Karl Goette

Karl Goette was born May 10, 1832. Many sources said he was from Waldeck, some said he was from Fürstentum Waldeck which I took to mean town of Fürstentum, in Waldeck which I understood was part of the German Empire at that time. Additional research and I came to the realization that Fürstentum was not a city or town at all but meant Principality.  The principality of Waldeck covered 433 square miles and was established in 1712.  I still needed to find where Karl Goette was born.

Karl Goette decided he would leave his homeland of Waldeck and emigrate to America. Records show he declared his intention to the government. These records were later published  

I was able to get a copy of the pertinent pages from the Newberry Library in Chicago. 

With the help of the key the librarian also included and Google Tranlate, Karl Friedrich Heinrich Goette declared his intention on November 11, 1853. He was from Mengeringhausen and was the son of Karl Christian Goette. His mother’s name was not listed. Mengeringhausen is close to the capital of Arolsen. More research will need to be done to see if he had siblings, as well as his both his parent’s names and other ancestors. I will be contacting the Lutheran Church in Mengeringhausen to see if I can find more information. 

I next turned to ancestry.com to see if I could find an immigration record into America. I knew it would need to be after November 11, 1853 the date of his declaration of emigration. It was helpful to have this date as there were many Karl Goettes who came to America. The actual passenger list shows him as passenger 159 a male of 21 years of age from Waldek and a merchant.

Ancestry also transcribes the data including all of the headings from the document. 

Name:	Carl Goette
Arrival Date:	20 May 1854
Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1833
Age:	21
Gender:	Male
Port of Departure:	Bremen, Germany
Destination:	New York
Place of Origin:	Waldeck
Nationality:	Waldeck
Ship Name:	Bremen
Search Ship Database:	Search the Bremen in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival:	New York
Line:	22
Microfilm Serial:	M237
Microfilm Roll:	M237_139
List Number:	519
Port Arrival State:	New York
Port Arrival Country:	United States

Karl left from the Port of Bremen which was quite a distance from his home in Waldek. Microfilm references are of the microfilms in the National Archives. Though Ancestry did have a ship named Bremen in its image collection, it was put into service much later than Karl’s immigration date. Karl Goette soon found employment in New York not too far from his immigration point of Castle Garden.

Wilhelmina Buchheit was born October 3, 1834 to Heinrich Buchheit and Maria Juncker in Zweibruecken, Pfalz, Bayern. Sometimes records are not name searchable. I was able to find her record by searching through a database of over 500 images. Fortunately the years were marked so I just needed to go to the correct year and sort through until I found October then look for the names. 

Translation of Wilhelmina Buchheit Birth Record

1834 5th October at 10 a.m. appeared before the mayor of Zweibrücken: Heinrich Buchheit , shoemaker aged 40 years, living here,who declared that on 3rd October at 6 p.m. a female child was born in Zweibrücken to himself and Maria Juncker, his wife, without occupation, aged 34 years, living here, and to whom he is giving the forename Wilhelmina.
This declaration was made in the presence of Ludwig Steffen, butcher, aged 45 years, and Christian Maier, carpenter, aged 34 years, both acquaintances of the declarant and living here.
All signed the document.

Translation by Anne Callanan via Facebook Group Genealogy Translations 12 5 2018

Wilhelmine Buchheit decided to follow her older brother, Wilhelm to America and arrived in New York on June 13, 1857. She was only 18 so it was quite an adventure. I have not been able to find information on her stay in New York, where she worked or lived or when or how she met and married Karl Goette. Most states were not required to keep records at that time. 

Name:	Wilhelmine Bucheit
Arrival date:	13 Jun 1857
Birth Date:	abt 1839
Age:	18
Gender:	Female
Ethnicity/ Nationality:	Bavarian (German)
Place of Origin:	Bavaria
Port of Departure:	Le Havre, France
Destination:	United States of America
Port of Arrival:	New York, New York
Ship Name:	Germanic
Search Ship Database:	Search for the Germanic in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

In 1860, the next record I have is a federal census record showing them in Chicago. They would stay in Chicago for several years while Karl worked as a clerk  for WS Mason and Co. as shown in the 1862 city directory. 

Two more children were born to the couple while in Chicago but by 1865 the family moved to Watertown Wisconsin, where her brother William lived. By 1870, Karl was now using Charles and had established himself as a grocer. Daughter Minna joined the family soon after they moved to Watertown, Wisconsin.

City directories for Watertown show the first store was on 5^th and Main St.  Later, Charles Goette built up his business so he had 3 storefronts built on 4^th and Main. His store encompassed both the basements and first floors of all three with the family living in the second floor space. The buildings are still standing and are now on the National Historic Register. Charles regularly placed ads in the city directories and also the local newspapers for his business.

