[Map Room] [Master IndexPage] [FEEFHS FrontPage] [Website Index]

Silesian / Schlesien
Research List Archive-002
- SILRL-002 -


Latest Update: 7 March 2000 ........................................... FEEFHS Web Site Version

Suggestions for a more effective SILRL entry message:

Suggestions For Finding a Place of Origin in Germany


Entries to date from submitters, starting 26 February 2000:
- no entries since 26 January 200
- entry for CARLSSON, Heike, 26 February 2000
- entry for FONSECA-WOLLHEIM, Hermann da, 26 February 2000
- entry for GUTTENTAG, Henry, 26 February 2000
- entry for GWIZDOWSKI, Joseph, 26 February 2000
- entry for HONSCHA, Hartmut, 26 February 2000
- entry for KANIUT, Pete, 26 February 2000
- entry for LIEHR, Peter, 26 February 2000
- entry for NEMZEWK, Michael P., 26 February 2000
- entry for RECHENBERG Gordon, 26 February 2000
- entry for ROMMEISS, Wolfgang, 26 February 2000
- entry for SENFTLEBEN, Martin, Ph.D., 26 Februaray 2000
- entry for TSCHANNEN, Joan, 26 February 2000
- entry for KRETSCHMAR, Ida, 29 February 2000
- entry for LIVINGSTON, Eileen B., 29 February 2000
- entry for SCHULTZ, Jutta Karin POLENSKY, 29 February 2000
- entry for SVEHLA, Louise, 29 February 2000
- addition for LIVINGSTON, Eileen B., 7 March 2000


CARLSSON, Heike
eMail address: HCarlsson@t-online.de
(Roman Catholic)

I searching for every information about the town Gontkowitz / Militsch, Silesia and about my grand-grand-fathers family: KÄCHER (Kaercher / Karcher) and SANNERT. His name was Max Oscar KÄCHER (Kaercher / Karcher), born at 21 February 1880 at Gontkowitz (catholic), his parents were: Carl KÄCHER (Kaercher / Karcher) (shoemaker) and Agnes, geborn SANNERT. He lived for a longer time on the island Finkenwerder / Hamburg, married there and got several children. It is said that after his divorce at 1924 he went back to Gontkowitz.


FONSECA-WOLLHEIM, Hermann da
Belgium
eMail address: hermann.da.fonseca-wollheim@pandora.be

I'm researching the WOLLHEIM family from Breslau, starting with Jacob WOLLHEIM (originally perhaps PINSCHOWER or PINCZOWER), living in the second half of the 18th century. He had four sons who, probably all of them, moved to Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden or other German towns: 1) Scholem WOLLHEIM, maried successively to Sara / Sorel RAWITZ and Henriette KLECZEWSKA. Their children were Caesar WOLLHEIM (shipping company on the Oder river and coal merchant at Berlin), maried to Caroline POLLACK; Julius WOLLHEIM, maried to Julie CLEMENT; Hermann WOLLHEIM; Louis WOLLHEIM; and Jeanette WOLLHEIM, maried to Emanuel BENDIX. 2) Hirsch Jacob WOLLHEIM, maried 1809 at Hamburg to Henriette GOLDSCHMIDT and died at Hamburg 24 July 1834. Their children were Anton Edmund WOLLHEIM; born at Hamburg 12 February 1810; went to school at Breslau, died at Berlin 24 October 1884; Jacob WOLLHEIM, maried to Adle Meurice from Brussels, died at Hamburg; Jeanette WOLLHEIM; maried to ? MONCA; Moritz WOLLHEIM; Minna WOLLHEIM, maried to MONCA; Hermann Johann WOLLHEIM, maried successively to Maria OHRT and Emma Dorothea ECK; Rosalie WOLLHEIM.

