Klotz arrival to the United States

I have done further investigation regarding the location that the Klotz family lived in Germany. In a previous post, I mentioned that this location is either Großen Burg, Rheinland, Germany or Großbeeren, Brandenburg, Preussen. I had seen it mentioned both ways, and was unsure as to which is correct. By looking up both of these locations on a map, I noticed that Großbeeren is actually really close to Berlin, which is where Carl and Henrietta's first daughter, Albertina (Tina) was born. Although this is by no means concrete proof, it has led me to believe that Großbeeren is the location that the family lived prior to their arrival in the US.

I almost missed a record located in Castle Garden's website. It listed a Carl Klotz arriving in New York in 1873 with his wife, Henriette. This fit my information perfectly. There were a few red flags though. The rest of his family was listed as Albertina (match), Kenhold (?), Jap (?), Minna (match), Max (match), and Gustav (?). I wanted to look at the actual record, so I went to Ancestry.com. There in the New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 database I found the following record:

here is the actual family:

It looked to be that the curious names mentioned above were transcription errors. This family was an actual match for my Klotz family: Carl Klotz, Henriette, Albertine, Ida, Reinhart, Minnie, Max, and Gunter. All of the ages also match my notes. (Note: I never had a Gunter as a child in this family. He is the same age as Max, so perhaps he is a twin that passed away early on.). Carl Klotz is noted as being a "Smith" (Blacksmith), which is the same occupation that Carl had in the US as well.

The Carl Klotz family is listed as being onboard the Parthia ship, sailing from Port Liverpool to the United States and arriving on 24 May 1873.

The next mystery is the location. This record indicates that this family is from...Holland. WHAT? My Klotz family has always stated that they were from Germany (or Prussia). This is still quite curious. It is a possibility that they lied (but why?), or maybe there was a misunderstanding? I think there are too many matches for  this not to be my Klotz family.

Parthia Steamship Card

S/S Saxonia

S.S. Saxonia, 1857 Hamburg-American line

Courtesy The Peabody Museum of Salem 300

On 20 April 1870 in Hamburg, Germany, a farmer, Carl Balder (50 years); his wife, Maria (50); and his seven children; Carl (23), Therese (18), Caroline (16), Robert (7), Edward (6),  August (4), and Anna (5 months) boarded the S/S Saxonia. All family members were from Kanitz Schlessien.

They arrived 16 days later on 6 May 1870 in the New York port. Little Anna, had passed away during the journey.

The S.S. Saxonia was orgininally built in 1857 at Greenock by Caird & Co. and was owned by the Hamburg America Line. More information regarding this ship can be found here: http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=saxoi

Ignatz Lang - Immigrations

The Konigen Louise

6 July 1901 my great-grandfather, Ignatz Lang, his wife, Franciska and their family landed on Ellis Island. They had just disembarked the Konigen Luise, which had left the Port of Bremen. Their ethnicity was listed as "Bukowrina" with their place of residence listed as "Pojanavictuli". Franciska was 6 months pregnant with her fourth child.

*The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. www.ellisisland.org. 2008.

Ignatz Lang's Life in Historical Documents

Ignatz Lang and his wife, Franziska Lang (Eigner). Circa 1908.

Ignatz Lang Sr. was born in Poiana Micului, Bukovina which was a part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire at that time. Today his birthplace is apart of Romania. The nickname of the Lang family was `Maurer` Lang, this appears to be an aberration of the hometown of the Langs, `Maurenzer` The family immigrated in 1901.

Ignatz (age 32); his wife, Franciska (age 28); daughter, Katharina (age 4); and sons, Ignatz, Jr. (age 9) and Ludwig (age 11 months) arrived on Ellis Island on 6 July1901. They were passengers on board the Konigin Luise which left from Port Bremen, Germany. They listed their ethnicity as `Bukowrina` and place of residence as `Pojana Victuli`. Their destination was Ellis, Kansas. 1

From 1901-1908 the family flourished in Ellis, Kansas. Four more children were born to them during this time: Frank (1901), Franziska (1903), Joseph (1905), and Anna (1907). In January of 1909 a horrible diphtheria outbreak resulted in the deaths of little Franziska, Joseph, and Anna all within 9 days of each other. Family legend states that shortly before the childrens deaths, Ignatz Jr. was going to the well to get some water. He needed to pass by the barn to get there. As he walked passed, he thought he heard a rushing wind noise. He looked up and and saw three angels `dancing` around the barn steeple. It was shortly after this, that the three siblings died. Because of the epidemic, people were not allowed to attend the funeral, but Ignatz Lang Sr. refused to follow the rule and went. 2

According to the 1925 Kansas state census, the family was naturalized in 1910. I haven't been able to find these records, nor could I find the family in the 1910 federal census. 

In the 1915 Kansas state census, the family is found in Riverside, Trego County, Kansas.

Ignatz (age 46), Francis (age 43), Ludwig (age 15), Frank (age 13), John (age 5), Mike (age 3), and Rosa (age 6 months) 3

I was unable to find the family in  the 1920 federal census, but by 1925, the family had moved to the town of Ellis, Kansas. They lived at 506 Madison St.

Ignatz (56), Frances (53), John (16), Mike (14), and Rosa (11) 3

 The 1930 federal census would find the family living in the same house 5 years later. Now they are listed as owning their home, which was worth $1500.

 Ignatz (61), Frances (58), Mike (19), and Rosa (16). 4

 In 1938, Franziska passed away at the age of 66. In 1940, Ignatz went back to Poiana Micului, Bukovina to find another wife. His grandson, Joseph G. Lang was asked by Ignatz to go along with him because he was of marrying age; but Joe declined the invitation. Ignatz' initial plan was to marry his brother`s widow, but she didn't want to go to the United States, so he married a woman by the name of Rosalia. His son, Ignatz, Jr. sent `ssmeargeld` (money used to grease palms) over to him in Poiana Micului help him pay the border guards to smuggle him out of Europe.  Ignatz caught the last ship out of Italy before the ports closed. 1, 5

1. Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
2. Edward "Al" Lang, Barbara Ruth Herbst, email, 18 September 2002, "RE: 3 Lang children in 1909".
3. Ancestry.com.. Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.
4. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
5. Edward "Al" Lang. Barbara Ruth Herbst, email, 23 July 2002, "RE: Ignatz Lang",

Henry Soechtig - Immigration

After several searches trying to find any Soechtig immigration records, I tried deliberately misspelling the name (there are numerous ways). The first and most obvious to me was “Sachtig”. Using this variation I discovered his name on the New York Passenger Lists.

There are too many similarities for this not to be Henry Soechtig.

Henry Soechtig                                                 Heinrich Sachtig

b.  1836                                                              b. abt. 1837

immigrated 1854-1855                                          immigrated 3 May 1854

brothers: Andrew, Charles, Frederic                    possible brothers: Andreas and Christopher       

Lived in Evansville, IN                                        Listed Evansville, IN as his destination     
     

Therefore, my great-great-great grandfather, Heinrich Soechtig came to America 3 May 1854 onboard the Caroline going from Bremen to New York. He was listed as “Heinrich Sachtig” and appeared with two other male “Sachtigs”, possibly brothers.  He was 17 years old at the time and was a shoemaker.

Name                           Age  Gender   Occupation       From                  Headed

Christopher Sachtig   32     male        bechoher (?)       Evansville            Evansville

Andreas Sachtig        19     male         joiner                Braunschweig      Evansville

Heinrich Sachtig         17     male        shoemaker        Braunschweig      Evansville

Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.