BODENSTEIN
Letter writing proved very fruitful when I wrote to the Lutheran Church in
Braunschweig, Germany. The reply arrived six months later with two
additional generations listed for Johanna and Bertha's family. I was
overwhelmed when I read the name of my great great grandfather and the names of
his parents.
Johanna Christine Justine Bodenstein
Joanna Christine Justine Bodenstein boarded the ship "Kepler" in
Hamburg at 18 years of age and landed in New York on 20 Jun 1863 alone. I
believe her marriage was prearranged because she and Charles Gustave Spormann
married two weeks later on 4 July 1863 in Sterling, Whiteside, Illinois.
Johanna is listed in the "Auswandererlisten Des Ehemaligen Herzogtums
Braunschweig, 1846-1871," pg. 216:
Bodenstein, Johanna Christine Justine, born Hasselfelde
(Harz) 4 Dec 1844,
daughter of tilers/glaser/roofer of slate roofs Johann Matthias David Bodenstein
and Johanna Christiane Steinmetz. Left for America 1863.
Bertha Henriette Luise Bodenstein
Bertha is listed in the "Auswandererlisten Des Ehemaligen Herzogtums
Braunschweig, 1846-1871," pg. 216:
Bodenstein, Bertha Henriette Luise, born 2 Sep 1853, daughter of tilers/glaser/roofer
of slate roofs Johann Matthias David Bodenstein and Johanna Christiane
Steinmetz. Left for America 1874.
Bertha married Charles Conrad Barth 3 Oct 1875 in Clinton, Clinton,
Iowa. Shortley after the birth of their first child, they moved to San
Francisco, California. I believe she stayed with her sister and brother-in-law until her
marriage.
Johann Matthias David Bodenstein
Their father, Johann Matthias David Bodenstein, left Germany for America in
1874. I have no idea what happened to him and wonder if he died during the
journey here.
He is listed in the "Auswandererlisten Des Ehemaligen Herzogtums
Braunschweig, 1846-1871," pg. 216:
Bodenstein, Johann Matthias David,
tiler/slater of roofs,
son of Johann Friedrich Christian Bodenstein and Christiane Elisabeth Fessel.
Left for America 1874.
I have no other information.
No mention of him
has been found in the U.S. He may have either died during his
journey here or remarried and settled somewhere in the U.S.
E-mails Welcome!
Address found on Home page
The information contained
herein is being made available for the purpose of furthering genealogical
information and is not to be sold or reproduced to be sold in any form,
electronic or otherwise.
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by Patricia
J. Dunne
All rights reserved
This page was last updated 07/10/05
Return to Top of Page
