| Part Five |
| Franken to Frankentrost. The 19th Century |
Dissatisfaction was in the air in 1819 when Johann Georg
Tobias Schaitberger was born in Cadolzburg, Mittelfranken
into a family of chimney sweep masters not even a decade
after Frankonia was attached to Catholic Bavaria.
Tobias Schaitberger was born in Cadolzburg, Mittelfranken
into a family of chimney sweep masters not even a decade
after Frankonia was attached to Catholic Bavaria.
Around the same time, Rev.Wilhelm Loehe, a charismatic country pastor in Neuendettelsau, had
been moved by missionary Friederich Wyneken's call for help in Christianizing the Indians of
North America, and Loehe organized a mission society for training lay preachers for this work.
been moved by missionary Friederich Wyneken's call for help in Christianizing the Indians of
North America, and Loehe organized a mission society for training lay preachers for this work.
The colonists had arrived knowing nothing of Indian culture! The Indians were already relocating
in search of better hunting grounds and only a handful were "Lutheran material." But the brave,
determined settlers soon turned the wilderness into fertile farmland. While Germany was moving
ahead with the industrial revolution and modernization, these colonists had reverted back into an
almost primeval past in the forests and untamed areas of a new world. Other settlers soon joined
them, and Loehe, hearing of the success of Frankenmuth, encouraged the settling of Frankentrost.
in search of better hunting grounds and only a handful were "Lutheran material." But the brave,
determined settlers soon turned the wilderness into fertile farmland. While Germany was moving
ahead with the industrial revolution and modernization, these colonists had reverted back into an
almost primeval past in the forests and untamed areas of a new world. Other settlers soon joined
them, and Loehe, hearing of the success of Frankenmuth, encouraged the settling of Frankentrost.
From Germany, he eventually organized four colonies in the Saginaw, Michigan
area: Frankenmuth, then Frankentrost, Frankenlust and Frankenhilf. His fledglings
pledged to remain loyal to the church, Germany and to the German language. The
Missionary movement was in full swing, and nowhere was the image of "Natives"
beheld with such romance and curiosity as it was in Germany. The fascination
with "heathens" led to an urgency to introduce them to God's Word, and missions
were established from Asia to North America.
area: Frankenmuth, then Frankentrost, Frankenlust and Frankenhilf. His fledglings
pledged to remain loyal to the church, Germany and to the German language. The
Missionary movement was in full swing, and nowhere was the image of "Natives"
beheld with such romance and curiosity as it was in Germany. The fascination
with "heathens" led to an urgency to introduce them to God's Word, and missions
were established from Asia to North America.
He and Elizabeth bought a 150 acres in Buena Vista township adjoining Frankentrost in "thorough
wilderness" and built themselves a house. In time, they created a fertile, successful farm. He and
others were active in their own little church, St. John's, which is no longer in existence. Soon, the
Frankenmuth and Frankentrost area established hotels and flour, saw and woolen mills, and
produced sausage, cheese and, above all, beer.
wilderness" and built themselves a house. In time, they created a fertile, successful farm. He and
others were active in their own little church, St. John's, which is no longer in existence. Soon, the
Frankenmuth and Frankentrost area established hotels and flour, saw and woolen mills, and
produced sausage, cheese and, above all, beer.
or take a side trip below
| An Odd little Settlement in the Wilds |
In 1847, Georg Schaitberger's older sister Anna Margaretha and her husband Adam Wissmueller
migrated there among the first settlers. After Georg arrived in America, he made his way to
Saginaw from western Pennsylvania with him a team of horses and began operating a stage route.
On December 25, 1852, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Leidel of Wachendorf. Her sister
had also migrated to the Saginaw area with her husband, and Georg found himself among a tight
knit group of friends and families that were associated in the old world as well as the new.
migrated there among the first settlers. After Georg arrived in America, he made his way to
Saginaw from western Pennsylvania with him a team of horses and began operating a stage route.
On December 25, 1852, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Leidel of Wachendorf. Her sister
had also migrated to the Saginaw area with her husband, and Georg found himself among a tight
knit group of friends and families that were associated in the old world as well as the new.
Political problems plagued Franconia since 1817 when crop
failures met an indifferent governmental response. By the
1820's and 1830's, relationships deteriorated as the liberal
representatives of Franken were repeatedly refused a seat in
the Landstag. Repression increased, and by 1833 measures
were taken to rid the Universities of Würzburg and Nürnberg
of all suspect faculty who may be calling for reform.
failures met an indifferent governmental response. By the
1820's and 1830's, relationships deteriorated as the liberal
representatives of Franken were repeatedly refused a seat in
the Landstag. Repression increased, and by 1833 measures
were taken to rid the Universities of Würzburg and Nürnberg
of all suspect faculty who may be calling for reform.
