Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Frank Family - Germany to Australia

Family research by Ruth McLeod and Margaret Hamilton, (with help from Carolyn Keane, Janet Cheal and Shirley Vassella) have come up with the following information – so much is still missing, however the search goes on. Extracts from Ted Deckert’s book gives some of the following information.

The Frank family had lived in the same house at Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany (which was near Stuttgart) for 200 years – it had two storeys and heavy timbered beams.



Johann George FRANK was born in 1695 in Weissbuch Neckarkreis Württemberg Germany, died on 16 June 1754 in Hegenau Jagstkreis Württember, Germany at age 59, and was buried in June 1754 in Hegenau Jagstkreis Württember, Germany.

Johann George married Rosine SCHOLLHAMMER daughter of JACOB SCHOLLHAMMER (1669-1757) and URSULA SCHROTER (1669-1736). Rosine was born in 1714, died in 1794 at age 80, and was buried in 1794. They had one son: Christian.

Christian FRANK was born in 1752 in Germany, died in Germany, and was buried in Germany.

Christian married Anna Christina BOEHNER daughter of Mathais Boehner and Sybilla SCHWIND. Anna Christina was born in 1759, christened 31 October 1759 at Merheim (Kr. Mülheim) Rheinland Preußen Germany and died in 1807 at age 48, and was buried in 1807. They had three children: Johann Georg, Elisabetha Magdalena and Friderich.

Johann Georg FRANK was born in 1781 in Germany, died in 1863 in Germany at age 82, and was buried in 1863 in Germany.

Johann Georg married Maria Katharina RUBE. Maria Katharina was born in 1784 in Germany, died in 1845 in Germany at age 61, and was buried in 1845 in Germany. They had four children: Jakob, Gottlob, Juliana Friederika and Christian.

Jakob Frank(7 November 1816 - 15 October 1873 ) born Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany

Jakob Frank’s 14 children had been born in that house – where the inheritance had passed down in the German pattern through the eldest living sons from Jacob who established the estate very soon after the settlement of the Reformation wars in the 17th century.

Oberurbach was near Stuttgart. The family had status in the district, and the brother Gottlieb was Burgomeister of Ebisbach. Jakob, Caroline’s father stood about 6 feet tall, was well built ‘very Christian and very strict. “The Burgomeister also”, Theo Frank wrote in a letter to Frieda, Ted Deckert’s stepsister, “was a big strong man with a righteous character”. In 1927 the members of the family were still occupying the family estate and well respected in this locality – one of the richest valleys in Wurtemburg.

The German word Burgermeister often spelled in English as Burgomaster or Burgomeister means master of the citizens.
A Burgermeister is chairman of the executive council (or cabinet) in many towns and cities in Germany. The title is usually translated into English as Mayor.


Jakob married Regine BANTEL pre 1841 in Germany. Regine was born on 17 March 1820, died on 30 June 1848 in Germany at age 28, and was buried in July 1848 in Germany. They had four children - Jakob, Johannes "Johan" (John) Friedrich, Jacob W and Regina.


1. Jakob FRANK was born on 3 July 1840 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, , died on 31 December 1840 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, , and was buried in January 1841 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, aged under 1 year.

2. Pastor Johannes "Johan" (John) Friedrich FRANK, son of Jakob FRANK and Regine BANTEL, was born on 4 January 1842 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 16 February 1927 in Skew Street Sherwood Brisbane Queensland Australia at age 85, and was buried on 17 February 1927 in Walloon Cemetery Queensland Australia. Another name for Johan was Johan FRANK. He was usually called Johan.

Johan married Hulda Amelia Rosina Mathilde VON KERN, daughter of Major Hieronymus Carl VON KERN and Lady Mathilda VAN ADLERSFELD, on 26 October 1870 in Wilson's Church Mumbai India. Hulda was born on 17 May 1838 in Leippe Brieg Selesia, died on 12 July 1905 in Ipswich Queensland Australia at age 67, and was buried in July 1905 in Haigslea Lawn Cemetery Ipswich Queensland Australia. They had four children: Heronymus Theoph, Beatus, Johannes Frederich Theodore "Theo" and Johannah Hulda "Matilda".

