Wilhelm (William) ROEMER

                   William and Margareth lived on an 80 acre farm adjoining Henry's farm in section 18 of Brookfield Township. They retired and moved to Sebewaing in 1945. The farm is now owned by their son Edwin.


The Sebewaing family believes his birth date to be 31 March 1873. However, the birth/baptismal record is clear that the date is 29 March, in the evening about nine o'clock.


Climbach/Londorf Geburts Protocol 1858-1867
Microfilm #1201525
1873, No. 19, page 342 - Wilhelm Römer
Wilhelm Römer, born 29 Mar 1873 in the evening about nine one o'clock, the son of Heinrich Römer the second, Citizen and farmer of Climbach, and his wife Katharina neé Conrad; the fourth child and third son. Baptized on 19 April 1873. Witness/Sponsor is Balthaser Römer, Citizen and farmer of Climbach. Signatures below are of Heinrich Römer II, Balthaser Römer, and the Pfarrer.

This record is of special importance. The Balthaser Römer who was Witness/Sponsor for the baptism of Wilhelm Römer was the patriarch of the Iowa line of Roemers. This record establishes a personal link between the families. The signature of Balthaser Römer on the baptismal record of this Wilhelm Römer is, to the naked eye and especially under a magnifying glass, identical to the signature of Balthaser Römer on the marriage record of the patriarch of the Iowa clan.


He  came with Balthasar Schnepp and his family on the ship WERRA, Bremen and Southhampton to New York, arriving 13 May 1890.

Germans to America
Vol.59, pp. 39-42 Ship's List
Ship WERRA, Bremen and Southampton to New York, arr. 13 May 1890
page 40, passengers 151-160:

SCHNEPP, Balthasar   40   M  Farmer
                    , Maria         35   W
                    , Maria         10   F   Child
                    , Cath.           7   F   Child
                    , Heinr.          5   M  Child
                    , Marg.          3   F   Child
                    , Wilhelm      1   M  Child
                    , Philipp      .01  M  Infant
ROEMER , Wilh.          17   M  Joiner
                   , Marg.         25   F  Unknown

WERRA
The "Werra" was a 4817 gross ton vessel, built in 1882 by John Elder & Co, Glasgow for Norddeutscher Lloyd [North German Lloyd]. Her details were - length 433.1ft x beam 45.9ft, two funnels, four masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 16 knots. There was accommodation for 125-1st, 130-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers. Launched on 4 July 1882, she sailed from Bremen on her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York on 12 Dec 1882. On 9 Nov 1891 she commenced her last voyage on this service and on 4 Jan 1892 was transferred to the Genoa - New York run. Started her last voyage on this service on 10 Nov 1898 and was then chartered to the Spanish company, Cie Transatlantica who used her to repatriate Spanish troops. On 24 Sep 1899 she started the Bremen - Southampton - New York - Naples - Genoa service until commencing her last voyage on 28 Aug 1901, and in September of that year, she was scrapped at Genoa. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor]