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My Trip to St Leon, Indiana

I was in Lawrencburg, Indiana for work this week. It’s about 30 minutes from St Leon.  The Rosenberger history is coming full circle because this is the town that Johannes and Elizabeth Rosenberger migrated to from Schimborn.  I called my cousin Carla and she was able to give me some directions.  I stopped at the church and went inside.  The name is St Joseph Catholic Chruch.  See the attached pictures.  I went inside and took pictures and lit three candles- one for my dad, one for my mother, and the last for Johannes and Elizabeth.  Upon walking out, I noticed a history book which I puchased for three dollars.  It was on the honor system; so, I put in the envelope behind the remaining books.  I also noticed a picture of soldiers from or from families of the church. The amazing thing is that one soldier belongs to my unit that I would later find out his grandmother still lives there and he was married there.

 

I then entered the cemetary to find Johannes and Elizabeth’s graves.  Carla had given me pretty good directions.  See attached pictures.  The cross in the cemetary is the location of the original chruch.  From what Carla said, Johannes and Elizabeth lived above the bar across the street from the chruch.  Carla told me that Alyosuis lived down the road in what is now a conservation club. All that is left is the foundation.  I was unable to find it.  I will look for it in March when I go back to Lawrenceburg when I go back for another meeting.

 

The day would not be complete without some German food; so, I went to the Sherman House in Batesville where I enjoyed a German Buffet. It was very good.

 

I need to find out about Johannes service in the Civil War.  The legend has it that he came back from the Civil War paralyzed from the neck down and that he was missing a leg.  But, my cousin Butch and I have not been able to find a record of his service.

Trip to Schimborn

When I came to the Netherlands, I decided to travel to the town where my family was from.  I small town about 280 miles from Amsterdam in Bavaria, Germany.  I found out that I had three days in between conferences.  I got up Saturday morning (11 Oct) and threw my bags into my Silver Opel Station Wagon and started to drive to Germany.  I stopped about three times for gas and Diet Coke. 

 

The Autoban was not as crazy as I had heard.  People drive fast.  Most drove between 120-140 kph. 

 

I arrived in Schimborn about 1400. I did not know anyone and I thought I would just go to the church and asked the local Priest which later I found out woyld be a mistake because Schimborn did not have a full time priest.  So, I drove around for about an hour and stopped at this house and asked the lady who did not speak english.  She understood enough to direct me to a house about 4 houses up from hers. 

 

I rang the door bell and an older gentlement answered. Ludwig Rosenberger.  Who fought in WW II and was about 84.  I found out later he worked for the American Army in Aschaffenburg making trousers.  He retired in 1985. He took me and showed me a wall of all of his stuff including certificates and a small replica of a Battalion’s Colors (Field Artillery).  He spoke pretty good English.  His grandson, Florian lived in the apt above him in the same house. Florian was 23 and working in an office in a nearby town.  Ludwig knew of this guy he called the teacher (H. Friedel) who had written books on Schimborn and would know about my family.  Me, Florian, and Ludwig piled into my Opel and set out to find the teacher.  We went two three different houses which we would find out that Kurt (Ludwig’s son and Florian’s father) passed him leaving town. 

 

So, Ludwig decided to go to a local pub and talk to this other guy who might know some things.  So, we went to the local pub and met the older gentleman.  Anita was the waitress and owner (who was a rosenberger).  We had a German Beer (which Kurt bought). and we talked.  Kurt found me a room at the Pension Huhoff in Schimborn to stay.

 

We then went to the new cemetary and Ludwig showed me his wife’s parents graves and a monument to the veterans that he helped build.  Then we went to the Schimborn Fire Station which Kurt is the Commander there.  He showed me the fire trucks and around the station.  We took some pictures and then they took me to the inn. 

 

We met Evelyn Vissel at the inn. She did not speak English, but Florian translated for me.  She had a room and was charging me 50 Euro for the two nights with Breakfast.  She told me that she would be back at 8 the next morning to serve me breakfast.  There was a guy in the inn cooking dinner who was kind of scarey.  I moved my car down by the door and unloaded my bags.  I downloaed pictured and called my wife.  I went into the common dining room to find three guys huddle around a small tv.  I decided to go back to my room. I went down to the inn Resturant and there was a lady and gentlemen in there.  The lady was the cook/waitress and they guy was there having a beer. The guy spoke some English.  I decided on Jager Schnitzel (tenderloin with gravey, mushroom, and paprika), fries, and mineral water.

 

I woke up the next day. Evelyn prepared a nice breakfast with rolls, bread, tea, swiss cheese, rasberry jam, yogurt, orange juice.  I ate breakfast and drove to meet Ludwig for mass.  We drove to the chruch.  Ludwig was dresssed in a gray suit that was embroidered. He had suspenders.  We went to mass.  I was lost most of mass, but I knew when to give the sign of the cross, peace be with you, offering, the euchrist, and the Lords Prayer.  We went to meet some people afterward and the priest and a woman told me that the church records were in Wurzburg. 

 

I dropped Luwig off and went around the city taking pictures.  I was outside the pub reading when Kurt opened the door and invited me in.  We sat with a group of old me that did not speak english. I met another guy named Ludwig who was once the twon sherriff.  A farmer showed up and he spoke some English.  He lived down the street and grew vegetables for market.  We talked back and forth.

 

Kurt invited me back to his place for lunch.  I met his wife Diana who was a hair dresser in the next town.  She had cooked pork, red kraut, and a type of "bread ball" and gravey.  It was very good.  Kurt brought out books that the teacher had written on Schimborn.  It had entries of the people that immigrated to America.  Johanes was in it.  So, I knew that we had a lead.  Kurt gave me a beer glass and Schimborn Fire Dept Pactch and sticker.  I have Ludwig, Florian, and Kurt my deployment coins from Iraq.

 

We went to see "The Teacher" at 1 pm and he told me about the Crest of Schimborn. He also told me about Wilhelm Rosenberger who was the first Rosenberger.  It was not Peter. Peter was the second Generation.  He offered to do my family tree to Johannes and then I would send him the American side.  He took my address and said it would take two weeks. 

 

Diana, Kurt, Florian and I took a walk around to match the houses where the Rosenbergers lived that immigrated.  Johannes lived in House #8 (see picture in album). It has been rebuilt since then but there was a very old barn nearby.  We walked around Schimborn and two a pond where people fish.  Kurt drove Florian and I to Aschaffenburg where we saw a castle and Pompejena which was built by King Ludwig.  I felt bad because all of the city was demolished during WWII and it had to be rebuilt.  We went to a beautiful church. 

 

When we returned we had tea and talked and waited until the person with the key for the church.  We were able to get the key.  The church was more than I expected. The town is all Catholic and worked together to restore the old church.  It was awesome (see pictures).  I said goodbye and went back to the inn.  I decided to drive back that night in order to be ready for the next day. i arrived back in Amersfoort at 1:30 am in the morning.