2a. Heronymus Theoph Frank (January 1872 Raepore, Central Province of India - 6 June 1873 Bull Street Castlemaine Victoria Australia).

Record of Revd John Frank, wife and infant child arriving May 1872 on the SS Nubia from a foreign port (India?)

2b Beatus Frank(23 March1874-24 March 1874 Parker Street Castlemain Loddon Victoria Australia

2c. Johannes Frederich Theodore "Theo" Frank (18 March 1875 Loddon Victoria Australia - 21 October 1934 Melbourne Victoria Australia) at age 59, and was buried on 23 October 1934 in Melbourne Victoria Australia. The cause of his death was Chronic Nephritis - Uraemia. Another name for Johannes Frederich Theodore "Theo" was Theodore Johann Friedrich Frank.


2d. Johannah Hulda "Matilda" Frank(18 January 1877 Castlemaine Victoria Australia - 17 November 1961 Ipswich Queensland Australia.







Johannah Hulda "Matilda" Frank







Johannes “John” Frank studied at the Basel Mission in Switzerland from 1863 to 1869 when he went to Boblingen in Wurttemberg for his ordination.

Mission work was the reason why Johannes was in America. The story is told in the Frank family that Hulda first saw him when he was preaching in a church in Boston. Another report says that it was a “brief acquaintance” through a friend in New York. Whatever the case, they did not meet in Europe. Something “clicked” in America, whether it was “love at first sight” or a common passion for mission work among the heathen, or combination of all of these.

Why was Pastor Frank in America? He had trained at the Basal Mission Institute and on completion of his studies had received an appointment to the Gold Coast West Africa with the Bremer Mission. Due to war in West Africa this appointment was cancelled. Two Americans from a Mission Society based in New York had asked Basal to send missionaries for India. Pastor Frank was in the USA to prepare for his new appointment in India.

Next meeting of Hulda and Pastor Frank, after their brief acquaintance in the USA was in India for their marriage. He arrived in Bombay in 1869 and was at first stationed at Raipur with a Missionary Lohr, a former Gossner missionary now in the services of the Missionary Society based in the USA.

Hulda, it is assumed, followed him there for their intended marriage, though it is not possible that she had been enlisted at the same time for mission work. It was, in a way, a marriage of two missionaries.

Due to health reasons he left there in 1871 and came to Australia. He started in Castlemaine Victoria from 1872 to 1878 then the Wimmera Parish of Dimboola-Natimuk from 1878 to 1882. In 1888 he accepted a call to Queensland. (Kirchheim-Marburg-Minden Parish. He remained in Queensland until his death. During the first world war he filled in for other Pastors who had been interned. He and his wife Hulda are buried at Haigslea Lawn Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Haigslea








































Pastor Johannes Friedrich Frank was pastor at Kirchheim between 1888 and 1913. Kirchheim is of course now Haigslea. St. Paul's church, Kirchheim was one of the foundation members of the United German and Scandinavian Lutheran Synod (UGSLS) but seceded in 1886 to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Queensland (ELSQ) but rejoined the UGSLS in 1915.



Johannes married for the second time on 3 December 1908 Queensland Australia to Henriette BOGISCH (nee GUYMULLER) (5th Feb 1850 St Marie Alsace France - 16 April 1944 Queensland Australia) They had no children.

