| 2) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER (by Tom Steichen)
 I
had an interesting exchange this past month with new member Robert Chapman of Los Angeles. Bob
has interest in the Göltl and Wurm surnames. I’ll include parts of that exchange below:
Bob writes:
I fortuitously happened upon The Burgenland Bunch website today! I am delightfully impressed
with what you folks have accomplished.
Earlier today I sent an e-mail similar to this one to Frederick Scott Pianalto upon
discovering that he was associated with the Göltl family in Herndon, Kansas. My mother’s
maiden name was Lydia Marie Göltl, daughter of Jozef/Josef/Joseph Göltl and Susanna Wurm. She
was born in Rawlins County, Kansas near Herndon in 1909.
While I have been able to compile some genealogy records on my ancestors, I am hopeful that
you and/or others in The Burgenland Bunch may be able to further assist.
I do have a few original family immigration records and photos, including a beautiful photo
album presented to my grandmother by my grandfather on Christmas day, 1898. In that album are
wonderful photos of the families in and around Herndon (most of whom I am unable to identify).
I replied:
The 1920 Herndon Twp census shows Joseph and Susie (ages 45 and 42) on page 69. They indicate
they emigrated from Austria in 1885 and 1879 respectively (at ages ~10 and ~1). Children
listed are John, Henry, Louisa, Ida, Lyda, Herman, Bertha and Ernest (ages 20, 18, 16, 14, 12,
8, 4 and 1 ...if that age is correct for Lyda, she was born in 1907 or 1908).
The 1910 census has them on pages 190 and 191, ages 35 and 31, married 11 years with 5
children, same emigration years but listed as Hungarian Germans). Children are John, Henry,
Lousa, Ida, Lydia, ages 10, 8, 5, 3, 1 3/12 ... since the census date is 29 Apr 1910 this
would put Lydia as born in Jan or Feb of 1909).
The very next family entry is for John and Eva Goltl, ages 73 and 72, both Hungarian Germans;
John emigrated in 1885. Looks like this is Joseph's parents.
The 1900 census has John and Eva on page 343B, both born July 1837 in Austria-Hungary and
emigrated 1885. Children listed are Paul born May 1870, Joseph born Mar 1874, with
daughter-in-law Susan born Sept 1876, married 1.5 years, and grandson John H born May 1900.
[Editorial note: US census records are an excellent starting tool for investigating the
ancestry of a family. They are available free through many libraries or online for a nominal
fee.]
As you probably know, the BB Surnames list shows 3 researchers of the name:
Gols and Lebeny are about 20 miles apart, with Gols now in Austria and Lebeny in Hungary,
though both were in the Hungarian part of the empire in 1885.
Wurm is a Burgenland name also...
| Wurm |
Gary L Portsche |
Gols |
|
| Wurm |
Thomas Wurm |
Brunnergraben, Gamischdorf, Rauchwart |
Frank and Mary (Hanzl) Wurm immigrated in 1903-4 and settled in Egypt, PA. |
| Wurm |
Robert Zecker |
Carlburg (Rusovce), Ragendorf (Rajka) |
To Pusztavám (Ondod, Fejér Vármegye, Hungary). |
| Wurm |
Phil Wurm |
Gols |
Settled in Decatur and Rawlins Co, KS. |
| Wurm |
Johann Bernthaler |
Gols |
|
There may be some useful contacts among the Wurm researchers, particularly the first and
fourth above.
You might also want to look at
http://www.burgenlandfamilies.com/goltl/. This is Gary Portsche's work but appears to be
your family's line. He places the Goltl line in Leiden (Lebeny) and the Wurm line in Gols.
Likewise, look at
http://www.burgenlandfamilies.com/wurmm/index.htm ...Susanne is part of this line.
Bob replied:
 One item that you
mentioned was particularly gratifying and that is that the Goltls were Hungarian Germans. I
was fairly certain that such was the case from conversations with my mother and one of my
uncles. However, I have been unable to document the fact. Thanks also for that tidbit.
