Hermann ZACHOW was born 15
March 1902, in SIELOW,
Brandenburg,
Germany, a tiny village
barely north of
COTTBUS,
and about 15 miles south of
DRACHHAUSEN. His father,
Friedrich ZACHOW Sr.,
married Anna MEHLISCH, who
had been born illegitimately in
DRACHHAUSEN, November 16, 1877.
Anna’s mother, (Hermann’s grandmother) Marie
MEHLISCH later married
Johann Christian SCHULTZE,
who became Anna’s stepfather, thus creating a link by marriage to the
SCHULTZE family, though Anna
did not adopt the SCHULTZE
name.
Hermann immigrated to the USA,
landing in
New York 14 Feb 1925. He left from HAMBURG;
sailing on the "S. S. Cleveland." Having
a heart murmur, which would have made it impossible to pass the rigorous
physical examination, required of those going “steerage” through
Ellis Island; he cleverly sailed 2nd class, which
did not require such scrutiny. His declared destination was
COLO, IA.
1)
Hermann ZACHOW, 21,
blacksmith, SIELOW
Another clear example of chain migration, his maternal uncle from
DRACHHAUSEN, “Chris”
SCHULTZE had immigrated to Iowa in 1898 (see 1898
Schultze page). By 1923
Chris was farming in the ZEARING
area, with wife Laura Voss and three daughters, Mabel, Ruth and Goldie.
His
uncle Chris, having paid for Hermann’s ship fare and transportation to
Iowa; received farm work from Hermann on the
SCHULTZE farm; until the
debt was paid off. Though
horses were still in use for some farming chores at that time; it is
believed he worked as a farm laborer, rather than a blacksmith.
Hermann lived in Iowa
for 3-4 years.
He
then moved to
NEW YORK CITY,
where his older brother, Friedrich or “Fritz”
ZACHOW Jr. had been living
since his immigration there, on 26 Sep 1923, and to the home of their
maternal Aunt Anna Liese
SCHULTZE Gruner (See 1906 page).
Hermann lived in the BRONX,
NEW YORK CITY, where he married Alice
THIELE, who was born in
Erfurt,
Germany.
They had at two daughters, Luise and Anna Marie. After
Alice’s death he remarried and moved to SHENEVUS,
NEW YORK, where he lived out the rest of
his life. He made at least one
trip back to Iowa with his family to
visit the Wendish community near
ZEARING, IOWA.
(Revised
June 18, 2007)
