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Silesian / Schlesien Research List
- SILRL -

Latest Update: 7 June 1998 .............................................. Web Site Version

Suggestions for a more effective SILRL entry message:

Please send eMail entries, additions and corrections to Joe Reimann at: goldcontac@aol.com

Suggestions For Finding a Place of Origin in Germany

Entries to date from submitters (March - May 1998):
- entry for BURGHEIM, Peter, 11 March 1998
- entry for HAMPEL, Chris, 11 March 1998
- entry for TAYLOR, Linda, 11 March 1998
- addition for WILSON, Sylvia, 11 March 1998
- entry for SWIRSKY, William, 19 March 1998
- entry for WETZEN, Barbara DAVID, 21 March 1998
- entry for HOLBROOK, Richard, 29 March 1998
- entry for HORNER-GERSTEN, Susan, 29 March 1998
- entry for McCULLOCH, J. Kevin, 29 March 1998
- additions for SWIRSKY, William, 5 April 1998
- entry for WERKENTHIN, Max, 5 April 1998
- entry for DVORAK, Charles, 16 April 1998
- entry for HUTH, Barbara C., 16 April 1998
- entry for van der REIJKEN, Heleen, 16 April 1998
- entry for THURGAR, Leanne T., 16 April 1998
- entry for STEBBINS, Howard A., 25 April 1998
- entry for DOBSCH, Tommy Frederick, 21 May 1998
- entry for FLOCKS, Gerald Walter, 21 May 1998
- entry for JOHNSON, Weldon A., 21 May 1998
- entry for LORENZEN, William, 21 May 1998
- entry for TEUNER, Mary Ann, 21 May 1998

See also SILRL-981 for January/February 1998 entries and
See SILRL for current entries

BURGHEIM, Peter
email address: tubby@squirrel.com.au

I am trying to find some information about my grandparents. My Grandfather was Alfred BURGHEIM and would have been born in the middle or late 1800's at or near Fraustadt. He was a chemist in World War One with the German Army. He married a Rosa KOHN and they had three children one of which is my father Walter Sigmund Burgheim born 6 April 1904 at Fraustadt. My E-mail address is tubby@squirrell.com.au. I hope someone can help.

Please change my search for information on my Grandfather, August Joseph DOBSCH, to a birthplace of Gross Peterwitz, Silesia, Prussia The name of the wife of his father, Joseph DOBSCH, may have been Anna STELZER instead of Annie SELZER.
DOBSCH, Tommy Frederick
eMail address: A062284@mdcpo01.hb.mdc.com/a>

My Grandfather, August Joseph DOBSCH, born 12 February 1864 at Gross Peterwitz, Prussia, married Emma Anna STRACK in Warren county, Missouri USA in 1892. His brother Paul left there in 1884 for America according to the records of the ship "Sueve". His father, Joseph DOBSCH, born 23 February 1838 in Germany / Prussia, was married to Anna STELZER (birth and marriage date unknown). I have searched the Town and Roman Catholic Parish records for the town of Dobsch at my FHC and did not find any DOBSCH families born or baptized there. August's brother, Paul DOBSCH departed Gross Peterwitz, Silesia, Prussia in 1884 and left on the ship "Sueve" from Hamburg for America. He had a sister by the name Augusta (Auguste) DOBSCH that also traveled to America before 1900 and married Orlando? SCHMIDT. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

DVORAK, Charles
eMail address: CHASDVORAK@prodigy.net
(Evangelisch)

I'm searching for the family of my grandfather, William George KROEBER (sometimes spelled KROBER). He and two brothers and a sister were born at Canth (now Katy Wroclawskie) about 20 miles west of Breslau (Wroklaw). He was born in 1863, emigrated to America in 1884 and died at New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1936. One brother, Otto Arthur, moved to Gorlitz, Germany, around 1900, had two children both of whom were childless. They were Evangelisch. I'm trying to find the descendants of my grandfather's other brother and sister. I do not know their names or dates of birth. The only photo I have suggests his sister was older than he.