I do have … a modest amount [of genealogy] on my maternal side, going back to my great-great
grandparents. I should be able to contribute to the Burgenland Bunch, particularly with
details on my grandparents and their children, my aunts and uncles. I do possess sporadic
other family details. For example, I have found that my great-grandparents, Matthias Wurm and
Elizabeth Wurm Wurm, arrived in New York on 22 May 1879 aboard the ship Silesia. (My
grand-mother, Susanna, was eleven months old at the time.)
Please remember the photo album from 1898 that I mentioned earlier. I have scanned all those
photos and they are too precious not to share. What can be done to publish them within the
Burgenland Bunch and hopefully identify the various people and reunite them with their
descendants, who might not have such photos?
[Editorial note: The 61 photos are now available on the BB website at
http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/KS-NE-1898/KS-NE-1898-01.htm.]
I replied:
LDS records for Lebeny are a bit more extensive than usual, going back before ~1824 (when most
Burgenland records start). If your ancestors remained there, you should be able to go back a
few more generations, since Baptism records start in 1727 and your gr-grandfather was born
1837 (given this, I'm surprised Gary Portsche had not gone back further).
[Editorial note: You can search LDS microfilms clicking on “Place Search” at
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp or you can get the film
numbers directly at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/LDS/LDS.htm
for villages in Burgenland.]
 LDS
records for Gols start in 1827, so Gary's work clearly goes back further. This suggests that
he went to Burgenland (or to a Burgenland-based researcher) to research this line (which are
the only options once LDS records run out).
You did not mention where you are based, but Gary is in Olathe, KS; you may wish to visit with
him (or his website at
http://www.burgenlandfamilies.com/).
The BB serves primarily as an information exchange, linking researchers to each other. While
we database some limited family information, that really is not a major goal or activity. We
are more inclined to provide the how-to's and the where-are-the-records types of information.
Generally, information about a particular family is of interest to only a handful of our
members.
Probably the best way to offer this information is to become a member (it's free, even
hassle-free) listing the lines you are interested in. Then, current and future researchers
will know they should try to contact you. The BB has, at times, published small collections of
family photos in an attempt to identify people. As you might expect, this succeeds only when
others in that family line already have copies of the photos and know who the people are,
especially so when you have pictures as old as yours. Generally, it is better to make direct
contact with the handful of potential family members. We have been much more successful when
it is more a question of interpreting writing on a picture... some of our members are quite
fluent in translating the old language and reading the old script.
 I also note the Gary
Portsche mentions a Rawlins County Museum in Atwood, KS. Perhaps that might be a reasonable
repository for a copy of the photos or even a place where you might be able to sort out who is
who in the pictures.
On a different tack, a BB-affiliated effort is "Burgenländers Honored and Remembered" (BH&R)
at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/BH&R/home.htm. This is a
sub-group that documents the final resting place of Burgenland-born emigrants to the US. A few
of your emigrants are already in there (probably through Gary) but you may wish to add the
rest. The site tells you how. This would not help you spread the word about your information
but is a nice thing to do.
Bob replied:
Thanks for your reply and knowledgeable insights and suggestions. I will contact Gary Portsche
as well as the Rawlins County Museum.
As for assistance with interpretation/translation, a document is attached where such
assistance would be helpful. I do have a few other documents in storage, although I believe
those were all translated for me by UCLA some years ago.
[Editorial note: If you care to try your hand at translating, the document is on the BB
website at
http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/KS-NE-1898/TT-01.htm.]
I replied:
A number of BB staffers took a shot at this text. There was good agreement on all but the
precise translation of the last section, which I've marked with [ ]. All translations really
say the same thing; it's really more a matter of moving from German to English and not having
an obvious one-to-one choice. The ones marked 2 and 3 are more interpretation and less
word-for-word translation.
