German-American Day

Happy German-American Day!

In the United States, National German-American Day is observed annually on October 6th.  It celebrates German-American heritage and commemorates the founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1683.  Last year, the following proclamation was given by the White House:

A Proclamation on German-American Day, 2021

 Since the first Germans arrived on American soil in the 17th century in search of religious freedom and opportunity, German-Americans have played an essential role in the foundation and growth of our country.  Today, German-Americans make up one of the largest ancestry groups in our country, with more than 43 million Americans of German heritage living in the United States.  Their influence has been felt in each successive generation, and their contributions to the United States have been innumerable.  On German-American Day, we celebrate the German-Americans who continue to enhance our Nation with their talents, skills, knowledge, and rich cultural heritage. 

The contributions of German-Americans are woven into the fabric of America, touching our lives every day.  From the Brooklyn Bridge to airplanes, jeans to pianos, the food we eat to the beer we drink — German-Americans have invented, built, and influenced some of the most iconic American products and institutions.  Generations of German-Americans have served our Nation as first responders, public servants, scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers and ranchers, authors, and athletes among many other occupations. 

The strong ties between the people of America and Germany that have arisen since the end of World War II reflect the common bonds our countries enjoy.  We remain committed to the shared democratic values and institutions that have shaped our nations and our economies.  Earlier this year, the United States and Germany signed the Washington Declaration, reaffirming the democratic principles that underpin our steadfast commitment to bilateral cooperation in promoting peace, security, and prosperity around the world.  The United States and Germany are inseparable allies.

On German-American Day, we celebrate our Nation’s German-American heritage and recognize the contributions both past and present of German-Americans across our country. 

Now, therefore, I, Joseph R Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2021, as German-American Day.  I urge all Americans to celebrate the rich and varied history of German-Americans and remember the many contributions they have made to our Nation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.

My German Roots

I grew up with an American born German grandfather, Elmer Martin, on my paternal side.  His father, John Stephen Martin, was born in Rothenbach, Oberfranken, Bayern, Germany on November 28, 1847.  He immigrated a year later in 1848 with his mother, Katherine Castner.  John's father, Mathias Martin, had come a year earlier in 1847. Elmer's mother, Elizabeth Weiss, was born in Illinois of German immigrant parents, Johann Michael Weiss and Anna Maria Heim, who came in 1848.  Both sets of great-grandparents were  hardworking, industrious, successful farmers in Rock Island, Illinois. 

Grandpa Elmer liked to cook and was actually a good cook.  Some of his German heritage shows up in what he liked to cook.  As a child, I can remember him making his own sauerkraut in big crocks that sat out by the garage in back of the house. Eating his sauerkraut was mandatory when visiting his home for dinner, but since I liked sauerkraut I really did not mind.  My grandparents had a large screened in back-porch where in his later years, Elmer would sit to drink his beer🍺, and eat Limburger cheese, Liverwurst, and sardines.  All of which, never became a favorite with me😉

My maternal Grandmother’s maiden name was Leffel.  Her 4th great-grandparents Balzar and Sybilla Leffel immigrated to America from Oggersheim, Ludwigshafen, Bayern, Germany in 1750.  When they first arrived in America, the Leffel family first lived in Pennsylvania.  By the 1820's, many of the Leffel family had settled in Springfield, Ohio, where some such as James Leffel, left his mark as a prominent inventor and industrialist.  My Leffel line eventually moved into Texas and Oklahoma. 

In AncestryDNA's last ethnicity estimate from June 2022, my German ethnicity shows up at 24%.  Prior to that AncestryDNA showed NO German ethnicity (see post).  So now I'm really happy 😊😊my German Heritage shows up in my DNA as well as in family stories, traditions, and records.

German Ethnicity 2022

Posts about my German roots:

German Immigrant Ancestors 

German Naming Patterns 

Thierstein Evangelical Lutheran Parish Records 

Arzberg Evangelical Lutheran Parish Records  

Mathias Martin and Kate Castner 

John and Elizabeth Weiss Martin 

My Weiss Immigrant Family 

Balzar and Sybilla Leffel 

Elmer Martin 

My German Family Tree 

"Wedded Bliss"

John Martin and Elizabeth Weiss

John S Martin and Elizabeth D Weiss were married on 21st day of November 1882 in Rural Township, Rock Island, Illinois.  John was thirty-five years old and Elizabeth was twenty-five years old at the time of their marriage.

Marriage Record: John S Martin and Elizabeth Weiss

Their marriage was reported in the Rock Island Argus newspaper with the title, "Wedded Bliss".  The news article gave detailed list of the wedding presents, also, wedding guests and large circle of friends who gave the presents.