3) Samuel WOLLHEIM, maried to GUTMANN. Their children were Emanuel WOLLHEIM; Leopold WOLLHEIM; Edouard WOLLHEIM; Ferdinand WOLLHEIM; Jeanette WOLLHEIM; maried with Jakob BLUMENTHAL. Children: Marie Rebekka WOLLHEIM, maried with Adolf SCHNEIDER; Julie WOLLHEIM, maried to RIEGNER; Emilie WOLLHEIM, maried with Samuel STILLMANN; Fany WOLLHEIM, maried with Louis BERGER; and Pauline WOLLHEIM; maried with BERGER. 4) Salomon WOLLHEIM, maried to Rosalie OELSNER. Their children were: Bernhard WOLLHEIM; Bessalie WOLLHEIM; married to Pauline HILLEL; Pauline WOLLHEIM, maried to Abraham WEISLER; Alexander WOLLHEIM; Fritz WOLLHEIM and Jacob WOLLHEIM. The coal merchant Caesar WOLLHEIM had the following offspring: Hermine WOLLHEIM; maried to Otto FEIST; children: Paul FEIST, Ernst FEIST; Hans FEIST; Martha WOLLHEIM; maried to Max REICHENHEIN, children: Robert REICHENHEIN; Ernst REICHENHEIN; Claus REICHENHEIN; David Emil WOLLHEIM; Else WOLLHEIM, maried to Franz Oppenheim, children: Franz OPPENHEIM; Martha OPPENHEIM; married to Ernst VON SIMON; Kurt OPPENHEIM.


GUTTENTAG, Henry
eMail address: Hgutt@ix.netcom.com

I am looking for the history and citizenship of my Grandparents. Grandmother Gertrude WOLFF (Maiden name WACHSNER) was possibly born at Mikolajow, Poland. Birth date 1 March 1879. My Grandfather Arthur WOLFF was possibly born at Josefsdorf, Germany. His birthdate is 9 December 1874. Both lived and brought up a family in Breslau, Germany (Now Wroclaw, Poland). They fled to China in 1939. Any information regarding my other sets of Grandparents on the Guttentag's side would be appreciated. I have very little information since they perished in the concentration camps of Worlds War II. They only thing we know is that lived outside Breslau,Gemany within a 1 hour drive. and had a son. My father was Bruno GUTTENTAG.


GWIZDOWSKI, Joseph
eMail address: gwizdowski_@xoommail.com or j.gwizdowski@bigfoot.com

I have evidence to suggest my great-grandfather, Antoni KOSCINSKI (born 1853) lived at Dobromil, Prussia, within Silesia. I have located Dobromil, approx 11 kilometers southwest of Glogan (now, Glogaw, Poland) in Silesia. His wife was Maryanna LULA (born 1855) and I am also researching that name. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1889-1890 with their 9 children and I am trying to determine the most likely ports of egress / entry they would have taken. Any information and suggestions GREATLY appreciated!


HONSCHA, Hartmut
Brazil
hhonscha@starinfo.com.br

Suche nach Verwandschaft zwischen diese beide Stammbäume : 1-Hartmut HONSCHA, geborn in Reichenbach (Eulengebirge) 13 JUne 1939. Vater: Hans Werner HONSCHA, geborn Gross Ellguth (Euleng) 10 May 1910 (wohnt noch in Brasilien). Grossvater: a, Robert Wilhelm HONSCHA, geborn Breslau l December 1879, und gestorben Breslau 3 April 1925. UGVater: Christian HONSCHA, geborn Wundschutz 14 June 1855 und gestorben Breslau 2 February 1882. 2-Siegward HONSCHA, geborn Breslau 3 August 1941. Vater: Walter Honscha geborn Breslau 4 June 1904. Grossvater Michael Honscha geborn Jerolsch=FCtz (datum unbekannt). Wo kann ich weitere Informationen bekommen. Grösse aus Brasilien. Hartmut.


