Tying it TogetherTying it TogetherPt. 3Pt. 3

By Amanda PohlmanBy Amanda Pohlman

GermanyGermany

Point of OriginPoint of Origin Even, John Pohlman is a Even, John Pohlman is a

little unsure as to the little unsure as to the exact location that his exact location that his family family emigratedemigrated from. from. He knows that his He knows that his family is from Germany. family is from Germany. However, he did say However, he did say that “the only city that that “the only city that came up in the records came up in the records as their (his family) as their (his family) home in Germany is home in Germany is Neuenkirchen and there Neuenkirchen and there is more than one city by is more than one city by that name.”that name.”

ImmigrationImmigration The first Pohlman to take this tremendous The first Pohlman to take this tremendous

leap of faith and start anew was Johann leap of faith and start anew was Johann Dierk Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany. Dierk Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany. This would be classified with the This would be classified with the First Wave First Wave of Immigration.of Immigration. Johann came through New Johann came through New York’s York’s Port of EntryPort of Entry and swiftly made his and swiftly made his way to Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with way to Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with five of his children. His wife stayed back due five of his children. His wife stayed back due to medical complications, but joined him 4 to medical complications, but joined him 4 months later with the other three children months later with the other three children the couple had between them.the couple had between them.

Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio

Push/Pull FactorsPush/Pull Factors Although there is somewhat of a question as Although there is somewhat of a question as

to the exact origin of the Pohlman family to the exact origin of the Pohlman family from Germany the reason why is much more from Germany the reason why is much more clear. John relays the clear. John relays the push factorspush factors his his ancestors came over from Germany were ancestors came over from Germany were due to political and economic hardships they due to political and economic hardships they were having there in the home country. A were having there in the home country. A huge huge pull factorpull factor for the Pohlmans’ to settle for the Pohlmans’ to settle in Cincinnati was due to the large in Cincinnati was due to the large ethnic ethnic neighborhoodneighborhood of Germans that had settled of Germans that had settled west of the Allegheny Mountains. This made west of the Allegheny Mountains. This made assimilationassimilation easier because of the easier because of the familiarity of their neighbors.familiarity of their neighbors.

Chain MigrationChain Migration John Pohlman, a fifth generation John Pohlman, a fifth generation

Pohlman, although born in Cincinnati Pohlman, although born in Cincinnati moved with his parents and other nine moved with his parents and other nine brothers and sisters to Indiana. Up until brothers and sisters to Indiana. Up until then all Pohlman’s since moving to Ohio then all Pohlman’s since moving to Ohio had never left the state. John and his had never left the state. John and his brothers and sisters however chose to brothers and sisters however chose to branch out even further. John going all branch out even further. John going all the way to California and the others the way to California and the others through out the south and even parts of through out the south and even parts of Canada. Canada.

Pohlman Geographical Pohlman Geographical MovementMovement

ChangesChanges Since coming to America many things Since coming to America many things

changed for the Pohlmans, but one thing that changed for the Pohlmans, but one thing that stands out is the language. Upon arrival the stands out is the language. Upon arrival the Pohlmans’ only knew how to speak German Pohlmans’ only knew how to speak German and had to teach themselves English. and had to teach themselves English. Although faced with this obstacle they still Although faced with this obstacle they still preserved. The German dialect was still preserved. The German dialect was still being passed down clear until the fifth being passed down clear until the fifth generation. The younger generations in generation. The younger generations in John’s family have not taken on this tradition John’s family have not taken on this tradition however.however.

Work LifeWork Life John Pohlman’s father worked for a John Pohlman’s father worked for a

printing company. He worked on printing company. He worked on the printing presses that were in the printing presses that were in charge of getting out the news to charge of getting out the news to the locals. Although, looking back the locals. Although, looking back on previous generations there is an on previous generations there is an apparent pattern of Carpenters and apparent pattern of Carpenters and Tailors. John Pohlman was a Tailors. John Pohlman was a salesman during his working salesman during his working career. This shows a strong pattern career. This shows a strong pattern of work within the of work within the secondary secondary sectorsector..– John Pohlman as well as many John Pohlman as well as many

as his brothers and sisters as his brothers and sisters moved out of the Ohio area in moved out of the Ohio area in search of better wage jobs. This search of better wage jobs. This added to the added to the rural to urban rural to urban migrationmigration for the Pohlman for the Pohlman Family. John Pohlman once he Family. John Pohlman once he turned 18 joined the Marine turned 18 joined the Marine Corps and was stationed to Corps and was stationed to Southern California where he Southern California where he stayed to raise his family.stayed to raise his family.

