House Number:  1018; Dwelling Unit:  39; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Gronlund, Bernard; Head; White; Male; 54; Married; Born in Minnesota; Worked most of last week; Worked 40 hours; Manager; Bread Company; Private Employer.

Line #9:  ———-, Lena J.; Wife; White; Female; 49; Married; Born in Minnesota; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

Line #10:  ———– Glen H.; Son; White; Male; 16; Never married; Born in Minnesota; Other [for what he did last week; presumably school]; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

My Dad:

Iowa, Dubuque County, Dubuque City, Enumeration District 31-86, Sheet 80, April 19, 1950:

Line #15:  Street Name:  Wartburg Place; House Number:  300; Dwelling Unit:  208; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Gronlund, Robert B.; Lodger; White; Male; 23; Never Married; Born in Minnesota; Other for most of last week; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

My Mom:

Iowa, Buchanan County, Winthrop Town, Enumeration District 10-5, Sheet 72, April 10, 1950:

Line #14:  No Street Name or House Number; Dwelling Unit:  79; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Dahlstrom, Dorothy; Roomer; White; Female; 21; Never Married; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Teacher; School; Private Employer.

My Great Aunt:

Iowa, Clayton County, Elkader Town, Enumeration District 22-1, Sheet 1, April 1, 1950:

Line #27:  Street Name:  High and Chestnut Street; Corner of Chestnut house on Chestnut; House Number:  11; Dwelling Unit:  11; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Monlux, Will C.; Head; White; Male; 73; Widowed; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 30 hours; Salesman Insurance; Insurance Company; Private Employer.

Line #28:  ———–, Milton D.; Son; White; Male; 46; Married; Born in Iowa; Other most of last week; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; Yes he does have a job; Farm Helper; Farm; Own business. 

Line #29:  ———– , Alice E.; Daughter-In-Law; White; Female; 43; Married; Born in Iowa; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

My Great Uncle:

Wisconsin, Columbia County, Lodi, Enumeration District 11-22, Sheet 10, April 19, 1950:

Line #9:  Street Name:  Summerville Park Road [on Sheet #2]; No House Number; Dwelling Unit:  122; Yes this home is on a farm; No answer for is this house on 3 or more acres; Mahnke, Elmer J.; Head; White; Male; 50; Married; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 56 hours; Janitor; Parkway Theater; Private Employer.

Line #10:  ———– , Theresa G.; Wife; White; Female; 47; Married; Born in Wisconsin; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

Since Theresa Mahnke was on Line 10, she was selected for the additional sample questions:  No, she was not living in this same house 1 year ago; she was living in Dane County, Wissonsin; her father and mother were born in the U.S.; the eleventh grade (S11) was the highest grade she attended; yes she completed that grade; she is 30 or over, so has not attended school at any time since February 1^st; she worked 32 weeks last year; last year (1949) she earned $1100 in wages and salary before deductions; she did not any money working in his own business; she earned $50 from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents or other income; none of his relatives in this household earned anything from any of these sources last year; no military service. 

My Great Uncle:

California, Alameda County, San Leandro, Enumeration District 1-27, Sheet 79, April 21, 1950:

Line #5:  Street Name:  Dowling Blvd.; House Number: 964; Dwelling Unit:  309; No this home is not on a farm; No this house not on 3 or more acres; Mahnke, Harvey F.; Head; White; Male; 40; Divorced; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 40 hours; Repair Machinery; Weekly Newspaper; Private Employer.

Line #6: Denning, Irma; Cousin [not sure how related, but she did live in Farmersburg, 1900 census]; White; Female; 52; Widowed; Born in Iowa Worked most of last week; Worked 40 hours; Real Estate Broker; Real Estate Office; Private Employer.

