Introduction
Life in Prussia
Very little is known of Daniel Gutzmann before he came to America.
What little we have is found in the few documents that have been found
or left to various descendants.
The earliest document being his Certificate of Babtism1,
which is actually a copy attained by him in December 1869, from
a church in Carlsrue, Oppeln, Prussia. I have to assume it was something
that he had to have in order to join the army or something in that order.
From this document we learn that he was born to Elizabeth Heinrich Gutsmann
wife of Daniel Gutsmann, a self employed farmer, at Gründorf (also known
as Krogulno Gründorf) in the County/Kriese of Oppeln, on 7 June 1849
and was baptized, 9 June 1849.
Research tells us that the county of Oppeln is found in the Schlesian
province of Prussia (also known as the German Empire at that time).
However, after the Germans were defeated in World War I, Poland once
again had control of this land and Prussia no longer existed. You will
now find his birth place is in Poland. Gründorf is now Krogulno,
Oppeln is known as Opole (pronounced o-pol'-a), in the Polish
Province of Opolskie2.
Daniel joined the German army and served in the war with France3
between 1870-1871 (see the Franco Prussian
War).
Some time between 1871 and 1874 he met a young lady, Rosalia Stodalka.
Rosalia was born Aug 23, 1853, to Joseph and Susanna Walek Stodolka.
She was the third of nine children.
In November 1873 Daniel put in his request to the king for
him and his impending bride to leave Prussia and go to America4
5. On February 28, 1874 Daniel and Rosalia
were married, and preparing to embark on their new life in a new world
and on April 29, 1874 the landed in New York on the SS Washington 6
along with what I believe to be relatives and for sure, future neighbors,
The Karash's and Thomala's.7
I don't know about you but, my imagination runs wild trying to read between
the lines, and I have a wonderful story concocted in my mind. But,
that is all it is right now - just a very romantic story of a young man
and his beautiful bride with so many plans and dreams of raising their
family in a free world. The on obstacle they may have had (once
again my assumption) was that she was born Catholic and he Luthern.
What ever their reasons, I am so glad they came, other wise I may
have been born in Germany instead of America, the country I love so dearly.
Still there are so many questions to be answered about this family
in Prussia. Hopefully, given enough time we will find at least some
of the answers.
We know who Daniel's parents were, but, did he have brothers and
sisters? And, what happened to this family? Where were Daniel
and Elizbeth buried, who were their parents? When did they go to the
Schlesian Province?
I know that after World War War I many of the Germans were expelled
from Poland. Sent out with, pretty much, just the clothes on their
back. They weren't allowed to take any special belongings such as
Photo's or Family Books. But, where did our Gutzman's go? Do
we have a whole family still in Germany somewhere, or did they stay in
Poland, near their church? Did other family members come to America
as well? Since there are no records of letters from or to Daniel from
family members oversees nor stories handed down to his children there is
no way of knowing what his relationships were with his German family.
click on the numbers
to view document or site indicated
1The copy of this
record was generously sent to me by Dennis Gutzman
2This information found in the Kartenmeister Data Base
3Obituary found in
The Cambridge Clarion, 28 Oct 1913
4Taken from Emigration
Paper date Nov. 1883, supplied by Dennis Gutzman
5Tanslation sent
to me by Esther Auch Moedy
6SS
Washington ship manifest signed Apr 29, 1874
7Cambridge
Platte Map
*An interesting note: While Daniel, my father's
father, was a soldier in Wilhelm I's army, my mother's Grandfather, William
Julias Friedrich Havenstein, was a Palace Guard in Berlin. Another
interesting story. I guess this pretty much sets my German roots.*
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