Henrich Altepeter (1803 - 1866)

Born 23 Jun 1803 in Beckum, Beckum, Erbfürstentum Münster, Preußen

Husband of Gertrud (Fleckenkamp) Altepeter — married 27 Nov 1827 (to Oct 1839) in St. Stephanus, Beckum, Beckum, Münster, Westfalen, Preußen, Deutscher Bund

Husband of Katharina Margaretha (Hollenkamp) Altepeter — married 29 Dec 1839 (to 12 Feb 1866) in Saint Boniface Church, Germantown Clinton, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 12 Feb 1866 at age 62 in Breese, Clinton, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Henry Altepeter has German Roots.

This profile is part of the Hollenkamp Name Study.

Henrich Altepeter was born at 9 a.m. on 23 June 1803 in Beckum, Beckum, Erbfürstentum Münster, Preußen.^[1][2] His father was Kötter Johan Henrich Altepeter and his mother Gertrudis Soestwärner.^[1] He was baptised on 26 June 1803 in the catholic church St. Stephanus Beckum.^[1] His baptismal witnesses were Henrich (Selterkrog ?) and Anna Maria Soestwärner.^[1] Henrich was a farmer's son by birth. Since his older brother inherited the parental farm, Henrich was left empty-handed.

Joann Heinrich Fleckenkamp (nee Altepeter) married Gertrud Fleckenkamp on 27 November 1827 with a dispens in St. Stephanus in Beckum.^[3] Their witnesses were Heinrich Altepeter and Joann Bernard Kypenkötter.^[3] As part of the marriage contract Henrich Altepeter took the last name of his wife Gertrud Fleckenkamp, as she brought a small cottage into the marriage. Unfortunately, they could not build a lasting existence on it alone.

According to a newspaper article, Henrich became aware of a settlement the Shoal Creek region in rural Clinton County in southern Illinois, about 40 kilometers east of St. Louis, through letters from America to the local teacher "George Meirinke".^[4]

At the age of 35, Henry Altepeter, a carpenter by profession, emigrated via Bremen and arrived on 2 January 1839 in New Orleans on the barque Johanna under master Lüder Mensing, the ship's captain.^[5] He was travelling with

• his wife Gertrude (age 33??)^[6] and their children
• Elisab. Altepeter (age 16)^[7] and
• Herm. Altepeter (age 10)^[8]. The country to which they belong, it was stated "Beckum" and they were headed for St. Louis.^[5] They travelled with two books and three trunks containing wearing apparel, bed and beddings as well as tools.^[5]

Two months later, in Spring, the family travelled the Mississippi River to St. Louis where Henry's wife and children remained.^[4] Unfortunately, his wife Gertrud (Fleckenkamp) Altepeter got sick on the boat trip and died in October 1839.^[4][9]

Henry, however, had already continued on foot with four other men to look for a place to settle.^[4] Eventually, they met up with a fellow countryman, Christoph Guithues in Lebanon, Illinois.^[4] Since Henry's wife and children were still in St. Louis, Georg Heinicke took his carriage to bring them to their new home near Hannover (now Germantown, Clinton County, Illinois).^[4] Here, Herman Hemann owned an empty house with approximately four acres of cleared land, which in 1967 was known as the "Henry Kreke"-property.^[4] The Altepeter family settled here, and by dint of perseverance and hard work carved out a comfortable place to live for themselves.^[4] Since Henry was a skilled carpenter he had brought joiner's tools with him from the Kingdom of Hannover which was a novelty for this particular region, where saw, file and drill had been the only tools until then.^[4] In addition, there had been no apparatus for lifting heavy timber onto sleighs or horse-drawn wagons, which caused Altepeter to build the first "Rickracks" for this purpose.^[4] Moreover, he had also brought a huge handsaw and could cut lumber to specification.^[4] His work was therefore always in demand, and he was able to earn a decent income.^[4] Of course, this included cutting wood so that people could be laid to rest appropriately in wooden coffins.^[4] The contractor "Buehne" had significant pieces of work for Altepeter, who supported the construction of the bridges across the Shoal and Beaver Creeks.^[4]

At home, however, he was less lucky, as his ill-fallen wife felt worse day over day.^[4] There were no doctors in the area, and Gertrud was plagued by the many insects and mosquitos that lived in the undrained area.^[4] Father Ostlangenberg was brought from Mud Creek (now St. Libory) to administer the last rites.^[4] As mentioned above, Gertrud died in October 1939 and was buried in Germantown cemetery near the path from the church to grade school.^[4]

Henry then continued work on the state road project, leaving the four children to fend for themselves as well as possible.^[4]

His daughter (??) Elizabeth (13) took care of the household.^[4]