Charles was also very Civic minded. He was instrumental in establishing the Plattduetscher Verein, an organization which provided a not only a social outlet for the German immigrants but also would supply financial aid to any German family whose husband had passed on leaving a widow and children.  Charles was also a member of the Oddfellows organization. In 1877 Charles was elected Alderman of the First Ward as reported in the Watertown Republican Newspaper.  That same paper can be read on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov to follow all of the Alderman’s business. 

Sadly, in 1887, Charles became ill and passed on November 3. By this time he was a well respected business man and his death was reported in several newspapers. 

Telegraphic Notes

Date: Friday, November 4, 1887  

Paper: Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL)  

Volume: XVI  

Issue: 223  

Page: 6 

Charles Goette

Date: Friday, November 11, 1887  

Paper: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)  

Volume: XLIX  

Issue: 13  

Page: 6  

Having worked in the store as a clerk for many years, Carl Goette Junior assumed responsibility for the store. His life was cut short way too soon as he passed May 14, 1891 leaving behind his wife of scarcely a year and an unborn daughter his wife named Norma (July 7, 1891).

   

The nuptials of Charles Goette and

Miss Lizzie M.Krueger were celebrated

Sunday evening, May 11th, 1890, at the

residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs.

A. Krueger, in the Sixth ward. Rev. H.

Sterz, of the Protestant Evangelical

church, performed the ceremony. The

many friends of the couple wish them

every joy and prosperity in their married

life.

The nuptials of Charles Goette and

Miss Lizzie M.Krueger were celebrated

Sunday evening, May 11th, 1890, at the

residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs.

A. Krueger, in the Sixth ward. Rev. H.

Sterz, of the Protestant Evangelical

church, performed the ceremony. The

many friends of the couple wish them

every joy and prosperity in their married

life.

Charles Goette, one of our young

business men, died Thursday evening,

at his home in the First ward, aged 27

years. He was taken with grip about

two weeks before his death, which

finally assumed a typhoid character.

His decease is a sad commentary on

the uncertainty of life and will be

learned with sorrow. Mr. Goette

leaves a wife, to whom he was married

scarcely a year. The funeral was held

Sunday afternoon from the Protestant

Evangelical church. (Watertown Republican May 20, 1891)

With her children grown, Minna Goette chose to move to Milwaukee to live with one of her daughters. She died September 2, 1898. Her body was brought back to Watertown where she was buried in the Goette family plot next to her husband.

Minna Goette Grave Oak Hill Cemetery, Watertown WI

Mrs. Charles Goette, sister of our

townsman, William Buchheit, died

Friday at her home in Milwaukee,

aged 64 years. Up to about six

years ago Mrs. Goette was a resident

of this city, her late husband conducting

a commission and grocery store

on Main street. Deceased is survived

by five daughters: Mrs. Albert Krueger,

of this city; Mrs Augusta Redanz,

Mrs. Emma Albrecht, Mrs.

Emil Miller and Miss Lucy Goette.

Monday noon the remains were

brought here and interred in Oak

Hill cemetery. (Watertown Republican 9 7 1898)

Karl Goette Grave Oak Hill Cemetery, Watertown WI.

Emma Goette married Wilhelm Albrecht on December 16, 1893 in Milwaukee County. Her parents never found favor with her choice of spouse. While the all of her siblings’ nuptials  were reported in the Watertown papers, hers was not. It was customary to list married women by their husband’s names, such as Mrs. William Albrecht. However, in her mother’s obituary she is listed as Mrs. Emma Albrecht which usually meant that the husband was no longer with his spouse. The final slight, was the final resting place. Emma is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in the Goette family plot in Watertown while her husband who died several years later is buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Milwaukee in his family’s plot.

 

Emma Albrecht Grave, Oak Hill Cemetery Watertown WI

Ogema Lady Passes Away

            Mrs. Emma Albrecht, aged 61 years and 27 days, passes away at her home in the town of Ogema, Saturday, May 12, after an illness of several months. Death was due to diabetitis.

            Mrs. Albrecht was born at Watertown, Wis, April 15, 1873. She came to Price County in 1914, where she has since made her home.

            Sunday evening the body was taken to Watertown, where burial services were held on Tuesday, May 15^th.

            Surviving relatives include her husband, four sons- Ed., Prentice, Erwin, Frank and Max, Milwaukee; and a daughter Luella, also of Milwaukee.

            The sincere sympathy of a great circle of friends is extended to the bereaved family.

