DNA MAY PROVIDE GENEALOGY INFORMATION

Georg Theodor Rieck, who went to Australia
reported in the journal "Leipziger Illustrierte Zeitung"
Submitted and translated by Michael Mackeprang of Fehmarn

In your last Cousins Newsletter I found Val Rowley`s story about Sir Henry Bolte, which I found very interesting.  When Andreas Heide (born 1822) and Anna Cath. Buegge (born 24.06.1823) migrated from Fehmarn to Australia in 1856, they were not the only people from Fehmarn, who went to Australia in those days. The earliest Austalian originated from Fehmarn was a certain Georg Theodor Rieck. His adventures were reported in the journal "Leipziger Illustrierte Zeitung" on August 23, 1867. (Leipzig ist a city in the southern part of Germany, some 800 km away from Fehmarn.) I like to present to you the original German text for those who can read it followed by my own translation:

"Es sind eben drei Jahre her, seit in der Kolonie Victoria die anscheinend sehr reichen, goldhaltigen Quarzriffe von Woodspoint entdeckt wurden. Obgleich kaum 100 engl. Meilen von Melbourne entfernt, konnte es nur auf grossem Umwegen von ca. 300 Meilen erreicht werden. Die Regierung setzte deshalb eine Belohnung von 500 Pfd. Strl. fuer die Auffindung der kuerzesten und zweckmaessigsten Route von Melbourne nach Woodspoint aus. Von sechs verschiedenen Expeditionen, die den Versuch machten, die schwierige Aufgabe zu loesen, war es eine Gesellschaft Deutscher unter der Leitung des Herrn Georg Theodor Rieck von Fehmarn, welche den guenstigsten Erfolg erzielte. Es war in der Tat ein Unternehmen, welches nur mit den groessten Schwierigkeiten ausgeuebt werden konnte. Die neue Linie wurde von der Regierung als bester und kuerzester Weg anerkannt und sofort Anstalten getroffen, sie als Fahrstrasse auszurichten. Sie kostete gewaltige Summen. Der Weg hat damals eine Flaeche von ueber 200 Quadratmeilen des schoensten Landes, aus gebrochenen Bergwiesen und bewaesserten, fruchbaren Taelern bestehend,  dem Verkehr geoeffnet. Es gibt dort unzaehlige Quarzriffe, einige von ungeheurer Groesse. Herr Rieck erwaehnte eines Riffes besonders, welcher auf der Oberflaeche zwischen 50 und 60 Fuss misst. Wie dem Farmer, so wurde auch dem Goldgraeber hier ein praechtiges Feld eroeffnet."

"It is three year ago now, since in the colony of Victoria the obviously very rich, gold containing quartz reefs of Woods Point were discovered.  Although only 100 miles away from Melbourne, it could be reached over a long detour of approximately 300 miles. Therefore the Government would give a reward of 500 pounds Sterling for those, who would find the shortest und most suitable route from Melbourne to Woods Point. Out of six different expeditions, who made the competition, to solve the difficult task, it was a party of Germans under the supervision of mister Georg Theodor Rieck from Fehmarn, who made the most suitable success. It was indeed an enterprise, which could be made only under extreme difficulties. The new route was accepted by the Government as the best and shortest way, and a gravel road was immediately put under construction. The road cost a tremendous amount of money.  The road, opened to the public, covered an area of more than 200 square miles of the most beautiful farmland and irrigated, fertile valleys. Along the road there are many quartz reefs, some of them of enormous size. Mister Rieck mentioned one special reef, which measures at the surface between 50 and 60 feet. Like the farmers also the gold diggers were opened a splendid field of opportunities,"

