Ancestors

   Granny Lou and I yesterday were thinking about what our ancestors had to go through in order to make a life for themselves and raise their families in America. There is a lot that we do not know about the day to day activities, but it is fun to imagine.

   Our grandson, Drew, is here this week, and, as we sat on the back porch last night, we told him a little about his great, great, great, great grandfather. Someone had compiled a brief history of the Schumann family, of which he was the patriarch in America, and written it down for their family reunion in 1964. He was an ancestor on the Jorges side of the family (Mayre's side).

   Christian Schumann was born in Germany in 1800, and his wife Susanna in 1814. They had 10 children, 8 of which were born in Germany before they immigrated and 2 more after they came. They sailed from Bremen and to New York, a 38 day voyage, in a ship filled to capacity. Their cabin was not large, and had to sleep the whole family. After landing in New York, they took a train to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a wagon to Madison in Dane County. They stayed in Dane County's southwest portion with some of Susanna's kin for a few days, then bought 80 acres and built a 12 by 16 one room log house. With one son, Christian walked back to Milwaukee, purchased a wagon and a yoke of oxen, some supplies and tools, and rode back home.

   This could not have been an easy life on the frontier. Even with the help of family and friends, it was hard work. The one thing they missed was a community of fellowship in a church, like they had in the old country. By 1854, the German Lutherans had constructed a small log church. Eventually the increase in membership necessitated a newer stone church which served the congregation until 1904.

   It is sobering to consider what they went through and wonder if I could have done the same. Our lives are so easy and comfortable that we take for granted what our forefathers had to go through. We missed the hard work part, but we also missed the shared community of others in that same circumstance.

   We all share in the benefits that our ancestors passed down to us. I am grateful that so many passed down so much, especially the sense of community as expressed in a body of faith.