Our Land of Choice
The United States was, without a doubt, the destination of choice for our Geuder and Geuther immigrants. In the passenger lists and US census records, I have found about 130 GEUTHER men, women and children, and 48 with the name of GEUDER. This list is by no means complete, since not all passenger manifests have been digitized, and, as you know, the name Geuder/Geuther lends itself to frequent misspellings.
What was it like to immigrate in the 19th century?
| ... They came by boat
| Why did our ancestors leave family and home to brave danger, hardship and uncertainty? To find a better life, greater opportunities, a place of personal and religious freedom. This is what they hoped for. |
The Arrival
Immigration from Germany began in 1690 with small religious communities settling in Pennsylvania. Though, I could not find one Geuder or Geuther among them. The first Geuder/Geuther appears in the US in 1820, and that is when the flow of German people to America began in earnest. In the following century, almost 7 million Germans came to the US. And around the turn of the century, one third of the country's population was of German speaking ancestry. Before 1855, the immigration process was relatively easy. The individual harbor offices were responsible for checking the passenger lists handed to them by the captain of the ships. Once they touched American soil, the immigrants were on their own. From 1855 to 1892, Castle Garden was established as immigration station in New York. Now, newcomers had to show a minimum of financial means, or have a sponsor; they also had to be free of serious illnesses and physical handicaps. People with contagious illnesses were quarantined; others were turned away. In 1892, Ellis Island became the gates to America. As America filled up with immigrants from many nations the flow was gradually restricted and immigration quotas were introduced. Already in 1875, settlers thought that most of the good land was taken.
Ellis Island, 1892 | Most immigrants were young men and women, also many families with small children, whereas older people rarely decided to leave their home country. They were adventurous, strong people with a thirst for independence and freedom. |
Where did they settle?
Once our Geuder and Geuther families arrived in the United States they settled as farmers, shopkeepers and tradespeople primarily in Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. Often, other family members and neighbors joined them in the new country, and together they created a village life that resembled very much the one they had left behind in the old country. They had German speaking schools, churches, and newspapers. They cooked, baked and brewed in the typical German tradition. They married, gossiped, sang and were buried with German words.
And some of them are still growing corn on the same farms in Illinois today. See Reunions.
Few, if none, went to California for the Gold Rush. I found only one passenger, Thomas Geuder, who worked in 1850 as a sailor on the "SS Oregon" that travelled from Panama to San Francisco. If he jumped ship there and followed the lure of gold, I could not tell.
List of Geuther Immigrants from 1835 to 1940
Geuther, August C., Age 25, born 1810, occupation smith,
Geuther, Sophie, Age 22, born, 1813
1835, 27 Jul, ship „Phoenix“ sailing from Bremen to Baltimore,
place of origin, Leutenberg, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Gottfried, Age 35, born 1804
Geuther, Johanne Emilie, Age 30, born 1809
Geuther, Friedericke Auguste, Age 7, born 1832
Geuther, Christian Henry, Age 4, born 1835
Geuther, Johanne Dorothea, Age 4, born 1835
Geuther, John Christoff, Age 2, born 1837
1839, 20 Jul, ship „Barque Johann George“, sailing to Philadelphia, place of origin, Leutenberg, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, G H, Age 24, born 1816, occupation bricklayer
1840, 3 Aug., ship „Lucilla“ sailing from Bremen to Baltimore, country of origin, ???heim, Bavaria, final destination Pittsburgh.
[Immigrantships.net]
Geuther, Tom J., Age 25, born 1817
1842, 31 Aug, ship „Brig Harbinger from Boston“, sailing from Fayal, Azores/Portugal to Boston, Massachusetts (part of 26 young men, might be sailor on this ship).
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther/Geuthner, John M, Age 16, born 1826, Germany
1842, immigration
[US Census 1900, Saugerties, New York, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Johann Nicholas., Age 18, born 1822, occ. basketmaker, single
1844, March, arrived 13 Jun., ship „Republic“, sailing from Bremen to New York; last residence, Weidhausen, Germany.
[Coburger Auswandererliste + castlegarden.org]
Geuther, J.G., Age 44, born 1804
Geuther, Ke, Age 42, born 1806
Geuther, J.G., Age 18, born 1830
Geuther, J.G., Age 10, born 1838
1848, May 2, ship „Fame“ Bremen to New York, place of origin, Deutschland.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Johann Heinrich „Henry“, Age 21, born 1827, Hof a.d.Steinach
1848, ship unknown, arrived November 1849 in LaMoille, IL.
