BB News No. 33 dtd 15 Apr 1998

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 33 DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND GENEALOGY (issued biweekly by Gerald Berghold) April 15, 1998 (all rights reserved) DID YOU KNOW THAT THEIR ARE NOW OVER 2800 BURGENLAND HITS ON THE INTERNET - HAS ANYONE SEEN THEM ALL? SEE OUR NEW URL LIST - SENT AS NEWSLETTER 33A! This edition of the newsletter contains articles on: - House Owners of Kleinpetersdorf - Orphan's Book - Chicago Fasching - Early Pamhagen Emigrant - Projected Heritage Quest Web Site - Amtlicher Ausweis Translation - "Mei Hoamat" (My Homeland) AN EDITOR'S OPINION - SOME ETHNIC SATIRE One of the perquisites of being an editor is the opportunity to voice personal opinions. An opinion of mine that clamors for release is one concerning ethnic culture. It is triggered by recent news media comments concerning the need for ethnic appologies and changes in our educational system. For years my view of my Burgenland ancestors was one of good Germanic-Magyar family people, who were hard workers and courageous survivors. Much of their history and culture was unknown to me. As a second generation descendant, born in the United States, I was educated in the American-English culture. Included were a few Austrian and Hungarian writers, artists and composers, but no Burgenland ties. As I studied foreign history, it was from an English viewpoint. Even when I studied German, it was German north of the Austrian border. I'm not complaining, I received a very good education. By studying the Burgenland on my own, however, I can now appreciate my ancestors' culture. It's fascinating, almost as pleasant to the intellect as goulasch is to the stomach. In our era of cultural diversity and concern for minorities, I find this very fullfilling. After all, using today's politically correct jargon, I'm not an English-American; I'm a Burgenland-American! Continuing this politically correct philosophy, perhaps we Burgenländers too need a National Center for Burgenland-American Studies and courses in Burgenland History at our universities. An estimated 40M Burgenländers emigrated to the United States during 1890-1914, many others before and after (Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups). There are now millions of Burgenland-American descendants in the United States. Shouldn't the history of their "Auswanderung" (emigration) be included in our schools' texts? Why not their contributions to the building of America - didn't they supply the cement and steel? How about mention of their earlier enslavement by the Ottoman Empire during the terrible time of the Turk (16th-18th centuries). Shouldn't today's Turkish Government appologize? What about the attrocities committed against our people during the Reformation and Counter Reformation or the Thirty Years War (murder, rape and pillage on all sides)? Shouldn't there be public appologies from both church and state? (Friends, I'm smiling - tongue in cheek, all ethnic groups have had some form of mistreatment - some more terrible than others; if we start appologizing for history, we'll never stop.) I suggest that it is enough that we can study, enjoy and reflect on our ancient ethnic cultures on our own, passing them on to succeeding generations as part of our family responsibilities. They need not, nor should they, supplant our modern American culture or achieve prominence in our educational systems. Neither should we resurrect ancient animosities, there are more than enough modern ones. (Still, it would be nice to have a Center for all Ethnic-American Studies? Who knows what old genealogical documents would finally be translated and maybe we'd have an occasional Burgenland television documentary - oh well, until then, there's always the Burgenland Bunch!). We should never forget the lessons of history, but it is time for our government to stop all this ethnic appology and educational nonsence. KLEINPETERSDORF HOUSE OWNERS - 1858 (from Albert Schuch) I have a list showing all house owners of Kleinpetersdorf from 1858, drawn up in the process of the "Kommassierung", or land surveying. Similar lists should be available for all Burgenland villages. I got it from the "Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen" in Vienna, also a detailed copy of the map. From this list (no xeroxes allowed, I had to write all the names down myself) you can also determine the individual land ownership. One can order copies of the maps, but without the list of owners you can't get much information out of them. Here is the list of owners, which is also a nice overview of the surnames at that time: Kleinpetersdorf 1858 (Nr. Name) 21 WASSITS Josef, 20 WESSELY Johann, 19 GOLLATS Michael, 18 HAISANY Elisabeth, 17 TISSINAY Georg, 16 REICHER Josef, 15 REICHER Elisabeth, 14 SCHWAB Georg, 13 SCHÜTTER Paul, 42 HÖRITS Johann, 12 SCHNELLER Josef, 11 WASSITS Katharina, 10 WESSELY Josef, 9 KRISMANITS Johann, 8 SCHNELLER Theresia, 7 KRISMANITS Johann, 6 KAMPER Johann, 5 KULLOVITS Josef, 4 SCHUH Josef, 3 KAMPER Michael, 2 WINKOWITS Georg, 1 SCHÖCK Johann, 40 WASSITS Johann, 39 REICHER Theresia, 38 REICHER Georg, 37 SCHNELLER Michael, 36 REICHER Theresia, 35 DERKOVITS Josef, 34 SCHÜTTER Josef, 33 PAUKOVITS Maria, 32 Klein Petersdorf Gemeinde, 31 KAMPER Anton, 30 Klein Petersdorf Gemeinde, 29 WASSITS Stefan, 28 PINTER Johann, 27 REICHER Georg, 26 SCHÖCK Michael, 25 WILLISITS Johann, 24 TECHET Josef, 23 KLEPITS Michael Erben, 22 LORENZ Maria, 41 HORVART Johann (end of list). WAISENBUCH (Orphan's Book) Ed. note: In a previous newsletter we had some comments re orphan children adopted by Burgenland families. Frank Teklits and I did some work for Albert Schuch using LDS microfilm. In tracing some of his family we came upon the following (comments are from Albert): "Re: Eva Gollacz born 21 Feb 1847. The "Waisenbuch" (orphan's book) for Kleinpetersdorf 1846-56, which is kept in the Landesarchiv in Eisenstadt, shows orphans Juliana and Anna GALLATZ (GOLLATZ), who have inherited about 97 florins from their deceased mother Eva in 1847. (The money came from her clothing, which apparently had been sold after her death.) Their father Franz withdrew the interest (about 4 florins) every year. The orphan girls are always called Juliana and Anna, hence I conclude that Eva is a mistake of the "Zweitschrift". A little more on the Waisenbcher: These books are still in existence for some villages. The money of orphans was entrusted to the "Waisenvater" (orphan's father), who kind of acted in their interests (guardian or trustee) until they reached a certain age or married. CHICAGO FASCHING & GERMANFEST Roving ambassador Tom Glatz continues to spread the Burgenland Bunch word in Chicago. He sends the following: "I saw Walter Pomper & many others last night. I gave Pomper all of the newsletters to read. He was quite impressed. Perhaps he will mention the BB in one of his newsletters. (Ed.-he did) Many of the others liked the BB newletters. You probably would have enjoyed the Jolly Burgenlaender Fasching Dance. The "sweets table" - some of what they had last evening was home baked: I had Mohn (Poppy Seed) Kuchen & Grundbirne Strudl (this is dialect for apple strudel - maybe you know this). The G (K)rapfen were really just bakery made Bismarks in disguise. They (had) the Rosegger Steirer Club's Schuplattler group as entertainment. I am sending a few things to you via regular mail. One interesting item is the Milwaukee Austrian newsletter (Club Österreich, Austrian American Society, Greater Milwaukee Area). I hope to have some of our (BB) newsletters on the table for handouts at Germanfest. Germanfest in Milwaukee (July, 1997-July, 1998?) is the largest festival of its kind in North America. They have a whole tent devoted to genealogy: Donau Schwaben, Schliesien, Sudeten, Hessen, Bayerisch, etc. If I only had the time, I am sure I could convince Frank Schmitz (president), to create a real Austrian genealogical table like the rest. Austria & Burgenland are little represented. EARLY PAMHAGEN EMIGRANT (from Albert Schuch) Johann RIESZNER (1856-1939), Pamhagen - Minneapolis - San Francisco Johann Riener, son of Johann Riener and Justina ne Muth, was born on 7 April 1856 in the city of Györ (Raab), Hungary. His family moved to Pamhagen # 259 (now (1975) Rosengasse 3), where J.R. the elder worked as a locksmith. J.R. the younger, after having served in the army in Sopron and Bosnia, married Anna Bleich on 24 Oct 1879, he was already a "serarius magister" (master locksmith) at that time. Daughters Magdalena (1879) and Maria (1881) were born, and in May 1882 they all (four) emigrated