Churches of the Schochenmaiers (New World, part 3a)

Today, I'd like to attempt to make a list of churches which could be attended by the Schochenmaiers.

I am afraid to make some mistakes because those of you who are still living there where the "first" Schochenmaiers had lived in the U.S. and Canada respectively can be aware of real history of your families. So, I am thankful in advance for all improving comments and explaining information.

Let's get started. As I don't know about every moving into various places around New World, the easiest way for me is to follow the "first" Schochenmaiers where they got children (birth places) and where they were registred (national and state census).


Michael Schochenmaier (1859-1937) 

In October 1887 Michael had immigrated to the United States through Maryland (Baltimore). He was 27 years old. Three months later his son Fred (1888-1950) was born in Alexandria (Hanson county, South Dakota). He was Michael's third child (after Kathy and Mina born in Russia in 1884 and 1885 respectively).

In 1879, the community was founded with the name Clarksville. Its post office was established in 1880, and the city later incorporated in 1885 as Alexandria. The city was named after Alexander Mitchell. 

As you can read, it was the very beginning of the town. It's pretty small (615 inhabitants). I didn't find any pictures of the churches except one which was abandoned:

Who knows, maybe Micheal's family attended it.

Two years later, in the summer of 1890, the second son of Michael - Jacob (1890-1971) was born in Eureka, McPherson County, South Dakota. It's bigger (about 800 people).

Eureka was laid out in 1887, and named "Eureka" a Greek exclamation meaning "I have found it!"

Seven coaches of German-Russian emigrants arrive in Eureka, SD., 1892.: 



Eureka is well-known in the Russian-German world:

The town of Eureka, South Dakota, became very important, where thousands of German-Russian immigrants arrived by train from New York City. The Agricultural Experiment Station publication at South Dakota State University states: "For 15 years, from 1887 to 1902, this `end of the track' town was the largest primary wheat market in the world, claim historians. In 1897 alone, two thirds of the world's wheat crop entering the commercial market was shipped from Eureka."

From Eureka I can post more pictures of the local churches:

1. Methodists

 Reformed

Zion Lutherans

Painting from the past of Eureka:

 Women with head-scarts, Eureka, S.D., 1937. Following an old church tradition, women sat on "their" side during the service: 




Five years after that Christina (1895-1916) was born either in Milton (Rock County) or Cassel (Marathon County) Wisconsin. Actually, I don't understand that change! From South Dakota to Wisconsin? What for?

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Stephen's Church — The congregation was organized in 1893 and the edifice erected in 1894, and religious service was conducted by Rev. P. Karl Schmalz until the year 1910, when the congregation felt strong enough to call for a resident minister; the congregation has grown to a membership of fifty families and it is still served by Reverend Schmalz, the resident minister of the town of Wien.  

But there is a document that in 1899 the Schochenmaiers family got back to South Dakota. In 1900 they took part in the 12th Census according to which there were living in the Gregory County where there are Bonesteel and Burke.

The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1898.

I've found only four churches in Bonesteel: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ponca Creek United Church of Christ, Zion Lutheran Church  and St. Andrew's Church (Episcopal).

Here is solely the picture of Episcopal Church:

It's a bit strange, I didn't find any other photos on the Net(((


The 13th Census states that the Michael's family had already lived in Fairfax in 1910, so to say their last residence place.

The first settlement at Fairfax was made around 1890. A post office called Fairfax has been in operation since 1892. It was named after Fairfax, Virginia, the former hometown of an early settler. The number of inhabitants is 115 (63 households, and 33 families residing in the town).

Here are some pictures from the present and past of the town:

There are actually three churches: Hope Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Anthony Catholic Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church. Online there is a Facebook community of the latter one:

Well, next time I will try to collect pictures of the Churches whereto could have gone the members of the Jacob's family.

P.S. I suggest you, my dear remote relatives from the U.S., have got much more information than me, so do not hesitate to improve and precise. I need your help!!! Thank you in advance)))

The Michael Schochenmaier's farm around 1909

I am so happy to post a new picture of the Michael Schochenmaier (1859)'s farm which I got by courtesy from Lorie Schochenmaier (Longmont, Colorado).

