Category Archives: German Ancestry

Wasserburg in Anstel, Germany

Posted on June 16, 2016 by

This plate was a gift from my husband Jim’s relatives when we visited them in Rommerskirchen, Germany in 2011.  Unfortunately, it did not make the journey back across the Atlantic in one piece. With much patience, some good adhesive, and … Continue reading →

Posted in German Ancestry, Germany, Lohr family, Lohr Genealogy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Land of My Fathers

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

These are images of land the Schwans family owned in Vreschen-Bokel, Germany.   I believe the land came into the family when Diedrich Schwans (my great-great-grandfather) married Anna Aits.  Most likely my great-grandfather John Schwans was born here in 1848 and … Continue reading →

Posted in German Ancestry, Schwans Genealogy | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Genealogy Jig

Posted on August 8, 2014 by

Time for the genealogy happy dance! One of the biggest genealogy challenges I’ve faced with my German ancestors is finding the village or town where they were born and lived.  The reason for needing this information is that there was … Continue reading →

Posted in German Ancestry, Germany, Research | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Touring Etna Township, Hardin County, Iowa: Learning About the Early Ostfriesen Settlers

Posted on September 16, 2013 by

The Steamboat Rock Historical Society and the Ackley Heritage Center recently sponsored the third tour of ghost towns in Hardin County, Iowa.  Some of my roots go back to that area as my grandmother, Jeanette Sievers, was born in 1875 … Continue reading →

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How Having a Birthday Helped Find My 7th Great-Grandparents

Posted on June 27, 2013 by

Adding another birthday candle to mark the number of years is an honored tradition.  Mine hasn’t quite reached the point where we need to put the local fire department on standby alert <yet.>  Besides, I prefer to think of celebrating … Continue reading →

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So Well Remembered

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

One of the highlights of our German trip (September 2011) was meeting family relatives for the first time. In Rommerskirchen, we were honored guests in the home of Anna and Herbert Schwenke. Although we spoke with the aid of translators, … Continue reading →

Posted in German Ancestry, Lohr family, Lohr Genealogy, Memories | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Update: The Genealogy Findings Continue

Posted on January 27, 2013 by

Twelve months of waiting to learn about Geerd Nannen Groeneveld has been compressed into only a few weeks, thanks to my German cousin Hinrich Groenevled.  He has graciously sent me the updated information on that branch of my Groeneveld family.  … Continue reading →

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