Many German emigrants exited through the ports of Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven. Bremerhaven was the port of Bremen because the Bremen port was full of silt and needed dredging. Ships could not get into Bremen. Cuxhaven was the port for Hamburg. Other German ports were primarily located along the eastern sea board and included Stettin, Gdansk (Danzig), Libau, Memel, and Riga. Germans also used Scandinavian ports (especially Copenhagen). The ports in Antwerp, Belgium and le Havre, France were also used.
Author: Rettwent
Euros for Services
So recently I received my invoice for services done by Beyond-History out of Hamburg, Germany and tried to send them dollars but they only want the Euros. Of course the exchange rate is not good but the treasure of research they are doing will be worth it. I hope.
Map of Germany in 1871
Pomerania is the location where I have located my Rettammel family last location in Germany.
Beyond History great help
Recently I have been having connect with a German genealogist business based in Hamburg. I am impressed with the interaction so far! Looking forward to what I find from them soon.
http://www.beyond-history.com/en/
Lessons for German Genealogy
Every German state has its own main archive and every bigger city has another city archive. As of 1876, civil records were recorded in Germany by the civil registry offices, before that time it was mandatory that all births, weddings and deaths were recorded in church books in the church of the town in the village where the people lived.
German Professional Genealogist
I recently have contacted a genealogist in Hamburg, Germany. This is the organization link.
Germans in Central Wisconsin: Why move to Wisconsin?
The Rettammels purchased 160 acres in the Township of Orange in northern Juneau County October 1, 1897 from Emma C. and Bernhard Schroeder of Chicago, Illinois for $4,000 cash. At the time, August F. Rettammel was 50 years old with 3 sons and 1 daughter. His first-Louisa Rettammel nee Felix-wife and mother of the children had died in 1890 and his second wife Mrs. Louise Fischer (married August 1892), either had died but I do not know. I believe that the opportunity to buy land was finally achieved. Like many immigrants the American dream of having your own land to farm was something that August F. was now able to do and since he was at an age when life expectancy was under 50 and his 3 sons August age 21 (my Grandpa), Edward 17 and Theordor(e) 11 could have something when he died. The eldest of the family Eva Kehrwald nee Rettammel was married and lived the remainder of her life in Chicago.
Eva Rettammel Kehrwald – My Grandpa’s sister
August 14, 1873 – Feb 25, 1923
Buried: Memorial Park, Evanston, Ill.
Rettammel House in Lyndon Station, Wisconsin during 1930s
Travel Diary to Russia (Soviet Union) March 1985
Occasionally I’ll sprinkle in some words I produced in 1985 as a College student on visit to the Soviet Union. My first time being overseas. I was part a large group of students and professors from two campuses in the University of Wisconsin system. Most of my writing was done at the end of the night in the hotel room. Hope you enjoy this real adventure when the world and threats were so different.
March 23, 1985
Stockholm, Sweden
Everything I did on this trip isn’t included. The main event of the day is the basic statement. I have in some places reflected on what I thought, I know with disgust and biases.
Sunday, March 10, 1985
Hotel Pulkovskaya
Left O’Hare at 5:22pm arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark at 7:40am. The flight was 7 ½ hrs. Experienced some turbulence during flight. During wait at Copenhagen, toured part of the city. Had coffee at a little restaurant where I paid 35 kroner for Dean and I (exchange 12 for $1.00 approximately). Now waiting for Areoflot flight. Will write more extensively later.
Later…
A lot of of shops along narrow brick street walkways. Extremely European and very nice place to walk around in. (this sentence sounds funny now – 2012).
Temperature was 23 degrees. Except for the weather..Wind was cold and I wasn’t prepared for the conditions.
Didn’t see Stockholm, Sweden stayed in plane while we waited for an hour. -3 degrees as we arrived in Leningrad (Russia) after 7:00pm. Got off plane and were all put or crammed into one bus. We waited in bus probably 15 to 30 minutes (I think they-Russians- wanted to intimidate us), part of the Russian system. One nice thing was the whole group got through customs without any problems.
First, we got through the passport inspection. This young Russian, probably my age, looks at you to verify that you are the person on the passport. After this he inspects the visa and if you pass he stamps the visa. He doesn’t stamp the passport, because of a agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This agreement says U.S. passports won’t be stamped because some other countries won’t accept persons who have been in Soviet Union travel protection.
Secondly we got through the inspection of our luggage. My luggage was not inspected, at least I don’t think. After the customs inspector checked my customs declaration he stamped it. I then proceeded to pick up my luggage and meet the rest of the group. We then arrived at the hotel, which is an extremely pleasant surprise. The rooms are similar to the ones back home. Dean and I found out that toilet paper is short in supply. But not to worry we have enough stuff to wipe the ‘bottom’ ends.
One last note before tomorrow, since being over here a short while I feel like I am not in another country. It hasn’t hit me yet; the Russians so far have made us feel like we are just on an American vacation. Well Dean and I are tired from the entire plane hopping. Tomorrow we eat breakfast at 9 am and start tour of Leningrad at 10:15am. Have our own refrigerator in our room.
Memories of my Dad
One of my first memories of my Dad is when I was in Indian Guides through the YMCA in Racine, WI. Dad was Big Bear and I was Little Bear. We both went to Camp Anakeegee (east of Stevens Points, WI, I believe) in Northern Wisconsin in the winter and stayed in a cabin with other fathers and sons. I remember how much fun we had sledding during the day and then eating meals in a lodge during the evening.
This trip is most memorable because Dad and I won the father and son sledding race competition. I still do not understand how we won because Dad was rather a hefty man at the time, I believe it was his very strong physical frame that won it for us.
The day we won Dad was laying chest-down on the sled while I was on his back. I still can remember how much security I felt when my hands touched his neck and shoulders as we went sailing down the ice covered hill going very fast. I know helping me win that day made him very proud to be a parent.. He enjoyed seeing me smile and happy.
Rettammel Genealogy Service 