For getting to know her, I'd like just notice that Lorie Jan Schochenmaier is daughter of Erwin Schochenmaier (1921-1993) and Betty Gosh (1928-1996), or granddaughter of Jacob Schochenmaier (1890-1971) and Elizabeth Wuest (1893-1988), or, otherwise, great granddaughter of Michael Schochenmaier (1859-1937) and Christina Winkler (1858-1926), or, going deeper, great great granddaughter of Christian Schochenmaier (1833-????) and Margaretha Korb (1836-????).

What are their relationship to me? 

Christian (1833) is my 4th great grand uncle.
Michael (1859) is my 1st cousin 5x removed.
Jacob (1890) is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.
Erwin (1921) is my 3rd cousin 3x removed.
So, Lorie (1957) is my 4th cousin 2x removed.

I had asked if anybody had any older pictures of the farm than the one I posted of Michael and Christina Schochenmaier and their family in front of the house with a large bay picture window before.  The farm picture you're going to see is of the farm around 1909. We know that  because the barn has a silo by it. Michael was the first to build a silo in a large territory. It was built in 1909. There is a man standing by the door of the house,  we assume it is Michael.  That house is the same house the family picture was taken in front of the big bay picture window.  I know it may be hard to see this picture well, so I am hoping we can get a closer picture later.

Here it is:

And one more time:

It might be looking like that if closer:

Thank you very much, Lorie! Such a picture is priceless for our history. We can see how they established their lives after immigrating to the New World.

Have a good weekend, my dear Schochenmaiers.

Photo on the Jacob Schochenmaier's farm (1916-1917)

Today I have had a great tea-meeting with Walter Wahler, whose mum was Elisabeth Schochenmaier (1926), daughter of Jacob Schochenmaier (1896-1937), "first cousin at one remove" of Michael (1859) and Jacob (1861) Schochenmaiers who had left for the New World. Under that I mean that Walter's grandfather Jacob was son of Gottlieb Schochenmaier (1862), cousin of Michael (1859) and Jacob (1861) Schochenmaiers who had left for the New World.

As I found out, Walter collected lots of materials about his grandfather's line, namely photos from the past. However, today I would like to start with an epic picture that his relative Eduard Schochenmaier got from the U.S. 20 years ago, that Eduard was contacted by Jerald (1939-1999) and Sharilyn Schochenmaiers. Jerald is son of Albert (1913-2007), son of Fredrick (1888-1950), son of Michael (1859-1937). As a special gesture, Jerald was so kind that he had sent a picture of 1916-17. I am so excited! Finally, I can see faces materialized out of the shadows))).

Let's have a closer look!

This picture was taken on Jacob Schochenmaier's farm in Boyd County, Nebraska, U.S.A. around 1916 or 1917.

Here it is in high resolution, it's clickable:

Left to right - back row: 

1. John Klein (1875-1936, husband of Katherine nee Schochenmaier; on Ancestry he's recorded as Johann Klien, I think the right version should be Johann Klein or Americanized John Klein);

2. Jacob Schochenmaier (1890-1971, son of Michael, b. 1859). Just for convenience of the actually living Schochenmaiers, he is grandfather for Barry Dean (1949), Lorie Jan (1957), Ross Lee (1954), Dallas (1959), Jodene (1957), Elisabeth (1950), Walter Glenn (1951), Ricky John (1953), Richard Alan (1957), Terry David (1962);

3. Lizzie Schochenmaier  (Elisabeth nee Wuest, 1893-1988, wife of Jacob Nr. 2);

4. Katie Klein (Katherine nee Schochenmaier, 1884-1966, wife of John Klein Nr. 1). By the way, on Ancestry I have found a picture of her when she is much old than here, I was really impressed, she had prominent Schochenmaier's nose and chin, like my great grandmother Annetta (1918-1998). I couldn't even imagine that genetics can be so persistent;

5. Christina Schochenmaier (1895-1920, daughter of Michael and Christina Schochenmaier). Do you know anything about her? Did she marry Gottlob Ulmer (1883-1963) or it was another Christina? 

