A “Feel Good” Genealogy Experience

The German Interest Group (GIG) of the San Diego Genealogical Society joined the newly formed German American Genealogical Partnership (GAGP) organization about a year ago.  I agreed to be the GIG’s representative to the GAGP.  The purpose of the organization is to facilitate the exchange of information, resources, and research assistance regarding German/American Ancestors, both internationally and within the United States.  The first major event for the organization will be a four day conference, July 8-12, 2017 in Minneapolis. 

We are still in the process of establishing the processes for sharing information and requesting assistance from other members of GAGP; but a couple of “informal” requests have already emerged from within the organizing participants.  On 24 August a “First German Request” was initiated by the President of a German Umbrella Organization of over 60 German Genealogical Societies in Germany, Dirk Weissleder.  It was from one of his board members who was seeking help finding information about her ancestors who came to America around 1881.  She had some information about the family; but had a lot of questions about what happened to them once they arrived in New York.  She also believed the father and mother arrived at separate times.    

The Board Member, Heidi Eidmann, provided some basic information about what I think were her great-great grandparents and her great grandmother (she didn’t state their relationship).  Since I had initiated an earlier request to the German organization, I felt it only fair that I try and do some research as a “pay back” for their efforts to answer my query. 

I began by trying to trace the father, Gustav Eidmann.  According to Heidi, he had arrived in New York in August 1881.  Of course, I couldn’t check the 1890 Census because it was almost totally destroyed by fire.  I searched both the 1900 and 1910 Census with negative results.  Therefore, I decided to focus on his wife, Hulda Lindenbeck Eidmann.  Heidi didn’t know when Hulda arrived in America; but thought it was between 1881 and 1884.  According to Heidi, Gustav and Hulda’s first 5 children were born in Elberfeld, Germany; but the 6^th child, Hulda Auguste Julia Eidmann (whom I believe was Heidi’s Great Grandmother) was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in September 1884. 

I tried to find Hulda in the 1900 Census, again with negative results.  I also tried finding both she and Gustav in the Castle Garden Immigration records.  Again, I had negative results.  Then I decided to search the Ancestry.com “Immigration and Travel” data base.  In filling out the search template, I guessed she was born in 1848 plus or minus 2 years, because Gustav was born in 1846.  The search revealed 20 candidates; but none looked to me like a match.  I then adjusted the age to plus or minus 5 years and, not surprisingly, it increased the potential candidates to 53.  However, the 2^nd person on the list was Hulda Heidmann.  Eidmann and Heidmann would be pronounced almost the same.  The ship arrived on 12 Oct 1883 and Heidi thought she arrived between 1881 and 1884.  Her birth date was listed as “abt 1851”.  Gustav was born in 1846 and the first child was born in 1873—everything still looks very logical.  She was German and the ship departed from Antwerp, Belgium—still tracking good.  Her destination was Eric (most likely Erie—confirmed by looking at the original passenger list), Pennsylvania.  BINGO!!  According to the information provided by Heidi; her Great Grandmother, Hulda Auguste Julia Eidmann, was born in September 1884 in Erie, Pennsylvania.  I was now convinced that Hulda Heidmann and Hulda Eidmann were one in the same.  Confirming this conclusion was the fact that in looking at the Passenger List, Hulda was accompanied by her three other children, Gustav, Friedrich, and Albert (the other two had died prior to her leaving Germany). 

I immediately emailed my findings to Dirk and the other (over 40) addressees on his original message requesting assistance for Heidi.  To my surprise, I received an almost immediate response from him at 12:30 AM his time in Germany; thanking me for the information.  The next morning I had another email from Heidi agreeing with my findings and thanking me very much for filling in the blanks of one of her unknowns as to when and how Hulda and the children arrived in America.  A few hours later another of the U.S. addressees had informed Heidi how she might find additional information in Erie church records about her ancestors. 

I am sure there will be much more information forthcoming from Heidi’s request for assistance—a very promising testament to the great potential of the GAGP organization and the value of genealogical collaboration.

This experience provided me with not only a great sense of satisfaction for being able to find the information; but for having been able to assist a fellow genealogist.  It was truly a rewarding, “feel good” experience.