Wilhelm HILGÄRTNER

                   Londorf (Climbach) Geburts Protocoll  (Birth and Baptism)
Microfilm #1201525
Geburts Protocol 1858-1867
1852, No. 36, page 38

Born about nine in the evening of 7 April 1852, the third child, second son. Taufpathen: Johannes Römer IV, citizen and farmer of Allertshausen. Pfarrer Wilhelm Kayser.
                  

                   1895 Iowa State Census of Des Moines Co, Burlington Twnshp:
Dwelling 4850 (On Hunt Road)
William Hillgardner, age 40, born Germany, Farmer, Lutheran, subject to military duty, entitled to vote at general elections
Louisa Hillgardner, age 32, born Germany, keeping house, Lutheran
Elisebeth Hillgarner, age 10, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Maria Hillgarner, age 9, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Charles Hillgardner, age 3, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Laura Hillgardner, age 5, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Bertha Hillgardner, age 1, born Des Moines Co, Iowa

From: guenther.hilgartner@deinf.mail.abb.com
To: lhilgert@amwaw.edu.pl
cc: mwhil@earthlink.net
Subject: Hilgartner

Hello Hildegartis

I got a call from my sister and she got a letter from Polen regarding Hilgartner.

Let me give you in a summary my knowledge of the of the name and of the history of my family.

At the time I am the oldest within our family tree. My family comes from Bavaria. That means in generally South Germany or Austria or today a part of Czechslovakia.

150 years ago  a part of Austria, a part of Bavaria and a part of Czechslovakia (Böhmerwald) was united under Bavaria. My family came exactly from Gansau in the Böhmerwald (today a part of Czechslovakia) and had to left this part of Bavaria after the 2nd war when the Russian Army occupied this area.

My father Johann (* 1909)   was
the oldest son from Johann (* 1882) and we was
the oldest son from Martin and he was
the oldest son from Math us and he was
the oldest son from Johann (* 1760).

Since 1920 one part of our family is living  in Austria and the tree is living in Bavaria. Our family has very good connections to Austria.

I left Bavaria 10 years ago and have a nice house in Rheinland Pfalz (wine area), which was 100 years ago also a part of Bavaria.

What we don`t know is where did Johann`s father come:
Did he come from South Tirol (before 1918 a part from Austria and today Italy) or did he come from Hessen near Darmstadt in Germany?

(The family of Robert Hilgartner in the US was located near Darmstadt. I wrote Robert by e-mail many times but I am without any answer. Do you know Robert ? In the US there are more than 200 Hilgartner).

That`s in a short way  the history of my family.
_____________________________________________________________
Let me give you some information about the name of Hilgartner without my family.

Generally  the family names were born in 1200 an comes from the Germanic word HILDEGARD which means: Sch tzerin des Kampfes (the security patron for the fight).

Since 1200 you can find names like:

1279      Henricus maritus Hildegardis
1322      Heinrich Hildegard der Alte
1298      Henricus filius Henrici Hildegartis
1334      Ludwig Hildegerter
1368      Henrich Hillgerter
1514      Hennchen Hildegarth
1579      Adam Hilgartt

and similar

1640
Johann Hilgartner from Kesselbach in Hessen

other names today are Hildengart, Hilgarten, Hilg rtner, Hillgartner, Hillgärtner

I have much more information regarding the name. What I am missing is the history of my familiy before  1700 What I am also missing are the names of the brothers Martin and Matthaus and where did they go.

I am willing to share all the information with you.

I hope to hear something from you.

Best regards,

Günther Hilgartner *1940 in Gansau Böhmerwald (today Czechslovakia)


He died in the home of his daughter, Luise Krekel, at 12129 Augusta Road, Union Township, Burlington, IA.

Burlington Hawk-Eye, 16 Nov 1929
75-Year-Old Farmer Dies After Long Illness, Funeral Sunday 2 P.M.

William Hillgartner, 75, Des Moines county farmer, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. G. Krekel, two miles west of town on the lower Augusta road, yesterday morning. He had been in poor health for several years.

Mr. Hillgartner was born in Kasselbauck, Germany, October 20, 1854, and came here from Germany 46 years ago. He was married to Miss Louise Roemer November 5, 1883.

He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. A. G. Krekel and Mrs. William Whorton, both of Burlington, and Mrs. A. B. Jackson of Omaha, Neb.; one son, Carl Hillgartner of Burlington, and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 P.M. from the home of his daughter, Mrs. Krekel. Interment will be in Porter cemetery.


Londorf (Climbach) Geburts Protocoll  (Birth and Baptism)
Microfilm #1201525
Geburts Protocol 1858-1867
1854, No. 114, page 403 - Wilhelm Hillgärtner
In the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred fifty-four, born on the twentieth of October around two o'clock in the morning, after credible notification presented here (or "after proper banns"- nach geschehener glaubhafter Anzeige), in Beuern to the Church Office in Londorf (Pfarrai Londorf, Wilhelm Hillgärtner, Citizen (Ortsbürger) and stonemason (Maurer) in Kesselbach, with his legal wife (Ehefrau) Philippina neé Grieb, the first child, a son, was born, and on the twenty-ninth of October was baptized and given the name
Wilhelm
Witnesses/Sponsors:
1) Wilhelm Römer, (son) of the young Heinrich Römer, Citizen and farmer (Ackermann) of Allertshausen, Kesselbach
2) Margaretha Hillgärtner, (daughter) of Caspar Hillgärtner, Citizen and farmer of Allertshausen, with his wife Elisabeth neé Schäfer ...following the Protocoll with the father and me, the pastor (Pfarrer), have signed our names.

(Kesselbach is a village about two miles east of Climbach. Allertshausen is a village less than a mile southeast of Climbach.)


Wilhelm undoubtedly came to Burlington because he already knew of the area from cousins and others in the Londorf-Rabenau area whose kin had previously emigrated to Iowa. The 1890 Census shows his first cousin living in the Rock Spring area of Union Township:

House 160, Family 162 - Hillgardner, John. *Nov 1837 Germany; emigrated 1862.  Wife Lucinda, *Feb 1838 Iowa. Children - Edwin L, * Feb 1873; Clara L., *Nov 1875.

Others from the Londorf-Rabenau region already in Des Moines County were:

The History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, Etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.

Hillgartner, Wm.
far., S. 6; P.O. Burlington
Mr. Hillgartner is a native of Germany, born in 1835; emigrated to the United States in 1855; settled in this county the same year. Married Miss Elizabeth Magel, of this township; she was born in 1840; were married in 1862; have seven children - Mary A., Lizzie M., Henry Edward, Charley Sibert, Katie Augusta, Clara Louisa and William Julius. Mr. H. Is Republican; members of the Evangelical Church; he owns 175 acres of land, well stocked and improved.

Microfilm 1195988
Londorf Kirchenbuch
Gebohrne im Jahre 1835
S. 642, Nr. 62
On 12 June 1835 at about midday four o'clock, to Johann Balthasar Hilgärtner,citizen and farmer in Kesselbach, and his wife Catharina geb. Strack of Weitershain, a son was born, the third child and second son, and on the 20th of the same month was baptized and given the name Wilhelm. Taufpathen: Wilhelm Strack, son of Johann Heinrich Strack of Weitershain, the mother's brother.

MAGEL, S.
far., S. 11; P. O. Burlington; an old resident of this county; native of Germany; born in 1812; emigrated to this country in 1835; same fall came to this county; the settlements at that time were few and far between; Burlington but a small village. Mr. M. married Miss Mary Lee; she was born in Germany; came to Burlington in 1834, where they were married; have ten children living: William, Elizabeth, Henry, Charles, Conrad, Peter, Mary, Margaret, Theodore and Benjamin. Members of the Lutheran Church; Mr. M. is a Democrat. Owns 165 acres of land and several thousand dollars' worth of city and other property; he has worked diligently and planned wisely for what he has gained, and in the success which has crowned his efforts he feels amply compensated for all his labors; he is social in nature and highly esteemed as a neighbor and citizen.

Mary Lee was probably Mary Lich. There are Lichs buried in Hunt's Cemetery, and Lichs living in Union Township today confirm that some of the early emigrants changed the name to "Lee" wich Americans could more easily pronounce. Lich is a common surname in the Londorf-Rabenau parish area.

