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THE
ULRICHS
OF
FUERSTENTUM WALDECK
(Waldeck,
Hessen, Germany)
A DYNAMIC FAMILY HISTORY THAT BEGAN CENTURIES AGO IN THE SMALL GERMAN PRINCIPALITY OF WALDECK
By:
Fred W. Billerbeck, Ph.D.
With
Ruth U. Grommeck & Pat Hohman & LeAnn Peterson
(Descendents of
Georg Ulrich, born before 1600 – died 1634)
Published in the fall of 2004, this first edition carries an ISBN of 0-944619-74-6 and is a 8½x11" hardbound book. This work contains 512 pages and includes photographs, maps, sketches, appendix, references, and both an historical and Ulrich genealogy indexes.
This beautifully bound volume has been manufactured to stand the test of time utilizing the American Library Association (ALA) Certified Library Oversewn method to assure this book will be with your family for generations to come. The limited first edition carries many of the marks of a showpiece as it has decorative spine bars, and is rounded and backed with a rich black material and is stamped in old gold foil (both front and spine). Additionally, this special first collector's edition carries the author's hallmark on the front cover. Subsequent orders/printings, while maintaining the high standard for durability, will not be such a deluxe production. The regular retail price is $75.00. Gregath Publishing Company's standard shipping and handling of $9.00 for the first book and $2.00 for each additional book or title in the order is in effect.
This volume is the first of five volumes concerned with Dr. Billerbeck's family linage to be issued within the next few years.
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Preface
Waldeck in German means “the corner of the woods.” The area occupied by the former principality of Waldeck, even at this time, is a beautiful wooded region to which Germans and other Europeans come to vacation because of its beautiful woods, lakes, rivers, streams and spas. Waldeck remains a rural area little touched by industry and modernization with quaint castles and wonderful museums. Certainly, it has changed somewhat since our ancestors immigrated to America, but it is certain that they would still find much that is unchanged since their departure. It was through this wooded region that the Saxons lived and worshipped their pagan gods until defeated by Charlemagne and subsequently Christianized. In Waldeck one will still find half timbered houses on narrow streets, storied castles, water mills, old churches and much more that will take them back to a time that is now nearly lost and forgotten.
The wonder of genealogy is the unknown family linkages and accumulated stories contained in one’s here-to-fore unfathomed and opaque inverted pyramidal family tree, a top which the researcher stands in the beginning of his or her journey. It is through persistent investigative work that often reveals unique personalities and events that may confirm one’s own place in time within the fabric of human history that may have been only dimly sensed at an earlier date. So, it was with the author’s own investigative work into his family history that was at first seen only dimly and with great uncertainty, if at all. With only meager clues and tenacious research over a long period of time was it possible to reveal a linkage to the Ulrich family of Frebershausen in the Principality of Waldeck, whose known roots first began in the 1500’s.
The earliest known Ulrich was “Georg,” a man whose story is clouded and whose parentage is uncertain. Continuing research may eventually reveal and confirm certain facts that likely will set the stage for connecting the Ulrich family to other lines of possible historical importance. What information has been acquired thus far concerning George is only unsubstantiated family tradition. This is the promise and allure of genealogy and the reason that true researchers are driven as they are. As in science, truth is the goal! It is as though there were a light at the end of a tunnel that attracts; however, that light seems always to recede as one approaches and it offers ever more intriguing promises of further knowledge that pulls the genealogical researcher always onward toward the light.
For the writer, who is a direct descendent of Maria Magdalena Ulrich, he has learned about our forebears and of their achievements. Maria Magdalena was the tenth of the ten (10) children in the Adam Ulrich and Catherina Freytag family. It was primarily from this specific family unit of brothers and sisters that so much has been achieved in both Germany and the United States. This family was notable for its generosity to the poor and its service to the community of Frebershausen; the Duelfershof’s dairy operations, development and evolution; the operation of water mills on the upper and lower Wese, the emigration of family members to the United States and so much more.
