Wiemers Reunion 2004 New Fountain United Methodist Church

Wiemers Reunion 2004 New Fountain United Methodist Church October 10, 2004

Number of Surviving Descendents in Successive Generations Generation # I I I IV Number of People Percentage Alive Great Grand Parents to 120± yrs 2 Grand Parents to 90± yrs 4 - 14% Survivors 8 Parents to 60± yrs 29% 16 Children 57% to 30± yrs Assumptions: - 2 children per couple - Each generation increases by N(2+Gen)

“Where Do I Fit In? ” Relating Family History to a Timeline Wiemers Reunion 2004 October 10, 2004 Tim Wiemers

Timeline: 1800 – Current Texas Independence Era Onward (Linear Scale, Major Events)

Indianola, Texas 1844 Established 1886 Abandoned Thriving Port during mid 1880’s Port destination for many German immigrants to Texas during 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

Walk overland (30 -60 days) Ship voyage (60 -120 days) Indianola Texas German Immigrants Route

Camels in Texas Henry C Wayne USS Supply (1856) Henry C Wayne transported camels to Texas (33 in 1856, and 41 in 1857) - 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 Wiemers Immigration Document Born in 1826? Age 81 years old 5 years after arrival After Texas became a state, & before the Civil War John’s age when arrived = 26 years old John’s age when married = 31 years old

Timeline: 1980 - Current Generation – Younger than 22 years

Timeline: 1950 - Current Generation – Younger than 52 years

Timeline: 1920 - Current Generation – Younger than 80 years

Timeline: 1880 - Current A Generation Now Gone

Timeline: 1850 - Current Children of John & Aalke

Timeline: 1820 - Current John & Aalke’s Generation

Timeline: 1820 - Current John & Aalke – All Children When married: John = 31 yrs old Aalke = 17 yrs old Years married = 50 yrs when John died Total of ten children, but only seven children have ancestors today

Indianola Events Major Storms

Timeline: 0 - Current Since the birth of Christ

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 • • - Hondo incorporated - 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 • • - Civil War 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 • • • - First settlers to Castroville - Great 2 x - Great 3 x - Great 4 x 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 • • 1825 or 1826, When was John Wiemers born? How old was John when he died? 81 years old When did John Wiemers arrive in Indianola, Texas? 1851 What was happening in Indianola around this time? Camels, newspaper, big storm, beef cannery Did John arrive before/after these events? - Battle of Alamo • • - Civil War - Hondo incorporated Were John & Aalke among the first German settlers to central Texas? No Did John Wiemers use a John-Deere steel plow when he first arrived in Texas? No When Indianola was fully developed, the finest streets were paved with ___ - wood planks • • • - First settlers to Castroville - oyster shells - gravel - caliche - tar - concrete How did John travel from Indianola to New Fountain? Walk How long had John been in America when he married Aalke? 5 years How old were John and Aalke when they were married? 31 & 17 years old Were Indians still a problem in New Fountain when they were married? Yes When was the New Fountain Church established? 1858 How many children did John and Aalke have? How many children had descendents present today? Total 10 children, 7 with descendents John Wiemers was your ___ grandfather: (Tim’s) - Great 2 x - Great 3 x - Great 4 x Alamo, photography, What were some major events during John Wiemers’ life? Civil War, telephone What were some major events during your grandparents’ life? (yours) What were some major events during your parents’ early life? (yours) Why are the lives of John and Aalke Wiemers important to people at this reunion? Apex of our family tree

Final thoughts to remember… YOUR LIFE is an extension of history Relating to our family history helps us appreciate our heritage