Porch Views: No lederhosen please, we’re Prussian – Oktoberfest and Renfrew County Germans

Reinhold Hildebrandt   Photo courtesy Beverley Glofcheskie

My dad and I used to tour Renfrew County visiting German settlements and pioneer cemeteries. Now it’s a tradition for me. This year I jokingly referred to it as my “Oktoberfest” tour to make a point. Valley residents may think Oktoberfest is an expression of local German heritage, but the beer festival which began in Munich in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding is Bavarian, and dirndls and lederhosen have little to do with most Renfrew County Germans.

According to the 2016 Census, 22 percent of Renfrew County residents reported German ancestry. Closer to home, the percentage was 47 percent in North Algona Wilberforce, 41 percent in Brudenell Lyndoch and Raglan, 25 percent in Killaloe Hagarty and Richards, and 19 percent in Madawaska Valley.

Most of us are descended from emigrants from the provinces of Brandenburg, Pomerania and West Prussia in the Kingdom of Prussia who arrived in Renfrew County between 1858 and 1900.

A little history and geography

Until the formation of the German Empire in 1871, “Germany” was a generic term applied to the territory covered by four kingdoms, seven grand duchies, four duchies, seven principalities and three free cities. Two of these kingdoms were Bavaria and Prussia.  The Kingdom of Prussia consisted of thirteen provinces stretching from what is now Kaliningrad, Russia in the east to the modern French border in the west.

Prussia’s heartland was the Province of Brandenburg, capital Berlin, which was home to a Slavic minority known as the Wends who had their own language and folk culture. Part of the Province of Pomerania was ruled by the Swedes in the 1600s, but it was almost entirely German with Catholic Kashubs near its eastern border with West Prussia. Yes, West Prussia was east, but it was west of East Prussia, and it had a large Kashub population.  In Brandenburg the common language of the German people was variants of Plattdeutsch (German of the northern lowlands), but Hochdeutsch was the language of government and education. Prussia’s state religion was the Evangelische Kirche a blend of Lutheranism and Calvinism created by royal edict in 1817.

Wilhelm-and-Louise-Boehme

Wilhelm and Louise Boehme lived in Combermere. Wilhelm was a master tailor from Tauer, Kreis Cottbus, Brandenburg.  His wife was born in Canada, but her parents were from Nelep, Kreis Schivelbein, Pomerania. Known as “Tailor Boehme” he drowned in 1912 in the sinking of the Mayflower on Lake Kaminiskeg. Photo courtesy Lynne Yantha.

Place of Origin database

This year I started compiling a place of origin database for German immigrants to Renfrew County between 1858 and 1900. I am drawing on immigration agent William Sinn’s list of Prussian settlers from 1860, the “saddlebag” register of births, marriages and deaths compiled by Lutheran missionary Rev. Ludwig Gerndt, and provincial marriage and death registrations. I compare that information with data from Hamburg passenger lists and Brandenburg emigration records. Once I have a specific location, I look it up on the online version of Meyer’s Gazetteer which lists every place name in the German Empire circa 1912. The final step is to find the current name for these places because West Prussia was ceded to Poland in 1918 and in 1945 the parts of Brandenburg and Pomerania east of the Oder River were ceded to Poland. At that time German residents who had not been killed or fled ahead of the Red Army were expelled.

reinhold-hildebrandt

Reinhold Hildebrandt’s parents lived at Mandelkow, Kreis Friedeberg before emigrating in 1882 and settling in Sebastopol Township. Three of Reinhold’s brothers married Kashubs and settled in Barry’s Bay. Photo courtesy Beverly Glofcheskie.

I would love to find the gut (estate), dorf (village) or stadt (town), kreis (county) and provinz for each immigrant, but sometimes I have to settle with only the province or kreis.

Currently I have 706 names in my database, and it is far from complete, but some important details are emerging:

  • 96 percent of German immigrants to Renfrew County came from the Kingdom of Prussia.
  • 43 percent hailed from the Province of Brandenburg with most from the following kreise: Cottbus, Arnswalde, Friedeberg and Soldin.
  • 38 percent originated in Pomerania but the greatest numbers came from four kreise: Neustettin, Saatzig, Schivelbein and Belgard.
  • 11 percent were natives of West Prussia especially the kreise of Deutsch Krone, Flatow, Berent and Marienwerder.
  • 4 percent came from the Prussian provinces of Silesia and Posen.

Chain-migration, relationships and mobility

There is clearly a pattern of chain-migration. The earliest immigrants like Brandenburgers Martin Buderich, August Schroeder, J.G. Weber and Wilhelm Luloff must have encouraged family, friends and neighbours to join them. Pomeranians followed in the footsteps of Johann Boldt, Friedrich Schutt, Carl Sommers and Christian Wasmund.

Harvey-Schutt

Harvey Schutt’s parents Christie and Annie ran a general store in the community which bore their surname in Raglan Township. Harvey’s great grandfather Friedrich Schutt arrived in Wilberforce Township in the Spring of 1859 from Wackerow, Kreis Greifswald, Pomerania. Harvey’s grandmother Wilhelmine Krueger was born in Buessow, Kreis Friedeberg. Photo courtesy Howard Schutt.