[Weidhausen File, Marvin Ehlers]
Geuther, Jacob, Age 23, born Aug 1826, Germany
1849, immigration
[US Census 1900, Lyons, New York, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Thomas, Age ?,
1850, May 20, ship „SS Oregon“ sailed from Panama to San Francisco in 19 days, ship picked up passengers from the „Chesapeak“ because they were out of water and other neccessities.
[maritimeheritage.org/passlists]
Geuther, Johann Adam, Age 32 , born 1818, Hof a.d.Steinach
Faber, Katharina, Age 20, born 1830, Gestungshausen
Geuther, Anna Margarethe, Age 34, born 1816, Hof a.d.Steinach
Geuther, Eva Barbara, Age 26, born 1824, Hof a.d.Steinach
1850, 24 Jun., ship „Emma“ sailing from Bremen to New York,
[Weidhausen File, Marvin Ehlers]
Geuter, Michael, Age 26, born 1826,
Geuter, Maria, Age 27, born 1825,
Geuter, Margaretha, Age 2, born 1850
1852, May 10, on ship „Hungarian“, sailed from Havre to New York, captain Ben Patterson, manifest ID#00006926, purpose of travel, staying in US, mode of travel, steerage, country of origin, Bavaria.
[Geneaology.com]
Geuther/Guether, Samuel, Age 42, born 1810, occupation farmer,
Geuther, Dorothea, Age 42, born 1810
Geuther, Samuel, Age 14, born 1838
Geuther, Johann, Age 12, born 1840
Geuther, Gottlieb, Age 7, born 1845
Geuther, Wilhelmine, Age (2) born 1850
1852, June 23, ship „Augusta Eleonore“, sailing Hamburg to New York, country of origin, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Anna Elisabeth, Age ?,
1852, May, place of origin, Beuerfeld, Bavaria.
[Coburger Auswandererliste]
Geuther, Anna, Age 17, born 1835, occupation, farmer
1852, Jul 26, on ship „Catharina Augusta“, captain J.Bestmann, sailed from Bremen to US, manifest ID#00008011, mode of travel, steerage, final destination, US, country of origin, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuter, Richard
No date of arrival, no ship name, manifest ID#00030293, purpose of travel, staying in US, mode of travel, steerage, country of origin, Wuerttemberg.
[Genealogy.com]
Geuther, Louis, born 1835, Prussia,
Around 1853,
[US Census of Mortality, 1880, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Adam, Age 24, born 1829, occupation, doctor
Geuther, Anna Marg., Age 34, born 1819, occupation, none
1853, Sep 30, on ship „Elisabeth“, sailed from Bremen to US, captain G.L. Sammi, manifest ID #00007547, purpose of travel, staying in US, mode of travel, Cabin, country of origin, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists, castlegarden.org]
Geuther/Gruther, William, Age?, merchant
Geuther, Doris, female, Age 26, born 1827,
1853, Nov 17, ship „Hansa“, sailing from Bremen to New York, mode of travel, cabin I, country of origin, Walerde ?.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Marie Barb, Age 40, born 1814, male
1854, May 22, ship „Adele“, captain W. Ubbelorde, Bremen to New York, manifest ID#00008066, purpose of travel, staying in US, final destination, Michigan, mode of travel, steerage, country of origin, Bavaria.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther/Geither, Elisabeth, Age 10, born 1844.
1854, 6 Jun, ship „Brother Jonathan“, sailing from Le Havre to New York, all farmers on board, country of origin, Switzerland.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther/Gruether, Barbara, Age 29, born 1825,
1854, 21 Dec, ship „Silas Greenman“, sailing from Le Havre to New York, country of origin, Switzerland.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Fred, born March 1830, Germany
Geuther, Annie M, born Jan 1833, Germany
1855, immigration
[US Census 1900, Detroit, Michigan, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Anna Margarete, Age ?, born ?, widow
Geuther, Johanna, Age ?, born ?, single
1856, Mar. , place of origin, Gestungshausen.
[Coburger Auswandererliste]
Geuther, Mary, or maiden name ?, born 1826, Germany
Before 1860, In 1880 census widowed with 4 children, oldest born NJ 1860.
[US Census 1880, Camden, New Jersey, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Johann Nicol., Age ?, born ?
1864, August, place of origin, Unterfuellbach.
[Coburger Auswandererliste]
Geuthner, Maria, Age 30, born 1835, single,
1865, Jun 19, ship „Bavaria“, captain H.Taube, sailing from Marseille, manifest ID#00010463, purpose of travel, staying in US, mode of travel, steerage, country of origin, Germany.
