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freund History Recalled PAGE 19 - PLAIN DEALER • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER IS, 1M2 Blessing Of Homes L Following is the text of the talk given by Dr. Hanns Egon Freund before 750 members of the Freund family during the Family Fest held Sept. 4 at Johnsburg. Dr. Freund, a lawyer in Munich, Germany, was guest of honor at the gathering and distributed a wealth of information on the family history dating back several centuries. "I am very proud to be among you here in this beautiful country; and I would like to take this opportunity to address some words to you as a family research-man to tell you more about your roots. "But first, where did your ancestors come from? The country of your ancestors who emigrated in the middle of the 19th century is the Eifel. "Where is the Eifel situated? "The biggest river in Germany is the Rhine flowing from the Alps to the North Sea. Cologne is the most weU known town on the banks of the Rhine. Also Bonn our present capital, is situated on the Rhine, not far south of Cologne. And somewhat in the south of cologne and Bonn - about 50 miles south - the town of Koblenz is located. Koblenz, in the time of the Romans meant 'confluentes' or confluence, for here it is that the river Mosel flows into the Rhine; and the Rhine and Mosel form a triangle near Koblenz. "Somewhat north of this triangle we find our Eifel, or more precisely that part of the Eifel from which your ancestors stem: the homeland of your ancestors. The main town in this area is Mayen. There are not other towns nearby, only villages, in most of the cases: very little villages. "One of these villages is Virneburg. This village's name is already a starting point for the history of your Eifel- ancestors called 'Eiflers'. But let me first do a short historical review: "Already since 900 AD many little territories owned by earls, dukes or princes escaped the central power of the Frankonian Empire. Since the beginning of the 11th century the mighty Dukes of Virneburg reigned in the Eifel region around the town of Mayen. The following villages belonged to the territory of the Dukes of Virneburg. Your ancestors - and mine - were serfs of the Dukes of Virneburg. These Dukes of Virneb. and their successors (the Dukes of Manderscheid and Princes of Lowenstein) reigned in their lands until the French Revolution in 1789. "Soon after the French Revolution in 1789 Napoleon started to conquer the Rhineland First in 1792, then in 1794-95 this part of the German territory west of the Rhine became French territory. From this time on the Eifel was part of France for about 20 years, until 1815 when NapoleOn was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo. 4 The churches and monasteries had already been secularized by the French revolutionary armies, and the territorial owners, the dukes and so on, had been disowned. The people, mostly farmers and former serfs, became free people. "After Napoleon's defeat, the territories of Europe were reorganized at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Most of the dukes and princes were not reinstalled. The Dukes of Virneburg and their descendants lo6t their lands. The Rhineland and with it the Eifel became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. "In this decisive year, 1815 remember, this is the time when mo6t of our emigrants were born, - these Rhinelanders and our Eiflers became Prussians. Prussia, far away in the east, had quite another history and culture. And suddenly our Eiflers became Prussian subjects. "The Prussians did not care for this new and distant territory, they did not care about the Eiflers. The people of the Eifel became poorer and poorer. On top of this there were bad harvests and famine. In the end, they did not know how to live anymore, no commerce, no infrastruGtuse, no impulse. They had nothing more to eat and to live on. Sothe great emigration started in the 1840s. "I repeat-the reason for emigration was poverty not re­ ligious persecution. Don't mix the religious motives for emigration in other regions. The KingsOf Prussia always wer&very liberal. A lot of religious refugees such as the French Huguenots, the religious refugees from Salzburg and so on, did find a new homeland in Prussia. So, even though the Prussians were Protestants and the Eiflers were Catholics, the confession was not the reason for the emigration! "Our poor Eilel people emigrated to the U.S. because they wanted to escape their poor homeland, their poor social conditioh. s "The emigration began in 1841. "The first emigrator from our V imeburg-E if el-area was Nikolaus Frett from Kreuznick near Hirten and Luxem. Together with Frett came Nikolaus Adams and Jacob Schmitt and their families. "After their arrival in New York, they made their way to Chicago. 