Johann Balser (Balthasar) RÖMER

                   Londorf (Climbach)
Microfilm #1201531
Sterb Protocoll (Death)  1872-1875
1875, No. 21, page 144 - Katharine Römer
Katharine Römer died 15 Aug 1875 about four in the afternoon, daughter of Balthaser Römer, citizen and farmer of Climbach, and his wife Barbara neé Weller, age 16 years, 3 months, and 26 days (born 9 April 1859). Buried 15 Aug 1875 about five in the afternoon in the presence of Christian Deiß , teacher in Climbach, and Heinrich Rabenau III, church elder in Londorf.


Londorf (Climbach) Geburts Protocoll  (Birth and Baptism)
Microfilm #1201525
Geburts Protocol 1858-1867

1859, No. 51,  page 187 - Catharina Weller Römer (Iowa)
Catharina, Tochter des Barbara, Conrad Wellers Tochter, geboren 9 Apr um elf Uhr, getauft 27 Apr. Zeugen: Johannes Schnepp, Catharina . Sterb 5 August 1875, cf. Sterben 144. She was born "unehelich," or "illegitimate," a year before Barbara and Balthaser Römer were married.

Barbara was not married when Catharina was born at around 11 o'clock in the morning of 9 April 1859 and baptized on 27 April 1859. Catharina is listed as an illegitimate (unehelich) daughter of Barbara, who is identified only as the daughter öf Conrad Weller, Citizen and carpet merchant (Teppichhändler) of Climbach, and his late wife Maria née Kahr. Baptismal sponsors were Balthaser Weller, Barbara's brother and Conrad's unmarried son; Catharina Backhaus, daughter of Friedrich Backhaus II and his legitimate wife Friedrika née Nein; and Maria Schnepp, unmarried daughter of Johannes Schnepp III. Signatures on the record are those of the baptismal sponsors: Balthaser Weller, Catharina Backhaus and Maria Schnepp. The Pfarrer (minister) of record was Moritz Ocher. At a later time the surname "Römer" has been written in another hand after Catharina's baptismal name, and under that "Balthaser Römer." Under this is a long "Nota," or note, entered by Pfarrer Moritz Ocher, which says that when Catharina was a year old, on 19 February 1860, Balthaser Römer (son of Jacob Römer, farmer (Ackermann) from Climbach, and his legitimate wife Christina née Commelin) and Barbara Weller who on the 9th of April 1859 gave birth to Catharina, became Catharina's legitimate parents.


Londorf (Climbach)
Confirmanden Register (Confirmation) 1808-1875
Microfilm #1201531
1873, p. 114, Allertshausen - Balthasar Wilhelm Römer, 16 Dec 1859, Johannes V
                  

                   Evangelische St. Lucas Gemeinde, Burlington, Ia
Kirchenbuch II, 332
Hillgärtner, Louise geb. Römer. Died 12 Sep, buried 17 Sep in Porter's Cemetery (Hunts). Age 51-4-4. Ps 39,8. (There is no record of their grave in Porter's Cemetery.)

Burlington Hawk-Eye 16 Sept 1913

Mrs.Wm. Hillgaertner

Mrs. Louise Hillgaertner passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. B. Jackson, No. 523 South Tenth Street, after an illness of nine months, Monday morning. Louise Roemer was born in Germany May 9, 1862, and had long been a resident of this county, the husband being one of the progressive, successful farmers of Flint River Township (sic: this is wrong, as they lived on Hunt Road in Union Township. Another William Hillgaertner, not closely related, farmed in Flint River Township.). The good woman was held in the highest esteem by a wide circle of friends in the city and the county. She is survived by the husband, William Hillgaertner, and the following children: Mrs. A. B. Jackson, of this city; Mrs. A. G. Krekel, of Fairmount, Neb.; Miss Bertha and Carl and John Hillgaertner, at home; also three sisters, Mrs. Fred Scheihing and Mrs. Carl Scheihing, of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Henry Westphalen, of Scribner, Neb.

The funeral will take place from the A. B. Jackson home, No. 523 South Tenth street, at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. The Rev. Carl Schieb of the St. Lucas Church, will officiate and friends are invited to these services.


Reportedly buried in this cemetery, though there is no trace of the grave.