FRANK.—The Funeral of the late Mrs. Henriette Frank, relict of the late Pastor J. Frank, Skew St., Sherwood, will leave the Lutheran Church, Hawthorne St., South Brisbane, for the Crematorium, Mount Thompson, after service commencing at 2.45 o'clock This (Tuesday 18 April 1944) Afternoon. By request no flowers.
CANNON & CRIPPS. LTD., Funeral Directors



Henriette was first married to Rev Hermann "Paul" Bogisch (his second marriage)

Herman Paul Bogisch was born in Sagan Schlesian in Germany on 22nd Jan 1845.
At first he followed in the foot steps of his father Friedrich who was a master weaver.
It was not long before he left the trade to study theology, and was ordained deacon at Herrnhut 3rd June 1877.
He married Sr Amalie Jindra at Neusalz Prussia (on the Oder, another Moravian settlement founded 1744).
The missionary zeal was not just confined to him. Rev Paul had two brothers -
Adolf the eldest had two children, Bertha a deaconess who remained in Germany, and Rev Theodor who like his uncle migrated from Germany, but instead to Texas USA.
Paul's second eldest brother Julius remained in Germany; he married and moved to Forst where he established a family textile industry. War split Germany and decimated the industry, but contact with the Australian descendants has been maintained through this lineage.






On May 10 1944 the ashes of the late Mrs Henriette Frank were interned in the Frank’s family grave at Wallon cemetery Queensland following a funeral service held at South Brisbane Church on a previous day.

The late Mrs Frank was the only daughter of Dr & Mrs Adolph Geymuller and was born in Colmac Alsace in 1850. She was baptised, educated and confirmed at the Moravian Church Institutions of Herrnhul and Koenigsfeld, went to America in the early twenties and came to Australia in the 1880’s becoming language mistress at a leading private school in Melbourne.







2. Jacob W Frank – (17 August 1844-24 September 1874) born Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany died Castlemaine Victoria Australia.
He married Christine Catharina "Cath" Benzenhoefer daughter of Johann Michael Benzenhoefer and Christine Rosine Frank (born 17 November 1848 Germany – died 16 June 1906 Castlemaine Victoria Australia buried June 1906 Harcourt Cemetery Victoria Australia) on 23 January 1872 Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany
They had two children –
Edward Frederick Frank (15 February 1873-5 October 1918)- married Sophia Middleton 1909 Castlemaine Victoria Australia. Sophia was born (? - died 1951)
Marie Katherine Frank (26 July 1874 - ?)

District: Schorndorf Name: Frank, Jakob W Birth Date: 17 Aug 1844 Birth Place: Oberurbach Application Date: Aug 1872 Destination: Australia Number: 801468


Jacob was a consumptive, a victim of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), who sought to farm in a more pleasant climate. He survived only 2 years.

Jacob’s widow married Matthias Ingerart Nielson (son of Matthias Nielsen and Anna Johanna Petersen)(Born 1847 Denmark - died 29 September 1889 Castlemaine Victoria Australia buried 1st October 1889 Harcourt Cemetery Victoria Australia) in 22 February 1877 at Lutheran Parsonage Castlemaine Victoria Australia and had 5 children -
Mathais Petersen Nielsen (1879-1948),
Anna Johanna Nielsen (1881-1969),
Christine Caroline Nielsen (1883-1925)
Elizabeth Jane Nielsen (1886 -1976), &
John Michael "Jack" Nielsen(1890-1910).

Photo of Katherine Nielsen



Matthias occupation was Wood Carter

Headstones at Harcourt Cemetery - Harcourt is a small Central Highlands town located approximately 9 km northeast of Castlemaine Victoria Australia



4. Regina FRANK was born on 24 January 1848 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, , died on 15 May 1888 in Germany at age 40, and was buried in May 1888 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. Regina was 5 months old when her mother died.

Regina married Friedrich EHMANN in 1873 in Germany. They had three children: Regine Katharine, Karoline Marie and Georg Friedrich.

Regine Katharine EHMANN was born on 23 August 1874 in Asperglen Germany.

Karoline Marie EHMANN was born on 6 November 1875 in Asperglen Germany.

Georg Friedrich EHMANN was born on 29 March 1877 in Asperglen Germany.


At the time of Regine's death her children were aged: -
Jakob - deceased
Johannes - 6 years
Jacob - 4 years
Regine - 5 months.


