A Family's Frozen Path: The Titanic and the Schochenmaier Legacy

It is a tricky and, at the same time, a simple post. After all our researches, we were able to state the following waves of the Schochenmaiers' migration: 

1. Carl Heinrich Schochenmaier (1798-1846) emigrated in 1820s through the Congress Poland to the Black Sea (Russian Empire).  

2. Eva Rosina Schochenmaier (1796-1863) emigrated in November 1833 and sailed to Louisville (Ohio).

3. Augusta Louisa Schochenmaier (1823-1860) and her sister Carolina Paulina Schochenmaier (1829-1874) emigrated in October 1847 and sailed to New Orleans (Louisiana). 

4. Carl Gustav Schochenmaier (1834-1851) risked to join their sisters (see Nr. 3) in April 1851 but died in 5 months due to cholera in Saint Louis (Missouri). 

5. Johann Georg Schochenmaier (1855-1927) entered the military service for the Bulgarian Prince in 1883. 

6.  Dorothea Schochenmaier (1857-1944) emigrated in June 1885 with her husband Wilhelm Ellwanger. They got up a farm in Gregory (South Dakota).

7. Jakob Schochenmaier (1861-1923), on his cousin's advice (see Nr. 6), emigrated in May 1886 and sailed to North America (North Dakota, Nebraska, and then Canada). 

8.  Michael Schochenmaier (1859-1937) followed his brother (see Nr. 7) in October 1887 and settled up in South Dakota. 

9. Louisa Wilhelmina Schochenmaier (1877-1918), decided to join her older sister (see Nr. 6) and emigrated with her husband Jakob Endes in October 1901. They established their first farm in Gregory (South Dakota)

 As many of you know, my ancestors, the Schochenmaiers, remained in Russia and later the USSR. They maintained contact with their American and Canadian relatives until the 1920s. Growing up, I often heard that Germans and Jews were able to emigrate until 1928, when Stalin sealed the borders. Curious, I once asked my grandmother why none of the Schochenmaiers left between 1917 and 1928. Without hesitation, she replied, 'Because of the Titanic.' Her answer was quick, but symbolic. The truth is, no Schochenmaiers were aboard the Titanic, and after 1912, there were none left to emigrate.

All the migration waves are described in details here. Get the book and find out more ! 

Preserve Our Family Legacy: Order Your Family Tree Book Today!

 Dear #Schochenmaier, #Schockenmaier, #Schocknmyer and others,

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. As we journey through life, it's essential to cherish our roots and the connections that make us who we are. With this in mind, I am excited to share something truly special with you – a meticulously crafted Schochenmaier Family Tree Book that encapsulates our rich family history and lineage. Our family's story is unique and filled with incredible tales of love, resilience, and countless memorable moments. This beautifully designed book aims to capture these moments and bring them to life, serving as a lasting tribute to the generations that came before us and a priceless keepsake for the generations yet to come.

The Family Tree Book will include:

 A comprehensive family tree chart tracing our ancestors and their descendants from 1690s to 2023 (more than one thousand names!).
 Anecdotes, stories, and over 600 photographs that showcase our family's unique journey.
 High-quality printing and binding to ensure it stands the test of time.

To ensure that we can make this project a reality and create a book that truly represents our family's history, we would like to invite you to pre-order your copy today. Your support is crucial in bringing this vision to life. Please let us know how many copies you would like to reserve by 20th October 2023. To place your pre-order, simply contact me via FB, LinkedIn or email (dr.schochenmaier@gmail.com) with the number of copies you'd like to purchase, and we will provide you with payment details and further instructions. We hope that you will hold it in your hands in December 2023.

What Does it look like for you over the Atlantic ocean ? Because of the highest printing quality, 358 pages with many photos, charts and maps in "letter" size (A4 for Europe) , the book will be priced at $100 USD plus shipping and handling. It will be shipped from US. Payment by check payable to Al Schochenmaier from South Dakota in U.S. Dollars (USD) only.

Whether you'd like to have a copy for yourself, gift one to a family member, or both, your contribution will help us celebrate and honor our family's remarkable legacy. Together, we can ensure that our story continues to inspire and unite future generations.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to me. 

Warmest regards. 

Eugen from Germany

Congratulations to Jacob Schochenmaier, Eagle Scout!

Congratulations to Jacob Schochenmaier of Troop #246 in Hutchinson and Levi Schmidt of Troop #3353 in Litchfield on earning their Eagle Scout certification – one of the most well-known recognitions of public service among our youth. These young men now join the ranks of some of America’s most storied leaders, and I know they will take the skills they’ve learned from scouting with them for the rest of their lives. Again, congratulations!

Dorothea Schochenmaier (1858-1944)

 After I presented to you Charlotta Schochenmaier (1868-1911), sister of Jacob and Michael, we are moving on to the next lady - Dorothea Schochenmaier, their cousin. 

