2005.031

Trebitz, Inge

Gift

Gift of Inge Trebitz

1902 - 1902

Date(s) Created: 1902 Date(s): 1902 Level of Description: Folder

Photocopy of manuscript, curriculum vitae of Daniel Heinrich Fromholtz

55 leaves (numbered by transcriber)

Folder 1

Transcription of Fromholtz curriculum vitae

15 typed leaves.

Folder 2

English translation of Fromholtz curriculum vitae

13 typed leaves

Folder 3

Correspondence & notes, compact disks with digital files, regarding Fromholtz curriculum vitae

Four letters: March 7, 2005 letter from Trebitz. April 18, 2005 cover letter from Trebitz including time line of his life established by her. June 3, 2005 letter from Museum to Trebitz June 21, 2005 letter to Museum from Trebitz accompanying the compact disk. Two compact disks: copy 1, original from donor; copy 2, research copy made June 2005. Complete printouts of the two records in this accession.

Jun 7, 2005

Folder 4

Good

Display Value: Poor Notes: MEMOIRS OF DANIEL HEINRICH FROMHOLTZ WRITTEN IN HOBOKEN, NJ, PROBABLY AROUND THE YEAR 1902. In the 1980's, when I was still living in Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, a neighbor asked me to translate the memoirs of one of his ancestors, Mr.Daniel Heinrich Fromholtz. This man had emigrated with his family from Germany to the US around 1880. Living in Hoboken, NJ, at the turn of the century, he wrote about his travels in Eastern Europe before his immigration and about his reasons for leaving his native country. Since his memoirs were hand-written in the old German script, I first typed them out in German, using his spelling and punctuation. I then translated them into English. These two write-ups are contained on this CD, which I am giving to the Hoboken Historical Museum, together with a photocopy of the hand-written material. Since Mr.Fromholtz mentioned only one single specific date in his memoirs, namely his birth, I have tried to come up with some kind of a time line for his life story: Birth in Thorn 1844 End of schooling in Thorn 1860 End of apprenticeship and Military Service 1867 Travels and work in Russia 1868 Travels to and in Egypt / Suez Canal 1869 Travel to Jerusalem and back 1870 Return to Thorn / War in France 1871 Job training as engine driver 1872 Marriage 1875 Work for Royal East Railroad until about 1878 Work for railroad under Bismarck until 1880 Emigration to United States (Brooklyn) 1880 Move to Hoboken 1888 Writing of Memoirs 1902 Inge Trebitz Thetford Ctr., VT June 2005 FromholtzMemoirs.doc _____________________________________ MEMOIRS OF DANIEL HEINRICH FROMHOLTZ I was born in November of 1844 in Thorn/Wechsler in West Prussia. The city might be known to many because the most famous astronomer Nickolaus Kopernikus was born there, and a beautiful monument of him decorates the city. My father was a carpenter, also my two older brothers. One of them died in southern Russia, the other is still alive in Bergen, where he works as a builder for the Norwegian government. As the youngest of ten children, I went to secondary school until 10th grade. Then I worked for one year as assistant clerk for the county government, where I earned 1 Thaler = 75 c monthly. My good mother saved my first salary of 1 Thaler as a souvenir for me. Since I was used to fresh air and did not like all the sedentary work, and since my salary was not too good, I decided to become a mechanical engineer, whereas my brothers were woodworkers. My father, who was friends with the owner of the largest factory, succeeded in getting me an apprenticeship without salary and meals, and I had to pay a fee of 100 Thaler to complete the four years of work in the different departments. Trusting in God, I started working in the iron foundry. My goal was to respect my superior and to follow his directions precisely. At the end of my first year in the foundry, I had to make an apprentice piece under the supervision of the master. Shortly before, a rich family had ordered an iron crucifix for the cemetery, which I made as apprentice piece. I succeeded after quite some troubles, because the crown of thorns was a lot of work. When it was delivered, gold-plated, it looked quite good, and it still decorates a well-tended grave. The next three years, during which I apprenticed in the carpenter shop, forge, metal shop, and at the lathe, passed quickly, because I worked with enthusiasm and did my best in the various fields of ... next page(s) missing ... I was sent to Spandau for my master's exam. Of course, I had to go through all the different departments first. Before I left, my director said to me, "When you arrive in Berlin, take a carriage to the 'Hamburg' train station immediately, because you will find a train connection there. Understood? You will be expected." Although I followed his instructions, I did not make it to the train. I did not want to walk via Charlottenburg, for it was already late. Instead, I angrily went back along Invaliden-Strasse. Hotell Walter was the first one where you could find a room for the night. But since I saw