World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
Posted on September 25, 2007 - Filed Under Family history, World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
Something unique is beginning to form in the Tri-State (Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio) area. The Pulskamp family, which arrived in this part of the world in 1845, is planning the first ever World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps to be held in the Cincinnati area next August. (August 2008)
In early July 1845, a family from Germany landed in New York and made their way to Cincinnati where other German immigrants had already established themselves. The little group consisted of mother, father, three sons, three daughters, one niece, and one nephew. A baby boy, only eleven weeks old when they boarded the ship in Bremen, died at sea. Just one month later, Henry (Herman Heinrich) Pulskamp paid $250 for the section of land in Franklin County, Indiana that became the family home.
In the Spring of 2006, Ellen Pulskamp Turner, from California, and her daughter Jennifer, went to Germany where they met with a German family that shares the Pulskamp name. Probably not related by blood, the German Pulskamps currently own the farm in Merzen from which both families take their names. The two from California were treated like family by the Germans and Elfrieda Pulskamp suggested a gathering of all the Pulskamps. Her family also has relatives in the Tri-State area, so the plan began.
This month, the two women from California visited the Tri-State area staying with Patricia and Tom O’Hara of Florence, KY. Patricia is second cousin to Ms.Turner’s father, though the two never met. In fact, the Californians have met many cousins this week, none of whom they had ever met before. They also met with the cousins of the current owners of the farm in Germany.
So the plans have been laid. The big gathering will take place August 1-3, 2008. On Friday evening the large family will gather at the Kolping Grove for hors d’ouerves, then dinner with a bit of German traditional music. Lots of sharing of stories, mementos, and pictures will take place. Saturday, everyone will board chartered buses to go out to St. Mary on the Rock for the day. Out there in Indiana, Pulskamps will be treated to hay rides, guided tours of family farms, exploration of Oldenburg, a light lunch and a nice dinner. There will be games for all. Sunday each family will explore Cincinnati with the help of a special pamphlet highlighting Pulskamp related sights along with the usual tourist locations.
There are books written about two branches of the Pulskamp clan in America. The first book, written by Leona Pulskamp Doll in 1980, focused on the family of the middle son. The second, written by Mary Elizabeth Ryan Pulskamp in 1986, focused on the family of the youngest son. The story of the family of the older son has not yet been written and little is known about the fate of the niece, nephew and daughters. Descendents of the middle daughter, Maria Catherine, have been found and hopefully they will participate in the gathering also.
Other family names related to the Pulskamps:
If you know a Pulskamp or the descendent of a Pulskamp, please join in the fun by contacting Ellen Pulskamp Turner at 408-272-9234 or ellenturner
You can also sign up for the Pulskamp News mailing list, which contains news and information about the Pulskamp Family and the World Wide Gathering of Pulskamps.
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Wow!! This is facinating stuff. Thank you for doing all this homework. Wow!
Is this a blog?
Yes, this is a blog, so I can add to it easily and you can add comments and share your ideas too!