As you may conclude, if she was a cousin of Michael (1859-1937), Jacob (1861-1924) and Charlotta (1868-1911), Dorothea does belong to my bloodline! And you are absolutely right. But, the most interesting is the fact that she had emigrated to the United States, too. That is why, we got a picture of her family. Besides that, I would even claim that Dorothy might be "migration influencer" or "relocation trend-setter". Just have a look and compare: 

3) Michael Schochenmaier immigrated to US in October 1887. 

2) Jacob Schochenmaier came over to the New World in May 1886.

1) But Dorothea Schochenmaier reached America in June 1885.  At this time, she was officially not Schochenmaier anymore, but Ellwanger, because in 1876 she got married to Wilhelm Ellwanger (1848-1934). 

What if she came first over and then she gave a sign to others that it was OK. Of course, we do not know precisely, maybe the time gaps can be explained by various family conditions and depends on how fast they could get ready for relocation, sell their houses and farms, collect money, etc. I am sure they all kept in touch because after a couple of years in Nebraska (1885-1894), just like Jacob Schochenmaier, her family settled down in Burke (South Dakota), relatively close to the farm of Michael Schochenmaier in Bonesteel. So, she stayed in Gregory County up to 1944. 

When Dora was born on 18 July 1858, in Rohrbach (but it belonged to the Parish of Worms (!), Beresan Colony, Odessa area, South Russia), her father, Gottlieb Schochenmaier (1828), was about 30 years old and her mother, Elisabeth Korb (1834), was 23. She married Wilhelm Ellwanger in 1876e. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Rosebud Indian Reservation, Gregory, South Dakota, United States in 1900. She died on 15 August 1944, in Gregory, Gregory, South Dakota, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Gregory, Gregory, South Dakota, United States (see newspaper).

On the Ancestry website, she is noticed as Dora Dorathea Schackenmeyl and in the Obituary as Shouckmier what is absolutely WRONG!

As for her husband, Wilhelm Ellawanger was born in Worms (village next to Rohrbach, Beresan Colony, Odessa area, South Russia) on 17 Dec 1848 to Johannes Georg Ellwanger (1804-1876) and Elisabetha Englehardt (1814-1903). 

Wilhelm Ellwanger married Dora and had 3 children. He passed away on 10 Aug 1934 in Gregory County, South Dakota, USA. 

His grandfather Andreas Ellwanger (1763-1820) emigrated to Russia from Grossheppach, literally "big Heppach", that is today a district within the town of Weinstadt ("Wine City") in Baden-Württemberg. It is located in the Rems Valley approximately 15 km east of Stuttgart, where the Schochenmaiers did a military service in the 18th century. 

Enjoy some pictures of Großheppach: 

   

Even today, the Ellwangers are producing wine in Germany (see the photo to the right). 

I am not sure if the Schochenmaiers are keeping in touch with the Ellwangers, that is why I decided to introduce some of the Dora's descendants: 

1. Wilhelmina "Minnie" Ellwanger (1880-1960), married Fred Hoffer (1876), they lived in Gregory County. No children. 

2.  Wilhelm Jacob Ellwanger (1882-1974), married Lydia Hartmann, moved to Lodi (California). Their children are: 

    a) Edna Elma (1910-2009), elementary school teacher, married Bernard L. Harris.

    b) Herbert Erdman (1911-1996), not married. 

    c) Leona Freda (1913-2011, see the photo), married Edwin Hanson.  

    d) Olga Sarah (1915-2008), married Archie Theisen (1920-1993), relocated to Minnesota. 

    e) Viola A. (1917-2009), married Albert Smith.

    f) Martha B. (1918-2017), Lieutenant (Junior Grade) of the United States Navy.

    g) John Elmer (1927), still alive in Shasta Lake, he is 94, married Carmen Randazzo.

    h) Juanita Naida (1927), married a person named Green. 

 3. Christian Ellwanger (1885-1934), born in Nebraska, died in South Dakota.

 4.  Andreas Ellwanger (1890-1918), called Andrew

 5.  Jacob Ellwanger (1892-1973), married Christina Gall (1904-1993), stayed in NE. 

   a) Henry Jacob (1924-1993, see the photo), married Dorothy Voorhies (1927-2014), moved to Utah. His daughter Frances Ellwanger (1954) helped me in filling in some gaps in my research.

  b) Harold Reinhold (1930-2011), stayed in Nebraska. He graduated from Bible School in Ottumwa, Iowa as an ordained minister. He later graduated from Scottsbluff Junior College with a degree in elementary education. Harold taught in several rural Nebraska schools.

 c) Cora Bernetta (1932-2019, see the photo). She worked as a clerk and assistant manager at Hested’s Five and Dime in Gering and at the Business Farmer Printing Company in Scottsbluff. She returned to her parents’ home in Morrill to care for them.

 d) George Edward (1934), living in Des Moines, married Rosemarie Stapp (1937). 

 e) Marvin Bernard (1936-2017, see the photo), married Ellen Jane Prickett (1940). He graduated from the Platte Valley Bible College. In 1961, they moved to Litchfield, Nebraska to begin a fulltime ministry that lasted for the next 45 years; serving twelve congregations in Nebraska, Montana and Iowa.

 f) Dora Christina (1937), married James Sinner (1940).

 g) Bill John (1944), married Reatha White (1944). 

