Julius heard the rain dripping from the eaves, and felt the raw coldness of the night. "It must be well past midnight", he thought to himself. Would he survive the long journey ahead? Would he ever see his beloved country again? Would he get to a place called Coudersport, Pennsylvania, where his brothers were? Would his widowed mother with three children be able to withstand a long trip over the ocean without knowing any language except German? He heard a creak on the stairs and a low whisper, "Julius you must go, before the dawn breaks. I've packed your old knapsack with a lunch and a few other small items. Hurry, the children must not see you leave."

He dressed hurriedly, pulling on course hand knit socks and also his heavy woolen sweater. His pants were new, having been a Christmas present from his mother and made by her. He tiptoed down the stairs to the kitchen, grabbed an old raincoat from the rack by the door, pulled on his stout old leather boots and prepared to leave. His mother kissed him on both checks and said, "Godspeed my son, hopefully we will join you in America one day soon. The children will not know you have gone. They will only know you are not here when the deputy comes tomorrow. Do not write us soon, it would not be safe to receive a letter from America."

Helena sat by the fireplace alone a long time after Julius left deep in thought. She thought of her husband buried up in the cemetery on the hill. She thought of her other two sons already in America. She had saved money for over a year to get herself and her three children on a boat to America. She thought of the venison stew they had enjoyed last week when all they had were a few vegetables. A decree had gone out a few weeks ago that forbid the peasants to hunt. The deer were the property of the king. Julius was an excellent huntsman and the decree had angered him. It was at dusk when she heard a shot and new someone had disobeyed the king's orders. A short time later Julius appeared at the door saying, "Mother, get this meat into the stew pan, we will eat venison once more." Julius was a lover of venison the way his mother fixed it. Julius had gone to the edge of the forest to shoot the young doe, carefully dragging it home so as to net leave a trail of blood, skinned and gutted it, putting all signs of it in a hole under the manure pile. The rest of the meat he placed in the cabbage field in a large trench.

A few days went by and all seemed well until an officer from the king rode up demanding to know if a deer had been taken by this family. Neighbors had heard a shot and reported it to the authorities. The neighbors reported that only one son living in the Neefe household was old enough to shoot a gun. Helena had lied, "I have only the children who are here with me that live here. I am a poor widow, please leave and do not bother us." The officer left saying he would be back another day.

She was glad Julius had gone to the village taking the butter she had made that day to the household of Mr. Nueller. Mr. Nueller was the town magistrate and Julius had been in his employee for the past year, first as a house boy and then in training for their butler. He was twenty-four years old, a small energetic young man with curly black hair and brown eyes. The Nueller family became very fond of this handsome young man, he learned very quickly, they trusted him, and since they had no son they began to depend on him a great deal.

Yes, Franz would have approved Julius going, prison would be his fate if he were caught. He had been a beautiful child with pink cheeks and ruddy complexion. When she scolded him, which was not often, he would survey her solemnly always trying not to repeat the offense. He had always been an energetic, industrious child, she was proud of his ambition, his need to improve his lot in life. In his spare time there was always a book in his hand. She had packed a small old family bible into his knapsack and a package of cabbage seeds, perhaps one day in America he would plant them, think of home. She wondered if someone would make sauerkraut for him like she made. She wondered if in America there were forests where deer roamed and if you could take one, what other wildlife would be there and would there be fish.

Julius ran down the lane to the Village and then to the main road which led west. He knew the journey to the French border to be at least a hundred miles. If he could only get to the French border he would be safe, that is, if he could get into France safely. At daybreak he approached a farmyard where an old farmer was coming out of the house to do the milling. He spoke to him in German asking if he could rest in his barn. "Where are you going, and why," the old man asked. "To France, for work, there is none in my village, I will rest here during the heat of the day and go on after the sun is down." "Come with me then and have a mug of milk." The old man wondered if this young man was telling the truth but did not ask any further questions. There was much unrest these days and queer things going on, if he were young he too would be thinking of going over the sea.

Julius drank the warm milk and opened his knapsack, took out a piece of dark bread and homemade cheese, they tasted so good, he was hungry. He crawled into the hay mow, pulled the sweet smelling hay over his head and was fast asleep in an instant. He awoke to a rooster crowing and the old farmer shouting, "No one came this way, I have seen no one, only myself and my wife are here, please leave us alone." He pulled the hay tighter around him and nestled into it until he heard the voices no longer. He heard the milk pails rattle and knew it was milking time. The old man entered the barn saying, "Young man, leave as soon as possible, they are looking for a young man who has killed a king's deer. Here is a bowl of soup my wife has made." Julius ate the soup, brushed the hayseeds from his hair, slipped out of the barn. He avoided people all that day, hiding in thickets, the birds were singing, trees were in blossom and he wondered if he would remember Germany in spring. Some farmers were plowing and planting seeds for summer crops, women were planting their gardens. Everything smelled of new growth, streams were high from the winter snows. He felt a surge of freedom and was eager to be on his way. His destination was LeHavre, France, he grew bolder as he journeyed farther and farther from his home territory.

