pohlman family pt 3

1. Tying it TogetherTying it Together
Pt. 3Pt. 3
By Amanda PohlmanBy Amanda Pohlman

2. GermanyGermany

3. Point of OriginPoint of Origin
 Even, John Pohlman is aEven, John Pohlman is a
little unsure as to thelittle unsure as to the
exact location that hisexact location that his
familyfamily emigratedemigrated from.from.
He knows that his familyHe knows that his family
is from Germany.is from Germany.
However, he did say thatHowever, he did say that
“the only city that came“the only city that came
up in the records as theirup in the records as their
(his family) home in(his family) home in
Germany isGermany is
Neuenkirchen and thereNeuenkirchen and there
is more than one city byis more than one city by
that name.”that name.”

4. ImmigrationImmigration
 The first Pohlman to take this tremendous leapThe first Pohlman to take this tremendous leap
of faith and start anew was Johann Dierkof faith and start anew was Johann Dierk
Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany. This wouldPohlman, born in 1784 in Germany. This would
be classified with thebe classified with the First Wave ofFirst Wave of
Immigration.Immigration. Johann came through NewJohann came through New
York’sYork’s Port of EntryPort of Entry and swiftly made his wayand swiftly made his way
to Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with five ofto Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with five of
his children. His wife stayed back due tohis children. His wife stayed back due to
medical complications, but joined him 4 monthsmedical complications, but joined him 4 months
later with the other three children the couple hadlater with the other three children the couple had
between them.between them.

5. Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio

6. Push/Pull FactorsPush/Pull Factors
 Although there is somewhat of a question as toAlthough there is somewhat of a question as to
the exact origin of the Pohlman family fromthe exact origin of the Pohlman family from
Germany the reason why is much more clear.Germany the reason why is much more clear.
John relays theJohn relays the push factorspush factors his ancestorshis ancestors
came over from Germany were due to politicalcame over from Germany were due to political
and economic hardships they were having thereand economic hardships they were having there
in the home country. A hugein the home country. A huge pull factorpull factor for thefor the
Pohlmans’ to settle in Cincinnati was due to thePohlmans’ to settle in Cincinnati was due to the
largelarge ethnic neighborhoodethnic neighborhood of Germans thatof Germans that
had settled west of the Allegheny Mountains.had settled west of the Allegheny Mountains.
This madeThis made assimilationassimilation easier because of theeasier because of the
familiarity of their neighbors.familiarity of their neighbors.

7. Chain MigrationChain Migration
 John Pohlman, a fifth generation Pohlman,John Pohlman, a fifth generation Pohlman,
although born in Cincinnati moved with hisalthough born in Cincinnati moved with his
parents and other nine brothers andparents and other nine brothers and
sisters to Indiana. Up until then allsisters to Indiana. Up until then all
Pohlman’s since moving to Ohio hadPohlman’s since moving to Ohio had
never left the state. John and his brothersnever left the state. John and his brothers
and sisters however chose to branch outand sisters however chose to branch out
even further. John going all the way toeven further. John going all the way to
California and the others through out theCalifornia and the others through out the
south and even parts of Canada.south and even parts of Canada.

8. Pohlman Geographical MovementPohlman Geographical Movement

9. ChangesChanges
 Since coming to America many things changedSince coming to America many things changed
for the Pohlmans, but one thing that stands outfor the Pohlmans, but one thing that stands out
is the language. Upon arrival the Pohlmans’is the language. Upon arrival the Pohlmans’
only knew how to speak German and had toonly knew how to speak German and had to
teach themselves English. Although faced withteach themselves English. Although faced with
this obstacle they still preserved. The Germanthis obstacle they still preserved. The German
dialect was still being passed down clear untildialect was still being passed down clear until
the fifth generation. The younger generations inthe fifth generation. The younger generations in
John’s family have not taken on this traditionJohn’s family have not taken on this tradition
however.however.

10. Work LifeWork Life
 John Pohlman’s father worked for aJohn Pohlman’s father worked for a
printing company. He worked on theprinting company. He worked on the
printing presses that were in charge ofprinting presses that were in charge of
getting out the news to the locals.getting out the news to the locals.
Although, looking back on previousAlthough, looking back on previous
generations there is an apparentgenerations there is an apparent
pattern of Carpenters and Tailors.pattern of Carpenters and Tailors.
John Pohlman was a salesman duringJohn Pohlman was a salesman during
his working career. This shows ahis working career. This shows a
strong pattern of work within thestrong pattern of work within the
secondary sectorsecondary sector..
– John Pohlman as well as many asJohn Pohlman as well as many as
his brothers and sisters moved outhis brothers and sisters moved out
of the Ohio area in search ofof the Ohio area in search of
better wage jobs. This added tobetter wage jobs. This added to
thethe rural to urban migrationrural to urban migration
for the Pohlman Family. Johnfor the Pohlman Family. John
Pohlman once he turned 18 joinedPohlman once he turned 18 joined
the Marine Corps and wasthe Marine Corps and was
stationed to Southern Californiastationed to Southern California
where he stayed to raise hiswhere he stayed to raise his
family.family.

