Newsletter
Dedicated to Austrian-Hungarian Burgenland Family History
THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 181
November 30, 2008, (c) 2008 by The Burgenland Bunch
All rights reserved. Permission to copy excerpts granted if credit is provided.
Our 13th Year
Editor: Johannes Graf, Copy Editor: Maureen Tighe-Brown
The Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (founded by Gerry Berghold, who retired in
Summer, 2008, and died in August, 2008), is issued monthly as email and available online at
http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org.
Current Status Of The BB:
* Members: 1672 * Surname Entries: 5456 * Query Board Entries: 3990
* Newsletters Archived: 180 * Number of Staff Members: 14
This first section of our 2-section newsletter concerns:
1. Newsletter 182: Christmas Special
2. The Upper Midwest Module... Up and Running (by Frank Paukowits)
3. Surprise Family History Library Catalog Alert (by Margaret Kaiser)
4. Bad Tatzmannsdorf Thumbnail Response - Part II
5. Lehigh Valley Ethnic Events, Dec. 2008 (courtesy of Bob Strauch)
6. Burgenland Emigrant Obituaries (courtesy of Bob Strauch)
7. New database for Burgenland Jewish Victims
1. NEWSLETTER 182: ONLINE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
As we did last year, we will make a Christmas Special with some greetings,
pictures, poems or whatever we get. (See last year's at:
http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/Newsletter/HolidayNL07.htm)
Every Member is invited to send what s/he wants to tell every other member. If you send
something, please write at the subject line:
BB-NL-Christmas-special from .....Your name.....
The deadline for this Special is December 18.
2. THE UPPER MIDWEST MODULE... UP AND RUNNING
- Frank Paukowits
A new BH&R module for deceased Burgenland immigrants to the Upper Midwest
(Minnesota, Wisconsin and South and North Dakotas) was launched in
November.
The BH&R site, which you can now easily get to from one of the links near the top of the BB
homepage, contains the most comprehensive information on deceased Burgenland immigrants that you
will find anywhere.
It's a work in progress. BB members are encouraged to submit information on their deceased
ancestors and friends to enhance the new module's content. Take a look at the information that
is presented and send along your information as a way to memorialize the people who have brought
such joy and memories to all of us. Pictures are welcomed too. There is a section on the site
that is specifically devoted to pictures of deceased immigrants, which adds a personal touch to
the information that is provided.
3. SURPRISE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG ALERT
- Margaret Kaiser
Additional microfilmed records have been added to the Family History Library Catalog. These are
civil vital records for Felsörönök, Rabafüzes, Raba(Vas)szentmihaly, and Szentgotthard. The
added time frames for these civil record collections range from about 1910 to 1975. Refer to the
Family History Catalog at www.familysearch.org to
check for any updates in your ancestral towns collections.
4. BAD TATZMANNSDORF THUMBNAIL RESPONSE - PART II
Editor: In the June 2008 BB Newsletter (#175A) we ran an article about new Village
History Thumbnails. Frank Toussaint found the thumbnail on Bad Tatzmannsdorf to be of interest
and chose to respond. We published that conversation in last month's newsletter (#180) and also
modified the Bad Tatzmannsdorf thumbnail based on the information learned through that exchange
(thanks, Frank!).
Much as the article in Newsletter #175A begat that of the one in Newsletter #180, we have a
follow-up this month that shows the spirit of free exchange that the Burgenland Bunch tries to
foster. The small staff of the BB knows much about the Burgenland but it is you, the membership,
that is the true storehouse of knowledge and it is you that makes membership valuable to other
members. Keep up the good work!
Linda Pipher wrote (in part): I just finished reading the BB newsletter and am
wondering if the Marie Rehling who came over on "La Champagne" in 1902 might be my Uncle Carl
Brenner's aunt. I had guessed that she was born ca. 1876. She came to Phila., PA, and married
Frank Eigenbauer. There were also some Eigenbauers in Chicago. My Uncle Carl Brenner was born in
house #47 in Bad Tatzmannsdorf in 1891. He came to this country on Jan. 2, 1907, aboard the
"Francesca" from Trieste, going to his uncle, Josef Eigenbauer, in Philadelphia. Gerry Berghold
once said that he didn't know of any Austrians who went through the port of Trieste, but
apparently there was at least one. Marie T. Rehling had an older sister, Anna (born ca.1871),
who never married. She lived with Frank and Marie Eigenbauer when I knew them. Anyway, just
wondering if you would happen to know if the Marie Rehling you listed is the same woman that I
knew as a child. Thank you
Frank Toussaint replied (in part): I am delighted to hear from you! Attached to
this email is a page of the ship's manifest for the S.S. La Champagne arriving at the port of
New York on October 5th, 1902. If you are unfamiliar with computers you need to know that this
image of the ship's manifest can be blown up to a legible size. If the computer you are using is
set up such that this type of image opens in Internet Explorer then the way to expand the image
is to move the cursor off of the image then back onto the image. An orange button will appear,
after about one second, in the lower right corner of the image. Click on this button to blow the
image up to full size. On line 22 of the ship's manifest is the Marie Rehling in question. She
is headed to Philadelphia and is sponsored by her brother, Josef, who lives at number 536 6th
street. She is traveling with a Marie Piller (line 23) who is bound for the same address. Hoping
you find this useful, yours truly.
Linda replied in turn: Frank, I didn't expect a reply so soon, or I would have
checked back last night... and now I see that you also sent a link to Bad Tatzmannsdorf this
morning! Thank you for your time and effort! I just looked up Marie/Maria Rehling on the Ellis
Island website and, of the 8 or so listed, the one you mentioned and sent me info on still seems
to be the most likely candidate. I think I also found her sister Anna coming over in 1905 at the
age of 34, only she was going to her cousin, Josef Rehling, at 3005 Elisabeth St. in Chicago.
When I knew them, Anna had either Alzheimer's or senile dementia and she was living here in
Philadelphia with her sister. I believe I figured out their birth years based on newspaper
obituaries that my mother had cut out and saved. That should still be here somewhere in one of
the many boxes of file folders that I have collected. Luckily, I have most of the information in
my Family Tree Maker program. Again, thank you so much for your help!
Judy Woods also wrote (to the Newsletter mailer address): Thank you for writing
more on Bad Tatzmannsdorf; this seems to be the only place that I can learn about "B T" for I
can't find too much in books at the library. I really got excited with this month's newsletter,
to see my REHLING family from B T who immigrated to Chicago. They were siblings, Tobias, Franz,
Samuel, Gustav and Maria REHLING. You made my day. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Tom Steichen replied: Hi Judy, Our newsletter mailing list is a send-only list, so
normally we do not reply to mail received there but, as I was deleting the spam it receives, I
noted your message in the list. The Bad Tatz newsletter article already prompted a genial
genealogical exchange between Linda Pipher and Frank, and it appears you may fit in there too,
so I've pulled your text (below) and copied them on this reply. If you haven't talked family
with them, you might want to do so. Thanks for the kind words on the newsletter (I blind-copied
our editor on this message too).
(Editorial note: We do not encourage replies to the Newsletter remailer address,
Burgenland-Newsletter-L(a)rootsweb.com. Rather, please write directly to the Newsletter
Editor. Messages sent as "Replies" to the newsletter remailer address are at great risk of being
ignored and eventually discarded automatically.)
Frank Toussaint also replied: If you wish to learn about Bad Tatzmannsdorf you may
be interested in the following websites:
http://www.austria-sites.com/austria-4u/orte/bgld/b/bad_tatzmannsdorf.htm and
http://www.kuo-bt.at/.
Linda Pipher also replied (in part): Hi Judy, When Tom Steichen sent me this note,
my first thought was -- well, I don't know ANYTHING about the Rehling family. In fact, I was
trying to find out something about two Rehling sisters, Anna (b.ca.1871) and Marie (b.ca.1876),
whom I knew as a child in Philadelphia. Frank Toussaint sent me info from the Ellis Island
website about Marie, which reminded me that I probably hadn't looked there. I went to the
website and found other Maries, but this one's age is only a year off from what I was expecting.
I also found an Anna Rehling that, age wise, seems to be the correct one, but she was going to
her cousin, Josef Rehling, at 3005 Elisabeth Street in Chicago. I checked the rest of the ship's
manifest and found that two other people were also going to that address. Here's where there
might be a connection to you. I reread Tom's note and saw that one of your relatives was named
Tobias -- a rather uncommon name. The Ellis Island info shows that Tobias Rehling (age 24, a
carpenter) and another Anna Rehling (age 21, a maid servant) were siblings of this Josef. "My"
Anna Rehling was 34, unmarried, and a housekeeper/servant. They all arrived on May 20,1905. You
can check this out yourself at the Ellis Island website, but I think you have to register to
view the ship's manifest -- but it's free. To enlarge the page to readable size, just click on
the picture of a magnifying glass. Hope this helps. Also, please let me know if you can confirm
that my Rehlings are part of your family. Good luck!