My grandfather's father was Wilhelm KROEBER who was born at Loewenburg (Lwowek Slaski) about 1827 and died at Canth 29 September 1882 at age 55 according to FHL sources. There is no record of the death of Bertha (GEICKE) KROEBER. I was told by an administrator in Katy Wroclawskie that the town was literally demolished after WWII including all cemeteries and Protestant churches that existed. The archives in Wroclaw also tell me there are few records before WWII. Other names are Johanna FELZ, my great great grandmother's maiden name. She and her husband, also Wilhelm KROEBER, died in Reichenbach (Dzierzoniow) according to FHL sources. One other name is Emma LESKE, wife of Otto Arthur, my grandfather's brother.I have other photos of what are probably family pictures but I cannot distinguish them.

FLOCKS, Gerald Walter
eMail address: afn55253@afn.org
(Roman Catholic)

I am searching for information about the parents of my great grandfather, Carl FLUX (possibly von LUX) who was born in the early l800's at Patschkau, Silesia, Germany (now Paczkow, Poland), about 40 miles South of Wroclaw. My great grandfather was a veterinarian and was born in the prison complex where his father was sheriff for the State of Prussia. He was a Catholic, attended St. John's Church (which still stands in Paczkow) and married Anna ERTELT who was also born in Patschkau. He had a brother, Josef FLUX, who was a piano maker (one of which I have in my possession that my grandfather brought to the U.S.) I have been told that Carl's father was at one time an officer in the Empress Maria Theresa's army. I do not know his name or whether he used the same name as his son.

Carl and Anna FLUX had at least seven children, Dr. Carl FLUX (my grandfather), Paul, Emil, Clara, Joseph, Anna and Tellie. Carl, Paul and Emil emigrated to the U.S. in 1872 where they changed their names to FLUCKS. Later Carl's family changed theirs to FLOCKS. A few years later Clara started to join her brothers in the U.S. but died in route. As far as I know the others remained in Silesia. I have spent many years trying to identify this ancestor and would appreciate any help you might be able to offer.

HAMPEL, Chris
email address: champel@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
(Lutheran)

I am looking for family and records of Ernest Oswald HAMPEL, born 30 July 1832 in Kreis Guhrau, Silesia, Prussia, died 20 October 1887 at Petawawa, Ontario, Canada. He married Johanna Caroline MICHEL, born 18 July 1829 at Juppendorf, Kreis Guhrau, Silesia, died 4 February 1892 at Petawawa, Ontario, Canada (daughter of Gottlieb MICHEL and Elizabeth FENIGER). This Lutheran family came to Canada in 1867 with 4 childern: Emil Gustave, Ernest Oswald, Mathilde and Elise Adelia Louise.

HOLBROOK, Richard
eMail address: haymaker@wycol.com
(Lutheran)

I am tracing the family name GLOR. Jacob GLOR emigrated in 1817 from Alsace-Lorraine to East Prussia. There is no record who of his family went with him. His wife was alive and the children were Fredich born 1814, Peter born 1809, Johann Philipp born 1806, Georg born 1803 and Johannes born 1799. I`m sure the family had to be with him. I could not find anything on where they settled for many years until I found an emigration to America record for Johann Phillip GLOR. The year was 1846. He had a family, wife and four children. The village they left from was Krotchyce (Kroitsch), Liegnitz. They were of the Lutheran faith. My main push here is to find what happened to the rest of the family. When Johann was naturalized he had to give up his allegence to the King of Prussia. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine.

Webmaster's Note: There is one citation for Glor in the surname search section of the FHL Catalog.

HORNER-GERSTEN, Susan
251 Kane Street Apt 10, Brooklyn, New York 11231-, USA
eMail address: allan@idt.net

I am trying to find records on my mother's family. Karin KAPS was born at Beuthen in OberSilesia on 4 September 1942. Her mother is Erna MASSELLI Kaps. Her father's name was Martin Kaps. He was killed the same year she was born. We are looking to find any of the Kaps family if they still may be in Poland. Any information on them would be greatly appreciated. If you need more information, please let me know.