Rock Island Argus, 23 Nov 1882

Related Posts:

John Stephan Martin

Mother & Daughter Die On Same Day

John and Lizzy Martin Family Photo

Our Weiss Immigrant Family

Our First American Ancestors in the Weiss Family

Philip Jacob Weiss & Maria Barbara Maendle

Philip Jacob Weiss was born 14 December 1794 in Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany.  He was the third child of Michael Weiss and Catherine Traub Weiss.  On 18 June 1822, he married Maria Barbara Maendle.  Barbara, the daughter of Johann Michael Maendle and Susanna Kissling, was born 6 Apr 1802 in Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany.

Below is a copy of the Parish Family Record for the Philip Jacob Weiss family. It is from the Family Register of Uhingen, Vol II, page 426.

Family Register; Uhingen, Wuerttemberg, Germany

Philip Jacob Weiss and his family emigrated to America from their home in Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany.   The German people were tired of religious persecutions, wars, political oppression, and social unrest.  And, the Weiss family was looking for a better way of life and a place to raise their children.

The Weiss family sailed from Havre, France on the ship “Seth Sprague”, which was captained by Alexander Wadsworth.  

Ship Seth Sprague, Captained by Alexander Wadsworth

Passenger list of the ship Seth Sprague.  Weiss family starts on line 23.

After a three month voyage, the Weiss family arrived at New Orleans on June 17, 1848.    Soon after, the family started their travel up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri.  Jacob Weiss became ill and died of cholera in St Louis.  He was buried in a cemetery that was later destroyed by fire so no trace of his grave has ever been found.

After the death of Philip Jacob Weiss, the family continued by boat up the Mississippi River to Rock Island, Illinois.  There was a large German settlement in Coal Valley Township, Rock Island County and it was there that Maria Barbara Weiss and her family settled.  It is possible that they located in that particular area because neighbors or friends in Germany may have located there before the arrival of the Weiss family.  In a short time after their arrival Maria Barbara purchased a two hundred acre farm for which she paid $1,060.00.

It is not known where the Weiss family stayed when they arrived at their destination. After they settled in their new home, a log house, members of the family started getting the farm ready for crops.   While their log house was not very large it always had room for others.  Many people coming from Germany stayed at the Weiss home until they could locate a farm of their own.  As in all German families everyone worked, including the younger children.  They were sent to the store, a distance of about fourteen miles.  They carried butter which was wrapped in a shawl and this was exchanged for necessary supplies.

Pages from the Weiss Bible brought from Germany

Maria Barbara Weiss only lived ten years after coming to America, passing away in 1858. She was buried on the Weiss homestead, Rural Township, Rock Island County, Illinois.  The small cemetery, located north of the house of John Michael Weiss, is now abandoned and supposedly has three tombstones, and several more unmarked graves.  The cemetery is on private property and was posted with a "No Trespassing" sign in 1997.  Alta made the following chart of the cemetery.

Much of the above story came from the book, Weiss Family by Alta Sherrard Waugh.

Sources:

Family Register: 

Evangelische Kirche Uhingen (OA. Göppingen), Parish Record; Uhingen, Donaukreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany; Uhingen Kirchenbuch, 1634-1900.

Ship Passenger List:

Ancestry.com. New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA. Original data: New Orleans, Louisiana. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902. Micropublication M259. RG036. Rolls # 1-93. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Weiss Family Book:

Waugh, Alta S., Weiss Family 1600-1983.  Washington, District of Columbia: American Memoirs Publishing, 1983.  First edition in possession of blog author. 

See post about the book, click here.

Related Posts:
Weiss Family 1600-1983
Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss Martin
Our First Families in America

Weiss Family 1600-1983

While in college (1970), I took a beginning genealogy class taught by Instructor J. Grant Stevenson.  Prior to that time I basically knew almost nothing about my family's history.  Stevenson encouraged us to write to family members to gather information.  My paternal grandfather (Elmer Martin) had died a year earlier.  Since I had never met any family members from the Martin side of my family, I thought I would start with researching the Martin family.  I corresponded with Elmer's brother, Wilber Martin, who lived in Milan, Rock Island, Illinois.  He put me in touch with several other family members and eventually I came in contact with Alta Waugh.

Alta Sherrard

Alta Sherrard Waugh (1904-2004) was the daughter of Frank Wesley Sherrard and Emma Weiss.  Her mother, Emma Weiss, was a half-sister to my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Weiss Martin.  At the time I was corresponding with Alta, she was in the process of gathering material to write a book on the Weiss family.  She recognized the "budding genealogist" in me and encouraged my genealogical endeavors by sending me information, research, and photos of the Weiss family.