German: [line splits as original]
Taufschein (issued by the Lutheran congregation of Gols)
Im Jahre Ein Tausend Acht Hundert Siebenundsiebenzig,
den Vierundzwanzigsten September ~ 1877 den 24 September ~
ist allhier geboren und den Fünfundzwanzigsten desselben Monats
getauft worden: Susanna, des Matthias Wurm, Inwohners,
u seiner Ehegattin Elisabeth, geb. Wurm, beide evengel. Reli-
gion A.C., eheliche Tochter. ~ Taufpathen: Paul Hackstock, Inwoh-
ner mit seiner Ehegattin Susanna geb. Wolfram. - [dies wird
hiemit nach No. 70 des obengenannten Jahrgangs pfarrämtlich
bezeuget.] Gols den 17 April 1879
Aug Schuthe
evPfarrer
English: [line splits approximating original]
Baptism Record
In the year one thousand eight-hundred seventy-seven
on the twenty-fourth of September ~ 1877 the 24 September ~
is born here and on the twenty-fifth of the same month
baptized: Susanna, of Matthias Wurm, lodger/tenant,
and his wife Elisabeth nee Wurm, both Lutherans,
legal daughter. ~ Godparents: Paul Hackstock, lodger/tenant,
with his wife Susanna nee Wolfram. [1. This becomes
herewith by No. 70 of the above said year volume of the parish office
documented.] Gols, the 17 April 1879
August Schuthe
Lutheran pastor
[2: This is attested by the priest's office with this document as No. 70 of the year mentioned
above.]
[3: All this is herewith certified by the Lutheran parish office according to entry No. 70 of
the records of the above-mentioned year.]
Bob replied:
Wonderful! Once again, thank you for the prompt and thorough response. |
| 4) THE HISTORY of the RAILWAY OBERWART - OBERSCHÜTZEN
After the opening of the railway section between Steinamanger and Pinkafeld in December, 1888,
when every year more and more guests were visiting the spa town of Bad Tatzmannsdorf,
influential circles began working towards a railway connection for Bad Tatzmannsdorf.
The vehicle owner Johann Ochsenhofer from Oberwart, who probably figured that at that time a
railway to Tatzmannsdorf would not be built so quickly, took advantage of the ever-increasing
flow of tourists in 1892 and bought a new omnibus for the ride to Tarcsa (the Hungarian name
of Tatzmannsdorf). This omnibus corresponded in every aspect, both in elegance and
convenience, to its time. It was big and spacious and built according to the specifications of
the Viennese summer tramway wagons.
In 1896, Adolf Stern from Szombathely initially requested permission for preliminary works for
a local steam-driven railway from the station Großpetersdorf, of the Szombathely-Pinkafeld
railway, via Dornau, Neumarkt, Altschlaining, Stadtschlaining and Bergwerk to Tatzmannsdorf.
Alternatively, he thought of a train from Oberwart to Tatzmannsdorf. In May, 1896, the
permission was granted by the Secretary of Trade, and extended by one year in 1897.
However, for financial reasons, Adolf Stern soon went for the shorter track from Oberwart, and
opted for an extension until Oberschützen to extend it further later on towards the border in
an appropriate way. For this he also got the permission. The "technical soul” of the project
was engineer Ludwig Fränkl, who had already completed successfully various other railway
constructions. Soon the track was displayed. Starting from the station Oberwart, it led over
the hill Jesusberg, through the Zicken valley, passed the gypsies of Unterschützen, rising to
the hill between Tatzmannsdorf and Oberschützen until the cemetery of Oberschützen.
Unterschützen, Tatzmannsdorf, and Oberschützen were designated as stations.
The funding of the construction started with the offering of common stock. The municipalities
along the route were invited to take shares. Initially, the negotiations with the
municipalities were quite satisfactory. Some private persons also bought bigger shares, e.g.,
Camillo Bennfilier from Unterschützen (5,000 fl.). The municipality of Oberschützen was even
willing to buy shares worth 10,000 florins, if they got a rail connection. Stern warmly
welcomed the intention of the management of the antimony mine in Schlaining to have their
goods transported by train via Tatzmannsdorf in case of realization of the project. Adolf
Stern also sought support at the Comitatus (county) and asked for 16,000 florins.
On December 20, 1897 the revision of the track Oberwart - Bad Tatzmannsdorf - Oberschützen
took place.
