The founding Oltrogge

The family farm, in 1863 Johann Phillip Oltrogge came to America to avoid being drafted into the Czars army.  As the story goes, he came to Iowa because it was a lot like the area of Germany where he was raised.

He ended up with a plot of land south of Readlyn. He broke the prairie and built a house along with his wife Sophia Bruns.  In July 1883 Johann Phillip became a citizen of the United States. We have a copy of the document. it happened in Floyd County at the Charles City court house.

We know that Sophia also traveled to America from Bremen Germany.  She was orphaned at a young age and had several brothers. As the story goes, she came to America with all her belongings in her shipping crate, carrying her spinning wheel on her back.  That had to be a very long trip for a young lady.  I have yet to find a shipping manifest with her name, we think she came over around 1871.  We know that she came to Waverly, IA, Bremer County, United States of America, because that was painted on her shipping crate.

When Johann Phillip was settled, he sent word back to his parents (Johann Phillip and Catharine Luebke ) to have them join him in Iowa.  They came in 1866 with  several of their children, and settled around Denver IA.  They are buried at the St John’s Lutheran Church Maxfield.  It’s in the country NE of Denver.  There is one grave marker for the two and there was a peony bush growing there.

 From the stories I remember, Johann Phillip and Sophie met at a church function.  Probably at the St. Johns Lutheran Church Maxfield. They were married Feb 28, 1873 at Maxfield, St. Johns church. Together they had 4 sons, John Henry, Wilhelm (William), Carl, Albert.  They also had a baby that was stillborn in 1885 and is buried at the Klinger church.  Sophie and Johann Phillip had a good marriage, and Sophie passed away July 29, 1900.  She is buried at St. Matthews (the North church) at Readlyn.

In the fall of 1900, Johann Philip decided that he wanted to go back to Germany, because he thought the German Beer would help his stomach issues.  Henry decided that he and his three brothers needed a woman to keep house while their father was gone.  He went to Smoketown and asked the widow Niemeyer to move in and keep house.  Engel, said I won’t live in a house with 4 bachelors without being married, as it wouldn’t look right.  So Engel and Johann Phillip were married on Oct 30, 1900 before he went back to Germany.  Engel and her daughter Caroline moved into the family farm house. Johann Phillip passed away Aug, 25, 1905, he is also buried in St. Matthews by the pump. Engel continued to live at the farm with Albert and Caroline.  Engel passed away Feb 19, 1939 and is buried at the cemetery in Buck Creek, St. Johns.

 My mom vaguely remembers Engel, mostly that she was old and grumpy.  I have one picture of them together – and Grandpa is pulling mom’s hair to make her behave….. I guess things never change!  At Engels funeral my mom would go up and touch Engel and her cousin Joanne wouldn’t.

Where the story begins....

As a girl growing up 20 minutes from where my mom was born, and her coming from a family of 11.  I was surrounded by lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Along with my grandparents, two great grand mothers and several great aunts and uncles.  Memorial day weekend meant picnics and decorating graves at 5 or 6 different cemeteries and hearing stories at each stop.

In addition, I grew up in a house built in the 1880s and my mom had (still has) pictures of her great-grandparents on the living room wall for as long as I can remember.  This drove my little girl interest in the story of my family. And what a family story it is!

My great great grandparents, Sophie (Bruns) and Johann Oltrogge.  We have the stories of them making the journey to America, for a better life.

My great great grandparents, Engel (Nolte) and Henry Niemeyer also have an interesting stories.

My great grandparents Caroline (Niemeyer) and Albert Oltrogge.

My grandparents Helen (Wehling) and Edward Oltrogge.

My parent Ilene (Oltrogge) and Chris Blume.

Texas Wedding Adventure

This past weekend my cousin, her mom, an aunt, myself and my mom went on an adventure from Iowa to Texas for a family wedding.  During the course of the weekend, I learned that several of my younger cousins didn't know the family history.  I also met a 3rd cousin who shares my love of genealogy.

As a result I've decided to make a blog with all of our family history and stories.

If you have something to contribute, leave me a comment and I'll get in contact with you.

I can't wait to see where this adventure takes us!