Another thing that is becoming obvious is the kinship between Renfrew County German families. Some family ties pre-dated immigration, others were made in Canada. For example the Wendish folks from Kreis Cottbus (a kreis is an area about the size of a Renfrew County township) likely had had kinship ties before emigration. After they settled in Renfrew County they intermarried with Germans from Prussian and non-Prussian territories. I encourage Renfrew County Germans to complete ancestry DNA tests to discover unknown links especially since many documents in the old country have been destroyed or lost in the wars. I recently found Weiland and Klingbeil relatives that way. They are descended from my great-great grandfather’s brother who settled in Wisconsin and of whom we knew nothing.

Eunice-Ron-and-Clifford Lisk

Eunice, Ron and Clifford Lisk at their farm in Hagarty Township in 1941 or 1942 before Cliff went oversees in World War II. The Lisk family is Wendish and originated in the village of Drachhausen, Kreis Cottbus, Brandenburg. Photo courtesy Brad Lisk.

In my research I have also noted that individuals’ birth places in the marriage register might not be the same as the place of origin on the passenger list, or that siblings might have different places of birth. This reveals more movement than we might expect of our ancestors, but If he was an arbeiter (labourer) or a landsmann (tenant farmer) the prospective emigrant may have moved around to find work on estates or farms.

Back to Oktoberfest

Don’t get me wrong, I am not against Oktoberfesting. I enjoy the beer, the food and the music. For many years I celebrated with friends in Kitchener-Waterloo, and this year I spent a very entertaining evening at the Killaloe Lion’s Oktoberfest. But, I am aware that Oktoberfest is not part of my cultural heritage.

But what is my cultural heritage as a descendant of Germans from Brandenburg and Pomerania? While I have a pretty good handle on the history, I don’t know much about the culture and I am the second generation in my family unable to speak German. I am not alone.

Most Renfrew County Germans have lost most if not all of their language and culture. My grandfather, who spoke no English until he attended school and was married in a German-language ceremony in 1913 used to say, “Two World Wars took care of that.”

Brenda Lee-Whiting noted in Harvest of Stones that Oktoberfests for “people of German descent (or those who wish they were)” signalled a change in attitudes. Non-Germans were getting over suspicion and resentment, and Germans themselves were less reluctant to self-identify and promote their heritage. Even if wasn’t theirs.

Oktoberfest and the Bavarian care-free attitude may be more palatable than the stereotype of the serious, disciplined Prussian. Nevertheless, it’s time for Renfrew County Germans to explore their past, pool their knowledge, establish a cultural centre and discover the language, food and traditions of their ancestors.

Mark-Woermke-Porch-ViewsAbout the author: Descended from railroaders and hotel keepers, Mark Woermke has deep roots in the Madawaska Valley. A high school teacher in Ottawa, Mark spends as much time as he can in the Madawaska Valley gardening, writing and enjoying its cultural wealth and natural beauty. Mark also blogs at https://prussianhillsblog.wordpress.com and manages the group Renfrew County Germans on Facebook

12 Comments

  1. james luelloff

    Wilhem Luloff was an ancestor of mine that settled in Sheboygan Wisconsin. It was our understanding that he came from Pomerania and was Prussian. I have the family bible and double barreled rifle he brought with them. Where can I find more information about his advocacy?

  2. Heidi Bova

    Just a short reply to the Kashubies. It is my understanding that under Polish rule, Kashubie heritage was drastically suppressed. Regarding Oktoberfest: the Bavarians have one hell of a good PR system., but for the Germans north of the Main, Oktoberfest was unknown. What was celebrated were Wine Festivals and Schuetzenfest ( not familiar with festivals past the Elbe River. Dirndl and Lederhosen totally unknown, but each region had its own “dress expression “. Cheers

  3. Barry Read

    I am looking into the Krause family for a friend and am trying to find out why this family came to Renfrew County in 1881. Is it a case of chain immigration? If so who preceded them? Ernst (aka Ernest) Krause was born in 1850 in Fuerstensee, Kreis Pyritz, Pomerania. He and his wife Wilhelmina Caroline Lempful and two children came to Arnprior in 1881. in 1891 he was a labourer in Arnprior but in 1901 he was a farmer in Alice & Fraser Twp, Renfrew. Was there an emigration scheme in Germany that handled immigration specifically to Renfrew County? I appreciate any comments on this. Barry Read

  4. One of the things I stress in the classroom is that history is never straightforward – there will always be a dissenting party among the majority. Furthermore, it is important to bring to light these discussions so that all viewpoints can benefit from the discussion on an issue. While life was difficult for many groups, including Polish Kashubs living in Pomerania and West Prussia, on page 97 of my book “Creating Kashubia” (McGill-Queen’s UPress), I write that “The oral histories of the Ziebarth, Luloff and Hass families also attest that their German ancestors left because of militarism and the threat of conscription.” Many left their homeland in search of a brighter future. Canada was (and continues to be) a beacon for many groups and we can all be thankful that our families made a decision to land here. Some of my students who are recent arrivals to Ottawa would also agree.

