What to Write Next

Head hit the pillow and all the ideas for discussion here came flooding to consciousness. Two in particular were most forceful.

One was caused by the recent discovery of the ships manifest of the Barque Geestemunde which sailed from Bremen, Germany on May 3, 1862 arriving in Baltimore, Maryland on June 14, 1862. Aboard that ship were my great grandfather, Martin Skoblik, his wife, Eva Mazna Skoblik and their chidren, Catherine 9 months old and son, Franz, 3 years old. Also aboard were Eva's brother, Jacob, wife Maria, and son Matthias; and Martin's brother, Matthias and his wife, Marie, son Matthias and daughter, Marie.

This record stirred many emotions. Mostly came the satisfaction of knowing the how and when. I've been a genealogy researcher for years and finding something new is always exciting. But I was also taken by the enormity of the adventure! For us today travel is very easy, despite the TSA. We have moved 9 times since we were married. Each time was pretty easy. Movers came, packed and left. Then movers came, unpacked and left. But imagine travel in 1862 in Europe. These families left what is now Luznice, Czech Republic and traveled to Bremen with everything they could carry doubtless leaving many belongings behind not to mention family; all to partake in what we call the "American Dream". They braved the month long passage of the Atlantic packed with 259 other brave souls into the steerage compartment of the Barque where they slept, cooked and ate. God knows what the weather was like!

After arriving in Baltimore, they traveled West to Chicago where they lived for a time. There young Catherine died and was buried. The Martin and Mattias Skoblik families eventually settled in Renville and LeSueur County, Minnesota.

I marvel at the courage of our ancestors to leave everything they knew behind to travel to a country of which they knew little. They had dreams inspired by others who had made the trip and then wrote home about the land of milk and honey. Imagine the hardships they endured to realize their dreams! It was these people and those like them who made our country what it is today. Yet today in this country, many are against immigration. Where would we be if that had been the attitude of the Mayflower passengers? What do we have to loose from letting people come here to realize their dreams and their potential?

Great grandfather Martin was a generous man. He was successful in his new country and helped countless people make their dream of coming here come true. It is said that at his funeral there were so many buggies on the road to the cemetery that you couldn't see the last in the distance.

Thank you grandfather!

(What about the other idea? Maybe tomorrow!)