6. Minnie Odenbach (Wilhelmine nee Schochenmaier, 1885-1963, wife of Christ Odenbach). By the way, she was the last who had been born in Russia from the American Schochenmaiers)));

7. Katie Schochenmaier (Katharina nee Wuest, 1890-1977, wife of Fred Schochenmaier Nr. 8). By the way, Katie and Lizzie Nr. 3 are sisters. 

8. Fred Schochenmaier (Fredrich / Friedrich, 1888-1950). He was the first who had been born in America!; Jerald was his grandchild. 

9. Christ Odenbach (Christian, 1886-1962, husband of Minnie Nr. 6);

In the middle: Grandparents Michael and Christina Schochenmaier (nee Winkler).  We know about them from precedent postings how they came to U.S. 

Front row: 

1. Martha Odenbach (1912-1999) - daughter of Christ Odenbach and Minnie Schochenmaier. She will marry Roy Charles Allison (1901-1982) and they will have 7 children in Rimbey (Alberta, Canada); She's about 3-4 in the picture);

2. Albert Schochenmaier (1913-2007) - son of Fred Schochenmaier and Katie Wuest. He's about 3-4 years old here. He will marry Amanda Vetter (1913-2008). As far as I researched, they will get 3 (?) children, one of them will be Jerald, who had sent this brilliant photo);

3. Martha Klein (1913-1980) - daughter of Johann Klein and Katie Schochenmaier. She will marry Ted Korb. No information about their children. 

4. Reinhold Odenbach (1911-1985) - son of Christ Odenbach and Minnie Schochenmaier. He's about 5 years old in the picture. He will marry first Gertrude Hawkswood then Gertrude Logen. I think he liked name Gertrude). 

5. Sarah Schochenmaier (1910-2008) - daughter of Fred Schochenmaier and Katie Wuest. She's about 6 years old in the picture. She first married Adolph Klein and together they had 4 girls and 1 boy.  After Adolph's death, she married Adolph Truatman.  After his death, she married James Brown. 

6. Ben Odenbach (Benjamin, 1908-1989) - son of Christ Odenbach and Minnie Schochenmaier. He's about 8 years old in the picture. He will marry Nellie Fairmond. 

Well, I have some questions. Jerald wrote that this picture was taken on the farm of Jacob, but on the photo we can see only Michael... Why ? Do you know it? 

Does anybody have a picture of this house how it looks today like? It would be great to compare. 

We are so lucky today. We may see these faces from the past. I am looking for the photos like that. If you have old photo albums, please check them, maybe there are some precious pictures in them...  Those persons can't talk anymore, let pictures do it... Thank you in advance for your help. 

Ship which Michael Schochenmaier came on

As we know Michael Schochenmaier arrived in Baltimore (Maryland) on May 4, 1887, from Bremen (Germany). Among the copies of the passangers' list, I found the main page contaning the name of the ship:

The ship was called "SS America" and as well as "Aller" of Jacob Schochenmaier, it belonged to North German Lloyd Company. 

The main page of the passanger list is looking like follows:

Several pages after that, you can see the names of Michael Schochenmaier (28 y., 1859-1937), his wife Christine Schochenmaier (30 y., née Winkler, 1858-1926), Cathrine (3 y., 1884-1966, married to Johann Klien) and Wilchelmine (10 months, 1886-1963, married later to Christian Odenbach):  

Another scan with wider frames:

Well, let's go to the ship: 

The AMERICA 1863-1894The AMERICA was on the Bremen to New York Route from 1863 to 1894. The German Lloyds new steamship AMERICA sailed from Southampton on the 27th of May, 1863 arrived June 7, 1863. AMERICA / ORAZIO 1862 The AMERICA was a 2752 gross ton ship, length 318ft x beam 40ft, clipper bows, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sails), iron hull, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. Accommodation for 76-1st, 107-2nd and 480-steerage class passengers. Built by Caird & Co, Greenock, she was launched for North German Lloyd, Bremen in Nov.1862. Her maiden voyage started on 25th May 1863 when she left Bremen for Southampton and New York. In 1871 she was fitted with new engines and on 27th Jan.1894 commenced her last round voyage from Bremen to New York and Baltimore. Sold to Italy in 1894, she was renamed ORAZIO and was scrapped the following year. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.545]