0 "In the History of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg, Illinois, you may read: Frett, Adams and Schmitt ventured out of Chicago in search of a suitable place to acquire land and take up residence. On Aug. 2, 1841, they agreed upon the wild meadowland which came to be called Johnsburg, and a portion of which became Sunnyside. Having acquired and become settled on the land of their choice, these men Sent reports of their good fortune to their friends and relatives in Germany.' "Frett, Adams and Schmitt had left their wives and children in Chicago. When they went to fetch them, Frett wrote a letter dated Chicago, Aug. 30,1841, to his friends in Langenfeld (Eifel). This letter in German is published in its English translation in the book McHenry County Illinois 1832-1968 on page 732. "This letter was the real impulse for the begnning of the great Eifel (Virneburger) emigration to Johnsburg McHenry county, from 1842 to approximately 1857. And I am proud of it: one of the first who followed Nikolaus Frett and his companions was Johann Freund, born in 1808, - a cousin of my great-grandfather, Martin Freund. Johann Freund (John Freund) arrived with the ship ' in New York in the summer of 1842. there is even more of Johnsburg's history connected to my family: The first marriage of an Eifler in Johnsburg was that of John Freund and a Miss Wagner (Anna Maria Wagner born in Eifel). They married in Nick Frett's house on May 8, 1843. "In the years between 1842 and 1857, four brothers and one sister of my great-grandfather (all from the village of Freilingen) emigrated to the United States. Also my great-grandfather's five cousins of the first degree, all from Engeln; one male cousin and two female cousins of the second degree, all from Kirchesch; and more than two dozen Freunds, more distant cousins from Boos and Arft, Langenfeld, Acht, Luxem, Mannebach and Nitz. "Nearly all Freunds from the Eifel are living now in the United States, mainly in Illinois, Wisconsin or Michigan. When the Freunds came to the USA in the middle of last century, their brothers and sisters-in-law, their uncles and aunts with their children, their nephews and nieces all with their families came with them, - having family names such as Thelen, May, Muller, Schmitt, Engels, Gunger, Schneider, Bantus, Kugel, Adarra, Wagner, Retterrath, Hilt, Simons, Thoens, Bohr, etc.\ "I think you will have enough material in youmtcHenry County Illinois Genealogical society to work oh. And I myself, as a member of this society, will work with you. "Whilst you have been working on a register of St. John's records dating back to approximately 1850,1 have been working on a register of the population living within je territory of the Dukes of Virneburg in the time of 1670, register based on tax lists. I also have some photocopies of tax lists that afe of even earlier times. "Finally I am happy for so many coming to this Freund Family Fest. I especially mention Phyllis and Roman Bauer, Barbara Gerasch, and their friends for organizing this marvelous get-together. I am very glad that I am here with you. "And perhaps there will be another family reunion of the descendants of our emigrants in the Eifel one day. Auf Wiedersehn!" Johann 1 Albany ii "And Father Edward Schott, associate pastor, left, and Father James G. Gaynor, pastor, look over the map of the McHenry area and see that each pin designates a St. Mary of the Assumption parish household. This map shows the plan to bless each home in the parish "before the snow flies" this year. The first results have been most encouraging and elicited such comments as "This is the first time a priest has been in my home in the 50 years I Nominations For Academies Sept. 30 is the closing date for ac­ cepting applications for nomination to the U.S. service academies for classes beginning in 1983. As a member of the U.S; House of Representatives, Robert McClory may nominate young men and women who reside in the 13th Congressional district of Illinois to the U.S. Military academy (Army) at West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval academy at Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force academy at Colorado Springs; and the U.S. Merchant Marine academy at Kings Point, New York. Applications may be obtained by writing to Director of Admissions, U.S. Coast Guard academy, New London, Conn., 06320. ^Congressman McClory urges all high school seniors who are interested in attending a U.S. Service academy to write to him as follows: Congressman Robert McClory, 2109 Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 concerning applications „ and information. Applications should be completed prior to Sept. 30 in order to be considered for classes entering in the summer of 1983. have lived in the pan&ti." The parish