KANIUT, Pete
eMail address: pjcrkan@zekes.com
(Roman Catholic)

I am looking for ancestors/relatives from the town of Brinnitz (sic - correct locality is Brinitz according to Joe Riemmann). My great grandfather was VICTOR KANIUT. My grandfather was A. Max KANIUT, born 22 February 1861. They were Catholic. There were I believe, 7 brothers, Some were over 7 foot tall. They had a horse ranch or farm and raised horses for the Prussian Cavalry. I have been trying for almost ten years to find something back there, but have had no luck. The name is unusual and I have a shooting score book from the Prussian army and it is spelled the same on it in about 1883. The entries are signed by a Von RECLAU. We had thought that maybe the name had been changed when my grandfather came to the US. But I feel this shows that the name was not changed. Also, My grandfather could speak 7 languages, and we always felt that he would not have let that happen. I hope that there is someone who can help me find the connection to get some of the ties back there that I need. My grandfather married Anna RUST at Hamburg on 5 September 1888 and immigrated to the US, sailing on the steamer ship "Wilhelm II" 9 September 1888. They had met in College at Kassel which they were both attending. Her father was a professor there. Some of the brothers names were, I believe, Thomas, Mathias, ??. Any help will be greatly appreciated.


KRETSCHMAR, Ida
eMail address: famgram@hotmail.com

Joe: Our local German genealogy society suggested I eMail you regarding my search for vital, church, etc. records to document my husband's grandparents families in Silesia before 1900. His grandmother was Anna Maria Elizabeth MULLER, daughter of Francis and Johanna [DIETRICK] MULLER. She was born at Sagen (now Zargen, Poland) and was Catholic. His grandfather was Carl W. SCHREIBER, son of Wilhelm and Ernestine [KREGAR] SCHREIBER, born at Langenbilau, now Bielawa, and was Lutheran. Carl and Anna married in Germany 11 Feb 1894 and had two daughters before immigrating to the US in 1898 and 1899. The daughters were Freida Johanna born 1895 and Emma Freida Martha, born 4 July 1896. I don't know the city of birth for the children or the marriage place. Carl and Anna worked at Forst to earn passage money. I have tried for records in the places they lived, at the Dresden Stadtarchiv and the LDS Library, all to no avail. I really need to be pointed in a new direction and will greatly appreciate any help.
Webmaster's Note: Church records are usually the most important part of the Family History Library (FHL) holdings, but are actually only a small part of the FHL collections and a tiny minority of the many topics in the FHL Catalog. However I would suggest you search the Catholic records at Langenbilau (now Bielawa) for your Kregar, Muller and Schrieber lines. Strange as it may seem, something like former Lutherans appearing in a Catholic churchbook are actually known to have occured in Silesian genealogy, when the ruling nobility suddenly changed its religious allegience. Is it possible your locality "Sagen" was really Sagan, Schlesien? If so, church records exist for it on FHL microfilm for your periods of interest.

Yet IF no church records exist for the years in question at your localities, you must find new research directions. You have a very common surname (Muller) and one that is sometimes mistaken for a given name (Dietrick) in computer databases. But still you have Schrieber to work with and two rather unique surnames (Kregar and Dietrick). Thus it may not prove impossible to get at your answers thru them. One of the 5 Dietrick genealogies listed in the FHL "surname search" section point to a line of that surname in Wuerttemburg. 25 Schrieber listings also exist there with some specific localities shown.

On the FEEFHS Website, Kregar appears twice as a Slovenia (germanic, former Austro-Hungarian Empire) surname, including one Maribor archival "fond". Also by entering your surnames into the FEEFHS WebSite Index (see navigation links above and below on all pages here), 10 listings appear for Schrieber and a potentially useful Dietrick surname genealogy is found on an Ahnenstammkartei microfilm. Some persons named Dietrick are also found immigrating to San Francisco (in the huge, unique San Francisco Call online database).

The M&uller ( Mueller / Muller) is not hopeless (as a common surname) either, especially when using a Silesien marriage index (see below: Die Eheschliessungen in den Schlesischen Provinzialblättern (1785-1849)) - 4 males named Muller were married at Sagan (1817-1828). Among the 175+ Segan marriages listed, one Müller female was married there too. These are obviously not the most direct sources. But with nothing else to go on, even such slim possibilities would seem better than nothing!

