|
a.
|
Note: In the year 1868 on the 8th of the month of April at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon before me, Johann Weiker, mayor, civil registrar of the commune of Sandweiler in the canton of Luxemburg, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, appeared Jacques Ehleringer, aged 30 years, farmer, residing in Sandweiler, who has presented to me a child of the male sex born in Sandweiler today at about 9 o'clock in the forenoon of him and of his wife, Elisabeth Nockels, without occupation, aged 23 years, residing in Sandweiler, and to whom he has declared to want to give the first name Johann Peter�
[Signed] Jacques Ehleringer
Birth Record, Commune of Sandweiler, Luxembourg, 1868 record 24; David Ehleringer. [Excerpt is translated from German text. Names are spelled per text.] ____________
They were afraid John (Ed's father) wouldn't survive, so as a youngster he was sent to Paris to live with his uncle [Jean Pierre Nockels]. I still remember him telling about all the good wine he had to drink while living in Paris.
Kathryn Vavrina to Rose Ehleringer, 9 December 1965. ____________
Luxembourg � In the week ending 22 January [1887], 124 persons have departed the central railway station for Antwerp, emigrating to America from there, departing about 22 January on the packet steamer Noordland of the Red Star Line, represented in Luxembourg by Messrs. Derulle-Wigreux & Son. Twenty-four of them were Luxembourger [including] Ruppert Valentin, 40 years, Roden Marie, 39 years, Ruppert Dominik, 18 years, Ruppert Marianne, 10 years, Ruppert Theodor, 8 years, Elleringen [sic] Johann, 20 years, George Nikolas, 25 years, and Lahr Jakob, 16 years, from Sandweiler, Kesseler Anton, 28 years, and Kesseler Peter, 18 years, from [Neudorf] to Alton, Iowa.
Luxemburger Gazette (Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa), 22 February 1887, page 5, column 3; State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City. [Excerpts are roughly translated from German text. John Ehleringer accompanied the Ruppert family to America; John's father, sister and brother followed in October 1887. The Rupperts were lifelong friends. In fact, Jacob and John Ehleringer are buried near Val and Marie (Roden) Ruppert in Calvary Cemetery, Currie, Minnesota. I don't recognize the last four names, but they appear to be members of the same party, all from the same area in Luxembourg bound for northwestern Iowa.] ____________
The S.S. Noordland of the Red Star Line embarked from Antwerp, Belgium on 22 January 1887 and arrived in New York on 5 September 1887, 14 days later. Its master was H.E. Nickels; its burthen, 4019 tons. 292 of the 317 passengers traveled in steerage including:
Val Ruppert, age 40, male, shoemaker [sic], citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination New York, pieces of baggage 5, location of compartment After section W, starting point Sandweiler, intending to be permanent settler. Marie Ruppert, age 39, female, citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination New York, location of compartment After section W, starting point Sandweiler, intending to be permanent settler. Dom Ruppert, age 18, male, citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination New York, location of compartment After section W, starting point Sandweiler, intending to be permanent settler. Marianne Ruppert, age 10, female, citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination New York, location of compartment After section W, starting point Sandweiler, intending to be permanent settler. Theodore Ruppert, age 8, male, citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination New York, location of compartment After section W, starting point Sandweiler, intending to be permanent settler. Jean Ehl� [sic, paper is damaged], age 20, male, farmer, citizen of Germany [sic], native of Germany [sic], destination New York, pieces of baggage 2, location of compartment After section V, starting point Sandweiler, intending to be permanent settler.
Summary of excerpts from: Passenger List of Steamship Noordland Arriving at New York 5 February 1887, list 126, passengers 269-274; National Archives microfilm 237, roll 503, New York Times, 5 February 1887, page 5, column 6, Morton Allen Directory. [Luxembourgers of this time were ambivalent about their nationality. Many called themselves German, Dutch or Belgian.] ____________
J. Ehleringer Laid to Rest Last Thursday Large Crowd Gathers to Pay Last Respects to Beloved Currieite Thursday
The large church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Currie was well filled last Thursday morning, when friends and neighbors gathered to pay respect to the memory of John Ehleringer, beloved pioneer, who died during his sleep the Monday previous. Rev. Fr. Schimek sang the requiem high mass. Four sons and two sons-in-law, Matt, Joseph, Edward and Vincent Ehleringer and Nick J. Ruppert and Ed [Altmann], as pall-bearers, carried the casket to Calvery cemetery, where the deceased was laid gently to rest.
John Ehleringer was born at Sandweiler, Luxembourg, April 8, 1868, and had therefore nearly attained his 78th year. When a young man of 19 years, he came to the United States and settled at Alton, Iowa. He remained there three years, coming to Currie, Minn., in 1890 [sic] to engage in farming south of that village. He continued operations on that farm until 1938 and through untiring labor and frugality was considered one of the best farmers and most substantial citizens of the community.
