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http://users.cwnet.com/dana/alfbio.htm Copied from the original in the possession of George Alfs Short Biography of Gerd Ahlfs of Wiesede, Germany In his youth at 17 years of age. (rather a travel itenerary) 1843-1846 three years with Master Carpenter J.L. Gronewald of Wris District Aurich 1846-1848 two years with Master Carpenter R.H. Juechten in Jervis 1848-1853 in North America 1853-1854 in Wiesede Germany 1854 April 1st, returened to America The different stations of the first journey to North American 1848 March 11, I left my home in Wiesed, leaving Oldenburg on March 12 March 19, left Bremer Haven May 4, arrived in New York August 2, left for Pittsburgh, a state of Pennsylvania. This trip from New York was taken from Albany by canal boat, continued from Buffalo by steam boat August 11 August 12, from Erie by canal boat August 16, from Beaver with steam boat, arrive same day in Pittsburgh November 9, left Pittsburgh for st. Louis by steam boat November 13, arrived Cincinnati November 15, arrived Louisville November 17, arrived Cairo, where you travel from the mouth of the Ohio River up into the mouth of the Mississippi River November 18, arrived St. Louis Missouri Trip to California 1850 Made a trip from St. Louis to California with five persons in a 3 team ox cart 1850 April 4, left St. Louis Missouri May 6, left from Westport, last station in the old inhabited United States and started to journey into the wilderness (Council Bluffs Iowa and Omaha Nebraska) May 15, got our pass from a Catholic missionary who acted for the Indians. May 15, at Fort Kearny Nebraska, a station of the government of the United States where militia is located adn a police post of the state department for travelers. May 28, crossed the Platte River for the first time, about 300 feet wide, 2 to 4 feet deep. There is quicksand in this river. June 10, passed chimney Rock, a very remarkable soft rock about 500 to 800 feet high, below and above it has a thickness of about 50 feet. June 14, we crossed a branch of the Platte River, a strong stream in Nebraska about 30 to 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep. June 14, we passed Fort Larnay, a station where there is militia and postal and police office for travelers. Here it begins to get mountainous and snow is to be seen on the mountain tops. June 21, we crossed the North Platte River, Wyoming, about 200 feet wide and a strong stream of 20 to 40 feet. June 25, we croseed Sweetwater River at Continental Divide Wyoming and we came to the beginning of the Rocky Mountains, several separate chains, very romantic to behold, and all covered with snow on the mountain tops. The Sweetwater River flows through the Devil's Chasm in zigzag, entrance is through massive rock, about 20 to 30 feet wide and several hundred high. Below and above there is a wide open space. This river we crossed several more times. July 3, we reach the Pacific Stream which is so called because the water flows into the Pacific Ocean. The other rivers, up to here, flow into the Atlantic. July 4, the roads separate for a while into two roads and come together again after a while. At the left, the road goes to a Salt Lake and the Mormon setlement. We are taking the road tothe right. July 7, we croseed the Green River, about 300 feet wide, a strong stream more than 10 feet deep, always between rocky mountains coverd with snow and we passed many high mountains in west Wyoming. July 15, we passed Bear River and also the Beer and Soda Springs. The Idaho Soda Spring is very remarkable. It is like a round kettle, about 4 feet in diameter, in a rocky bottom, 2 feet to water's edge. This water is continually boiling strongly and when cold has the taste of soda. This water is white and clear. A similar kettle nearby has water which is thick and red in color. The ground has several cracks where water comes forth which resembles soda water. If you put your ear to the ground you can hear a subterranean roar. About 15 minutes further on there is a hot spring where the water comes out of the flat rocky crack 2 feet thick and 2 to 4 feet high. It spurts continuously. Here also you can hear the subterranean roar and boiling. July 27, we come to a very hot spring. July 29, we come to the Humboldt River, north Nevada, which we, in 15 days crossed several times. This river spreads out into a sand desert and is lost there. August 14, 15, 16 we spend at Humboldt Sink where much grass is. We spend 2 to 3 days to supply ourselves with hat and water because from here on we get into the biggest sand desert, northwest Nevada. August 18, we get into the worst kind of sand, Black Rock Desert. It is not only that the catle lie here by the dozen or the hundred, but they lie here in heaps, close together in a condition of dying, death and decay. In the same way there are wagons with all utensils, bed clothing, cloting tools, etc. In short you find here a great quantity of everything except water, fodder or provisions. August 19, arrived onthe Carson River, southwest Nevada inthe evening. August 28, we are at the foot of a California mountain. September 1, we passed over the top of the mountain across very deep sonow. The whole mountain chain was covered with snow. September 8, we arrived at the first settlers or miners in a gold mine of a little place called Weaverville California. 