Line #7: Klinge, Bertha M.; Irma’s mother (confirmed on 1940 census) [Relationship hard to read; transcribed as “nephew” but this is an 85 year old woman!]; White; Female; 85; Widowed; Born in Iowa; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

Robertson / Thompson

My wife’s paternal grandparents:

Mississippi, Harrison County, Gulfport, Enumeration District 24-67, Sheet 4, April 4, 1950:

Line #5:  Street Name:  32^nd Avenue; House Number:  1209; Dwelling Unit:  53; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Robertson, Jaston [sic should be Gaston]; Head; White; Male; 52; Married; Born in Mississippi; Worked most of last week; Worked 66 hours; Manager; Retail grocery store; Private Employer.

Line #6:  ———-, Mattie Belle; Wife; White; Female; 48; Married; Born in Mississippi; Worked most of last week; Worked 40 hours; Checker; Retail grocery store; Private Employer.

My wife’s father: 

Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, Enumeration District 160-229, Sheet 10, April 12, 1950:

Line #1:  Street Name:  Techwood Drive NW; No House Number listed; No Dwelling Unit listed; No information provided whether on a farm or whether on 3 or more acres; Robertson, Charles W.; Lodger; White; Male; 18; Never Married; Born in Mississippi; Other for what he did most of last week (presumably in school); No did not do any work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

My Wife’s Uncle:

California, Fresno County, Fresno, Enumeration District 63-95, Sheet 12, April 14, 1950:

Line #30:  Street Name:  North Fresno between McKenzie and Illinois; House Number:  207; Dwelling Unit:  133; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Robertson, Gaston; Head; White; Male; 27; Married; Born in Mississippi; Worked most of last week; Worked 40 hours; Salesman; Stationary Retail; Private Employer.

Since Gaston Robertson was on Line 30, he was selected for the additional sample questions:  Yes, he was living in this same house 1 year ago; his father and mother were both born in the U.S.; the third year of college was the highest grade he attended; he did not complete the college degree; he has not attended school at any time since February 1^st; he worked 52 weeks last year; last year (1949) he earned $2700 in wages and salary before deductions; he did not any money working in his own business; he did not earn any money from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents or other income; none of his relatives in this household earned anything from any of these sources last year; yes he served in World War II; no he did not serve in World War I; no he did not serve any other time. 

Line #31:  ———-, Joyce; Wife; White; Female; 22; Married; Born in California; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

Line #32:  ———–, Penny; Daughter; White; Female; 3; Never married; Born in Mississippi; all other questions left blank [for what she did last week and work information].

Line #33:  ———–, Harlan; Son; White; Male; 1; Never married; Born in California; all other questions left blank [for what he did last week and work information].

The most exciting and significant genealogical news of 2022 is the release of the 1950 U. S. Census on April 1^st.  I immediately looked for as many ancestors as possible who would have appeared on the 1950 Census, and quickly had luck.  Although the search mechanisms were limited at first, they were still useful and had great potential for achieving results.  Access and searchability have increased and improved since. 

My very first look at my very first page of the 1950 Census resulted in my finding my maternal grandfather.  Of course, it helped that he lived in the very small town of Farmersburg, Clayton County, Iowa.  He was the last name on the first page, with the rest of his household continued on the next page.  This included his wife, and his sister-in-law, who is incorrectly listed as having the same last name.  Here’s a transcription of the information these pages provide for Hervey Dahstrom, Mahelia Dahlstrom, and Olga Mahnke (incorrectly shown with a dash indicating her last name would be Dahlstrom, the same as the rest of the household, but her maiden name was Mahnke and she wasn’t married until 1952, when her last name became Oelke): 

Iowa, Clayton County, Farmersburg Town, Enumeration District 22-15, Sheet 1, April 10, 1950:

House Number:  L1-6 / B26; Dwelling Unit:  10; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Dahlstron [sic] Hervey; Head; White; Male; 52; Married; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 60 hours; Mechanic; Implement Shop; Private Employer.

The rest of the household is on the next page: Iowa, Clayton County, Farmersburg Town, Enumeration District 22-15, Sheet 2, April 10, 1950:

Line #1:  Dahlstrom Mahelia; Wife; White; Female; 48; [Column for marital status oddly has the #1, not as instructed]; Born in Iowa; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.

