EIGHTH GENERATION

277. Heinrich RÖMER II was born on 25 Aug 1835 in Climbach, Londorf, Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt. He was baptized on 28 Aug 1835 in Climbach, Londorf, Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt.
Londorf Geburts/Taufen
Microfilm # 1195988
1835, No. 96, page 672 - Heinrich Römer
Heinrich Römer, born 25 Aug 1835 between two and three in the afternoon in Climbach. Son of Johannes Römer II of Climbach and his wife Anna Barbara neé Hopp, the first child. Baptized 28 Aug 1835. Sponsors: (1) Johann Heinrich Backhaus, legitimte unmarried son of Caspar Backhaus, citizen and farmer; (2) Catharina Stein, illegitimate daughter of Caspar Stein of Climbach and Maria Römer, first daughter of Johannes Römer.
He was confirmed in 1849 in Climbach, Londorf, Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt.
Londorf (Climbach)
Confirmanden Register (Confirmation) 1808-1875
Microfilm #1201531
1849, p. 244, Climbach - Heinrich Römer, geb 25 Aug 1835, Johannes Römer, Anna Barbara Hopp
He was buried in 1914 in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Sebewaing, Huron Co, MI. He died on 27 Oct 1914 in Sebewaing, Huron Co, MI. He was an Ortsbürger und Ackersmann (Citizen and farmer) in Climbach, Londorf, Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt. When Heinrich Römer married Katharina Conrad in 1865 they settled in a small village called Climbach, in the Länder, or Province, of Hessen. Ten children were born to this couple, four dying in infancy. They lived in this small village, or Dorf, where all the houses were very close together, with the cow barns or stables being attached to the living quarters (to help heat the homes). The plots of farmland were away from the village and the people walked out to them to do their farm work. The plots were small and the work was all done by hand. There was a community Backhaus where all the people did their baking.

The original family home, the Evangelical Church and the Backhaus are still standing in Climbach today (1978). All six surviving children went to school until they were confirmed. After confirmation all had to go to work and the money they earned was given to their parents.

Instruction in German schools included study in military tactics and maneuvers for all young males, followed by conscription in the army. To get away from this compulsory military service was one of the compelling reasons for the family to come to America.

Balthaser was apprenticed to a tailor while still in school; the date given was Feb 15, 1882.

Heinrich (Henry) worked in a factory, while Margaret (Gretchen) did house work for her Tante (Aunt) Gretchen, her mother's sister. The work was hard and the pay was poor.

Christian went to work as a bricklayer's helper. He left for work early on Monday morning by train, taking cheese, blackbread (Schwartzbrot) and coffee for his week's food. Saturday night he came home on the train again.

Wilhelm and Margaret came to America first. They came with the Balthaser Schnepp family in May, 1890. Mrs. Schnepp wanted Gretchen to accompany them and her sister, Gretchen's mother, finally agreed to let her two children go with the Schnepps to America. Mrs. Schnepp became ill on the voyage and Gretchen had to care for the children for a month.

Mrs. Schnepp was Maria Conrad, a sister of Katharina Conrad, the wife of Heinrich Römer and aunt to William and Gretchen Römer.

The Schnepp family made their home with a Wisner family near Kilmanagh on Angling Road. William worked as a hired man on farms in the area. Gretchen did house work in Saginaw; due to lack of room she made her home with the Andrew Beck family near Sebewaing.

The children of the Schnepp family also settled in the Sebewaing-Owendale area. Maria married a man named Bernbecker; Katherine married John Gettel; Margaret married G. Gremel; Henry and Adolph went into business in Owendale. They opened a hardware store and Henry later sold cars. Fred went to work fo Bauer Furniture and Philip went to Midland. William farmed in the Owendale area.

Balthaser came over in 1894 with his uncle and aunt, the Jacob Schnepp family. He went to Alpena and worked there until 1900. He then went to Saginaw and worked for Beach and Reed Tailors, working for them until her retired in March, 1951.

Henry Römer arrived in Sebewaing 2 July 1894, settling with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Balthaser Schnepp. Two years later he purchased a 120 acre farm for $1,080 in Brookfield Township in partnership with his brother William. The two brothers farmed together, clearing and ditching each year to increase and improve their farmland. The two brothers erected a small building for living quarters and sent for their parents, Heinrich and Katharina Conrad Römer, and remaining brother Christian and sister Helena.

The last of the family arrived in America in May, 1897. The family missed the ship they were booked on and had to wait two days for another ship. They sailed on the Nord Deutsche Lloyd, a freighter and passenger liner and landed at Baltimore. there were 600 passengers making the trip over.

