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Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Caspar Heinrich Kellermeyer: Birth: 28 NOV 1831 in H�ver #20, Westphalia, Germany. Death: 9 FEB 1902 in Quincy, Adams Co, IL

  2. twin son Niederw rder: Birth: 28 NOV 1831 in H�ver #20, Westphalia, Germany. Death: 28 NOV 1831

  3. Heinrich Hermann Niederw rder: Birth: 22 NOV 1834 in H�ver #20, Westphalia, Prussia. Death: 6 MAR 1903 in Yankton Co, SD

  4. Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Niederw rder: Birth: 4 OCT 1839 in H�ver #20, Westphalia, Germany. Death: 25 MAY 1840 in H�ver #20

  5. Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb Niederw rder: Birth: 25 MAY 1841 in H�ver #20, Westphalia, Germany. Death: 16 DEC 1904 in H�ver #20


Notes
a. Note:   Christening record: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NP69-GBW because he married the Heir to the Kellermeier estate, his surname became: Niederworder genannt (called) Kellermeier. His son Caspar used the surname Kellermeyer, after emigrating.
  Two of his three surviving sons sailed off for a better life in America. Life was hard in Germany in the 1800's. The country was divided into states controlled by Dukes or Lords who were always fighting to gain more land. The peasants who worked for them were expected to furnish their sons as soldiers. Most of them were so poor they could only have meat once a week and if they caught a rabbit on the land, they could be shot or put in prison for life. Many of these Germans began to hear about America and the freedom and the land that was available. They realized that there was no hope for them and their children unless their shook off their bondage. But to get out of Germany, a permit was needed and signed by the Duke or Lord saying that he was willing to let you go and that you did not owe any debts and were able to pay your own way. Most Germans came out through Hamburg or Bremen. There was always a ship's captain who had a list of people in America wanting indentured servants. They would pay the passengers' way over and that person would work for them for 5-7 years without pay. Since most of them were poor they traveled steerage with several hundred in the hold of each ship. Food was scarce, people were ill from seasickness and other diseases, and there were no sanitary facilities. A family was given a few square feet in which to exist surrounded by curtains made of blankets; those that died were buried at sea. If you traveled steerage, you were required to go through Customs at the landing port. If you were ill or had a disease, even one that you were not aware of, you were sent back to Germany. When immigrants arrived, mostly to New York to a place called Castle Garden, which preceded Ellis Island. Many of them came into Baltimore and some to New Orleans, but the Germans did not like coming into New Orleans. They said it was too hot.


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