He knew by signs along the way that the French border was not far away and the Rhine river was nearing. Now the problem would be getting across the river, he knew there would be check points at the large bridges. He inquired of a young lad driving a bunch of cattle to market how to get across the river to Strasbourg. He indicated there was an old wooden bridge a few miles down the road, "No one is checking credentials there, no one will bother you there. Many people are crossing at Strasbourg, the border guards are very strict, good luck to you." He found the bridge, a man with a few sheep was crossing, Julius crossed with him, looked for the first time at the Rhine river, saw a sign saying FRANCE, and almost jumped for joy. "Now for a safe journey across France."

For the first time since he had left home Julius felt safe enough to go into a small cafe for a meal. He sat down next to a man with a plate full of food. He recognized potatoes and chicken, when the waitress asked him what he wanted he pointed to the man's plate. She did not want her to know he only spoke German. The food tasted good, he paid her in marks, which she did not question, and went on his way. The people of France seemed very poor. He had read that since the Napoleon wars that the people were hungry, wages were low, there was much unemployment, bread was scarce. Houses were not as well kept or as neat as in Germany. He asked directions many times, just saving LeHarvre" He slept where ever he could, buying a loaf of bread and some meat and sometimes a sweet bun. The French people were very friendly and he was asked many times to share what little food they had. Finally, one morning he could smell a strange odor, he had been told that the smell of the ocean was one he could not mistake. That was it, he was nearing the port of LeHarvre.

He walked through cobblestone streets lined with men waiting to load their carts with fish from the wharf. The smell of fish was everywhere. Gulls were circling the wharf, screaming and diving for fish that were tossed out from the boats. Men in rubber boots and oiled slickers were hawking their wares. This was a city teeming with people, Julius had never seen a city so large.

There in the distance he saw many large ships lined up and flags of several different countries flying above them. He hurried to them along the wharf. There was one with a German flag and he hurried toward it. The gang plank was drawn down, there was an officer checking names and addresses of people about to board. He approached him and in German asked if that ship was going to America. He answered, "Yes, do you have passage money?" He answered, "Yes, but I would like to work, I can cook." He said, "Very well, we will talk to the captain."

He was escorted into the presence of a tall, dark, bearded man. He questioned Julius about his skills, nothing else. He was assigned to a bunk in a room with other workers on the ship. "You will be about your duties at five tomorrow morning. Your meals are included in your passage. As long as you remain prompt and fulfill your duties and keep out of trouble there will be no problem. We all hope to reach America safely."

Many people were boarding the ship. Women with small babies wrapped in shawls, couples with three and four children, single men and boys. He wondered what was taking them all to America. "Some had satchels and large bags of food with loaves of bread sticking out of the top. Many had bed rolls and blankets. It seemed to him that the ship would be very full and over-crowded.

He lay in his bunk that night and thought of home and his family. He wished he could let his mother know that he had gotten that far. He thought of the Muellers, when he did not appear for the evening meal what had they thought. Did they go to his home and ask where he was. Did mother make excuses for him, what did she say.

Frau Mueller was puzzled when Julius did not appear for supper. He had always been so dependable. Something was wrong. The servants always knew all the gossip in the neighborhood. She heard them whispering about a deer being killed out near the Neefe property. She expected Julius to appear at his usual time for dinner but he never came. Where was he? She sent the gardener to the Neefe home to see why Julius never came but all his mother would day is "He is not here." She did not question the servants. She did not want to know, but Julius never did return as weeks turned into months.

As dawn broke Julius felt the ship begin to move from the harbor. He got up, dressed, proceeded to the galley to prepare breakfast. Passing a porthole he stopped a minute to look at the wide blue sea and the city we were leaving. The morning was bright and sunny and the ocean crested with waves. He wondered if he would ever see the continent of Europe again.

Being confined to the deck of the ship was very depressing to him. He walked the deck as often as possible. As the weeks passed by the sight of misery and death became hard to bear.

