Friday, June 21, 2024

WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE FERMAZIN GIRLS? FROM KWIECISCHEZEWO, POSEN

HELENE FERMAZIN

BERTE FERMAZIN CECIL

CAROLINE FERMAZIN STEINGRABER

ROSE FERMAZIN ROBERTSON

WILHELMINA FERMAZIN

Helene Ernestine Fermazin

Born: 1879

Birth date: abt 1879 Birth place: Residence date: Residence place : Kwiecischevo, Preußen

Arrival date: Arrival place: West Hartlepo ol (Nordamerika via Liverpool)

Departure date: 11 Oct 1895 Departur e place: Hamburg Destination date:

Destination place: Chicago

Berte Fermazin

Born 1875

Married:Thomas Cecil

Caroline Fermazin Steingraber

Father: Frederick Fermazin

Mother: Louise Bonau

Name:

Caroline Steingraber

Event Date:

10 Dec 1937, 10 Dec 1937

Event Place:

Fox, Kendall, Illinois

Gender:

Female

Race:

White

Age:

Birth Year (Estimated):

1852

Birth Date:

13 Aug 1852

Birthplace:

Germany

Father's Name:

Frederick Fermazin

Father's Birthplace:

Germany

Mother's Name:

Louise Bonau

Born: Aug.13,1850 Rynarzewo

Bapt. Aug. 18,1850

Witnesses: Eduard Zillmmer, Louise Wienkauf, August Bartung

Father - Einwohner

Entry # 271/1850 page 320-321

Caroline Steingraber was born 13 August 1852 in Rynarzewo, (Labischin) Posen, Prussia to Friedrick Fermazin and Louise Bonau. Caroline was one of four children. She died on 13 December 1937 in Fox, Kendall, Illinois.Caroline
Born: Aug.13,1850 Rynarzewo
Bapt. Aug. 18,1850
Witnesses: Eduard Zillmmer, Louise Wienkauf, August Bartung
Father - Einwohner
Entry # 271/1850 page 320-321

On 25 September 1852 her mother Louise Bonau Fermazin died of cholera along with her sister, Henriette in Labischin, Posen, Prussia.

Her siblings were:
Stephan Carl born 15 October 1847 in Labischen and who emigrated to America.
Henriette born 9, October 1843 who died of cholera 27 September 1852. ,
August born 12 September 1841 who married Ernestine Kurtz and stayed behind in Kawiesezewo, Posen.

We are not sure when Caroline came to the USA. Her nieces came in 1896 and siblings by her father Friedrich Fermazin and Caroline Hartwig came in 1879 and 1880 to Aurora, Kane, Illinois.

Caroline married William Steingraber about 1885 and they lived and raised their family in the farming communities of Rost Township Minnesota and then moving to Aurora, Kane, Illinois, and later to Yorkville, Kendall, Illinois. She was a housewife. It appears, Caroline was the second wife of William Steingraber and her step children resided in the household in the 1900 census. Prior to living in Yorkville Caroline and William lived in Aurora, Kane, Illinos with their children: Julius, Edward, Awiel, Minnie, Willie, Anna, and Johnnie.
Prior to this they lived in Minnesota. Johnnie was born in Minnesota in 1893 so the family may have lived near Charles Fermazin who would have been Caroline's half brother. Charles and his family were living in Minnesota in 1893.

According to the 1910 Aurora City Directory Carrie Steingraber was a widow living on Summit Avenue.
Carrie's step mother-in-law was Carrie Fermazin living at 569 5th Avenue and her step brother Charles and wife Minnie were living at 265 N. 5th Avenue. Her sister in law Augusta Giese was living at 268 Hinman Ave.

Wilhelmina Fermazin

Born 1880

Birth

Wilhelmine Motilie Fermazin was born on September 4, 1880, in Posen, Thuringia, Germany, to Enestine Kurz and August Fermazin.

04 Sep 1880 • Kwieciszewo, POSEN, PRUSSIA

RoseFermazin

Birth

Rose Fermazin was born in 1885 in Posen, Thuringia, Germany, to Enestine Kurz and August Fermazin.

1885 • Kwieciszewo, POSEN, PRUSSIA

Rose Fermazin married Edward A Robertson in Saint Joseph, Michigan, on August 8, 1905, when she was 20 years old.

Subject: marriage certificate Rose Fermazin and Edward Robertson

08 AUG 1905

Saint Joseph, Berrien, Michigan

Edward Robertson and Rose Fermazin

Marriage certificate

Born 1885

Surname:                   Fermazin

Given Name:                Helene

Maiden Name:

Age in Years:              16

Date of Birth:

Age in Months:

Place of Birth:

Attendant Family Members:  none

Marital Status:

Nationality:

Place of Residence:        Kwiecischevo

(Federal) State of Origin: Preußen

Religion:

Profession:

Destination:               Chicago

Passenger Number:          00.0002

Passage Number:            B1895.0421

Accommodation:             Erste Kajüte

Date of Departure:         11.10.1895

Port of Departure:

Destination of Ship:       West Hartlepool (Nordamerika via Liverpool)

Name of Ship:              Empress

Ship Type:                 Dampfschiff

Shipping Company:

Agent:                     Carl Bennin & Co.

Country Flag of Ship:      England

Name of Captain:           Cooper

 ___________________________________________________________________________

Surname:                   Fermazin

Given Name:                Wilhelmine

Maiden Name:

Age in Years:              15

Date of Birth:

Age in Months:

Place of Birth:

Attendant Family Members:  none

Marital Status:            ledig

Nationality:

Place of Residence:        Kmieciszewo

(Federal) State of Origin: Posen

Religion:

Profession:

Destination:

Passenger Number:          01.0068

Passage Number:            A1896.0107

Accommodation:             Zwischendeck

Date of Departure:         26.03.1896

Port of Departure:

Destination of Ship:       New York

Name of Ship:              Albano

Ship Type:                 Dampfschiff

Shipping Company:          Rob. M. Sloman & Co.

Agent:                     Hamburg-Amerika Linie (Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft)

Country Flag of Ship:      Deutschland

Name of Captain:           Koch

______________________________________________________________________________________

Surname:                   Fermazin

Given Name:                Bertha

Maiden Name:

Age in Years:              21

Date of Birth:

Age in Months:

Place of Birth:

Attendant Family Members:  none

Marital Status:            ledig

Nationality:

Place of Residence:        Kmieciszewo

(Federal) State of Origin: Posen

Religion:

Profession:

Destination:

Passenger Number:          01.0067

Passage Number:            A1896.0107

Accommodation:             Zwischendeck

Date of Departure:         26.03.1896

Port of Departure:

Destination of Ship:       New York

Name of Ship:              Albano

Ship Type:                 Dampfschiff

Shipping Company:          Rob. M. Sloman & Co.

Agent:                     Hamburg-Amerika Linie (Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft)

Country Flag of Ship:      Deutschland

Name of Captain:           Koch

HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH FERMAZIN FAMILY

FERMAZIN

From the time I was young, I can remember putting picture puzzles together.

I started with children ’s puzzles, but soon graduated to the 60-piece,then the 100-piece,and then the 500-piece puzzles.I thought I had really reached a great milestone when I tackled my first 1,000-piece puzzle. When I put picture puzzles together,I have a distinct method.First,I separate out all the straightedge pieces.From them,I build the outline,the frame,or the limits of the puzzle. Next,I focus on major elements of the scene. If there is a building or ship or any other central figure of the picture,I try to focus on that.I separate out pieces of the puzzle that seem to apply to that central figure and from them try to reconstruct that figure.If I can tie that central figure to the framework,so much the better. There are always minor elements of the picture —the fences or landscaping or other features that relate to the central figure.Separating the pieces of the puzzle into groups of pieces of similar colors,design or texture helps fit the pieces together.

Finally,there is almost always background —the sky,the water,the surrounding coun-

tryside.Often the pieces that form this background are of similar color,although with

subtle differences in color or some other distinguishing feature.The background is essential to the completion of the picture,but is usually saved for last. Sometimes,as the puzzle is developed, several smaller scenes develop around thecentral figure. Occasionally, some of the scenes come almost as a surprise when the

total picture is complete. I have found that assembling a family history is a lot like putting a picture puzzle together. Some family histories have a fairly simple picture and may have relatively few pieces. Others may have a very complex picture with many hundreds of pieces.

The setting for this family history puzzle are the 1800 villages of Posen, Prussia which is present day Poland but at the time of this beginning family history was a part of the German Empire being ruled by Prussia.

In researching our family history in Posen, Prussia, Poland we found Friedrich Formazin. He was the son of Daniel Formazin and Mariana Marianna Sabezinska Soblinska who were married in Bromberg, Posen, Prussia. convinced this is so. We pick Friedrich Vormazin up in Labischin, Kreis Schubin in 1840 as a 21 year old lad getting married to Louise Bonau. Fred was living as a single guy in Ruhden, Posen and

Louise was a lass of 24 years, 5 months living in Bagno. They were married in Labischin, Posen on December 6, 1840. Louise and Friedrich made their home in Labischin. Of this union they had four children, August, Henriette, Stephan, and Caroline. We have quite a bit of information on August Vormazin Formazin. As for the name of Vormazin and Formazin, we seem to find Vormazin in the Labischin records but after the birth of August, Henriette, Stephan, and Caroline Vormazin, the last name changes from Vormazin to Formazin. Vormazin was probably the phonetic pronunciation of Formazin. My grandfather Robert August Fermazin was named after his uncle August Formazin.

August was born almost 9 months to the day, on 07 September 1841 in Florentowo, a parish of Schubin and lived most of his adult life in Labishin but died on 29 March 1921 at the age of 79 years. in Kreis Mogilno in the village of Kwieciszewo He was baptised 12 September 1841. Witnesses to this baptism were Carl Meyer,

SeptembAugust Reddmann, Renate Pinau (? Ristau) spelling), and Eva Meyer. Being the first born, to Friedrich Fermazin, August must have had a special place in his father’s heart. Even though Formazin moved around much of August’s childhood, August did grow up to become a master tailor and settled in the town of Kwieciszewo.

Henriette came along on 9 October 1845 when they were living in Florentowo. She was baptized on 29 October 1849 and her godparents were Michael Fenske, Justine Reddmann, Christine Wegner, Anna Schmidt, and Justine Lurke. These must have been friends and neighbors to the Vormazin’s as some were the same sponsors for August’s christening. Henriette died at an early age, age 5 of cholera. However, from the birth records and baptism it appears Henriette may have not been the healthiest of children since she was not baptized until age 4. Possibly this could be because Louise and Friedrich were moving around so much, with him being an einwhohner and not a schoenfaerber.

Stephan was born on 15 October 1847 in Bagno and baptized 17 October 1847 in Schubin. Witnesses to the christening were Heinrich Brachschein, Justine Brachschein, and Daniel Kopicke. At the time of Stephan’s birth Friedrich was not a Schoenfaerber but an Einwhohner (inhabitant) according to the occupation listed on the birth records. This means that he was probably a farm laborer without possessions. These people are often found to have moved a lot in contrast to farmers who were always bound to their land.

Little Caroline was born on the 13 August 1850 with Friedrich and Louise living in the village of Rynarzewo. She was baptized on 18 August 1850 with the witnesses being Eduard Zillmmer, Louise Wienkauf, August Bartung and Friedrich being listed as einwohner. Obviously they were working a farm (einwohner) in the village of Rynarzewo.

Friedrich and Louise were married only twelve years before she passed. At age 34 on 25 September 1852, Louise passed away from cholera and left behind four small children. The family was living in Rynarzewo at this time. Nine year old Henriette, the second child born 9 October 1843, in Florentowo also died of cholera two days later on 27 September 1852. The three children, August age 11, Stephan age 5, and Caroline 2 were left behind for Friedrich to raise without a mother. How tragic and sad. This was a common occurrence in those days due to no vaccinations and poor sanitation. Cholera was a very painful disease.

What is Cholera? Cholera is the illness caused by a bacterium called Vibria cholerae. It infects people's intestines, causing diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps causing much pain and cramping. How do people get it? The most common cause of cholera is by someone eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the bacteria. Cholera (or "Asiatic Cholera") is a severe bacterial infection of the gut, caused by Vibrio cholerae. A bloated, crampy feeling in the abdomen quickly gives way to huge quantities of very watery stool. The stool, which has little odor, is often referred to as "rice-water stool" because of its appearance (very watery, light colored and laced with tiny bits of mucus). Usually there is no fever and no blood in the stool, but there may be vomiting. Death is caused by the dehydration (loss of water from the body). As the disease progresses, victims will experience: intense thirst; extreme weakness; sunken eyes; decreased urination, or concentrated urine; dry, wrinkled skin; quickened heart rate; lowered blood pressure; weakened pulse; sleepiness; unconsciousness; seizures; kidney failure.

The symptoms may appear 1 to 7 days after eating food or drinking water contaminated with the bacteria, typically within 2 to 3 days. Contamination is from contact with the feces or vomitus of someone infected with cholera. Cholera was often spread in the home by someone who is infected with the bacteria preparing food for others or sharing a drinking cup.

For most of the 1800s, cholera was greatly misunderstood. It was easy to see that those in proximity to infected persons were in danger. Whether it was caused by contact with the person or with the environment was a matter of unprovable opinion. Many were of the opinion that certain areas had "poisonous vapors" and the cause was generally believed to be related to either poor sanitation, close quarters contaminated with the "bad air" of human civilization or both. It was generally thought to be the scourge of the depraved, poor masses, since it hit first and hardest in the poorest, most crowded places. In Europe and America, many felt that since it originated in non-Christian areas, that cleanliness and Godliness would protect. It wasn’t uncommon for some to blame it on a lack of morality. Originally, it was thought unable to survive the cold of winter.

A variety of treatments were used, depending on the whim of the caregiver, with differing degrees of success, which seemed to depend more on fortune, than skill. Quarantine was used as soon as cholera was identified. Medications were usually the "local medicated bitters" or possibly opium, which might have eased the suffering, but probably did more harm than good. While fluids are the best treatment, most caregivers didn’t recognize their effect, perhaps because they administered too little, too late; or too much, too quickly; and/or the water was contaminated. While it is important to replace fluids, it’s also necessary to replace certain mineral salts. It wouldn’t have seemed logical to add salt to water to be given to a thirsty person.

Contemporary accounts describe using "mercurial medications; emetics (solutions that induce vomiting) of mustard, salt, ginger, and pepper, suspended in hot water, in many cases produced a warm glow over the surface of the body in a few moments. For the relief of cramps which would not yield to ordinary remedies, a number of dry cups applied from the neck to the sacrum, over the spine, in every case in which they were used furnished the desired relief. The use of iced water ad libitum was found injurious; in many instances the unrestrained gratification of the thirst was followed by a fatal relapse. Ice and ice-water in small quantities and at short intervals was found most useful. Many of the cases were complicated with uraemia (the retention of excessive waste products of protein metabolism in the blood), and the majority of these died, although they were carefully treated. Diuretics produced no good results." Note that many of these treatments (emetics and diuretics) would hasten the death.

Fatalities of the sickened varied, but survival rates were better than even odds. It was puzzling why some people seemed to be very susceptible, some were only sickened but recovered and some never succumbed at all. In addition to exposure to the bacteria, we now know that susceptibility to the bacteria’s devastation is greatly determined by the blood type of the person. Recent genetic research has determined that a person's susceptibility to cholera (and other diarrheas) is affected by their blood type. Those with type O blood are the most susceptible. Those with type AB are the most resistant, virtually immune. Between these two extremes, are the A and B blood types, with type A being more resistant than type B. So the range of resistance is: AB (most), A, B, O (least)

Europeans, are about 40% type O blood types (most susceptible), 40% A (moderately resistant), 15% B (fairly susceptible) and 5% AB (most resistant). Most groups of people have a similar distribution of blood types, except native Americans, who (except the northernmost tribes) are almost entirely type O. Therefore, in the 1800s, when cholera swept through Europe and cities of the US, a little more than half of the population was fairly susceptible (genetically), a little less than half were somewhat resistant and could survive if the medical treatment happened to be more beneficial than harmful, and a handful of people were "golden", being almost impervious.

Conditions in the 1800s:

The world was getting smaller thanks to steam-powered trains and ships, but living conditions were slow to improve. The worldwide cholera epidemic was aided by the Industrial Revolution and the accompanying growth of urban tenements and slums. In most European cities, there was little or no provision at all for proper sewage disposal or fresh water supplies. Tenements rose several stories high, but cesspools were only on the ground floor with no clear access to sewers or indoor running water. It didn't make much difference, because until the 1840s a sewer was simply an elongated cesspool with an overflow at one end. "Night men" had to climb into the morass and shovel the filth and mire out by hand. In most cases, barrels filled with excrement were discharged outside, or contents of chamber pots flung from open windows - if there were any - to the streets below.

In London, England for example, water hydrants or street pumps provided the only source of water, but they opened infrequently and not always as scheduled. They ran only a few minutes a day in some of the poor districts. A near riot ensued in Westminster one Sunday when a water pipe that supplied 16 packed houses was turned on for only five minutes that week..

Both in growing cities and in smaller rural communities, lack of knowledge made matters worse. Some cities drew water from lakes and rivers where human sewage was dumped. Even well water was often contaminated from contamination from nearby outhouses. In the Birmingham epidemic, researchers were able to trace how the infection spread from infected bedding transported into the town, through bedpans being emptied into a stream, as well as soiled washcloths, clothing and bedding being washed in that same river, to the neighborhoods downstream.

In both Europe and America, ignorance and greed aided the spread. Merchants and officials found plenty of reasons to rationalize away a prospective quarantine of the ports, which would have devastating affects on the economies and the industries that relied on import and export, the British textile mills, for example. No one wanted to be the one to declare the arrival of an epidemic, until it was so obvious that it was too late to stop it in the early stages. Originally, the medical profession held that cholera wasn't contagious. Public health administration was in its infancy, and so unorganized that medical officials were often unaware of how many cases were occurring and the patterns of the distribution.

Whenever an epidemic was recognized, those who could flee, would. The wealthy would retire to the country, non-working poor would flee to the farms of relatives if possible. Wives and children were sent to safety. Everyone else would try to stay at home as much as possible.

The Cholera Epidemics/Pandemics

There were several large epidemics that swept through Europe and the Americas in the 1800s. It generally took several years for it to finish spreading and to die out. In some areas, it lasted half a year while in others there may have been three or more years of significant numbers of infections.

1817-1823 The first great cholera pandemic of the 19th century swept Asia, probably originating near Calcutta and spreading from there throughout southeast Asia, Japan and China. Although it spread as far as southern Russia and the middle east, an exceptionally cold winter in 1823-24 kept it from reaching western Europe.

1826-37 The second cholera pandemic of the 19th century, and the most devastating one, began in Bengal and spread through India in 1826. It reached Afghanistan in 1827, and spread further into central Asia and the middle east. By late 1830 it had reached Moscow, and from there spread westward through Poland into Europe in 1831. It reached England on a ship from Hamburg in October 1831 and spread throughout the British Isles. Americans watched nervously, invoking quarantine restrictions. It reached New York in 1832, and spread from there throughout most of the U.S.

1849 The third major worldwide pandemic of cholera, again starting in Bengal, reached Europe and the U.S. in 1848-49. It flared up again in London in 1854. It was at this time, that the English physician John Snow made his discoveries. In the 1850’s there was a pandemic in Europe and Asia of the plague, cholera, dysentery, influenza, and famines in Europe and Eastern Europe. Cholera was pandemic in 1851-1852 in Germany spreading to Poland, Silesia, Pomerania, and Prussia spreading across to the adjoining Russian provinces. It looks like Friedrich and Louise Vormazin Formazin family were part of the third major worldwide pandemic of cholera which spread across Eastern Europe from Germany.

Unfortunately the Friedrich Formazin family was impacted by cholera with the two deaths of his beloved wife and oldest daughter. Friedrich was a man of the land, a farmer so he needed help raising his children after Louise died. So on January 9, 1853 Friedrich Formazin married Justine Brauer, age 25 years and 6 months, the daughter of the local mailman of Arnoldowo. This custom of remarrying was very common in those years so that the men had a mother for the children, a soul mate and a housewife for the family home, and a companion to love and cherish. We suspect Justine and her family were probably friends of the Formazin family.

Children of Friedrich Formazin and Louise Bonau

We have quite a bit of information on August Vormazin Formazin. As for Vormazin and Formazin, we seem to find Vormazin in the Labischin records but after the birth of August, Henriette, Stephan, and Caroline Vormazin, the last name changes from Vormazin to Formazin. Vormazin was probably the phonetic pronunciation of Formazin. My grandfather Robert August Fermazin was named after his uncle August Formazin. Being the first born of Friedrich Fermazin he must have had a special place in his father’s heart.

August Formazin son of Friedrich Formazin

August Formazin grew up and married Ernestine Kurz in 1865 at age 25. By this time August was working as a master tailor in the village of Jadownik. Later they moved on to Kwieciszewo. At the civil registration office of Gebice Land ( German Gembitz Land) the birth records October 1874-1895 and marriages and deaths 1895-1902 show that August Formazin and his spouse, Ernestine nee Kurz, must have bought a property there as records list him as landowner and master tailor. They settled there about 1877, since their older children were born there. August and Ernestine were happily married for 35 years. After Ernestine’s death August remarried Otilie Schmidt in 1900 and lived until 29 March 1921. We have only the death records of Ernestine and the marriage records of August Formazin and Otilie Schmidt but do not know if they had any children.

Children of August Formazin

Gustav Theophil, the first born was born 19 May 1866 in the village of Jadownik and died as an infant a few days later on 26 May 1866. We haven’t found the other children of this union from 1866 to Anna Augusta Formazin’s birth in Kwieciszewo on 11 July 1867. Anna was named after her aunt Augusta (daughter of Friedrich Formazin and his second wife Justine Brauer) and her father August but we will talk about them later. Anna grew up and married Wilhelm Heinrich Koerner 21 June 1905 in Gembitz. Wilhelm Koerner was born 19 July 1880 in Hamelin, Hamelin County Germany. Witnesses for Anna and Wilhelm’s marriage were August Formazin age 62, her father, who was now living in Blutenau and Franz Hartel age 40 of Gembitz.

According to the civil registration Amalia Emma Formazin, Evangelical, was born 8 July 1876 in Dombrowo Forsthaus district of Wongrowitz, and resided in Kwieciszewo. Amalia was named after her aunt Amelia Emily Formazin (daughter of Friedrich Formazin and his third wife, Caroline Hartwich) whom we will discuss later. Witnesses to the birth of Amalia Emma were Carl Busse age 45 of Kwieciszewo and master carpenter Arnold Gregor age 45 of Kwieciszewo. Amalia grew up in Kwieciszewo, and married Maxmillan Sobieszewski Strecker on 8 June 1898 in Kwieciszewo according to the records. Max was born on 9 August 1867 in the village of Strelno. Max’s birth name was Sobieszewski but later according to court records dated 30 January 1907 in the court (postanowienie) House in Mogilno, Max and Amalia changed their last name to Strecker. For what reason we do not know. Max was the son of the deceased Fritz Sobieszewski of and Minna Nee Heyden of Strelno.

Helene Ernestine (named after her mother) was born 31 March 1879 and registered on 5 April 1879.

Wilhelmine Motilie was born 4 September 1880 and registered on 11 September 1880.

Friedrich Wilhelm was born 3 February 1882 named of course after grandpa Friedrich Formazin and his birth was registered on 7 February 1882.

Wilhelmine and Berte (I am pretty certain that Berte was the daughter of August Fermazin, just that we haven’t found her birth records yet) later traveled to America on the ship, Albano arriving in New York on 13 April 1896 to visit their grandfather, Friedrich and Uncle Stephan living in Chicago. According to the ship manifest and the records from the Ellis Island data base they had two suitcases and were on there way to Chicago. I imagine this was exciting for two young women ages 21 and 16: the ship life, the other passengers, the excitement, the anticipation etc arriving at Ellis Island, New York city…Wonder if anyone was there to meet them?

After the death of Louise and Henriette, Friedrich later married Justine Brauer from Arnoldowo, Labischin, Posen, Prussia on 09 January 1853 in the Labischin Parish ("Einwohner" married Justine Brauer, daughter of mailman of Arnoldowo age 25 years, 6 months Entry # 7/1853). After this entry we find no more Formazin’s living in Labischin so they must have moved out. Of this marriage we know of two children, Augusta and Karl (Charles). Julia Augusta was born 08 July 1857 and Karl was born November 1859.

There were no more Formazins in Labischin parish up to 1862 when parish records end. Later, in the civil registry of Rynarschewo, I found no birth, marriage nor death records up to 1881.So, they moved out. We are still looking for the eight years from 1853 to 1862 for Friedrich Formazin. During this time he is married to Justine Brauer and has two more children that we know of, Augusta and Karl. . We assume that Justine had died around 1861 and the widower Friedrich remarried Carolina Hartwig. Julia Augusta emigrated to the USA and sent for Karl who came later around 1872. Julia August married August Giese on 18 December 1876. Of this marriage there were four children and the family lived in Aurora and Chicago.

Karl was living in Aurora and Chicago working as a farmer. He married Minnie Wilhelmina Plucker in

_________________________________________________

By the time Friedrich emigrates to the USA his name has changed from Vormazin, Formazin, and is now Fermazin and is married to Carolina Hartwig Friedrich immigrated from Oldenburg in 1879, arriving in New York, December 12, 1879 with his daughter Emilie (Amelia) on the ship Ohio. His manifest number was 15789. The entry read

Passenger name Friedrich Fermazin male

Age 55

Occupation: None

Last residence: Oldenburg

Port of Embarktation: Bremen

Mode of transportation: Steerage

Final destination: Ohio

Purpose for travel: Staying in USA but not a citizen of USA

Source FTM CD # 356 Passenger Immigration Lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888.

Ira Glazier and Filby, Germans to America Volume 34, page 412.

The "Ohio" was built by Caird & Co, Greenock for Norddeutscher Lloyd

[North German Lloyd] in 1868. She was a 2,394 gross ton vessel, length 290.2ft x beam 39ft, clipper stem, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. There was accommodation for 84-1st and 600-3rd class

passengers. Launched on 18/12/1868, she made her maiden voyage from Bremen to Southampton and Baltimore in March 1869. On 6/9/1871 she commenced her first sailing

from Bremen to Southampton and New York, making 11 round voyages on this route, her last in 1883. In 1880-1 her engines were compounded at Stettin, and on 3/10/1883 she sailed from Bremen on her last voyage to Baltimore. She was then transferred to the Bremen - South America service, commencing her final voyage on 25/11/1893. In 1894

she was sold to Sir W.G.Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. (shipbuilders) in part exchange for new ships. She then went to the Argentine government who renamed her "Amazzone". In 1897 she was again renamed "Rio Santa Cruz" and in 1903 was hulked. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor,

The steerage immigrant received three medical exams before entering America:

1. before boarding the ship

2. during the journey

3. at Castle Gardens

Only steerage passengers were required to go through Castle Gardens. First and second-class passengers were given their medical and legal inspections on board the steamship. As the immigrant entered Castle Gardens they were greeted by physicians who inspected them in an average time of 6 seconds. The doctors were looking for symptoms of over 60 different diseases and ailments. These diseases included: diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, measles, mental illness, senility, lameness, physical handicaps, or any other ailment or contagious disease that would prevent an immigrant from earning a living or threatening the welfare of the public.

For many new immigrants, improving their economic life was at the centerpiece of their decision to migrate. Many new immigrants left home because their countries were overly populated and competition of economic life drove them to seek work elsewhere. In the nineteenth century improvements in diet, sanitation and disease control contributed to an explosion in the European population from 200 million to more than 400 million. This massive growth in population pushed many of the unskilled workers and peasants out of Europe and into the world immigration market. These workers had to travel for employment, and while they may have faced economic hardship, they were not usually the most downtrodden who couldn’t afford the passage over. In most cases, industrial capitalism in the Gilded Age pulled them towards jobs overseas. This pull to new lands resulted from the industrializing nations luring the masses of cheap, unskilled laborers to their countries to work in their factories and in their fields.

In this new, strange place, these new Americans were forced to move to new neighborhoods and learn new skills. These neighborhoods became part of the migration chain, that is, they were ethnic neighborhoods or enclaves – havens in a too often unfamiliar world. In his trailblazing book, “How the Other Half Lives” author and photographer Jacob Riis, tells the stories of these immigrants and the pitfalls of adjusting to life in America. Riis himself experienced this hardship, was out of work, homeless and hungry when he decided to dedicate his life to telling the immigrants’ stories. While some immigrants traveled west as part of the Homestead Act, others remained in the slums of the burgeoning cities and became that ‘other half’ of the Gilded Age period.

In the 1890s, the United States was transformed from an agrarian to an industrial nation. This time period marks the birth of modern America when America becomes the largest economy in the world and the most modern urban nation. The 1890 industrial revolution was centered in the United States and Germany and featured a wealth of inventions in the production of metals, machinery, agricultural products and chemicals.[1][1](Rogers, p. 23) By this time, the United States was exporting more manufacturing goods than it was importing and for this reason, primarily, by 1900 most immigrants found cities economically attractive.[2][2] The 1900 U.S. census shows that by 1900, one-third of the population lived in cities, and three of ten city-dwellers lived in just five cities. In 1850, the 85 urban places of 8,000 or more had become 545 such places by 1900.

The U.S. had begun a period of rapid industrial expansion, demanding ready supply of cheap, unskilled, and semiskilled labor for factories and mines. The hours of work were long and dangerous, and the wages were low, but compared to what many immigrants had left behind, the land of opportunity was a blessing.

But the boom was soon to bring bust. By the mid 1890s economic depression loomed large. The rapid rise in urban population also brought mass unemployment and a fall in commodity prices and rural land values. Wheat, which had sold for over a dollar a bushel in the 1870s, fell below thirty cents in the latter half of the 1890s. Cotton, which had averaged better than ten cents a pound in the 1870s, dropped under seven cents during most of the 1890s. The average value of farmland per acre actually fell about 7% between 1890 and 1900, the first such decline in U.S. history. As a result, the American dream for many immigrants turned into an American nightmare.

Migration to America or other destinations was rarely, if ever, a singular decision. Immigrants consulted with families both at home and abroad while making the decision to travel. I expect my students will explore this area of immigration. What decision-making went in to the process of taking a great leap into often unknown territory? Where family members already there? Were they escaping political or religious persecution? Was it an adventure? Were they traveling alone with the intention of returning or did they bring their families along? For many, obviously, industrial capitalism disrupted the traditional economic structure of their former homes in southern and eastern European nations, which resulted in a transformation of habits of work and in those cases they were quite simply, forced to move on.

Friedrich came over to America in 1879 with his daughter Amelia and was on his way to Illinois to rejoin other members of his family. In recalling what it was like to come to America he probably came in a in a very crowded ship with lots of diseases. When they got to Castle Gardens a lot of people were sent back on the ship. When the doctors asked, "Do you have any family in America?" He said, "Yes." He probably walked from the ship. The food was the same as it was in Posen. The next day he probably looked for a railroad to take him to Illinois or possibly looked for a job. There were many low paying jobs at that time. People were not very friendly. The Germans all lived together. A quote from Friedrich's diary would have read " We all remember coming over in the boat in steerage. My family and I remember having very little money. We remember the days very well, but we try to forget coming over in steerage. We hoped we would have a better life in America. We love America."

The thing that puzzles me a little bit is that Caroline came to America earlier than her husband. Normally the men travelled first and tried to earn money to pay for the passage of their family.

It is, however, quite clear that he stayed some time in the area around Bremen before leaving (Oldenburg was a town and the Grand-duchy West of Bremen http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/ger1871.html).

If one could write a narrative of how Friedrich Fermazin probably felt leaving his homeland of Schubin, Posen, Prussia, it probably would go something like this:

I didn't want to come at all. Certainly my life had been dull and poor enough before we set off for the boat, but when I thought of leaving it all for some huge mysterious place, and very problably never coming back, I got knots in my stomach and spidery tingles all up and down my arms and legs...

We are not sure when Fred Fermazin settled in Aurora, Illinois. He shows up in the city directory of 1887 for the first time. However his son Carl (Charles) ( m.16 August 1885) and daughters Emilie (m. 26 May 1883), Julia Augusta (m. 18 December 1876), and Bertha (m. 29 November 1887) were married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church Aurora, Illinois.

Other city directories showed the following:

Holland's Aurora City directory of 1887-1890 lists

Fermezin, Fred as a milk dealer, residing at W.s. Ohio 2s.Sixth av.

In Holland's Aurora City Directory of 1910-1911 it lists

Fermazin, Carrie, wid Fred residing at 569 5th Ave

The 1880 Illinois census ED 70 showed the following

Census Locality: Illinois

1880 US Census - 5

1. Frederick FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Self Gender: Male Birth: <1820> PRUSSIA

2. Caroline FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1830> PRUSSIA

3. Amelia FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1863> PRUSSIA

4. Bertha FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1865> PRUSSIA

5. Rinerhart FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Son Gender: Male Birth: <1874> PRUSSIA

In 1880 census of Ilinois it lists Friedrich Fermazin as a farmer. What was it like to be a farmer in 1880? He loved his animals. He watered and fed them morning and night; he took care of his team. Although he controlled the horses with the reins, he talked to them constantly, and they responded to his voice.

He would say, "Giddy up there, Dick and Jim".

"Get along there"

"Ho there, move over there a little bit, get over there Tommy:"

"Be over there Dick and Jim."

"Ho, Jimmy and Jake"

"Getty up Jed!"

"Not so fast, no where to go Billy."

"Get along there."

"Way to go! there, good horses, good horses, Ya........."

"Ya"

He loved his horses and had a special feeling for his team...........

Carolina age 40 arrived in USA from embarkation Hamburg and Havre on the ship Wieland with Captain Hebich. She arrived in USA on 9/10/1878; Manifest ID 34914. from FTM's Family Archives CD # 356 Passenger and Immigration lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888. It appears Fred and Emilie his daughter came a year after Carolina and the other children Reinhart and Bertha. Not known when Charles Fermazin came.

Caroline Fermazin and the children, Bertha and Reinhart had arrived one year earlier in the USA.

The entry is found in:

Carolina Fermazin found in:

Germans to America, 1875-1888

Age: 40

Gender: Female

Occupation Code: Woman

Country: Unknown

Last Residence: Unknown

Final Destination: USA

Purpose for Travel: Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA

Mode of Travel: Steerage

Port of Embarkation: Hamburg & Havre

Manifest ID Number: 34914

Captain's Name: Hebich

Ship's Name: Wieland

Date of Arrival: Sep. 10, 1878

The steamship WIELAND was built by Alexander Stephen& Sons, Glasgow (Ship No. 171), and launched on 16 June 1874 for the Adler (Eagle) Line of Hamburg. 3,504 tons; 114,4 x 12,2 meters/375 x 40 feet (length x breadth); straight bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 13 knots; accommodation for 90 passengers in 1st class, 100 in 2nd class, and 800 in steerage; crew of 110. The WIELAND never ran for the Adler Line. The Adler Line, which had been founded

in 1873 in direct competition with the Hamburg American Line (HAPAG), was purchased by the latter company for 11,400,000 Reichsmarks on 7 May 1875, and on 25 June 1875, the WIELAND was transferred to HAPAG control. 7 July 1875, maiden voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York

Source: An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services

Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey,

Channel Islands: Brookside Publications),

vol. 1 (1975), p. 392]. - [ Posted to the Emigration-Ships

Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 28 February 1998]

This is how Carolina felt when leaving her native Posen to come to America. Remember she left before Friedrich. "My heart aches every time I think about that afternoon when I left my parents, my husband, and friends to go to the railroad station to begin my journey to America. My mother kissed me goodbye and then stood by the doorway stiff as a statue sobbing as my husband and I left the house. At the station, even my husband, as hard as he tried, could not keep the tears from filling his eyes."

Voyage to America in the 19th century was not pleasant. Passengers provided their own provisions 200# food per adult on average. Money rasied for the voyage through the sale of livestock or land. There ws also the possibility of help from friends and relations who had already settled in America. Hardships suffered on board of ships were fever and other diseases spread in the unventilated hold of the ship. Dysentery was common. One woman wrote of her account of dysentery where her head and face had swollen to almost unnatural size, the latter being hideously deformed. Three brothers died of dysentery on board ship, the third leaving two little orphans one of whom ----- a boy, seven years of age --- "I noticed in the evening he was wearing his father's coat". Very sad indeed! This was common and could very well been witnessed by Caroline and the children.

SAMPLE OF A LETTER WRITTEN HOME TO POSEN: upon arrival in New York.

``Dear Muter,'' writes Caroline Hartwig Fermazin in 1879 from New York to her overseas mother, ``you really ought to see New York...the most beautiful and main street, Broadway, is more than 6 hours long...Crossing the street is positively dangerous, one wagon after the next, so loud you can't hear yourself talk, business and money everywhere').

Once they arrived in America Caroline shows up in the Holland's City Directory, Aurora Illinois

1880-1884

Fermazin, Mrs. Caroline, resident 34 Second Avenue, Aurora, Illinois.

Caroline did not necessarily occupy the house at 34 Second Avenue in 1880-1884. There was only one directory covering those four years, and we don't know if it was produced near the beginning or the end of that range of years, so all it really says is that, sometime in those four years, she did live there.

Holland's City Directory, Aurora, Illinois, 1897 lists Carrie Fermacin living at 370 Hinman (a widow of Reinhart), however we know this to be incorrect.

Holland's City Directory, Aurora, Illinois 1910-1911

Fermazin, Carrie, wid Fred residence 569 5th Ave, Aurora, Illinois

Children of FRIEDRICH FERMAZIN and JUSTINE BRAUER are: After the death of Louise and Henriette, Friedrich later married Justine Brauer from Arnoldowo, Labischin, Posen, Prussia on 09 January 1853 in the Labischin Parish ("Einwohner" married Justine Brauer, daughter of mailman of Arnoldowo age 25 years, 6 months Entry # 7/1853). After this entry we find no more Formazin’s living in Labischin so they must have moved out.

Of this marriage we DONT know IF THESE two children, Augusta and Karl (Charles). Julia Augusta was born 08 July 1857 and Karl was born November 1859 WERE PART OF THIS MARRIAGE. I THINK THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF FRIEDRICH FERMAZIN AND CAROLINA HARTWIG.

Below two children are probably from Friedrich Fermazin and Carolina Hartwig. Justien Brauer was divorced from Friedrich Fermazin according to Posen Marriage list serv

4. v. CHARLES KARL DANIEL³ FERMAZIN, b. November 1859, Province Posen, Schubin Prussia; d. 03 June 1913, Aurora,Kane, Illinois.

5. vi. JULIA AUGUSTA FERMAZIN, b. 08 July 1857, Schubin, Prussia.

