Adam Aulenbacher Family
Adam Aulenbacher Family’s Journey to the New World
Adam
Aulenbacher, his wife Philipine nee Schmidt, and their infant son Adam
left their home in Altenglan, Germany on August 21, 1852. Altenglan is
a small town in Southwestern Germany near the French border. At that
time it was still part of Bavaria.
Adam and his family traveled to France and on August 29, 1852 they left from LaHarve for New York on board the ship “Emperor.” The voyage to their new home was very rough, and they experienced much sea sickness. After three months on the ocean, they arrived in New York October 28, 1852. They spent a few days in New York visiting a brother, George Aulenbacher, who came to America earlier, after which they proceeded to Richfield, Wisconsin where Philipine Schmidt Aulenbacher had relatives.
The Aulenbacher family did not originate in Germany and neither was Aulenbacher their original name. The name was taken from Aulenbach (river in Germany), when the French Huguenot family (three brothers) escaped from Normandy, France, going to Germany in the late 1600s. They were French Huguenots and fled during the persecution of the Protestants. Their sister was captured and murdered. The brothers hid in a small brook and were able to proceed on to Germany following this little rivulet. Being of the Aristocracy and afraid of being pursued, they felt they must change their name. They took the name of the brook and never revealed their real name.
Although
Adam Aulenbacher was trained in Germany to become a blacksmith, having
had three years training as an apprentice and three years as a
journeyman, he became a farmer in Richfield. His first farm was located
about a mile and one half north of highway 167 on Hillside Road, across
from St. Mary’s church. Adam purchased this land from the LaCrosse and
Milwaukee Railroad Co. on August 12, 1856. It is interesting to note
that the 40 acres at that time was appraised at $50.00 per acre without
buildings. A mortgage was given to the railroad company in the amount
of $1000.00 at 8% interest due in 20 years.
Thirteen years
later, on October 9, 1869, Adam purchased a larger farm consisting of
160 acres which is located one half mile north of Highway 167 on
Hillside Road This farm remained in the Aulenbacher family for 105
years. Adam’s granddaughter, Georgiana Aulenbacher Winter, was the last
Aulenbacher to own the property. It was originally claimed from the
United States of America by Frederick Ebeling. Two land grants were
issued. One is dated September 10, 1844 and is signed by President John
Tyler. August 1, 1849 is the date on the grant signed by Zachary
Taylor, President of the U.S.A. The warranty deed issued to Adam
Aulenbacher on the purchase of this farm amounted to
$2500.00—approximately $15.00 per acre.
In 1867
Adam Aulenbacher became a citizen. He renounced his Allegiance to the
King of Bavaria and his homeland. His certificate of Naturalization was
issued October 22, 1867 at the Circuit Court at West Bend.
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