Heinrich & Anna Katherina Einck Story
Heinrich & AnnaKatherina Einck Story
The informationpresented in the following pages is from several different sources. They all tell a similar story. I did not attempt to put these together tomake one comprehensive story, but have left them in the same context with whichI was given the information. They alladd a piece to the entire story of the emigration of Bernhard Heinrich Eynckand Katherina Bullermann to the United States from the small farming communityof Legden, Germany.
The following information is from the Einck Book, researchedby Donald and Margaret Einck.
Heinrich andAnna Katherina moved from Europe to the United States and settled inCincinnati, Ohio. It is believed thatthey with a group of others from Legden that heard Cincinnati would be a goodplace to settle or at least to anchor for a while before moving on.
According toHenry (as Heinrich came to be called) Einck's obituary, he and his family movedto Winneshiek County, Iowa in 1868. Itis not known exactly where they lived when their first four children were born,but the second Henry was born when they lived near Festina, Winneshiek County,Iowa. At that time he lived on what isnow the Heying farm between Festina and Ossian, Iowa. But the records for Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church in Festina,Iowa indicate all the children were baptized there.
Anna Katherinabecame ill after the birth of Henry with what the doctor considered to bepneumonia and she expired five days later. After her death, baby Henry was cared for by neighbors and he seemed tocome to believe that he belonged to them. He returned to live with Heinrich and the new mother, ElizabethLechtenberg, about a year after they married so he was two years old when hemoved back with the family. When he wouldbecome disturbed, he would run back to the neighbors who raised him those twoyears until he finally accepted his home with his new mother in it.
Thisinformation was provided to me by Sr. Marian Einck. Her brother Fr. Gregory received this from Mr. Clemens Eweringwhile he visited Germany. It is atranslation of the article which appeared on November 14th, 1998 in the"Munsterland Zeitung". Thearticle was titled "Searching for fortune in the New World". It chronicles a small part of the journey ofAnna Maria Catherina Bullerman, her brother Theodor and his friend, BernhardHeinrich Eyinck. Mr. Ewering wasresearching the Bullermann Family as it was part of the Ewering Family Tree.
Legden/District - If theEwering/Bullermann family invites you for a family reunion they have to sendletters to relatives spread all over Germany - but not even there: Two ancestors emigrated to America andstarted their own families there.
Legden inthe middle of the 19th century: The economical situation is as bad as inevery other part of the country. Livingat bare subsistence, bad harvests, famine, 290 men and 205 women from the smallMunsterland municipality have decided to make their own future in the "NewWorld". Among them had been in1859 the farm girl Anna Maria Catherina Bullermann, her brother weaver TheodorBullermann and his friend weaver Bernhard Heinrich Eynck, who lived on theBullermann farm for a period of time.
They embark in Antwerp in theNetherlands. To be able to pay for thepassage at all, they spend their last savings. Then six weeks crossing, which some of the weakened passengers did notsurvive. They arrived in Cincinnati andfrom that place carrying on further with one of the great immigrant treks. In order to survive the deprivation, all theemigrants had to hold together. The twoemigrants Anna Maria and Heinrich told themselves that too. Arriving on the continent from which theyhope to attain their long-needed happiness, they marry and call themselvesEinck from then on. Their happiness inCincinnati, where they first settled, doesn't last long: a puzzling disease,presumably cholera, attacks. So thecouple escapes to Winneshiek County in Iowa. The former farm maid from Legden had five children. Anna's last son, Henry was born when she wasat the age of 44. Anna Maria died whenthe baby was five days old. Neighborsattempted to lend a helping hand as much as possible, because the lack of a mother. Hard times had begun as we can read in anextract of a letter which was written by a helpful neighbor, whose origin wasalso probably Legden.
"Hard Times" "Since Einck's wife was dead, Franziskahad been there for 17 weeks. It washard time for her because she had to get up to calm down the baby four or fivetimes a night, and the daily work had to be done. She was alone together with a farmer with a large amount ofcattle. And Einck himself had beencontinuously sick."
NOTE: It isbelieved that the Franziska is “Franziska Elpert”. This story is recounted by Johan Anna and Franziska Elpert, in aletter written to their parents and sisters in Germany on May 10, 1872. I've included this letter and another letterwritten at a later date in the next Section. They were translated from theoriginal German versions.
The followinginformation is taken from the Heinrich and Sophie Ewering Family Tree Documentprovided to me by Sr. Marian. It iswritten in German. I have had severalsection translated and have included them for additional historical informationabout the conditions at the time of Heinrich and Katherina's immigration to theUnited States.
The economicsituation here in the homeland in the 19th century was anything but rosy. Onepoor harvest followed another. The main food crops, potatoes and rye, bothsuffered from blights. The potato bushes wilted early and a fungus turned therye kernels yellow. For many farmer sons there were only two possibilities,either to emigrate, or to find a so-called "Piggenbrut" (it meansthat there are only women on the farm or to marry into a farm).Industrialization, which provided another possibility to earn money, did notarrive until much later. That explainsthat from our small town of Legden 290 men and 205 women were searching fortheir luck in the new world.
