Travelogue – More ancestors

Our days have been so full and included such long suppers that I usually have time to either record the events of the day or to search through my photos for appropriate images to include. But I usually don't have time for both. So I'm about a week behind on actually telling you about my travels.

We decided today needed to be an easy one. We won't go to a planned museum. Even so, the hotel wants us out by 11:00 and it is already 9:30 and I still have to choose photos for this post.

Wednesday, August 7
Today was much cooler and there were periods of rain, the kind that settles in for hours.

We started at the grounds for the Karlsruhe Schloss (palace). There was a flower garden and a large park, essentially the palace owner's back yard. We got in a good walk. We didn't go inside because we didn't want to wait for it to open and then to spend time on the tour.

So, off to another ancestral village, this one rather close to Karlsruhe. The village is Grünwettersbach. Two-great grandmother Christina Ullmer was born in Gruenwettersbach in 1841. Her mother Elizabeth Bonning was born there in 1809. All we have of Elizabeth's parents is their names. We don't have a big connection to the town (based on what we know now) and didn't find the cemetery. So we didn't stay long.

Only 25 minutes later (driving through rain) we were in Göbrichen. Thanks to another city-family book we know a lot more about this branch of the family. Elizabeth Bonning's husband was Michael Ullmer. He was born in Göbrichen in 1811. He married Elizabeth there in 1839. They came to America with two children in 1847.

Michael's father was Michael Sr. He was born in nearby Dietlingen. We only know the names of his parents. Michael Sr.'s wife was Margaretha Elsäßer. We know five more generations before her.

Both of today's villages were somewhat hilly, though far less than Waldprechtsweier.

We didn't find the cemetery, so after lunch (when the rain had settled in) we were on our way again.

Less than 20 minutes later we were in Maulbronn, known for its Kloster, what we call a monastery. It was founded around 1150 and is the best preserved monastery north of the Alps. It was in use until the Protestant Reformation when the local ruler forced the monks to leave. Soon after a Protestant congregation took over the building. It is still being used in that way. Here is a view of the cloister.

The only way to get an English tour of the main building was with personal audio guides. It told us about the buildings and the monks, with such details as explaining only one room in the place was heated. We all felt it was a worthwhile visit. Supper was in one of the other buildings of the Kloster, now turned into a restaurant. Another building is now the town hall.