Londorf (Climbach) Geburts Protocoll  (Birth and Baptism)
Microfilm #1201525
Geburts Protocol 1858-1867
1862, No. 20, page 426 - Luisa Römer
In the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred sixty two, on the ninth of May in the evening around eight o'clock, after credible notification presented here (or "after proper banns"- nach geschehener glaubhafter Anzeige) in Climbach, a branch (filial, affiliated church/chapel) belonging to the (combined, joint) parish here, of Balthaser Römer, Citizen(Ortsbürger) and farmer (Ackermann), himself with his legal wife (Ehefrau) Barbara neé Weller, the second child, the second daughter was born, and was baptized the eighteenth of the same month and given the name
Luisa
Witnesses/Sponsors:
1) Wilhelm Heuß, (son) of Jacob Heuß, Citizen and farmer of Beuern in County (Kreis) Giessen, legitimate unmarried son; and
2) Katharina Weller, (daughter) of Balthaser Weller, Citizen of Wieseck and forester (Flurschützer) of Badenburg by Giessen, legitimate unmarried daughter, following the Protocoll the father of the child and I, the pastor (Pfarrer), have signed our names.


In the 1900 Census of Union Township, Des Moines Co,  18 Jun 1900, Sheet 74-23-9A (341).William Hillgardner and his wife Louise are living in House No. 178, Family No. 188 in the ennumeration. In this record the date of emigration for both William and Louise is 1882.

Germans to America, Vol. 43
May 1882 - August 1882

National Archives Passenger Lists
FHC Microfilm 1027022
Ship W A Scholten (Master's name illegible)
Rotterdam to New York
Arr: 3 Jun 1882

Römer, Anna, age 24, Germany, Steerage

W. A. SCHOLTEN
The steamship W. A. SCHOLTEN was built by Robert Napier & Sons, Glasgow, for Nederlandsche-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij (Holland America Line) and launched on 16 February 1874. 2,529 tons; 106,98 x 11,64 meters/351 x 38.2 feet (length x breadth); clipper bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 10 knots; accommodation for 50 1st-class passengers, and 600 in steerage. 16 May 1874, maiden voyage, Rotterdam-Plymouth-New York. 18 November 1887, sailed from Rotterdam; 19 November 1887, sunk in collision with the British steamship ROSA MARY in the English Channel, with the loss of 132 lives [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 3 (1979), p. 909 (pictured on p. 886).

According to Nathaniel Anderson of Burlington, Iowa, Wilhelm's and Louisa's great-great-grandson, the family tradition is that Wilhelm Hillgärtner and Louisa Römer left  Climbach in 1872 because they were in love, wanted to get married, and his father Wilhelm Hilgärtner, a prosperous stonemason of Kesselbach, disapproved of Wilhelm marrying Louisa, who was from a poor Römer family in Climbach. So they got some money together and separately left for America, headed for Iowa where Wilhelm already had relatives living and farming  amidst a sizeable Londorf-Rabenau emigrant colony in Union Township.

Among these, Wilhelm's first cousin Johannes (John G.) Hillgärtner was already there, having emigrated 1 March 1858 from Paris. He was a successful farmer in the Rock Spring area of Union Township. He and his wives, Louisa and Lucinda Helmick (twins), are buried in Rock Spring Cemetery.
                  

                   In the Zion Burlington Church Register, her birth date is given as 1865.

However, in the Londorf/Climbach Geburts Protocoll No. 62, 1864 p. 595:
Elisabeth, Tochter von Balthasar Römer und Barbara geb. Weller, den dritte Kind geb. 8 Nov Morgens um ein Uhr, getauft 30 Nov. Zeuge: Elisabeth Betz, Heinrich Römer


Death year taken from Cemetery Records, Benton Township, Des Moines County, IA, Latty Church Cemetery, Sec. 31.


Londorf (Climbach) Geburts Protocoll  (Birth and Baptism)
Microfilm #1201525
Geburts Protocol 1858-1867
1864, No. 62, page 595 - Elisabeth Römer
In the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred sixty four, on the eighth of November in the morning around one o'clock, after credible notification presented here (or "after proper banns"- nach geschehener glaubhafter Anzeige) in Climbach, a branch (filial, affiliated church/chapel) belonging to the (combined, joint) parish here,of Balthaser Römer, Citizen(Ortsbürger) and innkeeper (Wirth), himself with his legal wife (Ehefrau) Barbara neé Weller, the third child, the third daughter was born, and was baptized the eighteenth of the same month and given the name
Elisabeth
Witnesses/Sponsors:
1) Elisabeth Betz, (daughter) of Jost Betz, Citizen and woodworker (Schreiner) of Climbach, legitimate unmarried daughter; and
2) Heinrich Römer, (son) of Johannes Römer the third, Citizen of Climbach and presently a golddigger in California (gegenwärtig Geldgräber in California), legitimate unmarried son, following the Protocoll with the father of the child and I, the pastor (Pfarrer), have signed our names.