    • Additionally, there is a large gap in the scholarship on Renfrew County’s German speaking settlers. Serious studies have not been done since Brenda Lee-Whiting and Peter Hessel’s work in the 1980s. I sense a project here Mark. There are definite links between subgroups in that region. And not all relations were bad either. I believe my great grandfather, John Glofcheskie, used to chat in German with your relatives. Keep exploring!

  5. Gil Glofcheskie

    Your subjects are enjoyable and well written . On the other hand I find that this one a little biased
    First of all if you were not Prussian living in north western Poland Prussia what would you be thinking.. Any nationality who rocked the boat were not treated fairly .” Be a Prussian or get out “
    Let us talk about the Kasubian ,Poles and what they were subject to With little or no tolerance .
    Polish was not taught , and not allowed to be spoken . All Kashubian , Polish people were not allowed to be polish , there re was somebody willing to turn them in for favouritism at every turn , other subjects come up were Religion , Polish history etc .I could go on and on .
    Poles were to be subservient to The occupying Prusians .
    This ment that the survival game had to be played . Betray your heart felt nationality or get out of dodge . What a terrible hand to be dealt. Many would not succumb. It was not easy. People had to look after their families or perish.
    This makes me think that your statistics are a wee bit off .
    There are many wonderful German /Prussian families who I really enjoy. They are very good people . I lived in Kitchener for 43 years enjoying the German / Prussian people and their Traditions It is not the nationality that makes a good person, but what is inside that person .
    October feast , it’s Ok . It works for some , a big beer swigging , food eating , drunken occupation of peoples minds Telling people they are having a great time. Promoting what????
    There arę Articles and info written on the history of the area under occupationin of Poland .Many arę in our own Madawaska Valley Library
    Mark your a good writer , but i noticed a certain slant in your subjects , Maybe it’s just me , After all we are Canadians trying to promted our area , can you write something positive where Joe Public can write in to express their ideas . ?

    • Mark Woermke

      Thanks for your comments Gil.

      All of us – German, Wendish or Kashub are descended from immigrants who, due to the vicissitudes of history, were subjects of the Kingdom of Prussia.

      My purpose in this column was threefold. First to point out that not all Germans are Bavarians and that most Germans in Renfrew County originate in the Prussian provinces of Brandenburg, Pomerania and West Prussia. Secondly, to clarify the regions from whence the Renfrew County German progenitors came. Third to encourage Renfrew County Germans to be proud of their heritage.

      I did not touch on policies of the Prussian government with regards to Kashubs. I am aware of Bismarck’s Kuturkampf and the repression of your ancestors, but that was not the subject of my column. That is your story to tell. I would point out, however, that the descendants of Germans who emigrated from Brandenburg, Pomerania and West Prussia left due to economic hardship, mandatory military service and religious intolerance. One cannot blame average German immigrants to Renfrew County (or their descendants) for Prussian policies. As a matter of fact, they were escaping from them too.

      You suspect my statistics are off. Please identify the ones to which you refer. The only statistics I used were from the 2016 Census and from primary documents for German immigrants to Renfrew County: land agent records, Lutheran church records, death records, marriage records, and Hamburg’s ships lists. I would be happy to make these documents available for your critique. Accuracy in history is very important.

      I am confident that I have addressed a variety of positive topics in my Porch Views column including Renfrew County Germans, a couple’s plans for their Kashub family farm, the story of a Barry’s Bay home built by a Kashub family (later purchased by my grandparents), two columns on local politics (specifically the ward system), a tribute to a well-loved teacher, expectations for municipal politicians, remarkable Madawaska Valley women, and two pieces on identifying and overcoming localism. Please point out which pieces were negative, to which you object and which you feel are slanted.

      As for us all being Canadians and working together to promote the area, I fail to see how any of my columns divide us. As a student in the 1970s, I learned that Canada is a mosaic. Except for First Nations people, we are all immigrants who came here seeking a better life. We have a group in MV that has given us an excellent example of Canadians successfully reclaiming, preserving and promoting their ethnic heritage and culture. That makes us richer as a community and helps to promote the area as a destination for cultural tourism. There should be no monopoly on this.

      As for expressing ideas, any reader, as you have just done, is free to respond to all of my Porch Views columns. The exchange of ideas is very important in a community and a democracy and I wish more readers would respond. Thank you for doing so.

  6. Richard Boehme

    Nels Boehme shared this article with me and I am happy that he did. It is excellent. I am the great-grandson of Friedrich August Boehme and Maria Kielow who emigrated to Canada from Tauer in 1965. I was able to visit Tauer for the first time in 1989, shortly before the Wall came down, and have returned several times since.

  7. Nels Boehme

    Yes Mark – simply marvellous. Do please keep up the good work. There are few folks who wish to expend the effort that you use – at age 90 now, I would love to help but I just do not have the energy anymore!
    Thanks again.
    Nels BOEHME

  8. Sharon (Lorbetski) Gardiner

    Lots of good information here Mark! It helps me understand why some of my “Kashub” ancestors have Germany on their Birth Certificates. Keep writing…

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