Children of FRIEDRICH FERMAZIN and CAROLINA HARTWIG are:

4. v. CHARLES KARL DANIEL³ FERMAZIN, b. November 1859, Province Posen, Schubin Prussia; d. 03 June 1913, Aurora,Kane, Illinois.

5. vi. JULIA AUGUSTA FERMAZIN, b. 08 July 1857, Schubin, Prussia.

6. vii. EMILIE AMELIA³ FERMAZIN, b. 21 August 1862, Piardowo, Schubin, Prussia; d. 07 June 1946, Los Angeles, California.

viii. BERTHA FERMAZIN¹⁰, b. 29 November 1864, Schubin, Prussia¹¹; d. Unknown, ?; m. J D WATKINS¹², 29 November 1887¹³.

Notes for BERTHA FERMAZIN:

Bertha born November 29, 1864 in Godziwy

Baptised January 8, 1865

God parents: August Hartwich, Caroline Harhala (spelling)

Entry # 146/1865 page 77

Bertha arrived in USA from embarkation Hamburg and Havre on the ship Wieland with Captain Hebich. She arrived in USA on 9/10/1878; Manifest ID 34914. from FTM's Family Archives CD # 356 Passenger and Immigration lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888.

Bertha Fermazin found in:

Germans to America, 1875-1888

Age: 9

Gender: Female

Occupation Code: Daughter

Country: Unknown

Last Residence: Unknown

Final Destination: USA

Purpose for Travel: Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA

Mode of Travel: Steerage

Port of Embarkation: Hamburg & Havre

Manifest ID Number: 34914

Captain's Name: Hebich

Ship's Name: Wieland

Date of Arrival: Sep. 10, 1878.

Notes for J D WATKINS:

The 1890 Directory lists J. D. Watkins as a fireman (does not specify

company, could be Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R.) residing at 410 Benton.

ix. REINHART OTTO REINHARD FERMAZIN, b. 08 November 1867, Godziwy, Schubin, Posen Prussia¹⁴; d. 13 November 1939, Chicago, Illinois¹⁵; m. LILLIAN RYLAND, 19 July 1906, St. Paul's Luteran Church, Aurora, Kane, Illinois; b. 11 October 1887, Standish, Michigan¹⁶; d. 1930, State home at Traverse City Michigan.

Notes for REINHART OTTO REINHARD FERMAZIN:

Born November 8, 1867 in Godziwy, Kries Schubin, Posen, Prussia German Empire

Baptised November 25, 1867

Godparents: Wilhelm Lenz, Wilhelmine Scharke

Entry # 183/1867 page 93

Discrepancies in Otto Reinhart birthday. The birth records show born in 1867, the ship records show 1867, and the marriage records show 1875 and the 1880 census shows something yet different. I think the ship and birth records are the most likely correct.

Reinhart age 11 years arrived in USA from embarkation Hamburg and Havre on the ship Wieland with Captain Hebich. He arrived in USA on 10 September 1878; Manifest ID 34914.

Source: FTM's Family Archives CD # 356 Passenger and Immigration lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888. According to this source he would have been born in 1878 but his marriage certificate and

According to affidavit to US Land office for his homestead in South Dakota on he was 21 years of age, married, German born, naturalized citizen of the US and head of family.

Reinhart Fermazin found in:

Russians to America, 1875-1888

Age: 11/12 years

Gender: Male

Occupation Code:

Country: Unknown

Last Residence: Unknown

Final Destination: USA

Purpose for Travel: Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA

Mode of Travel: Steerage

Port of Embarkation: Hamburg & Havre

Manifest ID Number: 34914

Captain's Name: Hebich

Ship's Name: Wieland

Date of Arrival: Sep. 10, 1878

In 1898, Reinhart is living in Evanston, Wyoming where he enlists in the Spanish American War on May 8, 1898 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. On his enlistment papers he is described as 5'11", blue eyes, fair hair and born in Prussia. Reinhart served in the Spanish American War in Manilla, Phillipine Islands, Ft. San Felipe for about one year. He enlisted in the First Wyoming Volunteer Infantry Battalion, Co. Hr. He lists his next of kin as his father, Fred Fermazin, a resident of Chicago, Illinois. He served as a rifleman in this tour of duty. In the early Fall of 1898 he was sentenced to forfeit $1.59 by a special court martial and on Oct 5, an additional $ 2.00. In the final month of 1898 he was reported "in confinement". During his time in Manilla he was absent from his post without permission of his commanding officer and served three times in the brig with 10 days of hard labor. On July 28, 1899 he was discharged at Manila. He mustered out at the Presidio in San Francisco on September 23, 1899 with "service honorable and faithful. Character good." "Pay due as a Private $ 9.88."

Source: Spanish American War file # 42319677; Headquarters Department of the Pacific and Eighth Army Corps, Special Orders # 204, Manila, Phillipine, Is. July 28, 1899.

By early 1900 we find Reinhart living in Aurora, Kane, Illinois in a boarding house as a single person

Source: Census 1900 Ward 5, Series T623 Microfilm: 310 Book 2 page 85.

While serving in the U.S. armed services he must have applied for citizenship as he was naturalized May 3, 1904 in the Superior Court of Cook County, Illinois

May 19, 1906 at time of his marriage to Lillian Ryland, he was living in Chicago, Illinois and working as motorman.

Source: Marriage license

Reinhart seems to be one of my most colorful ancestors in the Fermazin genealogy. He came to the United States at age 11, resided in Illinois, enlisted in the Army in Cheyenne, Wyoming, served in the Spanish American War in the Phillipines, mustered out in San Francisco, married in Chicago and homesteaded in South Dakota and married three times.

In Reinhart Fermazin's marriage certificate to Lillian Ryland, Reinhart lists Fred Fermazin as father and Carolina Hartwig as mother. On FTM CD disk Reinhart emigrated on Ship Wieland with his mother Carolina and sister Bertha in 1878. On this marriage certificate, you can see where the field on Marriages has a "2" written over the "1". We have not been able to find an earlier wife for Reinhart. Also it is not known if Reinhart died in California and was shipped back to Chicago for burial or whether he was in Chicago at the time of his death. His third wife Anna was the historian for the death certificate. On Reinhart Fermazin's death certificate(Reinhard Fermazin Certificate # 0031038 Cook County) from the state of Illinois, his third wife Anna Dvorik lists Reinhart's mother as Carrie and father as Stephen. However according to Reinhart's birth certificate from Posen, Prussia and his marriage certificate to Lillian Ryland, July 1906, Frederick is listed as the father. Death certificates are known not to be inaccurate as the widow is usually distraught. His widow Anna Dvorik is about 30 years old. We are not sure how he met her or when they married but according to the 1930 Illinois census he is married and living in Chicago. In the mean time he moves to California. We do know that Reinhart's half brother Stephan Vormazin has children living in Santa Barbara, California and that Reinhart's sister Amelia (Emilie) Fermazin Weis is a widow living in Los Angeles, California. Reinhart's birth certificate lists father as Fred Fermazin and mother as Caroline Hartwich. Stephen we know is his half brother. In 1959 we also know that Anna Dvorik Fermazin is a widow living in Los Angeles, California.

In the Spring of 1909, Reinhart homesteaded 160 acres in Vernal South Dakota, Perkins County within the Lemon land district. In the Spring of 1909 and 1910, Reinhart broke the soil and planted corn, beans and potatoes; harvested 15 bushels in 1909 and 25 bushels in 1910. There was also a sod house on the land 12x16 feet with lumber roof and floor, 3 windows and one door and a cellar under the house 5 x 6 x 6 ft. A well 27 feet deep. A sod barn, rolo roof and hy on top and a chicken coop, 8x8. About 70 trees have been planted, Ash and Box elders on 6 acres, fenced with 2 wires and posts 2 rods apart. Value of improvements is $ 300.00. On March 7, 1909 Reinhart stated he was 31 years of age, married, German born, naturalized citizen of the US and head of family. It seems while Reinhart was living on the land there was a dispute and affidavits taken from neighbors that he was not using the land for mining of coal or any minerals, just farming.

Source: BLM, Patent 259286 Applied October 19, 1908, Approved April 6, 1912 and final April 15, 1919.

In 1920 we find Reinhart living at 328 Harrison, Chicago Illinois with his wife Lillian.

Source: US Census Vol 53, ED 756, Sheet 6, Line 75.

My father Robert F. Fermazin son of Robert August Fermazin remembers Uncle Reinhart very fondly. He states that Reinhart Fermazin worked as a conductor on the street cars in Chicago, Illinois and was written up in Ripley's Believe it or Not as the only person who knew every street by memory in Chicago.

compiled by Nancy Fermazin great niece of Reinhart Fermazin.

More About REINHART OTTO REINHARD FERMAZIN:

Burial: 13 November 1939, Chicago, Illinois

Notes for LILLIAN RYLAND:

Dear fellow Genealogist.

I happened upon your listing today on ancestry.com. My mother was a

neice of Lillian's.

I have a copy of Lillian's birth certificate. Her birth date is oct. 11,

1887. Her head stone on her grave in Standish cemetary gives her death date

as 1930. She died in the State home at Traverse City Michigan. she had M.S. Her father seems to be a colorful person in our family tree. On some of his

kids birth records he has listed his birthplace as Sweden and others he

listed it as Norway. On his second marriage record He listed his Dads name

as andrew and mother as Martha.in arenac county. in bay county marriage

record for same marriage he listed his mother as unknown. On some of his

kids birth records he gave his name as andrew. John Walter Ryland bd. dec.29

1846. Death date apr. 16 1929. Elizabeths bd Oct. 5, 1864.

dd. may 21,1933. she died in genesse co. Mi.

My Name is Terry Mowrey.

My E-mail terribird56_@hotmail.com

More About LILLIAN RYLAND:

Burial: 1930, State home at Traverse City Michigan

Generation No. 3

3. AUGUST³ FERMAZIN (FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 07 September 1841 in Florentowo parish Schubin¹⁷, and died 29 March 1921 in Kwieciszewo. He married (1) ENESTINE KURZ. She died 1900. He married (2) OTILIE SCHMIDT 1903.

Notes for AUGUST FERMAZIN:

Bapt.: Sep.12,1841

Witnesses: Carl Meyer, August Reddmann, Renate Pinau (? spelling), Eva Meyer

Entry # 264 pages 138-139

At the civil registration office of Gebice Land ( German Gembitz Land) at birth records October 1874-1895, marriages and deaths 1895-1902

August Fermazin and his spouse, Ernestine nee Kurz, must have bought a property there as records list him as landowner and master tailor. They settled there about 1877, since when their children were born there:

Anna Augusta born Jul. 11, 1877, registered Jul. 17, 1877 Entry # 104/1877

Helene Ernestine born Mar. 31, 1879, registered Apr. 5, 1879 Entry # 55/1879

Wilhelmine Motile born Sep. 4, 1880, registered Sep. 11, 1880 Entry # 130/1880

Friedrich Wilhelm born Feb. 3, 1882, registered Feb. 7, 1882 Entry # 22/1882

All above children were born in Kwieciszewo. There were no more children before these, so I expected that family moved to that town. The prove to this is in the following record, I am enclosing info marriage was found:

June 8,1898 Gembitz Entry # 19/1898

Maximilian Sobieszewski, Evangelical, born on Aug. 9,1867 in Strelno, resided in Strelno, son of deceased in Strelno Fritz Sobieszewski and Minna nee Heyden of Strelno

Got married to

Amalia Emma Formazin, Evangelical, born on Jul. 8,1876 in Dombrowo Forsthaus district Wongrowitz, resided in Kwieciszewo

Daughter of master tailor August Fermazin and Ernestine nee Kurz of Kwieciszewo.

Witnesses: House owner Carl Busse age 45 of Kwieciszewo and master carpener Arnold

Gregor age 45 of Kwieciszewo.

Additional notes: Jan.30,1907 based on of the Court {postanowienie} House in Mogilno,

Maximilian Sobieszewski and his spouse Amalie Emma maiden name Fermazin, change their name to Strecker

Earlier records, including children and, I suppose, marriage should be found at the parishes Skoki or Wagrowiec. Theoretically, these areas belonged to the parish in Gross Mirkwitz - Mirkowice since 1857, but I hope we can locate them at the parish of Skoki.

If there are any indexes for more current records from Gebice Land civil registry office, I will have them checked especially for deaths of parents and marriages by the local clerk. If indexes to records do not exist, then they might not agree to do that without a certain date.

Notes for ENESTINE KURZ:

Ernestine nee Kurtz in years 1902-1931

Children of AUGUST FERMAZIN and ENESTINE KURZ are:

i. GUSTAV FRIEDRICH THEOPHIL⁴ FERMAZIN, b. 19 May 1866, Jadownik¹⁸; d. 26 May 1866, Jadownik¹⁹.

Notes for GUSTAV FRIEDRICH THEOPHIL FERMAZIN:

Witnesses Ludwig Pawelshe, master butcher, Cartharina Kurtz

More About GUSTAV FRIEDRICH THEOPHIL FERMAZIN:

Burial: 26 May 1866, Jadownik

ii. ANNA AUGUSTA FERMAZIN, b. 11 July 1877, Kawiesezowo, Posen, Prussia; m. WILHELM HEINRICH KOERNER, 21 June 1905, Gembitz²⁰; b. 19 July 1880, Hamelin, Hamelin County.

Notes for ANNA AUGUSTA FERMAZIN:

Marriage witnesses

Witnesses: August Fermazin age 62 of Bluetenau and Franz Hartel age 40 of Gembitz

iii. HELENE ERNESTINE FERMAZIN, b. 31 March 1879, Kawiesezowo, Posen, Prussia.

iv. WILHELMINE MOTILIE FERMAZIN, b. 04 September 1880, Kawiesezowo, Posen, Prussia.

v. FRIEDRICH WILHELM FERMAZIN, b. 03 February 1882, Kawiesezowo, Posen, Prussia.

vi. AMALIA EMMA FERMAZIN, b. 08 July 1876; m. MAXMILLAN SOBIESZEWSKI STRECKER, 08 June 1898, Kwieciszewo²¹; b. 09 August 1867, Strelno.

Notes for AMALIA EMMA FERMAZIN:

June 8,1898 Gembitz Entry # 19/1898

Maximilian Sobieszewski, Evangelical, born on Aug. 9,1867 in Strelno, resided in Strelno, son of deceased in Strelno Fritz Sobieszewski and Minna nee Heyden of Strelno

Got married to

Amalia Emma Formazin, Evangelical, born on Jul. 8,1876 in Dombrowo Forsthaus district Wongrowitz, resided in Kwieciszewo

Daughter of master tailor August Fermazin and Ernestine nee Kurz of Kwieciszewo.

Witnesses: House owner Carl Busse age 45 of Kwieciszewo and master carpener Arnold

Gregor age 45 of Kwieciszewo.

Additional notes: Jan.30,1907 based on of the Court {postanowienie} House in Mogilno,

Maximilian Sobieszewski and his spouse Amalie Emma maiden name Fermazin, change their name to Strecker

4. CHARLES KARL DANIEL³ FERMAZIN (FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN)²² was born November 1859 in Province Posen, Schubin Prussia²³, and died 03 June 1913 in Aurora,Kane, Illinois²⁴. He met WILHELMINE PLUCKER 16 August 1885 in St. Paul's Luteran Church, Aurora, Kane, Illinois. She was born 06 June 1868 in Aurora, Illinois, and died 1952 in Aurora, Illinois.

Notes for CHARLES KARL DANIEL FERMAZIN:

Marriage License, Kane County, Illinois,

# 3736, 16 August 1885. Witnesses at marriage: Bertha Fermazin, Wilhelm Mueller, Maria Plucker, Wilhelm Willie Plucker

Charles emmigrated in 1872

Naturalization papers: Film # 1481631 Declaration of Intent. Film # 1481635, Final Papers Vol 60-63, 12 June 1888-26 Mar 1906

5 November 1888. Passenger and Immigration Index, 1500s-1900s

Place: Illinois Year: 1888

Primary immigrant: Fermazin, Charles (Karl)

Permanent entry number: 706054

Accession number: 9360658

Source publication code: 3703.1

Source publication page number: 40

Source publication: KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS NATURALIZATION RECORDS, 1857-1906. Geneva, IL: Kane County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 504, Geneva, IL 60134, 1988. 162p.

Source annotation: Date and place of declaration of intent or final papers. Extracted from records of the Elgin and Aurora City Courts and the Kane County Court/Circuit Court housed at the Circuit Court office in Geneva, the county seat. Copies of the original documents can be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Kane County, Illinois, Box 112, Geneva, IL 60134.

Source: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index

Witnesses Emil Lohn and Charles Pagel Jr.

Children of Charles and Minnie: Census Records 1900, 4th and 5th day of June, Rost Twnship, Jackson Cnty, MN Series T 623, Microfilm 771, Bk 2, page 62,

According to MN census Charles Karl Fermazin came to the US in 1872.

US census 1910, Kane County, Illinois

Lived in Aurora Carpenter 1890-1893; Scraper Wks 1910-1911 1890-1893

Fermazin, Chas D. Carpenter, res 227 Jefferson Ave. (1890-1893); Fermazin, Charles D. wife Minnie, wks Scraper Wks, r 265 N. Smith (1910-1911)

City Directory, Aurora, Illinois

Lived in Lakefield, Jackson County, Minnessota from 1895-1910 in Aurora Beacon News Obituary

Census 1900 Minnessota docments children born 1895 to 1900 census

Personal letter from wife to great grandchild

__________________________________________________________________________

Source Aurora Beacon News 4 June 1913 p. 13

Funeral Notice

The funeral of the late Charles Fermazin of 265 North Smith Street will be held Thursday afternoon at ____ o'clock from the English Lutheran Church corner of Root and Main Street. Interment will be in the Montgomery cemetary.

Mr. Fermazin is survived by his wife and seven children. Robert, Carl, Irene, Nettie, Lottie, Willie, and Harold and one grand-daughter, all of this city, also three sisters and one brother.

He was born in Germany November ____ 1859 and came to Aurora when he was ____ years old. In 1885 he was married to Minnie Pluecker. Aurora has been his home since coming to this country with the exception of 15 years residence at Lakefield Minn. Of late he was employed by Western ____ Scraper company.

More About CHARLES KARL DANIEL FERMAZIN:

Burial: 06 June 1913, Riverside Cemetary, Aurora, Illinois²⁵

More About WILHELMINE PLUCKER:

Burial: 21 April 1952, Riverside Cemetary, Aurora, Illionos

Children of CHARLES FERMAZIN and WILHELMINE PLUCKER are:

7. i. ROBERT ROY⁴ FERMAZIN, b. 25 November 1886, Aurora, Illinois; d. 12 April 1960, Aurora, Illinois.

8. ii. CARL AUGUST EMIL KARL FERMAZIN, b. 26 August 1889, Aurora, Illinois; d. January 1968, Burlington, Wisconsin.

9. iii. IRENE LAURA FERMAZIN, b. 16 March 1891, Aurora, Illinois; d. Abt. January 1963, Aburora, Illinois.

iv. EMILIE HENRIETTE JEAN FERMAZIN²⁶, b. 20 January 1893; m. WALTER LAFAYETTE.

Notes for EMILIE HENRIETTE JEAN FERMAZIN:

Mrs. M E fermazin announces the marriage of her daughter Henrietta Jean to Dr. Walter Wallace La Fayette on Sunday the 31st day of December 1922 in Aurora Illinois.