Goodbye, Goodbye German immigration USA
Stephen Foster Stephen Foster, Kleber; Lieder in the USA
German Artist-Explorers Germans in the Old West
Great Old Canals The Erie Canal, King Ludwig's Canal, Railroad canals
The Immigration Experience:
German Influence in the USA:
The Glorious Habsburgs: Nearing the End
Maximillian of Mexico The Deceived Prince >
Crown Prince Rudolph Mayerling, Marie Vetsera
Pretzels: Traditional German Food
Miscellany
A New Beginning in the Old World
Upon landing in America after a long, perilous voyage, the zealous early settlers made their way
toward the Saginaw valley in Michigan by land and water, and it was at the time a dark, dismal,
bug-infested swamp where bear and wolves still prowled. Soon, land was cleared and log houses,
a church and primitive roads built. The settlers, still in their Franconian dress, found themselves to
be a strange sight to English and French settlers, and their dialect was even difficult for other
Germans to understand.
toward the Saginaw valley in Michigan by land and water, and it was at the time a dark, dismal,
bug-infested swamp where bear and wolves still prowled. Soon, land was cleared and log houses,
a church and primitive roads built. The settlers, still in their Franconian dress, found themselves to
be a strange sight to English and French settlers, and their dialect was even difficult for other
Germans to understand.
Franz Joseph The Unlucky Monarchs >
Georg was 16 years old on December 7, 1835 when the first
railroad line opened in Germany. Named the “Ludwigbahn”, it
connected Nürnberg and Fürth for 6 kilometers. The locomotive
imported from England was named the “Eagle” and cost 850
pounds of sterling. Delivered by ship to Rotterdam, then put on a
Rhine ship to Cologne, it was then sent by cart to Nürnberg.
railroad line opened in Germany. Named the “Ludwigbahn”, it
connected Nürnberg and Fürth for 6 kilometers. The locomotive
imported from England was named the “Eagle” and cost 850
pounds of sterling. Delivered by ship to Rotterdam, then put on a
Rhine ship to Cologne, it was then sent by cart to Nürnberg.
Meanwhile nine passenger cars were made by craftsmen from Nürnberg and Fürth. Starting from
December 8, 1835, horse-drawn train cars ran hourly from Nürnberg to Fürth. Only at one and
two PM daily did the Eagle run because of the high price of coal from Saxony. Not until the year
1863 was the horse train given up. At first, the train carried only newspapers and beer, then from
1839 it transported regular goods, and from 1840 it took the mail. The locomotive “Eagle” was in
use with the Ludwig route until 1856.
December 8, 1835, horse-drawn train cars ran hourly from Nürnberg to Fürth. Only at one and
two PM daily did the Eagle run because of the high price of coal from Saxony. Not until the year
1863 was the horse train given up. At first, the train carried only newspapers and beer, then from
1839 it transported regular goods, and from 1840 it took the mail. The locomotive “Eagle” was in
use with the Ludwig route until 1856.
Georg soon began his compulsory six year military service for a Catholic Bavarian king he felt no
duty to. In 1838, when an edict came down from the King requiring the soldiers to genuflect in
certain parades, the mostly Protestant draftees from Upper and Middle Frankonia refused, and
although the order was withdrawn it had created even harsher feelings. Meanwhile, trade, marriage
and land ownership laws continued to be oppressive and, in a series of events, there was ill will on
virtually every social level. In 1844, cattle succumbed to a lung disease, potatoes rotted in 1845, in
1846 a complete crop of potatoes and grain failed, and in 1847 there was record cold. When a
newspaper suggested eating frogs' legs instead of bread, people were hopping mad.
duty to. In 1838, when an edict came down from the King requiring the soldiers to genuflect in
certain parades, the mostly Protestant draftees from Upper and Middle Frankonia refused, and
although the order was withdrawn it had created even harsher feelings. Meanwhile, trade, marriage
and land ownership laws continued to be oppressive and, in a series of events, there was ill will on
virtually every social level. In 1844, cattle succumbed to a lung disease, potatoes rotted in 1845, in
1846 a complete crop of potatoes and grain failed, and in 1847 there was record cold. When a
newspaper suggested eating frogs' legs instead of bread, people were hopping mad.
