The initial reserach for this project began in December of 1998 with the objective of tracing the family history of the following families:
1. Sweeney/Gallagher family of Chicago, IL and Donegal, Ireland
2. The Schroeder family of Illinois (USA), Iowa (USA), California (USA) and Hamburg or Brunsbusch Germany
3. The Wendland family of Iowa (USA) and Luxemburg or Berlin Germany.
4. The Hruska family of Illinois (USA), Texas (USA) and Prague Czechoslavakia
I have traced the Sweeney/Gallagher family back to Donegal, Ireland where Francis Patrick Sweeney was born 11/24/1909 (d.1972).It is believed that the family was once called either McSweeney or MacSweeney.Francis Patrick Sweeney's wife, Nora Gallagher, who was one of 17 children and is also from Donegal, Ireland was born 11/25/1912.Both met in Chicago, Illinois and married at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Chicago on January 4, 1933.They had 5 children; Jack Sweeney (12/20/1934), Francis Patrick Sweeney (2/19/1936), Margaret Sweeney (2/21/1938), Kathleen Sweeney (6/26/1942), Mary Sweeney (12/15/1945) and James Sweeney (5/7/1948).All of which are currently residing in Illinois, along with their mother Nora Sweeney, in and around the Chicagoland area.Any additional information that would assist in tracing our history, in particular that which pre-dates 1909, would be greatly appreciated.
The Schroeder name is of German origin and the family may have come from Hamburg, Straduhn or Berlin, Germany.My Great Grandfather was born to German immigrant parents in Minonk, IL in 1868.It is unknown what his parent's names were, their age, or how many brothers and sisters Herman had.Several family documents indicate Herman was born and married in Woodford Co. Illinois before he left for Iowa.As a result, he may have lived in Woodford Co. for almost 30 years. Much more information is needed in tracing the Schroeders.
The Wendland name is also of German origin.Karl Ludwig Wendland was born in 1848 in Germany.He served in the Prussian Army.He wife, Sophie (surname unknown) was born 9/21/1854 in Straduhn or Berlin, Germany.Karl Ludwig Wendland married Sophie in Germany in 1873.Soon after they had a daughter, Mary Tresa Wendaland in 1875.In 1876 the family emigrated to the US settling briefly in Indiana, and Woodford, Co. Illinois.Karl and Sophie Wendland had 4 more children after emigrating.They included Fred Wendland, William Wendland, Laura Wendland and the youngest, Emilie Wendland (12/13/1891-12/29/1905).
It was in Woodford, Co. Illinois that the oldest child of the Wendlands, Mary Tresa, met and married Herman Schroeder.They were married in 1897 in Minook, IL (Woodford, Co. Illinois).They had their first child, Lewis Carl Schroeder, in 1898 in Woodford, Co. Illinois.They soon left Woodford Co. for Barnum, Iowa.Herman Schroeder, Mary Tresa Schroeder, their son Lewis Schroeder, and Mary Tresa's family- Karl Ludwig Wendland (father), Sophie Wendland (Mother), Fred Wendland, William Wendland, Laura Wendland and Emilie Wendland all moved to Barnum, Iowa settling in 1902.Karl Ludwig Wendland died in 1903 in Barnum Iowa and is buried at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetary in Knierim, Iowa.The youngest of their children, Emilie, Wendland died 12/29/1905 in Barnum, IA at the age of 14.Emilie is buried with her father at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetary in Knierim, Iowa.Following the death of her husband Karl, Sophie eventually remarried.She married Jacob Hammerle in Knierem, Ia 6/15/1913 at the age of 59.Sophie died in 1934 and is buried with her first husband Karl Ludwig Wendland at Trinity Lutheran Cemetary in Knierim, Iowa.
After settling in Barnum, Iowa in 1902 Herman and Mary Tresa had 3 more children.They were: Alvina Schroeder (b. d.), Charles Schroeder (7/25/03-5/12/88) and the youngest, Rudolph (Wilhelm) Charles Schroeder (10/25/05-2/91).The oldest child, Lewis, served in the U.S. Military. <Full>
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