Leaving home was hard for Anna Maria Theresia Ferstl MIller. She knew she would never see her home in Hemau, Bavaria again. She married Aegidius Miller on 24 Jan 1836 and they emigrated with four children in 1852.
They were traveling with countrymen who also moved to Beaver Dam from Bavaria--Matthew Zweck, Michael Geniger, George Steil, George Amann and George Geschel, all Bavarians. Calamus, Dodge, Wisconsin, USA.
Space was limited on the ship; tools were important and food for the trip and a few family heirlooms such as a bible or German prayer book.
In addition to these items, Maria took a small slip of a Christmas Cactus plant. The family story said she grew it into a plant several feet in diameter that was a glory to see in full bloom yearly.
Her great-great-great granddaughter still has the prayer book and the cactus. She carefully shares clippings with each generation, keeping this memory of home alive with Miller descendants.
