Wiemers Reunion 2004

New Fountain United Methodist ChurchOctober 10, 2004

Number of Surviving Descendentsin Successive Generations

Generation #

Number of People

2

4

8

16

Percentage Alive

14%

29%

57%

-

Assumptions:- 2 children per couple- Each generation increases by N(2+Gen)

Children to 30± yrs

Parents to 60± yrs

Grand Parents to 90± yrs

Great Grand Parents to 120± yrs

Survivors

“Where Do I Fit In?”

Tim Wiemers

October 10, 2004

Wiemers Reunion 2004

Relating Family History to a Timeline

18

50

1860

1840

1830

2000

1900

19

50

1870

1820

1880

1890

1910

1930

1920

1940

1960

1970

1980

1990

2004

1836 Battle of Alamo, San Jacinto, Texas Independence

1860-65 Civil War

1800

1810

1941-45 WW-II1914-18 WW-I

1965 Man on the Moon

GreeksRoman EmpireJesusMiddle AgesColumbus discovered AmericaExploration of America by SpainPilgrims to AmericaAmerican Declaration of Independence

1804-06 Lewis & Clark

Timeline: 1800 – Current

Texas Independence Era Onward

(Linear Scale, Major Events)

Port destination for many German immigrants to Texas

during mid 1880’s

1844 Established1886 Abandoned

Indianola, Texas

Thriving Portduring mid 1880’s

- Population: 6000 (max in 1875)- Railroad, Post Office- Beef cannery- Strategic military location in Civil War- Second only to Galveston- Major streets paved with oyster shells- Destroyed by multiple storms

Indianola Texas

Ship voyage (60-120 days)

Walk overland (30-60 days) German Immigrants

Route

Camels in Texas

Henry C Wayne transported camels to Texas (33 in 1856, and 41 in 1857)

Henry C Wayne USS Supply (1856)

- Experiment by US Secretary of War- Prior to Civil War- Camels stationed at Camp Verde- Used to transport military supplies in southwestern US- Experiment failed

John WiemersImmigration Document

John’s age when arrived = 26 years old

Born in 1826?

After Texas became a state, & before the Civil War

5 years after arrival

Age 81 years old

John’s age when married = 31 years old

Timeline: 1980 - CurrentCurrent Generation – Younger than 22 years

19

94

1994 O.J. Simpson trial

1993 Allied forces strike Iraqi targets

1990

19

88

19

92

19

82

19

84

19

86

19

98

20

04

1992 Bill Clinton elected president

1983 MLK day made a national holiday

1984 Apple Macintosh goes on sale

1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion1998 Viagra invented

1999 cell phones common

2001 9/11 terrorist attack

19

96

David Wiemers (1982-_), 22+ yrs

1980

20

02

2000

1985 Titanic wreck located

2003 Columbia shuttle crash

2002 Bush eats pretzel

1997 Email & Internet usage common

1995 Oklahoma City bombing

1996 Dolly the sheep is cloned

1991 Iraq Desert Storm attack

1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill2000 Russia sub Kursk sinks