Germans to America
V54, p. 61
Ship Aller, Bremen to New York
Arr. 5 Mar 1887
Roemer, Elisabetha    23    F
             , Cath.           15    F



FHC Film# 1027372
No. 230
SS Aller, Bremen to New York
H. Christoffer, Master
Arr. 5 Mar 1887

No.   Name                 Age  Sex  Calling  Country of Origin Destination  Space    Baggage
298  Elisabeth Römer  23     F      none     Germany U.S.A.         Steerage II        2 pieces
299   Catha     "         15     "        "             " "                   "

The ages correspond to those of Elisabetha and Eleanora in 1887. The record is also clear that they are travelling together, and have 2 pieces of baggage together. Since names were often variable and ship's lists not always precise. it is reasonable to conclude that this is the record of their emigration.
                  

                   She was a witness at the marriage of Elisabeth Roemer and Jacob Friedrich Scheihing, at which C. W. Scheihing was also a witness:

Evangelische St. Lucas Gemeinde
Kirchenbuch I, 211
1888, No. 10
Fried. Scheihing, gebürtig aus Wuertenberg, Deutschland, & Frl. Elis. Roemer, gebürtig aus Hessen, 30 Oct 1888 in Pfarrhause der Ev. St. Lukas Kirche zu Burlington, Iowa. Zeuge: Mr. C. W. Scheihing u. Frl. Elise Roemer.

She was a witness/Godparent for Maria Elisa Hillgaertner, daughter of Wilhelm Hillgaertner and Luisa nee Römer:

1889, page 128, No. 13
On 8 June Maria Elisa Hillgaertner was baptized. Born 2 Mar 1889, daughter of Wilhelm Hillgaertner and Luisa Römer. Sponsor: Miss Elise Römer.

She was a witness/Godparent (Pathen), along with her mother Barbara Römer, for Bertha Elisabeth Scheihing, daughter of Fritz Scheihing and Elisabetha nee Römer:

1891, page 139, No. 18
On 16 May Bertha Elisabeth Scheihing was baptized. Born 30 Jan 1891, daughter of Fritz Scheihing and Elisabeth geb. Römer. Sponsors: Barbara (Weller) Römer, Elisa Römer.

Church records of St. John's Lutheran Church, Ridgeley Twp, Dodge Co, NE:
Elise Roemer Westphalen, b. 15 Feb 1870, died 13 Jan 1937.

Nat Anderson, great-grandson of Luisa Römer Hillgärtner, relates the oral tradition that a daughter of Balthasar and Barbara Weller Römer moved to Scribner, NE, where she married Henry Westphalen. There were at least two children: a boy, Louis, and a girl, Martha. Louis is thought to have married a Burlington native, or at least the story was that he went to Burlington to get his bride to take back to Nebraska around 1910.

Like so many stories in family oral tradition, this one is partly correct, partly confused. Henry Westphalen's first wife, Barbara Römer, was a god-child of Barbara Weller Römer, as well as a niece of Balthasar Römer. When she died in 1889, Henry was left with three small children, ages 14 months through 4. It was a impossible situation for a farmer in those days. While it is speculation, it is not reasonable to think that Henry knew Barbara's god-mother in Burlington had a young, still unmarried daughter.

At the time, Elise was the only unmarried daughter of Balthasar and Barbara Weller Römer. Elise's younger sister, Eleanora, had married C. W. Scheihing in 1890. At 21, going on 22, Elise was on the verge of being an "old maid" in those days.


Probable place of birth: according to the record of her death and burial in St. John's Lutheran Church, Ridgley, Dodge Co, NE, she was born in Paris, France. La Villette, Paris, is the place where her younger sister, Eleonora, was confirmed in 1887, and where her Great-Grandfather Henri (Heinrich) Commelin was from.


St. John's Lutheran Church, Ridgley Twp, Dodge Co, NE:
Deaths 1937
Eliza Westphalen, born 15 Feb 1870 at Paris, France, died 13 Jan 1937. Buried 16 Jan 1937 at the Ridgeley Cemetery.