S. S. America 1863 (year of construction) North German Lloyd, image from Peabody Museum of Salem In the photo: 1873: Arrived Steam-ship America (Ger.), Bussins, Bremen March 13, Southampton 16th with mdse and 304 passengers to Oelirich & co, March 29, 1873 (NYT) Or, from here: AMERICA (1862) ORAZIO [1894] Print of the AMERICA. Source: Arnold Kludas, Die Seeschiffe des Norddeutschen Lloyd, Bd. 1: 1857 bis 1919 (Herford: Koehler, c1991), p. 13. To request a larger copy of this scan, click on the picture. The steamship AMERICA was built for Norddeutscher Lloyd by Caird & Co, Greenock (yard #96), and was launched in November 1862. 2,752 tons; 318 x 40 feet (length x breadth); clipper bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, inverted engines, service speed 11 knots; accommodation for 76 passengers in 1st class, 107 in 2nd class, and 480 in steerage; crew of 84 to 102. 25 May 1863, maiden voyage, Bremen-Southampton-New York, with 216 passengers and 300 tons of freight. 1864, briefly under the Russian flag during the Prussian war with Denmark. 1872, engines compounded by Day, Summers & Co, Southampton. 1882, engines rebuilt in Bremerhaven. 27 January 1894, last voyage, Bremen-New York-Baltimore. 29 June 1894, sold to F. Fratelli & Co, La Spezia, and renamed ORAZIO; re-sold to S. Repetto, Genoa. 9 September 1894, sold to La Spezia for scrapping. 1895, scrapped at La Spezia. Sources: Edwin Drechsel, Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, 1857-1970; History, Fleet, Ship Mails, vol. 1 (Vancouver: Cordillera Pub. Co., c1994), p. 18, no. 12; Arnold Kludas, Die Seeschiffe des Norddeutschen Lloyd, Bd. 1: 1857 bis 1919 (Herford: Koehler, c1991), pp. 12-13 (picture); Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 2 (1978), p. 545. Michael J. Anuta, Ships of Our Ancestors (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 6, reproduces what purports to be a photograph of the AMERICA, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.

At that time the Baltimore port can be seen on these photos:

When did the second Schochenmaiers come to the New World?

As we did it for Jacob Schochenmaier, we can discover the date of immigration of Michael Schochenmaier with his family as well.

On the FamilySearch you can find "United States Russians to America Index, 1834-1897" where among others the date of arrival of Michael Schochenmaier is to be discovered. The only one problem is that his surname was written with "y" instead of "i": SCHOCHENMAYER.

So, the 4th May 1887 is the day when the second family of Schochenmaiers (and possibly the last one) had come to the U.S. 

He came with his wife Christine (née Winkler, 1858-1926): 

and with two first elder kids:

Catherine (Katherine, 1884-1966), who will later marry Johann Klien (1875-1936)

and any "Wilhelm Schochenmayer". At first, I was struck by that Wilhelm because the first son of Michael had been Fred(rich) born in 1888, the first born in the New World as well... It looks very suspiciously... but then I read carefully all lines and cheked out our family tree on the Ancestry.com and I realized that this Wilchelm is surely the short and/or wrong version of Wilhelmina Schochenmaier, the last born in the Russian Empire (1885/7-1963), who will later marry to Christian Odenbach (1886-1962). It's also justified by the gender of that baby: 

I wonder why the younger brother Jacob Schochenmaier (1861/2-1923) came first and only then, almost one year later, the elder brother Michael joined him? 

• It looks like if the first one was a "mine detector": after having settled in the USA, he sent the message and confirmed that it was secure to come... 
• Or, maybe, the younger generation is always more adventuruous)))
• Or, at that time, they needed "smiths", so Jacob came first and then Micahel the "Farmer" as a near of kin...      

In the next post, I will tell you about the ships on which they came to America!