A New Life in America: The Struggles and Realities of a German Family on the Western Frontier

By Gary Damron

This is a story of a family that had a vision and saw it through to the end. The Hankammer Family had no other choice but to give up their homeland and move to another country with only the possessions they could put into a travel trunk, in order to start a new life. Upon arrival in America, they took what little they had and traveled half-way across this continent by flatboat and wagon train to settle on the western frontier with little or no understanding of the turmoil and strife around them between a government wanting to push west and a native resident not willing to give up their land.

Wilhelm and Anna Sibilla's son, Adolph, left home to be a soldier in the U.S. Army, joining company K of the 11th Kansas volunteers, a German Regiment, and fought in the war between the North and South. His letters home to his brother-in-law John Schwanke and his sister Wilhelmina Schwanke, expresses his feelings, misunderstandings, the environment he lived in, and desires to move forward once the war is over. His letters are featured in Appendix I of this book These letters have been translated from the original German text to English.

The story doesn't end here. A restless Adolph mustered back into the Army and ended up at the Platte River Bridge in Wyoming only to fight one last battle to secure safe passage for the settlers moving west, which was propagated by the Sand Creek Massacre in Southeast Colorado.


Gary Damron
Author

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546261766

Gary Damron

Gary Damron was born in a small Southern Illinois town located on the Ohio River. In 1966 he served in the U.S. Army for two years. Shortly after, he moved to Montreal, Canada, attended McGill University and taught high school for several years. He now resides and works as an Engineer in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has previously authored two children's books and now this historical/fictional work. After researching his own family genealogy back to 1652 in Northumberland County, Virginia, he decided to research his wife's family history. Having researched this lineage for several years and visiting Alma, Topeka, and Lawrence, Kansas, as well as Caspar, Wyoming, site of the Platte River Bridge, Millstadt, Illinois (original place of settlement in this country for the Hankammer Family), traipsing through various cemeteries, museums, and spending endless hours researching the archives, he discovered that the more he researched, the more intrigued he became. Concluding that he has discovered a family of true pioneers amongst the reams of notes, photographs, and written conversations. For this reason he authored "A New Life in America", for this is a story that must be told. This historical/fictional work about the Hankammer Family History speaks for itself.

Book preview

A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA

The Struggles and Realities of a German

Family on the Western Frontier

GARY DAMRON

47269.png

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2018 Gary Damron. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  10/19/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6178-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6177-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6176-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911477

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1     1844 Prussia – Our Beloved Homeland

Chapter 2     Leaving a Country Behind

Chapter 3     Our New Country - America

Chapter 4     Farming Un-Farmable Land

Chapter 5     The Mistaken Move to Iowa

Chapter 6     Alas! Kansas on the Horizon

Chapter 7     Settling in Times

Chapter 8     A Black Man’s Woe

Chapter 9     Changes Coming

Chapter 10   Life as a Soldier

Chapter 11   Rustling Railroaders and a Wedding

Chapter 12   Off to War for Three Young Men

Chapter 13   A Mystery to be Solved

Chapter 14   A Civil Dispute

Chapter 15   Headed West – The Platte River Bridge

Chapter 16   Life on the Western Frontier

Chapter 17   A Nation Rises

Chapter 18   The Long Trip Home

Chapter 19   Journey’s end at Sonnenberg

A Note from the Author

Brief Chart of the Descendants of Johann Philip Hankammer

Appendix I

PROLOGUE

This is a story about a family that was a little more fortunate than others in their native Prussia. The Hankammer family is a family of farmers and good farmers they are. They are ordinary people to look at, but there is something special about them that no one else seems to have. They are eager to try anything new, for they continually experiment with several types of crops, fruits, and vegetables. Even their farm animals are different and are well taken care of. They have the best breeding stock in the land. Their small farm provides more than enough to support the family because they labor endlessly in whatever they do. Their willingness to share their excesses that they grow with their neighbors shows the kind and caring people they are. However, they yearn for something better, something different. They believe that America is the only place that will provide them the opportunity to apply themselves, their knowledge and hard labors, which will surely cause them to succeed as well. The have witnessed and heard about the many others that have gone on before them and the successes they have had. Their daily routine is now consumed with thoughts and ideas of how their life will change, once they complete their journey to America and settle in their new land.

