30 Dec 2009

Kleinwort Family History

lise and Bertha, the youngest daughters of Reimer and Wilhelmine Kleinwort, were part of a long family history in the Hamburg area that had lasted at least eight generations. These sisters are the only known members of their family to emigrate to the United States.

Bertha Kleinwort

Steamer Westphalia, aft.1878 The first to make the journey was the elder sister, Bertha Louise Kleinwort, who was born 27 Oct 1844 in Hamburg. Before leaving, Bertha was living at 52 Schlachterstraße (street) with the family of her oldest sister and brother-in-law, Johanna and Achaz Georg Adolph Bernhard.^note1 Since their father was deceased, Georg signed as guarantor on Bertha's passport application. This was a formality meaning that he would assume any debts she might leave behind. She left unmarried from Hamburg's port aboard the steamer "Teutonia" in June 1867 and arrived in New York on July 1.

About 1868, Bertha married George Rath, a baker born in Stuttgart, Germany. They were living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in October 1869 when their first child was born. George died here 26 Mar 1896, and Bertha remained through at least 1900. By 1910, she had moved to Ogden, Utah, to live with a daughter, Emma, and next to the family of another daughter, Bertha (Jr.). Bertha died 11 Jul 1910, probably in Ogden.

Bertha and George had the following children, all born in Wyoming with the possible exception of their oldest daughter:

1. William Conrad (1869-1946).
2. Bertha (1871-1944) who was born in either Wyoming or Colorado. She married Rufus Ford about 1890 and moved to Ogden, Utah.
3. Emma (1875).
4. John Henry (1877) who married a woman named Christine.
5. Frederick (1879) who married a woman named Lillian May.
6. Charlie (1881).
7. Louis (1883).
8. Louisa (1885).

Elise Kleinwort

The year after Bertha left, Elise Henriette Kleinwort was to make the same journey. She too was living with their sister's family in Hamburg, and their brother-in-law likewise signed as Elise's guarantor. Born 11 Sep 1846, Elise left Hamburg on 16 Sep 1868 aboard the maiden voyage of the steamer "Westphalia" and arrived in New York on 28 Sept 1868. Unlike typical immigrants, both Bertha and Elise made their voyages in relative comfort as cabin passengers above deck instead of crowded into steerage between decks. Clearly, the usual lack of money was not their main reason for leaving.

Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas

Elise Kleinwort,
bef.1917 Elise, usually known as Elizabeth or Lizzie after immigrating, must have first lived with her sister, Bertha. She then married Johann Michael (Michael) Henninger in Cheyenne in May 1869.^note2 Michael was born 23 Oct 1835 in Weisweil, Baden. The two are found soon afterward in the town of Bijou Basin, Douglas County, Colorado, during July 1870. This town no longer exists, but its former location is now on the border between Elbert and El Paso Counties.^note3 Michael was working as a grocer, and their first child had already been born, a yet to be named 4 month old daughter. They didn't remain in Colorado for long either. By Jan 1871, they were baptizing their daughter in Atchison, Kansas, where Michael's mother, brother, and sister had been living since 1860. Elise and Michael eventually had five children together:

1. Mary Catherine "Mayme" (1870-1924) who married Michael Joseph Burns c.1888 and moved to Kansas City, Missouri.
2. Georg Wilhelm (1871) who probably died in infancy.
3. Wilhelm Woldemar (1873) who also probably died in infancy.
4. Johann Michael (Michael) (1874) who relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he was still living in 1955.
5. Friedrich Georg "Fred" (1876-1949) who died in Atchison.

Kleinwort Family Migration to Kansas
1. Hamburg & Vicinity
2. Cheyenne, Wyoming
3. Bijou Basin, Colorado
4. Atchison County, Kansas The middle children were all born in Kansas, but the youngest child was apparently born in Missouri. Fred Henninger was listed as born in Missouri on his first census in 1880, however each census afterward showed Kansas. Since he wasn't baptized until he was 6 months old at a time when it was customary to do so at 1-3 months, it is plausible that the family was in fact living in Missouri when he was born and waited until returning to Kansas to christen him, just as they had done with their first child. The baptisms of all the children were witnessed almost exclusively by relatives of her husband, so it is doubtful that Elise had any of her own relatives in the area. No records have been found that include Michael after Fred's baptism, so it is assumed he died between 1876-78.

