Johann & Johannes Hintermeister

HINTERMEISTER

Posted By: Ed Hintermeister (email)
Date: 8/25/2008 at 09:21:50

Johann & Johannes Hintermeister
First Hintermeisters in America

The Hintermeister family has been well established in Europe for a number of centuries, but it was not until relatively recent times that the family also became established in the New World. As explained in the article "Where did the Hintermeister Name Originate?" The Hintermeister family had its origin in the Zurich area of Switzerland, dating back to the year 1249. Years later in the early 1700's, Heinrich Hintermeister and his family moved from Zurich to Tuttlingen, Germany. Located along the Danube River 40 miles north of Zurich, in the state of Wurttemberg, the small town of Tuttlingen became the new home for this branch of Hintermeisters. But, it was not until five generations later that two brothers in the Tuttlingen clan ventured to America.

Johann Jakob (Jake), born 20 November 1820, and Johannes (John), born 18 June 1827, left Tuttlingen for the United States in the mid 1800's. It was probably not easy for Jake and John to leave their homeland, but it is assumed that they decided to leave Germany for the same reason as thousands of other Germans - that being to avoid being called to war; and, of course, the many stories of a new life in America.

Jake and John came from a large family of ten children, however, only five survived to adulthood. Their father was a day laborer and later a farmer, and their grandfather was a knitter by trade. It is obvious then that the brothers had no real financial future in Germany, so this too, was probably a deciding factor in their leaving.

Jake was the first to leave in 1848 followed by John in 1854 and then John's wife, Elizabeth, a year later in 1855.

During this time period, a great many Germany settlers arrived in Muscatine County by way of New Orleans and up the Mississippi River by steamboat. Many other settlers arrived at New York and traveled overland to the Midwest. The New York Port of Entry records show that Elizabeth made the voyage on the ship "Richard Cobden", and landed at New York on 24 July 1855. She then traveled to St. Louis and on to Muscatine. Although uncertain, the New York to St. Louis route may also be the way that Jake and John made the trip.

Jake did live in St. Louis, Missouri, for about a year and the records do show that while there he married Rosina Dold on 31 December 1848. Rosina was also a former resident of Tuttlingen, and Jake, Rosina, and Rosina's family traveled to America together.

In 1849 Jake and Rosina moved to Muscatine, Iowa. Why they moved to Muscatine can only be speculated, but there are several possibilities. First there were a large number of Germans already settled in the area. Second it appears that Rosina's parents, her sister, and Rosina's brother-in-law all traveled to Muscatine with Jake and Rosina. A third possibility could be that they already had friends living in Muscatine. For whatever reason, they decided to stay and were able to call Muscatine their home for over half a century.

Both brothers were confirmed in the church at age 14, and both brothers served in the Army of Wurttemberg. Jake served five years between 1841 and 1846, and John enlisted at age 21 and served three years. On 14 June 1853 two years after John finished his duty with the army, he married Elizabeth Huber. The following year, the couple had a baby girl, who died two weeks later.

John became a U.S. citizen in 1865. His naturalization certificate states that on 16 May 1863, he declared his intentions to become a U.S. citizen and two years later on 17 October 1865, he renounced all allegiance to the Grand Duke of Wurttemberg, and his citizenship was granted, signed John W. Jayne, Clerk. A record of this certificate is recorded at the Muscatine County Court House.

Jake was both a farmer and a business man. The 1850 Census lists Jake's occupation as farmer, and land records show that Jake purchased a small farm in 1855, which he increased in size several times over the following 18 years.

In August 1858 Jake and his brother-in-law, Jacob Dold, went into business partnership when they began the "Dold and Hintermeister Brewery," which was located west of Elm Street on Hershey Avenue. The following year in March 1859, Jake and Jacob also started another business, the "Great Western Saloon". The saloon was located on the north side of Mississippi Drive between Iowa Avenue and Chestnut Street. In June 1859 Jake assumed full control of the saloon, and Jacob became sole owner of the brewery. Jake continued to run the saloon for nine years, however, in June 1868 Jake apparently decided to become a full time farmer and sold the business.

Besides being a farmer and saloon owner, Jake was also very active in the Muscatine real estate mortgage market. Land records show that Jake entered the mortgage market business in April 1851 and continued to provide real estate mortgages until shortly before his death in 1915.

When John left Germany in 1854, it was natural that he would also settle in Muscatine to live near his older brother. However, John did not pursue the same type of work as his brother Jake. The Census records for 1860, 1870, and 1880 all list John's occupation as teamster. While John was a teamster it is believed that he did general hauling, street grading, and sold goods at the city market.

Both families became members of the German Evangelical Church (now combined with the United Church of Christ). The old church was located on Sycamore between Third and Fourth Streets. The records show that John's wife, Elizabeth, was a member of the Women's Aid Society for many years, and a very devoted church goer.

Jake and Rosina had three children: Jacob John, Rosina, and Mary Catharine. John and Elizabeth had a total of eight children, they being: Maria Barbara, John Buchanan, Jacob, Frederick John, Rose, George, Willie, and an infant male child (name unknown). From these children are descended most of the Hintermeisters living in the area today. (See the family tree).

Unfortunately, Rosina died at a relatively young age of 51 on 26 March 1873. Jake survived Rosina by many years, attaining the very old age of 94. He died on 24 February 1915. Jake is buried next to Rosina in Greenwood Cemetery.

Both Elizabeth and John lived to see the next century. Like Jake, John lived a very full life reaching the age of 92 before he died on 2 December 1919. John also survived his wife, Elizabeth, who passed away on 28 December 1903 at the age of 73. John and Elizabeth are buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Both men, Jake and John were well known and respected in the community, and it is to the bravery and courage of these two men, who left their mother land for a new country, that many of the Hintermeisters here today, should give tribute.