Ramsaier Family

Ancestry chart for Catherina Barbara Ramsaier, who married Jacob Schaible in Bonlanden, Germany, 1833.

Family Tree of
Katherine Barbara Schaible born Ramsaier
from Bonlanden by Stuttgart
from the Church Register
Bonlandan 5 August 1924
Evang Pfarramt
Pfarrer Ramsler

In 1848 Jacob, Catherina and their six children emigrated from Baden-Württemberg, traveling up to the northern French port of Havre and thence by the sailing ship, Roscoe, arriving in New York City on 14 July 1848.

Their ages were:
Jacob, age 41
Catherine, age 31
Agnes, age 13
Margaret, age 11
Johann, age 8
Katherine, age 5
Jacob, age 2

For insight into the experience awaiting ancestors who left their families and homelands for a new country, see Village Life in Kreis Saarburg, Germany.

1853: March, translation of a letter from Johann Georg Ramsaier in Bonlanden, Germany, to his daughter, Catherina Barbara Ramsaier and her husband, Jacob Schaible, in Elyria, Ohio. It is written that Catherina’s brother, Carl Heinrick Ramsaier (6/7/1836 – ), plans to come to America in 1854. The description is a sobering reflection on the forces behind the emigration of many Europeans to America.

March 1853
Europe, Bonlanden

Honored daughter and son-in-law, from your last …[letter?]…short history, in that our Carl…next May, will make his trip to America and…how good the plan has been laid by us and him…. We hope he will not settle in a bad situation as it was with Henriette [?].

The plan of the brother of George Friedrich Stolles, a single shoemaker, came to us too late. When we received your letter Stoll already had left from Krettger [?] for America 3 weeks before. He had for a long time already, saved his earnings in order to cross the water [ocean] and when he arrives there wants to get work and then write to a brother and send the necessary passage money. However, he has two brothers, the older is a shoemaker and Michael, the weaver, the latter in Siedelfingen [?]. The prospect for each lies in G. 5. s [This may be an amount of money?] I think that each one hopes he will be the one [asked?]. I might say that the prospect is not likely for either.

The shoemaker says if only his brother, Georg Fredrich, would turn over 50 b. 60 f. Then he would venture going to America, but likewise even with Reichart [?] together they would need 100 b 80 f. to leave, and might even ask or mention to [or of] Jacob Schaebsbohren [or Schaible?] for his son’s passage money. All were sorry and ready to reimburse [?] Now, however there is bad feeling about the substitution.

Meanwhile, all has changed and because they were warned earlier against the emigration cost and/or troubles, they did emigrate. Now it is too late unless a whole family emigrates and agrees to leave behind all the household items etc. and even so, many have done that here and there. Here it was told [or done] by the cabinetmaker’s wife, Frau Laupman [?].

I paid old Jos. [Joseph?] Ge. [George] Struch from his son 25 f. [florins?] only it had been forgotten. He was overjoyed with his gift. He is very poor; must live with help from strangers some of whom have as little as he. He says if he had the money he would go to America to his sons. He must endure the bitterest hunger pains, when he is able they should … [beginning of next 3 lines missing]…

Meanwhile, I also want to make this important explanation that your Haberstein [?] property ahs … wood and the previous 3 tree tracts [?] … so I have had it put in my name for 340 f. [florins?], but not to keep but only because I already know about the promises of the ton [?] and that until now have been only sent bills [?]. Fruit must always be sold at a low price and from 47 a little annual share nothing was earned. The 2 pasture lots by the orchard, I have leased but these also did not earn much. From the small lease one cannot pay off debts. Some say it did not produce or the price is too high – in short, it is difficult.

At present, one must not allow anything to leave his hand else he is swindled. According to your writing, you are always asking what is used by orchardists to bring the soil to profitable production and that it is not profitable nor salable in town….

Every Monday good houses are emptied of household goods and furniture and auctioned at the townhall. But nobody can buy so it remains with the town or the faithful, and one after another travels away [to America?]. So later when the outlook shows that your land can sell [?] it may come to good. If it were possible to sell house and orchard we would be satisfied daily and would emigrate [?].

It is a question of settling our problems and we have here 3 members to emigrate when it becomes possible. A single man explains to us and counsels us how we can manage the trials and burdens of leaving Germany. We would think that you can not understand the situation of Germany and its people and can’t believe the situation here. The situation is unbelievable.

Since your writing, Jos. Bohm has often written to Germany, but excepting his father, otherwise nobody has heard a syllable. He lives one league from here. He needs to be looked after when in his old home. He should write a letter to you. He could bring it here. I believe…. The good thing from mouth of the father is not contested…and one known sum has not yet arrived.

At your next opportunity send a trip calculation and make a copy like from Liechtsingen House. Also from our … [left blank] Fritz not a syllable has arrived. It seems they don’t know whence they came or do not want to know.

The land is unknown to us. Your Bebele’s [Agnes Barbara. Either the daughter’s name of maybe she was their “baby”.] marriage left us unbelievably astounded. We had not yet thought about that. We can only say that we hope God brings them luck and blesses their marriage. Many good wishes to the married pair and it would make us happy if we could hear from them since we cannot see them in person in this world but then in eternity.

On Easter Monday Carl and Nahre [?] are going to Gemund to the wedding. Dote’s [?] Anna is marrying a Schafer from Nabern [or Stabern] and Carl was left alone [?]. The … [?] which you requested were not available to send with Carl. I inquired here and there and it was always discouraged as being too risky. Our Kana [?] has no desire to go to America. It will be like with Anne Marie, who also doesn’t want to go back or forward and thereby remain in poverty as it usually is with us.

Friederich Hild’s [?] Margarete is at home with her parents and is well. Her brother Friedrich has lost his chance and must become a soldier. He had been determined to emigrate to America, but unfortunately did not have the money.

Johs. [John or Joseph} Kempp is in a big predicament; his wife has left [?]. Hannes is a soldier. Schafer is so destitute that his children stay in bed [?]. He climbed a tree [This may be a saying like “He is up a tree.”]. Having nothing left on earth is a great overburden for Stumpp. He stands like a small dead tre [?].

Your bill I want to settle with Carl but presently I do not have any money. What concerns Siegle I want to settle in part. What remains outstanding cannot be raised, certainly with you like Siegle [?].

Heartfelt greetings from your father, Joh. Gr. Ramsaier

NOTES:
Carl is Carl Heinrick Ramsaier, born 7 June 1836 in Bonlanden, who emigrated to the US departing 15 August 1853 from Bremen on the ship Arnold Boninger and arriving Baltimore.
Henriette is Henrietta Ramsaier, born 15 April 1822 in Bonlanden, who married John Jacob Bauer on 12 February 1843. We do not know exactly what her “bad situation” was.

J.G. Ramsaier and his wife Henriette Ottein had eleven children, of whom Catherine Barbara married Jacob Schaible and emigrated with their children in 1848.

For more information on the Schaible family in America, see Schaible Family