11. FoodFood
 There are still manyThere are still many
German dishes that wereGerman dishes that were
continued once thecontinued once the
Pohlman’s moved toPohlman’s moved to
America and some ofAmerica and some of
these cuisines are stillthese cuisines are still
enjoyed by the Pohlmanenjoyed by the Pohlman
family to date. One offamily to date. One of
those meals beingthose meals being
sauerbraten andsauerbraten and
spaetzle. Which is in thespaetzle. Which is in the
most basic terms a typemost basic terms a type
of pot roast and soft eggof pot roast and soft egg
noodle or dumpling.noodle or dumpling.

12. ReligionReligion
 Dating back into the early 1700’s the PohlmanDating back into the early 1700’s the Pohlman
family has been devout Catholics. Thesefamily has been devout Catholics. These
religious beliefs and morals were carried overreligious beliefs and morals were carried over
when they arrived here in America. It was of thewhen they arrived here in America. It was of the
up most importance that all the Pohlmanup most importance that all the Pohlman
children receive their education from privatechildren receive their education from private
catholic schools in the area. Although this wascatholic schools in the area. Although this was
an economic hardship for them, they felt theyan economic hardship for them, they felt they
would not want their children brought up anywould not want their children brought up any
other way.other way.

13. Catholic SchoolingCatholic Schooling
 John Pohlman was brought upJohn Pohlman was brought up
going to an all boys Catholicgoing to an all boys Catholic
school and also made it aschool and also made it a
priority that his own childrenpriority that his own children
receive the same type ofreceive the same type of
education that he did. Thiseducation that he did. This
was one of the reason Johnwas one of the reason John
and his wife Pam settled theirand his wife Pam settled their
family in San Dimas, Ca wherefamily in San Dimas, Ca where
two major catholic schools aretwo major catholic schools are
located. Having a Catholiclocated. Having a Catholic
educationeducation was extremelywas extremely
important.important.

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

15. TraditionsTraditions
 Whether or not this is a tradition, there isWhether or not this is a tradition, there is
an apparent pattern that Pohlmans’ havean apparent pattern that Pohlmans’ have
been forming dating back as far as thebeen forming dating back as far as the
1700’s. This is the tradition of having a1700’s. This is the tradition of having a
big family. Looking at all of the Pohlman’sbig family. Looking at all of the Pohlman’s
each generation normally has a family ofeach generation normally has a family of
at least 8 children or more. John Pohlmanat least 8 children or more. John Pohlman
was raised with 9 other brother andwas raised with 9 other brother and
sisters.sisters.

16. The Pohlman FamilyThe Pohlman Family

17. WarWar
 Johann Bernard Heinrich Pohlman, forJohann 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. Heplayed 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 tocalled upon during the Civil War to
construct and man a series of fortificationsconstruct and man a series of fortifications
on the crests of hills on the Kentucky sideon the crests of hills on the Kentucky side
of the river in anticipation of an invasion byof the river in anticipation of an invasion by
Bragg-Smith which never happened.Bragg-Smith which never happened.

18. Civil War “Squirrel Hunters”Civil War “Squirrel Hunters”

19. WarWar and its direct influenceand its direct influence
 John told of many familyJohn told of many family
members that had been inmembers that had been in
some way apart of the civilsome way apart of the civil
war, but one family memberwar, but one family member
that is held close to his heartthat is held close to his heart
that directly affected him wasthat directly affected him was
his brother Jim. He was onlyhis brother Jim. He was only
18 when he joined the Marines18 when he joined the Marines
and was soon shipped off toand was soon shipped off to
fight in Iwo Jima where hefight in Iwo Jima where he
tragically lost his life. Thistragically lost his life. This
deeply affected John and it isdeeply affected John and it is
what inspired him to also joinwhat inspired him to also join
the Marines when he turnedthe Marines when he turned
18.18.

20. What do I think of all this?What do I think of all this?
 After interviewing John Pohlman, my dad, I amAfter interviewing John Pohlman, my dad, I am
very proud of my German heritage and amvery proud of my German heritage and am
grateful for this project to bring to light thingsgrateful for this project to bring to light things
about my family that I was previously unawareabout my family that I was previously unaware
of. I have always wanted to be able and travelof. I have always wanted to be able and travel
back to Germany and see where my ancestorsback to Germany and see where my ancestors
came from and immerse myself in a culture thatcame from and immerse myself in a culture that
is my birthright. Looking back I can now see theis my birthright. Looking back I can now see the
progress my family has made. Climbing theprogress my family has made. Climbing the
immigrants ladder, my family has went from aimmigrants ladder, my family has went from a
meager start in a small Cincinnati city to livingmeager start in a small Cincinnati city to living
large in beautiful sunny southern California.large in beautiful sunny southern California.