Remarriage

On 2 Feb 1879, Elise remarried to Wilhelm (William) Flachsbarth in Atchison County, Kansas, where they were to live in Shannon Township. After 24 years of marriage, Wilhelm died on 3 Jul 1903, and he was buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Atchison. For nearly another thirty years afterward, Elise lived in the various homes of her children until her death on 20 Feb 1932. She is also buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.
Descendants of Elise Kleinwort,
c.1904 There were six children from this marriage:

1. Elizabeth Katharine "Lizzie" (1879-1945).
2. Bertha Katharine (1881-1974).
3. Salome Emma (Emma S.) (1883-1955).
4. Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm (Will F.) (1885-1972).
5. Henry Paul Christian (1887-1972).
6. Wilhelmina Theodore "Minnie" (1891-1985).
7. [See Flachsbarth Family History for more details on these children.]

Altona to Hamburg

The father of Elise and Bertha Kleinwort, Reimer Kleinwort, was born on 28 Sept 1800 in Altona, Schleswig-Holstein. About 1825, Reimer moved from Altona to the city of Hamburg where he worked as a butcher for his future father-in-law. In preparation for marriage, he applied to become a bürgher of Hamburg in 1827. A bürgher is roughly equivalent to a citizen of a city.

Church of St.
Michaelis,
Hamburg Reimer soon married Johanna Wilhelmine Eckert on 26 Sep 1827 at the church of St. Michaelis, a church that has itself become a symbol of Hamburg. Wilhelmine was born 18 June 1805 in Hamburg to Johann Casper Eckert, a butcher, and Catharina Elisabeth Dührkop. At the time of their marriage, Reimer was living at No.2 Pickhuben (street). Here and at No.13 of the same block are where the family remained for at least the following 30 years.^note4

Wilhelmine must have been an exceptionally fertile woman, having the following twelve children in only seventeen years:

1. Johanna Marie (1829) who married a smoked meats merchant named Achaz Georg Adolph Bernhard in 1857 at the church of St. Catharinen.
2. Joachim Hinrich (1830-1846).
3. Emma Magdalena (1831) who married Theodor Ernst Heinrich Häsecke 1855.
4. Johann Hermann (1832) who died in infancy.
5. Betty Catharina (1833-1843).
6. Elise Wilhelmine (Wilhelmine) (1835).
7. Franz Ludewig (Ludewig) (1836) who married Louise Agatha Henriette Busse 1862 at St. Catharinen.
8. Carl Reimer (1838) who died in infancy.
9. Otto Friedrich (1840-1847).
10. Daniel Georg (1842) who died in infancy.
11. Bertha Louise (1844) previously discussed.
12. Elise Henriette (1846-1932) previously discussed.

Church of St. Catharinen,
Hamburg All of these children were born in Hamburg and baptized in another historic church, the church of St. Catharinen, which is only a short walk from the location of their home. Reimer died 27 Mar 1855 and was buried in the section of Dammthor Cemetery reserved for members of the butcher's guild. Wilhelmine was still living in June 1862 at the time of the wedding of her son, Franz Ludewig. However, she apparently did not attend, because it was noted that the witnesses to the marriage attested to her approval.

Wedel to Altona

The father of Reimer Kleinwort, Joachim Hinrich Kleinwort, was born 24 Jun 1757 in Wedel, but the family was living about 2 miles away in Holm. Located 15 miles west of Hamburg on the Elbe River, these villages were also within the Danish territory of Schleswig-Holstein. Joachim and his family moved from here nearer to Hamburg in Altona when he was a very young boy. His future wife, Catharine Maria Margaretha Hinck, was born in Altona in May 1760 to Johann Christoph Hinck and Anna Margaretha Dührkop. Joachim and Catharine married on 12 May 1781 in Altona. Joachim was engaged in the occupation of ale brewer until passing away 23 Dec 1820. Catharine died 29 Dec 1838. They had the following twelve children in Altona:

1. Catharina Maria Margaretha (1785) who married a Mr. Wesselhoeft.
2. Michael Joachim (1787).
3. Anna Magdalena (1789).
4. Anna Friederika (1790-1873) who married Christian Hinrich Wesselhoeft 1825 and died in Schiffbek.
5. Johann Georg (1791).
6. Johann Hermann (1792).
7. Hans Stephan (1793).
8. Peter Erich (1795-1853).
9. Henriette Elise (1797) who married a Mr. Rodatz but was widowed by 1838.
10. Franz Ludewig (1799).
11. Reimer (1800-1855) previously discussed.
12. Eduard (1803).

An unconfirmed Latter Day Saints Ancestral file shows that the husband of Catharina, the oldest child, was Friedrich Ludwig Wesselhoefft. Their son, Jean Gustav "John" Wesselhoefft was living in Hoboken, New Jersey, before 1865. Since he would have been their first cousin, this could be the connection that brought Elise and Bertha Kleinwort to the United States.