[Geneaology.com]
Geuther, Fredric, born 1840, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Geuther Fredrica, born 1836, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Geuther, August, born 1864, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Geuther, Fredric, born 1865, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Geuther, Charles, born 1869, Ohio
Between 1865 and 1869, immigration
[US Census 1870, Syracuse, Ohio, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Anna, Age 18, born 1848
1866, 21 Feb., ship „Allemania“ sailing from Hamburg to New York,
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, B, male, Age 25, born 1841, occupation, farmer
1866, 5 Apr, ship „Bavaria“, sailed from Hamburg to New York, country of origin, Switzerland.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther Benedith, Age 40, occupation, farmer
1866, 4 May, Marseilles to US, purpose of travel, staying in US, mode of travel, steerage, country of origin, Switzerland.
[Genealogy.com]
Geuther, Sim, Age 56, born 1811
1867, 24 Oct, ship „Atlantic“, sailing from Bremen to New York, place of origin, United States.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther/Guerther, Peter, born 1828, Baden, Germany, occup. clerk,
Before 1870, immigration
[US Census 1870, Alton, Illinois, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Phillip, born 1828, Darmstatt, Germany, occ. Barber
Before 1870, immigration
[US Census 1870, Troy, New York, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Michael, born 1837, Baden, Germany,
Geuther, Sophia, born 1837, Baden, Germany,
Before 1870, immigration
[US Census 1870, Sandusky, Ohio, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Peter, born 1802, Coblenz, Germany
Geuther, Cathrine, born 1811, Coblenz, Germany
Geuther, Joseph, born 1847, Coblenz, Germany
Geuther, Cathrine, born 1848, Coblenz, Germany
Before 1870, immigration
[US Census 1870, Forest, Wisconsin, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Elisabeth, born 1812, Bohemia
Geuther, Joseph, born 1843, Bohemia
Before 1870, immigration
[US Census 1870, Wayne, Wisconsin, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Louisa, Age 45, born 1825, spinster
1870, 21 Jun, ship „Minnesota“ sailing from Liverpool to New York, mode of travel, in after steerage, country of origin, England.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Herman, born Sep. 1857, Germany
1870, immigration
[US Census 1900, Dorr, Michigan, ancestry.com]
Geuther/Guenther, Christian H., Age 34, born 1838, occupation farmer,
1872, 30 Mar, Bremen to New York, country of origin, Deutschland.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Emil Y, Age 3, born 1871, Hannover
1874, immigration
[US Census 1920, Brooklyn, New York, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Chas, Age 14, born 1865, Germany
1879, immigration
[US Census 1920, Trenton, New Jersey, ancestry.com]
Geuther/Guenther, Magrete, Age 23, born 1857,
1880, 27 Dec, ship „Rhein“, sailing from Bremen to New York, country of origin, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, William, Age 15, born 1865, Germany
1880, immigration
[US Census 1920, Chicago, Illinois, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Jas, Age 23, born 1858, Scotland
1881, 15 Feb, ship „Circassia“, sailed from Glasgow to New York, country of origin, Scotland.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther/Guenther, Henri, Age 19, born 1862, occupation farmer,
Geuther/Guenther, Dolores,
1881, Dec 24, ship „Donau“, sailing from Bremen to New York, country of origin, Wuerttemberg.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Herm, Age 27, born 1856, occupation laborer,
1883, Jul 16, ship „Circassia“, sailed from Glasgow to New York, country of origin, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, W.L., Age 34, born Mar 1853, Austria
1887, immigration
[US Census 1900, Providence, Rhode Island, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Bernard, Age 26, born Aug 1864, Germany
1890, immigration
[US Census 1900 Rockledge, Pennsylvania, ancestry.com]
Geuther, John, Age ?, occupation laborer,
1891, Apr. 1, ship „Westernland“, sailing from Antwerp to New York, final destination, Chicago, country of origin, Germany.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Louis, Age 26, born 1861, Switzerland
1887, immigration
[US Census 1920, Canton, Ohio, ancestry.com]
Geuther Alfred, Age 18, born Sep.1873, Germany
1892, immigration
[US Census 1900, Cook, New York, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Adolph, Age 24, born June 1870, Germany
1894, immigration
[US Census 1900, Springfield, Pennsylvania, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Barbara, Age 20, born 1877,
1897, Aug 17, ship „Southwark“ sailing from Antwerp to New York, place of origin, Mitwitz.
[Ellisisland.org]
Geuther, Arthur, Age 21, born 1877, occupation cattleman
1898, 20 Oct, ship „Scandinavian“ sailing from Glasgow to Boston, country of origin, US, last residence, Boston. („The above cattlemen were signed on steamers articles as part of crew before a British Government officer“).