LIEHR, Peter
eMail address: p.liehr@worldnet.att.net

I am searching for children born to LIEHR, Carl Samual. He was born 12 June 1785 at Gruenberg, Silesia and was married to Johanna Juliane KLEINDT born 24 December 1804. Please direct all information to me.


LIVINGSTON, Eileen B.
eMail address: EBLiving65@aol.com

I am seeking information on William Frederick Valentine SCHULTZE who died in Elk county, Pennsylvania USA in 1849. It is possible he was the SCHULTZE who immigrated to America on the brig "Alexander" on 28 November 1815. As a background story in his Will, he said that in 1812, the Prussians took from him 136,000 franks; also there was a grant of a pension settled on him for 500 thalers yearly to be paid by the Treasurer at the City of Warsaw, Poland. He said he only received 5 years of this pension, the balance was yet due. Also, 6,400 franks were owed to him by the French Government for services rendered as a Commisary General at the Police of Osnabruck and at Magdeburg during the years of 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, and part of 1814. SCHULTZE was listed in the 1840 US Census for Clearfield county Pennsylvania as a male between the ages of 70 and 80. I recently learned that he was a born Silesian and on the Prussian War Council. He had four children: Edward C., Henry F. W., Gustavus, and Amelia. I would appreciate any information on SCHULTZE.
Webmaster's Note: Did he really have those four children all by himself, or was there a woman who somehow helped him in some small way!? Seriously, leaving out what you might know of the full name (especially her maiden name) of his wife is like tying one of your research hands behind you. If you have her maiden name you would be wise to list it, as there are almost as many record searchers seeking ancestral data on female lines as there are those seeking male lineages.
Response from Eileen: As for finding and identifying his wife, in about 8 years of research, I have never been able to identify a wife for W.F.V. SCHULTZE in the USA. In searching the FHL "IGI", I came up with an entry for an Eduard Carl SCHULTZE, christened 28 July 1805, Charite Kirche, Berlin Stadt, Brandenburg, Preussen; Father: SCHULZ; Mother: Anne Louis VOLKMANN, birthplace, Buchholz. The son's name in USA was "Edward Charles Schultze." But I have no proof that this is the same person--just a possibility. I am of the opinion that the father, W.F.V. SCHULTZE, just used the name, "SCHULTZE."

NEMZEWK, Michael P.
eMail address: mnemzek@nlamerica.com

We are searching for information regarding my great-grandfather. His name in Germany was thought to be Alex NIEMCZYK Alex and the name was changed to NEMZEK. He immigrated to the US at age 16. He was born at Oppeln, Slazian (sic) Germany 16 July 1865. When he immigrated to the US, he lived at Casselton, North Dakota with relatives (unknown). He married Wilhelmina KOWALSKI born at Selginau, West Prussia, Germany. She was born 7 March 1869. She also immigrated to the US as a teenager and lived with relatives (unknown) at Casselton, North Dakota. They met and later married 5 October 1886. We would appreciate any clues or information= that you may have.


RECHENBERG Gordon
eMail address: gordonr@interworx.com.au

My great grandfather, Wilhelm Friedrich RECHENBERG, came to Australia in 1855. He was born at Lauban, Silesia, Prussia in 1823. Wilhelm was married to Anna Maria ALLOVIGE at Schmollin 1854. I have not been able to find any listing of her family name any where. His father was Johann Gotlieb RECHENBERG and his mother Johanna BEILSCHMIDT. Johann's profession was listed as "Excise Officer" residing at Lauban in 1855. I have found a listing of a marriage Johann Gotlieb RECHENBERG to Johanne Christiane Beathe BOTHE on 26 October 1840 at Lauban Schlesien. This is perhaps Johann's second marriage? Or perhaps a sibling of Wilhelm? I would be grateful for any help.