nobody downstairs, I went up a flight of stairs. I heard merry voices singing, and I thought, "Where they sing, you can settle down, because bad people don't know any songs." I knocked and heard a many-voiced "Come in!" when the door opened. I apologized and asked where one could spend the night. A little girl answered, "If you, dear artillery-man, can play the violin, you can stay; we have a violin and nobody to play it". To this I said, "Hand me the violin, and sing what you want me to play." Since I can play fairly well, everybody sang "Die Wacht am Rhein", for that's what they wanted to hear. My knapsack flew off my back, helmet and bayonet were taken by many hands. The night passed very quickly with happy playing and dancing; it was an engagement party like I have seldom seen. I went to Spandau the next morning at 6 o'clock and reported to the director. I got a healthy scolding because I had been expected and hadn't arrived from Berlin until a day later. My explanation was not accepted, for there are no excuses in the army. After 5 months I was finished with everything and sent back to Danzig. During that short time much had changed already. Our Director von Boris had been transferred, the squadron dissolved, and everything went into private hands. I was in charge of the metal lathe shop. Most of the discharged soldiers went home. Several, who lived close by, stayed. For a while things went fairly well. But then the new director, Mr.Doerge, introduced a new course. Almost all the work was done as piece-work, yet he only wanted to pay half of the original salary. Most of the good and reliable workers left. Though I went to see the director to protest, it was in vain, he did not change his mind. I remained with a bunch of bunglers. Not one was left who could do good work. So I also lost interest, because not everyone is able to treat people unfairly. I quit my job and took to the road. My brother's place in the Caucasus was my destination. First I visited my parents, then I traveled to Vienna, via Breslau. I enjoyed the Austrian Emperor's city, but I was running out of money. I was forced to sell my gold chain for a ridiculously low price, because I needed a little more for the trip down the Danube, to the Walachia area. We had a two-day stop-over in Pest, for much cargo had to be loaded and unloaded. I used this time to go sightseeing in Pest and in Ofen, especially to see the beautiful suspension bridge connecting the two cities. The Hungarian wine there is also not bad at all. The journey then continued down the beautiful Danube, past Belgrad and through the "Iron Gate", where the river has to squeeze between rocks. Specially trained captains had to guide the steamships carefully through the rocks, since the current is very swift. After that we made several more stops, and one day, towards evening, we docked in Gallaz. "Everyone on land", we were told, for the steamship would go no further. The luggage could stay on board until the next day. Everybody left the steamer, I also, hat-box in hand, because I meant to impress my brother with my hat during the visit. Most of the passengers went to a hotel. If my purse had permitted it, I would have liked to go, too. Instead, I wandered around Gallaz all night, exploring. At about midnight, a thunderstorm came up, and it rained hard. In order to find shelter, I crossed the square in front of me, because I had seen a light on the other side. I had hardly reached the middle of the square when I was attacked by several large dogs. It was very dark, and the only thing I had in my hand was the box with my hat. I swung it around to protect myself while I called for help. All of a sudden, the strings on the cover broke and my hat fell into the abundant muck. All I had left was the cover with the handle. Like mad, the dogs threw themselves on my beautiful hat and tore it to pieces. But help arrived. Alerted by my yelling and the dogs' barking, I heard voices calling the dogs back. Two lanterns came towards me, and then two night watchmen stood in front of me, looking at me curiously. I made myself understood as well as possible and asked for a place to sleep. One of the watchmen understood a lot of what I said. He and his colleague grabbed my arm and helped me up, for I had sunk deep into the mud while fighting off the dogs. You will rarely find a city as dirty as Gallaz. When I felt solid ground under my feet again, one of the guards asked me to follow him. He led me to his house and woke up his wife, who said, in German, "Come in and don't be afraid, look, I am German, too." In the small room next to the living room, a light was burning in a corner in front of a picture of a Saint. A bed, table and chair was all that was there. "Now sleep well, my husband will come home from work in the morning and wake you up. Good night." I was alone. Many thoughts raced through my head. Maybe a den of thieves? But no, the woman had too honest a face, and above the bed hung a picture of a little girl kneeling in front of her bed, hands folded, and