One room in their house served alike as kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom, but also contained all the household articles.^[4] The beds were built bunk-style on several stakes or piles.^[4] The entire home had but one door and one window, a make-shift roof and no floor at all.^[4] The walls were bare, except for a crucifix, several holy pictures, as well as a rifle that hung over the doorway, a powder pan on the wall.^[4] Henry's son, Stephan was most susceptible to fever attacks and suffered from cramps.^[4] Without aid or counsel, the other children had to care for him as best as they could.^[4] One day, their father Henry returned with a carriage, a yoke of oxen and a pretty new wife.^[4] Upon the carriage's arrival, Henry's children hurried bashfully to their father's side.^[4] "Children," he said, "shake hands with her. This is to be your new mother."^[4] It is said, that tears of joy were wept as the children pressed Katharina's hand.^[4] "You shall get to know me better," was her greeting.^[4] Katharina was Henry Gramann's widow and had lived on the prarie.^[4]

Shortly after this first encounter, Gerardum Henr. Altepeter (~38) married the widowed Catharinam Hollenkamp vocatus Gramann (~36), on 29 December 1839 in St. Boniface church, in Germantown, Clinton County, Illinois, USA.^[10] Their witnesses were Maria Ann. Sommer and N. Gramann.^[10] Katharina was also widowed and had three children from two different husbands. The new combined Altepeter family moved to the Gramann farm in the prairie between Germantown and Breese with now seven children^[4]:

• Elizabeth Altepeter (?)
• Herman Altepeter (11)
• Henry Altepeter (10)
• Stepahn Altepeter (4)
• Catherine Altepeter (0)
• Elizabeth Voigt/Gramann (10)
• Johann Gerhard Heinrich Gramann (5)

The house was a 12x14 construction by Katharina's deceased husband Heinrich Gramann. Again, bunk-beds were used, and the children climbed ladders to reach their warm places at night.^[4] If there was a visitor they had to sleep on the wide ceiling beams, with 1.5 -2 feet of clearance.^[4] The children took their new mother and father, and came in due time to regard each other as brother and sister.^[4] The father tilled the land and began to build a large, roomy home complete with stalls.^[4] The mother taught her children prayers, the catechism, biblical stories, as well as reading and writing.^[4]

On 17 April 1842, a large amount of students received their First Communion in Hannover (Germantown); among them two member of the Altepeter family, Henry and Elizabeth.^[4]

In 1849, a new danger threatened them, for a second wave of cholera was on the way. England and Wales had already been affected in 1848, followed by Ireland the following year, when the country was also plagued by famine. Irish emigrants fleeing the famine to the USA brought the disease to the Mississippi, where 4,500 people died of cholera in St. Louis in 1849 alone. There were also thousands of deaths in New York, especially among Irish immigrants.

On the farm in Breese, Henry Altepeter made a vow in view of the numerous cholera deaths in the community and neighbourhood. If his family survived cholera, he would erect a large cross on his farm out of gratitude. And while Clinton County cemeteries quickly filled with the graves of cholera deaths in the summer of 1849, the Altepeter family was spared. The cross was erected in 1850 and still stands today on the road from Breese to Germantown, bearing the inscription "Im Kreuz ist Heil" in German.

In the 1850 census Henry Altepeter (age 46) was in Clinton County, Illinois, United States.^[11]

The family's real estate had a value of 3,000 USD.^[11] The family was neighboring the wife's third cousin Henry Hollencamp (age 45), and his family Eliza Hollencamp (39), Henry (7), John Hollencamp (4) and Elizabeth Hollencamp (0).^[11]

In the 1860 census Hy Altepeter (age 57) was in Clinton, Illinois, United States.^[12]

In the 1865 Illinois state census Henry Altepeter was residing in Shoal Creek, Hanover, Clinton, Illinois, USA.^[13]

Henrich “Henry” Altepeter Sr was mentioned on a memorial in Saint Dominic and Saint Augustine Catholic Cemetery, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois, USA with a death date of 12 February 1866.^[14]

Research Notes

Emigration

• Secondary sources have attributed Henrich Altepeter's immigration to 1837; claiming that he arrived in New Orleans on Christmas Day 1837.^[4] This contradicts the source used above which sources the arrival in New Orleans to have occurred on 2 January 1839.^[5]

First Marriage

• His age at first marriage is given with 30 years - this would result in a birth date around 1797.
  • The baptisms in Beckum 1797 and 1796 and 1798 show no Altepeter (see 1796 https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/deutschland/muenster/beckum-st-stephanus/KB007/?pg=130 and following pages)
  • We can therefore conclude that the age of 30 years at marriage was an illegitimate claim OR that he was baptised in another church.