Alta obtained the help of German genealogist, Frederick von Frank, to gather records from Germany for the Weiss and Maendle families.  She also contacted descendants of the Weiss family from across the United States for much of her material.  

Fortunately, I was able to obtain a copy of Alta Waugh's book , Weiss Family, 1600-1983.  Below is copy of the title page, dedication page, and book cover. The book has been digitized and can be viewed by all.  It is found on FamilySearch.org in the Family History Books.

Alta dedicated the book to her mother, Emma Weiss Sherrard.

Book Cover

To view the digitized book on FamilySearch.org, click here.

Other Blog Posts about the Weiss Family:

Philip Jacob Weiss and Maria Barbara Maendle, our first American Ancestors 

Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss Martin   

German Naming Patterns

The names our German ancestors named their children confused me until I took a beginning class on German Research and learned how the children were named.  

Reason for confusion -- a typical family might have 3 sons, all with the first name of Johann: Johann Georg, Johann Michael, and Johann Christoph. And their 3 daughters might have the same first name: Anna Dorothea, Anna Maria, and Anna Elizabetha.

When a child was baptized, two names were usually given. The first name was a spiritual or saint name. The second name was a secular or "call" name. This second "call" name was the name the child was called by or known by to family, friends, and the rest of the world.

So in the example above, the three boys with the first name of Johann would be known, respectively, as Georg, Michael, and Christoph. The three girls with the first name of Anna would be known, respectively, as Dorothea, Maria, and Elizabetha.

Sometimes every child in the family would have a different first or "saint" name but it's not unusual as in the example above, for a family to have had a favorite saint and use that name for every child in the family.

Also, if a family had a child that died as an infant, they often named the next child of the same sex the very same name of the child who died. So if two Johann Michael's were in the same family, the first child by that name most likely died before the birth of the second by the same name.

Johann and Johannes -- If a son's first name was Johann followed by a a second name, then Johann was the saint name and the second name was the call name. Sometimes only the name Johannes is used without the use of a second name. Then the child is called Johannes.

John and Elizabeth Martin Family Photo

John and Elizabeth Martin Family of Rock Island County, Illinois

Back row standing: John S. Martin holding Wilber, ?not known?, Christina Weiss, Mary Martin, ?not known?, Ahart Martin, Christina Wittick

Front row sitting: Elizabeth Martin, Emma, Elmer, John, Catherine Martin (mother of John)

The above photo was taken about 1896 at the Methodist Camp Grounds in front of the John Martin cabin.

Martin Family Stories:
John Stephan Martin
Mother and Daughter Die Same Day
Mathias and Catharina Martin
John Martin and Elizabeth Weiss Marriage

John and Elizabeth Martin Family

John Stephan Martin

1847-1919
Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss 
1857-1903

John S Martin

 John S Martin is my paternal great-grandfather.  These pictures of John show that he was a handsome man, with very light blue eyes. His son, my Grandpa Elmer, also had very blue eyes.

The short biography shown below about John S Martin can be found in the book, "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Rock Island County," Vol. II, Edited by Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, Chicago, 1914, Munsell Publishing Co., pg 1273-1274.

MARTIN, John S.
"After a man has spent thirtyseven years in one community, his character is generally pretty well known to his fellow citizens, who have had ample time to become thoroughly informed as to his manner of doing business, his ideas of public citizenship and his worth as a man of family and a neighbor, and the high esteem in which John S. Martin is held by all who know him, testifies to the fact that he is one of Bowling township’s representative men.
John S. Martin, who is the owner of a 320-acre tract of land on section 23, was born November 28, 1847, in Bavaria, Germany, the oldest of eight children of Mathias and Catherine (Castner) Martin.  Mathias Martin was born November 39, 1809, and married in Germany to Katherine Castner, who was born June 5, 1828. In his native county, Mathias Martin learned the trade of shoemaker, and on first coming to the United States settled at Farmington, Jefferson county, Wis., where he followed his trade and engaged in farming for twelve years. He had come to this country in 1849, and in the following years sent for his wife and baby, who joined him at Farmington.
John S. Martin still loves to relate the experiences of the Wisconsin pioneer days, when on one occasion he froze his feet while keeping the deer from eating the winter crop of wheat on the home farm. In 1864, the family came to Rock Island county, where Mathias Martin purchased a farm, and here resided until his death, September 10, 1890, while his widow survived him until March 8, 1907.
John S. Martin received a public school education, and until twenty-seven years of age worked on the home farm. He earned his first dollar of wages as a wood chopper in the Wisconsin lumber camps, where for two years he worked at a wage of four dollars a month, the next year being paid six dollars and the last year twelve dollars per month. He assisted in building the house on the old homestead, but after coming to Rock Island county worked for Thomas Johnson for twenty-nine dollars per month, but was paid in "shin-plasters," currency which was much in use at the time but which averaged only about one dollar’s worth of gold money to two dollars and one-half of the "shin-plasters."

