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Note: Franz was apparently the oldest surviving child of August and Katherine. I have been unable to locate him in any census records so far (6/95), but have discovered the arrival at the port of Baltimore of Franz Ewald, age 28, and his wife Emma, age 26, on the ship "Karlsruhe" on 25 March 1891:
Baltimore Passenger Lists, 1820-1948 (from Ancestry.com) Name: Franz Ewald Arrival Date: Mar 25 1891 Age: 28 Years 0 Months Years Estimated birth year: abt 1863 Gender: Male Race: Prussia Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany Ship Name: Karlsruhe Port of Arrival: Baltimore, Maryland Microfilm Roll Number: M255_48 Page: 5
I have learned that the North German Lloyd Line in Bremen provided regular direct steamer service between Bremen & Baltimore every Wednesday, as well as service to NY every Sunday & Wednesday, and service to New Orleans & Galveston, TX monthly. The fares to Baltimore in 1888 were 500 marks, first class and 300 marks for second class. Children up to age 12 paid half price, while infants up to one year were charged 9 marks. "Between decks" service was also available, but the price is not printed on the contract which I have (June, 1888). However, in that contract, the adults were charged 100 marks each, the children 50 marks; these were likely lower deck, non-cabin prices. The contract also indicates that lower deck passengers were provided "full and nutritious meals" included in the passage price, as well as fresh baked white bread daily. However, the passengers had to provide their own blankets, dishes and "wash sets;" straw mats were provided. The lower deck is described as being "almost 8 feet high" and divided into rooms for families; lighted through "the side window," and with good ventilation. Every passenger was allowed a 1/2 cubic meter free luggage space. Every piece was required to be "marked in oil paint" with full name of owner, destination and date of ship departure. Passengers were required to report to the company's accounting department in Bremen at least 48 hours prior to departure, presumably to pay the balance of the fare due.
Why the Ewalds chose to travel through the Port of Baltimore is explained below in the following from Ancestry.com: "Immigration waves through Baltimore reflected that of other eastern U.S. port cities, like Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. Irish famine immigrants began arriving in the late 1840s and continued to stream in during the ensuing decades. Even larger numbers of German immigrants were also arriving around this time. Other ethnic groups followed, although in smaller numbers. In 1867, immigration jumped when the North German Lloyd Steamship line entered an agreement with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, allowing immigrants to purchase one ticket that would take them across the ocean to Baltimore and inland by train. [BNote: this is the line taken by the Ritters.] Ships laden with tobacco, lumber, and cotton goods from Baltimore’s textile industries arrived in Bremerhaven and returned with European immigrants and goods. That year more than 10,000 people passed through the port, more than doubling the 4,000 immigrants of the previous year.
"In 1868 immigrants began arriving at the new B&O piers at Locust Point. Immigration inspections required of steerage passengers were conducted on board the ships as they made their way into Chesapeake Bay. When they docked at the pier, immigrants could go directly to the B&O trains that would take them on the next leg of their journey. For those who had to wait for trains, the Immigration Station had contracted with Mrs. Augusta Koether who ran a large boarding house. She was paid $0.75 a day for each immigrant who stayed with her. According to Forgotten Doors: The Other Ports of Entry to the United States, her boarding house was a haven for immigrants for close to half a century."
According to Dorothy Reppke and her sisters (all now deceased), Frank Ewald lived in Wyandotte, MI where he owned a shoe store and a bar/restaurant on Biddle Road. He likely died before 1920 as Dorothy Reppke and her 2 sisters could not not remember ever having met him, which is confirmed by the 1915 date of death listed in the prayer book of Joseph Ewald. I obtained his death certificate from Wayne Co. and learned that Frank died 25 May 1915 of cirrhosis of the liver. He was a German-born saloonkeeper in Wyandotte, MI and resided at 264 Oak St., Wyandotte, MI at his death. His father's name is listed as "Gust" Ewald," mother's name unknown; both parents were German-born. The death certificate information was provided by Mrs. Frank Ewald, his widow. He was 52 years old at his death and he was buried at Mt. Carmel cemetery in Wyandotte. The undertaker was H. L. Graunstadt. Remembered by Dorothy Reppke as being a member of the oldest Catholic Church in Wyandotte, MI.
Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 138 Goodell St., Wyandotte, MI, 48192, has no record of his burial. However, there is an Ewald plot there where Emma, his wife, & sons Frank, Otto, Amundus and Philip are buried - section D, lot 171. He is likely buried in that plot, perhaps in grave 1 next to Emma in grave 2.
When his son Otto registered for the draft in June, 1918, he stated his father was born in "Dunsike/Dunsihe/Dunsile" Germany. I am following this clue into possible Prussian homeland information. Frank's name was spelled "Ejwalt" in the marriage record of his brother Joseph.
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