ROMMEISS, Wolfgang
Berlin, Germany
eMail address: Rommeiss@zedat.fu-berlin.de

I am looking for anchestors of Reinhold Karl Robert HENTSCHEL, born 1859 at Sulau, district Militsch-Silesian. His parents were Christian Hentschel and Rosalie Hentschel, nee WINKLER. Christian Hentschel was born 1828 at Sulau, Silesian. Both died in America before 1915. I search for any information about sisters, brothers or children of both. Thank you.


SCHULTZ, Jutta Karin POLENSKY
10539 2nd Street, Gheen, Minnesota 55771-, USA
eMail address: juttakar@spacestar.net
(Roman Catholic / Seventh Day Adventist)

I am researching the families of M&uller (with an Umlaut over the u), POLENSKY and GÜTTLER (with umlaut) who were from Leutmannsdorf and Schweidnitz, Silesia, Germany. My Father Paul Willi POLENSKY was born 12 September 1929 at Leutmannsdorf, Silesia, Germany and he was the son of Fritz Alfred Alois Polensky. Fritz Alfred Alois POLENSKY (born 23 September 1893 at Schweidnitz) married Ida Anna GÜTTLER 28 February 1916 at Leutmannsdorf, Silesia, Germany. Their children were: Fritz, Elfriedl, Hedwig, Gunther, Paul (my dad), Alfred, Ruth, Walter, and Martha (died young from an illness). Fritz Alfred Alois Polensky learned bricklaying and received a diploma in Schweidnitz before the two World Wars. He was a sergeant in WW-I and Medical technician in WW-II. After World War II he moved his entire family to Versmold, West Germany where he lived until his death in 1970. His religious affiliation was Catholic until he was converted to the Seventh-day Adventist church.

I am really interested in finding out anything I can about his father and mother. His father was Adolph MÜLLER (with umlaut). All we know about Adolph Müller is that he was a master weaver in a factory at Kassel, Hessen, Germany. Before he moved to Kassel he lived in Schweidnitz, Germany. He never married Fritz's mother and may have married someone else. He was most likely a Catholic. Fritz's mother was Cecilia POLENSKY, hence Fritz's last name. He never took his father's name. We know virtually nothing about her. Evidently she gave Fritz to her parents and let them raise him. He saw very little of her. She may have even married several times and could have immigrated to the U.S. We just don't know for sure.

Ida Anna's Mother was Ernestine Jaeckel GÜTTLER. We are unsure of her fathers name. They lived in the same area though and actually lived with Fritz and Ida Anna. Ida Anna had 2 brothers one who was a lumberjack whose name was Heinrich GÜTTLER, Alfred GÜTTLER, and 2 sisters, Anna GÜTTLER GLATZER (lived at Leutmannsdorf), and Zelma GÜTTLER KASPAREK. If there is ANY information out there about this family and relatives I would appreciate any help in finding them. It is hard for me as I live in a remote area and have no access to genealogical information. Thank you very much and you can contact me by eMail or postal mail.

Webmaster's Note: Have you tried looking for your Güttler and Polensky surnames in the FEEFHS Website Index (see the navigation links at the top and bottom of the page)? I see a Silesian Namenbuch reference (usually it tells you what locality the name is first found) and several microfilm references to G&uttler genealogies and one reference to a Pommern record searcher with a Polinsky in their line. There is also one each Müller and "von Polezinsky" marriage at Schweidnitz - ref: see Die Eheschliessungen in den Schlesischen Provinzialblättern (1785-1849) below.

SENFTLEBEN, Martin, Ph.D.
Deutsche homepage Das Kirchenjahr, English homepage
eMail address: DrMartinus@gmx.net

I have started looking for the roots of my family. My father, Gottfried SENFTLEBEN, was born at Gr=FCnberg (Schlesien). The earliest known ancestor is Ernst Wilhelm Senftleben, born 6 December 1807 in Gr=FCnberg, date of death unknown, married to Johanne Henschel 31 July 1839. One of their children was Traugott Johannes Senftleben, born 25 November 1846 at Gr=FCnberg and married Johanna Sigge 31 March 1880. One of their children was Heinrich Gotthard Senftleben, born 12 July 1882, who married Margarete Gertrud VALENTIN (born 13 November 1891 at Guben) on 4 May 1911. I live in Germany, but as a beginner in this area and quite active on the Internet I hope to get some help from this end.