FoodFood There are still many There are still many

German dishes that German dishes that were continued once were continued once the Pohlman’s moved to the Pohlman’s moved to America and some of America and some of these cuisines are still these cuisines are still enjoyed by the Pohlman enjoyed by the Pohlman family to date. One of family to date. One of those meals being those meals being sauerbraten and sauerbraten and spaetzle. Which is in the spaetzle. Which is in the most basic terms a type most basic terms a type of pot roast and soft of pot roast and soft egg noodle or egg noodle or dumpling.dumpling.

ReligionReligion Dating back into the early 1700’s the Dating back into the early 1700’s the

Pohlman family has been devout Catholics. Pohlman family has been devout Catholics. These religious beliefs and morals were These religious beliefs and morals were carried over when they arrived here in carried over when they arrived here in America. It was of the up most importance America. It was of the up most importance that all the Pohlman children receive their that all the Pohlman children receive their education from private catholic schools in the education from private catholic schools in the area. Although this was an economic area. Although this was an economic hardship for them, they felt they would not hardship for them, they felt they would not want their children brought up any other way. want their children brought up any other way.

Catholic SchoolingCatholic Schooling John Pohlman was brought John Pohlman was brought

up going to an all boys up going to an all boys Catholic school and also Catholic school and also made it a priority that his made it a priority that his own children receive the own children receive the same type of education same type of education that he did. This was one that he did. This was one of the reason John and his of the reason John and his wife Pam settled their wife Pam settled their family in San Dimas, Ca family in San Dimas, Ca where two major catholic where two major catholic schools are located. schools are located. Having a Catholic Having a Catholic educationeducation was extremely was extremely important.important.

PoliticsPolitics

We know that part of the reason that the We know that part of the reason that the Pohlman family choose to leave Germany Pohlman family choose to leave Germany was to get away from political movements was to get away from political movements that were occurring there around that time. that were occurring there around that time.

TraditionsTraditions Whether or not this is a tradition, there Whether or not this is a tradition, there

is an apparent pattern that Pohlmans’ is an apparent pattern that Pohlmans’ have been forming dating back as far have been forming dating back as far as the 1700’s. This is the tradition of as the 1700’s. This is the tradition of having a big family. Looking at all of having a big family. Looking at all of the Pohlman’s each generation the Pohlman’s each generation normally has a family of at least 8 normally has a family of at least 8 children or more. John Pohlman was children or more. John Pohlman was raised with 9 other brother and sisters.raised with 9 other brother and sisters.

The Pohlman FamilyThe Pohlman Family

WarWar Johann Bernard Heinrich Pohlman, for Johann Bernard Heinrich Pohlman, for

whom John Pohlman gets his name sake, whom John Pohlman gets his name sake, played a role in the famous civil war. He played a role in the famous civil war. He was one of the 15,000 “Squirrel Hunters” was one of the 15,000 “Squirrel Hunters” called upon during the Civil War to called upon during the Civil War to construct and man a series of construct and man a series of fortifications on the crests of hills on the fortifications on the crests of hills on the Kentucky side of the river in anticipation Kentucky side of the river in anticipation of an invasion by Bragg-Smith which of an invasion by Bragg-Smith which never happened.never happened.

Civil War “Squirrel Hunters”Civil War “Squirrel Hunters”

WarWar and its direct and its direct influenceinfluence

John told of many family John told of many family members that had been in members that had been in some way apart of the civil some way apart of the civil war, but one family member war, but one family member that is held close to his that is held close to his heart that directly affected heart that directly affected him was his brother Jim. He him was his brother Jim. He was only 18 when he joined was only 18 when he joined the Marines and was soon the Marines and was soon shipped off to fight in Iwo shipped off to fight in Iwo Jima where he tragically lost Jima where he tragically lost his life. This deeply affected his life. This deeply affected John and it is what inspired John and it is what inspired him to also join the Marines him to also join the Marines when he turned 18.when he turned 18.

What do I think of all this?What do I think of all this? After interviewing John Pohlman, my dad, I After interviewing John Pohlman, my dad, I

am very proud of my German heritage and am very proud of my German heritage and am grateful for this project to bring to light am grateful for this project to bring to light things about my family that I was previously things about my family that I was previously unaware of. I have always wanted to be able unaware of. I have always wanted to be able and travel back to Germany and see where and travel back to Germany and see where my ancestors came from and immerse myself my ancestors came from and immerse myself in a culture that is my birthright. Looking in a culture that is my birthright. Looking back I can now see the progress my family back I can now see the progress my family has made. Climbing the immigrants ladder, has made. Climbing the immigrants ladder, my family has went from a meager start in a my family has went from a meager start in a small Cincinnati city to living large in small Cincinnati city to living large in beautiful sunny southern California. beautiful sunny southern California.