underneath was written: Dear Father in Heaven, I am closing my eyes, In want to lie down on my bed, Give me, oh Lord, your blessing, Dear God, this I ask of you, Stay with me, watch out for me. After seeing that my suspicions faded. I gladly took off my wet clothes, went to bed and slept soundly. My host knew exactly when the next steamer would leave for Odessa, so he didn't wake me until 9 o'clock. My good hostess had already prepared breakfast, and quite at ease, as if we had known each other for years, we sat down together at the breakfast table. The woman was from the Vienna area, the man from Gallaz. He helped me carry my suitcase to the other steamship, and when I tried to pay the woman for her hospitality, she refused. "I am happy that I could help a German. Go with God", she said. The steamship left and went down the Danube to where it flows into the Black Sea at Tunseverin. For a long time one can still see the blue streaks in the sea. The steamer always stayed close to shore until one morning we reached Odessa. The city leaves a good impression when seen from the sea. It is situated high up on a rocky plain and looks very uniform, all the houses being built of limestone. After the luggage has been checked by the customs clerk, and the passports with the visas from the Russian Consul in Gallaz have been taken care of, everybody can go where he pleases. Of course there are always many hands ready to help the arriving people. Carriages and hotel cabs have a lot to do. After I had hand-carried my box to shore and the first rush was over, I put it on my shoulder and walked on down the first road which ran along the sea. I had to stop often to rest, for my shoulders felt the load. My eyes were searching for smokestacks, because I had no money left, except for that one Thaler which I had earned first and my mother had saved for me. After some searching I heard hammering, as if kettles were being riveted, and really, I had come to a factory. I reported to the guard at the gate and asked him to take my papers to the office. It didn't take long before I was called in, questioned and, after 30 minutes, I was put to work. My box stayed with the guard. There was a lot to do, so we worked through the first night, also the following day and another night. I did not mind, for I had no money except for that one Thaler which I wanted to keep. But even that was impossible, because I was just too hungry. Reluctantly, I had to spend it (because we were paid only after four days of working). I bought bacon and rye bread. I cut both into four pieces, even though I was so hungry I could have eaten the double ration. But I had to. After all, I was in Russia and had the privilege to be able to spend the night at the guard's. Finally, it was payday. Everybody went to the office until his number was called. Mine was 49, "sorro dezwiatters" in Russian. When I had my pay - it was quite a bit, since I had worked for three nights and my job was well paid - the guard took me home with him and allowed me to stay in his house for the time that I worked in this factory. Right away I wrote a letter to my brother in Nikolajew, where he had married a woman from Odessa. Several days later he came to see me, introduced me to his in-laws, who were from Luebeck, and invited me to spend the Easter holidays with him in Nikolajew, which I gladly accepted. Shortly before leaving, I bought myself a nice high hat with a box and got a ticket. On the Saturday before Easter, I boarded a steamship. Of course, I stayed on deck from where you had a nice view. The steamer had many passengers. My luggage consisted of the hatbox, which I guarded quite well, and of another box with small presents for my brother's children. A rather heavy-set Jewish woman was standing right next to me, and pretty soon we had a conversation going. Nikolajew is situated on the River Bug, which runs into the Black Sea. It is the town of the Admiralty. After we had followed the shore of the Black Sea, we went up the Bug River. After a journey of about ¾ of a day, we reached our destination. The steamship slowed down and docked. My eyes searched the shore to locate my waiting brother. There was a sudden jolt, everything swayed, and the lady next to me fell onto my hat, squishing the box and everything. I helped her to get up; she apologized and thanked me for my help. Everybody laughed, but I didn't think it was so funny when I saw the result. I had to throw everything overboard, nothing could be used anymore. Yet I was glad that the lady was not hurt, because besides toys, there was some light glassware in the box, which was all broken. I enjoyed the days with my brother's family, and the time passed too quickly. After the holidays I had to return to Odessa. I said good-bye to my brother, but we never saw each other again. God's plans were different from ours. Back in Odessa, I returned to work the next day. That same evening, a colleague asked me if I was interested in working for the railroad. Twenty-two locomotives, sent in parts by Segel