"WALKING THE ANCESTOR'S TRAIL"

TIME TRAVELERS

 

The history of the QUANDT family begins in the area of Kreis Stolp,  Pomerania, Prussia.  Pomerania was located in what is now Central Europe and bordered on the Baltic Sea.  Most of Pomerania is now Northern Poland.

 

There were many disasters in the 1800's in Pomerania.  Grain prices fell hurting the estates and the workers on these properties.  There was the potato blight in the 1840's.  The weather was disastrous from 1853 to 1856.  Industrialization increase tremendously from 1850 to 1857.  Farm workers left for industrial centers.  Land prices fell.  The Napoleonic Wars all added to an unhealthy time in Pomerania.

 

DANIEL QUANDT's family lived during these unusual circumstances.  DANIEL was one of four brothers and one sister of WILLIAM QUANDT and CAROLINA TOPEL VANDESEE QUANDT family.  The brothers were scripted into the military and saw action.  One of DANIEL's daughters (MARTHA) related the incident that when DANIEL was marching under trees towards the fighting he came upon two of his brothers who were shot dead and with one of his brother's head severed. And he was ordered to keep marching.  He never forgot that incident.

 

It was in these difficult times that the QUANDT family started looking for better living conditions. DANIEL's wife, PAULINE (RADDE) QUANDT received a letter from her mother (HENERIETTE RADDE) who left for the USA with her family and one of DANIEL's and PAULINE's son (PAUL FRANK ERNST QUANDT) in 1880, who were now living in  Detroit, Michigan; to come to America for an opportunity at a better life.  However, DANIEL did not want to leave his home land. But, PAULINE prevailed, because one of her sons was away from her and their family.

 

So in the spring of 1892 they set sail from Hamburg, Germany for the USA.  On 5 May 1892 - Daniel Quandt (age: 49) arrived in the Port of Baltimore aboard the steamship "Stuttgart".  With him were the following individuals: Pauline (age: 44), Minnie (age: 17), Franz (age: 15), Max (age: 13), Wilhelm (age: 11), Martha (age: 5), Anna (age: 3), Emil (age: 1) and a servant girl: Margarett Albercht (age: 19).  Their last place of residence was Grapitz, Kreis Stolp, Pomerania, Prussia.  Daniel Quandt's occupation was a Farmer.  He had $12.00 and all their health was good.  Their religion was Protestant.

 

SIDE NOTE:  During World War II, the steamship "Stuttgart" was involved in an incident.  "American bombers from the 8th Air Force reach the skies over Gotenhafen (near Danzig], Germany, on Octpber 9, 1943.  Bombs rain down on the Gotenhafen Harbour.  The great steamship "Gustloff" narrowly escapes disaster as a bomb explodes in the water off its starboard side, creating a reparable gash only 1.5 meter long in the hull. Several other ships in the habour are not so lucky.  Many are sunk in the in the raid, including the hospital ship 'Stuttgart' another ship from the more carefree KdF crusing days."

 

From the Detroit News Paper of May 3, 1906, "Daniel K. Quandt 62 year, 574 McDougall Ave., Apoplexy."

Both Daniel and Pauline are buried in the old Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.