(Editorial note: At this time, we do not know whether the above exchange will truly
help any of the participants learn more about their families; however, despite Linda Pipher's
initial claim, "well, I don't know ANYTHING about the Rehling family", it seems clear that each
writer had information of interest to the others. We encourage you to seek out other members who
share your names or villages. Perhaps you will receive much from your efforts; even better, you
may have much to give!)
5. LEHIGH VALLEY ETHNIC EVENTS, DEC. 2008
- courtesy of Bob Strauch
Dec. 13: Christmas Bazaar and Food Sale @ St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in
Bethlehem.
Dec. 13: Christmas Concert and Dance @ Coplay Sängerbund in Coplay. Entertainment
by the Coplay Sängerbund Mixed Chorus and the Joe Weber Orchestra.
Dec. 13: Annual Lehigh Sängerbund Christmas Concert @ Egner Memorial Chapel,
Muhlenberg College in Allentown, 2:00 PM. Free will offering. Followed by reception with coffee
and pastries in Seeger's Union Building.
Dec. 14: Russian Orthodox Christmas Concert @ St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
in Bethlehem.
Dec. 20: Ethnic Food and Bread Sale @ Ss. Peter and Paul Polish Catholic Church in
Allentown.
(see http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/Events/2008/LVEE.htm)
6. BURGENLAND EMIGRANT OBITUARIES
- courtesy of Bob Strauch
Irma I. Trabel, 93, of Fountain Hill, died Monday, October 13, 2008, in her home.
She was the wife of the late Philip M. Trabel, who died in 1973. Born in Güssing, Burgenland,
Austria, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Julia (Spitzer) Janders. Irma was a member of
Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Bethlehem. She was a wonderful mother who devoted her life to taking
care of her family. She also enjoyed gardening. Survivors: Sons, Philip E. and William K., with
whom she resided; nieces, nephews.
Edward Frisch, 77, of Allentown died Monday October 27, 2008 at his residence. He
was the husband of Helene (Remsing) Frisch, having celebrated their 50th anniversary on April
19, 2008. Born in Rábafüzes (Raabfidisch), Hungary, he was a son of the late Johanna Frisch.
Edward was a welder for the Follett Corp. of Forks Twp., for 37 years before retiring in 1996.
He was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church of Allentown. Survivors: Wife;
Daughters, Annette H. wife of Robert J. Monberger Sr. of Bethlehem Twp. and Monica wife of Paul
D. Wasser of Northampton; grandchildren, Jessica Monberger, Robert J. Monberger Jr. and
Stephanie Schwerer.
Martha Pollinger, 85, of Allentown, passed away on October 27 in ManorCare,
Bethlehem. Born in Steingraben, Burgenland, Austria, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and
Theresa (Draxler) Klobosits. Martha was the wife of the late Stanley Pollinger, who passed away
on September 30, 1999. She was a member of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Allentown,
where she was a member of its Frauenverein. Survivors: Daughter, Jane, wife of Michael Tiuchty,
of Northampton; sons, Robert Pollinger, husband of Deborah Pollinger, of San Diego, Calif.,
Bruce Pollinger, husband of Traci Pollinger, of Carlsbad, Calif.; grandchildren, Chad, Tricia,
Justin, Joshua, Heather, Thomas, Tyler; great-grandchildren, Joey, Jacob.
7. NEW DATABASE FOR BURGENLAND JEWISH VICTIMS
Exiled, Remembrance and Memory Database for Jewish Victims of the National Socialism from
Burgenland (http://www.vertrieben.at/)
In 1938, the estimated 3,900 Jews living in the Burgenland were expelled or deported by the
Nazis. About 30% of them were murdered in the concentration- and extermination camps. In this
database you find the names of the victims of the Shoah. The database is available in English
and German.
Newsletter continues as number 181A.
THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 181A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
November 30, 2008
(c) 2008 - The Burgenland Bunch - all rights reserved
The second section of this 2-section newsletter includes:
1. Gerry Berghold Homily
2. Historical BB Newsletter Articles - Starting the Search in the "Heimat"
1. GERRY BERGHOLD HOMILY
Editor: Gerry Berghold, BB Founder and long-time newsletter editor, prepared a homily
in early 2005 (shortly after his cancer diagnosis) that was to be read at the memorial service
after his death. In it, he requested that it be shared with his "Internet correspondents."