(Phillips Bee May 17, 1934)

Molly Sigafus at her GG grandfather William Albrecht's Grave 

Lincoln Memorial Cemetery Milwaukee WI 2016

William A. Albrecht

            Funeral services were conducted in Milwaukee Saturday, June 6^th for William A. Albrecht who passed away at the Medford Hospital on the preceding Tuesday. Rev. Froeming, pastor of a German Lutheran church in that city, officiated and interment was made in the Wanderer’s Rest Cemetery in Milwaukee. Mr. Albrecht had sustained a stroke last fall and had never recovered from its effects.

            The deceased was born in Germany on January 21, 1871 and was 71 years, 4 months, and 11 days of age at the time of his passing. He came to the United States in 1888, first making his home at Watertown where he was united in marriage with Emma Goette in 1893. Ten children were born to this union, five of whom survive their father. The family moved to Prentice in 1914 and to Ogema six years later. Mr. Albrecht had always followed the farming occupation. He was well and favorably known in both Ogema and Prentice and his many friends in these communities were grieved to learn of his death.

            Surviving immediate relatives include four sons and one daughter, Irvin of Milwaukee, Edwin of Ogema, Louella (Mrs. Einar Neilson), Max and Frank, all of Milwaukee: three sisters, Mrs. A.V. Hoffmann of St Louis, Mo. Mrs. Max Brueckner of Milwaukee, and Mrs. Bertha Stahl, who resides in Mexico: ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mrs. Albrecht preceded her husband in death, passing away on May 12, 1933.

            The funeral services were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Albrecht and family of Ogema, Mrs A. V. Hoffmann of St Louis, Mo., the relatives who reside in that city and numerous friends from there.

            The sincere sympathy of a large circle of friends is extended to the bereaved relatives in their hour of great sorrow.

( Phillips Bee June 11, 1942)

No Fireplace?! How will Santa come?

Our house didn't have a fireplace so  Jolly old St Nick otherwise known as Santa couldn't come down the chimney. I remember it being a problem as we approached Christmas. Yet, Mom calmly had a solution. We will leave the door open for him! As we made our preparations on Christmas Eve, tummies full of lutefisk and potato sausage, already home from church, we needed to set out our favorite cookies for Santa with a large glass full of milk. We placed the snack on the end table near the tree so Santa could find it easily. We laid our stockings on the couch, and scurried off upstairs to bed. Mom came up to tuck us in, and encouraged us to get right to sleep so Santa could come.

It was still dark outside, but we were sure it was morning. First one awake made sure the others were up and ready. The three of us scampered excitedly downstairs to see what Santa had brought us. The ceiling height balsam sparkled with the large lights and their reflectors, glass ornaments and tinsel swaying gently in the breeze of a furnace vent. Wrapped packages were piled high under the tree. Santa's gift to us usually wasn't wrapped so we could look but not touch until Mom and Dad joined us. We knew it wouldn't be long and turned our attention to the stockings that were stuffed and laying on the couch. It was tradition that we could open our stockings without Mom and Dad so we eagerly tipped them upside down to see what Santa filled them with. In the toe was stuffed a large orange and usually larger apple. A candy cane or two, maybe some chocolate, and a couple of small trinkets that would fit.  I remember one year a multicolor pen, a push puppet, and a puzzle book were in mine. Santa seemed to know what would delight us.

Mom and Dad were up by now, though it was still dark. We never looked at a clock though years later, Dad mentioned that some years he had barely gotten to bed when we eagerly awakened them.  Dad would set the floodlights up, and get the movie camera ready. Finally, we could open our presents.   We tore into them as vultures in a feeding frenzy while Dad captured the moments on silent movies. We dutifully showed the camera what was in each package before we tore into the next one slowing down only to check the nametags on each package. Too soon the packages were all opened, wrapping paper needed to be captured in a black garbage bag, and we could take the time to enjoy our presents. Dad put the movie camera away and packed up the floodlights until the next event. Mom set about getting breakfast together for us, daylight just breaking. Christmas Day; Mom was right, Santa came to our house even if we didn't have a fireplace or a chimney for him to come down.

I've Been Working On The Railroad Part 10

17^th St Yard office

At 17^th St.  adjacent to the stairs to the Yardmaster’s tower was a large room where the manifest desks sat. They were enclosed somewhat by a counter. Also in that room was the Superintendent’s secretary with her desk just outside the supe’s door. You needed to be a Stenographer for that job so it wasn’t often that her vacations got filled.  Restrooms were to the side, with the men’s being larger of course. Ladies was just a small one stall room.  Across from the ladies room was the door to the north room where the Chief clerk, rack clerks, keypunch operators and all their equipment was housed. At the far end of the north room was a pass through window that the Carmen could put their reports.. Their offices were in the next room although they didn’t spend much time there. On the other side of the building, was the traincrew and switchcrew locker and lunch room which was quite large. Also on the south side of the building was a East west oriented room that housed 4 desks. My memory fails me as I only worked in that room once but two of the jobs were the Bill Clerk and the Demurrage Clerk.  And of course the Tower was the Yardmaster’s domain where the windows allowed him to oversee what his crews were doing.

