The History of the Frahmann's in America
Whether spelled Frahmann or Frahman, it appears that all family members with this surname in North America can trace their roots back to the same individual in northern Germany, not far from Hamburg.
THE FRAHMANN ROOTS IN GERMANY
The story of the Frahmann family in America traces back to 1778 and the German town of Munster, south of Hamburg. That was the year and location of the birth of Balthasar Henrich Frahmann.
He left Munster around 1805, at a time when Napoleon Bonaparte was recruiting for men to fight his war in Russia. Balthasar went to Oldenburg and then on to a nearby village called Jeddeloh. There he worked for a farmer, married Helene Rippen, and had several children. One of them was Hermann, who was to be the father of Henry Diedrich Frahmann, who was born in 1867 in Oldenberg and would represent the documented start of the Frahmann family in America.
But in actuality, the family arrival probably started sooner. Although we don’t know details, relatives have told tales of Frahmanns in the 19th century who were merchant marine captains. They would sail to San Francisco and north to Eureka, California. They spoke of the great fishing and hunting in Northern California. And supposedly there is at least one grave in the Eureka area from this period with the name of Frahmann.
To this day, Frahmanns lived in the Stuttgart and Ulm areas of Germany, and are believed to be descendants of Balthasar.
However the Frahmann in America story will focus on Balthasar’s grandson, Henry.
THE FRAHMANN FAMILY IN AMERICA
Today, there are Frahmann family members in many parts of the United States, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, California, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.
Hermann Frahmann in Germany had five sons and one daughter:
In Wisconsin, Henry had seven sons and three daughters (Herman, Anna, Henry, Gerhart, John, Frank, Helen, Bertha, Frederick and Otto.) In California, Ludwig had three sons and one daughter (Herbert, Frank, William and Ann).
In 1913, according to the Medford (WI) Star News, the entire Frahmann family, including husband, wife and nine children were taken ill with trichinosis. This was a result of eating tainted pork that has been improperly cooked. At least three of the family died. This family episode was the basis for a similar scene that takes place in Dennis Frahmann’s novel, The Finnish Girl.
Henry’s son Otto had seven children (Raymond, Mildred, Alvin, Dorothy, Elian, Marjorie and Richard); Herman had six children (Lester, William, Lois, John, Linda and Irene); Frederick had one child (Audrey); Helen had four children (John, William, Evelyn and Lorraine), Henry had one child (Henry) and John had five (George, Arlene, Galen, Everett, and Melton).
For those more interested in family genealogy, please contact the web master who can provide more current details.
If you have more history to share, please send it to us and we'll incorporate it.
THE FRAHMANN ROOTS IN GERMANY
The story of the Frahmann family in America traces back to 1778 and the German town of Munster, south of Hamburg. That was the year and location of the birth of Balthasar Henrich Frahmann.
He left Munster around 1805, at a time when Napoleon Bonaparte was recruiting for men to fight his war in Russia. Balthasar went to Oldenburg and then on to a nearby village called Jeddeloh. There he worked for a farmer, married Helene Rippen, and had several children. One of them was Hermann, who was to be the father of Henry Diedrich Frahmann, who was born in 1867 in Oldenberg and would represent the documented start of the Frahmann family in America.
But in actuality, the family arrival probably started sooner. Although we don’t know details, relatives have told tales of Frahmanns in the 19th century who were merchant marine captains. They would sail to San Francisco and north to Eureka, California. They spoke of the great fishing and hunting in Northern California. And supposedly there is at least one grave in the Eureka area from this period with the name of Frahmann.
To this day, Frahmanns lived in the Stuttgart and Ulm areas of Germany, and are believed to be descendants of Balthasar.
However the Frahmann in America story will focus on Balthasar’s grandson, Henry.
THE FRAHMANN FAMILY IN AMERICA
Today, there are Frahmann family members in many parts of the United States, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, California, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.
Hermann Frahmann in Germany had five sons and one daughter:
- Dietrich, Fred and Anna all emigrated to Minnesota
- Ludwig emigrated to Eureka, California (presumably because of connections to the earlier sea captains)
- Henry emigrated to Wisconsin
- Gerhart remained in Germany, but two of his children (John and Otto) would eventually emigrate to South Dakota.
In Wisconsin, Henry had seven sons and three daughters (Herman, Anna, Henry, Gerhart, John, Frank, Helen, Bertha, Frederick and Otto.) In California, Ludwig had three sons and one daughter (Herbert, Frank, William and Ann).
In 1913, according to the Medford (WI) Star News, the entire Frahmann family, including husband, wife and nine children were taken ill with trichinosis. This was a result of eating tainted pork that has been improperly cooked. At least three of the family died. This family episode was the basis for a similar scene that takes place in Dennis Frahmann’s novel, The Finnish Girl.
Henry’s son Otto had seven children (Raymond, Mildred, Alvin, Dorothy, Elian, Marjorie and Richard); Herman had six children (Lester, William, Lois, John, Linda and Irene); Frederick had one child (Audrey); Helen had four children (John, William, Evelyn and Lorraine), Henry had one child (Henry) and John had five (George, Arlene, Galen, Everett, and Melton).
For those more interested in family genealogy, please contact the web master who can provide more current details.
If you have more history to share, please send it to us and we'll incorporate it.