As a former mining engineer and geologist and interested in mining history of the world I traveled in that part of the world years ago visiting many mining sites, historical and modern ones. Unfortunately I got sick during a stay in Broken Hill when I wanted to see the places of the famous Australian gold rushes of  1851-1856 at Ballarat, Bendigo and Anderson`s Creek. But I found some interesting information in my private files about the discovery of the gold followed by the "invasion" of adventurers. The Ballarat gold field was discovered in 1851 and the news found its way around the world very quickly. Within months thousands of  adventurers came to Victoria, to dig for gold.  (How quickly such an invasion  can happen reminds me of the photos, which I have seen in the Maritime Museum in S.F., of the many unmanned ships in 1849 in the harbor of  San Francisco after the gold discovery 1848 made by James Marshall at Sutter`s mill in the Sierra Nevada / CA.)  I am quite sure that Georg Theodor Rieck went to Victoria because of the gold rush. He also must have had knowledge of gold and gold mining, otherwise he would not mention the quartz reefs. Quartz reefs as a former mining engineer and geologist and interested in mining history of the world I traveled in that part of the world years ago visiting many minire massive quartz veins, which sometime contain some free gold. Quartz reefs cannot be mined by shovel and pan (like the forty-niners mined the placer gold in river gravel) but by underground mining, which requires tremendous amounts of investments.

The story of  Georg Theodor Rieck, who came to Australia in 1853, continues when  Andreas Heide and Anna Cath. Buegge arrived in 1856. In my family files I found a certain Jacob Mackeprang (born 25.01.1830) from Daenschendorf / Fehmarn who also went to Australia in 1856. It is very likely that Jacob, Andreas and Anna Cath. went together and I am also sure that they have heared about Georg Theodor Rieck. In those days people helped each other, especially when they came from the same home island. Jacob Mackeprang was the son of Peter Mackeprang (born 09.08.1793 in Daenschendorf / Fehmarn) and Gerdrut Schnell (born 1802 in Todendorf / Fehmarn).  Peter lost his farm and farmland (reason unknown) and  worked as a worker for the rest of his life.  Because he had 9 children life was hard for him and his  family.  He died  January 1853. Jacob Mackeprang  visited Fehmarn in 1883 but went back to Australia again.  He died there on November, 12 1894.  I have no further information about him. Possibly Val Rowley can help me.

I hope this gives a better background of the Sir Henry Bolte story.
Good luck and a successful new year!

RUDOLPH LORENZEN

Rudolph Lorenzen was born in Burg on the Island of Fehmarn in eastern Holstein January 9, 1839.  At age fifteen he went to work as a clerk in a store. Then then went to the mainland town of Heilgnehafen where he worked as head clerk in a store for five years.  Rudolph Lorenzen emigrated to America and joined his brother, Ludwig, in Davenport, Iowa, where he engaged in various mercantile interests until 1874, when he opened a butcher shop in Maysville.  Maysville was a German town near Davenport where German immigrants stayed for a short time to learn the ways of the new country before continuing their trek westward.  In 1875 he sold his butcher shop and moved to the new town of Marne, established by German businessmen from Davenport.  Mr. Lorenzen opened the first general store in Marne in the fall of 1875 in partnership with Julius Langfeldt.  The first postmaster of Marne was Julius Langfeldt and he located the post office in the general store.   Rudolph Lorenzen bought out Langfeldt's share in the store in 1877.  Soon afterward, Mr. Lorenzen moved the location of the store one door south on the west side of Washington Street and continued in business.  In addition to this store, he bought corn for the Davenport Glucose Company and shipped large amounts from Marne to the Davenport Mills.  Rudolph Lorenzen owned a forty acre stock farm near Marne.  He married Johanna Langfeldt in Marne October 8, 1876.  Johanna was born in Schleswig Holstein Germany, April 27, 1851.  The couple had five children, Laura J., 1877; Rudolph, Jr., 1880; Amanda, 1883; Hans Otto, 1886; and Helmuth Anton, 1891. 

SOURCE:  Cass County History, 1980  Submitted by Darlene Vergamini

Gertrude Holst Rathman

Mrs. Gertrude Holst Rathman, born November 25, 1853 in Fehmarn, Germany, came to the U.S. with her eleven year old son, John, in 1885 after the death of her husband, Thomas Rathman.  She settled in Cass Co. and became the housekeeper for a widower, Henry Wiechman, the father of three children: Anna, Henry and Fredrica.

March 18, 1886 she and Henry Wiechman were married by Rev. J. Deckman of Zion Lutheran Church of Atlantic, IA.  Mr. and Mrs. Wiechman made their home on a farm south of Wiota, IA until moving to Atlantic in 1900.  They became the parents of three more children:  George, Paul and Emma.  Mr. Wiechman died November 13, 1922 and Mrs. Wiechman, February 27, 1932.  Both are buried in the Atlantic Cemetery.