Some time after the family settled, a fire threatened the farm. The family buried their clothing for safety, but the fire went in another direction. The farm was divided when William married in 1909. William later purchased 20 acres from Christian, and this 80 acre farm is now owned by Edwin. Henry's 60 acre farm was passed on to his son Paul.

Helena did housework in Saginaw. At one time she worked for a Jewish family named Oppenheim. In the fall of 1910 she married Paul Dressler and settled on a farm in Sebewaing Township, near Bach. This farm was passed on to their son Paul.

Christian followed the example of his older brothers and also worked as a farm hand in the area. He worked for Albert Volz, Robert and Hulda Dressler in the Sebewaing area. He also worked on the Warner farm in the Owendale area. He was chosen to meet Governor Warner at the depot in Owendale on Saturdays when the Governor came home for weekend visits. Sometimes the Governor even gave him a cigar. He followed the custom of the age by giving all the money eaned to his parents until he was 21. He purchased 80 acres in Brookfield Township; 20 acres cleared, the remaining land was cleared as time and strength permitted. He sold this farm in 1919 and moved to a farm in Sebewaing Township which he purchased from his wife's sister. This farm was passed on to his son Elmer.

With the exception of Balthaser, the brothers and sisters all settled on farms within a three mile area East of Sebewaing. They were a Christian, God-fearing people, attending a Lutheran Church in their area. Balthaser attended Trinity Lutheran church in Saginaw; Gretchen was a member of Immanuel Lutheran of Sebewaing; Helena attended St. Peter's Lutheran in Bach, and the remaining three brothers were members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Kilmanagh. When Henry retired and moved to Sebewaing, he became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Sebewaing. They often walked to church on nice Sundays so the horses could have a day of rest. They all became naturalized citizens of their adopted country.

When the auto age arrived, Christian became the first of the brothers to own a car, the old familiar Model T, in 1915.

Heinrich Römer had two brothers, Conrad and Christopher. Conrad was born 21 October 1842 and married Katherine Henkel, who was born 28 April 1846. Conrad's grandson Christoph is still living in Climbach. He was contacted by Capt. Tom and Margaret Dembowski during the latter's tour of Army duty in Germany from 1973-1977. The families visited many times during these years. Margaret's mother, Florence Volz, has also had occasion to visit the Römers of Climbach.

While visiting the Dembowski family in the summer of 1976, Florence Volz and the Dembowskis visited the Climbach Römers and talked over much of the history of the Römers. There are many families of Römers in Climbach, so many in fact that Römers are marrying Römers.

He was married to Katharina CONRAD (daughter of Johannes Jacob (II) CONRAD and Elisabetha HILGÄRTNER) on 8 Jun 1865 in Climbach, Londorf, Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt.
Londorf (Climbach)
Microfilm #1201528
Copulations Protocoll (Marriage) 1859-1875
1865, No 7, page 104 - Heinrich Römer II and Katharina Conrad (Michigan Roemers) ROEMER7.JPG
Heinrich Römer the second and Katharina Conrad were married on 8 June 1865. Heinrich is the legitimate unmarried son of Johannes Römer II of Climbach, Citizen (Ortsbürger) and farmer (Ackermann) of Climbach, and his wife Anna Barbara neé Hopp. Heinrich, age 29 years, 9 months, 13 days, was born 25 Aug 1835. Katharina Conrad is the unmarried daughter of the Citizen (Ortsbürger) and farmer (Ackermann) Jacob Conrad II of Climbach and his legitimate wife Elisabeth neé Hilgärtner. Katharina, age 21 years, 11 months, 23 days, was born 15 June 1843. Their marriage 8 June 1865 was only five months before the birth of their first child Margaretha (see above 1865, No. 51, Page 653 - Margaretha Römer born 16 November 1865 in the morning at one o'clock.)
Witnesses: (1) Heinrich Backhaus I; (2) Heinrich Römer I; both citizens and farmers of Climbch.
Katharina CONRAD was born on 15 Jun 1843 in Climbach, Londorf, Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt. She was buried in 1910 in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Sebewaing, Huron Co, MI. She died on 10 Feb 1910 in Sebewaing, Huron Co, MI. Heinrich RÖMER II and Katharina CONRAD had the following children:

+364 i. Margaretha (Gretchen) ROEMER.
+365 ii. Balthasar ROEMER.
+366 iii. Heinrich (Henry) ROEMER.
+367 iv. Wilhelm (William) ROEMER.
+368 v. Helena ROEMER.
+369 vi. Christian Heinrich ROEMER.