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Two Drachhausen first cousins,
Liese JURK (Jr.) and
Martin RIESE (born 22
Feb 1839), were married in Drachhausen on 22 May 1868. Their
mother’s were sisters, Liese
GOSCHMANN
JURK, b about 1820 and Anna
GOSCHMANN BARTELL, who was also known by the name of
RIESE, b. 27 Jun 1811. Thirteen days later the two newlyweds left
for America,
with 13 other Wends, with a final destination of
FORT MADISON, IOWA.
On the ship:
1)
Martin
RIESE, is listed as
Martin BARTELL, 29,
2)
and his
new bride is quickly Americanized to Louise
JURK BARTELL, 23
In the wedding record, the groom
was identified as a 29 year old single man and legitimate son
“Martin RIESE genant
BARTELL.” His father is
identified as “Christan
RIESE gen, BARTELL.” Genant means “also known as” or “having taken the name.”
One of the peculiarities of Wendish culture is that when a
family purchased a farm, or when a farm was passed down to a
female heir (who might marry and change her name), deeds
sometimes insisted that the purchasing or marrying male change
his surname to the name of the farm or the father-in-law. This
sometimes happened on the death of the parent. This custom,
still practiced in Drachhausen, creates a real challenge in
deciphering Wendish records!
In the groom’s birth record and
those of his 4 siblings; each is identified as the child of
Christian BARTELL.
In the last birth, of
son, Gottfried BARTELL
(in 1853); his father is identified as “Christian
BARTELL gen.
RIESE;” meaning he
has now taken the name of
RIESE. It is likely that a land transfer has forced
Christian to change his name and it is also possible his mother
was a RIESE. Of the
siblings, Gottfried
and Martin adopted the
BARTELL name as adults;
Liese and Christian kept the name
RIESE.
Martin and Louise
BARTELL had two
daughters in FORT
MADISON, IOWA.
The oldest, Hannah “Emma”
BARTELL married
another Wendish immigrant, from Drachhausen, Matthes
KULLOWATZ, the day
after Christmas 1894.
Martin
BARTELL must have kept his relationship with friends and relatives
back in Drachhausen, all his life. The words “America -12 Dec 1911” with a small
cross beside it (which denotes death); was added as a notation
below his birth record in Drachhausen Church Books.
New: 25 Nov
2006
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