Plot 8D, in the same plot with Anna C. Westphalen, first born of Henry and Barbara (Betty) Roemer Westphalen.
Gravestone:
Elise Westphalen
15 Feb 1870 - 13 Jan 1937


Germans to America
V58, p. 202
Trave, Bremen and Southampton to New York
arr 18 Oct 1889
Roemer, Elise   22  F Occupation unknown

FHC Film #1027776
No. 1429
German Steamer Trave
W. Willigerod, Master
arr. 18 Oct 1889

Passengers taken on board at Bremen
Number      Name      Age   Sex    Occupation   Origin    Destination Date/Cause Death  Space                       Pieces of Baggage
No. 236  Elise Römer 22     F                          Germany U.S. 23-25                     Steerage II Cabin 3a   1

Although Elise was just 19 in 1889 when the Trave arrived in New York, not 22 as stated on the Ship's List, it was common for travelers to overstate their age. The issue more questionable is the "23-25" in the Date and Cause of Death column. What does it mean?
                  

                   In the record of her marriage to Carl Wilhelm Scheihing, her name is given as Eleonore Laura Roemer, 18 years old. Kirchenbuch, Ehe Register, 42.

Climbach is located near Gießen in the former Grandduchy of Hessen-Darmstadt. In an 1912 gazetteer (Mayers Orts- und Verkehrslexikon des Deutschen Reiches) is the following information: 242 inhabitants, 2 km south of  Allendorf an der Lumda, NE of Gießen. The church records from Climbach are kept with the records of Londorf.

Eleanor (or Eleonore) told of remembering her family's arrival in the port where they landed. None of them had ever seen a banana before, but, curious, they bought some from a street vendor. Eleanore told of trying to eat it without peeling, how terrible it tasted, how she thought how strange these Americans must be to eat such a thing.

Eleonore was also proud of her Hochdeutsch language, which she naturally acquired in Hessen-Darmstadt. She often made fun of her husband's Swäbisch, which was his native dialect from Untertürkheim.

Springerles

Each Christmas Eleanor and Charley and the children would make Springerles, a traditional Swäbisch Christmas cookie. It was a family undertaking, with the children taking turns beating the eggs and powdered sugar. Charley rolled the dough and pressed the designs, then cut the cookies. The children placed the cookies on pans to dry. Eleanor baked them the next morning.

The Springerle mold used was one brought to the USA by Charley's father, Johann Gottlieb Scheihing, when the family emigrated from Untertürkheim in 1869. It is used today by Ned and Mary Benson each Christmas.

Springerle means "little jumping horse," which was the original design pressed into the cookies.

Recipe:

4 eggs
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 Tbs. grated fresh lemon rind
4 cups sifted flour
½ tsp. baking powder
Lump of butter the size of a walnut

Beat the eggs and powdered sugar by hand for 30 minutes (or cheat and use an electric mixer for 15 minutes). Add flour, lemon rind and baking powder. Mix until the dough becomes heavy. Roll out on a floured board to 3/8" thickness. Lightly dust with flour to keep mold from sticking. Press Springerle mold into the dough. Then cut into shapes.

Lay cookies on anise seed sprinkled on a greased baking sheet and let dry out in a cool room overnight. Bake the next morning for 30 minutes at 300º F.

Keep in an airtight container to preserve freshness. Or if traditional, in a stone crock with a half apple for moisture and covered with a lid.

When they get hard as a rock, dunk in tea or coffee to soften. Yum


   Climbach is located near Gießen in the former Grandduchy of
Hessen-Darmstadt. In an 1912 gazetteer (Mayers Orts- und
Verkehrslexikon des Deutschen Reiches) is the following information:
242 inhabitants, 2 km south of  Allendorf an der Lumda, NE of Gießen.

Eleanore (or Eleanora) told of remembering her family's arrival in the
port of Philadelphia, where they landed. None of them had ever seen a
banana before, but, curious, they bought some from a street vendor.
Eleanore told of her trying to eat it without peeling, how terrible it
tasted, how she thought how strange these Americans must be to eat
such a thing.

Eleanore was also proud of her Hochdeutsch language, which she
naturally acquired in Hessen-Darmstadt. She often made fun of her
husband's Plattdeutsch, actually Swäbisch, which was his native tongue
from Untertürkheim.

Springerles

Each Christmas Eleanor and Charley and the children would make
Springerles, a traditional Swäbisch Christmas cookie. It was a family
undertaking, with the children taking turns beating the eggs and
powdered sugar. Charley rolled the dough and pressed the designs, then
cut the cookies. The children placed the cookies on pans to dry.
Eleanor baked them the next morning.

The Springerle mold used was one brought to the USA by Charley's
father, Johann Gottlieb Scheihing, when the family emigrated from
Untertürkheim in 1869. It is used today by Ned and Mary Benson each
Christmas.

Springerle means "little jumping horse," which was the original design
pressed into the cookies.