1851 February 10, hunting for new gold mines February 14, left Sacramento with steam boat February 16, left Marysville afoot February 17, on Feather River February 22, ten miles to the south March 12, at Goodyears Bar Yuba County Sierra. Worked at this place intil left for Germany. 1853 March 22, left for Germany. The following stations of the intended journey: March 25, arrived Marysville and took a steam boat of San Francisco via Sacramento April 1, by steam boat to New York by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Arrived Monterey on the coast of California. April 3, arrived in San Diego on the coast of California April 9, arrived in Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico, spent 1 day taking on coal April 15, arrived Panama Bay 11 p.m. April 16, by foot or saddle, arrived in Gorgona April 17, arived by railroad in Aspinwall Navy Bay on the east coast of Central America April 17, evening left by steam boat for New York April 20, arrived in Kingston Jamaica, an English West Indian Island. Spent a day here taking on coal April 27, arrived in New York April 30, took a sailing vessel to Bremen May 28 to June 4, in to English Channel south along English coast June 10, arrived in Bremer Haven June 11, in Bremen and inthe evening took the road for Hannover June 15, railroaded to Hamburg June 17, by cab for Bremen June 18, arrived Bremen in a.m. and took bus for Wiesede June 19 June 21, arrived Wiesede Am planning a second trip to America by way of Bremen-New Orleans-St. Louis 1854 March, left Wiesede for America Distances in English miles: from San Francisco to Isthmus of Panama 3500 miles from Panama to Aspinwall Navy Bay 60 miles from Isthmus to New York 2200 miles from New York to Bremen 3500 miles Alfs Chronology 1825 On December 2 at 4 o'clock in the morning in Wiesede was born to "Warfsmann" Johann Ahlfs by his wife Gretje , a son, who was baptized December 11. Name: Gerd Witnesses: Gerd, son of "Warfsmann" Wevert Gerdes Flesner of Wiesede; Elmerich, the wife of the "Colonist" and "Hausling" Thole Hinrichs, and the "Hausling' Johann Hinrichs of Hesel. (from Baptismal records of Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reepsholt, Hannover) 1843-1846 With Master Carpenter J.L. Gronewald of Aurich 1846-1846 With Master Carpenter R.H. Juechten in Jervis 1848 Left Wiesede for New York May 3 listed on passenger list of "Brig Josephine" arriving at New York from Bremen Gerhard Alls - age 22 - man - farmer - Germany - U.S. travelled to St. Louis 1850 April 4 left St. Louis for California September 8 arrived Weaverville, California October 3 listed in El Dorado County, California, census (Weaverville and its vicinity) Ahlfs, George - 25 yrs old - miner for gold - b. Germany (listed with 5 Germans, also gold miners) 1853 March 22 left California for Germany April 28 listed on passenger list of "Steamship Georgia" arriving at New York from Aspinwall G. Afhls - 26 yrs - male - merchant 1853 June 21 arrived Wiesede 1854 Bridegroom: Ahlfs, Gerd , never married, of Wiesede Birth date and place: 2 Dec 1825, Wiesede Parents: "Warfsmann" Johann Ahlfs and his wife Gretje , born Flesner Bride: Hinrichs, Maria Sophia , never married, servant, of Wiesede Birth date and place: 14 Dec 1827, Hesel Parents: the late "Warfsmann" Johann Hinrichs and his wife Anna Catharine , born Ahlfs. Intended future residence: America Date and place of banns: 15, 22, 29 Jan, Reepsholt Date and place of marriage: 5 Feb 1854, Reepshilt, in the first "Pastorei" Name of registrar: Ostendorph, 7 Feb 1854 (from Marriage records, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reepsholt, Hannover) 1854 March left for America June 1 listed as cabin passengers on "Ship Ernestine" arriving at New Orleans from Bremen Gerett Ahlfs - 28 yrs - male - joiner - Hannover - St. Louis Maria Ahlfs - 26 yrs - female - Hannover - St. Louis 1854 August 18 purchased first land in Manito Township, Maon County, Illinois 1860 listed in Egypt Station, Mason County, Illinois, census Gerard Alfs - 34 - farmer - $8,000 real estate - $1,230 personal property b. Hanover Mary - 32 - Hanover John - 5 - Illinois Anna - 3 - Illinois Richard P--- - 30 - farm labor Hanover --- Wagoner - 30 - farm labor Hanover Leonard Lin-- - 16 - farm labor Hanover Susan Thrnton - 16 - Ohio 1863 October 31 purchased land in Cincinnati Township, Tazewell County, Illinois 1870 listed in Cincinnati Township, Taxewelll County, Illinois, census Gerhard Alfs - 48 - M - W - farmer - $28,000 real estate - $2,500 personal property b. Hanover f. & m. foreign birth Citizen U.S. Maria - 41 - F - W - keeping house Hanover f. & m. foreign birth John - 15 - M - W - Illinois Anna - 12 - F - W - Illinois Margaret - 9 - F - W - Illinois George - 7 - M - W - Illinois Mary - 5 - F - W - Illinois Henry - 2 - M - W - Illinois Herman - 1 - M - W - Illinois 1882 December 24 Maria Sophia Hinrichs Alfs died 1886 August 25 married Dina Vander Velde Voight 1908 September 19 Gerd Alfs died
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