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, J.G., Age 45, born 1854
1899, 20.Jan, ship „Prince George“, sailing from Yarmouth, Canada to Boston,
country of origin, Nova Scotia, Canada.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passenger lists]
Geuther, Otto, Age 18, born 1882, Switzerland
1900, immigration
[US Census 1920, Dement, Illinois, ancestry.com]
Geuther, George, Age 19, born 1882, Germany
1901, immigration
[US Census 1930, Chicago, Illinois, ancestry.com]
Geuther, John, Age 23, born 1878, Germany
1901, immigration
[US Census 1930, Lake Marinette, Wisconsin, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Clara, Age 17, born 1886, single
Geuther, Dorothea, Age 51, born 1852, married
1903, 20 Aug., ship „Patricia“ sailing from Cuxhaven to New York, Ellis Island
[Ellisisland.org]
Geuther, Max, Age 17, born 1887, Russia
1904, immigration
[US Census 1920, Rock Island, Illinois, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Mary, Age 41, born 1864, Saxony
1905, immigration
[US Census 1920, Detroit, Michigan, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Hermann, Age 21, born 1889, single
1910, 20. Feb, ship „Graf Waldersee“, sailing from Hamburg to New York, Ellis Island, last residence, Nuernberg.
[Ellisisland.org]
| Herman Geuther,1916 in Tottenville, NY | ||
 |  | |
1912, Ellis Island, with mother Dorothea?
[Ellisisland.org]
Geuther, Wilhelm, Age 57, born 1856,
Geuther, Wilhelmina, Age 54, born 1859
1913, ship „Georg Washington“ sailing from Bremen to New York, Ellis Island, residenz Sheboygen, Wisconsin.
[Ellisisland.org]
Geuther, Charles A, Age 40, born 1874, single
1914, 16 Oct., ship „Allianca“, sailing from Cristobal, Panama to Baltimore, Ellis Island, residence Baltimore, MD.
[Ellisisland.org]
Geuther, Pauline, Age 33, born 1890, single
1923, 13 Feb., ship „Hansa“, sailing from Hamburg to New York, Ellis Island.
[Ellis Island.org]
Geuther, Babette, Age 39, born 1884, Germany
Geuther, Elsie, Age 10, born 1913, US
Geuther, George, Age 13, born 1910, US
Margarete, Age 3, born 1920, US
1923, 2 Nov, ship „George Washington“, sailing from Bremen to Portland, Maine; last permanent address, Brooklyn, USA; nearest relative in country of origin, sister Marie Goetz, Oberrodach, Oberfranken; friend, Herman Geuther.
[Ancestry.com, passenger/immigration lists]
Geuther, Phillipp, Age 22, born 1901, Germany, occupation bootmaker
1923, 01 Nov, ship „Seydlitz“ sailing from Bremen to New York; final destination, Compton, Illinois; father, Peter Geuther, Burgkunstadt.
[Ancestry.com, passengerimmigration lists]
Geuther, Henry, Age 24, born 1903, Germany
1927, immigration
[US Census 1930, Olean, New York, ancestry.com]
Geuther, Henrike, Age 24, born 1911 Greding, Germany
Geuther, Dolores Elsie, Age 2, born 13 Jun 1933 NY,
1935, 02 Sep, ship „Berlin“, sailing from Bremen to New York,
permanent address, Maspeth, USA.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Emilie, Age 26, born 1910, occupation stenografer,
1936, 29 Jun. Ship „Bremen“ to New York, German nationality, born Couillet, Belgium, visa issued in Munich 6/20/1936, last permanent address, Dachau, Germany; friend, Henry Geuther.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Joseph, Age 31, born 1905 US
1936, 3 Dec, ship „Scanpenn“, arriving New York, discharged seaman, signed on 10/22/1936.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Herbert, Age 18, born 1919 US,
1937, 6 Jan, ship „Scanpenn“ sailing from Westindies to New York,
crewmember, o.s. chief. (Military?)
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Henrike, Age 27, born 1911, Greding, Germany, housewife
Geuther, Dolores Elsie, Age 5, born 13 Jun 1933, US
1938, 5 Aug, ship „Deutschland“, sailing from Hamburg to New York,
address in US, 7241 51th Dr. Woodside, L.I. New York. US naturalization, USP Wash. 4/13/1938, 516101.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]
Geuther, Jayne E, Age ?
1941, 20.Jul, ship „Yarmouth“ sailing from Yarmouth, Canada to Boston, MA.
[Ancestry.com, immigration/passengerlists]