The agitated times of the 1840's resulted in a number of official proclamations and notices being
pasted up all over Franconia and carrying grave warnings to any potential revolutionaries, those
with "a blue shirt and thick beard" who might be tempted to rebel. On behalf of the Bavarian king,
the country court at Cadolzburg also put out several warnings pointing out that anyone who
emigrated without permission would lose their citizenship and possessions or property, and his heirs
would lose their rights to inherit the same. Revolutionary pamphlets also began appearing around
Mittelfranken. One such "disgraceful abuse against the sacred Sovereign of Prussia, Bavaria,
Hanover, Hesse and Baden" was a letter calling for reform which was printed in New York, dated
August 12, 1847 and signed by "L. Richter, brewer by profession".
pasted up all over Franconia and carrying grave warnings to any potential revolutionaries, those
with "a blue shirt and thick beard" who might be tempted to rebel. On behalf of the Bavarian king,
the country court at Cadolzburg also put out several warnings pointing out that anyone who
emigrated without permission would lose their citizenship and possessions or property, and his heirs
would lose their rights to inherit the same. Revolutionary pamphlets also began appearing around
Mittelfranken. One such "disgraceful abuse against the sacred Sovereign of Prussia, Bavaria,
Hanover, Hesse and Baden" was a letter calling for reform which was printed in New York, dated
August 12, 1847 and signed by "L. Richter, brewer by profession".
After the army, Georg bought a farm with his military discharge
pay, started a chimney business in Wachendorf village and
married Maria Barbara Bär on May 24,1847. Maria died shortly
after giving birth to a baby daughter. Soon after, as the story
goes, Georg was active in a rebellion and forced to leave all he
owned behind and flee with the baby wrapped in an overcoat
under his arm "with soldiers in hot pursuit". His friends secreted
him away to Bremen and a ship bound for America.
pay, started a chimney business in Wachendorf village and
married Maria Barbara Bär on May 24,1847. Maria died shortly
after giving birth to a baby daughter. Soon after, as the story
goes, Georg was active in a rebellion and forced to leave all he
owned behind and flee with the baby wrapped in an overcoat
under his arm "with soldiers in hot pursuit". His friends secreted
him away to Bremen and a ship bound for America.
The climax of the discontent in the Frankish towns and villages came in the first months of the year
1848 after the food shortages and also due to the pent up public indignation regarding the
relationship between Bavarian King Ludwig I and the Spanish dancer Lola Montez in Munich.
1848 after the food shortages and also due to the pent up public indignation regarding the
relationship between Bavarian King Ludwig I and the Spanish dancer Lola Montez in Munich.
By 1849, calm was generally restored, but people..especially young people..had fled in droves,
eventually resulting in proclamations of amnesty and pardons. But by then it was too late. Simple
farmers and honest villagers who, by simply desiring basic freedoms, were turned into criminals by
the arrogant Bavarian crown, had found new homes elsewhere.
eventually resulting in proclamations of amnesty and pardons. But by then it was too late. Simple
farmers and honest villagers who, by simply desiring basic freedoms, were turned into criminals by
the arrogant Bavarian crown, had found new homes elsewhere.
| A Family Renewed |
Georg and Elizabeth had 8 children, the eldest being Johann Simon Schaitberger, born May 20,
1856. Georg was active in his church and community, and busy with his farm and family. In 1859,
Georg is listed as a Justice of the Peace for Buena Vista Township, formerly part of East Saginaw.
After Elizabeth died in 1869, Georg remained a widower until June 12, 1878, when at age 59 he
married widow Katharina Mueller Steinert, with whom he had a son. He died October 11,1888.
The baby girl with whom George fled Germany with grew up, married and enjoyed a long life.
1856. Georg was active in his church and community, and busy with his farm and family. In 1859,
Georg is listed as a Justice of the Peace for Buena Vista Township, formerly part of East Saginaw.
After Elizabeth died in 1869, Georg remained a widower until June 12, 1878, when at age 59 he
married widow Katharina Mueller Steinert, with whom he had a son. He died October 11,1888.
The baby girl with whom George fled Germany with grew up, married and enjoyed a long life.
Georg is listed in the 1880 census as a farmer as is his son, Johann Simon, who by now had
married Elizabeth Kaufeld and had a baby son. Farming at this time was losing its appeal as more
factory jobs, lumbering and railroad work arrived in the area. More diverse immigrants were
arriving. The Frankonians were no longer isolated. Germany, meanwhile, had become an empire
under Bismarck's leadership, and although many of the issues which caused the settlers to leave
home were now resolved, it was too late for most to return. Their homes were now in America.
married Elizabeth Kaufeld and had a baby son. Farming at this time was losing its appeal as more
factory jobs, lumbering and railroad work arrived in the area. More diverse immigrants were
arriving. The Frankonians were no longer isolated. Germany, meanwhile, had become an empire
under Bismarck's leadership, and although many of the issues which caused the settlers to leave
home were now resolved, it was too late for most to return. Their homes were now in America.
Frankenmuth Geschichte in German
Frankonian Colonies in Michigan Overview of Settlements
| A Frankonian Colony: |
Frankentrost A Minister's Account
Part 5: 19th c. Emigration
Old German Lands