6. Edward Ellwanger (1893-1950), military veteran.

7. Frederick Ellwanger (1897-1948), married Freda Schamber (1897-1975).

  a) Hilda Pauline (1917-2008, see the photo), moved to Idaho. 

  b) Fredrick Robert (1920-1993), married Ethel Blanchard (1922) 

  c) William (1920-2015, see the photo), married Isabella Stickler. They made their home in Pierre where he worked as a carpenter for several different people eventually starting his own construction company. Bill was a member of the VFW and American Legion. 

 d) Rudy (1922-2013), married LaVern Schroeder, no children, stayed in South Dakota. 

 e) Esther (1926-2012), finished high school and enough college to teach in a country school until she was married to Ted (Theodore A.) Witt. Relocated to Idaho. Esther was a member of The Grace Lutheran Church. Some of her favorite memories are of teaching the children's Bible studies during the summers.

 f) Arthur (1933-2005), served in the Army from 1951 to 1954. He was a part of the atomic tests in Nevada and the Korean War. United in marriage to Ella L. Roush at the Methodist Church in Draper. Art went to work for Francis Plumbing before starting his own business, Art's Ditching, in the 1960s.

Working tools of Michael Schochenmaier (1859-1937)

 It was interesting to get to know that descendants of Michael Schochenmaier do still possess some things that he had brought from the Russian Empire with him to the New World in 1887. 

For example, the wood working tools of Michael. They were given to Michael's grandson Albert Schochenmaier (1913-2007). After the passing of Albert's oldest son Jerald Schochenmaier (1939-1999), the 4 pieces (plain, draw knife, square, level) are in possession of his brother Allen Schochenmaier (1947).

Do your children know what those tools are for?)))

Charlotta Schochenmaier (1868-1911/13)

Very often in the context of the emigrated Schochenmaiers, I limit my research by two brothers: Michael and Jacob Schochenmaier. However, we should not forget that they had sisters and cousins who had reached the New World as well. Today I'd like to introduce Charlotta Schochenmaier, their sister (see the picture, taken in Odessa in 1890s). 

Due to some info on the Internet, I thought she had emigrated to the U.S. with her husband Daniel Klein (1867-1922). 

In 2019, I was contacted by Donald Hendrix (Friday Harbor, Washington, USA) who made a family research for his cousin that descended from Emilia Klein (born 1898), daughter of Charlotta Schochenmaier. In his research, he is convinced that Charlotta probably died in the Russian Empire shortly before the family had left. Don wrote: 

"I have concluded from reading the obituaries of this family that Charlotte must have died in Odessa shortly after (or during) the birth of William Klein 18 Mar 1911.  Her husband seemingly then married Katherina Bollinger and they had a child named Heinrich (Henry in the US) Klein, b. 2 Apr 1912.  The younger Klein children, Katharina and their father then came to the US by ship, entering New York harbor in December of 1913.

One possible problem with this is the two entries in the Ellis Island record for Adam Klein and Lamuch Klein whose dob correspond to Samuel T. Klen and William Klein, both of whose obituaries state were born near Odessa.  The authorities might have made a spelling mistake but these names are pretty far from those used by these children in the US."

If you know anything about that, please let us know! Is anybody in contact with the Kleins?

Here is his lists of their children: 

Children of Charlotte Schochenmaier (1868 - 1911) and Daniel Klein (12 Dec 1867 - 18 Jun 1922):

Daniel

Daniel Klein, b. Odessa, South Russia 24 Oct 1891; d. 31 May 1945 Wilton, North Dakota, m. 1912 Catherine Bauer, Odessa, South Russia

Jacob D. Klein, 26 Feb 1893, Odessa, South Russia, d. 11 Apr 1971, Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, m. 13 Mar 1917 Margaret Hein, Bismark, Burleigh, North Dakota

Elizabeth Klein, 2 Sep 1895 Odessa, South Russia, d. 24 Apr 1985 Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, m. Rudolph Klein

Charlotte Klein, b. 5 Jun 1896, Odessa, d. 19 Nov 1966, Lodi, California m. Jacob Wagner 19 Jul 1915

Charlotte, Elizabeth and Emilia/Amelia

Emilia (Emily) Klein, b. 23 Jun 1898 Odessa, Russia; d. 10 Dec 1969 Snohomish, Washington; m. 14 Oct 1916 Gottlieb (George) Keck, 21 Dec 1892, Güldendorf, South Russia, d. Oct 1979 Kirkland, King, Washington 

Katherine (Katie) Klein, b. 20 Mar 1900 Neu-Schampoly, Russia; d. 16 Dec 2000 Bismarck, North Dakota, m. 23 Mar 1919 Christ Neumiller

Minnie Klein, b. 6 Feb 1902, Odessa, Russia; d. 14 May 1991 Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, m. Henry Ollenburger 18 Oct 1922 Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota

Rose Klein, b. 10 Jul 1905 Odessa, South Russia; d. 5 May 2003, Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, m. 1950 Walter Stacey

Robertha (Bertha) Klein, b. 2 Apr 1907, Odessa, South Russia, d. 26 Oct 2006, Portland, Multnomah,Oregon, m. James Mahnkey.