On May 15, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Schu and to their union nine children were born, two of whom, Margaret and John, Jr., and the wife and mother preceded him in death. Remaining to mourn his death are Joseph and Edward of Iona, Matt, William and [Vincent] of Currie, Mrs. Agnes [Altmann] of Minneapolis and Mrs. Emma [Ruppert] of Currie. Twenty-two grandchildren also survive. Mr. Ehleringer was the last member of his family, his parents and other next of kin having preceded him in death.
Relatives and friends from out-of-town who attended the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Altmann and family, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Longfellow, Roger Ruppert, N.R.O.C., of Minneapolis; Cletus Altmann, Peoria, Ill.; Miss Helen Ensch, Mrs. Ed Bushaw, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Sirek and son Ralph of Manvel, N.D.; Art Full, Mrs. Susan Full, Tony Auchstetter, Mrs. Otto Hodapp, of Granville, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Henry [Pohlen], of St. Leo; Joe Koehler and family and Mrs. Ida [Streit], of Fairmont; Mr. and Mrs. Mike Breen and family, Mrs. Rex Byrnes and Miss Priscilla Breen, of Fulda;
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fiedler, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fiedler, Andrew Kunkel and Mrs. Joe Kemp, of [Oyens], Iowa; Mr. and Mrs, Curtis Kass, of Revere; Mr. and Mrs. O.K. Peterson and family, of Garvin; Mrs. Agnes O'Brien, Mrs. Nellie Fitzpatrick, Mrs. John Moran, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Herrig, Mrs. Peter Herrig and family, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Ruppert and Catherine and Matt Schroeder and family, of Iona; Al and Charles Illg, of Avoca; and Mr. and Mrs. John George, of Woodstock.
As stated last week, Mr. Ehleringer had been afflicted with a heart condition the past few years. He never complained, however, and on the evening preceding his death said his arm ached and he thought he would retire. In all probability he suffered a blood clot during the night. He was discovered at 8:30 in the morning by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wm. Ehleringer, whom with his son he had lived since the death of his wife.
He was a kindly and indulgent husband and father, a true Christian friend and neighbor and his departure leaves an aching void in the Currie community.
Murray County Herald (Slayton, Murray County, Minnesota), 14 March 1946, page 2; Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul. [Correction: Jacob Ehleringer and children came to the Currie area in early 1888, shortly after immigrating. They purchased the homeplace, three miles south of Currie, in 1890.] ____________
Ehleringer Father, John, 1868 - 1946 Mother, Elizabeth, 1876 - 1940 Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord
Epitaph, Calvary Cemetery, Currie, Murray County, Minnesota. ____________
John Ehleringer married Elizabeth Schu at Avoca, Minnesota on May 15, 1894 at St. Rose of Lima Church. They lived on a farm three miles south of Currie, which he continued to farm until he retired in 1938 and moved into the village of Currie. They purchased the Oscar Metty house. His son, Matt, continued to farm his father's farm.
Nine children were born to this union. Edward (John Jr.?) and Margaret died in infancy�
John died March 4, 1946. He passed away in his sleep and was found by Agnes (Mrs. William Ehleringer, daughter-in-law). Elizabeth (his wife) died May 6, 1940 at the Loretto Hospital at New Ulm, Minnesota, after gall bladder surgery.
William and Agnes Ehleringer bought his father's house in Currie after his death. The Ehleringer farm south of Currie was bought by Vincent Illg.
Rose Ehleringer, History of the Ehleringer Family (notebook compiled about 1966), pages 5-6. ____________
John Ehleringer is remembered as an amiable, well-liked person. And while John was an active fellow, he couldn't be rushed � a trait shared by some of us grandchildren. John's trademarks were his mustache and a cigar. Apparently, he wore the mustache throughout his adult life. Photographs of John at leisure in his later years also imply a good cigar was never far away.
John diligently recorded most every transaction in his expense ledger, sometimes including other events of the day. In effect, this became a diary. His entries convey happiness and grief. We learn how much he paid for that new Ford. Funeral expenses are duly noted, though he couldn't bring himself to write Lizzie's name. It's insightful to find horses and milk cows referred to by pet names. Yes, he enjoyed being a farmer.
John practiced and preached thrift. Once in a while this backfired on him. Vince, the youngest son, had his heart set on a new shotgun. John talked him out of the purchase. The family hand-me-down served well enough. Vince dutifully put his hard-earned cash into a bank account. The bank failed. Poor Vince joined the millions who lost their savings during the Great Depression. Smiling � what else can you do? � Vince would recall that his dad never again dared to offer him advice.
It's difficult for us to imagine a bank holiday or its repercussions. Ed Altmann was a clerk at the Currie bank. Employees were told the bank would be closed down at the end of the business day. To avoid a panic, they had to conduct business as usual. One of Ed's last customers was his father-in-law, John Ehleringer. John had sold some livestock, then brought the receipts to the bank. Ed was honor-bound to accept his deposit.
|