Although it has taken some time to track down a written copy of the homily, we have done so and
now will honor his request. Here are his words:
HOMILY - IN MEMORIUM - GERALD J. BERGHOLD
(I would like this to be read at my memorial service by a friend or by one of my descendants)
Having been notified that I had a life threatening illness, I've prepared a brief sketch of my
life. I hope it will be read at my memorial service and be of some comfort to my friends and
relatives. I would also like it to be shared with my Internet correspondents. It includes those
thoughts and events which have been most meaningful to me and may well explain how I became the
person you all knew.
I was born Sept. 22, 1930 in Allentown, PA, the second son of Julius Berghold and Frida Sorger,
first generation children of Austro-Hungarian immigrants. I was fortunate in being raised in a
multi-generational family, among grandparents, parents and a doting uncle. (I lost my father to
divorce but gained a fine stepfather in Harry B. Carpenter.) There was a lot of love,
discipline, respect, adherence to principles and Christian work ethics. From an early age, I was
instructed to do good and to make the right decisions. The first decision was made for me,
baptism in St. Peter's Lutheran church in Allentown, PA. Much later in life I was to discover
that the Berghold clan had an unbroken tradition of the Lutheran faith extending as far back as
the days of Martin Luther. They were refugees from counter-Reformation Catholicism in the
province of Styria in Austria and migrated to sanctuary in western Hungary in the mid-1600's.
This knowledge was most comforting in that it gave me deep roots, in what was to become, for my
generation, a generally rootless society.
I graduated from Allentown High School, class of 1948, with honors. I served as editor-in-chief
of my junior and senior high school newspapers, both of which received scholastic press
association awards for excellence during my tenure. This bit of early writing and recognition
caused me to enjoy writing in one form or another for the rest of my life. The next four years
were spent in military service. I became an airman in the US Air Force, 97th Bomb Wing,
Strategic Air Command, where I rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. I worked first as an armament
technician, later as base supply inspector. While in service during the Korean War I saw no
combat, serving at bases in Colorado and Texas and two former RAF bomber bases in East Anglia,
England. Upon discharge, I entered Lehigh University under the GI Bill, receiving as BS degree
in Accounting with the class of 1957. With family responsibilities and a simultaneous job in an
iron works, my extra curricular university activity was limited to serving as corresponding
secretary of the Lehigh Town Council and Alpha Lambda Omega social group. I also worked part
time in a department store and graded examination papers for various professors. For me, a
university degree was the beginning, not the end, of a life of study, pursued relentlessly. At
my death, my library contained some four thousand well-used volumes. I am afraid that my
educational attainments secretly led me to feel superior to those who were not so fortunate -
probably my most major failing. Such pride was a sin but it was also a virtue, leading me
relentlessly toward personal attainments and self-justification. On occasion, this made me
testy, overbearing and acerbic, even among those I loved or admired - I must apologize for these
actions.
In 1952, I met my wife Molly Ann Beck of Fountain Hill, PA while working at Hess Brothers
Department Store, Allentown. I introduced myself on an escalator while we were returning to our
stations from a sales meeting. A lovely courtship followed. In 1954, we were married in the
chapel of Lehigh University and moved to an apartment in Allentown. We eventually had three fine
children, daughters Jan and Kim and son Chris, all of whom have made me very proud. Our
daughters married fine husbands and in turn presented us with six wonderful grandchildren who in
turn provided three great-grandchildren. Molly and I were lovers, partners and companions for
more than 51 years, and a better spouse would be difficult to imagine. My soundest and most
important decision was to marry Molly. We have shared so many mutual experience, interests and
activities that we have become one.
The DuPont Company of Wilmington, DE (E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc.) recruited me directly
from Lehigh and I spent the next 30 years in various managerial positions in their Finance
Department, mostly involved with producing their 60,000-employee salaried payroll and overseeing
the finance and accounting of employee benefit plans. I like to think that my work there still
casts a long shadow. During this period, I developed a passionate interest in the Civil War and
spent much time as a member of the Delaware Blues of the North South Skirmish Association,
receiving many medals and awards for shooting ability as well as participating in historical
re-enactments. I held various leadership positions in these organizations. Membership led to
camping and a shooting cabin at Fort Shenandoah, Gainesboro, VA, which became a leisure time
Mecca for our family. I also became an ardent collector of old firearms and other antiques.