Joachim Sr.

Joachim Kleinwort, Sr. The father of Joachim Hinrich was also named Joachim Hinrich Kleinwort. He was born 1727 in Wedel, and in 1752, the elder Joachim married Anna Catherina Groth. Their children included:

1. Margaretha Dorothea (1755).
2. Joachim Hinrich (1757-1820) previously discussed.
3. Anna Catharina (1759).
4. Hinrich (1762) who founded a merchant bank which has evolved into the present day institution Dresdner Kleinwort Benson and who moved to London.
5. Magdalene (1773).

Joachim senior inherited a vast estate in Altona named "Rosenhof" from a wealthy godfather, and he relocated his family to live on it sometime between 1759-62. Rosenhof contained not only a residence but also a successful brewery where the younger Joachim entered into that profession.

The Long Line of Johanns

After this point, the details become fewer, but several more generations are known. Joachim's father was Johann Kleinwort who was born 1723 and married Anna Ladiges. The father of Johann was also named Johann Kleinwort and was born 1699. The father of this Johann was named Johann Kleinwort as well. He was born 1650, and in 1692, he married Anna Holtmann whose family owned the ferry crossing the Elbe from the village of Wedel. He died in 1712 of the plague. This Johann also had a father named Johann Kleinwort, but nothing more is known of him.

Finally, the father of this Johann was Johann Albert Kleinwort, the earliest known ancestor of the Kleinwort family. It is not known when Johann Albert was born, but it is known that he held the prestigious position of Deichgraf of Wedel in 1613. The deichgraf is the person charged with maintaining the dikes, or levees, in the area to prevent flooding from the river. To be given this title is an honor usually given to a person of high social status and wealth.

Kleinwort Homeland

Hamburg, 1841

The city of Hamburg, the adjacent smaller city of Altona, and the village of Wedel which lies a short distance up the Elbe River comprise the homeland of the Kleinwort family. They are all located in what is now northern Germany.

The official name of Hamburg was the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. As the name suggests, it was in fact a free city which was not under the rule of any larger governments or part of a larger territory. The name also denotes that it was a member of the Hanseatic League, which was a sometimes powerful alliance of merchant cities who made collective agreements to strengthen their trading positions with others. Trade was and is an important factor in Hamburg's economy. It is a major shipping port, located inland on the Elbe River which leads directly to the Atlantic Ocean.

Altona was originally a smaller distinct city located just beyond the city walls of the larger independent city of Hamburg. Although the two cities were located so close together and the majority of both of their residents were culturally German, they were under separate rule. Altona was within the territory of Schleswig-Holstein which was governed by the Danish until 1866, the year it came under Prussian rule. The city was eventually incorporated as a suburb of greater Hamburg in 1937.

Wedel is also located on the Elbe River approximately fifteen miles west of Hamburg. Although it was a small village, it had an important ferry crossing the Elbe.

The territory that was Schleswig-Holstein is now a state of the same name within Germany. Hamburg is now itself a separate state as well. The following table lists the former and current names of each of the locations that are relevant to this family.

Notes

1. [The short street of Schlachterstraße later became the ghetto where Hamburg Jews were forced to live before being shipped to concentration camps during WWII. Almost the entire street was destroyed by allied bombing.]
2. [Elise and Michael's marriage license is dated 17 May 1869, but the certificate is dated only May 1869.]
3. [The Colorado county of Douglas was extremely large in 1870 and has since been subdivided into the counties of Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln, and Kit Carson. This placed the former town of Bijou Basin on the current border between Elbert and El Paso counties, a couple miles northeast of the town of Peyton and northwest of Calhan, Colorado. Bijou Basin still refers to this region but the town is gone.]
4. [The one block long street of Pickhuben is now at the center of a district in Hamburg called Speicherstadt. Although it is now considered a historic district due to its late 19th century warehouses, they must have replaced the even earlier buildings in which the Kleinwort family had lived.]

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Links

• Elise (Elizabeth/Lizzie) Henriette Kleinwort {fam group1, fam group2, lineage, fam hist}
• Johann Michael (Michael) Henninger {fam group, Kleinwort line, Kleinwort hist, Henninger line, Henninger hist}
• Wilhelm (William) Flachsbarth {fam group, lineage, fam hist, query?}
• Bertha Louise Kleinwort {fam group, lineage, fam hist}
• Reimer Kleinwort {fam group, lineage, fam hist}
• Joachim Hinrich Kleinwort {fam group, lineage, fam hist}