Webmaster's Note: Lack of disclosure of their religion greatly limits our suggestions. If any are still alive, they will most probably be found in Germany today, not in Poland. I suggest you arrange for a search of your surname in the German Telephone Book on CD-ROM by contacting the IGS (Immigrant Genealogy Society) and if none are found, place an ad in the Upper Silseien German newspaper listed below.

HUTH, Barbara C.
2363 North 114th Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226-, USA
eMail address: bhuth@juno.com
(Evangelisch)

I am researching the SCHNEIDER family from Zantkau (Zankow) Trebnitz, Silesia. The earliest information I have is George SCHNEIDER born 23 January 1753 in Zantkau. I believe the church was located in Luzine. George was the oldest child. His siblings were Gottlieb SCHNEIDER, Johann SCHNEIDER, Susanna Helena SCHNEIDER and Maria Anna Rosina SCHNEIDER. Georg SCHNEIDER had three children two daughters and Christian SCHNEIDER born at Zantkau 30 December 1785. He married Rosina RODER (born at Zantkau 9 July 1795) on 29 September 1817. Christian & Rosina SCHNEIDER had 7 children all born in Zantkau from 1818 to 1833. They emigrated to America 24 June 1840 and were part of the "Altlutherisch Auswanderung" Rosina RODER's brother August RODER was still alive in 1869 and living at Neiderei. I have several letters from Neiderei dated 1861, 1869 and 1872 that I am in the process of transcribing and translating. I am interested to know where confirming documentation for the above would be available.

JOHNSON, Weldon A.
eMail address: judyweldon@email.msn.com

I am searching for information about place of birth for ANTON RUSZCZYK who was born about 1843 at Frandorf, Silesia, Prussia. I believe this town is now in Poland but do not know what it is called.

LORENZEN, William
eMail address: froglink@earthlink.net

I am seeking further information the parents and family of August Friedrich Fiedler, born 20 July 1856 at Teschen. He later moved to Flensburg and married there.

McCULLOCH, J. Kevin
eMail address: MKJ1963@aol.com

My ancestors were Karl Ernest August KLOSE (born 19 March 1845) and Johana Dorothea POLCK (born 12 October 1842). They were married around 1865, probably at Glogau, Silesia. I am trying to locate their marriage record. I would also like to locate their birth records. August and Dora had three children at Glogau before emigrating to the United States in 1885. Their three children were: Frederick William KLOSE (born 18 July 1868), Frederick August KLOSE (born 4 March 1873) and Louise Pauline Ernestine KLOSE (born 8 January 1878). I would also like to find these kid's birth records. Any help anyone can give me would be GREATLY appreciated as I am relatively new to this kind of research. Thank you.

Webmaster's Note: With no disclosure of religion, no suggestions can be made, except to note that Evangelisch, Roman Catholic and Jewish records are on FHL microfilm for this area and there are 4 citations for the Klose surname in the surname search section of the FHL Catalog.

van der REIJKEN, Heleen
Netherlands
eMail address: h.v.d.reijken@wxs.nl

I am trying to find more about my grandmother. She was born at Schloss Ujest 28, Beuthen or Bitom near Gleiwitz or Gliwice, Schlesien, 28 June 1898. Her name is Louise Marie BUCHELT. She was a daughter of Hugo Buchelt and Anna HAMPE and she has a sister named Ruth.

STEBBINS, Howard A.
email address; stebbhs@juno.com

Julius GROCHOWSKI was born 21 August 1860 in Germany, Prussia and died 17 September 1935 in Norwich, CT, USA. He married Charlotte GRODOTZKI 15 April 1883 at Norwich, Connecticut USA, daughter of John GRODOTZKI and Catherine MORRIS. Julius was born in the area of Silesia, now a part of Poland. When Julius left it was a part of the Prussian Empire. He and his wife spoke German and were Evangelical Lutherans. Julius came by boat from Bremen before 1877, or would have been conscripted into the German Army.