to America. In Dec 1882 J.R.s brother Karl died in Pamhagen, aged 24. The Riener family settled in Minneapolis, were Johann worked as a mechanic for the "International Harvester-Works" until 1890, later on (until 1908) for the "Twin Cities Rapid Transit Company". Throughout these years he wrote many poems, which were published in the newspaper "Deutsch-Ungarischer Bote" in Minneapolis. Around the turn of the century some of his poems are said to have been published in a book called "Schweiperlen", and it also said that he wrote English poems too. In 1908 the family moved to San Francisco, in 1914 to nearby Oakland. In 1924 Anna Riener died and Johann moved to his daughter Harriet Mason. He died on 31 Oct 1939 and was buried in Hayward, CA. One of his sons went to Hollywood and worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His obituary in the "Oakland Tribune" (1962) says that Karl "Chuck" Riener was friends with celebrities like Charly Chaplin, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. He wrote a book for children ("Little Inch High People"), song lyrics ("Goodbye Broadway - Hello France", "Happy days are here again", "California, the garden of the earth") and film scripts ("Manhattan - Merry Go Round"). On a trip to Vienna and Budapest (with his son Dean) he visited Pamhagen. (source: Johann Pennauer: Johann Riener - ein Beitrag aus Pamhagen zum "Jahr der AuslandsBurgenländer". In: Burgenländische Heimatblätter 1975, p. 145-162). HERITAGE QUEST WEBSITE (courtesy Mary Montoya) Ed. note: James A. Derheim, President, European Focus (and photographer of European villages mentioned in a previous newsletter) is developing a section of the Heritage Quest website called: "Ancestral Towns on the Web". Mary Montoya provided him with data re Halbturn. She received this reply: "I've finished the draft copy for the Heritage Quest website. I'll be submitting Halbturn along with 51 other town and village "stories" in stages starting with the first batch on Monday, Feb 23. The submission dealing with your town will be submitted later, about March 5. The plan is to have H.Q. put up a new town each week, going in no particular order, but sort of going with a town in Germany, followed by a town in Italy, then Scandinavia, then France, Poland, etc. A library will be built up, so that people can call up a menu showing what towns are in the archives. We're going to be linking this site with many others, including "Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet," which is possibly the most widely used source for genealogists around the world. Cyndi Howells is a frequent Heritage Quest contributor with her own column. I'm proud that you're a part of this brand new venture... Who knows? Maybe this will help add to your own storehouse of knowledge and information. At the very least, it's a way for you to be able to share your family information with far-flung members of your own family tree. When possible, I plan to alert my clients when their page is about to be put onto the web. This won't always be possible, as you know how much time I spend in Europe. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to add http://www.heritagequest.com to your bookmarks and visit often. This new addition to the Heritage Quest website will premier about April 15." Mary's projected web page (draft of example) follows: Subj: Halbturn, Austria. Working title of this section of the Heritage Quest website: "Ancestral Towns on the Web" Text for the page follows: Welcome to Halbturn, Austria. This town has special significance to genealogist Mary Montoya, who visited the town during a private tour in the summer of 1996. ABOUT HALBTURN, AUSTRIA This small town lies about 40 kilometers east of Vienna. The town has always had its fortunes tied to the making of wine, and hundreds of acres of apricot groves and vineyards surround the town on all sides. Located in lush, rolling, fertile land, Halbturn is also known for the recently restored residential castle dating back to the year 1714 that was once owned by the Hapsburg ruling family and used as a hunting lodge. The town features a statue dating back to the year 1747, featuring St. Floriani and a Roman legionnaire. The Catholic Church of St. Joseph dates back to the early 1700s and is decorated inside in the "baroque" style. The