"Now the journey ends, which began such a long time ago. As I stand here on this cold February day, watching them place my Papa, Wilhelm Christian, in his final resting place, in this lightly, snow covered cemetery called Sonnenberg, my mind drifts back to those earlier days in our homeland of Prussia; to a time when he desired a new life in America, and the struggles that he so patiently endured, on our behalf, for that necessary change to take place. Gazing over the wide valley below, I see the farmland that he so loved to farm; I speak silently to myself and say, ‘Papa, you were truly a man of great foresight and wisdom’.

Adolph Hankammer

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge my wife Karen (Hankammer), for she was my example of how Anna Sabilla (Christian Hankammer’s wife) would have been. She is a very gentlewoman, patient, kind and not condemning, and most helpful when I struggled over certain aspects of this book. In my mind, she heavily favors her Great-Grandmother Wilhelmina Hankammer, Adolph Hankammer’s wife.

Secondly, with great excitement, I wanted to tell about this wonderful Hankammer lineage, for there-in is a story of a family that had a vision and saw it through to the end. While I was working on the Hankammer family genealogy some years ago, I saw a story unfold that had to be told. I was impacted mostly by the fact that they were willing to give up their homeland and move to another country with only the possessions they could put into a travel trunk. Then, take what little they had and travel half-way across this continent by flatboat and wagon train to settle on the western frontier amidst turmoil and strife between a government wanting to push west and a native resident not willing to give up their land.

Also, I would like to thank the Wabaunsee County Historical Society and the Museum in Alma, Kansas for providing me with a copy of the translated letters (found in Appendix I at the end of this book) that Adolph Hankammer wrote during his tenure in the U.S. Army. The original letters were written in the German language and were written to John and Wilhelmina Schwanke by Wilhelmina’s brother, Adolph Hankammer, while he served in company K of the 11th Kansas volunteers.

And lastly, this story is a historical-fictional work based on the Hankammer family’s genealogical history: Historically correct but a fictional work. I have researched this lineage for several years and visited Alma, Topeka, and Lawrence, Kansas, as well as Casper, Wyoming (site of the Platte River Bridge), and Millstadt, Illinois (original place of settlement in this country), various cemeteries, museums, and spent endless hours in the archives and emailing family members, only to find that the more I researched, the more intrigued I became. This is a family of true pioneers. As I stated earlier, this may be a fictional work, but the Hankammer Family History speaks for itself.

SPECIAL THANKS:

I especially want to thank Marilyn Diehl for allowing me to trounce all over her property, while searching for the little cemetery called Sonnenberg that is located up on the plateau in back of her farm house. It is completely encircled by a wall of flat stones that someone, sometime had to build. Thank you for the historical information about the property and for sharing what your father knew about the place, as well. Thank you, Marilyn, for allowing me to interview you, take pictures, and for all the information you gave me about the former Hankammer farm. You have done a remarkable job in keeping the old home place up to standard.

Gary Damron

INTRODUCTION

The present King of Prussia is now our 4th King. He is Friedrich Wilhelm. In Prussia, a poor man continually works for the rich man. He works hard, pays his taxes and gets nothing in return. If he doesn’t pay his taxes, his property is confiscated by the government and sold for unpaid taxes. Protesting against it is not acceptable because you will get arrested and will spend the rest of your life in prison with no food nor clothes and will end up dying in the first winter because of the lack of heat. And, where does this leave your family? Most likely out in the street begging for food in order to survive.

There isn’t much hope for young people in Prussia, either. Those that finish school may get accepted into an apprenticeship program, and if they work hard enough, they will end up becoming a journeyman and will work there for the rest of their lives. When they die, someone else that is on the waiting list, will move into their place as a journeyman. When considering the population of such a small country, the waiting list is long and the waiting time is not worth it. This is why the poor man continually works for the rich man.

Young men, 20-21 years of age, must serve a 3 year obligation in the National Army. After that, in case of a National emergency, they must be available for further service until they are 40 years old. At the age of 32, they are placed in reserve status and will not be called up for active duty until the younger men are all called up first. At age 40, they have served their obligation to their country and are released from reserve status. If the young men get married before they reach the required age for military service, they are not expected to serve in the military ranks. They must have a good enough job to be able to support a family, though, and it must be proven that they do have good employment.

If young men are lucky enough to have parents that own their farm, or can find work with one of the more fortunate farmers, they have a chance to save enough money to buy their own land to farm. Not everyone is a good farm laborer, and not every farmer is a good farmer. Thus, these jobs are few and hard to come by.

