Wars, Farms, and Railroads.
Nov 3rd 1859:
There was NO INTERNET.
There were NO computers.
There were NO airplanes.
There were NO cars.
There was NO TV.
There was NO radio.
There were NO telephones.
There weren't even electric LIGHTS!
November 3rd 1859, the Beckerle family arrived in America.
The Beckerle's had lived for centuries as farmers in Germany.
Why would a middle aged family pack up and leave there homeland?
To understand the possible WHY's we have to go back to the world in 1859.
What WAS there in 1859?
.....a lot of royal monarchs.
& ...a lot of farms and farmers.
& Like today there were a lot of WARS.
Specifically, a war had broken out between the French under Napoleon III and the Austrians.
A new invention was being utilized to aid in France's war efforts. The steam engine railroad.
Europe had laid many miles of railroad tracks making a more efficient transport system than the existing horse and buggy.
France rapidly moved its troops into the war zone via the railroads
escalating the war with Austria. Germany was caught in the middle . Perhaps a German farmer's
wife who was witnessing this turmoil foresaw the possibilities for a better future else where?
The following letter summarizes my speculative guess as to why the Beckerle's made the big move.
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Margaretha Bardon Beckerle b.1814 (Germany) d.1895 (America)
m. 18 jun 1840 Johannes Beckerle b. 8 jul 1812 (Germany) d.1897 (America)
Letter to sister: Catherine Bardon Cook in America circa 1859
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Catherine,
My sister you cannot believe the horror that life has become.
After you left it is only talk of war and politics. France is still a menace to our way
of life. Prussia wants a unified Germany which also threatens our independence.
We are just farmers. Johann works hard day and night. No control over our destinay has brought us to despair.
How hard we work has no meaning. Bigger powers will determine our lot.
In a moment, Everything that we have worked so hard for, can be lost.
I refuse to give into the despair. I believe there can be hope, but only if ... we take ... a chance...
We have to leave. It's not running away...it's running to....
I know you and your brothers have had many problems in your new adopted homeland.
The Language, The widespread prejudice against the Hessians,
& the very real possibility of a terrible CIVIL war...
ALL huge obstacles for our families.
I understand it
is not easy anywhere today. But I have reason to hope that our future in America
will be better than our future in Germany.
In America, we will at least have more control over our destiny. We will be leaving our royal monarch Grand Duke Louis III
for democracy. Freedom. To me freedom is more than just a word. It is the hope that the future can be better than the past.
I have reason to hope.
I have witnessed the growth of the railroads here in Germany and how life has changed.
I think big changes are also on the horizon for your new homeland. The RAILROADS are coming...
Railroads move goods, services, & people. People need railroad stations, stores, hotels...
Railroads provide potential new business possibilities. The Railroads bring hope for a new better way of life.
I know we have always been farmers but perhaps these unstoppable forces can provide us with future opportunities?
Johann has saved enough money to buy some land in your new country.
In your past letters you mentioned you know a Mr. Jacob F. Koch who is a large land owner
that might be interested in selling some land. Dear sister, I have a proposal.
Can you broker a land deal for us? Your knowledge of the area and Mr. Koch are invaluable to us.
I entrust my families fate in your hands. We will be forever in your debt.
Your sister,
Margaretha Bardon Beckerle
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