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Turbulent History, Famous Emigrants
and Unknown Ports of Embarkation
No fewer than 64 places in the United
States of America bear the name Hanover - today the capital of the federal
state of Lower Saxony. Han(n)over was once a kingdom, from which many settlers
could claim their origin. Other American place names commemorate the House
of Hanover, which was united, up until 1837, with the English Crown. During
the turbulent years of changing alliances in Europe, emigrants carried
passports from the Diocesan Principality of Osnabrück, the Grand Duchy
of Oldenburg, the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe, the Duchy of Brunswick
and from the middle of the 19th century, until well into the middle of
the 20th century, from Prussia.
Among the most prominent areas of emigration
was East Frisia. Many people from here settled to farm in Iowa, Illinois
and Nebraska. Even today, you can still hear the Low German dialect being
spoken. One famous emigrant from Lower Saxony was Claus Spreckels of Lamstedt,
better known as the "Sugar King of California" or Henry Melchior Mühlenberg
from Einbeck, one of the founding fathers of the Lutheran Church in America.
Besides Bremen
and Hamburg, the port of Cuxhaven
is also important, because of its affiliation with the Hamburg-America-Line
(HAPAG). Lower Saxony's small embarkation points of Nordenham, Brake and
Emden are much smaller, yet no less interesting.
Research and Travel offers:
Heritage tours that
cover Northern Germany
Guided tours in Germany
Research services for your roots in Germany
.
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Heinrich Steinweg, piano designer from Seesen in the
Harz Mountains. In 1853, "Steinway and Sons" first started producing pianos
for the American market in New York. There instruments soon became acclaimed
world-wide.
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