For January 26, 1898, the Secretary of Trade arranged the administrative inspection, which
was led by ministerial secretary Dr. Andor Barthos of the Ministry of Trade. There were also
representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Comitatus and the Management Committee,
the Hungarian State Railways, the Steinamanger-Pinkafeld Lokalbahn AG (railway company), the
concessionaires Adolf Stern and engineer Ludwig Fränkl. Also present were the spa doctor of
Tatzmannsdorf, Dr. Aladar Rhorer, the Protestant pastor Julius Stettner, Johann Ebenspanger of
the educational institute of Oberschützen and chief magistrate Geisa Herbst. The negotiation
lasted from 11 am to 2.30 pm, until the entire route had been thoroughly discussed, especially
the bridges, culverts, street crossings, and connecting paths. After completion of the
revision, which had taken place alongside "very keen interest among the population of the
area", the entire party had been invited by the concessionaires to a “frugal dinner” in the
beautifully decorated locations of the Tatzmannsdorf inn. All were hopeful of being able to
finish this railway in the course of 1898. They also believed that there would soon be a
connection towards Aspang or Edlitz.
On July 8, 1898 the concession for the construction of the railway was negotiated in the
Ministry of Finance in Budapest. The negotiations went well so the construction work could
start in summer. Stern and Fränkl wanted to finish the sub-base until the end of the year.
However, the opening event (Easter 1899) had already been delayed a little bit. Because the
financing was not secured, Stern asked the Comitatus for a raise of the granted amount of
12,000 florins to the 16,000 florins he had applied for in 1897. On July 29 and 30, however,
the permanent committee of the Comitatus decided not to grant this additional subsidy.
However, the Board of Oberwart decided in July 1898 to subscribe for common shares, but didn’t
want to spend more than 1,000 florins.
Construction was not started. In December, 1898, engineers were back on the track to define
the definitive route, as it was said. In the beginning of 1899, the Secretary of Trade
approved a notable state contribution and asked the concessionaire to give the deposit.
Although the last revision of the track took place in March, the necessary money had still not
been raised. The concessionaire, therefore, held a meeting: "In consequence of the Decree No.
63.966-V/98 of February 22, 1899 of His Excellency the Royal Hungarian Secretary of Trade in
the matter of the Oberwart-Tatzmannsdorf-Oberschützen neighboring railway, there is need for a
counsel prior to the start of construction of the railway, which is why we have the honor to
invite you to a conference about this matter on March 19, Sunday afternoon at 1 in the Town
Hall of Oberschützen”.
 Bashful
Stern did not mention that he still needed money. The conference was well attended. The chief
magistrate Geisa Herbst, mine director Karl Rochata (antimony mine) who was director of the
spa town Tatzmannsdorf, Dr. Aladar Rhorer who was a representative of the privateer Camillo
Bermüller from Unterschützen, principals of the municipality, and other interested people
came. Engineer Fränkl reported on the work done so far. He informed that for the railway
construction the Comitatus provided 16,000 florins and the Government 30,000 florins.
Regarding the operation of the railway a favorable agreement was made with the Hungarian
National Railway, the Ministry had approved the plans and cost estimates and issued
authorization for the payment of the deposit - once the remaining 12,000 florins worth of
common shares was placed.
They were, however, not to be found. "The question of the “Vizinalbahn” (neighboring railway)
… seemingly rests, but quietly they are working diligently on the financing of the railway,"
announced Oberwart’s Sunday newspaper on July 2, 1899.
The license for preliminary work on this route had to be extended for another year in July for
the concessionaires Adolf Stern and Engineer Ludwig Fränkl.
In November, 1899, the engineers Wilhelm Brenner and Szarvas came from Budapest to begin with
the local recordings, which they presented the Ministry of Trade during the winter. Still it
was hoped to begin construction at least at the beginning of the next spring, in 1900.
"Good things need time", recorded Oberwart’s Sunday newspaper in April 1900 and announced that
its reporter had read with his own eyes in a notarial deed, resting at the local
administration of Oberschützen, that Engineer Ludwig Fränkl (now Louis Fábián) from Budapest
had bought all claims from his co-concessionaire Stern and therefore is now since February 9,
1899 the sole concessionaire of the projected “Vizinalbahn” Oberwart - Tatzmannsdorf -
Oberschützen. Engineer Fábián certainly was an excellent expert - he had also projected the
Sopron - Bratislava railway - but he also lacked the necessary funds. The financial
difficulties were justified by the reluctance of banks due to the recent increase of money
costs. The construction, however, would be imminent.