in Wiener-Neustadt, had to be assembled, and the pay was very good. I didn't hesitate, went over to the railroad station, was hired as a mechanic, and started working the following day. After about six months, all the locomotives had been put together. They all passed their trial runs and were taken over by the directors. With everything finished, we were supposed to be transferred to the repair shop. I did not like that idea, since I did not intend to stay in Odessa for good. After a short consideration, I decided to travel with a colleague to Africa, by way of Constantinople. A Turkish cargo ship, which also took on passengers, lay at anchor and was scheduled to leave soon. We hurried to get our passports, went to the docks and bought our tickets. Since we thought we could surely buy food on the ship, and there was not enough time anyway, we boarded with just our luggage. The ship sailed off proudly, with the half-moon banner of the Aberus hoisted.. The next morning we felt really hungry. We were the only Christians on board; the others were all Turks who never even looked at us Unbelievers, let alone gave us food. The trip was stormy right from the beginning. Although we offered one ruble for a ship-zwieback, we got none and had to satisfy our hunger with half-rotten art prints as well as possible. On the evening of the third day it became very stormy. The cargo consisted of Podolick oxen with long horns, with which they gored each other. It must have looked awful in the cargo area. We were spared that sight because the ship sprang a leak. "Everybody to the pumps!" We, of course, first in line. Distress signals were sent out, and the captain walked around with a loaded revolver. I still wonder why we were not shot and thrown overboard. But help was near. The storm had sent our ship off course to Constantia, where our distress signals were seen and answered. Despite hunger and exhaustion, we were happy: Maybe we would be saved in time. The pumps were manned continuously, and as much freight as possible was thrown overboard. After about an hour, which seemed endless to us, the long-awaited life-boat arrived. Our own small life-boats could not be used, since they were badly damaged. We climbed down the ropes into the boat, which took us to shore with much difficulty. Gradually, the sun came up. We were sitting on rocks not too far from the lighthouse. After we had recovered a bit, our old friend hunger showed up again. My companion was quite hopeless, folded his hands and prayed continuously. Finally, I was fed up and told him, "Friend, praying alone won't get us something to eat. Let's walk further up. It is almost daylight, maybe we can buy some bread to satisfy our hunger for the moment." We did have money, having even exchanged some Turkish coins. Since I could not convince him to come along, I went by myself and was lucky, too. I soon met a Turkish man who carried a board with pretzels on his head. When I showed him the money, he put the board down on the ground. I tried one pretzel, and it tasted very good. So I took off my belt, strung it full with pretzels while the Turk was watching, and gave him some money. He must have been an honest man, for he gave me back some small change for my big coin. I returned happily to my hungry friend. When he saw me holding up a pretzel, he walked towards me, and we feasted on the freshly baked goods without leaving anything. That same evening, we continued our interrupted journey on a Russian steamship. We arrived at the Bosporus on the next day. The entrance from the Black Sea is spectacular, and not without reason is it called the Golden Horn. Europe to the right, Asia to the left. The eyes cannot get enough of the beauty in nature and of the wonderful architecture. We got an offer to work in the arsenal, but we passed it up since it was well known that payments were quite irregular. So we continued our journey through the Dardanelle, until we were held up in Smyrna for several days. We were told we had to wait for the mail from East India. Smyrna is situated on the slope of a mountain and produces a lot of good wine, besides providing many countries with the best raisins and currants. From there we crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Alexandria in Egypt. From far away you can already see the column of Pompea, made of one piece of stone, very high and large, polished from top to bottom. (I still have a picture of it). I reported to the German Consulate and received a letter of protection in German and English language. My companion did the same at the English Consulate. His father was an Englishman and died shortly after his birth, so his mother moved to Heidelberg where he was raised. Immediately, we started to look for work, because the journey had cost us quite a bit of money. On the third day we found work in an English repair shop for locomotives, which also had a foundry. The locomotives running between Alexandria and Cairo were repaired there. Also, many iron bowls were cast in the foundry. They were