Email From Sandie to Gary Aden
Email Dated 12/27/1998

At 01:30 AM 12/27/98 -0800, you wrote:

Dear Sandie,

    Thanks for the gifts. The best Xmas present of all was hearing back
from you. With the exception of the intent scan, the documents came
through relatively clear.

    How large did the scanned images appear on your screen? I scanned
them at 50% size because I wasn't sure if the file size would be too
large for you and whether you had zoom-in capability. (Still learning all
this stuff<grin> The Intent scan was not that great due to the original
film. I may be able to "tweek" it a bit..perhaps clean it up a little more.

 

    What you sent is further confirmation that Mimke and his parents came
from Prussia. Now the question is whether any document existing today in
the USA would tell us exactly where he was born.

I think we'll have better luck going to the church records..especially now
that we have the marriage certif. It shows on there the church they belonged
to..which from other sources looks like a very strong German-speaking
parish. I also found a list of other Aden's married in Woodford County
approx. same time. Any names jump out at you? I have placed an * in front of
ones that I think are related. Correct me if I'm wrong (smile) They were:

* Heye J. Aden to Etta Maria Dooden
John Aden to Katie Doorn
Hein K. Willms to Ricka Aden
Adda R. Aden to Minnie Warnkes (or Wamkes..hard to read)
Tjork O. Schwyters to Margaret E. Aden
*Mimke Aden to Hiskea Wilts
Eirt Aden to Hilke Peters
Henry Aden to  Mrs. Hishe Johanna Schomerz
*Jacob Reinholz to Gretje Aden
Thomas Garrels to Anna Aden
*Jost Schroeder to Frintje Aden

 

    I couldn't make out all the names clearly on the intent list, but I
did note  Eilt and a couple of others(probably Mimke's brothers). If
there's something I've missed, kindly draw it to my attention.

Again, I put an * next to ones I thought were related and included
the date & type of document. Aden names on list were:

Adde R. Aden:  Aug 19, 1868; Nat
George Aden: Aug. 19, 1868; Intent
*Mimke Aden--------------
*Eilt Habben Aden------------- all on Aug. 16, 1870; Intent
*Heye Janssen Aden-----
John R. Aden: Dec 1, 1873; Intent, Aug (1st Monday) 1876; Nat
John G.A. Aden: April 19, 1890; Intent
?John Aden: Sept. 2, 1872; Nat
Enne Heinrichs Aden: Minor's papers

Wilts names found, unsure of relation:
John Wilts: Oct. 23, 1884; Nat
Hermann Wilts:
George Wilts: April 24, 1897; Intent

     I also wondered whether Hiskea Wilts was ever naturalized or whether
it was customary in those times for married women to go through the process
(or for that matter what the process was, if any- for example, did they have to
take a test of some sort or did they simply make a declaration and swear an oath of
allegiance, etc..)

     It wasn't until the 1900s that women and children were naturalized seperately.
Each state (and county) did things a little differently. Usually the wife and
children fell under the papers of the husband. Papers of Intent, also known as
Declarations, were filed first, then 5 years later the person was able to
become Naturalized. This process usually consisted of going to the courthouse or
waiting for the circuit judge to come to town, raising their right hand, then signing
the papers in front of him. A slap of the gavel, a few handshakes all around, and
voila..new citizens.
 

    The death certificates  of Heye Aden and Cent Habben Aden should be
in that same Woodford County, Illinois. Whether data on those documents
would refine our research is problematic, but worth a try. What do you
think?

     Good thought. Do you have a time frame for searching? I did find the following
names while looking at the marriage record films (~1874-78). Any thoughts on
relation?

Etta Aden: Book 1, page 21, #273
Mary Aden: Book 1, page 22, #274
John Aden: Book 1, page 29, #371------------looks like they died at same
time
Mrs. John Aden: Book 1, page 29, #372------
Etta Aden: Book 2, page 58, #174

    By the way, did you have a chance to review the material I sent you?
Did you note any discrepancies in the material I had and the data you
have accumulated?

     Yes, I have been comparing it to the original notes that were taken in 1936,
as Hiyo narrated, which I recently was privy to by my Aunt Sylvia who took
the notes. I am copying them word for word, and will send you the results.
What you sent was a modified copy of those notes.It looks like most of the
dialogue you sent is the same though. I found a detailed map, dated 1882,
which was titled "Place of Origin, Old German Empire". I found every name
listed in the notes, although the spellings were different-the places were
correct.  I highlighted every town and saw some striking things. (1) The towns
form a circle (2) all the towns have railroad tracks running through them,
except (3) Wildeshaussen, which is close to the border and is southwest of Bremen
(4) Aden is a Friesian surname having it's derivative roots in OstFriesland
the eastern Friesian Islands (the chain of islands just north of Jever &
Emden) (5) the Elbe was a river. The mention of Hiskea coming "over on the Elba in
the spring of 1871, in nine days" Is very misleading. There were only two ships
ever named the Elba, both were not in commision during this time frame. What I
believe might be the meaning of this statement was that she left in the Spring of
1871, traveled nine days until arriving in America, and that part of the trip was leaving
on the river Elbe.

     Perhaps from the port of Bremen..which was a common port of departure.
Emden, Leer, and Jever are all located very close to the ocean and may be our second
avenue of searching if we do not find them departing from Bremen. 

     Another side note to all of this...the Luthern Church (especially German
Luthern) has a strong policy against allowing microfilming of their records. They
have repeatedly turned down the LDS requests to microfilm any of their records,
both in the USA and Germany.

     Preferring to keep them very restricted, even to their own members. They do
have designated keepers, which will do lookups but it is very time consuming
unless you have all your info lined up in advance. I have found a genealogy-specific
site of German Lutherns in Hanover. As we pull all the pieces together,
I'll have my friend translate our request and place a call to them.
 

    Thanks again for the presents. My best wishes to your and to you in
your new job.

Cousin Gary

     My pleasure. I'll try to send part of the 1882 map..see what you think...

Take care,
Cousin Sandie