 After
all, the Comitatus decided upon a contribution of a total of 16,000 florins according to the
concessionaire’s request of 1898. This decision was approved by the government of Budapest in
spring, 1900. However, as "Eisenburg" (the Comitatus) announced, the “absconding
concessionaire Adolf Stern” could not be informed. Apparently, the Ministry did not know yet,
that, since February, 1899, Engineer Fábián was concessionaire.
In June Engineer Fábián’s license for preliminary work on the route was extended for another
year. Furthermore he got from the Secretary of Trade a license for preliminary work on a
continuing route for a local railway going via Willersdorf until the border.
Finally, Engineer Fábián was able to deposit the 30,000 krones (15,000 florins) bail set by
the government in the Central Treasury in Budapest. About this, Fábián informed the
municipality of Oberwart and stated that the construction, after clarification of some issues,
would presumably start in spring, 1902.
The government had also decided that the operation of this railway would be undertaken by the
Hungarian national railways. This ensured that when creating the schedule, the children from
Oberwart in Oberschützen would be considered enough to be able to return home in time for
lunch.
The political inspection for the extension took place on May 22nd, 1902 in Bad Tatzmannsdorf.
At the following celebratory banquet in the restaurant “Josef Weghofer,” the concessionaire
announced that the new railway would be available for traffic until Mid-October or, at the
longest, until Mid-November.
 On
July 3rd, all landowners whose realty would be crossed by the future railway assembled in the
Inn “Zum Wilden Mann” in Oberwart. The persons appearing were not edified by the blissfulness
of the concessionary speaker, the advocate Dr. Edmund Viola, as they did not understand the
necessity of the railway. They reckoned the railway would only bring harm to Oberwart. The
best land would be fragmented by the construction, which is why they would have to charge a
higher transfer fee. After an extended debate, a minimum fee of 60 kreuzers per squared fathom
was decided. The peasants were satisfied and decided to sell the land.
A few days later, all landowners whose property would be crossed by the railway were informed
with a drum roll that their fields and meadows were to be scythed as the construction was to
begin soon.
After the authorization of the construction of the railway was confirmed by His Majesty, a
ground-breaking ceremony was held on the 18th June 1902. In front of a big audience,
construction engineer Wilhelm Brenner gave special thanks to chief engineer Ludwig Fábián and
the popular spa director Dr. Aladár Rhorer, who followed their goal with great effort and
endurance. After the workers were offered breakfast, the real construction began. At the end
of the week, about 200 workers were employed.
As the construction had begun before a permit had been obtained, Fábián urged the authorities
to issue their approval. The committee was therefore informed telegraphically by the Secretary
of Trade that a provisional concession had been given for the task.
On June 26th, 1902, the "Felsö-Eör-Tarcsa-Felsö-Lövöi helyi érdekü vasút részvénytársaság"
(Oberwart-Tatzmannsdorf-Oberschützen local railway stock company) was founded. It was first
based in Budapest VIII József-körút 19, later in Nádor utca 16. The capital stock was K
835.400 in 1236 common stock á K 200 = K 247.200 and 2.941 priority stock á K 200 = K 588.200.
The priority stock had a prior claim on 5% dividend, in case with the right of subsequent
payment. The stock clearance was carried out through a raffle. The concession document was
drawn up on June 21st, 1902. The time frame was 90 years.
The people voted for chief executives were Theodor Barthos Jr., Johann Ebenspanger, Ludwig
Fábián. Dr. Adalbert Fináczy, Dr. Elias Fränkl, Dr. Isidor Käufer, Dr. Eduard Környei Jr., Dr.
Adalbert Molnár, Dr. Koloman Olgany, Dr. Aladár Rhorer and Dr. Edmund Viola.
The earthwork progressed well, but was slightly constrained by continuing rain. Work had also
started at the train station at Bad Tatzmanndorf. In the middle of August, workers were busy
digging the well. As the main well was 21 meters deep, there were several complications. In
Oberschützen, water could not even be found at a depth of 25 meters.
In the middle of December, 1902, the track as far as Oberschützen was put in place and workers
were finalizing the station building.