Microfilm 1195988
Londorf Kirchenbuch
Gebohrne im Jahre 1812
S. 306, Nr. 3
On 5 January 1812 at about nine in the morning, to Siebert Magel, citizen and farmer of Gelshausen and his wife Catharina geb. ______, the fourth child, a son, the second son, and on the 8th of the same month was baptized and given the name Siebert. Taufpathen: 1. Seibert Magel, single legitimate son of Johannes Magel, citizen and farmer of Ruddingshausen; 2. Anna Maria Magelin, single legitimate daughter of juror Wilhelm Magel of Ruddingshausen.

Another Hilgärtner living in Union Township was:

House 148, Family 158 - Hillgardner, Caspar, *Sep 1847 Germany; emigrated 1870. Wife Mary, *Jun 1858 Iowa. Children - Ida B, *Jan 1886; Minnie, *Jan 1890.

National Archives Passenger Lists
FHC Microfilm 1027025
Ship S.S. Plantyn, Ship's Master Robert Scott
Antwerp to New York
Arr. 4 Aug 1882

Hillgartner, W., age 28, Germany, workman, Steerage

PLANTYN
The "Plantyn" was built in 1879 by A.Stephen & Sons, Glasgow for the Belgian company, Engels Line. She was a 2,328 gross ton ship, length 320.3ft x beam 36ft, straight stem, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. Launched on 17 Sept 1879, she left Glasgow on her maiden voyage to New York and Antwerp on 1 Oct 1879. On 27 Nov 1879 she commenced her first Antwerp - New York voyage for the Engels/White Cross Line joint service. Her last voyage from Antwerp to New York commenced 19 Oct 1883 and she was abandoned at sea while on passage from New York to Antwerp. Most of her passengers and crew were saved by the Jersey brigantine "G.D.T." and she sank the same day. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3, p.996]

According to the _New York Times_, the Belgian steamship PLANTYN, Capt. Scott, arrived at New York on 3 August 1882, from Antwerp 20 July 1882, with merchandise and passengers, to Funch, Edye & Co.

The steamship PLANTYN was built by A. Stephen & Sons, Glasgow, for the Engels Line, of Belgium, and was launched on 17 September 1879.  2,328 tons;  97,62 x 10,97 meters/320.3 x 36 feet (length x breadth); straight bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts;  iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 10 knots.

17 September 1879, maiden voyage, Glasgow-New York-Antwerp.  27 November 1879, first voyage, Antwerp-New York, in Engels Line-White Cross Line joint service.  19 October 1883, last voyage, Antwerp-New York.  6 December 1883, bound from New York for Antwerp, abandoned at sea with the loss of approximately 10 lives;  sank the same day [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. 2 (1978), pp. 821, 823, and 825;  vol. 3 (1979), pp. 995 and 996-997;  vol. 5  (1980), p. 1891].

William Hillgaertner and Luise Römer entered the United States through Castle Garden. More than a dozen forts were built to defend New York Harbor at the time of the War of 1812. The Southwest Battery was constructed on the rocks off the tip of Manhattan Island between 1808 and 1811.  Although fully armed and staffed, the fort never had occasion to fire upon an enemy. In 1817, the fort was renamed Castle Clinton in honor of DeWitt Clinton, Mayor of New York City.

The army vacated the fort in 1821 and the structure was deeded to New York City in 1823. In the summer of 1824, a new restaurant and entertainment center opened at the site, now called Castle Garden. A roof was added in the 1840s and Castle Garden served as an opera house and theater until 1854.

On 3 August 1855, Castle Garden, now leased to New York State, opened as an immigrant landing depot. During the next 34 years, over 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden, until it was closed on 18 April 1890.


1895 Iowa State Census of Des Moines Co, Union Twnshp:
Dwelling 4850 (On Hunt Road)
Willam Hillgardner, age 40, born Germany, Farmer, Lutheran, subject to military duty, entitled to vote at general elections
Louisa Hillgardner, age 32, born Germany, keeping house, Lutheran
Elisebeth Hillgarner, age 10, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Maria Hillgarner, age 9, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Charles Hillgardner, age 3, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Laura Hillgardner, age 5, born Des Moines Co, Iowa
Bertha Hillgardner, age 1, born Des Moines Co, Iowa