He thought of the day he had delivered vegetables to the home of Jon Mueller the largest land owner in the area. The kitchen maid had met him at the door and paid him, then a feminine voice had called to him as he departed down the path. Young man, may I speak to you, we are in need of someone in our dining room, our helper in the dining room is ill and we are having a party tonight. Would you consider helping our butler? Julius considered for a minute and replied Ya, ya." He needed work to help out his widowed mother and here was a chance to earn a little money. He wondered what He would be wearing. Mrs. Mueller bade him to be back at the house by five o'clock and that she would have clothes and instructions for him. Mrs. Mueller had often seen this young man with his curly black hair and brown eyes and ruddy complexion and thought him very handsome. She thought him about twenty one years of age and had noticed his slim fingers and thought they did not seem like the hands of a farmer. He was always very polite, not like some of the other young men who delivered milk and vegetables, and were also unkempt and crude. So, that day Julius became a house boy in the home of Jon Mueller.

He learned very quickly. He liked wearing the black suit with the ruffled shirt. He noticed their beautiful blond daughter. She very often made excuses for him to get an extra glass of water or another napkin for someone, smiling at him and thanking him again and again. But he was very careful not to appear too friendly with her, she was above him in status and he did not want to presume even a friendship with her. Frau Mueller adored Julius, she had no son, only the one daughter. He remembered the afternoon she had given him the clothes he was to wear for the evening. They fitted him well, he had dressed in the servants quarters. He had trimmed his black mustache and scrubbed his hands. She told him how handsome he looked. He dressed, and adjusted the tight collar and looked into the mirror at an image he had never seen before.

His first Job was placing large tureens of steaming food on the long tables and then filling water glasses. Later he cleared the tables after the guests had gone into the parlor for a cordial. It was well after midnight when he once again returned to the servants quarters took off his clothes and hung them up, putting on his old cloths and taking off into the night to return home. He liked what he had done this night and wondered if Frau Mueller would call on him again. And, indeed, she did. He eventually became the head butler in H the Mueller household.

Old and young were dying of decease and starvation. The only place to bury them was the sea. People were cold and hungry, water was becoming scarce, there was only enough to drink. People were becoming irritable with each other and quarrels were breaking out, fighting among the men became common. He did not tell anyone why He had left Germany, His cabin mates only knew he was seeking a better life in America as they were.

The captain informed us one evening that we were nearing New York and perhaps would be there sometime the next day. Where was Pennsylvania, What kind of a country would this be? What would his fortune be there? The excitement he felt knew no bounds. He awoke before dawn, ran to a porthole, and saw lights flickering in the distance, He felt sure it must be the shore of New York City. And indeed it was. He raised his head and thanked God for a safe' passage.

All immigrants were to be taken off the ship at Ellis Island. This island was a receiving station for immigrants arriving from foreign lands. It was about a mile away from New York City. Immigrants were taken off the ship, given a thorough physical and mental examination' Tests were given to see if people arriving had any way of supporting themselves, This island was a receiving station· If people passed the tests they were sent across the harbor to New York. If they did not meet the requirements they were sent back to their homelands.

Julius passed the examination and gave his profession as a house servant or a butler, he was allowed to proceed, was put on a boat and sent to the New York mainland. He would be required to pass through customs and then would be interviewed by men needing workers. Bulletin boards would have ads on them asking for ditch diggers, masons, etc.

They searched his little knapsack and found only a pair of dirty socks and his little bible mother had put there. She had put the cabbage seeds in the toe of his shoe as he had been told seeds from other countries could not be brought in. He proceeded through customs and went to the nearest restroom to comb his hair and to smooth his clothes as best he could. He wondered if the odors of the ship clung to him, he had not had a bath or a change of clothes for the entire time he had been aboard ship. He heard his name called, quickly picked up his knapsack and proceeded through the gates to freedom.

Julius had been told about a place where men were looking for servants, household help, laborers, etc. He was about to approach a bulletin board where positions were posted when he heard a voice behind him say, 'Young man." He turned around to see a tall older man with a blond moustache looking at him. The man was elegantly dressed and he knew at once that this was a rich man. He spoke with a tongue that he was familiar with and he knew to be Dutch. He could understand what he said. "Could I see your papers, I am looking for a house servant. I see you have worked at this in Germany. I am looking for someone to work in my kitchen and dining room. "Ya, I answered, I will be willing to do that." "My name is Mr. VanRensselaer he said, I live up the river, if you are willing to work for me we will proceed immediately to board a boat that ls waiting at the dock. My lands are up the river across from Albany, New York." Julius became an employee of Mr. VanRensselaer and was to work for him as an indentured servant for seven years.

The trip that day up the Hudson river will always be etched in his memory. The wide, beautiful, placid river, edged with large green trees and foliage of many kinds. He had read about Indians in America and wondered if they were looking out at them from the shore. Mr. Van as he was called by all who knew him became his friend and benefactor in the coming days, his kind manner with all hie employees was very evident and their respect for him was also the same.