10. v. CHARLOTTE (LOTTE) FERMAZIN, b. 31 October 1894, Heron Lake Township, Jackson County, Minnesota; d. November 1971, Aurora, Illinois.

11. vi. BILL WILLIAM FERMAZIN, b. 25 August 1896, Heron Lake Township, Jackson County Minnesota; d. 18 September 1994, Aurora, Illinois.

12. vii. HARRY HAROLD FERMAZIN, b. 20 August 1898, Heron Lake Township, Jackson County, Minnesota; d. March 1975.

5. JULIA AUGUSTA³ FERMAZIN (FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN)²⁷ was born 08 July 1857 in Schubin, Prussia²⁸. She married AUGUST GIESE18 December 1876 in Aurora, Kane County Illinois²⁹, son of CHRISTIAN GIESE and FRIEDERICKE EHLERH. He was born 30 October 1849 in Pommern³⁰.

Notes for JULIA AUGUSTA FERMAZIN:

Married August Giese on December 18, 1876 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois.

Witnesses to this marriage Ludwig Bauman, Emilie Scherrig

KEEPING HOUSE IN THE 1880'S

"Ma used Three Flat Irons to Press her Clothes"

On Tuesdays we spent the day ironing our laundry in the kitchen. Monday evening before it got dark, we would go to the clothesline in the back yard to collect the dry, clean laundry in large baskets. I loved tosmell clean clothers off the clothesline. We would carry the baskets full of clean clothes to the kitchen. Early Tuesday morning, Pa would fire up the wood burning stove. he would let it burn until the cooking surface was hot. Ma would take three irons from the shelf above the stove. The irons were shaped with a point at one end and flat at the back. The bottom was a flat, smooth surface that would slide over the clothing easily. She would grip the flat iron by its wooden handle and place a shirt on the ironing board to iron. When she finished, she would fetch a wooden hanger from the closet, carefully place the freshly ironed shirt on it and and hang it in the closet. She would use the iron for two or three pieces, then switch irons. She put the cold iron on the stove to re-warm. She would take the second iron and continue to work. This went on all day. We would iron shirts, pants, overalls, dresses, blouses, skirts and scarves. I would help her by putting clothers away. We all had a drawer and a place in the closet in which to put our clothers. Ma talked about eerything as we worked and I listened.

More About JULIA AUGUSTA FERMAZIN:

Occupation: 04 October 1884, Housewife

Notes for AUGUST GIESE:

The 1880-84 Directory lists August Giese as a laborer, living on East

Batavia Road.

More About AUGUST GIESE:

Occupation: 03 October 1884, Cement Finisher

Children of JULIA FERMAZIN and AUGUST GIESE are:

i. FRED AUGUST⁴ GIESE³¹, b. 03 October 1884, Aurora, Illinois³².

ii. AUGUSTE MARIA MAGDALENE GIESE³³, b. 20 October 1887.

iii. AUGUST WILHELM FERDINAND GIESE, b. 15 October 1879, Aurora, Illinois³⁴.

iv. ADOLPH EMIL GIESE, b. 18 February 1882, Aurora, Illinois³⁵; d. 18 February 1882, Aurora, Illinois.

More About ADOLPH EMIL GIESE:

Burial: 18 February 1882, St Paul's Lutheran Cemetary, Aurora Ill

6. EMILIE AMELIA³ FERMAZIN (FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 21 August 1862 in Piardowo, Schubin, Prussia³⁶, and died 07 June 1946 in Los Angeles, California. She married ANTONASIUS WEIS 26 May 1883 in St. Paul's Luteran Church, Aurora, Kane, Illinois, son of FRANZ WEIS and UNKNOWN SCHMIDT. He was born Abt. 1857 in Friedrichsdorf, Austria, and died in Aurora Illinois.

Notes for EMILIE AMELIA FERMAZIN:

Born August 21, 1862 Piardowo

Baptised August 23, 1862

Godparents: Daniel Ristau, Ottilie Marx

Entry # 146/1862 page 69 Schubin

Emilie or Amelia as she later preferred to be called arrived in USA from embarkation Oldenburg on the ship Ohio sailing from Bremen with Captain Meyer. She arrived in USA on 12/12/1879; Manifest ID 15789. from FTM's Family Archives CD # 356 Passenger and Immigration lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888.

Emilie Fermazin found in:

Germans to America, 1875-1888

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Occupation Code: None

Country: Oldenburg

Last Residence: Unknown

Final Destination: OH

Purpose for Travel: Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA

Mode of Travel: Steerage

Port of Embarkation: Bremen

Manifest ID Number: 15789

Captain's Name: Meyer

Ship's Name: Ohio

Date of Arrival: Dec. 12, 1879

According to her great great granddaughter, Jan Weis Emilie's official name was Amelia as listed on Rudolf Weis birth, death, marriage certificate per email Jim Dart, great great grandson-in-law, Januray 1, 2002.

Witnesses at Emilie Fermazin and Antonesius Weis marriage were Emil Rausch, Karl Fermazin, Bertha Rausch, Bertha Fermazin.

On California death indexes it shows birth date as August 17, 1861.

More About EMILIE AMELIA FERMAZIN:

Burial: 1946, Los Angeles, California

More About ANTONASIUS WEIS:

Burial: Aurora, Illinois

Children of EMILIE FERMAZIN and ANTONASIUS WEIS are:

i. BERTHA⁴ WEIS.

ii. ART WEIS.

iii. EDWARD WEIS, b. Abt. 1889.

iv. RUDOLPH WEIS, b. 29 September 1890.

v. ELMER WEIS, b. 14 August 1904.

Generation No. 4

7. ROBERT ROY⁴ FERMAZIN (CHARLES KARL DANIEL³, FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 25 November 1886 in Aurora, Illinois³⁷, and died 12 April 1960 in Aurora, Illinois. He married MARY KATHERINE LINDEN Abt. 1913 in Aurora, Illinois, daughter of MATHIAS LINDEN and CATHARINA POTT. She was born 26 August 1887 in Aurora, Illinois, and died 20 August 1969 in Buena Park California.

Notes for ROBERT ROY FERMAZIN:

Grandpa was born November 25 , 1886.

Dad says Grandpa took classes in Chicago and had a diploma for Electrical Engineering, was a farmer, a carpenter, and a machinist at Thor Power Tool Company.

Grandpa lived on Forest Drive, State Street across from Sacred Heart Church, and at 942 Sixth Avenue, Aurora, Ill. Sixth Avenue house is the one he built. It is across from Phillip's Park and the Farnsworth Retirement Home.

Dad says that when they lived on State Street across from Sacred Heart Church Grandpa used to drive the nuns around on Saturday to go shopping etc. in his car. (see picture on web page and in Fermazin Family History).

Obituary for Robert A. Fermazin Aurora Beacon News April 13, 1961

Robert A. Fermazin 73, 1315 S. Fifth St. died yesterday at St. Charles Hsopital. He was born in Aurora on November 25, 1896. Fermazin was employed by Thor Power Tool Co. for 43 years prior to his retirement in 1956. He was a member of the Thor 25- Year Club. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. mary Fermazin; a daughter Mrs. Theron (Lola) Lambert of Aurora and a son Robert of Fullerton, Calif., three granddaughters, three brothers Carl of Burlington, Wis, William of St. Charles, and Harry of Wasco; Three sisters, Mrs. Walter La Fayette, Mrs. Leonard Russell, and Mrs. Raymond Stuber of Aurora and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Healy Chapel at 1:30 Friday, with Rev. Martin J. Zulauf officiating. Interment will be in Lincoln Memorial Park.

More About ROBERT ROY FERMAZIN:

Burial: 14 April 1960, Lincoln Memorial Park, Montgomery, Illinois

Notes for MARY KATHERINE LINDEN:

Grandma was related to the Linden Clock people in Germany so the history goes.

Mary K. Fermazin 81 of 1315 Fifth St, died Wednesday at her son's homein Buena Park, Calif. She was born August 26, 1888, in Aurora. She is survived by her son Robert F. of Buena Park, Calif, her daughter Mrs. Theron (Lola) Lambert of Aurora with whom she made her home, one sister Mrs. John (Lena) Kulke of Euclid, Ohio; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mrs Fermazin was preceded in death by her husband Robert A. in 1960. Funeral services will be held from Dieterle Memorial Home Monday at 10 AM to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church at 10:30 AM by Rev. Jerome Leake will officiate. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Park. The rosary will be recited at 8'oclock Sunday evening.

Source: Aurora Beacon News, August 21, 1969.

More About MARY KATHERINE LINDEN:

Burial: 1969, Lincoln Memorial Park, Montgomery, Illinois

Children of ROBERT FERMAZIN and MARY LINDEN are:

i. LOLA⁵ FERMAZIN, b. 26 November 1914, Aurora, Illinois; d. 24 October 2001, DeKalb, Illinois; m. THERON LAMBERT, 28 January 1943, Aurora, Illinois; b. 30 August 1906, Aurora, Illinois; d. March 1985, Illinois.

Notes for LOLA FERMAZIN:

Lola and Robert

In the 1930's Robert worked at the nursery in Aurora for $ 1.00 a day. His duties included changing the mulch for the roses. He and the other guys used to go out in the country of the surrounding area and get fresh dirt to bring back to replace the rose beds. Prior to going out for new dirt they emptied the rose beds. This was done once a year. One time dad was givent the job of "mulching" the rose beds. This job meant taking a big bag of steer manure arond to all the roses and reaching in with your bare hand and pulling out a handful of manure and putting it by each rose. Robert refused to do this job so he was given the permanent job of going out and digging up fresh dirt and replacing the beds.

Besides working at the nursery Robert set bowling pins and picked up golf balls and caddied during the depression. His sister Aunt Lola worked at the corset factory for $ 15.00 a week. At the end of the week they both turned all the money over to Grandma who used it for necessities of life. Grandma gave Robert and Lola each a dollar on Friday night to go out on the town. That was when gasoline was 2 gallons for a quaBirth: Nov. 20, 1913

Death: Oct. 24, 2001

Lola M. Lambert, 87, of DeKalb, passed away Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at Bethany Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was born November 20, 1913 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Robert and Mary (Linden) Fermazin.

She married, Theron M. Lambert in Columbia S.C., on June 28, 1943.During WWII, Lola worked at the ammunition depot in Joliet, later worked as a Union Rep. for a clothing company in Aurora, and formerly owned and operated Scotty's Restaurant in Oswego with her husband Theron.

She also formerly had an Arts & Crafts Business in Wisconsin, and while she was living at the Colonial House, she coordinated the Coffee Shop.

She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb; and a member of the Aurora Coin Club where her family were the founders, and a former member of the square dance club in Aurora.

She is survived by one daughter, Karen (Richard) Mahrenholz of Carol Stream, IL; two grandchildren, Renee (Scott) Kiecana and Jason (Andrea) Mahrenholz; four great grandchildren, Nicholas, Renata, Ryan and Jacob; also survived by a brother, Robert Fermazin of California; and one sister-in-law, Marian Lambert of Batavia; and two nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband Theron in 1985.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2001 at St. Mary Catholic Church DeKalb at 1:30 p.m. with Fr. Karl P. Ganss officiating.

Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Friends may call on Friday, October 26, 2001 at the Anderson Funeral Home from 3:00 until 9:00 p.m. with a wake service recited at 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

A memorial is being established for Lola M. Lambert in care of the Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 So. 4th Street, DeKalb, Illinois.

For information call 815-756-1022.

Burial:

Saint Marys Cemetery

De Kalb

DeKalb County

Illinois, USA

Record added: Oct 29 2001

rter and they thought that was EXPENSIVE!! and bread was 10 cents a loaf and milk 12 cents a quart.

More About LOLA FERMAZIN:

Burial: 27 October, St Mary's Cemetary, DeLalb Illinois

More About THERON LAMBERT:

Burial: 1985, Illinois

ii. ROBERT F FERMAZIN^38,39, b. 23 April 1916, Aurora, Illinois; m. GRACE WORTHING^40,41, 07 February 1942, Aurora, Illinois; b. 09 February 1917, Truro, Iowa; d. 27 April 2001, Anaheim, California.

Notes for ROBERT F FERMAZIN:

Robert grew up during the Great Depression. The crash came in 1929 when he was 13 years old. During the depression, the family pooled their resources. Grandpa worked in a machine shop one day a week, Grandma kept house and cooked and cleaned and raised the kids. Buddy or Robert went to school. In gradeschool he ice skated along the streets from 5th Avenue to Sacred Heart School and in the summer he roller skated to school. There were no buses in those days.

As Robert Buddy got older he worked the greenhouse in the day time for a $1.00 a day and set pins at the bowling alley in the evening. On weekends he wasn't idle. He caddied across the street from home at the golf course. Aunt Lola worked in the corset factory and made $ 15.00 a week during the depression.

Robert's duties included changing the mulch for the roses. He and the other guys used to go out in the country of the surrounding area and get fresh dirt to bring back to replace the rose beds. Prior to going out for new dirt they emptied the rose beds. This was done once a year. One time dad was given the job of "mulching" the rose beds. This job meant taking a big bag of steer manure arond to all the roses and reaching in with your bare hand and pulling out a handful of manure and putting it by each rose. Robert refused to do this job so he was given the permanent job of going out and digging up fresh dirt and replacing the beds.

For food in the depression, the family ate lots of carrots and home grown vegetables. Grandpa and Buddy used to go hunting for squirrel, pigeon, and rabbits and in the winter time they trapped and caught swamp rats (muskrat). Grandpa shot them with his rifle. he was a dead eye and known for a bulls eye with each shot. He was so good he could hear them flies walking on the electric lines. Got em on the first shot. As for the rabbits he never missed. He shot them in the head. Buddy remembers his first game rabbit. He shot the rabbit with a 410 shot gun 10 feet away and wouldn't you know it he blew it to smitherines. Too close.

In 1927 Buddy bought his first care, a 1923 Model T. He saw it sitting idle and paid a whole $ 3.00 for it. Had to go on the weekend with grandpa to pick it up. They pumped up the tires and got it started for home. In those days cars had three pedals, one for forward, one for reverse, and one to stop. Sometimes when stopped you had to push all three pedals down.

After Robert and Grace were first married they lived on 5th Avenue with Grandma and Grandpa Fermazin. After this they moved to a house on Dearborn and Trask Avenue across from Gordon's Junk Yard. Rent for this place was $25.00 per month. The people who lived upstairs from them were Mr. & Mrs. Bob Stehly. Interestingly the Stehly's were married same day same year as Grace and Robert. They used a ton of coal a week just to heat the downstairs. Every time the trains went by the house shook and shook. After this they moved to 251 Hillside Avenue, Aurora, Illinois where they purchased a house on the GI bill for $ 6200. After they purchased the house they had to wait for the hot water heater and the furnace and the paint because of WWII. The payments were $ 42.00 per month and taxes were $16.00 per year. "Uncle Louie" (as we called him) Ludwig Hansen lived with us there. He was Grace's step father, first husband of Nancy Theo Ames and Blanche's father.

Notes for GRACE WORTHING:

No birth certificate. Had a twin brother Charles Edward Worthing who was still born.

Source of Grace's birth are in the census records of Madison County Iowa 1920: Iowa Census, 1930 Enumeration district 34, Ohio Township, Madison County Iowa page 18.

Grace was named after her cousin Grace Maxwell.

GRACE WOTHING TRURO

Born in Truro, Iowa to Charles Worthing and Nancy Ames Hanson

This young lass grew up and saw the world.

The more I learned about my mother, Gracie and her world, the more I admire her. I grew up not knowing much about my mother's childhood as much as I should have. Now after her death, I have put together stories she told us as we were growing up and this has helped me to understand and appreciate her more. I came to have a high regard for her fortitude, strengths in adversity, self awareness and genuine respect and love for other people. I marvel at her will to survive and thrive in the face of extreme circumstances. This seems to be built into her genes. She follows a long line of Ames' and Worthing's who have this trait.

Nancy Ames, her mother grew up on a homestead in freezing winters of Lake Koshkonong,Wisconsin, later living in Milton Junction, Wisconsin near Janesville. Nancy was one of 10 children was orphaned in the winter of March 1893 at the age of 10 years old. No one should have to have endured this at age 10 ... starving, freezing cold, living on a lake in a one room cabin with no heat and very little clothing and very little food. The settlers of the 19th century had a deep-boned determination to carve out a life for themselves despite the challenges wrought by Mother Nature. The settlers of the 19th century had a deep-boned determination to carve out a life for themselves despite the challenges wrought by Mother Nature. We can learn a lesson by their example. They had a dream and overcame tremendous obstacles to achieve it. Dad, Ira Daniel Ames fished for a living and really tried to keep his family warm and fed but they just couldn't seem to make it. They must have been so poor. The winter of 1893 was particularly really cold. On the morning of March 5, 1893 a blizzard hit them hard. Cornelia Palon Ames and her 2 month old infant actually froze to death and probable starvation. The house the family lived in was must cardboard material so the newspaper says. It sat on Lake Koshkonong. In the aftermath of the event the 9 surviving Ames children were sent to an orphanage near Albion, Wisconsin. Ira was heart broken over the death of his wife and child. He never really got over this. In 2 years he too was dead. He died mainly of a broken heart on September 21, 1895. As Nancy got older, she met Ludwig Hanson a Danish orphan. Ludwig's mother had died in New York City being hit by a streetcar. For some unknown reason he ended up in Janesville, Wisconsin. Nancy met and fell in love with Ludwig. They were married on March 16, 1904 in Aurora, Illinois.

Possibly Nancy was impressed with Ludwig's wealth and car. They made a handsome couple. As you can see in her wedding picture this is a beautiful haunting young lady. Ludwig and Nancy lived in Aurora and had a daughter Blanche on April 7, 1908. Nancy and Ludwig circulated amongst the good life crowd in Aurora enjoying parties and festivities. One such activity was roller skating with a couple Robert and Mary Linden Fermazin. Another good friend of this couple was the Jeffreys. We have their picture but not sure how they were acquainted. Things went along smoothly. They had a nice house and furnishings. However, Ludwig was insanely jealous of Nancy's good looks and personality. He was so jealous he used to beat her. Probably out of love but this is not the way to show a loving relationship. So they divorced and Nancy and Blanche lived alone. Nancy began work as a cook and maid. During this time she met Charles Charley Worthing from Cambridge Ohio. Mr Worthing too was divorced. He had worked in Ohio in the steel mills and was quite wealthy when living in Ohio. We are not quite sure of the circumstances of his divorce. He left his wife Laura Mitchell Worthing with two houses and three children, Forest, Walter, and Kenneth. After his divorce from Laura, Charles settled in Truro, Iowa where part of his family was residing. He worked for his father Richard Seth at the Worthing Hotel in Winterset, worked for his cousin in the cigar factory and worked a little on the Worthing farm. Charles decided one day to take off for greener pastures and went to Illinois. He resided in Wheaton where he was able to obtain a job as chauffeur. Here he met the beautiful, haunting Nancy Ames Hanson whom he immediately fell in love with. Together they saved their wages. During their courtship they dated on days off. Movies, roller skating, rides in the lush green countryside around Wheaton and Carol Stream. Charles was getting home sick for his family and Nancy was getting annoyed with Ludwig's constant visits to try and win her back. So after some thought and permission, Nancy was able to take Blanche and move to Truro, Iowa with Charley. There they settled into this small house on the main street. Here they raised Blanche and along came Gracie and her twin brother Charles Edward. Charles was still born and Gracie weighed in at 1.5 pounds. Since the doctor who delivered Gracie didn't expect her to live he did not file a birth certificate. Nancy placed Gracie in a shoe box and covered her with cotton and blankets and nursed her. She cuddled her and fed her and held her lovingly and praying the whole time to God to save her baby girl. God answered her prayers and Gracie started thriving and gaining weight. She made it! Gracie grew up very small and petite a happy life in Truro, Madison County Iowa with her sister Blanche. Blanche was nine when Grace was born but loved her baby sister dearly. As Grace was growing up in Truro she loved Blanche and admired her big sister. She wanted to go everywhere with her and just be by her side.