Among the emigrantsin those days were the farm help Anna Maria Catherina Bullermann (born December12, 1827) and the weaver Theodor Bullermann (born June 10, 1838) from ourfamily. They both left their homeland for Cincinnati, Ohio, together with theweaver Bernhard Heinrich Eynck (born September 17, 1831)of Haulingort. Theretheir aunt (Anna's and Theodor's) Anna Christine Bullermann (born November 12,1818) had settled, after emigrating to America on April 1, 1845. (Note: you notice the title of weavernext to Thoedore and Bernhard. Thiscomes from the times when farmers were without work in the wintertime and madeuse of these months by weaving.)
BernhardHeinrich Eynck lived on the Bullermann farm before emigrating himself.
The newarrivals suffered a lot, as the whole journey took an average of six fullweeks. At the port of Antwerp, Holland, where their journey began, the emigrants usually were literallystripped of their possessions, just to pay for the passage. After the dangeroussea voyage on the ship Plutarch, thelong and demanding overland trek began - the danger of an attack by nativesconstantly present.
Once theyreached their destination, most of thesuffering was over. In connection withthat a letter from a young girl to her parents and kin from August 9, 1870 isof interest. The girl worked as a housekeeper on the Eynck farm, after AnnaMaria Bullermann's death. (Note: this is the letter which includes theexcerpt "Hard Times" article above.)
Thefollowing information is from the genealogy research of Allard JamesHeitkemper. The story of theimmigration and eventual "landing" in Winneschiek County areremarkably similar to Bernhard and Anna's. Also there are several others researching the Elsbernd and Elpertfamilies, who have a similar immigration pattern.)
The Heitkemperfamily emigrated from Germany during the 1840's and 1850's. In Germany, theHeitkempers lived in the town of Legden which is in the Westfalen region. InGermany they were "kotters" or small farmers and they also worked inthe local grist mill. I am trying to determine the reasons that may havecompelled them to leave Germany.My great grandfather Gerhard Hermann Heitkemper(born 1-12-1848 in Legden, Germany) came to America with his parents, 3brothers and 1 sister. They sailed from Antwerp on April 2, 1859 and arrived inNew York on May 12, 1859. From New York city, they went by rail to Cincinnati,Ohio. From Cincinnati, they went by steamboat down the Ohio River and then upthe Mississippi to Iowa. They landed at McGregor and then went by team toCalmar, Winneshik County.At least 4 of the 5 siblings, including my greatgrandfather, eventually moved to Portland, Oregon circa 1890. I have the diaryof my great grandfather's brother, Hermann Heitkemper, which details their livesboth in Germany and in America. This is truly an amazing documentary of thelife of German immigrants in the 19th century.
(Note: I am providing the some of that information from the diary of Gerhard Hermann Heitkemper in this book to document what conditions werelike. You will notice several incorrectspellings and phrases. Mr. Heitkempernever had formal schooling, so with that consideration he didn't do to badly. I've included this information to give youan idea of what life was like in Germany before they emigrated to America. Heinrich was a weaver also.)
At the age ofeleven (11) years I learnt cotton weaving, which callt Schnellweben in German.The Material was furnisht by an English cindicate. We were payd by the yard. Wehad two looms going. My brother and I don the work. As long as I went toSchool I had to weave after School hours, when there was no School then allday. In the morning- we had to do our thrashing like everybody els for that wasthe costum in our whole country, from two to three beds were put on thrashingfloor or callt Tenne (Orn) in succeshion. The work was don with a flail. Each of us had his own flail. WhenMother was well she would help at the first or the second. Then she would make breakfast.Father, Henry and I would finish. 7O'klock we would eat and then go to our days work. Thrashing is not so easy asyou might think. The performer must keep time, in order so he brings his strokedown at right intervel like in music. I sopose that that is the reason thatGermans are good musicians becaus the learnt thrashing. Of cours this has allchanged by this time. At that time the claping of the flail could be heard atany time after 4 - 5 O'klock in morning. In Westfalia or Munster land, thefarmhouses are build pecurialy. Imagine a barnlike building, all sizes. Some aslong as from 50 - 250 feet and about 50 feet wide. All according to the size ofthe farm. Farmers live on there farms like here in the U. S. I say this becausein som parts of Germany Farmers live in Villages and not on there land. TheWestfalian farm house of which one third is used fore dwelling and two thirdsor so for the farm animals. This two thirds in length has an aisl (Tenne) or astone floor like in a barn, which is used for Thrashing. The Door on the end ofthis is big enough to admit a load of hay or grain for four horses. Thestabling for Cows or horses is on both sides of the aisl, the animals facingthe aisl so the can be fed from this aisl. The dung is trown out of the back ofthe stalls. The fodder is housed in the garrit above. Also all the grain instraw it holds. Most of the farmers have a barn besides but not for catle butfor the grain which the house dont hold. The dwelling part for the people isseparated by a partition with a commen door leading on the aisl or vis verceyin the big Kitchen or center Room of the dwelling. Generaly this main room hasat two sides joining rooms for all purpos of living. Our hous was of veryancient Styl. There was but one more like it in the whole Country.
