| Franken to Frankentrost 19th Century Immigration |
Dissatisfaction was in the air when Johann Georg Tobias Schaitberger was born in Cadolzburg,
Mittelfranken in 1819 into a family of chimney sweep masters not even a decade after mostly
Protestant Frankonia was attached to Catholic Bavaria and given a back seat in political matters.
Mittelfranken in 1819 into a family of chimney sweep masters not even a decade after mostly
Protestant Frankonia was attached to Catholic Bavaria and given a back seat in political matters.
Shortly before Georg's departure, Rev.Wilhelm Loehe, a charismatic country pastor in the village of
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. From his tiny German village, 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.
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. From his tiny German village, 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.
Their dialect was even difficult for other Germans to understand. Worse, 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 1847, Georg Schaitberger's older sister
and her husband migrated there among the first settlers.
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 1847, Georg Schaitberger's older sister
and her husband migrated there among the first settlers.
The Missionary movement was in full swing, and nowhere was the image of "natives" beheld with
such curiosity as it was in Germany. The romantic fascination with "heathens" led to an urgency to
introduce them to God's Word, and missions were established from Asia to North America.
such curiosity as it was in Germany. The romantic fascination with "heathens" led to an urgency to
introduce them to God's Word, and missions were established from Asia to North America.
| An Odd little Settlement in the Wilds |
After Georg Schaitberger arrived in America, he too made his way to Saginaw after a sojourn in
western Pennsylvania. He was remarried around 1850 to Elizabeth Leidel, who was from his old
neighborhood in Franconia. When Georg arrived in Michigan, he brought a team of horses with him
and began to operate a stage route. He and Elizabeth bought a 150 wilderness acres in Buena Vista
township adjoining Frankentrost and the family "camped out" long enough to build a house. In time,
they created a fertile, successful farm. Here, he found himself among a tight knit group of friends and
families that were associated in the old world as well as the new. He and the others were active in
their own little church, and soon, the Frankenmuth and Frankentrost area established hotels and flour
mills, saw mills and woolen mills. The industrious settlers produced sausage, cheese and... beer.
western Pennsylvania. He was remarried around 1850 to Elizabeth Leidel, who was from his old
neighborhood in Franconia. When Georg arrived in Michigan, he brought a team of horses with him
and began to operate a stage route. He and Elizabeth bought a 150 wilderness acres in Buena Vista
township adjoining Frankentrost and the family "camped out" long enough to build a house. In time,
they created a fertile, successful farm. Here, he found himself among a tight knit group of friends and
families that were associated in the old world as well as the new. He and the others were active in
their own little church, and soon, the Frankenmuth and Frankentrost area established hotels and flour
mills, saw mills and woolen mills. The industrious settlers produced sausage, cheese and... beer.
Upon landing in America after a long, perilous voyage, the
early settlers made their way toward the Saginaw valley, which
was at the time only a dismal, bug-infested swamp where bear
and wolves still prowled. They cleared the land, built log houses
and a church and forged primitive roads. The settlers, still in their
Franconian dress, found themselves to be a strange sight indeed
to English and French settlers, and assuredly to the Indians!
early settlers made their way toward the Saginaw valley, which
was at the time only a dismal, bug-infested swamp where bear
and wolves still prowled. They cleared the land, built log houses
and a church and forged primitive roads. The settlers, still in their
Franconian dress, found themselves to be a strange sight indeed
to English and French settlers, and assuredly to the Indians!
Georg was 16 when the first railroad line opened in Germany on
December 7, 1835. Named the “Ludwigbahn”, it connected
Nürnberg and Fürth. 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.
December 7, 1835. Named the “Ludwigbahn”, it connected
Nürnberg and Fürth. 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
Bavarian king he felt no duty to. Around this time, 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.
Bavarian king he felt no duty to. Around this time, 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.
After the army, Georg purchased a farm with his military discharge pay and
started a chimney business in the village of Wachendorf, where he married in
1847. Alas, his wife died shortly after giving birth to their baby daughter.
Meanwhile, as the story goes, Georg actively led a local rebellion and soon
became a wanted man. In grave danger, he was suddenly forced to leave his
home, friends, family and all he owned behind and flee with his child. With
the baby smuggled in an overcoat under his arm and "soldiers in hot pursuit",
he evaded capture and his friends were able to whisk him away to Bremen
and a ship bound for America.
started a chimney business in the village of Wachendorf, where he married in
1847. Alas, his wife died shortly after giving birth to their baby daughter.
Meanwhile, as the story goes, Georg actively led a local rebellion and soon
became a wanted man. In grave danger, he was suddenly forced to leave his
home, friends, family and all he owned behind and flee with his child. With
the baby smuggled in an overcoat under his arm and "soldiers in hot pursuit",
he evaded capture and his friends were able to whisk him away to Bremen
and a ship bound for America.
| A German-American Family |
Georg and Elizabeth had 8 children, one of them 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 1878, when at age 59 he married a
widow with whom he had one more son. He died October 11,1888. The baby girl 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 1878, when at age 59 he married a
widow with whom he had one more son. He died October 11,1888. The baby girl 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
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 and the Frankonians were
no longer isolated. Germany, meanwhile, had become a strong, wealthy and well-respected empire
under Bismarck's leadership, and although many of the issues which caused the settlers to leave their
German homeland were now resolved, most had no desire to return to the old country. They were
now German-Americans.
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 and the Frankonians were
no longer isolated. Germany, meanwhile, had become a strong, wealthy and well-respected empire
under Bismarck's leadership, and although many of the issues which caused the settlers to leave their
German homeland were now resolved, most had no desire to return to the old country. They were
now German-Americans.