castle was ransacked by Soviet troops in the Second World War. It now has a new lease on life as a cultural center and museum. SURNAMES THAT HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED - Thury and Gross. Some of Mary's relatives still live in Halburn. SAILING TO A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA - Ancestors left for America in 1893, leaving behind their occupations as farmers and vineyard workers for a new life in Parkston, South Dakota. A PERSONAL DISCOVERY - Halbturn was part of Hungary in 1893. Some people spoke Hungarian and some spoke German. This area was the scene of many wars and population shifts. MAKE THE CONNECTION Derheim also has a large collection of pictures he has taken that he will make available (for a fee) to others. He can be reached at www.eurofocus.com. He is now also offering translation services through his German speaking secretary. He moved from Sioux Falls to Bountiful, UT. about a year ago. He has a toll-free number 1-800-401-7802. AMTLICHER AUSWEIS (from Anna Kresh, GJB & Albert Schuch) (Ed. note: like many of us Anna Kresh has some family documents in need of translation. While waiting for your editor to help she uses Alta Vista and almost completes her translation. She says:) "This is the travel paper for my brother from Kr. T. to Germany on his way to Hamburg and return to the US. Re: the line beginning with "zuständig nach" and the one following it - I can't find any good translation for "zuständig nach" and "Staatsangeh" (angehen?) that makes any sense. The "Österr:" and "Staatsangeh." might both be a 2-line response for "zuständig nach". What is "Passau"? --------------------------------------------------------------- (ORIGINAL) Polizeidirektion in Wien (Stamp) BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR INNERES UND UNTERRICHT P. U. 109770 Gesehen Wien 14 Nov 1921 Amtlicher Ausweis ausgestellt gem Punkt 3 der Ausführungsvorschriften zur Paßordnung für das Deutsche Reich vom 24. Juni 1916 für Ignatz Tanczos geboren am im August 1912 zu Northampton politischer Bezirk___________________ Land _____________________ zuständig nach Österr: politischer Bezirk ______________ Land Staatsangeh Wohnung Kroat Tschantendorf zur Reise nach Deutschland und zurck. Die vorgenannte Person reist mit Frau Maria Tanczos welche durch den Reisepaß der Polizeidirektion Wien vom 4. November 1921. Nr. 10977 legitimiert ist. Wien, am 4. November 1921 (stamp)POLIZEIDIREKTION (stamp) Öst. Grenzpolizei Austritt IN WIEN Passau(?) 18 NOV 1921 Bay. Grenzpolizei Eintritt -------------------------------------------------------------- (TRANSLATION) Police Headquarters in Vienna (Stamp) FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR INTERNAL (AFFAIRS?) AND EDUCATION P. U. 109770 Seen at Vienna 14 November 1921 official document of identification issued in accordance with point 3 of implementing provisions for pass order for the German Reich from 24 June 1916 for Ignatz Tanczos born on in August 1912 at Northampton political district ______________ country ________________ zuständig nach(? responsibility for) Austr: political district ______________ country Staatsangeh (?) Residence Kroat Tschantschendorf to travel to Germany and back. The aforementioned person travels with Mrs. Maria Tanczos which by the passport of police headquarters Vienna from 4 November 1921. No. 10977 is authorized. Vienna, on 4 November 1921 (Stamp) POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN VIENNA (Stamp) Austrian Border Police - Exit Passau(?) 18 November 1921 Bavarian Border Police Entrance Anna also sends: ....(here is) another document my brother carried when he traveled from Kr. T. to the US in 1921 at age 9. The Tarif number is 9 with what looks like a combined x and c. - --------------------------------------------------- Nr. 9417 AUSWEIS (ORIGINAL) für das Kind Ignatz Tanczos -geboren am im August 1912. -wohnhaft im (?) zum zeit im Wien? Das Kind reist nach Amerika - in Begleitung der Frau Marie Tanczos legitimiert durch Paß Nr. 109770-ausgestellt von ? Fed. ? am 4.11.21. im Wien und Sichtvermerk Nr. J? 1350-Wien, den 16 November 1921 Gebühr nach Tarif 9x(?). K100.