In the years 1928-1932 Gracie experienced two great losses, the loss at age 12 of her beloved mother and at 16 the loss of her dad. Grace's mother died of a brain tumor. Both crisis occurred to a young woman at the same time her half sister Blanche whom she'd grown up with was sent to Illinois to live with her father, Ludwig Hansen. I presume this makes one a stronger person. I cannot imagine losing a mother at age 12 nor then losing your father and then your sister. How tragic.

Mom, Grace remembers growing up in Truro during the depression era. America battled the Great Depression and the whole world seemed to be changing. The economy struggled: the average weekly wage for a family being only $2.39. Wall Street floundered as banks closed across the country. People lost their homes, their farms and bankruptcy was prevalent. For families, every cent counted, and none could be spared on frivolous luxury of any kind.Grace would have been 12 years old in 1929 and 15 at the heart of the depression in 1932. Grace's mom had died in 1928 abd Blanche was now living in Illinois with Ludwig. Gracie was living with her dad, Charles Worthing who was ill during the Christmas season in 1932. Times were tough. They lived in town and Charley worked at the school as a custodian. Most of their other relatives lived on farms so in this way they were real fortunate as Gracie rememberd trading eggs for pork chops and meat and milk. They never remembered going hungry but Christmas was approaching... The day after Thanksgiving, November 25, 1932 it was cold. Dad and Gracie closed off extra rooms in the house so the house would stay warm this winter. Heat was at a premium. They closed off the front porch and the extra bedrooms. They were used to the cold. They closed off the big dining room, the library room and three of the bedrooms. They moved the dining table into the living room. Gracie's dod slept in what he considered his boudoir, the closet. Dad got the bedroom andGracie slept on the couch. They saved $ 6.00 a month on coal by doing this. Gracie and her dad needed every penny because of the Depression. Charley still had his job at the shcool but the hours got less and less each week. They were not as bad off as most. Charley never talked about dollars or pennies or money. His eyes just got dimmer and dimmer every evening at dinner when he returned from work. During this time, Gracie and Charley did not realize this would be his last Christmas.

1932 was an odd Christmas, no doubt about it. Instead of sugar plums and stockings stuffed with goodies and stacks of presents under the tree---a Time of Bounty---this was a time of Dwindling. In spite of diminishing money, the light of day, and Charley's dwindling hours of work Grace knew the Worthings were tough. She knew that somehow, someway, there would be a Christmas. Not the same kind of Christmas past, but one to remember all the same. Sometimes she hated supper because it was meatless meatloaf. Gracie called it "wierd" loaf. It had everything but meat in it---peanuts, cottage cheese, rice. It was cheap. They hardly ever had

meat anymore. Pork chops were a luxury. Mostly they had chicken orpork chops once a month. They ate a lot of O'Grotons. O'Grotons means you put cheese and flour in everything to thicken it up and then stretch it out. So we had something like hot dog and potatoes O'Grautin. Charley put a whole bunch of potatoes in it stretched out with the cheese. Gracie couldn't say anything bad about the food. If so she might get sent away from the table. There were too many starving families in the days of the Great Depression. Grace used to complain about Cabbage O'Grautin but stopped after being sent to bed one night without dinner.

Our family made a trip back to Truro, Iowa about 1952 to visit mom's relatives before they got too old. It was fun. I remember visiting the Cregor's. We stayed with them. We visited lots of relatives of mom's, the cemetary, the Baptist church where mom went when she was young. Mom was so happy to be able to go back and visit. I'm not so sure about dad. But we all made the trip in our car that summer. I remember Truro as being a one street town, and when we went back in 2001 it hadn't changed from 1953 except now there was a telephone business in town. The cemetary changed a little. No longer was the Baptist church there like I remember. We took lots of pictures. I need to go back one more time and soon.

Mom had a school teacher in Truro, Iowa named Jones who Zola told her was a relation. This school teacher put a dunce cap on mom and they fired her. Elsie Lathram lives in Truro across from where mom used to live. Her daughter Hazel lives there now. The librarian Doris Frank Johnson lives in Truro Iowa and is the librarian at the school. She knew mom

Grace remembers her annual treks to Ohio to visit the Worthing kin. She remembers visiting the Ingrams in Ohio. She lived with Eppie Castor Mossholder in New Concord, Ohio after her dad died. She grew up with Annie Castor who later married the astraunaut John Glenn. I remember mom and all her relatives from New Concord, Birds Run, and Cambridge Ohio celebrating the John Glenn mission to the moon. Afterall this was one of their own.

We went back to Birds Run Ohio when I was 9 or 10 years old. I remember it was fun. We stayed with Eppe Mossholder and with Eppe Buker. We visited the Worthing homestead where Charles was born. I remember Mr. Buker trying to teach me how to milk the cows, bring in the cows and play with the horse in the front side yard. We fed the free range chickens in the back and the hogs in the pen off to the right of the yard. I even remember the "out house" and the parlor and the fire places. I remember visiting with my mom's niece Lucille Snoots and her husband. We made home made icre cream there. I remember visiting with her niece Hazel Hawkins. We als visited Frank Worthing farm and played in the haylofts. This farm was newer than the Buker's and painted white like the Amish farms in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I remember the street of New Concord and sitting on Eppe Mossholder's front porch and her big kitchen. I remember visiting with Homer Castor the dentist and father of Annie Castor Glenn wife of John Glenn the astronaut. These are fond memories and I wish I could re live them.

We went back to Iowa when I was 10 years old to visit the family. We visited the old Worthing farm in Iowa, which was owned in the 1950's by Zola Patterson Spain's aunt Minnie Glas. Minnie was sister to Bert Patterson who is Zola's brother. Zola's mother was Beryl.

More About GRACE WORTHING:

Burial: 27 April 2001, Riverside National Cemetary

iii. IRENE MABEL FERMAZIN, b. 27 January 1921; d. November 1921, Aurora, Illinois.

More About IRENE MABEL FERMAZIN:

Burial: 1921, Aurora, Illinois

8. CARL AUGUST EMIL KARL⁴ FERMAZIN (CHARLES KARL DANIEL³, FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 26 August 1889 in Aurora, Illinois⁴², and died January 1968 in Burlington, Wisconsin. He married MARGARET STEIL 08 April 1913 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois. She was born 14 December 1893 in Aurora, Illinois, and died in Aurora, Illinois.

Notes for CARL AUGUST EMIL KARL FERMAZIN:

CARL FERMAZIN Request Information

Born 26 Aug 1889 Last Benefit:

Died Jan 1968 Issued: IL (Before 1951)

Carl Fermazin had moved back to Aurora, Illinois on Farnsworth Avenue prior to his death.

More About CARL AUGUST EMIL KARL FERMAZIN:

Burial: January 1968, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Aurora, IL

Notes for MARGARET STEIL:

MARGARET FERMAZIN Request Information

Residence: 48651 Prudenville, Roscommon, MI

Born 14 Dec 1893 Last Benefit:

Died Jan 1990 Issued: IL (Before 1951)

More About MARGARET STEIL:

Burial: Mt Olivet Cemetary

Children of CARL FERMAZIN and MARGARET STEIL are:

i. VIRGINIA⁵ FERMAZIN, b. 20 April 1914, Aburora, Illinois; m. DONALD LAYCOCK, 1936, Aurora Illinois; d. February 1978, Aurora, Illinois.

ii. NORMAN FERMAZIN, b. 1917, Aurora, Illinois; d. 14 September 2000, Aurora, Illinois; m. (1) DORIS; m. (2) RUTH HUBERTY`, 04 May 1940, Aurora, Illinois; b. 12 November 1917, Aurora, Illinois; d. November 1984, Aurora, Illinois.

Notes for NORMAN FERMAZIN:

NORMAN FERMAZIN Request Information

SSN 328-01-5839 Residence: 60505 Aurora, Kane, IL

Born 4 Jun 1916 Last Benefit:

Died 14 Sep 2000 Issued: IL (Before 1951)

More About NORMAN FERMAZIN:

Burial: 2000, Aurora, Illinois

More About RUTH HUBERTY`:

Burial: 1984, Aurora, Illinois

iii. CHARLES FERMAZIN, b. 1918, Aurora, Illinois; d. 15 December 1921, Aurora, Illinois.

More About CHARLES FERMAZIN:

Burial: 1921, Aurora, Illinois

iv. MARGIE FERMAZIN, b. 26 January 1921, Aurora, Illinois; m. (1) ED FARRIS; m. (2) RICHARD STEPHENSON, 25 January 1941; b. 1920, Aburora, Illinois.

v. ELISABETH (BETTY) FERMAZIN, b. 26 January 1921, Aurora, Illinois; d. 02 December 1992, Marshfield,Wisconsin; m. JAMES MOSHER, 24 March 1942, Columbus Georgia; b. 17 April 1920, Aurora, Illinois; d. 25 July 2003, Sheridan, Illinois.

Notes for ELISABETH (BETTY) FERMAZIN:

Message #: 23

Date Posted: 07-23-2001

Subject: Mosher, Elizabeth A. ( 1921 - 1992)

Posted by: Stan

Email: Posted4U@Charter.net

Surnames: MOSHER FERMAZIN STEIL LAYCOCK FERRIS

Message:

-----------ELIZABETH MOSHER

Elizabeth Betty A. Mosher, 71, Willard, Clark County, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1992, at St. Joseph s Hospital Hospice Care Unit, Marshfield. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 1992, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard. Father Steve Baures officiated and burial was in the town of Seif Cemetery, Willard. Pallbearers were Shane Herron, Wayne Wegner, Herb Laib, Clay Herron, Brian Wegner, and Ed Bayuk.

Elizabeth A. Fermazin was born Jan. 26, 1921, in Aurora, Ill., to Carl and Margaret (nee Steil) Fermazin. She received her education at Aurora, Ill. She worked as a legal secretary for several years in Aurora and later worked for the draft board. She married James H. Mosher March 24, 1942, in Georgia. He survives. They moved to Willard in the fall of 1990. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard Moose Lodge, Aurora, Ill. and VFW Auxiliary, Batavia, Ill.

Survivors include her husband four sons, James Jim Mosher Jr., Pickerton, Ohio Jack Mosher, Salk Village, Ill. Terry Mosher, Naperville, Ill. and Jerrold Jerry Mosher, Montgomery, Ill. two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Laycock, Aurora, Ill. and Mrs. Marge Ferris, Prudenville, Mich. one brother, Norman Fermazin, Aurora, Ill. and eight grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

Gesche Funeral Home, Inc., handled the arrangements.

SOURCE: GREENWOOD LIBRARY SCRAPBOOK COLLECTION TRG 12/9/1992

More About ELISABETH (BETTY) FERMAZIN:

Burial: 1992, Seif Clark County Cemetery, Willard, Wisconsin

Notes for JAMES MOSHER:

James H. Mosher Sr.

James H. Mosher Sr., 83, of Sheridan, IL formerly of Aurora, IL joined our Lord July 25, 2003. He was born on April 17, 1920 in Aurora to the late Bernie and Laura Mosher (Zane).

Jim was united in marriage to Betty Fermazin on March 24, 1942. He served his country in WWII from November of 1941 to October of 1945. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Jim was a 46-year employee of Richards-Wilcox and often spoke of the wonderful friendships that he made while employed there. He was a kind and generous man and always enjoyed a good joke. He brought many smiles to the faces of all who knew him.

Survivors include his four sons, James (Sandy) Mosher Jr. of Pickerington, OH, Jack (Nancy) Mosher of Sauk Village, IL, Terry (Beth) Mosher of Sandwich, IL; a brother Bernie (Laura Lee) Mosher of Montgomery, IL; two sisters, Delores Mosher and Laura Mae Mosher both of Aurora; and a close friend, Cynthia Bramscher of Sheridan, IL; 11 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Betty Mosher, his parents, a brother William Mosher, a sister Evelyn (Sis) Krause, and a brother Robert Mosher.

Visitation will be Monday July 28, 2003 from 2-6 p.m. at Dieterle Memorial Home,. 1120 S. Broadway, Montgomery. A Rosary service will be at 6 p.m. Burial will take place on Wednesday July 29, 2003 at Seif Clark County Cemetery in Willard Wisconsin. Memorials can be made to the donors choice in Jim's name.

Dieterle Memorial (630) 897-1196.

More About JAMES MOSHER:

Burial: 29 July 2003, Seif Clark County Cemetery, Willard, Wisconsin

vi. NORM FERMAZIN, b. 20 April 1914; d. 1914⁴³.

9. IRENE LAURA⁴ FERMAZIN (CHARLES KARL DANIEL³, FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 16 March 1891 in Aurora, Illinois⁴⁴, and died Abt. January 1963 in Aburora, Illinois. She married LEONARD RUSSELL 11 June 1921. He was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

Notes for IRENE LAURA FERMAZIN:

Mrs M. E. fermazin announces the marriage of her daughter Irene Laura to Mr. Leonard Russell on Saturday the 6th of May 1922 Aurora Illinois. The couple will make their home at 684 Grand Boulevard after June 1st.

More About LEONARD RUSSELL:

Burial: Unknown

Children of IRENE FERMAZIN and LEONARD RUSSELL are:

i. RUTH⁵ RUSSELL, b. 09 July 1923; m. UNKNOWN HARNER.

ii. JUNE RUSSELL, b. 23 June 1926.

10. CHARLOTTE (LOTTE)⁴ FERMAZIN (CHARLES KARL DANIEL³, FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 31 October 1894 in Heron Lake Township, Jackson County, Minnesota, and died November 1971 in Aurora, Illinois. She married (1) GEORGE NELSON 1918 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois. He was born 1894 in Norway, and died 1928 in Aurora, Illinois. She married (2) RAY STUBER 12 January 1929 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois. He died 1975.

Children of CHARLOTTE FERMAZIN and GEORGE NELSON are:

i. CHARLES HAROLD⁵ NELSON, b. 22 April 1919, Aurora, Illinois; d. 1996, Aurora, Illinois.

ii. VERNA MAY NELSON, b. 26 May 1922; d. 13 October 1979.

Children of CHARLOTTE FERMAZIN and RAY STUBER are:

iii. CHARLOTTE⁵ STUBER, b. 10 November 1929; m. ANDRESEN.

iv. ALBERT DANIEL STUBER, b. 09 July 1934.

11. BILL WILLIAM⁴ FERMAZIN (CHARLES KARL DANIEL³, FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 25 August 1896 in Heron Lake Township, Jackson County Minnesota, and died 18 September 1994 in Aurora, Illinois. He married DOROTHY HAAS.

More About BILL WILLIAM FERMAZIN:

Burial: 1994

Children of BILL FERMAZIN and DOROTHY HAAS are:

i. TOM⁵ FERMAZIN, b. Unknown.

ii. JERRY FERMAZIN, b. Unknown.

12. HARRY HAROLD⁴ FERMAZIN (CHARLES KARL DANIEL³, FRIEDRICH², ADAM¹ FORMAZIN) was born 20 August 1898 in Heron Lake Township, Jackson County, Minnesota, and died March 1975. He married EDNA OLSON. She was born 07 February 1908.

Notes for HARRY HAROLD FERMAZIN:

HAROLD FERMAZIN Request Information

SSN 330-03-9401 Residence: 60174 Saint Charles, Kane, IL

Born 20 Aug 1898 Last Benefit:

Died Mar 1975 Issued: IL (Before 1951)

More About HARRY HAROLD FERMAZIN:

Burial: 1975

Notes for EDNA OLSON:

EDNA FERMAZIN Request Information

SSN 323-16-4075 Residence: 60174 Saint Charles, Kane, IL

Born 7 Feb 1908 Last Benefit:

Died 20 Jan 1989 Issued: IL (Before 1951)

Child of HARRY FERMAZIN and EDNA OLSON is:

i. YVONNE⁵ FERMAZIN, b. Abt. 1940.

Endnotes

1. Bonau, Louse Einwohner Stroschein, Henriette; Wirthin Stroschein, Justine; Jungfer Kopiske, Daniel; Einwohner Labischin 714893Film 714893 1847 70 272 15.10.1847 Bagno.

2. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, Friedrich Fermazin married Louise Bonau in Labischin on Dec.6,1840 in LabischinHe was single, age 21, resided in Ruhden*, while Louise is also listed as single 24 years and 5 months. Entry # 85/1840 .

3. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, Sep. 25,1852 Rynarzewo Louise Formazin nee Bonau age 34, spouse of Freidrich Formazin, Einwohner; she left behind 3 childrenEntry # 120/1852 pages 6,7.

4. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, Friedrich Fermazin remarried, also in Labischin:Jan.9,1853 Friedrich Formazin widower of Rynarzewo age 31, "Einwohner"Got married to Justine Brauer, daughter of mailman of Arnoldowo age 25 years, 6 months Entry # 7/1853.

5. FTM CD # 356 Family Archives Passenger and Immigration LIsts: Germans to America, 1875-1888; Marriage certificates of daughter Emilie Fermazin and son Reinhart Fermazin;

6. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, Entry # 358/1843 pages 332-333, Godparents: Michael Fenske, Justine Reddmann, Christine Wegner, Anna Schmidt, Justine LurkeEntry # 358/1843 pages 332-333.

7. Labiszyn records:Entry # 223/1852 pages: 6,7, Henriette Formazin daughter of Friedrich and Louise Bonau died at the age of 8 years and 11 months on Sep. 27,1852 in RynarzewoEntry # 223/1852 pages: 6,7.

8. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, Stephan Born Oct.15, 1847 BagnoBapt: Oct. 17,1847 SchubinFather - Einwohner - residentWitnesses: Heinrich Brachschein, Justine Brachschein, Daniel Kopicke.

9. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, CarolineBorn: Aug.13,1850 Rynarzewo Bapt. Aug. 18,1850 Witnesses: Eduard Zillmmer, Louise Wienkauf, August BartungFather - EinwohnerEntry # 271/1850 page 320-321.

10. Passenger records.

11. Schubin birth records, BerthaBorn: Nov.29,1864 GodziwyBapt: Jan.8,1865Godparents: August Hartwich, Caroline Harhala (spelling)Entry # 9/1865 page 77.

12. Illinois marriage certificate.

13. marriage cetificate; CD FTM 356 lists birth as January 1878;.

14. Schubin birth records, Otto ReinhardBorn: Nov.8,1867 GodziwyBapt: Nov.25,1867Godparents: Wilhelm Lenz, Wilhelmine Scharke Entry # 183/1867 page 93.

15. Certificate of Death, Certificate # 0031038 Cook County) from the state of Illinois. Historian at time of death, Widow Anna Dvorik.

16. marriage License, Kane County # 17834, Discrepancy on marriage certificate says Standish Wisconsin and Standish Michigan.

17. Labiszyn records: Entry # 7/1853, Bapt.: Sep.12,1841 Witnesses: Carl Meyer, August Reddmann, Renate Pinau (? spelling), Eva MeyerEntry # 264 pages 138-139 1. Labiszyn records: Records checked: 1805-1827, 1839-1862 births, marriages & deaths.

