The Friederich Günther Family

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Anna Marie Mesel, daughter of Joseph Jacob Mesel and Anna Marie Elisabeth Fischer Mesel married Friederich Günther at a Roman Catholic Church in Bad Dürkheim,Pfalz,Bavaria on June 4, 1867.

Their marriage records:

Groom's Name: Friedericus Carolus Guenther

Bride's Name: Anna Maria Mesel

Marriage Date: 04 Jun 1867

Marriage Place: Roemisch-Katholische,Bad Duerkheim,Pfalz,Bavaria

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M99745-5

System Origin: Germany-ODM

Source Film Number: 367710

Collection: Germany Marriages, 1558-1929

Groom's Name: Friedrich Wilhelm Guenther

Bride's Name: Anna Maria Mesel

Marriage Date: 04 Jun 1867

Marriage Place: Grethen,Pfalz,Bavaria

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M99174-7

System Origin: Germany-ODM

Source Film Number: 587643

Collection: Germany Marriages, 1558-1929

(note that Grethen is a burrough or quarter of Bad Duerkheim

The newlyweds began their family the following year when Wilhelm was born May 15, 1868. Following are his birth and baptism records: 

Name Wilhelm Guenther 

Gender Male 

Birth Date 15 May 1868 

Birthplace Dürkheim, Bayern, Germany 

Race White 

Father's Name Friedrich Guenther 

Mother's Name Anna Mesel 

Indexing Project (Batch) Number C99170-3 

System Origin Germany-EASy 

Source Film Number 587615 Reference Number

Name Guilhelmus Guenther 

Gender Male 

Baptism/Christening Date 24 May 1868 

Baptism/Christening Place ROEMISCH-KATHOLISCHE,BAD DUERKHEIM,PFALZ,BAVARIA 

Father's Name Friederici Guenther 

Mother's Name Annae Mesel

Indexing Project (Batch) Number C99745-3 

System Origin Germany-ODM 

Source Film Number 367708 Reference Number

Another son, Karl, was born April 29, 1871. 

Name: Carl Gunther

Gender: Male

Birthdate: 29 April, 1871

Birthplace: GRETHEN,PFALZ,BAVARIA

Father's Name: Friedrich Wilhelm Gunther

Mother's Name: Anna Maria Mesel

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: J99174-7

System Origin: Germany-ODM

Source Film Number: 587643

Collection: Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898

Then Margaret arrived. (Her tombstone reads 1872--note that since these records were transcribed there is room for error.)

Margaretha Guenther

Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898

birth: 15 May 1873 BAD DUERKHEIM,PFALZ,BAVARIA

father: Friedrich Wilhelm Guenther

mother: Anna Maria Mesel

Elisabeth was born June 21, 1876 in Durkheim, Germany. 

Just like other Germans the Guenther family heard of wonderful opportunities in the United States.  They had undoubtedly corresponded with Anna Marie's brother, Anton, who bought 120 acres of land outside Paris, Arkansas on March 24, 1881.  So it was that they decided to migrate to Arkansas.  The damper on this fresh start in a new land was complete and utter tragedy.   Carl, age 10, the second oldest of the children died when he was pushed and fell in a schoolyard prank.   It was just 3 and a half months before the family boarded ship. 
  

In 1881 the Günther family migrated to the United States from their home in Dürkheim, Bavaria.  They boarded the SS Pollux at the port of Amsterdam on October 5 and were among 569 steerage passengers.  The manifest translates as:

F.(riederich) Gunther   age 40 Male labourer 

A.(nna) Gunther  40 Female without (occupation)

W.(ilhelm) Gunther  8  Male  without (occupation)

M.(argaret) Gunther  7  Female without (occupation)

E.(lisabeth) Gunther  5  Female without (occupation)

The Pollux arrived in New York City October 25, 1881.  From New York City they made their way mostly via train to what was to become their home in Logan County, Arkansas.   Saddened parents Friederich and Anna, then with child, made the arduous journey with remaining children Wilhelm, age 13, Margaret, 6, and Elisabeth, age 5.  Two others of the family name Günther made the trip aboard the Pollux, The first listed a man "A." possibly Friederich's older brother Arnold, listed here as a carpenter,  and a young woman with the first initial "L."of 19 years.  They chose to settle elsewhere.