Recipe:

4 eggs
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 Tbs. grated fresh lemon rind
4 cups sifted flour
½ tsp. baking powder
Lump of butter the size of a walnut

Beat the eggs and powdered sugar by hand for 30 minutes (or cheat and
use an electric mixer for 15 minutes)
Add flour, lemon rind and baking powder. Mix until the dough becomes
heavy.
Roll out on a floured board to 3/8" thickness. Lightly dust with flour
to keep mold from sticking. Press Springerle mold into the dough. Then
cut into shapes.

Lay cookies on anise seed sprinkled on a greased baking sheet and let
dry out in a cool room overnight. Bake the next morning for 30 minutes
at 300º F.

Keep in an airtight container to preserve freshness. Or if
traditional, in a stone crock with a half apple for moisture and
covered with a lid.

When they get hard as a rock, dunk in tea or coffee to soften. Yum


In the Kirchenbuch of Deutsche Evangelische Zion Kirche in Burlington, IA, a middle name of "Laura" is listed once for Eleonore. However, her birth record has no middle name.

Eleonore believed her birthdate to be 17 February. However, the birth record in the Londorf/Climbach Geburts Protocoll is very clear that she was born on 19 February 1873.


Rites Held Today for Mrs. C. W. Scheihing

Mrs. C. W. Scheihing, 74, well known pioneer woman, died at her home five miles south of Guthrie Monday (March 16, 1947). She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Funeral Services were Thursday afternoon in the First Presbyterian CHurch with Rev. Guy George officiating, assisted by Dr. E. J. Hendrix.

Burial was in Seward cemetery  under the direction of Smith Funeral home.

Pall-bearers included C. J. Weinand, Fred Hirzel, Sr., John Gerhard, Mickey Weinand, Vance Luckinbill and Harry Kinney.

Mrs. Scheihing is survived by her husband, four sons, Henry W. Scheihing and Car. E. Scheihing, Gurhrie, Walter H. Scheihing, Ponca City, and Rudolph Scheihing, Shawnee; and four daughters, Mrs. Warren Elliott and Mrs. John Egelston, Guthrie, Mrs. Eleanor McKean, Oklahoma City, and Mrs. Vern K. Benson, Dallas, Tex.; and 18 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.


Londorf (Climbach) Geburts Protocoll  (Birth and Baptism)
Microfilm #1201525
Geburts Protocol 1858-1867
1873, No 12, page 335 - Eleonore Römer
In the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred seventy-three, on the nineteenth of February around one o'clock in the afternoon, after credible notification presented here (or "after proper banns"- nach geschehener glaubhafter Anzeige) in Climbach, a branch (filial, affiliated church/chapel) belonging to the (combined, joint) parish here, a legitimate female child (Filiale) born of Balthaser Römer, Citizen here (Ortsbürger) and farmer (Ackermann), himself with his legal wife (Eheliche) Barbara neé Weller, the fifth child, the fifth daughter, and was baptized on the second of March and given the name
Eleonore.
Witnesses/Sponsors:
1) Barbara Römer, legitimate unmarried daughter of the Citizen (Ortsbürger) and farmer (Ackermann) Johannes Römer the third of Climbach, a brother of the father
2) Christoph Römer, (son) of the Citizen (Ortsbürger) and farmer (Ackermann) Johannes Römer the second, legitimate unmarried son,  [a son of the Michigan clan's ancestor Johannes Römer II and Anna Barbara Hopp] following the Protocoll the father and I, the pastor (Pfarrer O. H. F. Eikhard), have signed our names.

Signatures: Balthasar Römer, Christoph Römer, Barbara Römer, O. H. F. Eikard


Germans to America
V54, p. 50
Ship Aller, Bremen to New York
Arr. 5 Mar 1887
Roemer, Elisabetha    23    F
                  , Cath.               15    F



FHC Film# 1027372
No. 230
SS Aller, Bremen to New York
H. Christoffer, Master
Arr. 5 Mar 1887

No.   Name                 Age  Sex  Calling  Country of Origin Destination  Space    Baggage
298  Elisabeth Römer  23     F      none     Germany U.S.A.         Steerage II        2 pieces
299   Catha     "               15     "           "             " "                   "

The ages correspond to those of Elisabetha and Eleanora in 1887. The record is also clear that they are travelling together, and have 2 pieces of baggage together. Since names were often variable and ship's lists not always precise. it is reasonable to conclude that this is the record of their emigration.

Arguing against this is the fact that Eleonora was confirmed in Paris in April 1887.