placed upside down into the sand and connected with iron bars to support the railroad tracks, since wood is very scarce over there. The factory was located right at the Nile River, from where we also got all our water. For home use, it is carried in goat skins from the Nile. It has to be filtered first, otherwise it cannot be used. For this purpose, they use large earthen vessels which are very porous, so the water can seep through and then be caught again. The most beautiful street in Alexandria is Consulate Square, similar to "Unter den Linden" in Berlin. Above many doors, stuffed crocodiles are nailed up in semi circles. When the Suez Canal (connection between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, 21 miles long) was dedicated, then Crown prince Frederick of Prussia stayed for some time with the German Consul in Prambarb in Alexandria, where we Germans arranged for a torch parade in his honor. He enjoyed it very much. After I had worked there for several years and had saved quite a bit of money, I wanted to see Palestine. My companion was unable to stay very long in Egypt, because the climate was too hot for him. He spent most of his days in the hospital and finally left for Europe. So I embarked and traveled to Jaffa. Landing there is very dangerous in stormy weather, since a barrier of rocks blocks the shoreline, which has only one opening. The captain did not want his passengers to land there, because the sea was very rough. But finally, the begging of five Franciscan monks, pilgrims from Rome, changed his mind, and he gave the signal to disembark. Immediately, several boats left the shore to take on the passengers. The monks occupied the first one to arrive. I wanted to join them, but the pious men did not allow me to do that, so I had to enter the second one. The first one was about a hundred paces ahead of us. Slowly, we approached the entrance through the rocks. It was hard work for the Arabs, for the waves were quite high. All of a sudden the first boat hit a cliff, capsized, and all passengers fell into the water, never to be seen again. A cry rang out from our boat, since we were almost at the dangerous spot. But our heavily laden vessel passed the cliffs like an arrow and reached the quiet water close to shore, where everybody thanked God. Since the monks had been awaited, many brothers standing at the landing place had watched the accident. I went into the monastery, where each pilgrim gets food and shelter for three days. Services were held for the victims, and every evening people prayed in the chapel until late at night. On the second day I asked how I could continue my journey. I was advised to leave on horseback the following noon. A caravan had left in the morning, and I should have no difficulty catching up with it. I should also take some letters along. I did as the brothers had advised me. After I had fortified myself with food and drinks, I followed a monk who handed me some letters to Jerusalem. He led me to the main gate of the monastery, where a beautiful horse waited for me. Of course, it had to be paid for at the beginning of the journey. The horse stomped its feet impatiently, and I regretted that I had not started with the caravan in the morning. But I was told that the grey was a quiet horse. The saddle and bridle on the animal looked beautiful; the Turks have a very special taste in these things. The bag with oats was strapped behind the saddle. After I had tied the straw hat under my chin - because of the heat it was adorned with a veil - I mounted the horse. "Allah Karim - may the Lord be with you", I heard behind me. "Let the horse run, there is only one way!" He let go of the reins, the horse turned on its haunches like lightning, but I held on to its mane and petted its neck. I succeeded, for after a while the horse quieted down and we took off, trotting and galloping at a frightening pace. But I got used to it very quickly, and around 4 o'clock I had reached a monastery. The horse whinnied, and before I had time to knock on the door it was opened. A monk fed the horse and brought wine and bread for me. Then we went on. We met some Bedouins. Towards evening I caught up with the caravan in a coffee shop. They had rested and were about to leave again, but I had enough time to feed my horse before joining them. A camel was walking in front of me, carrying the sweet load of a Jewish family from Poland. It was not easy for the animal, for it carried five people. The old man sat at the neck, his wife with the youngest in a wicker basket on the right side, and on the left side two rather grown-up boys also in a wicker basket. Both baskets were tied together with wide belts over the back of the camel. The boys must have been too heavy for the old basket, for all of a sudden there was loud shouting, and the boys were down on the ground on the left side. Of course, with the counter weight missing, the Jewish lady with the child also fell down on the other side - quite some picture. We all stopped, the camel had to lie down, and when