If a farmer is fortunate enough to have several sons, then his labor costs are free. In turn, the sons get free on-the-job training and have the means to either purchase one of the farms being sold for unpaid taxes or have the possibility of taking over their father’s farm once he dies.

This is what all young men have to look forward to, regardless of his vocation, schooling, or status. This is the main reason so many of them, and older men as well, are wanting to migrate to some other country, rather than stay in their beloved homeland of Prussia.

48177.png

CHAPTER 1

48182.png

1844 Prussia – Our Beloved Homeland

By 1842, several people from our area had already left for America, and we knew next to nothing about their reasons for emigrating. As far back as 1832 there was a tailor named Friedrich Borges that left Prussia for America. Several years later, we heard he was living in Cleveland, Ohio, and doing well. He had become a master tailor and owned his own shop. Later on, we heard that two other people had left. One of them was a cabinetmaker and the other one was a farmer. Neither of them ever came back to Prussia. They did very well in a place called Kentucky, and we were told that land in America, and lots of it, is easy to obtain.

My Papa is a hard-working farmer that works his small farm day and night in order to make a living for us. The money he earns from selling produce from the farm is hardly enough, at times, for us to live on or to purchase the other necessities to run our farm. Food is scarce everywhere, and if it wasn’t for Mama’s garden, we wouldn’t have anything to eat. She always plants an abundance, so as to share it with our neighbors in their time of need. That’s just the way Mama is.

My Papa has seen several families, old and young, immigrate to different parts of the world, and, especially to America. Not necessarily because of the extreme poverty we are experiencing throughout our homeland, but because of other opportunities for a new beginning. At his age, this is what my Papa wants for himself and Mama; A new life.

It was early spring of 1844 that my Papa made his decision to leave Prussia with Mama of course, to look for a better life in America. Once he is settled in America, he will send for his sons, if they want to join him and Mama. However, at this time, he will take his young daughters with him. He will leave his farm, that his father left him, to his sons. And when the time is right, they could sell the farm for whatever they can get out of it, book passage on one of the ships, and sail to America to join their Papa and Mama.

Georg, Mama said, what makes you so sure that Wilhelm will not want to go to America?

Christiana, he is young, married, and has a family. Anyone would want to settle down and own his own farm. Trust me, Wilhelm is waiting for me to turn this farm over to him. I know it!

Now Georg, I think maybe you are underestimating your son. I would think that anyone that is young, married and has a family, would welcome the opportunity to go to America and start fresh with his own farm.

I cannot come right out and ask him, now can I? He would be so disappointed that I would be selling the farm and going to America, instead of giving it up to him. This is so complicated. I have had a headache over all this since that Friedrich Borges left. He made things difficult for everybody!

Georg, stop blaming poor Friedrich. Besides, he is doing very well for himself. You know, the sooner you tell Wilhelm, the better it will be. And besides, your headache will leave. Tell him in the morning. He will understand. And, I think you may be a little surprised that he might want to go with us.

Well, maybe you are right. You always seem to be right. You would think that after all these years, I should start listening to you, Papa said while pulling on her dress sleeve, I will tell him in the morning. He kissed her on the cheek and she smiled back. Papa thought, ‘she is still a very good looking woman.’

Now go on, you, I have work to do.

Georg went out on the front porch to contemplate how he would tell Wilhelm about going to America.

But what will Papa say? You know he needs us on the farm. He will soon be turning it over to Wilhelm to run, and you know how hard he is to work for. I think we should tell him tonight, that we are going to America, Karl said.

Phillip replied, No! That would break his heart if he knew that we would be leaving him. We need to talk it over with Wilhelm first. Then, we can talk to Papa.

Look you two! We have already made our decision, and we are sticking to it! We are going to America and that is final! We will go and talk to Papa and see what he thinks about all this. Besides, he can only say no. John Adolph said, rather firm.

Karl said, Sh-h-h, keep it down! Papa or one of our loud-mouthed sisters will hear us and then it will all be over for us. We will all be in trouble. No one will be going to America!

As Christina and Maria were walking down by the garden next to the pond, they were contemplating about going to America as well. This conversation had come up several times between them.

Christina, I think it is time to tell Papa and Mama that we want to go to America, Maria said. You have already ended your relationship with Charles, so what is there left to do? We will have a great opportunity in America. Here they still think of us as `just women’. We get married, have babies, and take care of the house. Oh, Christina, I want more out of life than just that.

