Individual Notes
Note for: John (Johann) Schweitzer, 29 Oct 1843 - 4 Jul 1898
Index
Christening: Date: ABT Nov 1843
Place: Biwer, Biwer, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Burial: Date: ABT Jul 1898
Place: Mankato, Blue Earth, MN
Individual Note: EMIGRATION: John came to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1861. They probably just took a coach from Biwer to Luxembourg City because at that time there was a train from Luxembourg City to Antwerp.
Once they arrived at the harbor of Antwerp, it was rare that the passengers could board right away and then leave. There were always repairs and loading and scheduling so they usually had to stay one or two nights before boarding. Some immigration agents had some boardinghouses under contract.
Reason for Emigration: These were essentially economical. The great duchy was a poor underdeveloped farming country where day laborers, village craftsman and small landowners hardly could make a living. A series of bad harvests only increased unavailability of land, high taxes, political discrimination against the lower classes and military draft increased the rampant poverty.
Emigration was particularly high in the area of the Moselle River Valley, where in the 1840s and 1850s a series of bad wine harvests pushed the indebted winegrowers into bankruptcy.
Even though most emigrants had little property, they usually had a small house, some domestic animals and some furniture to sell in order to have some money to pay for the fare and a new beginning in the United States.
The trip across the Atlantic took from three weeks to two months depending on the weather and wind because they were on sailing ships.
Several first contact destinations were possible on the North American Continent. One method was to go by way of Canada and the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Another method was landing on Manhattan and taking a boat up the Hudson River and then the Eire Canal west to Buffalo and going through the Great Lakes. The final possibility was to travel by railroad from New York City to Chicago and then further west.
CENSUS: 1865, Rollingstone, Winona, MN, family no. 7, John W. Swetzer?, FHL film no. 565716.
CENSUS: 1870, MN, Blue Earth, Mankato, page 528 (6), line 7, Keeping Hotel, 10 guests, age 26, John Schwitzer, FHL film no. 888975.
CENSUS: 1880, Mankato, Blue Earth, MN, E.D. 19, 2nd ward, page 43 stamped 459, line 24, John Schweitzer, age 36, Saloon Keeper, LUX LUX LUX, FHL film no. 1254615.
CENSUS: 1895, Mankato, Blue Earth, MN, 4th ward, page 192 (4), Family No. 41, John Schweitzer, age 50, in state 34 years, FHL film no. 565763.
BIOGRAPHY: History of the Minnesota Valley, Edward D. Neill, 1882 and 1974, p. 566, FHL film no. 1000253, item 2.
SOURCE: "In A Large Circle of Relatives: A Genealogical Guide to the Early Community of Rollingstone, Minnesota", by Mary E. Nilles, 1989, pages 137, 252, 329 and 352. FHL Call no. 977.612/R1 D2n.
Individual Notes
Note for: Peter W. Schweitzer, 4 Feb 1854 - 14 Jul 1878
Index
Christening: Date: ABT Feb 1854
Place: Biwer, Biwer, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Burial: Date: 16 Jul 1878
Place: Calvary Cemetery, Mankato, Blue Earth, MN
Individual Note: EMIGRATION: Peter W. came to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1861 and they probably just took a coach from Biwer to Luxembourg City because at that time there was a train from Luxembourg City to Antwerp.
Once they arrived at the harbor of Antwerp, it was rare that the passengers could board right away and then leave. There were always repairs and loading and scheduling so they usually had to stay one or two nights before boarding. Some immigration agents had some boardinghouses under contract.
Reason for Emigration: These were essentially economical. The great duchy was a poor underdeveloped farming country where day laborers, village craftsman and small landowners hardly could make a living. A series of bad harvests only increased unavailability of land, high taxes, political discrimination against the lower classes and military draft increased the rampant poverty.
Emigration was particularly high in the area of the Moselle River Valley, where in the 1840s and 1850s a series of bad wine harvests pushed the indebted winegrowers into bankruptcy.
Even though most emigrants had little property, they usually had a small house, some domestic animals and some furniture to sell in order to have some money to pay for the fare and a new beginning in the United States.
The trip across the Atlantic took from three weeks to two months depending on the weather and wind because they were on sailing ships.
Several first contact destinations were possible on the North American Continent. One method was to go by way of Canada and the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Another method was landing on Manhattan and taking a boat up the Hudson River and then the Eire Canal west to Buffalo and going through the Great Lakes. The final possibility was to travel by railroad from New York City to Chicago and then further west.
CENSUS: 1865, Rollingstone, Winona, MN, family no. 7, Peter X. or Y. (W.) Swetzer, FHL film no. 565716.
CENSUS: 1875, MN, Blue Earth Co., Lake Crystal, page 383, line 17, family 46, Peter W. Schweitzer, age 21, HOL HOL HOL, FHL film no. 565717.
MARRIAGE: Marriage record, MN, Blue Earth Co., page 360, FHL film no.
1309276.
DEATH: Death record, MN, Blue Earth Co., B1-129-8, FHL film no. 1309384
DEATH: Mankato Review newspaper, Mankato, MN, July 16, 1878, page ??, drowned in Lake Madison.
DEATH: Mankato Record newspaper, Mankato, MN, July 20, 1878, page ??, drowned.
BURIAL: MN, Blue Earth Co., Mankato, Calvary Cemetery, section 9, block 40, lot 158, grave 2.
SOURCE: "In A Large Circle of Relatives: A Genealogical Guide to the Early Community of Rollingstone, Minnesota", by Mary E. Nilles, 1989, pages 137 and 252. FHL Call no. 977.612/R1 D2n.