Samuel T. Klein, b. Russia 27 Feb, 1909, d. 22 Jul 1984, Puyallup, Pierce, Washington, William Klein, b. 18 Mar 1911, Neu-Schampoly, Russia d. 28 Jul 1979 Bismarck, North Dakota, m. Helen Siebel, b. 1911, d. 2000. 

Jeryle Klein

Children of Katherine Bollinger (b. 1881 - 1942) and Daniel Klein (12 Dec 1867 – 18 Jun 1922 Mercer, McLean, North Dakota):

Heinrich (Henry) Klein, b. 12 Apr 1912, Odessa, South Russia, d. 17 Oct 1987 Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota. I could even find his son Jeryle Klein (1949-2016). 

Ludwig (Louie) J. Klein, b. 30 Dec 1913, d. 17 May 2002, m. Hilda (Tillie) Weber 23 Sep 1941, Glendive, Dawson, Montana. Louie was b. just after the family entered New York Harbor

Ted Klein

Theodore (Ted) Klein, b. 27 Apr 1915, d. 8 Jan 2011, Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota m. Olga Brose, 19 Mar 1939 in Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota. Olga was b. 18 Oct 1919, d. 16 Feb 2011

Herman Klein, b. 27 Jun 1917, d. 24 Jul 2000 Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, m. Tillie Weber 5 Jun 1943 Linton, North Dakota, she was b. 18 Jun 1921, d. 19 Mar 1997

Hildagard (Hilda) May Klein, b. 1919 m. Raymond J. Mraz, b. 1923 d. 1955

Rudolph (Ralph) Klein, b. 19 Feb 1922, d. 1 Dec 1955 Bismarck, Raleigh, North Dakota

Adeline (Lena) May Klein, b. Wilson twp., Burleigh, North Dakota 20 May 1922, d. 23 Dec 2009 Portland, Oregon, m. Arthur M. Bitterman, b. 1919 McLean, North Dakota, d. 2000

_________________________________________________________________________

The 1930 Federal Census of Boyd, North Dakota shows that Katherine Bollinger had remarried John Schlepp after Daniel Klein died and Henry, Louis, Ted, Herman, Hilda, Ralph and Adaline Klein were all listed as step-children in the John Schlepp household. All of these children were born in North Dakota except Henry who was born in Odessa. William’s obituary states his parents were Charlotte Schochenmaier and Daniel Klein. Henry’s obituary states that his parents were Katherine Bollander and Daniel Klein.

Why did Carl Schochenmaier want to go to "Caucasia"?

As you know, we have found out where Carl Schochenmaier (1798) wanted to go! This place was called "Caucasia" (English version of German "Caucasien" or "Kaukasien").


First of all where is it? You're right if you think that Caucasia has to do with Caucasus. Let's open Wiki:

The Caucasus, or Caucasia, is an area situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and mainly occupied by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia. It is home to the Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus mountain range, which has historically been considered a natural barrier between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

What is the most important here? It's the area beginning from the Black Sea and is occupied by Russia among others. It may be considered as proof of the fact that Carl Schochenmaier would like to reach Caucasus.

BUT WHY? It's pretty far away from his sweet home Germany. At first sight, it seems to be very unlogic. But I stumbled upon a very interesting movement among the Pietists-separatists migrated from Württemberg (Germany). The German Pietists were Christians who studied the Bible and searched for deeper spiritual experiences. This holiness movement was held in tension by the prophecy of Jung-Stilling about the second coming of Christ in 1836. One of the reasons for migration to the Caucasus was to be closer to the Orient, where, according to his teaching, the believers would meet with Christ. There was an unsuccessful religious pilgrimage of German colonists to Jerusalem through Caucasian Mountains, led by a woman who "knew the whole Bible by heart, from beginning to end" and who "exercised a kind of magical influence on all around her. The coming and passing of 1836 brought spiritual depression. In 1840s Eduard Wüst came to the Blac Sea area. He was a revivalist preacher and evangelist. People strarted to renew their lives. The revival spread to other German colonies.

Lots of Germans stayed in the Caucasus region and founded their settlements. Their houses are still standing there inhabited (see the picture).

Wow))) Even the years fit with our story.

1. Carl Schochenmaier left Germany in 1820s.
2. August Schochenmaier was born in Poland (about 1825);
3. Gottlieb Schochenmaier was born in Poland (about 1827);
4. Ludwig Schochenmaier was born in Poland (about 1829);
5. Katharina Schochenmaier was born in Poland (in 1831);

after that no info, if there was a gap but then

6. Christian Schochenmaier was born on Sep 1837... possibly already in the South Russia. It's like they waited for something or somebody... they got no children... I thought that Carl's first wife from Poland passed away... Either they joined the movement together and began the way to the Caucasus or Carl left alone after his wife died and he decided to meet with his God. He took all his children and was very close to the Mountains but in 1836 Jesus hadn't come, as we all know today)))

By the way, September is the 9th month after year 1836! if you understand what I mean)))

7. Christian Schochenmaier was baptized in 1844... it's like after depression had gone away people started to renew their lives.