SWIRSKY, William
eMail address: nevada_bil@nanosecond.com

I am looking for information regarding my great-grandfather, Wilhelm Eduard Franz KNOTHE born, I believe was born in Breslau in the 1840s. Franz moved to Odessa Kherson South Russia (now Ukraine) in the 1870s, married Katharine Zellmer there in 1877. His parents and siblings moved to Odessa also. They were Evangelisch Lutheran. Franz died at Odessa in 1902. Other family members were: Carl KNOTHE, Hermann KNOTHE, Mina KNOTHE, Marie KOTOWIECZ geboren KNOTHE, Wilhelmina KLINGENBERG geboren Knothe. Wilhelmine died at Odessa 26 May 1882, age 23. The Odessa record did not record the place of birth, but I am assuming that it is somewhere in Silesia near Breslau. Her husbands name was Paul Klingenberg, a locksmith and listed as a Prussian subject.

Webmaster's Note: You might see the Knothe citation in the surname search section of the FHL Catalog.

TAYLOR, Linda
email address: ltaylor@ic.waseca.mn.us
(Protestant)

My Grandfather, Frederick Berthold JOPPE was born 1 January 1864 either at Landshut (now Komienna Gora) or Gottesberg (Boguszow) Silesia. He had a brother Adolf JOPPE who married and had 2 daughters and 1 son, Alfred. A sister Ida never married that I know of. His parents names I believe could be Henrietta and Wilhelm JOPPE. Frederick came to America for the 2nd time about 1889. In the late 1800's he lived in Dakota, then homesteaded in Alberta, Canada before emigrating to the US in 1913. He married Leona PIERCE at Owensboro, Kentucky in 1913 and later moved to Minnesota. Frederick corresponded with his family in Silesia - I have a collection of postcards sent to him. He never heard from any of them after the war (WW II). Frederick was Protestant, joining the Methodist Church in the U.S. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

TEUNER, Mary Ann
eMail address: MaryAnn_Teuner@bc.sympatico.ca
(Roman Catholic?)

I am searching for any information on the surnames, TEUNER and ZEISBERG. My grandfathers name was Albin TEUNER, born 1889 at or around Ruckers, Kreis Glatz, Posen. I believe they were Roman Catholic. In 1923 he married Hedwig ZEISBERG, born 1895 at Hartau. Hedwig's parents were Ferdinand ZEISBERG and Adelheid ELSNER. Ferdinand ZEISBERG, along with a brother, owned and operated a glass factory (Kristallglaswerke) in Ruckers. I believe that the family may have lived in or around Friedsgrund. He had 8 children Hedwig, Alfred, Ferdinand, Gerhard, Arthur, Erwin, Lise and Trudi. Alfred died at Verdun France, 1918.

THURGAR, Leanne T.
eMail address:

I am trying to find out more about my GG grandfather Friedrich Wilhelm JACKEL who was born at Bohrau, Seifersdorf, Bolkenhiem Schlesien 31 May 1859. He was a cabinet maker by trade and also spent some time in the German Army and in the reserve as well as working in Switzerland prior to his arrival in Australia in approximately 1886. He was believed to have a sister living in Germany and his parents apparently pre-deceased him. He was killed in 1901 in a train accident. I have found Bolkenheim on a map but have been unable to find out anything about his parents of his sister (if he had one).

Webmaster's Note: I know of no Bolkenhiem in Silesia although there is a Bolkenhain with FHL microfilm records. There also are Evangelische and Roman Catholic churchbook records for Bohrau on FHL microfilm.

WERKENTHIN, Max
eMail address: mwerkenthin@utsystem.edu
(Evangelisch)