John H. Rathman was born on Fehmarn, Germany, February 6, 1874.  He received his citizenship October 15, 1895 in Cass County.

March 11, 1897, John H. Rathman married Johanne Aline Eilts in Franklin Township.  Johanne had come to Cass County at the age of four with her parents, John and Anna Janssen Eilts from Oldenburg, Germany, where she was born March 24, 1878.

The Rathmans settled on a farm south of Wiota, IA where they lived until 1940 when they moved to Anita.  After Mr. Rathman's death January 27, 1946.  Mr. Rathman and her daughters, Alma and Gertrude moved to Atlantic, IA where Mrs. Rathman died Dec. 10, 1956.

They were the parents of eight children:  Alma Rathman residing in Atlantic, IA; Gertrude Margaret (1900-1970); Thomas Adolph (1902-1968); Victor John, residing in Atlantic; Walter Herbert, reiding in Cumberland, IA; Herbert Johanes (1910-1910); Carl Eilts, residing in Cumberland; and Paul Heinrich (1914-1916).

The name Rathman was originally spelled Rathmann, but after the children were in school, the last "N" was dropped. 

SOURCE:  Cass County History, 1980 

Theodore Rethwisch

Theodore Rethwisch, Sr., was born November 4, 1864 in Burg, Island of Fehmarn, Germany.  Bertha Christensen was born November 18, 1868, at Clinton, IA.  They were married January 27, 1887, at Avoca, IA.  Theordore was the third born in a family of 13 children, all born in Germany.  He came to America by himself at the age of 15, in 1880.  His mother, Anna (Danielson) Rethwisch died in Germany two years after leaving a number of young children. Having encouraged his father to come to America to live, in 1884, Carl P.F., father of Theordore and his seven children had all settled near Walnut, IA.  Five children were deceased in Germany. 

In 1898, Theordore Sr., and his family, along with his father Carl P.F., his brother and wife, Peter and Mollie Rethwisch, and his sister, Hannah and her husband, Paul Christeiansen, moved to Antelope County, near Tilden, NE.  Theordore's father lived only two years in Nebraska.  He died in 1900. 

Theodore and Bertha had four children.

Carl William married Christine Olesen and had one daughter, Marian.  Marian married Joe Tennis and they have a funeral home at O'Neill NE.

Pete never married and he lived most of his life in the Tilden, NE vicinity.

Theodore, Jr. married Mame Miller.  They had two children.  Millard, is owner of Rethwisch Shoe Store in Tilden, NE and Ruth Rethwisch Shook lives at Chester, SD.  They had two sons.

Anna married Otto Schwichtenberg.  They had a son, Robert and a daughter, Joan.

Theordore and Bertha were charter members of the church and were very active in church affairs.

SOURCE:  Tilden NE History 

Ferdinand Henry Hein

Ferdinand Henry Hein, the son of Joahim Hein and Gertrude Busch, was born December 11, 1879 on the Island of Fehmarn off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.  Fehmarn at that time had forty-two villages that could be compared to the town of Shelby (IA); one town, Burg, which is like Harlan (IA); and three Hofs which are similar to the manors of England.  This island was only three square miles, but since four American miles equal one German mile,  it was really 144 square miles.

During the summers before he came over to American, Ferd worked as a cattle herder on the dikes.  These dikes were rounded and would be about 12 feet high and 18 feet wide with grass on them.  Because of the great caste system in Germany, the first hired man would have his own spoon which he washed after he was through eating and put back on a special shelf.  The rest of the men ate from wooden spoons furnished by their employers.

There never was enough to eat, but one day when Ferd was especially hungry, they had fishead soup.  This he detested, but he ate it anyway.

The family decided to come to America in 1891, when Ferd was twelve.  After disposing of some their possessions and packing others, they took a ferry from the island to the mainland of Germany.  Then they went by train to Bramonhoffer where they boarded the Struttgard which started for the United
States.