Additionally, it could be the answer why the part of the Schochenmaiers switched from more or less neutral Lutheran faith to active and passionate Baptists. 

Well, today, I think I got a whole and a full vision of the emigration story of our ancestors. I am sure that Michael Schochenmaier, born in 1859, and Jacob Schochenmaier, born in 1861, were aware and heard thousand times the story how their grandfather Carl moved from Germany to Russia. That is why, I suppose, they did the same in 1887/8 when they came over to the New World to start a new life.

Where did Carl Schochenmaier want to go?

I hope you remember that we have found out that only one Carl Schochenmaier could match the requirements to be the Carl Schochenmaier whose son Christian Schochenmaier had been baptized in 1844 in the South Russia: I mean Carl Heinrich Cornelius (1798). He is son of Immanuel Gottlieb Schochenmaier (1759-1834), the hatter from Ludwigsburg. His birth year could fit to the births of the first Schochenmaiers generation in the Russian Empire: August (1825), Gottlieb (abt. 1828), Ludwig (abt. 1830) and already above-mentioned Christian (1837). Everything we have of him, it's the family table of his parents with comments on every son and daughter. It's interesting to note that there is a comment about Carl but I could NOT decipher it (in blue).

After I asked on Facebook (in the group of the old German writings), they gave me answer during a couple of minutes.

Are you ready??? 

He emigrated to CAUCASIEN!!! 

That's amazing! Because it could be the answer to all our research. You are going to ask me where "Caucasien" and you are absolutely right it has a bit to do with Caucasus. Nevertheless, it's the same direction - the South Russia!!! I am pretty sure that now we found out the missing link between the actual Schochenmaier's family tree and the historic one!!! I am really impressed)))

How many Carl(s) Schochenmaier(s) could be father of Christian ?

After I stumbled upon the oldest record on Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire, we found out that Christian Schochenmaier, father of Michael (1859-1937) and Jacob (1861-1923) Schochenmaier, the Founding Fathers of the American and Canadian Schochenmaiers,

•  was called Christian Franz Samuel
•  was born on the 1st September 1837 
•  was baptized on the 1st October 1844 by Johannes Doll (1797–1857)
•  lived in New Danzig (South Russia)
•  and his parents' names were Carl Schochenmaier (Colonist) and Barbara Hochhalter (both Evangelical Lutherian Confession)

And now only one question may shed light on our history: can be Carl Schochenmaier a missing link between our today's Schochenmaiers and the historical ones from the Ludwigsburg-Stuttgart area? Let us see!

If we search through all family tree of the historical Schochenmaiers in Germany, the name Carl is to be detected for following persons:

1. Carl August Schochenmaier (1793-1847)
2. Carl Gustav Schochenmaier (1834-1851)
3. Carl Emil Alexander Schochenmeyer (1844-????)
4. Carl Heinrich Cornelius Schochenmaier (1798-????)

The second and the third Schochenmaier couldn't have been fathers for Christian Schochenmaier in 1837! Carl Gustav died in September 1851 in Louisiana, I told you about him und his two sisters here.

His nephew Carl Emil was born in 1844 and probably had been taken by his mum to the U.S. in December 1847 if not died prior to emigration.

About the first Carl August Schochenmaier, I've posted in July 2018 here, where we got to know that, being a master bricklayer, he had moved to Heilbron in 1820, had had 8 children and had died in Heilbron on October 6, 1847. So he didn't left Germany.

Only one Schochenmaier left - Carl Heinrich Cornelius (1798). We don't know much about him. He is son of Immanuel Gottlieb Schochenmaier (1759-1834), the hatter from Ludwigsburg. His birth year could fit to the births of the first Schochenmaiers generation in the Russian Empire: August (1825), Gottlieb (abt. 1828), Ludwig (abt. 1830) and already above-mentioned Christian (1837). Everything we have of him, it's the family table of his parents with comments on every son and daughter. It's interesting to note that there is a comment about Carl but I could NOT decipher it.

Can you read what happened to him? See the picture below. What had happened to Carl after he was confirmated in 1812? (blue):

Who were parents of Christian, or the very first Schochenmaiers in Russia!

In July 2019, we discovered the oldest record on Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire, thanks to which we found out that Christian Schochenmaier, father of Michael (1859-1937) and Jacob (1861-1923) Schochenmaier, the Founding Fathers of the American and Canadian Schochenmaiers,

•  was called Christian Franz Samuel
•  was born on the 1st September 1837 
•  was baptized on the 1st October 1844 by Johannes Doll (1797–1857)
•  lived in New Danzig (South Russia)

So the last question to be answered: who were parents of Christian Schochenmaier? 

As you can see, the Christian's parents' names were Carl Schochenmaier (Colonist) and Barbara Hochhalter (both Evangelical Lutherian Confession).