18. Entry in Barschin, 46/1866, Witnesses Ludwig Pawelske Master ButcherCatharina Kurtz.

19. Entry in Barschin, 29/1866.

20. Civil Registry Office in Gembitz (Records kept in Moglino), Entry # 21, Entry #21, Gembitz, June 21, 1905Witnesses: August Fermazin age 62 of Bluetenau and Franz Hartel age 40 of Gembitz.

21. June 8,1898 Gembitz Entry # 19/1898, June 8,1898 Gembitz Entry # 19/1898, Witnesses: House owner Carl Busse age 45 of Kwieciszewo and master carpener Arnold Gregor age 45 of Kwieciszewo. .

22. marriage cetificate.

23. marriage cetificate of sister Emilie Fermazin Weis, Schubin Prussia listed as birth place on sister Amelia/Emilie Fermazin Weis marriage Certificate.

24. Aurora, Illinois Beacon News, Obituaries page 13, June 4, 1913 Aurora Beacon News, Obituaries page 13Kane County Death Certificate # 26153 Book 12 P. 462.

25. Riverside Cemetary, Montgomery, ILL and obituary Aurora Beacon News, Tombstone picture on file; Cemetary records.

26. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 40 reg 101.

27. St. Paul's Lutheran Church and birth certificate of son August Fred Giese.

28. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, p. 261, Bk 10 1876, Marriages.

29. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 261, Bk 10, 1876, Marriages.

30. St.Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illinois, page 261, Bk 10, 1876, Marriages.

31. birth cetificate, Witness cousin Gus Giese.

32. Certificate of Birth, Registration district # 444, Kane County Clerk Signature of birth attendent was cousin Gus A. Giese, 742 North Ave. Aurora, Illinois subscribed and sworn on 4th day of September 1943 to William G. Konrad; Filed September 7, 1943 Dr. A.S. Benson, Aurora, Illinois.

33. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 77 reg 505 #32.

34. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 85 reg 568 # 22.

35. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 100 reg 670 # 15.

36. Entry # 146/1862 page 69, EmilieBorn: Aug.21,1862 PiardowoBapt: Aug.23,1862Godparents: Daniel Ristau, Ottilie MarxEntry # 146/1862 page 69.

37. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 143 reg 975 #1.

38. birth cetificate, Certificate: Born in Aurora Illinois Kane County Illinois.

39. marriage cetificate of sister Emilie Fermazin Weis, Marriage Certificate #, Married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora , Kane County, Illinois.

40. Nancy Peralta, Iowa Census, 1930 Enumeration district 34, Ohio Township, Madison County Iowa page 18.

41. marriage License, Aurora, Kane County Illinois, Marriage Certificate, Married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illinois.

42. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 225 reg 1165 # 45.

43. FHL film 28129 Book 14 page 250.

44. St Paul's Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illlinois, p. 237 reg 1278 #16.

This book is being written by Nancy Fermazin von Reyn. It is a historical attempt to trace the chronology of the FERMAZIN families beginning with the family of the common progenitor, Johann Fermazin and his great grandson Friedrich, Friedrich’s third wife, Carolina Hartwig and his nine children and descendents.

Frederick and his family are the ones who first emigrated to America in 1878. Augusta and Carl Charles came first. We are not sure when Augusta came, but Carl came in 1872 according to the Minnesota census of 1900. Carolina and two of the children came first, Bertha and Reinhart. Frederick followed one year later with daughter Amelia (Emilie). The FERMAZIN’s ultimately settled in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. Not everyone from Friedrich’s family came and stayed in America. Friedrich Jr came over in 1872 but it looks like he may have gone back to Prussia. One other child Henriette did not emigrate to America. She married a man named Hinz in Grunhagen, Kreis Schubin, Prussia and gave birth to a son Julius Wilhelm in 1876. I do not have too much information on. When her baby Julius was born, her step mother Caroline Hartwig Fermazin was the midwife at the birth. Shortly after Julius was born Caroline herself had another child in Prussia prior to sailing for America. That would be Reinhart.

The research for this book was painstaking and dealt with a multitude of detail. Our Fermazin Family book will deal primarily with the Fermazin Family after their immigration to America. However I traced the Friedrich Fermazin family back to Schubin, Posen, Prussia and Kolmer Prussia. It appears that his great grandfather Johann settled in Lindebuden. Although a daunting experience, I feel the story needs to be told. I sincerely hope that all of the persons contacted did not feel as though I was intruding into their privacy.

Prologue

You hold in your hands the history of the Fermazin family.
Treat it with care, for it will become a legacy.
Each page is a reflection of the lives we led,
The lessons we learned and the memories we cherished.
It is a story of everyday existence.
A remembrance of the things that made us laugh
And those that made us cry.
I dedicate this book to the future with the hope
that the past will never be forgotten.

Put together with love by Nancy Fermazin Peralta von Reyn
~August 2001~

EPILOGUE

Friedrich’s son Stephen Carl emigrated from Prussia with his wife Emma Kunkel to Taylor , Willamson County, Texas. They had six children named Walter which is Americanized for Waldemar, Hedwig Ann and Mrs. AL Finney, Berte, Rosie (who worked as a clerk in Chicago in 1920), and Wilhelmine. I could not find anymore on these Fermazin’s. Much is not known about this branch of the family. It appears they were settled in Chicago and then relocated to Texas and Arizona. Eventually Walter (Waldemar) moved to the Santa Barbara, California area. Friedrich’s daughter Amelia moved to Los Angeles California near Santa Barbara about after her husband Rudy died. Bertha and Reinhard are the children of Carolina and Frederick. Two other Fermazin’s arrived in the United States circa 1906. They are Berte Fermazin age 21on arrival and Wilhelmine Fermazin age 16 on arrival. They were listed as emigrating from Prussia. These are children of Stephan Vormazin and Emma Kunkel.

FREDERICK FERMAZIN FAMILY: ANCESTORS AND DESCENDENTS

Origins of Family Names:

"What's in a name." to quote Shakespeare. The study of family names can give insight into family heritage and history. Surnames were not common in Europe earlier than 1000 A.D. People were identified by what we now call nicknames. These nicknames identified the person to the satisfaction of the people who knew him locally. A man named John with a white beard or hair might be called John le White. John's son would be called just that, "John's son." If his name were David then his son might be called David's son or Davidson.
The Norman's carried the practice of retaining a family name to England at the time of the Norman conquest in 1066. The practice grew slowly; however, and really did not become common practice until required by more extensive government records. Family names most commonly derive from four sources:

First is Patronymics or derivation from the fathers name, such as McJunkin and McClanahan, or O'Carney. The Mac and O' prefixes are used in Scotland and Ireland to mean "son of" and "grandson of" or "descendent of."
The Welch used "ap" so that a name such as "ap Harry" meaning "son of Harry" might eventually become "Parry." Endings such as "er", "y","ey", "ie", or "ley" were diminutives meaning "little" so a son might be called "Bailey" or "Crumley" or "Gregory." Eventually the "son" suffix became simply "s" in some cases such as Stephens

A second major source are names derived from occupation or office. For example, Wheeler for a man who made wheels. A Lentz meant a peasant-soldier or "lance man," "Smith" from a blacksmith.

A third source of family names was from places. A cairn is a "pile of stones" so Carney--"One who lives near a mountain of stone." Briggs is a corruption of Bridge for someone who lived near a bridge. Ledford from a path leading across a stream. Cheyne, Duchesne, MacChesney and eventually Chesney come from the Norman-French for an Oak Grove or a series of French towns with these names. They would have come to mean "strong as an oak" or "stout of heart."

There are many names we cannot fit into any of these categories. Perhaps because we cannot follow the development of the name from its original meaning. Names also changed with locations as people moved. In some countries, particularly in Scandinavia, each farm had a name that the residents adopted so that a man moving from one to another would change his surname to fit the farm where he currently lived.
The lack of education among the common people also led to a wide variety of spellings of names. Officials wrote the name as they heard it on various documents, each one spelling the name as he interpreted it. In tracing family trees we find that most family names stemming from common ancestry are spelled in several different ways.
Many people on immigrating to a new country changed their names to fit new circumstances. For example, many dropped the "Mac" or "O'" before their names on entry into the American colonies. Some simply changed to English words meaning the same as their name did in the old country. White for Blanc or Brown for Brun or Broun, for example. Of course others changed names to leave behind an unsavory past or to avoid being found in their new country. Some simply adopted names they liked. Others adopted English sounding names to avoid ethnic discrimination. All in all coming to a new land offered a chance for a new beginning in many ways and many immigrants felt a change of name would improve opportunities in their new home.

Keep in mind early census takers accepted information only on a household from any available source—a neighbor, a landlord, a child. Language barriers and foreign names added other discrepancies in names, ages, and places of birth. And some households were missed.

Not much is known about the origins of the name FERMAZIN. In my search, I have come across spellings of Fermazin, Fermazine, Fermacin, Fermasson, Fermotosene, Fermatzien, and Fermazan. Currently around the world it is spelled as Fermazin or Formazin. Many people think it is either German or French yet on the same hand some don’t believe it is either ! A good explanation is that it came from the Alsace region between France and Germany, which has roots in both cultures. France and Germany fought countless wars and one of the spoils was the area between them, Alsace. Therefore, whoever won a given war annexed Alsace and that is why that area has a heavy German/French culture. It is hypothesized that the Fermazin family were French Huguenots and left France for religious reasons and settled in Posen (Prussia). Eventually this family found its way to present day Bremen, Germany and the United States. According to the New World Book of Fermazins , the largest concentration in the world today is in Germany and the United States of America. The total Fermazin households identified were 7 in Germany and 7 in the United States. The total Formazin households are all listed in Germany and related according to correspondence with one Dietrich Formazin. Basically Dietrich Formazin and Robert “Roy” Fermazin give oral history as emigrating from Alsace Lorraine area. Another possible origin of the name could be Slavic or Austrian origin according to Hans Lietz. In searching the internet there is a Formazin business located in Bosnia……..Interesting but unable to make contact with these Formazin’s. One current day Formazin lives in the Saarland which is located close to Alsace and could be a direct descendent of the family from that area.

Alsace and its people suffered many repeated periods of war. Always closely tied to the Rhine River, which forms its eastern boundary, Alsace has found itself a border region for most of its history. It was first conquered by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC and remained a part of the Roman province of Prima Germania for the next six centuries. The region was conquered by the Alemanni, a Germanic tribe, in the 5th century AD and then by Clovis and the Franks in 496. Under his Merovingian successors the inhabitants were Christianized.

In the fourth and fifth centuries AD, the invasion of wandering tribes of nomadic Asioan Huns from the east caused much movement within Europe of the originally Scandinavian Germanic tribes, such as the Goths, the Saxons, the Frnaks, and the Alemans. These tribes have given their names to everything from territories and countries to architectural movements and writing styles. The Huns pretty much faded out as a force after the death of Attila, but some joined invading forces from the northor the Roman armies.

Yu can still see Alemanic presence in Germany in other languages’ French and Alemania/Aleman in Spanish. The tribe called the Franks obviously handed down its name to the country France; on a smaller scale, it is seen in Frankfurt am Main in the middle of Germany, Frankfurt an der Oder to the East, and Frnken (Franconia) in northern Bavaria. It is even found in German style tourist town Franknemuth, Michigan, whose settlers came from Franconia. The Suebi tribe settled in the region called Schwabenland (Swabia) and spoke the dialect Schwabisch (Swabian). The Bajuwari became the Bavarians in Bayern (Bavaria). The names of two Germanic tribes, Angles and Saxons remind us of the closeness of the German and English languages (England is actually Angle-Land). English is classified as one of the Germanic languages as are most of the northwest European languages. From the Slavs, who were once a subjugated people comes the origin of our word Slave.

The unifier of the Germanic tribes was the Frankish leader Karl der Grosse (Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne because he Christianized the other Germanic tribes, because he left a ton of descendants, and because he founded a European empire (the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation) that remained more or less together for than a thousand yars (AD 800-1806). When his heirs divided up his personal territories, France went to Charles the Bald, Germany to Ludwig (Louis), and the kingdom between the others to Lothar. This middle kingdom still bears Lothar’s name. The Germans call Lothar’s land Lothringen; we and the French call it Lorraine.

In the ninth century, this region became part of the heartland of the re-constituted Roman (more accurately "Carolingian") Empire of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse). When Charlemagne's grandsons divided his Empire at the Treaty of Verdun of 843, the region was in the middle of Lorraine (Lotharingia), part of a narrow middle strip granted to Lothar with German- and French-speaking kingdoms to either side. Buffeted on both sides, the new kingdom did not last long and the region that was to become Alsace eventually was absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire as part of the duchy of Swabia in the Treaty of Meersen in 870. At about this time the entire region began to fragment into a number of secular and ecclesiastical lordships, a situation, which prevailed until the 17th century.

One of the most powerful secular families of Swabia was that of the Staufen or Hohenstaufen. In 1152, this family placed its leading member on the German throne as Frederic I Barbarossa. Frederick was instrumental in recovery of the monarchy from its dissipation following the Investiture Contest. Part of the reason was his policy of building up imperial lands in support of the monarchy and in 1212, Alsace was organized for the first time as we know it today to be one of them. Frederick set up Alsace as a province (procuratio to use the term which had been adapted from the Romans) to be ruled by ministeriales, a non-noble class of civil servants. The idea was that such men would be more tractable and less likely to alienate the fief from the crown out of their own greed. The province had a single provincial court (Landgericht) and a central administration with its seat at Hagenau.

During his reign, Emperor Frederic II designated the bishop of Strassburg to administrate the Alsace but the authority of the bishop was challenged by Count Rudolf of Habsburg, who received his rights from Frederick’s son Konrad IV. Strassburg (Strass=street and burg=fortification), which had been an episcopal see since the 4th century, began to grow to become the most populous and commercially-important town in the region. In 1262, after a long struggle with the ruling bishops, its citizens gained the status of free imperial city. A stop on the Paris-Vienna-Orient trade route, as well as a port on the Rhine route linking southern Germany and Switzerland to the Netherlands, England and Scandinavia, it became the political and economic center of the region. Cities such as Colmar and Hagenau also began to grow in economic importance and gained a kind of autonomy within the "Decapole" or "Dekapolis", a federation of 10 free towns.

Around this time, German central power declined following years of imperial adventures in Italian lands, which ceded hegemony in Europe to France, which had long since centralized power. Now France began an aggressive policy of expanding westward, first to the Rhône and Meuse Rivers, and when those borders were reached, aiming for the Rhine. In 1299, they even proposed a marriage alliance between Philip of France's sister and Albrecht of Austria's son, with Alsace to be the dowry; however, the deal never came off. In 1307, the town of Belfort was first chartered by the counts of Montbéliard.

During the next century, France was to be militarily shattered by the Hundred Years War with England which prevented for a time any further tendencies in this direction. After the conclusion of the war, France was again free to pursue its desire to reach the Rhine and in 1444 a French army appeared in Lorraine and Alsace. There it took up winter quarters, demanded the submission of Metz and Strassburg and launched an attack on Basel.

In 1469, following the Treaty of St. Omer, Upper Alsace was sold for money by Duke Sigismund of Habsburg to Charles of Burgundy who also ruled over of Netherlands and Burgundy. Although Charles was the nominal landlord, taxes were paid to the German Emperor. The Emperor was able to wreak this tax and a dynastic marriage to his advantage to gain back full control of Upper Alsace (apart from the free towns, but including Belfort) in 1477 when it became part of the particular demesne of the Habsburg family, who were also hereditary rulers of the Empire. A little later, 1515, the town of Mulhouse joined the Swiss confederation in 1515 where it was to remain until 1798.

By the time of the Reformation in the 16th century, Strasbourg was a prosperous community, and its inhabitants accepted Protestantism at an early date (1523). The reformer Martin Bucer was a prominent Protestant reformer in the region. His efforts were countered by the Roman Catholic Habsburgs who tried to eradicate heresy in Upper Alsace. As a result, Alsace was transformed into a mosaic of Catholic and Protestant territories.

This situation prevailed until 1639 when most of Alsace was conquered by France to prevent it falling into the hands of the Spanish Habsburgs who wanted a clear road to their valuable and rebellious possessions in the Netherlands. This occurred in the greater context of the Thirty Years War. This thirty years war lasted from 1618-1648. To get an idea how long the war lasted put this reading down and pick it up again after thirty years. That war pitted some Swedes and Danes in the north who were Lutheran, plus their allies the French, versus some Austrians in the south, plus their Spanish allies who were Catholic. They all wanted more territory for their respective religions and political alliances, not to mention personal gain. This war brought pestilence, famine, atrocities, and suspension of travel and trade to German lands. By the time it was over, about a third of the population of German-speaking lands was dead.

At the end of the war, the Peace of Wesphalia (1648) left innumerable territories, each with its own rulers. Of course, many records were destroyed in the total devastation brought about by the war, so it is unusual to find church records before 1650. Still that means records go back 350 years in many parts of Germany, roughly ten generations, which is not too bad as family histories go. This is probably why we cannot find the Fermazin /Formazin Families prior to their emigration to Poland to farm the Polish lands. Immigration was not always to America, a more frequent destination in the early eighteenth century was southeastern Europe, such as Hungary or Poland. Poland was part of the German empire at this time.

So, in 1646, beset by enemies and to gain a free hand in Hungary, the Habsburgs sold their Sundgauterritory (mostly in Upper Alsace) to France, which had occupied it, for the sum of 1.2 million thalers. Thus, when the hostilities finally ceased in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, most of Alsace went to France with some towns remaining independent. The treaty stipulations regarding Alsace were extremely byzantine and confusing; it is thought that this was purposely so that neither the French king or the German Emperor could gain tight control, but that one would play off the other, thereby assuring Alsace some measure of autonomy. Supporters of this theory point out that the treaty stipulations were authored by Imperial plenipotentiary Isaac Volmar, the former chancellor of Alsace.

The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) had been one of the worst periods in the history of Alsace. It caused large numbers of the population (mainly in the countryside) to die or to flee away, because the land was successively invaded and devastated by many armies (Imperials, Swedes, French, etc.). After 1648 and until the mid-18th century, numerous immigrants arrived from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Lorraine, Savoy and other areas. Between 1671-1711 Anabaptist refugees came from Switzerland, notably from Bern. Strassburg became a main center of the early Anabaptist movement.

France consolidated her hold with the 1679 Treaty of Nimwegen which brought the towns under her control. In 1681, she occupied Strassburg in an unprovoked action. These territorial changes were reinforced at the 1691 Peace of Rijkswik (Ryswick) which ended the War of the Palatinate (also known as the War of the Grand Alliance or War of the League of Augsburg), although the Holy Roman Empire did not accept and sign the document until 1697. Thus was Alsace drawn into the orbit of France.

The year 1789 brought the French revolution and with it the first division of Alsace into the départements of Haut- and Bas-Rhin. Many of the residents of the Sundgau made "pilgrimages" to places like Mariastein, near Basel, in Switzerland, for baptisms and weddings.

During the last decade of the 18th century, many Alsatians were in opposition to the Jacobins and sympathetic to the invading forces of Austria and Prussia who sought to crush the nascent revolutionary republic. When the French Revolutionary Army of the Rhine was victorious, tens of thousands fled east before it. When they were later permitted to return (in some cases not until 1799), it was often to find that their lands and homes had been confiscated. These straitened conditions led to emigration by hundreds of families to newly-vacant lands in the Russian Empire in 1803/4 and again in 1808. A poignant retelling of this tale based on what he had himself witnessed can be found in Goethe's Hermann und Dorothea.

