About PetersPioneersThe Pioneers, 1834 to 1888

By Peter Biggins

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"Advent of the Pioneers, 1851" by Frances Foy

Frances Foy Mural
See: Murals in the Chicago Loop Post Office

PetersPioneers Who Emigrated from Europe to America, 1834 to 1888

PetersPioneers travelled from Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland to New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois in America between 1834 and 1888. They went from their home in Europe to a seaport, then by sailing ship and later by steamship to New York or Baltimore, then westward to their new home in America. The land travel in Europe and America was by walking, horseback, horse and wagon, canal, and later by railroad. This page lists the families and, where available, the names of the ships they came on. Another page, Kassel to Tiffin, 1834, illustrates the journey of the family that we know the most about. It also happens to be the first family to immigrate to America.

U.S. Flag Period New States Immigrants
13 stars 1777 to 1795 DE, PA, NJ, GA, CT, MA, MD, SC, NH, VA, NY, NC, RI 
15 stars1795 to 1818 VT, KY 
20 stars1818 to July 3, 1819 TN, OH, LA, IN, MS 
21 starsJuly 4, 1819 to July 3, 1820 IL 
23 starsJuly 4, 1820 to July 3, 1822 AL, ME 
24 starsJuly 4, 1822 to July 3, 1836 MO
25 starsJuly 4, 1836 to July 3, 1837 AR 
26 starsJuly 4, 1837 to July 3, 1845 MI
27 starsJuly 4, 1845 to July 3, 1846 FL
  • John and Anna Maria Spiekermann Green (Grüne, Grühne), 1846, Schönholthausen, Westphalia, Prussia, to Detroit, Michigan, via ship Philadelphia Antwerp to Castle Garden, with children Mary Regina, Dina, Elizabeth, and John
28 starsJuly 4, 1846 to July 3, 1847 TX 
29 starsJuly 4, 1847 to July 3, 1848 IA 
30 starsJuly 4, 1848 to July 3, 1851 WI
31 starsJuly 4, 1851 to July 3, 1858 CA
  • James and Mary Murray Flannery, 1852, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland to Baltimore, Maryland, with daughter Bridget, via ship Wm. Patten Liverpool to Baltimore
  • George Casper Starke, tailor, 1854, Switzerland to Chicago, Illinois, via Bremen, Germany, and Castle Garden, New York, via ship New York Packet.
  • Maria Alleman Wittenmeier, 1853, Herbetswil, Solothurn, Switzerland, to Chicago, Illinois, with daughters Kathryn and Emma
  • Theresa Fassnacht, 1853, Königheim, Baden, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, via ship Fanny Antwerp to Castle Garden, with brother Richard Fassnacht
  • William Koch, 1853, Andelfingen, Württemberg, to Grand Rapids, Michigan
32 starsJuly 4, 1858 to July 3, 1859 MN 
33 starsJuly 4, 1859 to July 3, 1861 OR 
34 starsJuly 4, 1861 to July 3, 1863 KS
  • Margaret Foy, 1863, Derreennascooba, County Mayo, Ireland, to Chicago, Illinois, via ship Arkwright Liverpool to Castle Garden
35 starsJuly 4, 1863 to July 3, 1865 WV 
36 starsJuly 4, 1865 to July 3, 1867 NV
  • James Kenny, 1865, Ireland to Chicago, Illinois, with older sister Ellen
37 starsJuly 4, 1867 to July 3, 1877 NE
  • Mary Hartigan, 1867, Ireland to Chicago, Illinois S.S. Frisia, sister ship of S.S. Thuringia, 1872
  • William Peter Drueke, 1871, Niederhelden, Westphalia, Prussia, to New York City, via steamship Thuringia Hamburg to Castle Garden, with sister Anna Sophia and her fiancée Frederick William Wurzburg
  • Thomas and Bridget Foy O'Malley, 1871, Derreennascooba to Chicago, Illinois, with children Michael, Thomas, John, Margaret, Anne, Catherine, and Mary
    S.S. Neckar, 1873
  • Theresa Knoche Berles, 1874, Dorlar, Westphalia, Prussia, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, via steamship Neckar Bremen to Castle Garden, with son Anthony, his wife, Wilhelmina, their children Theresa, Elizabeth, and Joseph
38 starsJuly 4, 1877 to July 3, 1890 CO
S.S. Parthia
S.S. Toronto, 1880
43 starsJuly 4, 1890 to July 3, 1891 ND, SD, MT, WA, ID 
44 starsJuly 4, 1891 to July 3, 1896 WY 
45 starsJuly 4, 1896 to July 3, 1908 UT 
46 starsJuly 4, 1908 to July 3, 1912 OK  
48 starsJuly 4, 1912 to July 3, 1959 NM, AZ 
49 starsJuly 4, 1959 to July 3, 1960 AK 
50 starsJuly 4, 1960 to present HI 

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