The high temperature in Cleveland Sunday, August 31, 1924 was 92, the low was 71. Despite the heat, more than 60 adults and their children gathered to celebrate family. Clamor Ludwig Victor Brueggemann known as “Lewis” passed away in 1909. Born in Germany, where he married his first wife, who bore him 3 children before passing away, and then a second wife, he moved his entire family to Cleveland, Ohio. Lewis’ second wife bore 5 more children for him. By 1924, only 3 of his children were still living. Some of his grandchildren had already passed away. However, the living children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as the widows of his children and grandchildren, gathered.
The pamphlet in the photograph had been passed out. We still have a few copies, including one that many of our ancestors signed. The front is navy with a white rectangle and the words “Reunion of the Brueggemanns” surrounding a picture of Lewis and the dates 1816-1924. The dates correspond with Lewis' birthdate and the current year. Clearly, it was felt that he family was tied to Lewis (1816 is his birth year) and continues past his death (which was in 1909). The back has a family tree with all the current information.
Lewis lived from 1816-1909. Both of his wives had passed away (1854 and 1889), his children: Gerhard (1867); Marie Louise (1918); Johann Frederick (1909); Anna Marie Ilsebein (1917); Anna Louise (1915); and Louis Henry (1922). Lewis' three youngest children were still with us in 1924: Ernst August, Sophia and Johann Martin.
Lewis’ eldest surviving son, Ernst August, called a meeting to order. I imagine Ernst August, a retired pastor, now living in Akron, Ohio, was viewed as the patriarch of the family. Ernst August’s nephew, Rudolph (Louis Henry’s eldest son), was appointed Rudolph secretary and in charge of keeping records. Martin, Lewis’ youngest son who was a pastor in Memphis, Tennessee, addressed the meeting. Though the minutes do not give information on what was said, I would assume that Martin told the family, about his 3 grown children, with a new grandchild from Otis a few months prior and one due in a few weeks with Vernon. He may also have passed on news from Sophia, who lived in Pensacola, Florida at the time as the two were close, both in age and in their relationship.
William Bennhoff, who traveled from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, spoke next, from the Maria Louise line. William was followed by Otto Huseman, of the Anna Louise line in St. Louis. Theodore Barlag (Anna Marie Ilsbien branch), whose home was La Porte, Indiana spoke next, followed by William Keske, also of the Anna Marie Ilsbien branch, who lived in Cleveland. William was an outlaw, married to Ottilie Barlag, yet Ernst August credited him for getting the reunion started. The Keskes had 10 children, 8 of whom were alive for this reunion. The eldest surviving child was born in 1905 and the youngest in 1916. I imagine 2 people spoke from that branch because there was family from Indiana and family from Ohio.
Fred Brueggemann, of the Johann Frederick Branch, then spoke, followed by Rudolph.
Walter Bischoff, and his wife Emma (Ernst August’s daughter) served as treasurer. The group chose the last Sunday in August for the next reunion, in 1925.
At the end of the meeting, the family sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and the Doxology before having a collection. After the collection they sang “My Country “Tis of Thee” and said the Lord’s prayer.
The minutes mention multiple times that members of the family would like to continue the reunion. I’d like to think they’d be pleased that 101 years later we’re STILL gathering, STILL trying to pass on our values, keep our relationships strong and just plain getting caught up. One tradition that’s very clearly still a part of us: Once you’re a Brueggemann, you remain a Brueggemann! Otherwise, Gerhard’s widow, who had remarried, would not be there with her new husband and child! We still respect those in the generations ahead of us, we still pass on our history and our records. Over the years it’s struck me how similar we behave to our ancestors. . . we help each other where we can. We sign in while talking to a cousin (you can tell by the order of the sign ins), we forget to sign in and the secretary adds what they remember. We still look forward to next year, gathering with our dear family. There’s so much more that we still do, but I’ll leave that for other blog posts.
The names written in the pamphlet are: M. Brueggeman, Mrs. M Brueggeman, Wm F Bennhoff, Alvina Bennehoff, Elsie Bennehoff, Eugense Bennhoff, Arnold Bennhoff, Ruth Bennhoff, Lawrence Lindenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wischmeier, Mrs. Mary Bennhoff, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bennhoff, Mr and Mrs. Harold Darkow, Selma Brueggeman, Martin Staas, Alvina Staas, Lucia Staas, Cornelia Brueggemann, William Brueggemann, Emil Brueggemann, Dorthy Fuetteur, Hubert Fitch, Fred Albers, Martha Albers (Gerhart’s widow’s family), Karl L Brueggeman, Walter Bischoff, Emma Bischoff, Julia Birth, Otto Birth, Edwin Barlag, Mary Barlog, Otto Krausman, Fred Stoll, Pauline Stoll, Walter Brueggeman, Elmer, Walther Wafel, Pearl Wafel, Paul Wafel, Walther Wafel Jr, Ralph Wafel, JH Wafel, Minnie Brueggemann, Meta Marie Brueggemann, Louise Brueggemann, Fred Brueggemann, Lila Brueggemann, Alice Brueggeman, Rudolph Brueggeman, Ruth Brueggeman, Linda Heil, Edward Heil, Ed Brueggeman, and Dora Brueggeman.
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