After sixteen days, their ship finally docked at Baltimore.  They then went by rail through Chicago IL to Avoca, IA.  Here on August 2, 1891, Ferd, his mother, his sister, Anna and brothers, Fritz and Emiel were met by his father, sister Louise and brother Peter, who had been here for some years and were American citizens.  They moved to a house on the south side of Avoca, IA.

After two weeks, on August 20, he started working on a farm where he met his future wife.  He was twelve and she was ten and staying at her uncle's home and caring for his children.

Bertha Clara Hein, daughter of Carl Henry Noehren and Trina Wiese, was born May 4, 1881 at Barsbeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.  She came to the U.S. when she was a year old and settled on a farm near Shelby, IA.  Ferd always said she was so small she came over in a shoebox.

During the winter months, Ferd attended the Claussen County School.  After working at eight different places until in 1904, he started farming for Henry Mecklenburg, where he again met Bertha who was a seamstress by that time.

In 1906, he farmed the 240 ares northwest of Shelvy, IA.  On March 6, 1907, Ferd and Bertha were married on her parents' farm east of town and made their home here for one year.  In 1908 they moved to the Kruckenberg farm.  Here their two children were born:  Herbert and LaVerne.  In 1930 on the Charlie Mueller farm, they adoped their niece, Darlene Ann Dohrmann.

In 1943 they moved to Shelby where they lived until Bertha's death May 26, 1960.  Ferd passed away on October 20, 1961. 

Herbert Carl Hein was born April 4, 1908.  On June 19, 1938, he married Lola Wunder (b. August 21, 1907)   and two daughters were born, Sharon and Patricia.  They live in Bell, CA where Herb is a mechanic and Lola a
bookkeper.  Living in Bell and both teaching are Sharon Louis Hein (b. July 1, 1941) who married Gary G. Kuster (b. June 6, 1942).  Patricia Ann Hein (b Feb. 12, 1945) married Charles D. LaCommare (b. Jan. 28, 1945).  They live in Bell and both teaching school.  A daughter Heidi Lorraine was born July 17,
1968.

SOURCE:  Shelby County IA History 

“Fehmarn - farmer’s island as stepping stone to the world” a book about “local history” newly available!

From a clipping in the “Fehmarnsch Tageblatt”.
Translated from the German by: E. Bügge-Wood

Fehmarn (t). A history in retrospect of the island Fehmarn as transportation-center between Scandinavia and continental Europe, illustrated with 150 photostatic copies of Fehmarn, has now been prepared by the island explorer Karl-Wilhelm Klahn, residing in Neue Tiefe, Fehmarn.

The visionary for building the shortest route, “a bird migration line” (Vogelfluglinie) across Fehmarn toward Scandinavia came in 1863 from the water construction engineer Gustav Kröhnke, in Glückstadt. He was also the unfortunate constructor of the water manor “Wallnau”.

The construction as well as the dedication of the bird migration line “Vogelfluglinie” during the gold digger years from 1959 to 1963, with rare photos, and never before published facts, are being documented.

Countless ferryboat- and railroad anecdotes from long ago and also younger days, enrich the book, written in timely order and with 150 photostatic copies of the island, making it into a very interesting Fehmarn history in retrospect, highway- and industrial- development with a lasting historic value. 

This book will be introduced Saturday, the 6^th of November 1999 at 11 A.M. in the book store of “Niederlechner”, am Burger Markt, (Buchhandlung Niederlechner am Burger Markt).

A family-representative of the oldest and most reputable publisher “Verlag Wachholtz, Neumünster i.Holstein” and of course the author: Karl-Wilhelm Klahn will be present to personally sign the books if so requested.

In the window of the book store “Niederlechner” you can also find a decoration of the fehmarn-isle railroad and the Fehmarnsund ferries (Sundfähren) from 1903 to 1963.

“Fehmarn - a farmer’s island as stepping stone to the world” (Fehmarn - eine Bauerninsel als Trittstein zur Welt), (bound, 168 pages). Price: 32.- Mark.

Private photo: The first motorcoach train (Therese) from Cologne 1925 on the main railway station in Burg/F.

Private photo: The island train stuck between Burgstaaken and Wulfen during the winter of 1927.

Newsletter submissions
by E-mail: kc7bal@juno.com
or mail to:
Tressie Hughes
PO Box 770
Puyallup WA 98371