Across the Atalantic and Beyond: The Migration of German and Swiss Immigrants to America

There are a number of books which examine the history behind some of the mass German migrations to the Americas. There are some books which cover the valuable input so many of these German immigrants made to and for their new country. Across the Atlantic and Beyond: The Migration of German and Swiss Immigrants to America does both. The first and last chapters of this book delve directly into the lives of two different German immigrant families, both belonging to the author. The remaining chapters provide a step by step analysis of how these families’ histories were put together and what drove these families to move or migrate so often.

This books takes a careful look at major and minor historical events and people who were part of some driving factors in the mass migrations. Key elements in the research analysis include understanding the roles of the printing press and publishing businesses, the Reformation, and the relationship between the Reformation and printing to speed the spread of ideas. Location names and how they changed, religion, land, and government are all under review in one fashion or another within these pages. Not to be forgotten, the Industrial Revolution also played a major role in German-American history; thus, is covered in this book.

Rail and river transportation are examined with special attention to transportation upon the Rhine River. Technology, linguistics and other elements are also given space. Over thirty Illustrations and four maps are added for the reader’s benefit.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Part 1: Gerrit Hendricks of Krisheim, Germany

Part 2: Changes in German Surnames and Personal Names

• Hendriks and Hendricks
• Surnames and Personal Names
• Mechanics of Name Changes
• Heinrich Buchholtz alias Henry Pookeholes

Part 3: Changes in City and Village Names

• City and Village Names
• Griesheim / Krisheim / Kriegsheim
• Old European Maps
• Early American Maps

Part 4: Mennonites, Quakers and the Settlement of Pennsylvania

• The Wandering Menno Simons
• The Beginnings of English Quakerism
• William Penn’s Travels in Europe
• Early German Quakers: A Small Minority
• The Frankfort Companie
• Germantown and the Susquehanna Subscribers

Part 5: Protestantism and Books: Driving Forces behind the German Migration

• Mainz and Gutenberg
• Frankfurt and the Book Fair
• Martin Luther and the Book Wars
• The Froschauer Presses of Zurich
• Matthaus Merian and the House of Merian
• The Rhine Travel Guides

Part 6: The Push and the Pull

• The German Americans
• The Land of Wars
• Of Kings and Queens and Lesser Nobility
• The Rhine as a Migration Route
• Across the Atlantic and Beyond
• Bridging the Prairies of Kansas

Part 7: Jacob Marzolf of Alsace

Glossary

Index

Copies of Across the Atlantic and Beyond: The Migration of German and Swiss Immigrants to America are available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: HBH0697, Price: $34.30.