The Ulrich family seat in Waldeck was and still is the small village of Frebershausen, Waldeck (Hessen), Germany. This family has served the village faithfully for generations since the1640s when the first known ancestor was recorded. Undoubtedly, many relatives still reside in the general area for this family was extensive in the general locale. Family members were eventually to immigrate to the United States at various times during the 1800 and 1900s. Ulrich family immigrants originally settled throughout Midwestern areas, in such varied places as: St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Chicago, Illinois; Wisconsin, Minnesota; Michigan; Nebraska, the Dakotas and several other states. Some settled in the East in Pennsylvania and New Rochelle, New York. Now, after over one hundred years in America, Ulrich family members are broadly scattered throughout the United States. Whether the Ulrich family can be found in other parts of the World is not known, but it is probably certain!
Because this region contains the Eder River and its tributaries, it eventually became important as a source of electrical power and as a consequence in the early 1900’s this river was impounded for the building of the famous high dam that created the Eder See. This dam provided the electrical power for the industrial Ruhr region and beyond. During World War II, the Eder dam became the most important target for the famous “British Dam Busters,” who broke it in the course of a daring night bomber attack and were thus able to flood the river valley and to knock out some of Germany’s industrial capacity.
It was because of Waldeck’s water resources that the Ulrich family members were able to develop business opportunities for themselves and for others. Most important for the family was the Wesebach that ultimately flows into the Eder River. On the Wesebach, the Ulrich family built the Upper Mill and eventually acquired the Lower Mill, too. Other families linked with this Ulrich line have also operated mills throughout Waldeck. But, it was in and around Frebershausen, on the Wesebach, where the Ulrich family loci were and from which the family extended its interests and activities and from where they were able to make significant impacts on local religion, village management, estate management and industrial development. One cannot think about Frebershausen without an Ulrich linkage. This linkage has extended to other Fuerstentum Waldeck villages; such as: Mandern, Kleinern, Gellershausen, etc.
The genealogical researcher is never satisfied with his/her findings and drives for more and more information as his/her insatiable appetite grows with each and every revelation. At times, he/she must assemble the gathered knowledge and commit it to a formal written document to be shared with others, but the researcher will always work on and will likely add to, refine and develop the work by incorporating stories that will fill out and give life to what is known. This could eventually lead to an improved genealogical publication or even an historically significant novel that may be highly instructive. The real reward for this research effort is the satisfaction achieved in simply “knowing” somewhat more after the chase, even though the story may still be incomplete.
In the opinion of the author, it is important to possess an understanding of Germany’s history if one is to truly appreciate the periodic upsetting social conditions from 800 until the emigration of our ancestors in the late 1800’s. This time span included wars, revolutions, religious strife and economic upheavals that brought about various changes in the lives of Waldeck’s people. These changes and ever evolving social conditions have shaped German lives until an opportunity presented itself for these people to affect a positive alteration in their condition of life by voting with their feet. This form of change came about through the dramatic step of emigration to America. This action presented people with a wholly new future filled with great opportunities that they themselves might master and which would ultimately beneficially impact upon the lives of their children and their descendants. This, then, is a story of struggle, survival, change and achievement.
This book, The Ulrichs of Frebershausen, is the collaborative work of four (4) direct descendants of this family line from four (4) different areas of the United States. None of these very distant relatives have ever known each other previously or have even met each other even at this point in time. However, all of their work and coordination was done by telephone, mail service, FAX or by means of the Internet. Even after about three (3) to four (4) years of effort, this work may not be entirely complete, but it will certainly establish a foundation for others interested in doing further family research and story development. This work is divided into two (2) parts or books in order to present this comprehensive story. Until additional information becomes available and is reported upon, this volume should serve as the Ulrich’s family story and genealogical report. So, the following text is the fascinating historical story of the Ulrich family of Frebershausen, as it is now known.