There is no evidence regarding Carl Schochenmaier in the Southern Russia. It seems to be that he passed away shortly after this baptism in 1844. However, the Hochhalters' family is well-known. On many websites (WikiTree + website on the Hochhalters), you may find that Georg Ludwig Hochhalter (1758-1816) had emigrated from Germany to Rohrbach in 1809. It's a good news as we know that our ancestors had lived in Rohrbach. The second good news is that Georg Hochhalter was born in Eppingen (Heilbronn District). Taking into account that our Schochenmaier had been living in Ludwigsburg, it can be viewed as a positive proof because there are only 46 km inbetween.   

Now, the most important question is: Did he have a daughter named Barbara?... Well, he had got 11 children. Here are they: 

1. Elisabetha Hochhalter (1784 - abt. 1787), 
2. Johann Andreas Hochhalter (1786 - 1861 died in Rohrbach), 
3. Elisabetha Hochhalter (1788-????), 
4. Johann Jacob Hochhalter (1790-????), 
5. Eva Rosina Hochhalter (1792-????), 
6. Maria Magdalena Hochhalter (1796-1797), 
7. Anna Barbara Hochhalter (1798-1800), 
8. Johann Georg Ludwig Hochhalter (1801-1801), 
9. Johannes Hochhalter (1802-1803), 
10. Elisabetha Barbara Hochhalter (1803-1855) and 
11. Johann Michael Hochhalter (1804-????).

You may spot two Barbaras, but one of them passed away when she was 2 years old and another Elisabetha Barbara Hochhalter actually fits our requirements. She was born in 1803 and died in 1855. The most interesting is the fact that sie passed away in 1855 in New Danzig!!! OMG, it's the same place where Christian Schochenmaier had been baptized in 1844. 

However, on the internet, you may find that she was wife of any Michael Wagner. I decided to check what year they got married and I was wonderstruck that it was in 1847. Can you imagine the woman in the 19th century got married only when she was 44 years old. It could be possible with a disabled person but she wasn't. So my theory is that it was her second mariage. What if she married our Carl Schochenmaier before? If she married Michael in 1847, so we may figure out that Carl Schochenmaier passed away in 1846 or so. 

According to various family trees, Barbara Wagner gave birth to Christina Wagner in 1848 and died in Neu Danzig in 1855. Her "new" husband Michael Wagner (1796-1866) passed away in Neu Danzig 11 years later in 1866. 

No other Barbara has been spotted by me in that area... 

And now only one question may shed light on our history: can be Carl Schochenmaier a missing link between our today's Schochenmaiers and the historical ones from the Ludwigsburg-Stuttgart area? Let us see!

Who baptized Christian Schochenmaier?

In July 2019, we discovered the oldest record on Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire, thanks to which we found out that Christian Schochenmaier, father of Michael (1859-1937) and Jacob (1861-1923) Schochenmaier, the Founding Fathers of the American and Canadian Schochenmaiers,

•  was called Christian Franz Samuel
•  was born on the 1st September 1837 
•  was baptized on the 1st October 1844 
•  lived in New Danzig (South Russia)

Today, I'd like to share with you who had baptized Christian Schochenmaier when he was 7 years old. In the records, we may find the name of the Pastor. His name was Johann(es) Doll. This person is well known in the Southern Ukraine among Protestants.



Pastor Johann Doll (1797–1857) was assigned to the Lutheran Church in Nikolayev in 1830. Prior to that, he had served as Pastor in Glückstal by Odessa since 1824. Nikolayev is an administrative center of the region where New Danzig was situated. In 1852, they built the Lutheran "Kirche" which still exists in the today's Ukraine.

Doll, a divisional preacher, made a great contribution to the development of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of the region by his long spiritual efforts, and during the last fifteen years of his activity he managed to collect several thousand silver rubles for church needs.

Johann Doll gave twenty-seven years of his life to the service of God, he was the first Lutheran pastor in the town. He entered the history by creation of the church. In 1857, Pastor Johann Doll died and was buried with honor at the Nikolaev cemetery.

Just imagine, you may see the grave stone of the person who had baptized father of Michael and Jacob Schochenmaiers in 1844.

The first shelter of the Schochenmaiers in Russia (from the new findings)

In July 2019, we discovered the oldest record on Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire, thanks to which we found out that Christian Schochenmaier, father of Michael (1859-1937) and Jacob (1861-1923) Schochenmaier, the Founding Fathers of the American and Canadian Schochenmaiers,

•  was called Christian Franz Samuel
•  was born on the 1st September 1837 
•  was baptized on the 1st October 1844 

Today, I'd like to share with you what I discovered about the place where Christian had been christened. In the church book, you may spot the name of that village: Neu Danzig. 

Well, what is that? I know what you think of. You have heard about Danzig, but what and where is New Danzig? If there is a New Danzig, then there should be an Old Danzig. And you are quite right. From Wiki: 

Alt Danzig was a German settlement in the southern Russian Empire, present day Ukraine. Its name comes from Danzig, Gdańsk in present-day Poland. Alt, meaning "old", distinguishes this community from Neu Danzig, another German settlement in this area of the Russian Empire.

