Ernie Hammer is a long time Kiowa County Press contributor. This story is written by Ernie’s Aunt Liz, Elizabeth Katherine (Hammer) Smith Benatti, based on her memories and family research. The story begins in Germany with Oswald Hammer and Margarethe Marie von Barsewisch, Liz’s parents. Liz passed away at the age of 104. She was living at the Kohart Home in Kit Carson at the time of her death. Part 1 can be read here.

Margarethe Marie von Barsewisch

In the village of Krusemark, Altmark, Germany, a baby girl, third child, was born to Johann Friedrich Adalbert Oswald von Barsewisch and Marie Louise (von Kahlden) von Barsewisch on the 26^th of February 1870.  There were seven born to this couple.  Margarethe, a sturdy little girl, was an unusual baby in her growing up.  She always watched her surroundings.  She was noticed as she squirmed and giggled.  

Margarethe in her first three and four years was taken completely care of by Frau Feltheim.  This wasn’t an easy task for she was a stubborn child.  The governess was there until after high school.  Here in the private school a professor was called into the main house living in this big home.  The children kept on their strict society training.

In this von Barsewisch  family it was particularly adamant for a girl to choose business and become worldly.  Her mother and father were vexed so they sent her to a Red Cross nursing school in Switzerland.  The Baron was very troubled about this; but he had to leave to go to the parliament meeting of the government.  His last remarks to his daughter “Margarethe this is not an adventure for you.”

Margarethe spent three years at the Red Cross school in Switzerland.  The nursing school was the first ever in the world.  

In the two years’ time, Margarethe began to enjoy the nurses’ outings like street shows, picnics, and shopping.  However, she was more enthused when her group of nurses decided to go to lectures given by different churches or even a circus but mostly of the lectures at the library.  Nursing students from other countries could gather together to enjoy laughs, and plan meetings on weekends up at the Lutheran Seminars where they could enjoy the company of men.

On these weekends, most of the conversations were about Lutheranism.  Margarethe remembered her walks with a German from Saxony who usually had the floor.  She was nearly always with the L.O. Hammer group as they seemed to favor the Lutheran religion over Catholicism.

She returned from Switzerland where she took nurse training from the first school for training nurses.  She helped her mother make the rounds in the village, the home of Baron von Barsewisch.  But Margarethe gladly pursued other interest and learning.  She kept reading more and more about the immigration of the church to America.

“I am called to Uncle Karl’s headquarters where I am to meet with the other relatives for a fortnight,” Marie told Margarethe the next day at their coffee break.  Now it was Margarethe’s turn to be troubled for she had no idea what this meeting signaled for her.  When Marie came back, she was relieved by her message.  The time had come for her decision to become a Lutheran Missionary to America.

Around this time L.O. Hammer had passed the exams and was inciting people to join him and others of the Lutheran faith who would be taking off into the Atlantic for America. 

Julius Hammer handed the Bill of Laden to Oswald von Barsewisch.  As he tipped his hat to the ladies he said, “The papers are all in the envelope.”  The Baron thanked him as he pulled a coin from his pocket and handed it to Julius who turned and hurried off.

Mother, Father, and daughter stood closely now holding hands saying very little.  Then the big bong of the ship’s bell tolled the boarding.  So hugging, all three arms entangled and heads snuggled together; they drew apart and holding hands the three were encircled and if pulling each other in different directions they finally let go.  People were packed at the rail of the top deck; this was a frightening time for all.  No one knew what to expect; but tears flowed and voices were screaming their “goodbyes”.   

Next week – Coming to America.

Summarized by Janet Frederick

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