I composed this post during the first year of this blog (2016). It marked the occasion of the arrival of the Gruber Group in Perry County in December of 1839. Today marks the date on which the Gruber Group first set foot in America. They landed in New Orleans on November 27th aboard the ship, Johann Georg 183 years ago.
Arthur, Check out the blog entitled “Painter Pastor”. Rev, George Hilmer painted a picture which is allegedly the Johann Georg.
My family was on the Johann Georg. Pastor Gruber was reluctant to accept the leadership of Martin Stephan , (rightfully so), so they chose to come on a later voyage. My second great-grand parents, Karl Augustus Frenzel & Emilie Hopfer, (ages 13 and 3 years respectively) were on the ship. Karl actually baby sat for Emiy on the ship and later married her. I know this because in our early family reunions, a family member, Alvin Frentzel, attended our reunions and knew Emily well (later named Amelia) before she passed away in 1927. Would like to have an image of the Johann Georg but have never been able to find.