I know how you feel, but we must deal with this very gently. Mama and Papa will not like us to go to a strange country by ourselves with no protection and get involved with who knows what. There are a lot of strange people in America. We have to be careful. Christina explained.

Well, if you are not interested, you can just stay right here and marry some dirt farmer, have his babies and live on his farm for the rest of your life! Not me! I am going to America with or without you! I want to go to school and become somebody, and that I will do! I am going to talk to Papa tonight about this. Maria said sternly.

No Maria, you need to wait until the right time to tell Papa. We will talk to him by the end of the week, I promise. Now don’t get me wrong, I want to go to America with you, but we have to make sure that everything is in place first; otherwise, Papa will not let us go. You know how he is, Christina said. There are the boys, and it sounds like they are arguing about something. Let’s go bother them.

At that, Christina and Maria walked through the little picket fence gate and on into the yard from the road.

Christina asked, What are you three arguing about? Who is going to America?

John Adolph replied, None of your business. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be in the house helping Mama, like little girls should be?

Frowning, Maria said, No wonder you fellows don’t have wives. No one could stand living with you!

Then, they disappeared around the corner of the house. When they discovered that Papa was on the porch by himself, they immediately ran up to join him.

Papa how was your day today? Christina asked, the older of the two girls and the oldest of the children in the family.

It was fine, just another hot day with a lot of work to do. What about you? Have you and Charles decided on a date yet. Will there be another marriage in the near future? Papa asked.

Oh Papa, that is all over and done with now. Charles and I have not seen each other for weeks. Where have you been? Christina replied.

I was just wondering how that was going. I have been so busy lately, and it is hard to keep up with everyone, Papa said.

Maria said, Papa, me and Georg are getting married next month, remember? Then, she burst out laughing. Papa knew that Franz would not let his younger son get married this soon. He was away at school and would not get married until he finished.

You girls go on now and help your Mama. She has worked hard all day, Papa said, girls, humph, and contentious little things they are.

Frowning, they both went into the house.

Looking at Christina, he thought she needs to get a husband before she gets too old to have children. And the other one, she needs to stop acting so smart or she will never get married. Men don’t want smart wives.

Karl, John Adolph and Phillip came around from the side of the house and stepped up on the porch with Papa.

‘Can’t a man have any peace these days?’ Papa thought.

How are my son’s tonight? Papa asked, What trouble have you been causing?

Karl replied, Not much, Papa.

Since Papa seemed to be in some sort of a mood, the boys went on into the house. They would wait for another opportunity to talk to him. Maybe they would by the end of the week.

I couldn’t imagine having my own farm. I would often sit and daydream about what I would do and the kinds of crops I would grow if I had my own farm. I would raise my sons to be farmers and take over the family farm when I got old. They could pass it along to their sons. However, I must get back to my own work or Papa would want to know what was on my mind these days. It would be hard to tell him that I was leaving. My mind has been made up already, and I will have to wait for the right time to tell him that I am going to America. Maybe it would be a good idea to discuss the possibilities with my three brothers, Karl, John Adolph and Phillip. Certainly I can’t say anything to my sisters. I must also tell Anna Sibilla not to tell them, as well. They will tell Papa right away and that will spoil this opportunity for me. He will be very hurt if he hears it from someone else other than myself. I am also quite concerned about what Papa will think. He loves this land, and I just don’t think he would ever leave it. And, if he won’t leave, then I will have to remain here to take care of him, mama and the farm.

Maybe I will mention this to Papa and see what his reaction will be. America! I will soon be there!

In our village, we knew very little about America. We thought we could trust what Borges had written to his family here. Everything had gone well for him. So, very slowly and gradually, I began to think about emigrating myself. All I would have to do is convince Anna Sibilla, my lovely young wife, that we were going to America. She was very close to her family, the Doerrs. However, since she was an only child, she would not be leaving her brothers and sisters behind. Besides, we could send for Wilhelm Peter and Maria, her father and mother, shortly after our arrival there.

The knowledge that Borges and the others had succeeded, influenced me greatly. It put a burning desire in my heart that could not be quenched. However, whenever we asked what America looked like and what the living conditions were like there, we got varying reports. It seems like everyone liked it there, except for those savages or wild men out in the west, everyone talked about, that killed settlers, stole horses, and burnt their homes. We were told that it was not a nice place to raise your children. I really didn’t know what that meant, but I would find out first hand, when I got to America.

