Thoughts on Carl Braatz

According to the help article on familysearch wiki about German emigration, it is crucial to know the exact locality from which your ancestor came, since all records are stored locally with no national index.

As stated in a previous post, we believe Carl and an uncle emigrated from Germany in 1867. Their point of origin is "Pomer" which may or may not be an actual town--hence this post.

Pomerania (Pommern in German or Pomorze in Polish) refers to a region of the northern coast of Europe on the Baltic sea, spanning essentially the northern border of present-day Germany and Poland, from the Danish peninsula to the Bay of Gdansk (see map). The majority of the region was part of the Kingdom of Prussia at the time (see this article) which may or may not have been considered "Germany" by US immigration officers and census takers. Thoughts, anyone?
[Edit: looks like yes, that was considered Germany at the time. According to the help article mentioned above, "German immigrants from Pommern often went to Wisconsin. Large numbers also settled in Illinois, Minnesota, and other Midwest states." Carl was in SD by 1900, but I'm not sure where he went before then.]

Searching for Braatz in any of the three German surname distribution maps (linked from https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Surname_Distribution_Maps) gives a preponderance of Braatz in that same area, on the NE coast of modern Germany. It seems most likely to me that my Braatz ancestors came from a city or town in this region. If this is the case, they would be more likely to have come through the port of Hamburg than Bremen, judging by distance (though either is certainly possible). Most German immigrant ships came through NY.

Alternatively, "Pommern" also refers to a city in SW Germany, or Pomer could have been an actual town of the time that does not survive with the same name.

For next time:
Links on Pommern help page
Guide to Hamburg Passenger Lists

George Earl Braatz

Does not appear on NFS at all. According to a handwritten FGR, he is Isaac and Mina Braatz’s fifth child.

b. 30 July 1923 in Oacoma SD.

m. February 1942 to Frances, and March 1974 to Agnes.

Viola Braatz

A handwritten note lists her death date has 2-7-1936 (which according to NFS is July 2, 1936), in Rushville, South Dakota. Her burial is listed as 1936, Gorden Nebraska.

Noma Ellen Braatz

A handwritten FGR lists her first marriage as 24 October 1939, Portland OR, to Melvin Robert Schrammeck

Her obituary describes her as the first-born child of Isaac and Mina Braatz, but I’m guessing that means the first-born child who lived through her childhood.

We have a Christmas picture signed Melvin and Noma.

Noma’s funeral program, dated January 6 2005, notes her interment at Meridian Cemetery.

Her obituary lists her children as Floyd (b 1942) and Joy (b 1945)

Her obituary notes she took care of 38 foster children from 1955-1962, if we notice discrepancies of children in census records later on.

From the obituary: “Noma was survived by a son, Floyd Schrammeck and wife Chris; a daughter, Joy Moore and Husband Bob; a brother, George Braatz; a sister, Louise Smith; grandchildren Tawnya Swanson, Reginald States and wife Gia, Brody States, and Angelia Schrammeck; 11 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren and their spouses. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin Schrammeck in 1997; a sister, Viola Braatz; two siblings who died as infants; and nephew Noal Smith.”

Mina Bell Dodge

A handwritten FGR gives this information for Mina Bell Dodge:

b. 29 August 1895, Pulaski Arkansas. We also have a copy of her birth certificate confirming this. (NFS agrees)

chr. 19 April 1934, baptized SDA

d. 6 March 1976, Boise Idaho (NFS has same date)

bur. 9 March 1976, Meridian Idaho

Isaac Kiser Braatz

A handwritten FGR gives this information for Isaac Kiser Braatz, most of which is not in NFS yet.

b. 25 August 1890, Parkston Hutchinson Co SD. We have a copy of his birth certificate, which was Sept 25 1890 printed on it, with September crossed out and July written over it. Since it is a copy, it’s impossible to say whether the month was changed prior to being signed or not (NFS lists the birth date as 25 July)

chr. 29 April 1934

m. 18 February 1914, Oacoma SD (NFS agrees)

d. 15 December 1954, Vancouver Washington (NFS has same date)

bur. 20 December 1954, Evergreen Cemetery, Vancouver Washington

Carl and Sarah Braatz's Children

This was another day in the box! I went through the first half of the "Isaac Kiser Braatz" folder, and will post what I learned by generation.

First, information in a handwritten list of Carl Braatz and Sarah Melvina Stainbrook's children:

Amelia Braatz d. Nov 20 1966. m 1900 to John Schilling who died 1913, then m. Frank Mashino 12/21/1913

George. b, m, d, same as NFS

Frederick A. b, d same as NFS. m 1909 Mary Michealsen

Hattie L. b, d same as NFS. m James Graykowske

Charles Seynour. b, m, d same as NFS.

Elizabeth b, m, d same as NFS.

Isaac b, m, d same as NFS.

Bertha A. m. 12/16/1916 to Nels Michaelsen

John m. Marie Hanson

Matilda b. 10 Sept 1904, m. Eddie Miller. (The column says “Carlie.” Maybe this was Matilda’s mother? Or an alternate name?) (Matilda doesn’t show up in NFS.)