Second Marriage

• Transcription of marriage record: 1839 Librum Matrimonii, Dec 29 Gerardum Henr. Altepeter et Catharinam Hollenkamp vocat. Gramann testes f. Maria Ann. Sommer et. N. Gramann. J. H. Fortmann.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Taufbuch St. Stephanus Beckum: Matricula online > Deutschland > Münster, rk. Bistum > Beckum, St. Stephanus > Taufen (1. Januar 1803 – 31. Dezember 1810, KB009_1) > picture T 004, #26.
2. ↑ Baptism: "Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898"
   citing FHL microfilm: 860770;
   FamilySearch Record: NXB5-84M (accessed 28 December 2022)
   Henrich Altepeter baptism on 26 Jun 1803 (born 23 Jun 1803), son of Johan Henrich Altepeter & Gertrudis Soestwärner, in Beckum, Beckum, Westfalen, Preußen, Deutschland.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Heiratsbuch St. Stephanus Beckum: Matricula online > Deutschland > Münster, rk. Bistum > Beckum, St. Stephanus > Heiraten (1. Januar 1811 – 31. Dezember 1885, KB016_2) > picture H 026, #14.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39} 1967 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Breese Journal (Breese, Illinois) 16 Feb 1967, page 17
   Newspapers Clip: 119490004 (accessed 23 February 2023)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Passenger List: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Passenger Lists, 1813-1963"
   The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902; NAI Number: 2824927; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 7484 #134966 (subscription required, accessed 28 December 2022)
   Name: Henry Altepeter; Arrival Age: 35; Birth Date: abt 1804; Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany; Arrival Date: 2 Jan 1839; Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana; Ship Name: Johanna.
6. ↑ Passenger List: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Passenger Lists, 1813-1963"
   The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902; NAI Number: 2824927; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 7484 #134967 (subscription required, accessed 28 December 2022)
   Name: Gertrude Altepeter; Arrival Age: 38; Birth Date: abt 1801; Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany; Arrival Date: 2 Jan 1839; Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana; Ship Name: Johanna.
7. ↑ Passenger List: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Passenger Lists, 1813-1963"
   The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902; NAI Number: 2824927; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 7484 #134968 (subscription required, accessed 28 December 2022)
   Name: Elisab Altepeter; Arrival Age: 16; Birth Date: abt 1823; Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany; Arrival Date: 2 Jan 1839; Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana; Ship Name: Johanna.
8. ↑ Passenger List: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Passenger Lists, 1813-1963"
   The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902; NAI Number: 2824927; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 7484 #134969 (subscription required, accessed 28 December 2022)
   Name: Herm Altepeter; Arrival Age: 10; Birth Date: abt 1829; Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany; Arrival Date: 2 Jan 1839; Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana; Ship Name: Johanna.
9. ↑ https://www.alltagskultur.lwl.org/de/blog/migration-demographie-und-pandemie/
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Illinois, Diocese of Bell...Parish Records, 1729-1956: "Illinois, Diocese of Bell...Parish Records, 1729-1956"
    Catalog: Illinois, Clinton County, Germantown, St. Boniface Parish, church records Marriages 1839-1931; deaths 1839-1956
    Image path: Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956 > Clinton > Germantown > St. Boniface > 1839-1857 Marriages, Deaths > image 3 of 91
    FamilySearch Image: S3HY-XX8S-2DQ (accessed 22 February 2023)
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
    citing Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 30;
    FamilySearch Record: M85K-MKS (accessed 22 February 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DTN7-K8M
    Henry Altepeter (46) in Clinton, Illinois, United States. Born in Germany.
12. ↑ 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860"
    citing Page: 835; Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Affiliate Film Number: 163; FHL microfilm: 803163; Record number: 8148;
    FamilySearch Record: MX4R-DFJ (accessed 22 February 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBK-9PRT Image number 00209
    Hy Altepeter (57) in Clinton, Illinois, United States. Born in Germany.
13. ↑ 1865 Census: "Illinois, U.S., State Census Collection, 1825-1865"
    Illinois State Archives; Springfield, Illinois; Illinois State Census, 1865; Archive Collection Number: 103.010; Roll Number: 2171; Line: 32
    Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    Ancestry Record 1079 #522197 (subscription required, accessed 22 February 2023)
    Henry Altepeter in Hanover, Clinton, Illinois, USA.
14. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #188512839 (accessed 22 February 2023)
    Memorial page for Henrich “Henry” Altepeter Sr. (23 Jun 1803-12 Feb 1866), citing Saint Dominic and Saint Augustine Catholic Cemetery, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by kateb (contributor 47198484).