is divided into guilds named from invocations to the Blessed Mother. Each guild is encouraged to get to know each other and be the start of more parish dialogue. With each guild praying the Invocation of Our Lady, the Litany to Our Blessed Mother is being said daily in the parish. Each household blessed receives a certificate of Blessing signed by the visiting priest. McHENRY: •F q great town in which to live 6 grow Support your local civic organizations MUSICFEST '82 •80' i *£i. -- t • < . A i •DUjVGj V;,;'- p •* £ Didhe Berlin 1 rtr ^6291 Show Biz Time At Hiqh School How about trying out for the talent show. The Johnsburg PTO is in need of acts for their 1982 show. All grades from kindergarten to high school will be considered. • V . . • ' * Tryouts Will be held at the high school cafetorium Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 6 and 7, at 6 p.m. The rehearsal will be in the auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. The Talent Show will be Friday, Oct. 15. The show will start 8 p.m, in the auditorium of the J6hnsburg high school with admission free of charge. Please note this is a change from the PTO school calendar. They are in need of assistance; if you can help please contact Britt Lund at 385-3787 or Sandi Freund at 497- 4183. DISTRICT 12 NEWS Don't forget the First Grade Orientation night is this evening at 7:30 p.m. at Ringwood school. Please attend this most important event. It will give you a chance to see your child's school and visit with his or her teacher. LADY FORESTERS Today is the last chance to make your reservation for the 1982 Day of Recollection, to be held Sept. 22, at the Villa Desiderata. These must be made to Marie Oeffling. PACK 454 The Webeloes will meet at the home of Les Klotz on Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. There wiU be a pack meeting on Sept. 22, at 7 pja. in the Junior high Multi-Purpose rAm. is the first pack meeting -of the new school year. If you did not haVe. time to register your son please attend*this meeting. Only new boys to the area or boys in third grade need to register. All others will need only to attend the meeting. McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service System Mental Health Crisis Line For McHenry County 1-800/892-8900 Toll Free *. 24 Hour Emergency Number Professional Staff will answer your call. It is said that the Chinese used Humbprints as signatures thousands ' rtlbiplo. SEPTEMBER 25 Pearl Street Park 10 Hours of Fine Music Startyat 1P.M. Food and Drink by The Lions, Jaycees and both loefel Rescue Squads \ Years ago, country folk believed tiiat the seventh son in a family possessed unusual gifts. SALE EFFECTIVE THURS., SEPT. 16 THRU WED., SEPT. McHENRY STORE ONLY •4222 W. ELM ST; 385-7744 MaBboxes May Be Haardous |t To Your Health s •^Transportation research- is have used automobile tifiash tests to reduce the haz­ ards created by common roadside mailboxes. High­ way sttfety department sta­ tistics show hundreds of peo­ ple are killed or injured each year when their cars strike free-standing mailboxes- many of which are set at windshield level--that be­ come deadly battering rams. THE TRIP PUNKIN' DONUTS IT'S WORTH THE TRIP DUNKIN' Dp MUNCHKMS DONUT MOif TOtATS - NOW CLEAN CARPETS WITHOUT WATER! -I r fry for Carpets # At last, a worry-free way to clean carpets that's guaran­ teed safe for all fibers. No water. No mixing. You don't even have to move the fur- jiiture. Easy to use, too. Let us show you the NEWEST way to clean carpets with the Blue Lustre® Dry Clean Machine. % - Save on boxes of 20,45 and 60 assorted Munchkins* Donut Hole Treats. C_3 _ * 'Cannot be combined with any other offer Good at any participating Dunkin' Donuts shop One coupon per customer. ~ 20 RSAVHKS-- -I , MUNCHKINS* $1 AO ! Donut Hole Treats AeW I 45 MUNCHKINS $1 Cfl j Donut Hole Treats X«vv 40 MUNCHKINS $9 AA ! Donut Hole Treats I DUNKIN* • | Limit: 2 offeriper coupon, 4504 W. fit#. 120 AM UTS I Offer Good Now MfUanru llllnnte 1 Thru 9/19/82 McHenry, Illinois It's worth the trip. I L------ SEPTEMBER SAVINGS'- •»-----I OONUTS IIS WORTH THE TRIP DUNKIN' DONUTS IT S WORTH PRICES EFFECTIVE WHILE QUANTITIES LAST EVERGREENS & SHRUBS (ASST. VARIETIES & COLORS) 1 GAL. POT OSCO SALE PRICE 2;$5 00 ROSE KONES 12"xl2"xl4" HIGH PRICE FALL HARDY MUMS Choose from a wide variety of blooming mums each planted in a 1 gallon pot. Assorted colors to choose from BUY ONE* SET ONE FREE TOP SOIL OR PEAT HUMUS •Top Soil-for top dressing, lawn seeding, gardening •Peot Humus-soil conditioner for houseplants, lawn and garden OSCO SALE PRICE $ 1 P*et Hmmmm 25 LB. BAGS REG. $. 179 CL0SE0UT SPECIAL PORTABLE GRILL Gives you 117 sq. in. of cooking space! Includes instant lighting charcoal, has fold-up legs and adjusts to 2 heights. Also burns regular charcoal. No. 914-2 PRICE PRICE