My father, Georg Conrad, had several acres of good land, located next to a small river, and good enough to get by on. This land would be shared between my three brothers, Karl, John Adolph and Phillip, and me when Papa passed away. However, I was not satisfied with this small portion of land. I wanted to have a much larger farm. Besides, the government would take much of my earnings and leave me with very little. All of my hard work would pay off, but not for me. It would go to them, the officials of the government.

Here comes Papa now, I have to shake myself out of this daydreaming.

Wilhelm, what are you thinking about? You seem to be sitting around day dreaming a lot these days. What are you dreaming about?

Nothing, Papa, Anna Sibilla isn’t feeling well these days, and I guess I’m a little worried about her.

Ah, yes, women. They will occupy your mind till the day you die. You aren’t expecting another child, are you Wilhelm?

No, Papa, it’s nothing like that. She is just, uh, just being a woman, I guess.

Wilhelm, I have something I have been meaning to discuss with you, but it seems we never have the time to talk anymore these days. Maybe we should get together at the end of the week and talk.

Well, I thought anxiously, I believe he is about ready to turn the farm over to me to manage. I can’t accept that, because I will be going to America! Maybe that will be the right time to let him know about my plans. No, I think I must tell him earlier so as not to spoil his gift to me. I now have two difficult things in my head to think about. I must tell Anna Sibilla about my plans for America, and I must tell Papa about my plans. Oh, my poor aching head.

Life went on in an endless cycle of manure wagons, milking cows, feeding pigs, cleaning chicken coops, shucking corn, and digging potatoes. Well, I guess I will have to wait until a better time to tell Papa about the decision I have made.

After a long hard day working with Papa in the fields, I went to our small, cramped house. Anna Sibilla had cooked my favorite pot roast and potatoes with homemade bread.

Anna, what is the special occasion? I asked.

Wilhelm, come sit down for just a minute. I want to talk to you. You know that there is a lot of talk around the village about America. You don’t have to say yes or no right now, but I think we should look into going to America. The longer she went on about this, the more excited she became. I was shocked about the things she was talking about. She said one of the ladies at the market was talking to her husband, and he told her about a family that went to a place called Kansas and bought a farm for little or nothing by way of money. She said that they are doing very well and are getting ready to buy more land.

Well, I guess that answers my first question. If only it would be that easy with Papa.

Shocked, I blurted out, Anna! This has been on my mind for sometime now. I just didn’t know how I was going to tell you, but you have answered my question before I have asked it!

Yes, I think it would be a great opportunity for us and for our children, I went on, All I have to do is tell Papa, and then, we can make our preparations to leave. I don’t know how he will take it, though.

Oh, Wilhelm, he has Karl, Phillip and John Adolph. They can help him on the farm. Besides, I think I will have an even harder time telling my mother and father that I am leaving with their grandchildren. You know how close they are to them.

I know, Anna. Let’s sleep on it tonight and tomorrow we will come up with a plan on how to tell them that we are leaving for America. Anna, just think of it! We can get a big farm in Kansas and raise our children there. Oh, Anna, I am so relieved that you feel the way you do about all this. I just don’t know what to say.

Wilhelm, I too have been thinking about this for some time now, and just didn’t know how you would feel about it. I was afraid you would say no. I was thinking you had your heart set on getting this farm from your Papa, Anna Sibilla said with a sigh of relief, I think this is one of the happiest days of my life!

And me too, Anna, me too!

The next morning, we again talked about leaving and going to America. Seems like that is all we talked about until the time came for me to leave to work with Papa on the farm. I had a little bounce in my step this morning and it felt really nice. One of the big burdens had been lifted off my shoulders, and I only had half a headache now. The next thing I had to do was to approach Papa with my plan. That will be very difficult, I think.

Papa came out and met me just before I entered the large pole barn.

Wilhelm, how are you this morning?

Papa, I feel like I am ready for anything this morning.

He came over to me, and we walked silently into the barn. I reached over and took the bridle for Matty, the old workhorse, and when I turned around, Papa was sitting on the bench next to the stall where old Matty was.

Wilhelm, come sit down here and let’s talk.

I thought, oh no, I guess now is the time he wants to talk. How am I ever going to tell him, I thought, while looking straight up in the air as if God would answer me right this minute? I was hoping He would, too.

As I sat down, Papa was strangely silent, as if he was in deep thought about something.