Catherine II of Russia wanted to stabilize the border lands of the Russian Empire with an agricultural population. To do this she recruited the immigrants in the Danzig area of Prussia. In 1787 they founded Alt Danzig about 15 km to the southwest on land granted to them by Prince Potemkin. Several families from Munich arrived in 1841, followed by seven more from Rohrbach in 1842. 

Originally Alt Danzig was called "Danzig" but when a daughter colony was established by several Danzig villagers near Nikolajew (this German spelling should be read as Nikolayev in English), the older village was renamed Alt Danzig and the newer village, Neu Danzig.

That's pretty interesting to see the first connection to Rohrbach where the core of the Schochenmaiers will be built in the 1850s. And we see the curious link to Poland!!! It will be very important when we will discuss the birth place of August Schochenmaier. 

Today, Neu Danzig is called Vinogradivka (Ukraine). Here are some photos (clickable): 

In the next post, we will have a look at who had baptized Christian in 1844 in New Danzig. 

The Schochenmaiers Reunion in Saint-Petersburg

I'd like to share with all of you the news on a great meeting I had last week. During my trip to Russia, I've planed to visit the former capital of the Russian Empire and I met our remote relative Natasha Schochenmaier from Saint-Petersburg.

As you know, according to her origin, she is much more closer to the American-Canadian Schochenmaiers than to ours. Let me explain how we are related.


Natasha's great great grandfather was Christian Schochenmaier (1866-1934), brother of Michael (1859-1937) and Jacob (1861-1923) who had left for the New World in 1880s. It seems to be that he was only 20 years old when his brothers emigrated, he stayed with his farther and got his farm.

As well as other Russianb Schochenmaiers, his son Heinrich Schochenmaier (1905-1975), grandfather of Natasha, fled to the West from the Soviet Army but he got stuck in Poland and was deported to the Soviet North, settlement of Syktyvkar, where was very cold and snowy.  His son Harry Schochenmaier (1937-2018) as well as grandchildren Eugen (1963) and Natasha were born there.

It means that our branches of the Schochenmaiers hadn't seen each other since 1946 (because the ours had been deported either to the South of Ural or to Kazakhstan, so just opposite direction)!!! And now we met ! That was great! I am so thankful to Natasha for such a wonderful time we had together, Her son Nikita Schochenmaier (1995) joined us in order to find out more about our history and origin.

Oldest record on Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire ever found!

My dear relatives, the remote and close ones, after almost two years of posting solely on the historical Schochenmaiers from Germany, today, as I promised, I will show you the oldest record from the Russian Empire where the Schochenmaiers are mentioned. It's a new period, it's related directly to us and it's much more improtant for our Amercian and Canadian Schochenmaiers! I will explain why)

Here is the document from year 1844:

Previously, we could track the Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire from the beginning of the 1850s.

For example, we could find out that:

Ludwig Schochenmaier (1830-1856, wheelwright) and Katharina Kuprian (Kuprijahn) (1833-1856) married on the 20 Dec 1851 (record from the church book in Worms / Beresan Colony / Odessa) and gave birth to their first daughter Margaretha (September 1852). All of them died during the cholera epidemy in 1856.

His brother August Schochenmaier (1825-1855, smith) married Maria Margaretha Ochsner (1834-1917) on 31 May 1854 (record from the church book in Rohrbach / Beresan Colony / Odessa). He died in July 10 1855 because of cholera.

Their brother Gottlieb Schochenmaier (about 1833, tailor) married Katharina Huber (1836-1856) on the 12 Oct 1854 ( from the church book in Lustdorf (please do not read it in English, it's German name - pronounce like "Loostdorf" / Grossliebental Colony / Odessa).

And, it seems to be that we have found the baptismal record of their forth brother -
Christian Schochenmaier. As you can see, he was born in 1837 but baptized in 1844. He was a cartwright. I suggest they worked together with Ludwig. In this context, it proves the theory of origin of the Schochenmaiers presented in the Memory Book of the Canada by Clarence Schochenmaier.

Why could he be so interesting for the Amercian and Canadian Schochenmaiers? The answer is short: according to our family tree, he was father of Michael (1859-1937) and Jacob (1861-1923) Schochenmaier, who had left for the New World. We never knew when he had been born, but now we do.

Additionally to that, we can see the names of his parents!!! And what a great news - maybe now we have found the names of all four brothers, namely of August, Ludwig, Gottlieb and Christian, from who we all descend (technically from Gottlieb and Christian only, for August and Ludwig either had no children or gave birth to girls only).

In the next post, we discuss names of the parents, what else can we find thanks to this new record and where was the church book from.

First Schochenmaiers in the US detected!

As I promised, we finish the serie of posts about our ancestors deep from the past when they had lived in Germany. In the latest posts, I told you about children of Carl August Schochenmaier (1793-1847), the bricklayer master from Heilbronn. And today, I'd like to share with you my last discovery of the really first Schochenmaiers who had come over to the New World. Here is the register journal:

They are three chidlren of the above-mentioned Carl August Schochenmaier! Let me introduce:

Auguste Louise Schochenmaier (1823-???? after 1848)
Caroline Pauline Schochenmaier (1829-???? after 1849) and 
Carl Gustav Schochenmaier (1834-1851).