The dwelling part was not seperated by a solit partition forit had no chimny. Therefor the smoke from the Kitchen fire had to have chanceto get out. On both sids of the Kitchen were dweling Rooms which we occupied inthe winter and heated by a stove. The fire place or hearth, was well protectedso that no fire could do any damage.
It was a sight-to see the beautifull Coloring inside of the house, Where for hundreds ofyears the smoke had blackent it. The woodwork was so shing black. No paintercould have don such glosy and fine polishing. Also the carving or scallupingwhich was on the sharp edging of the wood work. Everything glasing black. Nowdays the people think that no body could live in such a house. But my ansasterslived happy and healty in that house, even 350 Three hundred and fifty years.The smok must have kept all deseases away from them.
Thefollowing is a description of the Plutarch, the ship which carried the HeinrichEynck and Katherina Bullermann to America. It was published in the local papers with an invitation for all to comeand see her.
TheNew Packet Ship Plutarch, of New York. (Packet--Canbe either a steamer or sailing vessel, a ship carrying dispatches,passengers, & commerce.)
This is abeautiful, full-modelled vessel of 1300 tons register. She is 192 feet long ondeck, has 40 feet extreme breadth of beam, and 24 feet depth of hold, including8 feet height of between-decks. Her ends, though full, with rounded lines, arewell formed, and her floor is long and buoyant. The bow rakes boldly forward,but preserves its angular form to the rail, and is tastefully ornamented with afull figure of the sage whose name she bears. The stern is light and rounded,her run easy and clean, and her sheer lively and truly graduated. She haspainted ports in a white belt, her bottom is painted copper-color, and rest ofher hull outside is black; inside she is buff-color, relieved with white. Thewhole height of her bulwarks, including the monkey rail, is 5½ feet, and shehas a full topgallant forecastle, the height of the rail, under which areaccommodations for the crew. Abaft the foremast there is a large house, whichcontains the galleys, staterooms and storerooms, and protects entrance whichlead to the deck below. Her after house is built into a half poop deck, andcontains two handsome cabins, the after one finished with fancy woods, gilding,&c., and the forward one is white, and both are tastefully furnished, welllighted and ventilated.
The shipherself is built in the best style. Her frame, wales, hooks, and pointers, andthe knees in the hold, are all of seasoned white oak, and her keelsons, deckframes, lower deck, and ceiling are of hard pine, and she is square-fastenedthroughout, and butt and bilge-bolted with copper. She has three tiers ofmidship keelsons; and they are placed so that those above not only cover thescarphs of those below, but also the seams, in such a manner that the upperkeelson binds and covers the longitudinal seams of all the others. Herbilge-work commences at 15 by 16 inches, and diminishes without projection to10 inches thickness under the lower part of the hanging knees, which rest upona lap-strake or stringer. She is cross-braced with timber outside of theceiling, between all the hanging knees, both in the hold and in thebetween-decks, and these braces are bolted through all. Her staunchions [sic],too, are the width of the beams, and extend to both decks. Her ends are wellsecured with massive hooks and pointers. Her wales are of white oak, 5½ by 7inches, and outside as well as inside, she is finished in superior style.
She has builtlower masts of hard pine, also hard pine topmasts and jibbooms, and doubletopsail yards, the lower ones slung to the topmasts instead of to thecaps. In all her outfits she isliberally supplied, and, viewed as a whole, as a superior vessel.
She was builtat East Boston, by the Messrs. Boole, the builders of the fine ships Weymouth,Emerald, and Endymion, which have all proved very successful. ThePlutarch is intended for Messrs. Howland & Ridgeway's line of NewYork and Liverpool packets. She is now fitting out at the Grand Junction wharf,East Boston, and will be ready for sea in a few days. We advise all who take aninterest in shipping to call and inspect her.
The Einckfamily Tree is now called Kuhlkamp, as that is the oldest known ancestor in theEinck family line. In 1781, Johan Gerdt Kuhlkamp married Anna Marie ElizabethEynck. As was customary at the time, the bride's last name would become thefamily name if she had more wealth than her husband. Since the Eycnk family wasof superior wealth, the Kuhlkamp name was abandoned and the Eynck name taken.After her death in 1788 Johan Gerdt Eynck remarrried to Anna Marie Klumper, butdid not change his last name from Eynck back to Kuhlkamp. Thus we have theEynck name but are not blood relatives of the Eynck family line.The informationon the Kuhlkamp line was researched by Clemens Ewering from the St. BrigidaCatholic Church records. St. Brigida isstill an active church in Legden. Clemens Ewering has done a tremendous amountof research of the Catholic Church Archives and has been able to push back theE(y)inck Family to the late 1600s. I appreciate the help he has given me incontinuing to push the Kuhlkamp (Einck) line farther into the past. Clemens hascompleted his research and has been kind enough to share it with me. Clemens isa cousin of ours in the Bullerman line. I was led to him thru Sister MarianEinck of Dyersville, Iowa.