Ancestral Memories: Georg Schmückle and Christina Stark

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Contents 1 ANCESTRAL MEMORIES: GEORG SCHMÜCKLE AND CHRISTINA STARK 1.1 GEORG SCHMÜCKLE 1.2 A problem with a neighbor 1.3 A visit to Backnang 1.4 Christina speaks 1.5 Unable to become a leader 1.6 No good neighbors for Christina 1.7 Not a leader, but an elder 1.8 Final thoughts

ANCESTRAL MEMORIES: GEORG SCHMÜCKLE AND CHRISTINA STARK

Recorded by John S. Schmeeckle, Spring 2018

• I discuss communicating with ancestors (the source for these stories) at this G2G thread: Communicating with ancestors.
• Click here for a five-generation family tree chart showing Georg Schmückle and his wife Christina Stark and their ancestors.
• Click here for the story of their son Gottlieb Schmückle/Schmeeckle.
• Click here for the stories shared by Georg's parents Jacob Schmückle and Christina Haag.

GEORG SCHMÜCKLE

(Apr. 14, 2018) Georg Schmückle was the son of a man who had a good reputation. Georg Schmückle knew that his father was from a family that had been in Kleinaspach parish for many generations. Georg Schmückle understood that his father didn’t become a leader. (Georg will refer to himself as Georg, but will be pleased for descendants to call him by his full name Georg Schmückle.) Georg knew that his father wanted to become a leader. Georg understood that, if this was going to be possible for Georg, Georg needed to have a relationship with his wife. Georg understood that many men did not have relationships. They ordered their wife to do what they wanted. A submissive wife was well respected. A wife who obeyed her husband helped the family interact with the community. Georg understands that, because of the time that his descendant lives in, this type of situation is not acceptable. This was the only acceptable situation between husband and wife. Georg believes that a husband who wanted to be a leader found a way for his wife to show that she was pleased to accept his leadership. This was one of the requirements for a leader.

Georg was able to have a relationship with his wife. Georg understood that, if he was able to help his wife understand the need to submit, it would be good for the family. Georg understood that his wife didn’t want to submit. Georg understood that his wife was unwilling to accept that her husband made the decisions. Georg wasn’t able to convince his wife that this was correct. But Georg was able to convince his wife that, if she submitted, the family would have a much better opportunity.

(Apr. 15, 2018) Georg Schmückle wasn’t anxious to be a leader quickly. Georg Schmückle understood that leaders who became leaders when relatively young had a difficult time, because older men expected respect. Georg Schmückle simply acted as a good citizen. Georg wanted to be able to have a family that was well maintained. Georg knew, because of the number of people, that there wasn’t much land. Georg understood, if he had few children, he wouldn’t need as much land. He would have an advantage. Georg was able to convince his wife that this was a good idea. Georg knew, because his wife was from outside Kleinaspach parish, she wouldn’t have many relatives who wanted to imagine making another family connection. For this reason, Georg was able to convince his wife without this added difficulty.

A problem with a neighbor

Georg Schmückle wanted to be able to think of himself as a respectable man. George knew that respectable men had submissive wives. Georg knew that respectable men provided well for their families. Georg understood, if he was going to be a respectable man, he would have to build a foundation of trust. Georg had to never give cause for complaint, even when he thought that he was being wronged. Georg knew, if he wanted to be respected, he had to have a record that was free from blemishes. Georg was unable to do this. Georg was unfortunate. Georg had a neighbor. Georg wanted to live in peace with his neighbor. Georg thought that the boundary between the two was clear. Georg was surprised when the neighbor decided to appeal to the leaders. The neighbor didn’t talk to Georg beforehand. Georg was simply surprised when one of the leaders decided to talk to Georg.

(Apr. 24, 2018) Georg Schmückle wanted to be able to explain why he had assumed that the boundary was clear. Georg Schmückle knew, from what his father had explained, that the boundary was accepted by the neighbor’s father. Georg Schmückle never expected a problem. Georg Schmückle wanted to not have to be bothered. Georg Schmückle wanted to be left in peace. Georg Schmückle wanted his neighbor to stay in his area. Georg Schmückle was surprised when his neighbor acted like Georg’s home area belonged to the neighbor. Georg respectfully asked his neighbor to stay out of his home area unless there was a reason. Georg’s neighbor then went to the leaders. This was the beginning of a problem.

Georg went to a meeting. Georg was unable to speak. The meeting was about the problem. Georg understood that the neighbor had the support of one of the leaders. Georg also knew, because of this problem, that he would not be allowed to become a leader. Georg was unable to act. Georg simply had to accept the leaders’ decision. The leaders said that the area that had belonged to Georg’s house was going to be split. The leaders knew that Georg had been in this house for his whole life. The leaders also knew that Georg’s family had been in this house for seven generations. Georg understood that the leaders were making a change. The leaders wanted the neighbor to be one of the leaders. The neighbor wanted Georg to not be (eligible) to be a leader. This meant that the neighbor was acting out of ambition.

Georg understood. Georg understood that, because of this situation, Georg was unable to be a leader. The leaders had made a private decision. This happened before the neighbor made his complaint. Georg did not have any way to influence the decision. He simply had to accept it. This meant that Georg wanted to leave. Georg knew, if he left, he would be a new citizen in a parish where he was looked on as a stranger. Georg wanted to avoid this. George thought of staying but not cooperating. Georg understood that, if he appealed, he would probably not lose the space. He also knew, if he did this, he would be viewed as a troublemaker. Georg wanted to not have this reputation. Georg also wanted to be treated fairly. Georg understood, because of what had happened, there wouldn’t be any reason for Georg to expect that the leaders would respect him.