1990 Berlin wall comes down

1988 Sonny Bono mayor of Palm Springs

1987 Reagan challenge to tear down Berlin wall

1982 Steven Spielberg “E.T.” movie

Timeline: 1950 - CurrentCurrent Generation – Younger than 52 years

1960

1975

1965

1965 Man on the Moon

1973 HP calculators available

1981 PC computers common

1964 Beatles on Ed Sullivan show

1962-75 Vietnam War era

1969 Woodstock

1974 Watergate

1979 Three Mile Island nuclear waste leak

1978 Jim Jones suicide

1975 South Vietnam falls to Communists

1990

1985 20

04

2000

1995

1980

1950

1970

David Wiemers (1982-_), 22+ yrsTimothy Wiemers (1952-_), 52+ yrs

1954 Elvis Presley first record

1952 Sugar Frosted Flakes

1957 Russia launches Sputnik

1959 BIC ballpoint pen

1962 Cuba missile crisis

1955

1963 John Kennedy assasinated

1963 John Glen orbit the earth

1955 McDonald’s started

1980 Mt. St. Helens volcano eruption

Timeline: 1920 - CurrentCurrent Generation – Younger than 80 years

1930

1930 East Texas Oil Field discovered

19

45

20

04

1940

2000

19

95

1980

1920

1950

1970

1960

19

75

1990

19

85

19

65

19

55

19

35

19

25

David Wiemers (1982-_), 22+ yrsTimothy Wiemers (1952-_), 52+ yrs

Alvin J. Wiemers (1924-_), 80+ yrs

1941 Pearl Harbor

1941-1945 WW-II

1932 Farmall F20 tractor

1935 Rural Electrification Act

1929 Great Depression started

1926 Andy Griffith & Marilyn Monroe born

1924 John Deere Model “D” tractor

1925 Grand Ole Opry begins

1927 Ford starts making Model “A”s

1938 Medina Electric COOP organized

1946 1st bikini swim suit

1947 Polaroid Land camera

1948 United Nations established

1950 comic trip “Peanuts” first published

1951 “Dragnet” on TV

1937 Hindenburg bursts into flames

1938 Action Comics has 1st Superman

Timeline: 1880 - CurrentA Generation Now Gone

1920

1910

1890

1900

1920 Earl Halliburton pumps cement in oil wells

2004

1940

2000

1980

1950

1970

1960

1930

1990

1914-18 WW-I

1880

David Wiemers (1982-_)Timothy Wiemers (1952-_), 52+ yrs

Alvin J. Wiemers (1924-_), 80+ yrsJohn Henry Wiemers (1889-1978), 88 yrs

1903 Wright Bros flight

1901 Spindletop Oil Field

1912 Titanic sinks

1908 Ford Model “T”

1913 Medina Lake Dam built

1905 Boll weevil ruins cotton crops

1922 State Highway 90 constructed

1909 Robert Peary to North Pole

1897 Tesla invented radio

1893 Hondo incorporated

1892 Rudolf Diesel engine

1889 Eiffel Tower completed

Timeline: 1850 - CurrentChildren of John & Aalke

18

80

18

90

1889 Oklahoma Land Rush

2000

1900

19

50

18

50

18

60

18

70

19

10

19

30

19

20

19

40

19

60

19

70

19

80

19

90

20

04

Timothy Wiemers (1952-_)David Wiemers (1982-_)

Alvin J. Wiemers (1924-_), 80+ yrsJohn Henry Wiemers (1889-1978), 88 yrs

Dietrich William Wiemers (1867-1953), 85 yrs

1875 Bell invented telephone

1885 Windmills introduced

1881 Railway built through Castroville & Hondo

1879 Edison light bulb

1867 typewriter invented

1868 Westinghouse invents air brakes for trains

1873 barbed wire invented

1886 Coca-Cola invented

Timeline: 1820 - CurrentJohn & Aalke’s Generation

1850

18

60

18

40

18

30

2000

1900

1950

18

70

18

20

18

80

18

90

19

10

19

30

19

20

19

40

19

60

19

70

19

80

19

90

20

04

1836 Battle of Alamo, San Jacinto, Texas Independence

1843 first settlers to Castroville

1851 Johann Wiemers to Indianola

1860-65 Civil War

1837 Daguerre invents photography

Timothy Wiemers (1952-_)David Wiemers (1982-_)

Alvin J. Wiemers (1924-_)

Johann Heinrich Wiemers (1825-1906), 81 yrs

John Henry Wiemers (1889-1978), 88 yrsDietrich William Wiemers (1867-1953), 85 yrs

1858 New Fountain Church founded

1864 John Deere patents steel plow

1830 invent sewing machine

1826 First railroad in US

1825 Erie Canal opens

1866 Nobel invents dynamite

2000

1900

1950

1850

1860

1870

1840

1830

1820

1880

1890

1910

1930

1920

1940

1960

1970

1980

1990

2004

1836 Battle of Alamo, San Jacinto, Texas Independence

Timothy Wiemers (1952-_)David Wiemers (1982-_)

Alvin J. Wiemers (1924-_)

