1. Wiemers Reunion 2004 New Fountain United Methodist Church October 10, 2004

2. Number of Surviving Descendents in Successive Generations Generation # I I IIIIII IVIV Number of People 2 4 8 16 Percentage Alive 14% 29% 57% - Assumptions: - 2 children per couple - Each generation increases by N (2+Gen) Children to 30± yrs Parents to 60± yrs Grand Parents to 90± yrs Great Grand Parents to 120± yrs Survivors

3. “Where Do I Fit In?” Tim Wiemers October 10, 2004 Wiemers Reunion 2004 Relating Family History to a Timeline

4. Timeline: 1800 – Current Texas Independence Era Onward (Linear Scale, Major Events)

5. Port destination for many German immigrants to Texas during mid 1880’s 1844 Established 1886 Abandoned Indianola, Texas Thriving Port during mid 1880’s - Population: 6000 (max in 1875) - Railroad, Post Office - Beef cannery - Strategic military location in Civil War - Second only to Galveston - Major streets paved with oyster shells - Destroyed by multiple storms

6. Indianola Texas Ship voyage (60-120 days) Walk overland (30-60 days) German Immigrants Route

7. Camels in Texas Henry C Wayne transported camels to Texas (33 in 1856, and 41 in 1857) Henry C Wayne USS Supply (1856) - Experiment by US Secretary of War - Prior to Civil War - Camels stationed at Camp Verde - Used to transport military supplies in southwestern US - Experiment failed

8. John Wiemers Immigration Document John’s age when arrived = 26 years old Born in 1826? After Texas became a state, & before the Civil War 5 years after arrival Age 81 years old John’s age when married = 31 years old

9. Timeline: 1980 - Current Current Generation – Younger than 22 years

10. Timeline: 1950 - Current Current Generation – Younger than 52 years

11. Timeline: 1920 - Current Current Generation – Younger than 80 years

12. Timeline: 1880 - Current A Generation Now Gone

13. Timeline: 1850 - Current Children of John & Aalke

14. Timeline: 1820 - Current John & Aalke’s Generation

15. Timeline: 1820 - Current John & Aalke – All Children When married: John = 31 yrs old Aalke = 17 yrs old Years married = 50 yrs when John died Total of ten children, but only seven children have ancestors today

16. Indianola Events Major Storms

17. Timeline: 0 - Current Since the birth of Christ

18. Relating to John & Aalke When was John Wiemers born? How old was John when he died? When did John Wiemers arrive in Indianola, Texas? What was happening in Indianola around this time? Did John arrive before/after these events? - Battle of Alamo - First settlers to Castroville - Civil War - Hondo incorporated Were John & Aalke among the first German settlers to central Texas? Did John Wiemers use a John-Deere steel plow when he first arrived in Texas? When Indianola was fully developed, the finest streets were paved with ___ - wood planks - oyster shells - gravel - caliche - tar - concrete How did John travel from Indianola to New Fountain? How long had John been in America when he married Aalke? How old were John and Aalke when they were married? Were Indians still a problem in New Fountain when they were married? When was the New Fountain Church established? How many children did John and Aalke have? How many children had descendents present today? John Wiemers was your ___ grandfather: - Great - Great 2x - Great 3x - Great 4x What were some major events during John Wiemers’ life? What were some major events during your grandparents’ life? What were some major events during your parents’ early life? Why are the lives of John and Aalke Wiemers important to people at this reunion?

19. Relating to John & Aalke When was John Wiemers born? How old was John when he died? When did John Wiemers arrive in Indianola, Texas? What was happening in Indianola around this time? Did John arrive before/after these events? - Battle of Alamo - First settlers to Castroville - Civil War - Hondo incorporated Were John & Aalke among the first German settlers to central Texas? Did John Wiemers use a John-Deere steel plow when he first arrived in Texas? When Indianola was fully developed, the finest streets were paved with ___ - wood planks - oyster shells - gravel - caliche - tar - concrete How did John travel from Indianola to New Fountain? How long had John been in America when he married Aalke? How old were John and Aalke when they were married? Were Indians still a problem in New Fountain when they were married? When was the New Fountain Church established? How many children did John and Aalke have? How many children had descendents present today? John Wiemers was your ___ grandfather: - Great - Great 2x - Great 3x - Great 4x What were some major events during John Wiemers’ life? What were some major events during your grandparents’ life? What were some major events during your parents’ early life? Why are the lives of John and Aalke Wiemers important to people at this reunion? 1825 or 1826, 81 years old 1851 Camels, newspaper, big storm, beef cannery No Walk 5 years 31 & 17 years old Yes 1858 Total 10 children, 7 with descendents Alamo, photography, Civil War, telephone Apex of our family tree (yours) (Tim’s)

20. YOUR LIFE is an extension of history Relating to our family history helps us appreciate our heritage Final thoughts to remember…