Walt’s great great grandmother was born on December 16, 1823. Catharina Maria was born to Johann and Maria Strüving Heil in Fladderlohausen, Lower Saxony, Germany. We don’t know much about her, but because three of her sons chose to come to the United States there are many descendants living here now.

St. Nikolaus Church in Ankum

She married Johann Gerhard Wellman in 1848 in Ankum, Lower Saxony, Germany at St. Nikolaus Church.

The church was built around 1100 AD and has been added onto and renovated a few times over the years. It is neat to think that one could go and see the church today. If you can read German, there is a page with more information here.

I found these great shots of the interior in 1900 and today. The three arches in the first shot are seen in the back of the second shot.

Catharina and Johann had seven children. Three sons chose to emigrate, Bernard in 1883, Gerhard (Walt’s great grandfather) in 1884, and Herman in 1897. They all came to West Point, Iowa and raised families there. Herman actually married in the same church as his parents.

Catharina died on October 31, 1888 in Ankum, Germany. Johann died a few weeks later on November 24, 1888.

There are many post about the Wellmans on the blog, including this one about Gerhard’s military discharge papers. You can read more about the whole family in Georgie’s Memoirs, which start here and can all be found under the tag Memoir.