1890 SCHLODDER

Believed to immigrate at age 21, in 1890; Gottfried SCHLODDER was born 22 May, 1869, in DRACHHAUSEN. According to grandson, Don SCHWANKE, in 2005; on his grandfather's immigration:

 

“Grandpa seemed to remember most of his entire immigration experience, the day they arrived in the USA harbor. He would tell with such feeling, the fact that they were all so very happy to know the trip was over and that they were looking at the USA at last; that as an expression of their joy of arrival and getting off that ship, they all threw their eating utensils overboard! Then in a somber tone, he would explain that in their ignorance of the procedures, they found out later that they would not be allowed to disembark the vessel for another three days! He remembered the annoyance of eating food and drinking out of cupped hands for those days.”

 

He got a job as a migrant field worker. While following the corn pickers through Iowa, he met the daughter of a farmer.  They managed to fall in love and get married.  On October 27, 1892, at 23 years of age, Gottfried SCHLODDER married Caroline BUBNER; Oct 27 1892 in VIELE, IOWA, at the residence of her parents, John BUBNER and Louisa SCHULTZ, all previous resident of DRACHHAUSEN.

 

They moved to Kansas in 1895, living for 22 years NE of TOPEKA; then moving on to Whiting and Howard, KS.

 

Between June of 1893 and July of 1914, they had 10 children, John Jr., Fredrick, George, Dewey, Mabel, Edward, Albert, Bessie Mae, Grace, and Frank.

 

It appeared that when his son George died from the flu during the war, the money was spent on a farm which gave them a push in the right direction, He also benefited from the death of his 1/2 brother, Martin SCHLODDER, Jr., in Germany, in 1912.                                             

 

Gottfried Schlodder was the brother of Caroline Mehlow geb Schlodder who married to Matthias Mehlow of Drachhausen. Caroline and Matthias had 5 sons. Sons Christian and Friedrich stayed in Drachhausen with their families.  Matt, William and Henry MEHLOW went to live with their uncle Gottfried Schlodder in KANSAS when they came to the USA, before they proceeded to Iowa.                                                                                   

(Added July 8, 2006)