Limited time and effort was spent as a director of a historical preservation group, member of
the local PTA, Republican Party representative and membership in various civic associations and
other grass roots organizations, in which I was often called upon to serve as treasurer. During
our stay in Delaware, we were active members of three Lutheran churches as we changed residence.
Molly was a faithful member of their choirs while I was active only in stewardship and ushering
duty.
Retiring early in 1985, Molly and I relocated to Winchester, VA, beginning an idyllic period of
what truly became "golden years" of gardening, leisure study, reading, writing, travel,
collecting and church activity. Our home, located just outside the historic district next to one
of the last agricultural zoned areas, was more country than town. Quiet and peaceful with fine
neighbors, we enjoyed God's gifts of ease and plenty. Central European history became a passion
and led to my founding a family history website organization called the Burgenland Bunch, which
now comprises over 1200 members worldwide. This involved a study of German, Latin and Hungarian.
In 2001, the Legislature of the Province of Burgenland, Austria, awarded me their Gold Medal of
Honor - the "Ehrenzeichen" - for my efforts in promoting Burgenland ethnicity via this medium. I
treasure this award - an award far beyond the imagination of my Burgenland immigrant
grandparents. I was also made an "honor member" - Ehrenmitglied - of the international
Burgenländische Gemeinschaft society of Austrian Burgenland inhabitants, immigrants and
descendants.
We traveled to southern Austria for those awards, but made many other European trips, both on
our own and as members of tour groups. Part of these travels involved 5 weeks hunting ancestors
and descendants in Austria (we were successful) and three weeks showing two of our children the
home of their ancestors, as well as traveling across Europe by riverboat - North Sea to Black
Sea - on three separate occasions. We have been fortunate in having been able to see so much of
the world and experience most of Europe.
In Winchester, we joined Bethel Lutheran Church in 1986. It was my privilege to serve this
congregation as treasurer, council member and on various committees involved with planning and
financial affairs. Friendships and social events experienced here became a memorable part of our
lives. Outings and meetings of the Jolly Crowd (retirement group) were most enjoyable. I have
been associated with many fine men and Pastors Christianson and Woolly are in the forefront. Our
church is a monument to their efforts.
Other retirement activity with civic groups was limited to the Winchester Glasshoppers, a club
of glass and china collectors and enthusiasts in which I served briefly as a director. I became
their unofficial historian, writing newsletter trip reports about their various outings and
events. Molly and I also presented a series of programs concerning our collections. Their
monthly meetings, annual glass show and collecting trips were eagerly anticipated. I treasured
the friendships developed there. With age, my hearing (never too good) deteriorated to the
extent that I no longer felt comfortable serving on committees or as an organization leader. A
few years ago, I retired from such active participation. While I felt I had served my time, it
was always with a feeling of guilt that I refused requests, particularly those involving the
church.
The activities previously mentioned led to a fair amount of written material, some of which has
been published in various obscure publications both here and in Europe. On a few occasions, I
received moderate compensation and recognition. Newsletters, which I have either written or
edited for the Burgenland Bunch, are available on the Internet. I have had the assistance of ten
sub-editors and their help has been invaluable. Even though they reside in many states as well
as in Europe, our combined efforts have resulted in a massive amount of ethnic data. This now
comprises the largest English language library and depository of Burgenland family history (over
2500 pages) available anywhere. While under copyright, it is freely available to interested
parties. I have also written and privately published genealogical histories of the Berghold and
Beck families, copies of which are available in various libraries. Molly and I also jointly
wrote and edited the 175th Year History of Bethel Lutheran Church. My Email correspondence has
been astronomical, averaging twenty to thirty per day, most of which received replies.
In September 2003, shortly after my 73rd birthday, I was informed that I had an incurable cancer
of the prostate. It was time to put my house in order and contemplate the hereafter, as we must
all do eventually.
Thus, my life of limited importance came to an end. I hope it has made a difference and that I
have left something of value for future generations. I have tried to be a good man, first and
foremost a good Christian, as well as a good father, husband and citizen. With my capabilities,
and recognizing the many temptations of the flesh, I have always tried to hurt no one, help
those I could and share God's gifts with those in need. I like to think that I am one of those
as mentioned in the second verse from Ecclesiasticus 44:13-14 of the Apochcrypha:
"And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they
have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them. But these
were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; their posterity will continue
forever, and their glory will not be blotted out. Their bodies were buried in peace, and their
names live to all generations."