Jakob next married Karolina "Caroline" RAPP, daughter of Johann Georg Rapp and Katharina Fezer, on 14 January 1849 in Evangelisch Haubersbron Jagstkreis Wuerttemberg Germany. Karolina "Caroline" was born on 7 March 1826 in Haubersbronn Jagstkreis Wuerttenberg Germany, died on 13 March 1890 in Germany at age 64, and was buried March 1896 in Germany.

When Jakob married Karolina his children were aged -

Jakob - deceased
Johannes - 7 years
Jacob 5 years
Regine - 1 year

Jakob and Karolina had ten children: Johann Georg, Johann Georg, Christian, Johann Gottleb, Caroline, Maria Katharina, Rosine, Wilhelm, Rosina and Friederike.


1. Johann Georg FRANK was born on 23 May 1850 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 31 December 1850 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, at age 7 months, and was buried in January 1851 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. He never married and had no children.

2. Johann Georg FRANK was born on 3 September 1851 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 20 June 1918 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, at age 66, and was buried in June 1918 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, .

Johann Georg married Barbara OESTERLE. Barbara was born on 20 December 1848 in Germany, died on 19 December 1900 in Germany, at age 51 and was buried in Germany. They had six children: Johannes, Gottlieb, Friedericke, Wilhelmine, Caroline and Christian Johann Georg maintained family estate.

2.1 Johannes FRANK was born on 2 March 1880 in Germany, died on 18 March 1880 in Germany, and was buried in March 1880 in Germany. He had no relationships and no children.

2.2. Gottleib FRANK was born on 19 February 1881 in Germany, died on 21 October 1917 in France - WW1 at age 36, and was buried in October 1917 in France - WW1.

Gottleib married Friederike HURLEBAUS in Germany. Friederike was born on 14 May 1888 in Germany, died on 9 April 1950 in Germany at age 61, and was buried in April 1950 in Germany. They had four children: Anna, Hermann, Richard and Clara.


2.3 Friedericke FRANK was born on 13 October 1882 in Germany, died on 11 February 1963 in Germany at age 80, and was buried in February 1963 in Germany.

Friedericke married Wilhelm RIENTH on 6 April 1906 in Germany. Wilhelm was born on 4 August 1877 in Fellbach Neckarkreis Württemberg Germany, died on 18 June 1956 in Germany at age 78, and was buried in June 956 in Germany. They had seven children: Albert, Hermann, Friedrich, Paul, Otto, Lydia and Erwin.

2.4. Wilhelmine FRANK was born on 20 September 1884 in Germany, died on 13 January 1963 in Germany at age 78, and was buried in January 1963 in Germany.

Wilhelmine married Frank RIENTH about 1908. Frank was born in Germany, died in Germany, and was buried in Germany.

Wilhelmine next married David ZEHENDER in 1915. David was born on 23 October 1864 in Unterurbach Germany, died on 9 March 1923 in Germany at age 58, and was buried in March 1923 in Germany. They had two children: Emilie and Eugen.


2.5. Caroline FRANK was born on 20 August 1893 in Germany, died in 1900 in Germany at age 7, and was buried in 1900 in Germany. She had no relationships and no children.

2.6 Christian FRANK was born on 21 October 1898 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died in 1974 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany at age 76, and was buried in 1974 in Germany.

Christian married Pauline Rosine HURLEBAUS on 17 October 1918 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. Pauline was born on 10 April 1888 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 6 June 1964 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany at age 76, and was buried in June 1964 in Germany. They had five children: Marta, Helene "Hermonie," Adolf, Theodor and Helene.



4. Johann Gottleb FRANK was born on 18 February 1856 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 29 June 1913 in Germany at age 57, and was buried in June 1913 in Germany. Gottleb remained in Germany - Burgomeister (Mayor)of Elisbach. widow and son in Ebershock

Gottleb married Berta KAUFFMAN. Berta was born in Germany, died in Germany, and was buried in Germany. They had one son: (No Given Name).

? FRANK was born and died in Germany.


OUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER

5. Caroline Frank (Karoline von Frank) was born 28 May 1858 Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany died 30 April 1919 Lorquon Victoria Australia and buried 1 May 1919 Lorquon Cemetery Victoria Australia.

She came from high class parents, the elite of Germany, from the city of Stuggart. As well as being proficient in English she spoke excellent high German.

District: Schorndorf Name: Frank, Caroline
Birth Date: 28 May 1858 Birth Place: Oberurbach
Application Date: Aug 1872 Destination: Australia Number: 801468















On the passenger lists for the ship Vernon arriving in Victoria 28 December 1872 there are three Francks: Caroline age 24 (should be 14) and Jacob age 30 (should be 28) and his wife Christine Catharina "Cath" age 28 (should be 24). However, the Fiche reference for all three is the same 315. Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists for British, Foreign and New Zealand Ports 1852-1923

Caroline came out to Australia with her married brother Jacob and wife Christine in December 1872 when she was 15 years of age. Jacob was a consumptive, a victim of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), who sought to farm in a more pleasant climate. He survived only 2 years.

The Moravians had Ebenezer which is about 5 kilometres from Antwerp
The 2 missions no doubt had a close relationship - as shown if nothing else by the fact that Johannes married the Rev Bogisch's widow


Several of the family migrated to Australia. Others remained at home and maintained the estate which apparently had a varied history of farming, shepherding and vine-dressing.


The wedding of Caroline (29 years) to Carl Herman August Deckert (Widower - 38 years of age and with 4 children aged 13 to 6 yrs ) took place on Sept 1, 1987 Dimboola District Of Netherby Victoria Australia

Carl Herman August DECKERT, son of Johann Carl Hermann "August" DECKERT and Johanna "Christiane" GRAETZ, was born on 12 May 1849 in Wanztzen Schlesien Preussen Germany, died on 6 June 1921 in Lorquon Victoria Australia at age 72, and was buried in June 1921 in Lorquon Cemetery Victoria Australia.




Carl Herman August Deckert
first married Maria Mathilde EILSEN, daughter of Johann Samuel EILSEN and Anna Dorothea KOWALD, on 12 February 1874 in Friedrichswalde (Tarnma) South Australia. Maria Mathilde was born on 12 November 1852 in Lobethal South Australia, died on 6 April 1885 in Robertstown South Australia at age 32, and was buried in April 1885 in South Australia. The cause of her death was Died 2 weeks after giving birth to twins Louisa and Heinrich. They had six children: Carl "Herman," Paul "August," Emma Emili Mathilde, Gustav Theodor "Ted," Louise Clara and Heinrich Wilhelm "Will". "Will" was adopted by Woithe family following his mother's death.





Gustav Theodor "Ted" Deckert and Johanna Selma "Martha" Reichelt

Heinrich Wilhelm "Will" Woithe


Family of Paul "August" Deckert and Anna Johanna Caroline Reichelt



Carl Herman August next married Caroline FRANK, daughter of Jakob FRANK and Karolina "Caroline" RAPP, on 1 September 1887 in Dimboola District Of Netherby Victoria Australia. Caroline was born on 28 May 1858 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 30 April 1919 in Lorquon Victoria Australia at age 60, and was buried on 1 May 1919 in Lorquon Cemetery Victoria Australia. The cause of her death was Carcinoma of the Womb, Toxiemia. They had three children: Augusta "Frieda," Christina "Lena" and Pauline Hedwig "Heddie/Hettie".


Reference Letter 3/7/1927 from Pastor Theo Frank Lutheran Church East Melbourne to Frieda Reichelt (nee Deckert) "Kulgoa" near Biddon Gilgandra NSW.

When father and mother (Johannes "Johan" (John) Friedrich Frank and Hulda Von Kern) had to leave India in 1872 they proceeded from Bombay straightway to Melbourne Australia. Father took charge of Castlemaine Parish Victoria.

Most of the people at that time were gold diggers and workers.