In response to the restoration of Napoleon, in 1814 and 1815, Alsace was occupied by foreign forces, including over 280,000 soldiers and 90,000 horses in Bas-Rhin alone. This had grave effects on trade and the economy of the region since former overland trade routes were switched to newly-opened Mediterranean and Atlantic seaports.

At the same time, the population was growing rapidly, from 800,000 in 1814 to 914,000 in 1830 and 1,067,000 in 1846. The combination of factors meant hunger, housing shortages and a lack of work for young people. Thus, it is not surprising that people fled, not only to Russia, but also to take advantage of a new opportunity offered by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Empire had recently conquered lands in the East from the Turkish Empire and offered generous terms for colonists in order to consolidate their hold on the lands. Many Alsatians also began to sail for America, where after 1807 slave importation had been banned and new workers were needed for the cotton fields.

Many American and Russian recruiters worked for shipowners and made grandiose, fictitious promises to the restless Alsatians. Once they agreed and surreptitiously left Alsace, they often found themselves forced into indentured servitude. This was so abused in fact that in 1818 the Louisiana general assembly enacted legislation protecting the rights of such immigrants, which sometimes led to new tactics such as shipowners demanding exorbitant passage fees. Even so, tens of thousands of settlers emigrated to Russia and the United States between 1817 and 1839. The Panic of 1825 can be cited as another spur to emigration.

In the 1840's, enterprising Alsatian Henri Castro contracted with the Republic of Texas, to bring in Alsatian settlers in exchange for large land grants. Thus, starting in 1842, many left for Castroville and other Texan communities, Castro proving to be only second to Stephen Austin in numbers of settlers attracted.

Alsace-Lorraine

Medieval German lands did not consolidate under a single king or ruler. Rather, the various kingdoms and principalities were members fo the holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, as they called it, loosely under the Holy Roman Emperor. The electors of the emperor were all princes or bishops of German lands. The Empire dissolved about 1806, and the German lands did not become a cohesive modern-style German nation-state until 1871, under bismark. In contrast England, France, and Spain were united under monarchies for many centuries. Germany’s central position in Europe means that many conflicts were played out in what was a patchwork of hundreds or even thousands of secular and religious kingdoms, principalities, duchies, electorates, estates, free cities, and free states, each with its own rulers, laws and local customs. These countries shrank or expanded, depending on marriage liaisons or military conflicts.

In 1871, as a concession after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1), France gave up Alsace, except for the Belfort territory, along with the Moselle portion of Lorraine, to the new unified Germany and the history of Alsace becomes that of the Reichsland Alsace-Lothringen or Alsace-Lorraine. The Vallee de la Bruche which had been part of the Department of the Vosges was annexed to Alsace-Lorraine in 1872. Its population in 1890 was 77% Catholic, 21% Protestant, 2% Jewish with 678 Mennonites in Lower Alsace and 1,012 in Upper Alsace. In 1898 Mennonite congregations were in Birkenhof bei Altkirch (130 souls), Colmar-Wolfganzen (151), Markirch-Weilertal (32), Pfastatt (250), Pulversheim (35), Hang (139), An dem Salm (60). This period of Germanization continued until World War I (1914-1918), at the conclusion of which, Alsace returned to French control.

A similar transfer occurred during the World War II conflict (1939-45) at the end of which the region was again ceded to France. Still today, however, two German language newspapers are published here. There is even still spoken here and there a German dialect Alsacien (Elsässisch), but it is vanishing.

The former Alsace (German Elsaß, Latin Alsatia) comprised what are now the departments of Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin and (before 1871) Belfort in France. Together they form a north-south strip which lies between the Rhine River on the east and the Vosges Mountains on the west.

The political border to the north and east is with Germany, the states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württembergrespectively, to the south with Switzerland and to the west with the French departments of (see Lorraine) Doubs, Haute-Saône, Vosges and Moselle

Alsace was part of the Alsace-Lorraine Reichsland, which was divided into 3 districts, two of which were in the Alsace:

· Bezirk (district) of Ober-Alsace with capital Kolmar and (6) Kreise (counties):
Altkirch, Gebweiler, Kolmar, Muehlhausen, Rappoltsweiler, Thann.

· Bezirk (district) of Unter-Alsace (sometimes Nieder-Alsace) with capital Strassburg and (8) Kreise(counties):
Erstein, Hagenau, Molsheim, Schlettstadt, Strassburg-Stadt, Strassburg-Land, Weissenburg, Zabern.

1945-present:

· Bas-Rhin: department 67

· Haut-Rhin: department 68

Bas-Rhin (Lower Rhine) in the north has Strasbourg as its administrative center. Haut-Rhin (Upper Rhine) has its center at Colmar with Mulhouse also an important city. (The city of Belfort is the center of the Territoire de Belfort, department 90, in the southwest, now part of Franche-Comté.)

A hierarchical list of the arrondissements, cantons and communes, The Communities of Alsace has been assembled by Robert Behra (http://members.aol.com/robtbehra/AlsaceA-Z/Admin.htm)
Information about individual communities, including information on genealogical resources, can be retrieved from Robert Behra's The Communities of Alsace A-Z (http://members.aol.com/robtbehra/AlsaceA-Z/GenInfo.htm)

Religious Divisions

Before 1648:
Alsace was a complicated mosaic of territories, some Catholic, others Lutheran, still others Calvinist. Roman Catholic parishes were organized into dioceses with bishops at Strasbourg and Basel.
1648-1789:
Bas-Rhin was in the Diocese of Strasbourg with smaller parts belonging to that of Spire (Speyer), in present-day Germany, whereas Haut-Rhin belonged to that of Basel (Switzerland).
1945-present:
Modern Alsace forms a single Catholic diocese, with Strasbourg as the seat.

Court Districts
In 1900, during the Alsace-Lorraine period, the highest court was the Oberlandesgericht in Kolmar. The lower courts were

Landgericht Kolmar with (15) Amtsgerichte: Barr, Ensisheim, Gebweiler, Kaisersberg, Kolmar, Markirch, Markolsheim, Muenster, Neubreisach, Rappoltsweiler, Rufach, Schlettstadt, Schnierlach, Sulz, Weiler.
Landgericht Mülhausen with (11) Amtsgerichte: Altkirch, Dammerskirch, Hirsingen, Hueningen, Masmuenster, Muelhausen, Pfirt, St.Amarin, Sennheim, Sierenz, Thann.
Landgericht Strassburg with (15) Amtsgerichte: Benfeld, Bischweiler, Brumath, Erstein, Hagenau, Hochfelden, Illkirch, Buchsweiler, Finstingen, Loerchingen, Luetzelstein, Molsheim, Oberehnheim, Pfalzburg, Rosheim, Saarburg, Schirmeck, Wasselnheim, Zabern.

Well enough said for the history of Germany and the Alsace area. I have been unable to trace the FERMAZIN family back to Alsace. The largest concentration of FERMAZIN’S in the world in the 1800’s were in Prussia (Schubin and Kolmar, Posen Province, Kolmar, Posen, Prussia is now named Chodziez in Poland. Chodziez is straight north of Poznam about half way to the northern border of Poland, quite a distance from Poznam. In 2001 there are a small concentration of Fermazin’s in Oldenberg, Germany near Bremen. These Fermazin’s are all part of the Manfred Fermazin clan.

A Brief History of Prussia

The area known as Prussia was inhabited in early times by West Slavic tribes, ancestors of the modern Poles, in the West, and Baltic tribes, closely related to Lithuanians, in the East. Sometime after the seventh century, the area was invaded and settled by pagan German tribes, later known as Prussians.

In 1226, Prussia was conquered by the Teutonic Knights, a military religious order, who converted the Prussians to Christianity. The Teutonic Knights were overthrown by the Prussians with help from Poland and Lithuania in 1454. Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia in the west and Ducal Prussia in the east. Royal Prussia was incorporated into Poland providing it with a corridor to the Baltic Sea (the "Danzig Corridor"). Ducal Prussia became a Polish territory. At this time, the port city of Danzig (modern day Gdansk) was designated a "free city".

The Protestant Reformation in the early to mid 1500s saw most Prussians convert to Protestantism whereas Poland remained, and still remains, solidly Roman Catholic. In 1525 Ducal Prussia became a hereditary duchy under Albrecht Hohenzollern, the last grand master of the Teutonic Knights.

In 1657, after an invasion by the Swedes, Poland surrendered sovereignty over Ducal Prussia which then became the Kingdom of Prussia headed by the Hohenzollern line. Prussia's power grew and in 1772, under King Friedrich II (Frederick the Great), consisted of the provinces of Brandenburg, Pomerania, Danzig, West Prussia and East Prussia (modern day East Germany, northern Poland, and a small portion of the Soviet Union).

In German lands, there was a definite hierarchical system until the end of the Holy Roman Empire, when revolutionary ideas of basic human rights took hold after the French Revolution in the Confederation of the Rhine (1806), the freedom movement of the Hambach Festival (1832), the Frankfurt Paulskirche Revolution (1848), and finally the consolidation of German lands into one German empire in 1871.

Earlier in the feudal hierarchy of the holy Roman Empire, average individuals were at the bottom of the food chain. They were subjects of the local lord, who in turn was a vassal of a larger nobleman or bishop, who in turn was a vassal of the empire. Everyone was subject to all the rulers higher up in the chain. Ordinary individuals were subjects, basically slaves, who were considered the property of their lords. They were not citizens (burghers) except in free cities or states (which were still subject to the emperor, but with no intermediary). Over time Burghers gained some privileges, such as markets, guilds, and commerce. In a few places --- such as villages in the Swill cantons, the trading cities of the Hanseatic League, a few rural free states such as dithmarschen, the populace lived in a feudal village social system. By and large, though the populace lived in a feudal village social system. Feudal lords received ththes and services from their vassals in return for protecting the vassals, who were their lords’ property.

The populace was taxed at every occasion in services and property. If somebody died, the ruler got the best ox. If the ruler needed land plowed, he required ten days of plowing. If the ruler needed grain harvested he required ten days of harvesting. If the ruler needed grain, he took 10 percent of the grain. If a villager wanted to marry a girl from the next village, he had to wait until the ruler could make a swap of serfs with that village’s ruler (a man from the other village marrying a woman from his village). If the ruler decided to throw a party, he took a nice goose. If the ruler needed to raise an army, guess who was called to serve? If someone wanted to receive permission to be released from serfdom in order to emigrate, the ruler took 10 percent in manumission tax, leaving 90 percent. To take the further step of emigration, the ruler took another 10 percent of the person’s remaining property (what little there was). These taxes and tithes were not optional. If the king or queen demanded more from his or her dukes and duchesses, counts and countesses, the nobility simply raised taxes on their subjects. Fortunately for genealogists, taxes of all kinds generated records.

A major event in German history was the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, making Germany a world power. It was during this war that, in 1870, Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck orchestrated the unification of the German states.

The German Empire was established under Prussian leadership with Bismarck as Chancellor. Wilhelm II, the last of the Hohenzollern dynasty, became Emperor of Germany (Kaiser) in 1888 and ruled until Germany's defeat in World War I.

After defeat in World War I, Germany was forced to give up the Danzig Corridor to Poland and Danzig once again became a free city. This caused the province of East Prussia to be separated from the rest of Germany. The Rosenberg District was at this time contained in East Prussia.

After Germany's defeat in World War II, West Prussia and East Prussia were divided by Poland and the Soviet Union. The old Rosenberg District in now part of the Itawa District of Poland.

As stated earlier the Fermazin’s who came to America and who stayed behind in Germany were Evangel;ical Lutherans. This is interesting because the Formazin/Fermazin could have been Catholic. Because of the Reformation and Johannes Gensfleisch (better known as Johann Gutenberg) who invented the printing press in Mainz in 1450 it enabled the masses to obtain religious knowledge. Martin Luther’s reform and posting of his ninety-vive theses at Wittenberg caused a chain of events to occur. The by product of this was that the Catholic religious Council of Trent decided that all marriages and births and deaths were to be recorded by the local parish priest. This was the beginning of parish record keeping and eventually civil registration.

The new Protestant religions that sprung up (Lutheran of Martin Luther 1517; Reformed of Ulrich Zwingli, 1518; and John calvin 1536; the Hussites 1415; the Anabaptists, including Mennonites 1523; Amish 1663; and others caused consternation in the previously homogeneous Catholic world and the counter-Reformation ensued. The development of the new competing religions led to a conference that resulted in the principle of the Treaty of Augsburg: cuius region, eius religio. Simply translated from Latin this means that “it’s my toy, so I get to make up the rules of the game”. If you are a king, you get to pick the religion of yourself and all of your subjects. People had no choice in their religion.

GERMAN MIGRATION

There were a number of reasons why the great migration from Germany to America. German settlements in the United States really commenced with the arrival of the “Palatines” in 1709 and their settlement in the colony of New York. Although the description Palantine really appled only to people from the Palatinate area of the Rhineland (now known as the state or land of Rheinland-Pfaltz), it was also used to describe people from Baden, Bavara {Bayern}, Alsace {Elsass}, Hesse {Hessen}, and Wurttenburg.

Reasons for migration were poor crops, bad winters, heavy taxes, military service, religious persecution, and most of all the devastation caused by the 30 years war (1618-1648) and subsequent invasions of Rhineland by France in 1673, 1699, and 1707. The winter of 1708-1709 was the worst in Europe in more than a century. Possibly this is the reason the Fermazin’s moved from Alsace to Prussia and then on to America.

There were many reasons that residents of German-speaking lands chose to leave their homes. Here are some of the most common.

Poverty was widespread. It was caused by numerous factors, including the devastation of numerous European wars, disease, floods, bad weather, such as hail and drought, crop failure, food shortages, high prices, and high taxation. Any one of these conditions can trigger a cycle of inflation. Bad weather, for instance, leads to crop failure. Crop failure leads to food shortages, awhich leads to high prices, which leads to inflation, which results in poverty for the populace, which leads to people moving out.

Illegitimacy leads to emigration. Especially in poorer regions and during times of poverty, there was relatively high rate of out of wedlock births in German lands. Being born out of wedlock meant a person was ineligible for many things---joining a guild, owning property of any kind, or becoming a citizen in a free city. It would not be surprising that someone born out of wedlock might want to emigrated to a place where all “are created equal” and “endowed with unalienable rights.” We did not find any Formazin’s or Fermazin illegitimates.

Inheritance was another reason for emigration. I think this may have played a part in Friedrich Fermazin’s emigration to America. Friedrich was not the oldest of Christian’s children so therefore he did not inherit the estate in Lindebuden nor does it appear that he married into a family with an estate. It appears that Christian inherited the Lindebuden estate and passed it down to Carl Formazin, the oldest. Johann Formazin another brother of Friedrich married Caroline Rosalie Mathilde Rudloff and inherited the Konkolewo Estate in Jankendorf, Posen, Prussia. According to Salic law, handed down from the fifth century Franks, inheritance excluded women. When King Louis XIV of France attacked the Palatinate in the 1670’s and 1680’s, it was partially because he wanted to place his cousin Liselotte (Elisabetha Charlotte) on the throne of the Palatinate. Rights to an inheritance were not limited to rulers. Even when serfdom was the norm, the right to tenancy of a farm (Erbpacht) could be inherited. The Salic law of the Franks became the basis for Germanic inheritance law, in which property passed strictly through the male line. Maintaining an intact farm was critical. Further, farm property in that region is indivisible, so the farm name stays with the land and the new owner must adopt the farm name. Women inherit the farm only if there are no sons to carry on the farm. Sons who are not in line toinherit the farm may have a reason to get a trade or emigrate, as they will likely never get a chance to own the farm.

Emigration law tightened or relaxed, depending on conditions. One objective was to maintain a populace with enough productive workers and enough soldiers; another was to levy taxes against those who wished to leave. Those who left often took assets, such as gold or their most precious possessions, with them leaving the ruler’s territory poorer.

CASTLE GARDEN

Since Frederick and Carolina entered the U.S. at New York City prior to 1890, they probably came through Castle Garden rather than the commonly known Ellis Island. From August 1,1855 to April 18, 1890, Castle Garden served as the entry point for New York City and was America's first immigrant receiving station. The Ellis Island immigrant receiving station did not open until January 1, 1892, almost two years after Castle Garden was closed.

Castle Garden was located at the tip of Manhattan Island near the current Battery Park. A view of Castle Garden as it and Manhattan Island appeared in 1855 (as illustrated by London News, November 24, 1855) is shown in the appendix. During 35 years of operation over 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden, accounting for close to 75% of the almost 11 million immigrants who entered the U.S. during this same period.

Even with the difficult and emotional decision to leave the homeland, the horrible conditions often encountered during the voyage which could take 4-6 weeks or longer with sailing ships, these problems were sometimes only exceeded by new ones upon landing in New York City. Prior to 1855, the helpless newcomers were being swindled and robbed on the waterfront as soon as they disembarked. These prevailing conditions led to the drive for and eventual establishment of Castle Garden as a receiving station where immigrants, at least initially, would be isolated from these threats. While the opening of Castle Garden certainly improved the situation, it by no means eliminated the difficulties new immigrants faced.

Originally Castle Garden was a fort. More than a dozen forts were built to defend New York Harbor at the time of the War of 1812. The twenty-eight-gun Southwest Battery (as it was originally called) was constructed on the rocks off the southern tip of Manhattan Island between 1808 and 1811. The Southwest Battery was circular in shape, stood in about 35 feet of water and 200 feet from shore. A timber causeway with a drawbridge connected the fort to Manhattan. Although fully armed and staffed the fort never had occasion to fire upon an enemy. In 1817 the fort was renamed Castle Clinton in honor of De Witt Clinton the mayor of New York.

The army vacated the fort in 1821 and the structure was deeded to New York City in 1823. In the summer of 1824 a new restaurant and entertainment center opened at the site now known as Castle Garden. A roof was added in the 1840's and Castle Garden served as an opera house and theater until 1854. Although the closing represented the end of an era, the Castle Garden structure was yet to play its role in the lives of millions of immigrants.

During the early days of the United States no immigration policy had been established. Immigration control was largely left to the states except that the U.S. government insisted that the states provide a count of immigrants. This situation led to the abuse of immigrants both before they left Europe as well as upon landing in the U.S.

Although European laws limiting the number of passengers a sailing ship could carry did exist, ship captains found ways to circumvent them. Some captains would load the permissible number of passengers at one port and then move to a second port where they would cram more unsuspecting passengers into steerage. The steerage deck was below the main deck. It was near the stern and the steering apparatus and not far from the hold. It was dark, windowless and sometimes no more that 51/2 feet high. Wooden platforms covered with straw and location both sides of a narrow isle served as bunks. The overcrowded deck often led to illness and disease as well as generally miserable conditions during the voyage. In 1819 and again in 1847 Congress passed laws defining minimum space requirements for passengers. Although not consistently enforced, these regulations did improve conditions somewhat.

Castle Garden was first officially opened as the first receiving center for immigrants in the U.S. on August 1, 1855 when three ships that had just been released from quarantine discharged their passengers.

Castle Garden continually made changes to the organization, operating procedures and the building over the 35 years of operation, reflection the experience gained and need to accommodate the increasing number of immigrants. Both sailing and steam ships entered the New York Harbor through the Narrows, the passageway between Staten Island and Brooklyn. Ships were then required to anchor at quarantine near the Staten Island shore. The local authorities always had a concern of the danger that shiploads of unwashed and unhealthy immigrants might carry smallpox, typhoid fever or cholera into the streets of the city. Quarantine was the screening process used to reduce this threat.