Papa, is everything alright?

Ignoring my question, Papa said, Wilhelm, you remember that Friedrich Borges and many others have already left this country for America, for a new life.

I felt that deep down thunk in my stomach. It was almost as if I had been kicked there by old Matty. I felt this rushing up from inside and, by now, my face was flushed. I thought I was going to pass out. This is how I felt when we would get caught doing something that Papa didn’t want us to do, and he would be standing out next to the barn with that old piece of bridle in his hands. And, we knew what that meant. Oh no, I thought, he has read my mind.

Wilhelm, I am just going to come right out and say it. You don’t have to answer right now, but I would like an answer soon.

Uh, Papa … I started to speak, but he cut me right off.

Wilhelm, I know it is your desire to have this farm and to raise your children here. And, I know you would do a wonderful job. You are a hard working man, and God has blessed you for it. However, I think it is time that I tell you that Mama and I have made a decision that we all should go to America together, before we are too old to travel. We will all go together, Karl, John Adolph, Phillip, Christina, Maria, you, Anna Sibilla and the children. We will sell this poor, broken down farm for what we can get out of it. I have never wanted any of my sons to take it over, because it produces nothing. It is a worthless piece of dirt that is worn out. So, what do you think about this decision?

I was in shock. I could hardly speak. What is going on here? Does everybody know we are going to America, but me? I wondered if he had told the others yet, since they never mentioned it to me.

He went on, Mama and I discussed together about taking the girls with us and leaving you boys here to run the farm, and later you could sell it and join us in America. However, I am now thinking that it would be best for all of us to go together. You are the first, other than Mama that I have told about going to America, because you have a wife and children. I will be getting everyone together tomorrow night and will tell them at that time. Please do not say anything to anyone, yet. The journey will be most difficult for you and Anna Sabilla. However, we will all pitch in together and help. That will make it easier for you and Anna Sibilla.

Papa, I said, rather excitedly, this is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Anna Sibilla and I have made our decision to go to America, too, and I was just not sure how to tell you. I was thinking you wanted me to take over this farm and run it for you. I was so afraid that you would object to my decision.

Wilhelm, You know I want the best for you and your family, and the others too. Why would you think such a thing? I am so happy that you want to go to America. We can do so much there together. Look how we have managed this farm.

Papa, I am so relieved. Now the other half of my headache is gone!

Papa looked at me strangely, and I knew he didn’t understand what I meant.

I worked the rest of the day as never before. I couldn’t wait to get home to Anna Sibilla and tell her the good news. She will be really excited.

Anna! Anna! I shouted as I got near the house.

I thought my chest would explode, because my heart was pumping so fast.

Anna, come hear the good news! I shouted.

Anna came running out of the house.

What is it Wilhelm? Something wrong with Papa? she asked nervously.

No, Anna, we are going to America! I said excitedly.

I know, Wilhelm, we talked about that last night. What is the news you have?

Papa and Mama are going with us! Karl, John Adolph, Phillip and the two girls are going too!

Wilhelm, how do you know this?

I talked to Papa, or rather he talked to me about it this morning. He and Mama have been talking about this for quite some time now, and they are getting the family together tomorrow night, and we will all be talking about it together as a family! I exclaimed.

Wilhelm, slow down. What are you talking about? Getting together tomorrow night. Everyone in the family is going. You are talking in riddles, and I am having a hard time following you. What on earth are you talking about? Slow down and tell me what you are talking about.

Ok, Papa and I were at the barn this morning, and I started to tell him about us going to America, when all of a sudden, he told me about him and Mama going to America and wanting all of us to go with them.

Wilhelm, that is wonderful! Wait until I talk to Christina!

No, you mustn’t. Papa doesn’t want us to talk to anyone until he gets everyone together. I promised him that we wouldn’t say anything. I said, firmly.

Ok, I will wait. But it will be hard.

The next evening we were all together at Papa’s house.

So, Wilhelm, since you and Papa are always together, what does he want to speak to us about? Karl asked.

Yeah, Wilhelm, you seem to be in the know. What is this all about? John Adolph asked.

Then the girls asked, also.

I don’t know! I don’t know! I said harshly while shaking my head, I don’t know everything that goes on around here. Ask Phillip. He is closer to Papa than I am. He tells Papa everything.