Father’s brother Jacob who had been in the 1870-71 German-French war had contracted consumption. Grandfather Jakob thought a milder and warmer climate may do him good and save his life. He was married to Christine Catharina "Cath" Benzenhoefer. Jacob and his wife (also from Oberurbach) and Caroline (your dear mother) came to Australia in 1872.

Father met them in Melbourne and took them to Castlemaine. Caroline stayed with my parents - father had purchased a small farm for Jacob about 4 or 5 miles outside Castlemaine called Chinaman’s Creek. Within two years (1874) Jacob died of sickness developed too far to be cured. They had two children Mary and Edward - both have passed away.

The widow of Jacob Frank married a workman by the name of Matthes Nielson (a Dane). They worked the farm but went bankrupt. My parents lost about £600.

Your mother Caroline then came with us 1879 or 1880 to Dimboola and in 1887 she married Carl Herman August Deckert.

She was a soul of a girl, as much as I can remember. About Christmas time 1887 father and I rode to Lorquon on horseback via Antwerp and Jeparit. I saw Lorquon and your grandfather’s place, had a long chat with Herman, August and Theodore who were very young at that time.

I was 12 when we left for Queensland. I came to Lorquon in September 1905. Our father only once went back to Germany - that was 1899.

Mother never went back to Germany again. In Father's house in Oberurbach (not too far from Stuttgart) lives the second son of his brother Hans George – Christian - generally called Hansjork.

In father’s family were eight, father being the oldest. His father was twice married; father being of the first wife (Regine Bantel) but your mother was of the second wife (Karoline Rapp). The grandfather was a tall well-built man about 6 feet high, very Christian and very strict. All the children were brought up in the fear of God and piety.

Father’s youngest brother Gottlob was Burgermeister (mayor) in Ebisbach. I often visited him, a big strong man with a strong righteous character. He married after I left in 1912, soon died. His widow with one boy lives today in Ebershock, near Stuttgart.

When I arrived 1899 in Germany my grandparents had died. All brothers and sisters of fathers (are also) now dead. Father the eldest was the last of Hansjork; the second son Christian Frank now lives in the old home. The eldest killed in the war. Christian Frank also a brother of fathers had a long illness but [now is] good as gold. His daughter Wilkelmine (now Rienth) [is] living near Stuttgart. They are all very nice. If you met them you would love them….. There is still one son Johannes living in Oberurbach, but rather aged now. Oberurbach is a village of 4000, almost a city in Australia, rather nice and one of the richest valleys in Wurthemberg. I correspond with Frank and Wilkelimine Rienth. Likewise with my mother’s relations







approx ages Frieda 48, Lena 46 and Hedwig 43 yrs



























25th Wedding Anniversary of Caroline August Deckert September 1912

Horsham Times 12 September 1912 -
A large gathering of friends assembled at the residence of Mr. P. A. Deckert, Lorquon, to celebrate the silver wedding of his father and mother (Mr. and Mrs. A. Deckert, senr.), the Rev. Mr. Weise conducting the wedding service in his impressive manner. The wedding hymns were heartily sung by the congregation, and were accompanied by Mr. Noack on the organ.












6. Maria Katharina FRANK was born on 25 November 1860 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 7 December 1868 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany at age 8, and was buried in December 1868 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. She never married and had no children.

7. Rosine FRANK was born on 29 July 1863 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 6 August 1863 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, and was buried in August 1863 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. She never married and had no children. (Twin)

8. Wilhelm FRANK was born on 29 July 1863 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 28 August 1863 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, and was buried in August 1863 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. He never married and had no children. (Twin)

9. Rosina FRANK was born on 10 September 1864 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 1 July 1911 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany at age 46, and was buried in July 1911 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany.

Rosina married David ZEHENDER in Germany. David was born in Germany, died in Germany, and was buried in Germany.

10. Friederike FRANK was born on 19 April 1867 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany, died on 28 February 1873 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany at age 5, and was buried in February 1873 in Oberurbach Wurttemburg Germany. He never married and had no children.
























Unidentified Photos








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