My major regret is that I did not do more good, although I know God has forgiven me my sins of
commission and omission. I deeply regret having to leave behind those who are near and dear, but
with a firm belief in the resurrection and the hereafter, I do not say goodbye, I say
"Aufwiedersehen" - till we meet again. Thank you for sharing my life, may God bless and keep
you.
Gerry Berghold 1/5/05
2. HISTORICAL BB NEWSLETTER ARTICLES - STARTING THE SEARCH IN THE "HEIMAT"
Editor: This is part of our monthly series designed to recycle interesting articles
from the BB Newsletters of 10 years ago.
(THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS No. 47 November 30, 1998)
STEP ONE - STARTING THE SEARCH IN THE "HEIMAT"
- by G. Berghold
I'm fortunate in being a Burgenland researcher who can remember talking to his immigrant
grandparents. I'd sit at the kitchen table, taking notes and asking my Mühl-Sorger grandmother
questions while she cooked some toothsome Burgenland specialty for me. I'd ask, "Mom tell me
about where you were born, etc." "What do you know about Pop's people" (Alois Sorger, deceased)?
"What village did the Bergholds come from (there was an early Sorger-Berghold divorce)?" As a
result, I thought my research start would be easy. How wrong I was! Mom told me she was born in
Kleinmürbisch to Mühl-Pöltl (from Rosenberg) parents, moved to Güssing following the death of
her father and emigrated with twin sister and mother in 1907, following her brother Josef. Names
were then changed to Muehl and Poeltl in US. Her family had been small farmers and artisans, her
father was a carpenter, one grandfather was a school teacher and an uncle was a game keeper on
the Draskovitch estate from which he sometimes brought them rabbits and wood. The Bergholds were
from Poppendorf, had a Gasthaus and were Lutherans (which information I ignored as of little
value much to my later chagrin).
Armed with all this good data and learning about LDS microfilm records, I started looking for
Burgenland family. Weeks went by. No church in Kleinmürbisch or Rosenberg (no Rosenberg). Looked
in Güssing records, lots of Sorger-Pöltls from a place called Rosahegy. Took a while to find
that was the Hungarian name for Rosenberg. No grandmother baptism found. Maybe she wasn't
baptized, highly unlikely. Looked around various villages. No luck. Finally, months later, found
a reference to Szt. Miklos (now part of Güssing), site of a church that inhabitants of
Kleinmürbisch attended before the parish was incorporated with Güssing (1890's). There she was,
her sister and brother and her parents' marriage as well! The start of one family thread.
Likewise no church records for Poppendorf. Tried St. Gotthard. Found two Bergholds from a place
called Mühlgraben. Spent weeks tracking those Bergholds. No links to mine. Tried Heiligenkreuz,
lots of early Bergholds, but no link to mine. What was going on? Finally found a Berghold
marriage witness from Patafalva (Hungarian for Poppendorf) who was listed as a Lutheran!
Something clicked! Checked Lutheran churches, found that Poppendorf Lutherans went to church in
Eltendorf (Ókörtvélyes), a couple of kms down the road. Checked Eltendorf records, there were my
Bergholds, back to 1770! Another family thread.
These are the beginner's main problems. (1) Changes in the spelling of names, (2)
German-Hungarian names of villages and (3) location of church attended (also location of civil
records post 1896). Before you order LDS Burgenland microfilm you must know this information! If
you're not absolutely certain, dig deeper. The BB can invariably provide the answers. A large
percentage of the many queries I've received deal with these three problems. Some are easy, but
changes in names, parishes and political status can create a maze. (Ed. note: Gerry concluded
with a member query that incorporated all three; we do not show it here. However, we will note
that the BB Village pages and/or Maps pages provide answers to problems 2 and 3 and the Village
Histories pages often list the associated LDS films.)
END OF NEWSLETTER
NOTICE (Terms and Conditions): The Burgenland Bunch (BB) was formed and exists to
assist Burgenland descendants in their research into their heritage and, toward that end,
reserves the right to use any communication you have with us (email, letter, phone conversation,
etc.) as part of our information exchange and educational research efforts.
• If you do not want your communication to be used for this purpose, indicate that it is
"confidential" and we will abide by that request.
• Correspondents who communicate with the BB without requesting confidentiality retain their
copyright but give a non-exclusive license to the BB allowing us to forward to BB members,
publish in our monthly newsletter or on our website, and/or subsequently and permanently archive
all or parts of such communications.
The Burgenland Bunch homepage (website) can be found at:
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Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (c) 2008 by The Burgenland Bunch
All rights reserved. Permission to copy excerpts granted if credit is provided.