-Deutsche Paßstelle (Stamp) Deutsche Paßstelle in Wien-(stamp) Öst. Grenzpolizei Austritt-Passau(?) -18 NOV 1921-Bay. Grenzpolizei Eintritt - -------------------------------------------------- No. 9417 DOCUMENT OF IDENTIFICATION (TRANSLATION) for the child Ignatz Tanczos -born on in August 1912. -resident in (?) for a time in Vienna (?) The child is traveling to America -in the company of Mrs. Marie Tanczos -authorized by Pass No. 109770 -issued of ? Fed.? to 4.11.21. in Vienna and visa No. J? 1350 -Vienna, this 16 November 1921 fee after tariff 9x(?). K100. German Passport Office (Stamp) German Passport Office in Vienna -(stamp) Austrian Border Police - Exit-Passau(?) 18 November 1921 -Bavarian Border Police - Entrance ANSWERS TO ABOVE QUESTIONS: (GJB & Albert) Passau is Passau, Germany. The first city north of the Austrian German border on the Danube. Was a border train stop with customs service. Maybe Albert can tell us what the other words are. I'm forwarding your translation for his comment. Gerry Gerry, you are correct on Passau. The other words: "zuständig nach" is old bureaucratic German, today a similar document would include instead "Heimatgemeinde" or "Hauptwohnsitz" (meaning were a person is regularly living). I'd translate just as "living in" or "resident in". "Österr:" and "Staatsangeh." are abbreviations for "Österreichische Staatsangehörigkeit" (or "Österreichischer Staatsangehöriger"), meaning that the person is an Austrian citizen. Re: Nr. 9417 AUSWEIS: wohnhaft im (?) zum zeit im Wien?- more likely: wohnhaft in zur Zeit in Wien ausgestellt von ? Fed. ? am 4.11.21. im Wien - maybe: ... Beh. (= "Behörde") what looks like a combined x and c": - this letter is no longer used, it means "etc." HAMBURG PASSENGER LISTS A reader of our newsletters offers the following information. From: Robert Heiling. I just read the newsletter (#30) and can give you some tips. >> Grandfather left Hamburg Germany on 4 February 1906 and arrived in the Port of New York on the ship Pennsylvania on 2 March 1906<< You already know what you need to know. The passenger lists for Hamburg are available at your LDS-FHC. Check the website: http://www.genealogy.com/gene/www/emig/ham_pass.html for the correct film to order. Since he left on 4 Feb 1906 I would get the film# 0472984 Bd. 174-175 1906 Jan - 1906 Feb which is the complete list of passengers (as opposed to an index). Look for the Pennsylvania and he should be there. If grandma isn't with him then you could try some later indexes to look for her. Incidentally - my experience has been that the Hamburg departure records give a lot more information than the NYC arrivals. Hope this helps and Good luck MORE ON HIANZISCH - "Mei Hoamat" (My Homeland) (from Albert Schuch) I can speak "hianzisch" (this is the way it is mostly spelled today, the first known spelling was "hienzisch", later "heanzisch" became more popular, e.g., Josef Reichl used the "ea"-spelling), although only to a certain extent. I have been away from hone too long. My parents still speak it. The older a person and the less time he or she has spent outside the homeland, the more authentic the dialect. One can say that the original Hianzisch area was the western part of both the Eisenburg and Ödenburg Komitats (the German parts of that area, respectively). The Germans from the Komitat Wieselburg are known as the "Heidebauern" (other spellings: Haidebauern, Haidbauern, Hadbauern); they usually speak a very different dialect. Hianzisch is viewed as a (Southern) Bavarian dialect. (Ed. Note: it can't be better exemplified than in the following poem) Güssing-born poet Josef Reichl's "Mei Hoamat" (My Homeland) - free English translation provided by Albert Schuch We sull i di nit hobn, (How should I not have thee,) We sull i di nit mögn, (How should I not love thee,) We sull i nit ins Herz grobn (How should I not dig into my heart) Di, daß da nix kao gschehgn. (Thee, so that nothing can harm thee) Af olle eck und Endn (Behind each and every corner) Laurn schlechte Leut af di, (Villains are waiting for thee,) Wer sull si va dir wendn, (How should turn away from thee,) Der di so liab wia(r) i. (One who loves thee so much as me.) Dir biat mei gaonze Kroft i, (To thee I offer my whole strength,) Dir gi i Herz und Haond, (To thee I give my heart and hand,) Mei Hoamat, du mei schöne, (My homeland, you my beautiful,) Mei teures Heanznlaond. (My precious Heanzenland.) END OF NEWSLETTER-EDITED & DISTRIBUTED BY GERALD J. BERGHOLD