The German Imigrants in New Knoxville, Ohio

Abstract: America is a nation of immigrants and all immigrants brought culture with them. There is not one American culture. Many Ohioans are descended from German ancestors, their German heritage is still present in the cultural and social landscapes. German immigrants came to America in search of farmland and independence.In the period between 1830 and 1890 approximately 1,300 people left Ladbergen, a village of 2,700, with hopes of a better life in America. The main reason for emigration from Germany was changes in the political landscape that led to financial hardship for those who did not own farmland. During the 1800’s German immigrants settled in Ohio, Pennsylvania and along the northern East coast. Choice of location was influenced by proximity to other German immigrants and the possibility for successful agriculture. All immigrants in New Knoxville came from the same village, Ladbergen, which provides a unique example of “chain immigration”.The village was platted by an Irishman, James Lyle, in 1836 and the German immigrants purchased the platted lots. A copy of the map has been preserved.Close to 80% of immigrants had been tenant farmers in Ladbergen. The life of farmers and tenant farmers in Ladbergen has been documented by local historians as is life among early immigrants in New Knoxville. Immigrant families were farmers in Ladbergen and became farmers in New Knoxville. Soil in New Knoxville was fertile and gave good yields of corn,beans, wheat, rye and buckwheat. I visited the area at different seasons and walked in the farmland with the assistance of a local guide. In the US this requires permits from the landowner.This is a flat agricultural area with large open corn and soybean fields with patches of old pineand deciduous forest penetrated by narrow dirt roads.In New Knoxville immigrant families were free to design their farms and living space according to their own preference. Immigrants built and settled in cabins while barns were built to house farm animals. Larger homes inspired by British/American architecture were soon erected and a few of these buildings are on display at the German Heritage Center in New Knoxville. Barns around New Knoxville are usually large gambrel roof barns for storage.People in New Knoxville are proud of their German roots and have an extensive cultural exchange with Ladbergen. German language, for example, was used in newspapers and church services in New Knoxville and in other areas with many German immigrants until the 1950's,some early immigrants never learnt to speak English. An important observation was that the immigrants adjusted very quickly to an American way of life when they depended on it for better housing and food supply but were not eager to mingle with Americans but kept a closed knit community.