Line #2:  ———– [sic, should be Mahnke], Olga; Sister-in-Law; White; Female; 46; [Column for marital status oddly has the #5, not as instructed]; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 60 hours; Clerk; Grocery Store; Private Employer.

Following are all of the questions for the 1950 Census.  Remember also to check the bottom of the page for select questions asked as a sample of every 5^th person, but varies by page, so some pages are lines 5, 10, 15, etc., but other pages are lines 6, 11, 16, etc., and so on.  If your ancestor was selected, you will get answers to additional questions about education, etc. 

1950 Census Questions:

1. Name of Street, Avenue, or Road

*The following questions are For Head of Household:

*2. House (number and apartment number)

*3. Serial number of dwelling unit

*4. Is this house on a farm (or ranch)?  (Yes or No)

*5. If No, is this house on a place of 3 or more acres?  (Yes or No)

*6. Agriculture Questionnaire Number

The following questions are For All Persons:

7. Name:  What is the name of the head of this household?  What is the name of all other persons who live here?  List in this order:  The head.  His wife.  Unmarried sons and daughters (in order of age).  Married sons and daughters and their families.  Other relatives.  Other persons, such as lodgers, roomers, maids, or hired hands who live in, and their relatives. 

8. Relationship:  Enter relationship of person to head of household, as Head, Wife, Daughter, Grandson, Mother-in-law, Lodger, Lodger’s wife, Maid, Hired hand, Patient, etc.

9. Race:  White (W), Negro (Neg), American Indian (Ind), Japanese (Jap), Chinese (Chi), Filipina (Fil), Other race – spell out

10. Sex:  Male (M), Female (F)

11. How old was he on his last birthday? If under one year, enter month of birth as April, May, Dec., etc. 

12. Is he now married, widowed, divorced, separated, or never married?  (Mar, Wd, D, Sep, Nev).

13. What State (or foreign country) was he born in?  If born outside continental United States, enter name of territory, possession, or foreign country.  Distinguish Canada-French from Canada Other. 

14. If foreign born—Is he naturalized?  (Yes, No, or AP for born abroad of American parents).

The following questions are For Persons 14 Years of Age or Older: 

15. What was this person doing most of last week—working, keeping house, or something else?  (Wk, H, Ot or U for unable to work).

16. If H or Ot in item 15—Did this person do any work at all last week, not counting work around the house?  (Include work for pay, in own business, profession, farm, or unpaid family work.)  (Yes or No). 

17. If No in item 15—Was this person looking for work?  (See special cases below).  (Yes or No). 

18. If No in item 17—Even though he didn’t work last week, does he have a job or business?  (Yes or No). 

19. If Wk is Item 15 or Yes in item 16—How many hours did he work last week?  (Include unpaid work or family farm or business.)  (Number of hours). 

Work Related Questions:

1. If Employed, (Wk in Item 15 or Yes in Item 16 or Item 18), describe job or business held last week.
2. If looking for work (Yes in Item 17), describe last job or business.
3. For all other persons, leave blank.

20a.  (Occupation) What kind of work was he doing?  For example, Nails heels on shoes; Chemistry professor; Farmer; Farm helper; Armed forces; Never worked.

20b.  (Industry) What kind of business or industry was he working in?  For example:  Shoe factory; State university; Farm; Farm. 

20c.  Class of Worker:  For PRIVATE employer (P); For GOVERNMENT (G); In OWN business (O); WITHOUT PAY on family farm or business (NP). 

My work on this website and writing new blog posts was unfortunately delayed by the death of my mother, Dorothy May Dahlstrom Gronlund, on 7 November 2021.  She had a wonderful life and lived to be almost 93 years old.  Here is the link to her online obituary.  https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/orlando-fl/dorothy-gronlund-10439392

We held an emotionally moving celebration of life in February 2022, with almost 30 family members sharing our grief and memories.  Family attended from Florida, Arizona, Vermont, and Massachusetts, with others viewing the live stream of the memorial service at Bethesda-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach. 

Here is the reflection presented by my three sisters and me at the service. 

Mom will be forever in our hearts.