oldenburg-l - Nachricht 2008-01 00190

[Nancy Peeples <bouy(a)pobox.com>]

Are there any others on this site whose relatives came to the south from
Germany.  My great-grandfather came to Charleston, South Carolina around
1865-70.  I have had wonderful help from this site on tracing the family
back to Germany.  His name was Diedrich Martin Doscher b 12 July 1841 in
Sellstedt Lehe Hanover, Germany.  He married after coming to the USA
Fredericka Marguarite Catherina Bierfisher b. Feb. 1844 Hatton, Oldenburg,
Germany.  They were Lutheran and met at St. Matthews German Lutheran Church
in Charleston, SC.  Charleston had a large German population and many of the
clubs that have been mentioned on this site were also here.  I think the
German Friendly Society is the only one left and it isn't all that German
but from what I am told very friendly.  There were no real German or other
large ethnic neighborhoods in Charleston so people were assimilated quickly.
My father remembered some of his great aunts and they all spoke German no
English.  As far as I know my grandfather did not speak German at all nor
did any of his 8 children. I do not know why Martin left Germany to come
here especially in that time frame.  There were other Doscher's already in
Charleston but none that we have determined to be close kin.  My father also
said that you did not let people know you were German when he was growing up
so the family never discussed anything about their lives there nor did they
keep any German customs.  Any other families on this site settle in
Charleston or the south in general?

Bouy