I know what you gonna tell me))) Stop! We've alraedy read about one of them! And you are right. I've alraedy written about Caroline Pauline Schochenmaier in my "Any Schochenmaiers prior to 1880s in the New World? Yes!" post but without any idea how Caroline was related to the "big" German family tree. Now I know it and I've found two of her relatives who came with Caroline together.

After I found all details, I think I got the general overview of the situation. Just imagine year 1847, the Schochenmaier's family went through three deaths: mum Luise Friderike Hofmann (1798–1847) died at 49 years because of "dentition fever", then only one week later (!) daughter of Maria Carolina Schochenmaier (1826-1890) - Pauline Friederike Luise Schochenmaier (1845–1847), and finally in two months father Carl August Schochenmaier (1793–1847) who passed away with 54 years because of "violent hemorrhage" (= internal bleeding). The last cause of death could be explained by his job with high risks of injuries. Maria Carolina is already married and is in good conditions but three children are just left on their own((( So, they defy their destiny, they take a ship to America to start a new life.

In the emigration archives, we find the following info:

Three persons under the names Louise and Carolina Schochemeyer  on 24th October 1847 take the ship (bark) General Green from the harbor of Antwerp in Belgium. They reached the coast of America on 31st December 1847.

Here is the scan:

By the way, the green question is pointing out that I am very interested in one more person, namely Louise Heinrich. This is due to the known fact that our ancestors had a closed relationship with the Heinrich family. I mean Friederike Wilhelmine Schochenmaier (1802-1844), sister of Carl August who married to Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Heinrich (1799-1837) and their second daughter was named Friederike Louise Heinrich (1827-????). As Friedreke is her mum's name, it's very possible that her main name could be Louise. Besides that, her age noticed on the passangers' list matches that of Louise. So, maybe they decided to undertake such a difficult voyage.

Well, two names but I wrote "three persons". I am sure that their brother Carl Gustav joined them later as he was 13 years in 1847 and it's very possible that somebody was looking after him. Let's go one by one:

1. Louise Schochenmeyer (1823) : there is no info after she reached the New World. Everything could happen, she married, or moved or died. If she got another surname, it's not possible anymore to find her.

2. Caroline Schochenmeyer (1829). As we know she got married to Romuald Jacobi or Jacobs on the 2nd January 1848. STOP!!! Did you spot it??? I can't believe))) They got married 2 (TWO!!!) days after Caroline came out of the ship))) How can it  be possible??? In the same list of passangers, I din't find his name, it means he was already in the U.S. How can we interpret it? Did he wait for her? But where did they meet before??? I don't kniow what to think)))

The problem is that I couldn't find them after that. No info. However, I can suggest one explanation. My new discovery is that this Romuald Jacobi/s is Romuald Heinrich Bruno Jacobi, born in Düsseldorf in 1819, who, accroding to archives, died in in St. Louis (Missouri) on the 20th June 1849. It's 18 months after their marriage. It may explain why they didn't left anything after them, maybe it was a kind of epidemy. Either she died at the same time with her husband or she remarried and got new name.

By the way, Romuald Jacobi is descendant of a pretty known family in Germany. His brother was Victor Friedrich Jacobi (1809-1892), Professor of Zoology at the University of Leipzig, his father was Georg Arnold Jacobi (1768-1845), painter and state councilor of the North-Rhine Westphalia, his grandfather was Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743-1819), German writer, economy reformer and philosopher (see the portrait!), his great grandfather was Johann Konrad Jacobi (1715-1788), German manufacturer, Electoral 'Councilor of Commerce', his great gr. grandfather was Johann Andreas Jacobi (1680-1756), Lutheran clergyman from the Lower Saxony, first from the simple Jacobis who ever studied. Well, it was a good catch by Caroline Schochenmaier))), it proves that she was a beautiful and well-educated girl!!!

3. Carl Gustav Schochenmaier (1834-1851). It seems to be that after the youngest brother grew up, he decided to join their sisters. In this case, we may suggest that two girls were still alive in the year 1851... Or he just followed their example in order to get a better life. Under the name of Gustavus Carl Schochemayer, he can be found within the death index in the Louisiana Archives (Bouton Rouge) in September 1851. He was 17 years old. But when did he arrive to the New World from Europe?  He is not on the passangers' lists, so maybe his name was spelled in a wrong way, and yes, we may stumble upon the following:

On the 7th April 1851 as Charles Schofelmeyer (was falsly transcribed by FamilySearch), he came out of the ship Lexington which proceeded from the French harbor Le Havre:

  
It's noticed "Bavaria" what was written for every German person in France)))

From April to September, there are only 5 months. That is why I think that he got seriously sick during the awful travel across Atlantic ocean and then he died. What a crazy destiny, to came to the U.S. for 5 months and then to die. 

Well, it's the end for the historical German Schochenmaiers. In the next post, I will share with you my new discovery from the Russia. It's so exciting, I've found the oldest mention of the Schochenmaiers in the Russian Empire. YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!