everything was fixed we went on. It is dangerous to travel alone in that area because there are jackals in the mountains ( a kind of wolf known to have killed quite a number of people). Since I was not used to riding, I quite often walked for hours alongside my horse. The journey continued without any further mishaps. Sometimes at night we could still see the place where we had started in the morning, because Jerusalem is situated at 2,000 feet above the level of the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, we were told we would reach our destination the following morning, if nothing went wrong. Immediately, the Catholics started to let their rosaries glide through their hands. The Jews tied the commandments to their heads. The Russians and Greeks beat their chests to bless themselves. But I could only thank God quietly. They were right. Early in the morning we reached Jerusalem. The companion from Jaffa took my horse. Of course, you can't forget the tip after a successful journey. I felt bad for my dear grey, for in the evening he had to start the same trip back with an Englishman. Now I knew why the horse whinnied at the gate to the monastery and stopped at each spring to drink. Many wealthy Russians, who had been ordered by their priests to travel from Jaffa to Jerusalem, walking barefoot as a punishment, now washed their feet. The Jaffa Gate was not yet open, so I went to a coffee shop, from where I had a view of the town. Soon the sun rose beyond the Mount of Olives in the East, and its rays greeted the golden cross on top of the cupola of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The cupola was built by the French, wide golden bands stretch from the cross to the edge, and the eye is blinded when the sun hits stem. I thought, this is the town so well known for all the blood shedding, and sacred to so many religious faiths; for the Christians, no matter of what faith, have lost their savior there at the cross. It is sacred to the Turks, because Mohamed is said to have gone to heaven from there, and even more to the Jews, because some day their Messiah will come from the Mount of Olives and enter through the most beautiful gate, the golden one. But the Turks have probably walled the beautiful gate shut with the remark that right now they have enough Messiahs, and when the Messiah of the Jews comes from the Mount of Olives, he can walk through the Gate of Damascus or the Gate of Stephen. Jerusalem is surrounded by a thick stone wall certainly wide enough that a cart could travel on it. Boulders as big as a house are right on top. I wondered how they got there, because people didn't have steam power at that time. When the Jaffa Gate was opened, I went inside. On the right I saw a fortified castle, surrounded by a moat. A draw bridge led to the inside. It was the Castle of David. I was looking for Hiaskis Pond, where King David overheard the two virgins from his castle, but I could not find it. So I went on, observing everything carefully. But you have to watch out, for the cobble stone pavement is not the best. After some walking back and forth, I found the German Consulate, where I registered and legitimized myself. If I am not mistaken, the Consul's name was Roose. He welcomed me and told me that I could stay for 15 days with free meals and lodging, to have time for sightseeing. The Consul's servant accompanied me to the place where the pilgrims stayed. I liked it right away, because it was meticulously clean. The host who greeted me looked rather trustworthy. He invited me for breakfast, which was very good. He said that I should hurry to the outer court of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, because on this morning the stone would be blessed on which Christ had been anointed. I thanked him and left after he had described how to get there. It was quite a solemn place. I observed all the ceremonies with lively interest and got so involved that I did not notice that my gold watch was stolen from my vest pocket, though it was fastened with a steel chain. I really had not expected something like this at this place. I was surrounded by Greeks, Italians and Maltesians, but since I had not noticed it I could not accuse anybody. I had enough for the first day; I felt so bad about my watch for which I had paid 200 Thalers in Alexandria. The Consul informed the police, and I gave them the number and an exact description of the watch. However, it did not reappear, in spite of the fact that I had promised to donate it to the Protestant nursing order if it were found. To no avail. The next day, and later on several more times, I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Right at the entrance on the left you find Turkish military guards to keep order. A beautiful marble chapel is in the center. In front of it are two rows of huge candlesticks of solid gold. In the first hall you find the stone which is supposed to have been rolled away from Christ's tomb, and on which the angel was sitting. Then you see... [truncated due to length]