1. John Bernard PohlmanJohn Bernard Pohlman
InterviewInterview
By Amanda PohlmanBy Amanda Pohlman
John was born onJohn was born on
August 19August 19thth
, 1938 in, 1938 in
Cincinnati Ohio.Cincinnati Ohio.
3. Where did your family come from?Where did your family come from?
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
family emigrated from.family emigrated 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. Where did your family first settleWhere did your family first settle
upon arrival?upon arrival?
The first Pohlman to take this tremendousThe first Pohlman to take this tremendous
leap of faith and start anew was Johannleap of faith and start anew was Johann
Dierk Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany.Dierk Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany.
He came from Germany directly toHe came from Germany directly to
Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with fiveCincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with five
of his children. His wife stayed back dueof his children. His wife stayed back due
to medical complications, but joined him 4to medical complications, but joined him 4
months later with the other three childrenmonths later with the other three children
the couple had between them.the couple had between them.
6. Why did your family come here?Why did your family come here?
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 that” his ancestors came over fromJohn relays that” his ancestors came over from
Germany mostly due to political and economicGermany mostly due to political and economic
hardships they were having there in the homehardships they were having there in the home
country. The reason to settle in Cincinnati wascountry. The reason to settle in Cincinnati was
due to the large community of Germans that haddue to the large community of Germans that had
settled west of the Allegheny Mountains.settled west of the Allegheny Mountains.
7. Where has your family branchedWhere has your family branched
out to from Cincinnati?out to from Cincinnati?
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.
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 traditonJohn’s family have not taken on this traditon
however.however.
10. Work LifeWork Life
John Pohlman’s fatherJohn Pohlman’s father
worked for a printingworked for a printing
company. He worked oncompany. He worked on
the printing presses thatthe printing presses that
were in charge of gettingwere in charge of getting
out the news to theout the news to the
locals. Although, lookinglocals. Although, looking
back on previousback on previous
generations there is angenerations there is an
apparent pattern ofapparent pattern of
Carpenters and Tailors.Carpenters and Tailors.
John Pohlman was aJohn Pohlman was a
salesman during hissalesman during his
working career.working career.
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. ReligonReligon
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 wasJohn Pohlman was
brought up going tobrought up going to
an all boys Catholican all boys Catholic
school and also madeschool and also made
it a priority that hisit a priority that his
own children receiveown children receive
the same type ofthe same type of
education that he did.education that he did.
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 patteren that Pohlmans’ havean apparent patteren 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.
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.
19. War and its direct influenceWar and 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,After interviewing John Pohlman, my dad,
I am very proud of my German heritageI am very proud of my German heritage
and am grateful for this project to bring toand am grateful for this project to bring to
light things about my family that I waslight things about my family that I was
previously unaware of. I have alwayspreviously unaware of. I have always
wanted to be able and travel back towanted to be able and travel back to
Germany and see where my ancestorsGermany and see where my ancestors
came from and immerse myself in acame from and immerse myself in a
culture that is my birthright.culture that is my birthright.