I seek information about the sources from which I may obtain copies of (1) the certificate of marriage of [Evangelisch] Pastor Jacob Theodor WERKENTHIN to Magdelene VON BERGEN, on 10 June 1885 at Leubus, Schlesien; (2) the birth certificate, baptismal certificate, and death certificate for their daughter Gottwertha Agnes Olga Thea Magdelene Maria Margarete WERKENTHIN, born 22 April 1886, baptized 10 June 1886, died 27 January 1887; (3) the birth certificate and baptismal certificate for their son, Hermann Conrad Theodor Bernhard WERKENTHIN, born 15 July 1888 in Leubus; and (4) the birth certificate and baptismal certificate for their son, Hermann Theodor Friedrich Conrad WERKENTHIN, born 21 February 1890 at Leubus. I have an original 1885 wedding announcement identifying Theodor WERKENTHIN as "Pastor and Anstaltsgeistlicher an der Provinzial-Irren. Heil. Anstalt zu Leubus in Schlesien." I also wish to identify the date (between 1890 and 1892) the WERKENTHINS left Leubus and moved to Berlin, where Theodor was Pastor of the Gethsemanekirche, and where they resided until all seven WERKENTHINS emigrated to Texas in 1909. I would be grateful if anyone can refer me to the proper sources for documents from the government and Evangelische Church in the town formerly called Leubus, Schlesien. Thank you.

WETZEN, Barbara DAVID
eMail: Aparkplace@aol.com
(Jewish)

I am looking for information on the family of Herman, Moses and Sadie DAVID who came to Cleveland, Ohio in the 1860's from Koblenz, Germany. I believe from Koblenz in Pomerania or Silesia, not Rheinland-Pfalz. They were Jewish. Herman DAVID was born 13 October 1852, died 4 January 1918, married Bessie MAYER, daughter of Soloman MAYER in Cleveland. Soloman MAYER was married to Nettie DAVID, a possible aunt of Herman, Moses and Sadie. Moses DAVID was born Sep 1848, died 12 September 1908. Sadie DAVID was born 1848, died October 1913.

WILSON, Sylvia
1016 Edgecliff Drive, Bedford, Texas 76022- . USA
eMail address: wilson33@airmail.net

I am researching the family names of HULDER / HIRDLER / SCHARFF / MIHM / MAHLER. August Carl HIRDLER, born 31 December 1799, died July 1867; Rosa SCHARFF, born 1796, died July 1863; Carl Benjamin HIRDLER, born 19 September 1828 -- all of these were born at Peilau, near Breslau. Carl Benjamin HIRDLER married Martha Maria MIHM (born 20 September 1827, Melhausen, Thurnigen) on 10 January 1851. They had five sons, August HIRDLER, born 1852; Carl HIRDLER, born 14 February 1854; William HIRDLER, born 08 January 1856; Theodore Carl HIRDLER, born 18 June 1858; Samuel HIRDLER, born about 1860. Carl, Martha, and 5 sons sailed to the U.S. September 1860 from Bremen to New York City. August Carl HIRDLER was said to have been the Superintendent of the Estates of the Duke of Ruprecht (the King of Bavaria, King Ludwig II); they lived at Nymphenburg Castle, Munich, the last 37 years of his life (probably that is where they died). Carl Benjamin HIRDLER was a shoemaker and attended the Universität at Bonn to study medicine. Carl and Maria were supposedly both active in the Prussian Revolution in 1848-1849. Carl Benjamin HIRDLER had at least 1 brother, a Gottlieb HIRDLER. Martha Maria MIHM HIRDLER's parents were Henry MIHM (born Amsterdam) and Hanlorah MAHLER MIHM, married at Melhausen. The surname, HIRDLER, is an English spelling for HULDER. I have verified this on 1870 and 1880 Census Reports. It must have been sometime after the 1880 Census that the name was changed. I would be most appreciative of any help I can get.

Webmaster's Note: No FHL microfilm appears to exist for Peilau or Melhausen. See the Schraff, Mihm and Mahler listings in the Surname search section of the FHL catalog for your four surnames looking for links to places they are known to have lived. In addition to searching the IGI and Ancestral File, you might try Die Ahnenstammkartei des Deutsches Volkes pedigree collection. In the case of Scharff, there were 6 men and 7 women with that name recorded as married in reference 5 below. The marriage locations were Breslau, Guhrau, Oppeln and Reichenbach for the women and Breslau, Goldberg and Reichenbach for the men.

See also SILRL-981 for January/February 1998 entries

Research Aids and Suggestions:

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
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

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