Our German Roots
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| This is my grandfather's side of the family (my Dad's dad) It may be a little confusing but you will find more about the Fuhrman side of our history on the page about Kafeinheim.  |
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| This is my grandmother's side of the family (my Dad's mom) |
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| Dad's brothers and sisters (Alvin & Gracie Fuhrman's 50th Wedding Anniversary) |
Hildegard Koslowski and Grandma (Elsie Flusche Fuhrman) finally meet after many years of corresponding (1987)
(pictures thanks to Claudia and Klaus Ortmann)
So our great great grandfather, from Grandma's side (pictured above), Wilhelm Steinmetz was a tailor. He married Elisabeth. They were both from Attendorn, Germany. They moved to Iowa in 1886. They left land here in Attendorn, but eventually had to forfeit the land due to indebtedness. They had ten children, eight survived to adulthood. One of the granddaughters was Elisabeth too. She never married and she ran a prosperous tailoring business as well.
The story Dad tells is that when his grandmother (Augusta) visited in 1926, she brought her cousin Max. Max was very handsome. They stayed with this Elisabeth. Well one of the seamstresses wanted to emigrate to American and hid under Max's bed. Lo and behold his surprise when he retired to sleep...(and he did not take her to America). Dad says he heard this story many times.
Another story about Grandpa Steinmetz is that he would work on a suit all week. Then when Saturday night came about, he would walk to town, deliver the suit, collect his fee and go drinking. On Sunday morning as the townsfolk in Lindsay walked to church, he would just be going home, singing songs. One song he sang was "If the hat doesn't have three corners, then it is is not my hat." (Dad sang this for us while we were at the brewery near Kafenheim.)
So all the siblings of my great grandmother Augusta Steinmetz immigrated to America but Maria, "Minna", the great, great grandmother of Claudia and Julia (Koslowski) who live here in Attendorn. They are the children of Theo, married to Ute, who would be the great grandson of Minna. Hildegard is Theo's mother. Hildegard would be a second cousin to my grandmother Elsie.
So it strikes me as fascinating that all of this family immigrated to America except Minna, the eldest girl, because as female, already married and starting a family, she stayed behind. Thus Theo, Claudia and her sister Julie, remain there as our German cousins and "they are not joined with us as American immigrants". Yet we have managed to stay connected through her parents and her grandmother Hildegard.
These two wrote each other letters all their lives. I also wrote to Hildegard. She wrote me back at least once, all in German. Hildegard came to visit my grandmother and they met at last in 1987. (See pictures above from Claudia.) It was a very special occasion for these two relatives to come together. I know this must have been a highlight in Grandma's life. (Wish I had been "a fly on the wall" to witness this reunion...I lived with Grandma 1981 and heard many stories about her side of the family.)
From Grandma's book: some of the Steinmetz family including "the Singing Tailor" and his wife (seated) and Augusta Steinmetz Flusche, Grandma Anna Elsie Flusche Fuhrman's mother
HERE IS A CUTE EMAIL FROM THEO KOSLOWSKI welcoming us to visit:
So our great great grandfather, from Grandma's side (pictured above), Wilhelm Steinmetz was a tailor. He married Elisabeth. They were both from Attendorn, Germany. They moved to Iowa in 1886. They left land here in Attendorn, but eventually had to forfeit the land due to indebtedness. They had ten children, eight survived to adulthood. One of the granddaughters was Elisabeth too. She never married and she ran a prosperous tailoring business as well.
The story Dad tells is that when his grandmother (Augusta) visited in 1926, she brought her cousin Max. Max was very handsome. They stayed with this Elisabeth. Well one of the seamstresses wanted to emigrate to American and hid under Max's bed. Lo and behold his surprise when he retired to sleep...(and he did not take her to America). Dad says he heard this story many times.
NOTES FROM DAD: Uncle Max Flusche was the youngest son of Wilhelm and Augusta Flusche. He went with Grandma Flusche to Germany in 1926. We have pictures somewhere of Max and Grandma Flusche on the ship they sailed on. Anna (Tante Anna) Steinmetz married Paul Wiese in Lindsay. Paul owned the saloon where everyone
Gusta's youngest sister, Anna Steinmetz, came from Germany to live in Lindsay too. (There was quite an age difference between them.) Dad's notes: Anna (Tante Anna) Steinmetz married Paul Wiese in Lindsay. Paul owned the saloon where everyone hung out including Grandpa Wilhelm Steinmetz. Tante Marie Steinmetz married Frank Loerwald in Lindsay.
So all the siblings of my great grandmother Augusta Steinmetz immigrated to America but Maria, "Minna", the great, great grandmother of Claudia and Julia (Koslowski) who live here in Attendorn. They are the children of Theo, married to Ute, who would be the great grandson of Minna. Hildegard is Theo's mother. Hildegard would be a second cousin to my grandmother Elsie.
So it strikes me as fascinating that all of this family immigrated to America except Minna, the eldest girl, because as female, already married and starting a family, she stayed behind. Thus Theo, Claudia and her sister Julie, remain there as our German cousins and "they are not joined with us as American immigrants". Yet we have managed to stay connected through her parents and her grandmother Hildegard.
These two wrote each other letters all their lives. I also wrote to Hildegard. She wrote me back at least once, all in German. Hildegard came to visit my grandmother and they met at last in 1987. (See pictures above from Claudia.) It was a very special occasion for these two relatives to come together. I know this must have been a highlight in Grandma's life. (Wish I had been "a fly on the wall" to witness this reunion...I lived with Grandma 1981 and heard many stories about her side of the family.)
HERE IS A CUTE EMAIL FROM THEO KOSLOWSKI welcoming us to visit:
A cordial greetings from Attendorn. Now soon get suitcase packed and travel to enter Europe. We are glad for your visit to Attendorn. It is nice for you and your children to once again visit us. We have last week our yearly Schutzenfest. Much warm sun and taste of beer and wine was very good. Claudia flies with her family on a weekend leave near your arrival in Attendorn. But our daughter Julia is with their family on leave then. It is bad that you won't see our Jula, Jens and their three children. We are glad for your visit and wish you a good coming. Once more cordial greetings to you and your children.
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