A visit to Backnang

(May 3, 2018) Georg Schmückle was able to give a gift to his family. Georg knew that his wife was unable to visit her brother in Backnang. Georg knew that it would be difficult for him to take time away from farming. Georg thought of going in the winter. But the weather was always bad. Georg just didn’t have the opportunity.

Georg eventually thought of a way to bring his wife to Backnang. Georg thought, if he was able to do work for a neighbor, then the neighbor would do work for him. This arrangement made it possible for Georg to leave and go to Backnang for three days. Georg was able to meet his wife’s brother. Georg wanted to be able to take a longer visit, but Georg wanted to get back to his farm. So Georg brought his wife back. This was the only time that Georg left Kleinaspach.

Christina speaks

(May 3, 2018) Christina Stark was the daughter of a man who wanted his children to be close to him. Christina knew that her father was a different man from many other men. Christina wasn’t able to be close to her father after she married. Christina’s father wasn’t able to continue living. He wanted to see his daughter married and died shortly afterward. Christina often imagines that her father managed to stay alive long enough to see her married. This meant that she wasn’t an orphan. This meant that Christina didn’t have difficulty finding a good husband.

Christina didn’t want to live in Backnang. Christina understood that Backnang was unhealthy. Christina hoped to have a family in a town that was smaller, but not too small. This is why Christina was able to find a husband in Kleinaspach. Christina asked people in her church if anyone knew of people in nearby parishes. Christina knew that her father was unable to do this, because he was not healthy. Christina understood that young women didn’t get involved in choosing their husbands. Christina didn’t want to get involved. She just wanted people to think of husbands in other parishes. And this is what happened. Christina understood that another family in Backnang parish had a connection in Kleinaspach parish. And this is how Christina became the wife of Georg Schmückle.

Unable to become a leader

(May 4, 2018) Georg Schmückle was unable to become a leader. Georg Schmückle knew that his problem with his neighbor was the excuse. Georg Schmückle understood that the leaders had already decided that Georg was not from a family that should become a leading family. Georg Schmückle understood that there were problems in the past. Georg Schmückle understood that there was a famous disagreement. Georg Schmückle never knew the facts. Georg Schmückle simply knew that people thought badly of the family. Georg Schmückle understood that problems in families had ways of reappearing. Georg Schmückle understood that, because of this, he would have trouble finding a wife for his son. Georg Schmückle understood that, if his relationship with his wife was a good relationship, then he would be thought of as a man who was able to permit his son to have a good wife.

Georg Schmückle understood that, if he was able to be a proper husband with a proper wife, he would not have difficulty. This is what Georg Schmückle was able to do.

No good neighbors for Christina

(May 30, 2018) Christina wanted to have another son. Christina knew that, because she only had one son, she would not have a good chance of having a comfortable widowhood. Widows always worried. Christina knew that her son would be good. So she didn’t worry very much. Christina understood that, because of what she said, she wasn’t able to have a good community relationship. Christina said, after she came to Kleinaspach, that Backnang was much better. This was remembered. And Christina wasn’t able to make good connections. Christina never had good neighbors. She simply had to make do without sharing.

Christina didn’t want to have this kind of life. Christina knew, after her husband became a leader, that she would have more respect. But other women weren’t close to her. Christina knew that, if she hadn’t said what she said, she would have had a better life. This is something that Christina always regretted.

Not a leader, but an elder

(May 30, 2018) Georg Schmückle wanted to be able to help his wife. George Schmückle understood what she did. Georg wanted to be able to help Christina be friendly with neighbors’ wives. Georg hoped that one or two of the neighbors would have a good relationship with Christina. But this never happened. Christina was unable to be a part of the community. Georg was able to do this. Georg was able to become an elder. He became a deacon. He was a deacon for seven years. And then he became an elder. The elders were responsible for assuring that the people in the village went to church. Georg was able to do this without being cross. Georg would remind people that they had an obligation. Georg understood that it was a requirement that would be punished. This is what Georg reminded people of. This is how Georg did what he was supposed to do.

The elder was also in charge of taking money from people. The elder used this money for the church. This was something that Georg did with careful respect. Georg understood that people were always suspicious. Georg knew that, because he only had two children, he wouldn’t be suspected. Georg didn’t need as much money as other people. And this was very convenient for his family.

Final thoughts

{June 19, 2018) Georg Schmückle was able to live without trouble. Georg, after accepting the loss of part of his home property, was able to live in peace. Nobody else sought trouble. Georg wanted to not think of the man who had arranged to take away from Georg. But Goerg was always reminded. Georg saw the fence that the other man made. This was something that Georg learned to thank God for.

Georg Schmückle wanted to be able to live without a thought of his family being unable to prosper. Georg knew, because of his position, that his son had the opportunity to become an elder. Georg understood, because of the way that elders were expected to act, that his son might not have the will to become an elder. Georg understood, because he accepted the loss of part of his home, that he was recognized as the type of man who could be an elder. Georg understood, because of his son, that he was blessed. Georg understood, because of the country, that his son would have to endure seven years in the army. Georg didn’t have to do that. The rule changed, and Georg was deeply concerned. Georg understood that, because of the new rule, Georg was unable to recommend that his son seek to become an elder. Georg simply accepted that his son might choose this path.

Georg Schmückle understood, after a long life, that his family was of the leading families in Kleinaspach. Georg understood that his family was descended from an old family, and his family had been in the village for many generations. Georg understood, because of the way of thinking, that he was able to take his position and use it to encourage others to act in a way that was good for the community. Georg wanted to be able to live in a way that was remembered. And Georg was blessed.