After many hours they approached a large landing where a carriage was waiting. Many large boxes with purchases made in New York were unloaded by the deck hands and placed in the carriage. They drove off behind a pair of the most beautiful matched team

of horses he had ever seen. Their harnesses were oiled and polished and gleamed with brass. They were as black as ebony, he knew them to be driving horses. They shone with what he knew was many hours of brushing and loving care. "I will take the reins," Mr. Van said. He urged the horses to a trot a rolled along through a countryside with newly plowed fields and winter wheat appearing through patches of snow still visible from the past winter. Everything smelled of spring. They began to ascend a long driveway edged with trees of various kinds and at the end he could see a large mansion surrounded by gardens. Mr. Van said, "Julius we are almost home". "Wait till my Maria sees what I have brought her". He said with a great deal of love and respect in his voice.

He came to know and love this beautiful blond lady in the days ahead. As they drove up to and stopped before a large veranda a lady appeared on the portico with several servants. She waved her hand several times and ran down the steps to greet them. The doors of the carriage where flung open. Mr. Van embraced her and said, "Julius, I want you to meet your new mistress." She was dressed in a fashion he had never seen before. He had only witnessed women dressed in coarse homespun clothing, even Mrs. Mueller had not been dressed like this. She greeted him kindly and said, "Julius, we will find a place for you in the cottage behind the mill." There were large barns and cottages behind the house. There were many cows and horses in the fields around the barns. A large stream ran behind the house leading to a large pond. Julius was very anxious to explore everything.

He was taken to a small cabin by a young lad who spoke Dutch. He assured him that the cabin was tight and comfortable. He left him alone and he immediately began to think of a bath. He smelled of the ship and three weeks at sea made his clothes pretty rank. He noticed a large wooden tub on the floor with a bucket beside it. Outside was also a pump and a small pot bellied stove was also in the cottage. So he pumped some water, built a fire in the stove and proceeded to get himself some hot water for a bath. He had a bar of homemade soap from home in his pack. The water was heated at last, he stripped off his clothes and got into the tub, soaping his hair and scrubbing his body. He had never enjoyed a bath so much in his life. There was a coarse white towel hanging from a hook on the wall, he used it and wished he had clean clothes to put on his clean body. However, he dressed in his old clothes and went outside to sit on a bench by the door and to soak up the sun and this lovely place and just to relax after the events of the last weeks.

He looked up to see a young lady coming toward him down the path, she seemed to have clothes over her arm. She stopped before him, handed him the clothes and said, "these clothes are for you. Susannah," and pointed to herself. He pointed to himself and said, "Julius." Julius and Susannah were married (see below) moved to Potter County and had seven children, one of which was my grandfather Charles F. Julius became the head butler of the VanRensselaers and Susannah Noble was the fine laundress.

Note:

I am going to leave the story here, and quote from a page from the family bible which is in the possession of Roland Neefe, the son of Leigh Neefe and my uncle. I am the Great Granddaughter of Julius and Susannah Noble.

From the bible: Julius Nungln was born in14 May 1811 in Norumburg in Fivuigwuief. Fzrgzlnce, arrived into the United States July 19, 1835. Married June 11, 1840 to Miss Susannah Noble, of Ogdensburg, New York. (Susannah born May 9, 1813).

Julius Neefe and Susannah Noble Neefe came to Sweden Hill. ,Potter County, Pennsylvania, between the years 1845 and 1850, purchasing a tract of two hundred acres of virgin timber. On this they built a log house in which their younger children were born. The others were born in the North-Eastern part of New York State, along the Hudson, where they were employed by the VanRensselaer family as butler and fine laundress.

Julius was a small energetic man with handsome, large brown eyes. He was a remarkable pedestrian, walking from his home in Germany to embark at LeHavre, France. After coming to this country was for a time employed as butler in a hotel in New York State by the Van Rensselaers on the Hudson River. For a time he left the U.S., and made a walking tour of Cuba. Susannah was of Scotch-Irish decent, coming to United States at two years of age. Her father was from the North of Ireland, where he owned a bleaching green. His name was William Noble. There were three children in the family:
Eliza, William and Susannah.

Note: I went to Ireland the summer of 1993. A woman from Northern Ireland told me what a bleaching green was. It was a place where the newly woven linen, which would have been the color of straw, was placed out on green grass to bleach in the sun. I had always thought it was a laundry, but it was as above. After all these years I finally found out what the bleaching green really was.

This story is part fact and part fiction. The events are a rendition of what I think my great grandfather's fleeing Germany might have been like.

Christine Neefe Baumann