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- Barbara S. Hoehnle, a historian of the Amana Heritage Society at PO Box81, Amana, Iowa, 52203, wrote to John Jay Ruhlman IV in July of 1995 thatalthough she could find no Ruhlmanns, Ohms, Dackmans, Wises, or Baltzleysin their records there have been a number of Hammerschmidts in the AmanaSociety! Remember, our Dorothea Hammerschmidt was born in Germany in 1804 anddied in 1881 and is buried in Ebenezer, New York -- also remember thatthe Amana Society was located in Ebenezer, New York when they came fromGermany (see more about Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlman). We really believethere are connections to our Dorothea! Peter Hammerschmidt (below) couldeasily be the older brother or cousin of our Dorothea HammerschmidtRuhlman! The Hammerschmidts that Barbara Hoehnle lists in the Amana Society are: 'Peter Hammerschmidt born 1796 in Germany married in Germany died March 1884 at East (C-1)Amana, Iowa 'He was with a Community in Germany, and in the 1840’s Communities cameto America, he didn't’t, but had connections. He and family came in 1847(same year as the Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann family! JJRIV), but it didn'tlast long. In Germany he was a landlord and didn't’t understand Godlyways. He left the Community and bought land near Buffalo, New York. Hischildren left the Community and went their own way. In 1863 he was oldand had spent savings and wrote to say that he wanted to come back andtake up the ways of God. The Community wrote him a strong letter andtold him how he went his own ways -- he was thankful for that. In 1864they allowed him to join again in Ebenezer, where he in ----------------- asked for forgiveness. All of Peter’s children were outside the Community.' 'Peter Hammerschmidt’s wife was Martha Mai born 1801 married inGermany to Peter Hammerschmidt died 1887 East(C-7)' Amana, Iowa 'Maria and her husband Peter Hammerschmidt came to the Community inGermany and came in 1847 to Ebenezer, New York. They did not stay long,went away and bought their own land. In 1864 they were accepted again,but she had a tough time doing according to the rules. She couldn't’tstand being away from her children and returned to them in Buffalo.Shortly after she came back because she could find no rest. She repentedfor her former mistrust. In her old age she became a true member. Herbrother was Johannes Mai who died in 1868' The other Hammerschmidt family described by Barbara Hoehnle of the AmanaHeritage Society was: 'Leonhard Hammerschmidt (his father died in Germany) mother’s name wasMary Trautmann Hammerschmidt Hahn who died in 1884. Mary was thegranddaughter of J.G. Trautmann of Lieblor, (Germany?) who died in 1816. He was born 1833 in Hessen, Germany (same as Ruhlmanns!JJRIV). He was married in 1860 in Middle (Amana, Iowa) to Caroline Noe He died in Feb. 1896 at Middle (Amana, Iowa) (E-18) 'Leonard Hammerschmidt was the son of Mary Trautmann Hammerschmidt fromher first husband (Hammerschmidt): she later married Fredrich Hahn inGermany. She died in 1884 in America.' 'Leonard came from Kurhessen, Germany in 1845 with his mother andstepfather Fredrich Hahn to the Ebenezer, New York Community. The wholefamily moved to Cincinnati under the guidance of Fredrich Hahn who diedin 1848.' 'They returned to Ebenezer, New York; in 1857 they all came to High(Amana, Iowa). Leonard married Caroline Noe in 1860 at Middle (Amana,Iowa) and had two daughters: (Marie Hammerschmidt Leonard d. 1927 andLouise Hammerschmidt (m. Jacob) Geiger d. 1954). He had a strongself-will and this caused difficulties. He worked in a tannery for awhile. He also worked in the Wollen Mill, but when it burned down, hehad no job. For a while, he knitted socks, then worked in an apiary --by doing this he came away from the right purpose in the Community(though his contacts outsiders who bought the honey).' 'When it looked like all was lost, he had several strokes, was partiallyparalyzed in speech and face. During that time he came to repentanceabout his past and got better and was able to help himself. Could havebeen a good pillar if he’d done this earlier!'. Caroline Noe (the wife of Leonard Hammerschmidt) -- (we wonder if she wasrelated to William Noe, one of the early leaders of Ebenezer!) she wasborn in 1840 in Neuured?, Prussia father’s name was Christian Noe (diedin 1842 in Germany) mother’s name was Dorothea Metz? (I wonder ifrelated to the Community founder Christian Metz? JJRIV) who died in Ebenezer, New York,1857. Caroline came to Ebenezer in 1846 with mother Dorothea and John--? Caroline died in December 1927 in Middle (D-32) Amana, Iowa. She is buried at the old cemetery in Ebenezer, NY; we have photo oftombstone. More About Dorathea Hammerschmidt: Fact 1: Buried at Old Cemetery at Ebenezer, Erie County, New York, U.S.A.(John and Nancy Ruhlman have photo).
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