The whole building looked like it hadn’t been painted in years, the walls covered with memos and job instructions. Early on the atmosphere was always blue with smoke because everyone smoked then so second hand smoke made me sick and many nights left work with a pounding headache. There were a couple of cigar smokers as well. I tried to combat that with incense and of course was shut down.  I was so happy when they passed the workplace clean air act and made sure the superintendent knew about it as soon as it was passed. It did clean up the air a little but took a long time and never did get the smoking out of the crew vans completely which again just added to my headaches.

17th St Yard Office 1983 Photo by Jeff Lemke

I've Been Working on the Railroad Part 9

The 1990’s -The Beginning of the End

The 1990’s began with more doom and gloom for clerical workers on the BN. Though there had been many retirements, there had not been any new hires for over a decade. Industry trade magazines pointed to new Federal laws requiring bar code scanners on each rail car within a couple of years. Additional technology made much of the clerk’s work obsolete. The rest could be done from a more centralized location. Switch crews were also given hand held computers. Morale was at an all-time low. Clerks were distrustful of former friends and coworkers. Yardmasters chatted with clerks less and less. It seemed everyone was fighting for their jobs knowing the fight was futile. Those years found me more and more on the GREB (Guaranteed Rotating Extra Board) board thankful for my Guarantee as rarely did I get 5 days of work in.  Before cell phones, you needed to be available during call hours and needed to be less than an hour from any of the work locations they were likely to call you for. My life was lived Plan A I would go to work, or Plan B, I would do something else until the next call period. If I didn’t get called during the third call period of the day, I knew that had been my day off.

By this time, most of the outlying clerks’ jobs had already been abolished. If crews needed transport, a yard clerk from 28^th St would supply the ride. The line between job duties diminished as other clerks needed to fill in for yard clerks. Most of us didn’t mind and were happy to be out of the tension filled office for a while.

Trainmasters were increasingly treating the clerks as dirt, making snide comments which in most cases we had no choice but to ignore.

Rumors of another merger came to fruition. The creation of BNSF started with the formation of a holding company, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation on September 22, 1995. This new holding company then purchased the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (often called the "Santa Fe") and Burlington Northern Railroad, and formally merged the railways into the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway on December 31, 1996.

The merger again meant more changes for the clerks. The new union negotiated agreement included separation language meant to dissolve clerks’ jobs at will. Clerks were offered a one-time lump sum severance package which by corporate standards seemed generous. Or they could take a six year buyout plan which they could at anytime during be subject to recall or risk losing their monthly payments. However, during the six years they would also accumulate credits for Railroad Retirement.  It was stipulated in the contract that employees with the least seniority would be forced back to work first.

It took the railroad almost a year to acclimate themselves to the new merger. We clerks knew the end was coming, but most of us remaining held on as long as we could just trying to do the best we could. The trainmasters continued to make our lives miserable with their comments. I felt the comments were totally uncalled for and finally spoke up with a comment of my own. Straight faced I commented, “That will look good on the harassment suit, won’t it.” I walked away.  It had the effect I wanted and at least for me, most of the harassment stopped.

The day came when we were forced to make our decision about separation with the company in November of 1997. If we wanted to continue to be employed by the railroad, we needed to be ready to transfer to Fort Worth, Texas and upgrade our skills. The separation papers allowed us to either take the lump sum or the six-year plan. Most of us took the six-year plan. We would continue to get paid full pay for the next six years or until they called us back to work.  I signed the papers knowing my life was about to change. The railroad had been my career for over 20 years. I needed time to mourn a job I had enjoyed immensely so took a long walk through the 17^th St yard. Tears flowed profusely and I was glad I was not summoned to give a ride to anybody.

Things went along for a few months and we soon realized that our union had sold our seniority out from under us. The railroad did call back a few clerks and forced the youngest in seniority to take the job or give up the severance package. Some had already found other employment so gave up the severance. Others took the jobs offered. Unfortunately, nowhere in our contract’s language did it mandate that the jobs needed to be offered to the most senior clerks first. Thus, several clerks holding less seniority than I and several others went back to work as crew haulers or yard clerks.  My final separation payment from the Railroad was November 2003.