Now wait a minute, Wilhelm, I don’t . …

Papa said, Ok, I want everyone to be quiet for a minute, if that is possible. I have something very important to say, and I want all of you to hear it.

We all leaned forward as to listen intently.

You all know that Friedrich Borges and several others from the city have already gone to America and, from what I hear, old Friedrich is doing quite well. Some have not done so well. I am not surprised, for they didn’t do very well here, either. They left here poor and will be poor there. I have been thinking very seriously about all this, and after talking it over with Mama, I have decided that we all should make our decision to go to America, together. We can get a big farm in Ohio or Iowa and live very well.

Papa, I said, there is even larger farms in Kansas and better land, also.

See! I told you Karl. Wilhelm has been thinking about going to America all along! I knew it! He was going to leave us all behind. Philip blurted out.

Then, pandemonium broke out. Everyone was trying to talk at the same time. Some were arguing and others were jabbering and clucking like chickens. Karl was talking to Papa, Phillip to John Adolph and the two girls were talking to each other, and poor Mama was sitting there watching the chaos.

Once again Papa spoke. Wait, wait, wait! Everyone stop talking. We will let everyone have a say. If you all will just settle down, we can let everyone have a chance to speak. Now, we’ll start with the oldest. Christina, what do you have to say?

Papa, Maria and I have been talking about this between us for sometime now. I was going to tell you tonight that we were going to America together. But now it looks as if all of us are going to America! Christina beamed.

Again, pandemonium broke out with everyone talking to each other, and once again, Papa had to stop everyone from talking.

Hold on! Stop talking! Stop it! Papa yelled, while pounding his fist on the chair arm.

Everyone quieted again.

I can see everyone is excited about the prospect of going to America. Let me ask this: Is there someone here that does not want to go to America?

Silence. Then, Phillip, the quiet one, spoke up.

Uh-umm. Papa, he said.

Everyone looked at him with surprise.

Papa, I just wanted to say this. If we sell the farm and the farm animals, will we be dividing up the money so that we will all have money when we get to America? Phillip asked, innocently.

This again brought on pandemonium and chaos.

Papa threw up his hands in disgust, while looking at Mama and nodding his head up and down, It is going to be a long journey, Mama. It is going to be a long journey!

48177.png

CHAPTER 2

48182.png

Leaving a Country Behind

At last, we are going to America. We have no idea what lies ahead of us on the long journey there. In the spring of 1844, Papa found a buyer for our farm and thus sold all the animals and everything else associated with the farm. We began our trip to America early in 1844.

Our 1844 traveling family consisted of twelve people; the head of our family, Georg Conrad Hankammer, 55, our mother Christiana Elisabetha, 55, born Doerr; the oldest daughter, Christina 30, Karl 29, John Adolph 25, Phillip 24, and Maria Christina Philippina, the youngest daughter 22. Also going along are myself, Wilhelm Christian 28, my wife Anna Sibilla Catherina 29, born Doerr, and our three children, Karl (Charles) 5, our oldest child, Adolph 3, and Wilhelmina 1, our youngest child.

We will begin our trip with our chests, baggage, and boxes loaded on a big flatbed wagon; then, we will follow along in another travel wagon separate from the baggage. The children will have some very uncomfortable days sitting on those chests and in amongst the baggage, and I’m sure they will be wishing, many times no less, that we arrive in Bremen very soon where the ship, that will take us to America, is waiting for us.

Anna Sibilla said, I sure hope it is a large ship. It will have to be to carry all these things we are bringing along.

Surely it is. I also hope there are cute sailors on board, whispered Christina to Maria. Then, they both giggled.

Wilhelm, you can put your things over here, Papa said. That will keep all your things together. You girls put yours on this side, and Karl, John Adolph, and Phillip, keep your things together. We don’t want to leave anything behind. Mama, have you got everything you wanted to take along?

Yes, Georg, I have.

Ok, Papa, we hear what you are saying. Karl said. Then, under his breath, Papa is always organizing, ‘put this here, put that there’, now really, does he think that we are all still 12 years old, or what?

John Adolph said sarcastically, Karl, put your box here, not there. Then he and Phillip laughed loudly.

Christina, you and Maria, get your things off mine. They are crushing my stuff! Karl shouted.

This brought on a yelling match between Karl, John Adolph, Phillip and the two girls, Christina and Maria.

However, Papa took control of the situation.

Wait! Everyone be quiet! We need to have order here or no one is going to America. Hear me? Papa shouted.