Johann Heinrich Wiemers (1825-1906), 81 yrs

John Henry Wiemers (1889-1978), 88 yrs

1843 first settlers to Castroville

1851 Johann Wiemers to Indianola

1941-45 WW-II

1860-65 Civil War

1965 Man on the moon1903 Wright powered flight

#6 Dietrich William Wiemers (1867-1953), 85 yrs

1856 Johann & Aalke married

Aalke Jansen Gerdes (1839-1923), 83 yrs

#1 Christoph John Wiemers (1857-1878),

21 yrs

#2 John Christopher Wiemers (1859-1895), 36 yrs

#3 Bernhardt Christian Wiemers (1861-1932), 71 yrs

#4 Fannie Christina Wiemers (1863-1913), 50 yrs

#5 William Dietrich Wiemers (1865-1951), 85 yrs

#7 Anna Meta Wiemers (1870-1960), 89 yrs

#8 George Henry Wiemers (1873-1960), 86 yrs

#9 Theodore John Wiemers (1875-1963), 87 yrs

#10 Alina Johanna Wiemers (1877-1907), 29 yrs

1858 New Fountain Church founded

1855 Aalke Gerdes to Texas

1845 Texas annexed by US

Timeline: 1820 - CurrentJohn & Aalke – All Children

When married:John = 31 yrs oldAalke = 17 yrs old

Years married = 50 yrs when John died

Total of ten children,but only seven children have ancestors today

1851 storm

1843 first settlers to Castroville

1851 Johann Wiemers to Indianola

US Civil War

1856 Johann & Aalke married

1856-57 total of 74 camels arrive

Johann Heinrich Wiemers (1825-1906), 81 yrs

1850

186

0

187

0

184

0

183

0

182

0

188

0

189

0

191

0

192

0

1900

1886 big storm & fire, 100's died, Indianola abandoned

1845 Texas annexed by US

1847 Fredericksburg founded

1847 2000 people in Castroville area

1834 Germans settle Austin Co.

1845 first house built

1846 Indianola established (renamed from “Powder Horn”, “Karlshaven”, “Indian Point”)

1845 plot of land at New Braunfels purchased

1844 arrival of first Germans from Adelsverein

1845-46 5200+ Germans arrive by ship, many settle in New Braunfels

1848 beef cannery opened, stage coach service began

1852 first newspaper

1847 first Post Office

1871 railroad service began, rapid growth period

1875 big storm, population 6000, town rebuilt

1866 storm

1867 yellow fever epidemic

1858 New Fountain Church founded

Aalke Jansen Gerdes (1839-1923), 83 yrs

1855 Aalke Gerdes to Texas

1836 Battle of Alamo, San Jacinto, Texas Independence

Ind

ian

ola

Eve

nts

1880 population fewer than 1000

1870 population 2000

1860-65 Civil War strategic military port, alternately held by both sides

Indianola Events

Major Storms

Timeline: 0 - CurrentSince the birth of Christ

30 Jesus crucified

1492 Columbus to America

1776 American revolution

312 Roman empire end

20000

1000

1836 Alamo1066 Norman Conquest

1720 San Antonio missions

1900

1400

900

500

1500

1600

1700

1800

400

300

200

100

600

700

800

1100

1200

1300

1815 Napoleon Waterloo

Relating to John & Aalke• When was John Wiemers born? How old was John when he died?• When did John Wiemers arrive in Indianola, Texas?• What was happening in Indianola around this time?• Did John arrive before/after these events?

- Battle of Alamo - First settlers to Castroville - Civil War - Hondo incorporated• Were John & Aalke among the first German settlers to central Texas?• Did John Wiemers use a John-Deere steel plow when he first arrived in Texas?• When Indianola was fully developed, the finest streets were paved with ___

- wood planks - oyster shells - gravel - caliche - tar - concrete• How did John travel from Indianola to New Fountain?• How long had John been in America when he married Aalke?• How old were John and Aalke when they were married?• Were Indians still a problem in New Fountain when they were married?• When was the New Fountain Church established?• How many children did John and Aalke have? How many children had

descendents present today?• John Wiemers was your ___ grandfather:

- Great - Great 2x - Great 3x - Great 4x• What were some major events during John Wiemers’ life?• What were some major events during your grandparents’ life?• What were some major events during your parents’ early life? • Why are the lives of John and Aalke Wiemers important to people at this reunion?

Relating to John & Aalke• When was John Wiemers born? How old was John when he died?• When did John Wiemers arrive in Indianola, Texas?• What was happening in Indianola around this time?• Did John arrive before/after these events?

- Battle of Alamo - First settlers to Castroville - Civil War - Hondo incorporated• Were John & Aalke among the first German settlers to central Texas?• Did John Wiemers use a John-Deere steel plow when he first arrived in Texas?• When Indianola was fully developed, the finest streets were paved with ___

- wood planks - oyster shells - gravel - caliche - tar - concrete• How did John travel from Indianola to New Fountain?• How long had John been in America when he married Aalke?• How old were John and Aalke when they were married?• Were Indians still a problem in New Fountain when they were married?• When was the New Fountain Church established?• How many children did John and Aalke have? How many children had

descendents present today?• John Wiemers was your ___ grandfather:

- Great - Great 2x - Great 3x - Great 4x• What were some major events during John Wiemers’ life?• What were some major events during your grandparents’ life?• What were some major events during your parents’ early life? • Why are the lives of John and Aalke Wiemers important to people at this reunion?

1825 or 1826, 81 years old

1851Camels, newspaper, big storm, beef cannery

NoNo

Walk5 years

31 & 17 years oldYes

1858

Total 10 children, 7 with descendents

Alamo, photography, Civil War, telephone

Apex of our family tree

(yours)(yours)

(Tim’s)

YOUR LIFEis an extension of history

Relating to our family history helps us appreciate

our heritage

Final thoughts to remember…