Elizabeth Weiss Martin

On November 22, 1882, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Weiss, who was born June 27, 1857, a daughter of Michael and Hannah W. (Hyme) Weiss, natives of Wittenberg, Germany, who came to the United States at an early date and were among the first settlers of Rock Island county. Mrs. Martin died March 8, 1903, having been the mother of five children, namely: Elmer M., born in 1888; John E., born August 1, 1890; Wilbur, born September 27, 1894; May, died March 8, 1903; and Emma, died August 30, 1907.
Mr. Martin is a consistent member of the Methodist church and is a democrat in his political views, having served as a pathmaster and a member of the election board of Bowling township. He has been successful in his farming operations, now being the owner of 320 acres of valuable land, and can look back over a useful and well-spent life."

******

Below is an interesting photo I found in Elmer's photo album. John S. Martin (holding his hat in his hand) is standing just left of the men boxing (kind-of half hidden behind the boxer on the left side). Apparently boxing was a past-time with the men in the area.

See these other blog posts about the John Martin family:
Mathias and Catherine (Castner) Martin
John S Martin Family Photo
Wedded Bliss
John S Martin Family Bible
Martin Farm - Rock Island, Illinois
Mother and Daughter Die Same Day
John S Martin Headstone
Elmer Martin Photo Gallery
Elmer Climbed Mount Rainier

Mother & Daughter Die Same Day of Measles

Died of Measles

One of the saddest😢 stories in my family history are the deaths of my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss Martin (called Lizzy), and her daughter Margaret May, my great-aunt.  They died on the same day of measles.

In late February 1903, nearly all of the John Martin family was afflicted with the measles.  Everyone in the family recovered except for the mother Lizzy and the oldest daughter May.  Both mother and daughter suffered a relapse, and were in critical condition for several days.  May died early in the morning of March 8th, 1903, and mother Elizabeth (Lizzy) died later in the afternoon of the same day.  They may have developed measles encephalitis. The family felt that the doctor did not do enough to care for them.






Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss Martin
Born 27 June 1857, Rock Island County, IL
Died 8 March 1903, Rock Island County, IL
























Margaret May Martin
  "Maggie May"
Born 14 Jul 1885, Rock Island County, IL
Died 8 Mar 1903, Rock Island County, IL

May was engaged to a young man from Bowling township at the the time of her death. She was buried in her wedding gown.








Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss was born 27 Jun 1857 in Rock Island County, Illinois.  She was the daughter of Michael Weiss and Anna Maria Heim.  Elizabeth, called "Lizzie", married John Stephan Martin on 23 Nov 1882 in Rural township.  Elizabeth and John were the parents of five children: Margaret May, Elmer Matthew, John Edward, Emma Christina, and Wilbur Philip.

Margaret May, born 14 July 1885 in Milan, was the oldest child of John and Elizabeth Martin.  She grew up on the family farm in Milan, Rock Island, Illinois.  In church records, she was referred to as "Maggie May."   At the time of her death, she was engaged to be married to a young man from Bowling.  May was buried in her wedding gown.

Below are some obituaries and newspaper articles about the tragic deaths of Elizabeth and May:

Rock Island Argus, Monday 9 March 1903

Transcription of above obituary:
Rock Island Argus, Monday 9 March 1903
DIE ON SAME DAY
Mrs. John Martin and Daughter
Death has laid a heavy hand upon the family of John Martin, living four miles south of Milan, in Bowling township. At 3 o'clock Sunday morning May, the oldest daughter, aged 18, died of measles, and at 5 in the afternoon the mother died of the same disease.
Nearly all the members of the family had been afflicted with the measles and all but the mother and daughter had recovered. They took cold, however, suffered a relapse and both had been in a critical condition for several days.
The surviving members of the family are the husband and four children, John, Elmer, Wilbur and Emily, ranging in age from 14 down to 6 years. Mrs. Martin was formerly Miss Elizabeth Weiss.
Her death is the first in a family of 14 children, the survivors being: George, of Jackson, Minn,; Jacob, of Pekin, Kans,; Philip, of Partridge, Kans,; Mrs. Mary Swartz, of St. Louis; Mrs. Margaret Lepper, of Topeka, Kans.; Mrs. Joseph Fitzpatrick, of Milan; Mrs. Emma Sherrard, of Sherrard; August, of Rural; Lawrence, of Edgington; and Gottlieb, John, Mrs. John Volk and Miss Christine Weiss, of this city. 
The funeral of the mother and daughter will be held from the home at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning with interment at Little's cemetery.
======