SVEHLA, Louise
Chicago, Illinois, USA
eMail address: star_shine_3@yahoo.com

I am looking for information on my great-great-grandparents: Johann Nathan PRATSCH, born 23 May 1817 at Alstadt, Prussia, and died 11 August 1888 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He married (1851 or earlier) Anna Marie PRESSFREUND, born 5 July 1826 at Neustadt, Prussia, and died 5 October 1870 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They emigrated from Prussia aboard the ship "Balticus" from Bremen to New York, arriving 19 Jul 1853. They travelled with their infant son, Emil PRATSCH, (born 21 November 1851 Prussia, died 12 September 1882 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin). They were in settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin by 1855 and had seven more children: Gustav G. (born 8 September 1853, died Nov 1930); Anna (born September 1855, died 1944); Alvina (born 1858, died ?); John, Jr. (born 9 September 1859, died 2 September 1910); Mary F. (born August 1862, died 1940); Victoria E. (born August 1864, died 1955) and Josephine (born September 1866, died 1957).

The death certificate for Johann Nathan PRATSCH shows his parents as Ignatz and Victoria PRATSCH. The sources stating their home villages of Alstadt and Neustadt list them as being located in Prussia or Austria. Family story tells me that these two towns were across the river from one another. My first instinct was the area around Vienna, Austria because the Danube flows through it. But after doing some research, the area around Breslau, Silesia also seems possible because the Oder River flows through it. I would be very interested in exchanging information about the PRATSCH and PRESSFREUND families and to learn about Neustadt and Alstadt. Thank you.


TSCHANNEN, Joan
eMail address: tsch@ndak.net

I am looking for information on Alfred Oscar Hermann LEHMANN born March 17 1863 at Breslau, Silesia, Prussia (now Wroclaw, Poland). His parents were Leopold LEHMANN and Henrietta WEIFE. He was the youngest of six children and the only boy. He sang in the Royal Opera and had a beautiful baritone voice. He was a carpenter and lathe turner and made billard balls out of ivory. He emigrated to the US shortly after WW I started. Any information would be appreciated. I will share my information.


See also:

Research Aids and Suggestions:

  1. Unser Oberschlesin: This is the German language publication of the Landsmannschaft der Oberschlesier e. V. Bundesverband of Wiesbaden, Germany. This 16 page newspaper type publication (5 columns, 13 1/2 x 17 inches) was founded in 1950 with ISSN #0343-5113. It is not found in the FHL at Salt Lake City. It includes printed reports of activities of German organizations representing the following Oberschlesien Stadts and Kreise: Bielitz, Hindenburg, Gross Strehlitz, Cosel, Rosenberg, Loben-Guttentag, Oppein, Wanderer (Gielwitz / Beuthen), Königshütte, Laurahütte and Tarnowitz.

    While only carrying a few obituaries, it does provide details on Bundestreffens (gatherings/reunions). It provides monthy lists of birthday congratulations to dozens of subscribers, listing their name, birthday and current city or town of residence in Germany. It also contains ads of professionals willing to conduct research in Oberschlesien. To subscribe, send your request for current subscription price by postal mail to:

    Unser Oberschlesiien
    Postfach 22 29
    65012 Wiesbaden
    GERMANY

  2. Die Eheschliessungen in den Schlesischen Provinzialblättern (1785-1849) published in 1994 by Verlag Degner and edited by Uwe Kambach is now available at the Family History Library as a book. It covers about 40,000 persons (19,483 marriages). It lists husband's name, profession, place of marriage, wife's name, marriage date and source of the article. A hard copy is in the stacks at the the FHL.

0 - 0 - 0

[Map Room] [Master IndexPage] [FEEFHS FrontPage] [Website Index]