Yes, Papa, they all said. Then, there was some mumbling between each other as Karl pitched, well, actually threw Christina’s bag over toward the other side of the wagon.

Karl! Maria shouted. Then, as if she remembered what Papa said, she picked up her bag and sauntered around to the end of the wagon. Papa was scowling at her, but winked and smiled back at her, when she smiled at him.

I got Anna Sibilla’s things and mine together. All the things for the children were in one spot; however, my belongings were just about everywhere.

We suffered from the terrible heat and dry, burning thirst in the wagon as we slowly lumbered down the dusty road for the last time. Somehow, that thought made it much easier to deal with. The trip to America still looked bright to me though, and I kept thinking ‘Just be patient until we get to Bremen. Then, we’ll get on that beautiful ship that I have dreamed so much about that will take us quickly over the ocean to America. That’s where all of our troubles will come to an end. That is where our future begins for us and for our children.’ I caught a glimpse of Papa’s eyes as he looked back at the farm he loved so much, and I thought I saw a little tear drop from his eye, and he quickly rubbed it as if something flew into it. Then, he turned back to the road ahead. That was Papa’s way of saying good-bye to the farm, I guess.

I leaned over and touched Anna Sibilla on the hand. She looked at me inquisitively, and I just smiled at her. She also smiled back at me as if she was reading my mind.

‘Ah, America!’, I thought.

Everyone was very somber during the trip. Even the girls were quiet, which was unusual for them. Reality was finally setting in with them that we were actually going to America. Or was it that we were really leaving our lives behind?

The trip took us almost three days, but we finally arrived there. Hungry, tired, stiff and sore, we stood at the corner of the restaurant where the wagon was unhitched. The children were whimpering, and Anna Sibilla assured them that we were headed for a good dinner and a nice comfortable bed soon.

Aren’t we, Wilhelm? she asked.

Yes we are, Anna, yes we are, I replied.

Papa looked over at me and smiled. ‘Good answer’, I’m sure he was thinking.

Papa said, Let’s all stay together and not wonder about. I don’t want anyone to get lost or left behind.

Ok, Papa, the girls replied.

I knew Karl, John Adolph, and Phillip wanted to get out and away from Papa. He was treating them like little boys. However, they assured Papa that they would stay around close. I think the real reason may have been that Papa didn’t want to be left all alone in this strange place with no one to protect us. We had always been around Papa, and this was something new for him.

I said to the boys, Go ahead and look around some. I will stay and help Papa and Mama find a place for us to stay tonight. We are planning on eating at that restaurant over there, and we will investigate the lodging next door. So, check back with us soon. We will either be in the restaurant or over there.

Really? John Adolph asked.

Phillip said, Let’s go! Not waiting for Papa’s reply to what I had just said.

Wilhelm, you are so thoughtful, sometimes, Anna Sibilla said to me, and patted my hand.

I smiled at her, thinking, ‘I sure wish I was going with them.’

The girls stayed close by, because there were many sailors around, and it was their opportunity to look them over. However, they did it discreetly around Papa.

We decided to settle the lodging first, so we found a place with two large rooms, which would be adequate for us to sleep in. There were several cots in the rooms and would be enough for our family to sleep on. Now the task at hand would be to get everyone together and let them know where we were staying. That would be easy enough, since they would all be coming back to the restaurant for supper.

When we settled down to eat at the restaurant, two of the boys showed up but not John Adolph. We knew they wouldn’t be gone long when food was involved. They told us that they didn’t know where John Adolph was, but was sure he would show up soon. After our hardy meal, we decided to go to our hotel for the night. The boys said they would go look for John Adolph, but Papa told them that he was quite capable of finding his own way back. I believe Papa was a little upset with John Adolph. That was a very restless night for all of us. It was extremely noisy with people coming and going, doors opening and closing, and adding the unusual sounds of the street at night. It was a strange and unusual place for us. John Adolph finally came in very late that night, and I could smell just a hint of alcohol as he passed by my cot. Anna Sibilla and the children slept close by and slept fairly sound, even though they were used to the quietness of the farm.

Early the next morning, after we had eaten a really good breakfast, our belongings were loaded onto a large steam ship with three masts. What a beautiful ship she was. Did I really think she was that beautiful, or was I just happy and excited about the trip across the ocean? The name on the ship was The Orion.

Papa was standing there watching what the sailors were doing. Humph, he replied, "I think they need help