Obituary clipping from unknown newspaper :
Margaret May Martin was born July 14, 1885 and died at her home four miles northeast of Preemption, Ill., Mar. 8, 1903, at 2:30 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m. of the same day, her mother, Mrs. John Martin, died at the same home and from the same disease, measles. May was the oldest of the family of Mr. and Mrs. John Martin, a beautiful young woman of excellent Christian character. Mrs. Martin, Lizzie Dorothea Weiss, was born in the town of Rural, June 22, 1857 and was united in marriage to her now bereft husband, Nov. 22, 1882. They went to housekeeping at the home above mentioned where they have since resided. The husband and four children, Elmer, John, Emma and Wilber are left to mourn the loss of a faithful, loving wife and mother and precious daughter and sister. So sad this double affliction to Brother Martin and family, but in this hour of sadness as they lean upon the everlasting arms, it is sweet to know that they are in the Heavenly Father's tender care and to realize that their many friends are praying for, and sympathizing with them. Sister Martin and May were members of the Preemption ME Church and were trusting in him who says, "He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die." And altho husband, father, brothers and sisters mourn with a large circle of friends, they mourn not without hope -- the hope of a Christian. The funeral services were held at the home Mar 10, 1903 at 12 o'clock, conducted by their former pastor, Rev G. W. Peregoy. The remains of mother and daughter were laid side by side in the same grave in Preemption cemetery to await the resurrection morn.
=====

Wednesday, 11 March 1903, The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, page 8

Transcription of above obituary:
Funeral services over the remains of Mrs. John Martin and her daughter May, who died of measles Sunday, were held at noon yesterday from the home 5 miles south of Milan, in Bowling. Services for both were jointly conducted by the Medthodist ministers of Preemtion and Sherrard and both were buried in the same grave at Littles Cemetery. The daughter, who was engaged to be married to a Bowling young man, was buried in her wedding gown.
=====

From "The Argus," Rock Island, Illinois, Thursday, December 21, 1972, newspaper article titled, "Towering tombstone at Preemption has unusual background."  Story by Sharon Esslinger.
From a letter written by Frank L. Rathburn in Feb. 1966, prior to his death, he writes:
"I expect I have attended several hundred funerals in this cemetery (Preemption), but one outstanding in my memory was in the month of March, I think about 1903. Mrs. John Martin and her daughter, Mae, were buried in a double grave, as both died on the same day. As usual in the month of March, roads were nearly impassable, as frost had gone out and mud was nearly hub deep some places. They had two hearses and each hearse was pulled by four horses and even then they had trouble getting through roads. The only time in my life I have ever experienced such a sight."

Elizabeth's Find A Grave memorial page, click here.
May's Find A Grave memorial page, click here.

More stories about the Martin Family:
John Martin and Elizabeth Weiss Marriage
John and Elizabeth Martin Family Photo

John S. Martin Headstone

Family Headstone for John S. Martin,

wife, Elizabeth D. Weiss Martin

and daughter, May.

Preemption Cemetery, Mercer County, Illinois

Wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, May, died the same day of measles.

Martin Family Tree

My Martin family tree starts with my grandfather, Elmer Matthew Martin.  Since everyone on this tree is German, I consider this My German Tree. 

This picture of Elmer was taken in Illinois. Elmer Martin was born 16 Mar 1887 in Rock Island, Illinois to John Stephen Martin and Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss.  Elmer first married Elizabeth Coyne.  There were no children and the marriage ended in divorce.  Elmer then married Maymie Pearl Wilson in Cortez, Colorado and had two sons.

Both the Martin & Weiss families were German immigrants who settled in Rock Island County, Illinois.   All of the families in the Martin family tree (below) are of German heritage.
The Martin family came from Oberfranken, Bayern, Germany.
The Weiss family came from Donau, Wuerttemberg, Germany.







Surnames in this family line include: Martin, Weiss, Castner, Heim, Traub, Thuring, Mueller, Maendle, Kissling, Schmid, Zwicker and Fickenscher.

Elmer Martin Family Tree

This family tree may be viewed at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Rootsweb.com, and MyHeritage.com.  User name on Ancestry.com is cmyroots.
Those with an Ancestry.com membership can access the MARTIN WEISS FAMILY.  Contact me for a free invite.