Sample pages from the book
"Cimbria's" Story
"Borussia's" Story
Bernard and Philomena's Children and Grandchildren
Bernhard Bittmann's Ancestry
The Deeper Origins of the Bittmann Family of Germany
Philomena Bastian's Ancestry
Ancestral Villages
Michelbach's Story
Snapshot of Michelbach, 1792
Bernhard Bittmann was born March 5, 1836 in Michelbach, Baden. He was the fourth of nine children to Benedict Bittmann and Margaretha Dillinger. Four of his siblings � all brothers � survived to marry and raise families. All but his younger brother, Rudolf, stayed in Michelbach. Rudolf served in the Franco-Prussian War, and later married in Baden-Baden. After Bernhard was born, there is an eight-year gap in children before Benedict and Margaretha had their next child. The gap from 1836 to 1844 can�t be easily explained � another mystery to solve in the future.
Bernhard Bittmann�s signature from church records
Philomena Bastian was born Nov. 25, 1841, in Michelbach, Baden. She was the fifth of nine children to Joannes Baptista (Johannes) Bastian and Catharina Hertweck. Two of her younger siblings died shortly after birth � but at least five married and raised families � four of them in the U.S. Philomena's father married three times. Catharina was his third and last wife. Philomena had six half-siblings through her father's previous marriages � five of whom were alive when she was born. Three of them emigrated and settled in New Orleans between 1852 and 1867.
Michelbach is a beautiful, pastoral village that has retained its historical charm. When Bernhard and Philomena lived in Michelbach, people generally were born, married and died in the same village. Almost everyone was related in some way to everyone else. For example, in Michelbach, Bernhard Bittmann had eight brothers and sisters, 51 first cousins, 184 second cousins, and 582 third cousins - in a village with a population of about 1,000 at the time! Anyone descended from Bernhard and Philomena is probably related to the majority of today�s Michelbachers.
Bernhard was 13 years old (and Philomena was 7) when their town was in the middle of a skirmish between Prussian troops and revolutionaries, including Friedrich Engels (see Michelbach's Story).
Philomena's father died in 1858, when she was 17.
Bernhard married Philomena Bastian on Jan. 11, 1864 � four years after his father died, and just five months after his mother died. They had four children in Michelbach � Theresia in 1864, Alois in 1866, Ferdinand in 1868, and Magdalena in 1870. Magdalena died when she was five months old, on Dec. 5, 1870.
Church records indicate that Bernhard was a bierbrauer (beer brewer) and a day laborer in Michelbach. His brother, Rudolf, was also a bierbrauer. The population of Michelbach at this time was about 1,000, and these two are the only bierbrauers I have found so far � so we know who supplied the local beer!
The ship's manifest showing Bernhard and family.
The Franco-Prussian War occurred just before Bernhard and his family left Michelbach. Bernhard�s brother, Rudolf, served in the war. Three months before they emigrated, the German Empire was declared. On April 15, 1871, just four months after their daughter Magdalena died, Bernhard emigrated with his family from Hamburg, Germany, on the ship Cimbria (see Cimbria's Story). They arrived in New York on May 21, 1871, after 36 days at sea. There were 806 passengers on the ship, including one who died en route. During the voyage, the peace treaty between France and Germany was signed.
The Cimbria sank after a collision 12 years later, and 447 lives were lost.
There are two family legends about why Bernhard and Philomena left Michelbach � both related to the Franco-Prussian War.
The first legend is that a French soldier was lost, and wandered near their home. Because they were Germans, he shot a brother. There isn't any evidence of this in Michelbach records, but it is certainly possible that this is based on a real event (although perhaps not involving a brother). Another story is that Bernhard left Baden to avoid serving in the war. This is probably not true, since the war was already over. However, it seems likely that after living in Baden during three wars (the Baden Revolution in 1849, the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, and then the Franco-Prussian War), they had had enough.
Bernhard and his family settled in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Just three months later, they lost another child, Paulina, shortly after birth. This means that Philomena had traveled to America when she was four months pregnant!
Wauwatosa in 1870, the intersection of Harwood Ave. and State St. The Little Read Store is on the left side of this 1870 picture. This building, situated alongside the railroad tracks since it was built in 1854, is one of the oldest surviving structures in Wauwatosa. The white building just beyond Harwood and State was the Wauwatosa House, an inn for weary stagecoach travelers. Across the street, to the right, stood the Dearsley Tavern. Below the tavern, on the Menomonee River, is Wesson's Wagon Shop, near the site where The Chancery Restaurant stands today.
When Bernhard and Philomena came to the Milwaukee area, its population was about 80,000. By 1890, the population had grown to 200,000.
Bernhard Bittmann was a barkeeper in 1880, living in Wauwatosa. Wauwatosa was the home of Franz Falk Brewing Company, one of the largest breweries in the Milwaukee area. Pabst took over this brewery in 1892. In 1880, the Bittmanns lived 14 houses from Franz Falk (based on census records), and most of the neighbors of the Bittmanns were brewers.
In the 1870 picture of Wauwatosa, the building to the upper right is the Dearsley Tavern. The Dearsley Tavern was destroyed by a fire in 1895 that leveled most of the village buildings. The Pabst Saloon was built in its place. It is certainly possible that Bernhard Bittmann, who described himself as a barkeeper in 1880, worked in the Dearsley Tavern. However, 23 people identified themselves as bartenders, barkeepers or saloon keepers in Wauwatosa in 1880, so this is only interesting speculation at this point.
The Bittmanns had five children in Wauwatosa � Paulina (1871 � died shortly after birth), Paulina (1873), Otto (1875), another baby who died shortly after birth (1879), and Paul (1881).
Philomena�s mother Catharina (Hertweck) Bastian was the trailblazer for Bernhard and Philomena. She arrived in New York on the ship Borussia (see Borussia's Story) on Oct. 20, 1865, with four of Philomena�s siblings. All but one of her brothers settled in Wisconsin. Her brother Alois settled in Charlestown, Indiana by 1880 (see �Descendants of Philomena�s Siblings�).
The Borussia sank in heavy seas in 1879, with the loss of 169 lives.
Philomena�s sister Pauline married Otto Osthoff, and the Osthoffs built a hotel in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in 1886. Originally called Hotel M�nsterland, the name was later changed to The Osthoff Hotel. During the Prohibition era, it operated as a gaming casino and featured a not-too-well-hidden speakeasy. It was also one of the haunts of Prohibition-era gangsters. Since then, the glitzy Osthoff Resort was built in its place, maintaining the German theme, and featuring things such as Otto�s Restaurant.
Bernhard died Aug. 16, 1890. His cause of death was listed as a tumor. He left Philomena with six children; the youngest was 11 years old. Both of their daughters were married within two years of his death, and by 1900, Philomena and her mother Catharina lived with Philomena�s sister Pauline Osthoff and family in their Elkhart Lake hotel.
In 1910, Philomena lived in Milwaukee with her daughter Pauline Benzing and Pauline�s husband Adolph. Adolph and Philomena�s son, Otto, were partners in a monument company.
Philomena died July 9, 1916, (cause of death was myocarditis), and was buried with her husband in Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee. I have no doubt that the headstone was made by their son Otto�s monument company.
In 2006, my father and I brought soil back from Michelbach, and spread it on Bernhard and Philomena�s grave.
Next - "Cimbria's" Story
Beginning - The Family History of Bernhard and Philomena Bittmann of Michelbach, Baden
Home - Bittmann and Davis Family Genealogy