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Author Introduction
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
Part I - Historical Perspective
Chapter One: Medieval Germany, 476 - 1450
Holy Roman Empire
Charlemagne (King Karl der Grosse) and Widukind (Saxon Defeat, 772 -804)
Christianization of the Hesse-Waldeck Region
The German Evangelical Church
The Palatinate (German Pfalz)
A Duchy or Principality
Early German Development
Hesse (Hessen), The State
Fuerstentum Waldeck (The Principality of Waldeck)
Chapter Two: Topography, Villages and Waldeck Professional Coat of Arms
The Edertal
Valley of the Wese
Kellerwald – Bad Wildungen
Bad Wildungen
Bringhausen
Frebershausen
Gellershausen
Kleinern
Mandern
Mehlen
Waldeck
Waldeck Professional Coat-of-Arms
Billerbeck
Ulrich I
Ulrich II
Chapter Three: Wars, Revolutions and Economic Depression
The Thirty Years War, 1618 – 1648
The Seven Years War, 1756 – 1763
The American Revolutionary War, 1775 – 1783
Hessian Troops
The Waldeck Regiment in the Revolutionary War
Known Revolutionary War Veterans of the Ulrich Family
Johannes Ulrich
Johann Peter Ulrich
Lorenz Ulrich
Johann Christian Billerbeck
Revolution of 1848 – 1849
Franco-Prussian War, 1870 – 1871
Economic Depression – 1873 –1880
Chapter Four: The Ulrich Family
The Ulrich Family of Frebershausen, Waldeck
The Duelfershof
Upper Mill (Die Obermuehle)
The Lower Mill (Die Untermuehle)
Louis Ulrich
Chapter Five: Emigration
Waldeck’s Economic Condition Prior to 1900
Emigration from Germany
Fuerstentum Waldeck Immigration Pass
Immigrant Services
Shipping Companies and Ships
North German Lloyd (Norddeutcher Lloyd) – 1858 to 1939
Red Star Line
Passage to “Amerika”
Ulrich Family and Relative’s Immigration to “Amerika” from Europe
Immigrant Ships of Passage
S.S. America / Orazio, built 1862
S.S. Berlin, built 1900
S.S. Canopic, built 1900
S.S. Cleveland, built 1908
S.S. Elbe, built 1881
S.S. Friedrich Der Grosse / Huron / City of Honolulu, built 1896
S.S. Fulda, built 1882
S.S. Hohenstaufen, built 1874
S.S. Lahn, built 1882
S.S. Main, built1868
S.S. Oder, built 1866
S.S. Rhynland, built 1879
S.S. Salier, built 1874
S.S. Trave, built 1886
S.S. Werra, built 1882
S.S. Weser, built 1867
S.S. Westerland, built 1883
Castle Garden and Ellis Island
Citizenship and Naturalization
Chapter Six: Immigrant Ancestor’s Stories
Adolf Jakob Ulrich of Mandern, Fuerstentum Waldeck
George Heinrich ‘Henry’ Ludwig Billerbeck Family of Kleinern, Fuerstentum Waldeck
Johann Daniel Ulrich and Family of Frebershausen, Fuerstentum Waldeck
Marie (Mary) Caroline Hermine Billerbeck (Madaus)
Wilhelm August Kurtze of Frebershausen, Fuerstentum Waldeck
St. Matthew Cemetery, St. Louis, MO, pictures
Appendix
Part II - Ulrich Genealogy
Information
How to Trace Your Lineage
Descendant of Georg Ulrich:
Generation One
Generation Two
Generation Three
Generation Four
Generation Five
Generation Six
Generation Seven
Generation Eight
Generation Nine
Generation Ten
Generation Eleven
Generation Twelve
Generation Thirteen
Human Genetics and Genealogy
References
Part I – Historical Perspective Index
Part II – Ulrich Genealogy Index
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All book excerpts carry the original book Copyright - reprinted here with permission.
© Fred W. Billerbeck, Ph.D.
Page Last Updated: May 05, 2008