With a ship anchored at quarantine, Castle Garden officials started their process. In 1867, the operating procedures were organized into the following departments: boarding, landing, registration, agent of railroad companies, city baggage delivery, exchange brokers, information, letter writing, boarding house keepers, forwarding, ward's islands, and labor exchange. Although the changes significantly improved the lot of the new immigrant, arriving in New York was still a frightening and dangerous experience. While commissioners banned the thieves and undesirables from Castle Garden, they were still outside the gates ready to take advantage of the unwary.

In 1876, a fire destroyed much of Castle Garden including about 1000 pieces of baggage belonging to 120 newly arrived immigrants, most of them Russian Mennonites. However, the structure was quickly rebuilt and Castle Garden remained in operation.

Between 1847 and 1889, 9.6 million immigrants arrived in New York City. Germany and Ireland accounted for just over 60 percent of these immigrants. Available statistics show that in the same period 76,457 people arrived from Bohemia and Moravia. And 109,000 from Austria. As time went on Castle Garden was found unsuitable for the reception of the ever-increasing number of immigrants. In 1881 there were 455, 681 arrivals, more than double the annual rate during the 1870's. Complaints about the management of Castle Garden led the Secretary of Treasury to authorize an inquiry, which resulted in the findings that the facility could not handle the daily flow of immigrants and were unable to enforce regulations.

Finally on April 18, 1890 Castle Garden was closed and New York City's contract was terminated as being in charge of immigration. With the end of Castle Garden as an immigrant receiving station, responsibility for examination of immigrants was transferred to the Barge Office where the Federal Government assumed control of immigration. The Barge Office was a temporary depot until the new station at Ellis Island opened on January 1, 1892

FREDERICK FERMAZIN and CAROLINA HARTWIG FERMAZIN

In the beginning … as far back in my Fermazin family as anyone has gone thus far, was my great great grandfather Frederick and his wife Carolina. Frederick Fermazin was born circa 1824 in in Flatow or Vandsberg or Zempelsburg Prussia; died approximately 1899 in Kane County, Aurora, Illinois. We have not found his official death certificate or his burial place. This information is gleamed from the city directory and from census records. Frederick was listed as a milk dealer in the Aurora City Directory in 1897 and not in the Aurora census of 1900. His wife Carolina is listed in the city directory of 1908. Frederick married Carolina Hartwig in Schubin, Prussia. Carolina was born circa 1838.

Frederick, at age 55 arrived in the USA on December 12, 1879. His Manifest ID number was 15789. His daughter Emilie age 22 accompanied him on this crossing. They embarked at Bremen, sailing on the ship, Ohio with Captain Meyer at the helm. This information was obtained from Volume 13 of Germans to America by Ira Glazier and P. William Filby.

The "Ohio" was built by Caird & Co, Greenock for Norddeutscher Lloyd

passengers. Launched on 18/12/1868, she made her maiden voyage from Bremen to Southampton and Baltimore in March 1869. On 6/9/1871 she commenced her first sailing

Carolina age 40 arrived on the ship Wieland, Captain Hebich in 10, September 1878. Her manifest ID # was 34914. She arrived with children Bertha age 9 and Reinhard age 9 months. Final destination: Staying in USA but not a citizen. Mode of travel: Steerage.

The Wieland embarked from Hamburg and Havre..........

Source: FTM CD # 356 Passenger Immigration Lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888.

According to the Hamburg records, the last residence for Carolina and the children was Wongrowicz, Posen, Prussia, a town which lies 40 miles southwest of Schubin, Posen, Prussia. We are not sure if this is the village or origin. When searching the Wongrowicz FHL film records no birth for Reinhart was found nor any information on the Fermazin's.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carolina Fermazin found in:

Germans to America, 1875-1888

Age: 40

Gender: Female

Occupation Code: Woman

Country: Unknown

Last Residence: Unknown

Final Destination: USA

Purpose for Travel: Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA

Mode of Travel: Steerage

Port of Embarkation: Hamburg & Havre

Manifest ID Number: 34914

Captain's Name: Hebich

Ship's Name: Wieland

Date of Arrival: Sep. 10, 1878

The steamship WIELAND was built by Alexander Stephen

& Sons, Glasgow (Ship No. 171), and launched on 16 June

1874 for the Adler (Eagle) Line of Hamburg. 3,504 tons;

114,4 x 12,2 meters/375 x 40 feet (length x breadth);

straight bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw

propulsion, service speed 13 knots; accommodation for 90

passengers in 1st class, 100 in 2nd class, and 800

in steerage; crew of 110. The WIELAND never ran for

the Adler Line. The Adler Line, which had been founded

in 1873 in direct competition with the Hamburg American

Line (HAPAG), was purchased by the latter company for

11,400,000 Reichsmarks on 7 May 1875, and on 25 June 1875,

the WIELAND was transferred to HAPAG control.

7 July 1875, maiden voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York

Source: An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services

Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey,

Channel Islands: Brookside Publications),

vol. 1 (1975), p. 392]. - [ Posted to the Emigration-Ships

Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 28 February 1998]

How Carolina felt when leaving her native Posen to come to America. Remember she left before Friedrich. "My heart aches every time I think about that afternoon when I left my parents, my husband, and friends to go to the railroad station to begin my journey to America. My mother kissed me goodbye and then stood by the doorway stiff as a statue sobbing as my husband and I left the house. At the station, even my husband, as hard as he tried, could not keep the tears from filling his eyes."

SAMPLE OF A LETTER WRITTEN HOME TO POSEN: upon arrival in New York.

``Dear Muter,'' writes Caroline Hartwig in 1879 from New Your to her overseas mother, ``you really ought to see New York...the most beautiful and main street, Broadway, is more than 6 hours long...Crossing the street is positively dangerous, one wagon after the next, so loud you can't hear yourself talk, business and money everywhere').

Once they arrived in America Caroline shows up in the Holland's City Directory, Aurora Illinois

1880-1884

Fermazin, Mrs. Caroline, resident 34 Second Avenue, Aurora, Illinois.

Holland's City Directory, Aurora, Illinois, 1897 lists Carrie Fermacin living at 370 Hinman (a widow of Reinhart), however we know this to be incorrect.

Holland's City Directory, Aurora, Illinois 1910-1911

Fermazin, Carrie, wid Fred residence 569 5th Ave, Aurora, Illinois

In 1880 census of Ilinois it lists Friedrich Fermazin as a farmer. What was it like to be a farmer's wife in 1880? She helped her husband on the family farm. She loved her animals.

Figure 1Photograph of the WIELAND after her 1882 rebuild, with a second funnel and a higher superstructure, in Hamburg harbor, with St. Michael's and St. Catherine's church steeples in the background. Source: Clas Broder Hansen, Passenger liners from Germany, 18

Carolina age 40 arrived on the ship Wieland, manned by Captain Hebich in 9/10/1878. Her manifest ID # is 34914. The Wieland embarked from Hamburg and Le Havre. Caroline had two of the children with her on the voyage. Reinhard age 9 months and Bertha age 9 years. From what we know Carolina embarked at Le Havre.

Figure 1: The "Wieland" was built in 1874 by A.Stephen & Sons,Glasgow for the Adler Line of Hamburg but didn't sail for them. She was a 3,507 gross ton vessel, length 375.3ft x beam 39.9ft,one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 90-1st, 100-2nd and 800-3rd class passengers. Launched on 16/6/1874 for Adler, she was bought in 1875 by Hamburg America Line, and on 7/7/1875 sailed on her maiden voyage from Hamburg to Havre and New York. In 1882, she was rebuilt with two funnels and on 29/8/1894 commenced her last voyage from Hamburg to New York. On 6/10/1894 she commenced a single round voyage from Hamburg to South America and was then sold to another German company. She was damaged by fire in Shanghai on 15/10/1895 and was scrapped the following year. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1, p.392] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 14 November 1997] The steamship WIELAND was built by Alexander Stephen& Sons, Glasgow (Ship No. 171), and launched on 16 June 1874 for the Adler (Eagle) Line of Hamburg. 3,504 tons; 114,4 x 12,2 meters/375 x 40 feet (length x breadth); straight bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 13 knots; accommodation for 90 passengers in 1st class, 100 in 2nd class, and 800 in steerage; crew of 110. The WIELAND never ran for the Adler Line. The Adler Line, which had been founded in 1873 in direct competition with the Hamburg American Line (HAPAG), was purchased by the latter company for 11,400,000 Reichsmarks on 7 May 1875, and on 25 June 1875, the WIELAND was transferred to HAPAG control. 7 July 1875, maiden voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York 1882, rebuilt; higher superstructure, 2 funnels. 29 August 1894, last voyage, Hamburg-New York. 6 October 1894, 1 roundtrip voyage, Naples-New York. 1895, sold to Ph. A. Lieder, Hamburg and Shanghai; transport in the Chinese-Japanese War. 15 October 1895, seriously damaged by fire at Shanghai. 3 January 1896, sent to Singapore for scrapping

Frederick Fermazin arrived in the USA in 1879 on the ship, Ohio, sailing from Bremen. The ship passenger lists his native country as Prussia. From his daughter Emilie's marriage certificate, it was found that the family had emigrated from Schubin, Posen,Prussia. We have been fortunate to have found the ship records for Frederick. Frederich immigrated from Oldenburg in 1879, arriving in New York, December 12, 1879 with his daughter Emilie (Amelia) on the ship Ohio. His manifest number was 15789.
Passenger name Fried Fermazin male
Age 55
Occupation: None
Last residence: Oldenburg
Port of Embarktation: Bremen
Mode of transportation: Steerage
Final destination: Ohio
Purpose for travel: Staying in USA but not a citizen of USA
Source FTM CD # 356 Passenger Immigration Lists: Germans to America, 1875-1888.
Ira Glazier and Filby, Germans to America Volume 34, page 412.
The "Ohio" was built by Caird & Co, Greenock for Norddeutscher Lloyd
one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. There was accommodation for 84-1st and 600-3rd class
passengers. Launched on 18/12/1868, she made her maiden voyage from Bremen to Southampton and Baltimore in March 1869. On 6/9/1871 she commenced her first sailing
from Bremen to Southampton and New York, making 11 round voyages on this route, her last in 1883. In 1880-1 her engines were compounded at Stettin, and on 3/10/1883 she sailed from Bremen on her last voyage to Baltimore. She was then transferred to the Bremen - South America service, commencing her final voyage on 25/11/1893. In 1894
she was sold to Sir W.G.Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. (shipbuilders) in part exchange for new ships. She then went to the Argentine government who renamed her "Amazzone". In 1897 she was again renamed "Rio Santa Cruz" and in 1903 was hulked. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor,

A narrative of how Friedrich Fermazin probably felt leaving his homeland of Schubin, Posen, Prussia.
I didn't want to come at all. Certainly my life had been dull and poor enough before we set off for the boat, but when I thought of leaving it all for some huge mysteriousplace, and very problably never coming back, I got knots in my stomach and spidery tingles all up and down my arms and legs...

Holland's Aurora City directory of 1887-1890 lists
Fermezin, Fred as a milk dealer, residing at W.s. Ohio 2s.Sixth av.

In Holland's Aurora City Directory of 1910-1911 it lists
Fermazin, Carrie, wid Fred residing at 569 5th Ave

Carolina and Frederick settled in Aurora, Illinois. We are not sure why they chose Aurora, Illinois. We haven’t been able to find who they knew there. Aurora, Illinois in 1880 was lush farmland so maybe they settled to farm or maybe just maybe they settled there with the ones who came before them.

This 1864 house in Aurora, Illinois, shows the classic wide cornice and brackets of an Italiante. The Queen Anne style porch is not original, and was added sometime between 1890 and 1916. At the same time, the original pairs of narrow windows were removed and replaced by wider windows with the stained glass inserts.

In the 1880 US federal census for Aurora, Kane, Illinois, the Fermazin family is listed as FERMOTSENE:

1. Frederick FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1820> PRUSSIA
PRUSSIA" name=r1-2

2. 2. Caroline FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1830> PRUSSIA
PRUSSIA" name=

3. r1-3 3. Amelia FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1863> PRUSSIA
PRUSSIA" name=r1-4

4. 4. Bertha FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1865> PRUSSIA
PRUSSIA" name=r1-5

5. 5. Rinerhart FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1874> PRUSSIA

In the 1887-1890 city index 1890 Frederick is listed as a milk dealer living at W S Ohio 2S Sixth Ave. in the Hollands City Directory page 188. As far as I can determine the children of Frederick Fermazin are: Augusta, Charles, Emilie, Reinhard, and Bertha. (refer to family tree in appendix). It is not known the cause of death. Later in the City directory circa 1880-1884 they lived at 34 Second Street. This is a typical house in 1880-1900 Aurora, Illinois. Sharlotte the eighth child of Friedrich Formazin was born in 1885 in Aurora and died at age 19 in Chicago. Sharlotte was a change of life child. She must have been the darling of the Fermazin’s and spoiled by her older brothers and sisters.

Friedrich Fermazin has an interesting past. Friedrich Formazin’s great grandfather was born about 1733. He was born in possibly Alsace Lorraine area. He emigrated to Posen Prussia to farm in Zempelburg. Here he married and started his family. His land was called the Lindebuden estate. Children of this family included Peter Formazin and Catherine Formazin. By this time it looks like he had moved South to Lindebudden and received land from the crown to farm.

Generation No. 1

1. JOHANN¹ FORMAZIN was born Abt. 1733.

Children of JOHANN FORMAZIN are:

2. i. PETER² FORMAZIN, b. 1763, Lindebuden Posen Prussia Germany; d. 1800.

ii. CATHERINE FORMAZIN, b. 1765, Zempelsberg, Posen, Prussia; d. Zempelsberg, Posen, Prussia; m. MICHAEL JAHNKE; b. 1767, Zempelsberg, Posen, Prussia; d. 1809, Zempelsberg, Posen, Prussia.

Generation No. 2

2. PETER² FORMAZIN (JOHANN¹) was born 1763 in Lindebuden Posen Prussia Germany, and died 1800¹. He married MARIA Abt. 1787. She was born 1767 in Schmilowo, Posen Prussia Germany.

Children of PETER FORMAZIN and MARIA are:

3. i. CHRISTIAN³ FORMAZIN, b. 1781, Lindebuden Posen Prussia Germany; d. 1854, Lindebuden Posen Prussia Germany.

ii. CATHERINE FORMAZIN, b. Abt. 1780; m. JOHANN BLEMPKE.

iii. CARL RICHARD FORMAZIN, b. Abt. 1782.

iv. CAROLINE WILHELMINE FORMATZIEN, b. Abt. 1783.

Generation No. 3

3. CHRISTIAN³ FORMAZIN (PETER², JOHANN¹)² was born 1781 in Lindebuden Posen Prussia Germany, and died 1854 in Lindebuden Posen Prussia Germany.

Notes for CHRISTIAN FORMAZIN:

Nancy,

Lindebuden is called Pl~osko~w in Polish, and is located at the coordinates

53.23'N 17.39'E, 40 km east of Zl~oto~w (Flatow).

The following information is from the "Deutsche Wissenschaftliche

Zeitschrift fu"r Polen", volume 28, published in 1934:

In 1809, the belowmentioned villages belonged to the Lutheran parish of

Vandsburg (Wie~cbork):

Dembowitz (De~bowiec)

Gru"nlinde (Zboz~e)

Hohenfelde (Wysoka)

Klein Wo"llwitz (Wielowiczek)

Klotzbuden (Rostoki)

Lindebuden (Pl~osko~w)

Mu"hlenkabel (Ml~ynki)

Nichors (Niecho~rz)

Pempersin (Pe~perzyn)

Schmilowo (S~mil~owo)

Sittnow (Sitno)

The parishioners of Lindebuden were:

House # Name Age Birth place

Occupation

------------ ----------------------------- ----- ----------------

----------------

1 Peter Formazin 46 Lindebuden married farmer

Maria 42 Schmilowo "

wife

Christian 27 Lindebuden unmarr son

Freidrich Formazin who did not inherit Lindebuden because he was not the eldest son worked as a day laborer in Posen in Kreis Schubin. We first find him in the village of Labischin married to Lous Bonau with his first born Stephan Carl Formazin. Lous probably died in childbirth. In Bagno, Labischin Kreis Schubin,

Friedrich Vormazin (in 1847) was not "Schoenfaerber" - he was a "Einwohner" (inhabitant). That means that he was probably a farm labourer without land possession. These people are often found to have moved a lot. In contrast to farmers who where always bound to their land. In 1848 we find Friedrich married to Caroline Ristau and with a second child, Henriette living in Kanallsberg, Kreis Schubin.

A narrative of how Friedrich Fermazin probably felt leaving his homeland of Schubin, Posen, Prussia.

I didn't want to come at all. Certainly my life had been dull and poor enough before we set off for the boat, but when I thought of leaving it all for some huge mysteriousplace, and very problably never coming back, I got knots in my stomach and spidery tingles all up and down my arms and legs...

From pictures of Posen, Lindebudden reminds me of the upper mid west--very green, patches of forests, and a few low hills, good for farming and raising a family.

Only steerage passengers were required to go to Ellis Island. First and second-class passengers were given their medical and legal inspections on board the steamship. As the immigrant entered the "Great Hall" of Ellis Island, they were greeted by physicians who inspected them in an average time of 6 seconds: steerage immigrant received three medical exams before entering America: 1. before boarding the ship 2. during the journey 3. at the immigration center. The doctors were looking for symptoms of over 60 different diseases and ailments. These diseases included: diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, measles, mental illness, senility, lameness, physical handicaps, or any other ailment or contagious disease that would prevent an immigrant from earning a living or threatening the welfare of the public.

Friedrich came over to America in 1879 with his daughter Amelia and was on his way to Illinois to rejoin other members of his family. In recalling what it was like to come to America he probably came in a in a very crowded ship with lots of diseases. When they got to Ellis Island a lot of people were sent back on the ship. When the doctors asked, "Do you have any family in America?" He said, "Yes." He probably walked from the ship. The food was the same as it was in Posen. The next day he probably looked for a railroad to take him to Illinois or possibly looked for a job. There were many low paying jobs at that time. People were not very friendly. The Germans all lived together. A quote from Friedrich's diary would have read " We all remember coming over in the boat in steerage. My family and I remember having very little money. We remember the days very well, but we try to forget coming over in steerage. We hoped we would have a better life in America. We love America."

In 1880 Illinois Census it lists Friedrich Formazin as living with his family as:

1. Frederick FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Self Gender: Male Birth: <1820> PRUSSIA

2. Caroline FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1830> PRUSSIA

3. Amelia FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1863> PRUSSIA

4. Bertha FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1865> PRUSSIA

5. Rinerhart FERMOTSENE - 1880 United States Census / Illinois

Son Gender: Male Birth: <1874> PRUSSIA

He would say, "Giddy up there, Dick and Jim".

"Get along there"

"Ho there, move over there a little bit, get over there Tommy:"

"Be over there Dick and Jim."

"Ho, Jimmy and Jake"

"Getty up Jed!"

"Not so fast, no where to go Billy."

"Get along there."

"Way to go! there, good horses, good horses, Ya........."

"Ya"

He loved his horses and had a special feeling for his team...........

Holland's Aurora City directory of 1887-1890 lists

Fermezin, Fred as a milk dealer, residing at W.s. Ohio 2s.Sixth av.

In Holland's Aurora City Directory of 1910-1911 it lists

Fermazin, Carrie, wid Fred residing at 569 5th Ave

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