Karl and Magdalena lived near Stuttgart — actually, it was a little village called “New House on the Fildern” (Hiemstra). A beautiful town outside of the Black Forest, my great-great-great-great-grandparents likely came from farming families. However, they left in 1862 for America; what could have compelled them to leave and start a family in a new land? Could they have been unhappy with the appointment of Otto von Bismarck as the Minister President (“History of Western Civilization II”)? The timing certainly seems incredibly reasonable, and given that Karl and Magdalena were practicing Catholics, I imagine they felt uneasy staying to see how this new leadership would affect their daily lives.
So, off they set for the New World, off the coast of France to see what Manhattan had to offer. Karl became known as “Charles,” a typical practice of anglicizing names of immigrants. Of course, they found rather cramped living conditions, yet they started a family nonetheless and a “Neuhausen auf der Stadt.” First came Frank, then Louise and Magdalena (“Madeline”) — we are unsure if Madeline was named for her mother after childbirth or if another child perished with Great-great-great-great-grandmother Magdalena. Unfortunately, pregnancy and childbirth were dangerous in those days, especially at age 40. Regardless, Louise began her life with a step-mother, and here begins my immigrant story.
Works Cited
Hiemstra, Gabe. “Neuhausen Auf Den Fildern: History and Travel Details.” Neuhausen Auf Den Fildern (City Information), 22 Nov. 2025, www.wisdomlib.org/cities/neuhausen-auf-den-fildern-34592.
“History of Western Civilization II.” Otto von Bismarck and the Franco-Prussian War | History of Western Civilization II, Lumen Learning, courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/otto-von-bismarck-and-the-franco-prussian-war/#:~:text=In%20the%201860s%2C%20Otto%20von,state%2C%20forming%20the%20German%20Empire. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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