Common stock of 200 krones dated July 1906 of the Oberwart – Tatzmannsdorf –
Oberschützen Local Railway Inc. On the right the document is signed by railway engineer Lajos
(Ludwig) Fábián. (Collection: Municipality of Pinkafeld)
The railway from Oberwart to Bad Tatzmannsdorf was finished in the beginning of 1903. The
official commission, which was sent by the general management of the Hungarian State Railway
in Szombathely (led by Gustav v. Pottyondy), had already made the entire route the subject of
a close inspection, whereas the operation manager flatteringly spoke out on “solidity and a
good completion of the construction”. On March 5th the route had been inspected again by a
commission sent by the ministry and led by chief engineer Korányi. On March 9th, the final
acceptance of the construction work was finished. As the route was found to be in a good
condition, the opening had nothing in its way. Furthermore, it was decided that four trains
should operate from Oberwart to Oberschützen and return.
The layout of the line from Tatzmannsdorf to Edlitz was to start in May. Authoritative circles
still believed that the completion of the new route would occur within a short time.
The technical police inspection, which was combined with the ceremonial opening of the newly
built railway route, was arranged for March 24th, 1903, and a day later, on March 25th, it was
to be given over to public transport.
The hard-bitten endurance and the tireless commitment of the concessionaires, Dr. Aladár
Rhorer and engineer Ludwig Fábián, the sacrifices of the committal family Batthyány, the
community of Oberschützen, and many other interested parties made it possible that the new
railway could be opened. On the day of the opening on March 24th, the train from Szombathely
with the guests of honor on board arrived at 9 a.m. in Oberwart where, just as at other formal
occasions, a large part of the population was listening to the speeches. The commission that
was on board carried out the required inspection and drove from Oberschützen back to Bad
Tatsmannsdorf with the guests of honor, where the gala dinner took place in the big hall of
the “Hotel zur Krone”.
On October 27th and 28th, 1903, the final acceptance of construction work of the railway took
place. Therewith, the operation was definitively taken over by the state.
On the agenda of the general assembly that took place on June 6th, 1904 in the Hungarian
Agrobank in Budapest were the statement of financial condition of 1903, the usage of the
profit (8,804.59 K), and also the election of three executive members. Dr. Adalbert Fináczy,
Dr. Koloman Olgany and Dr. Aladár Rhorer had dropped out.
Timetable (from May 1st, 1905)
 Still
before the opening of the new railway, a group of prospective clients ensured the ways for
expansion of the construction. The Secretary of Trade gave the approval to great land owner
Eduard Allmásy, manager Dr. Aladár Rhorer and engineer Ludwig Fábián as members of the
consortium for a preliminary work for a local railway from the train station in Oberschützen
via Tauchen, Aschau towards Hochneukirchen until the national border, possibly towards
Mariasdorf, Bergwerk, Goberling, Unterkohlstätten, Bernstein, Langeck, Lockenhaus, Deutsch
Gerisdorf, Bubendorf, Pilgersdorf in Zöberntal, towards Kirchschlag until the normal-tracked
local steam railway that leads to the border.
This approval, too, nourished the hope to build a railway as far as the Austrian border. Many
people thought that the connection to Edlitz could be built very quickly. However, the
Hungarian government had very little interest in connecting the Hungarian German-speaking
population with Austria by means of transport.
The highest circles rather wanted to keep the people inside Hungary. The growing road traffic
gave only a little chance to this route. Operation was shut down on December 31st, 1988.
Source: Die Eisenbahnen im Burgenland
zur Zeit der Habsburgermonarchie
Author: Hans Hahnenkamp; Published 1993, Eisenstadt |
In 1994, Willi
Resetarits started what has become the Stubnblues. It’s music far beyond blues. It’s
funk. Samba. Folklore. Soul. Viennese songs. It’s poems and stories. Back in the days, a
Stubn was the only heated room in a house. It was the place where people gathered, ate,
talked and sang.
Willi
Resetarits (b. 1948) has been in the spotlight since the late 60s. He has been active as a
musician, radio host, and book author. In the mid-80s, he created his alter ego Kurt Ostbahn
together with author and composer Günter Brödl. Willi added soul and authenticity to Ostbahn
and communicated more than just music. 20 years of Rock & Roll with lyrics in the Viennese
dialect – a working class hero – he made Austrian music-history. By 2003, Willi Resetarits
decided to leave behind Kurt Ostbahn to make more room for projects such as Stubnblues.