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Originalbeitrag in Englisch
Hirsch Family Photo
O
ur family tree dates back to Christopher Hirsch who migrated from Oppenheim, Germany to Billed, Romania in 1766. The family line consists of last names of Hirsch, Herbstler, Zimmer and Muller. The Billed area was settled by Germans who traveled along the Danube River and were called Danube Swabians. We have a great photo taken in 1924 which includes (center seated) Mathias Hirsch 1864-1944 married to Barbara (Herbstler) Hirsch 1862 to 1928. Then daughters (left) Barbara Hirsch (Noll) 1898 - 1973 with Jacob Noll 1898 - 1960 and (right) Elisabeth Hirsch (Maurer) 1893 to 1982 with Peter Maurer 1893 - 1948. Then young Peter Mauer 1914 to 2003, Mathias Noll 1921 1944, and Barbara Maurer 1919 - 2019. My grandmother Barbara Noll was actually pregnant with my mother Margaretha Geisz (Noll) at the time of this photo. They lived in House #9 on the south east part of town by the river. Elisabeth & Peter Maurer migrated first to Canada and soon after to the United States in 1925. After living in a few cities settled in Detroit, Michigan. The Lord has blessed them with 9 children who had 21 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren in just few generations.
Nikolaus Geisz (Rochester Hills, Michigan)
Barbara & Jacob Noll lost their son Mathias, in WWII, but with daughter Margaretha migrated to Ried, Austria in 1944 to escape from the Russians and communist takeover. My father Johann M Geisz and Margaretha grew up just blocks away. After WWII they got married and started a family. Fortunately, they were sponsored by Peter Maurer, the young boy in the photo, and then they were allowed to migrate to the United States. In April 1951 Barbara and Jacob sailed across the Atlantic on a ‘Liberty Ship’. Then in Sept 1951 Margaretha, Johann M and sons Johann P and Nikolaus crossed the Atlantic in ten days to meet up with family members in Detroit, Michigan. Johann was a tailor by trade and Margaretha a seamstress and they were able to provide for their families and fulfill their dreams. Their active Christian upbringings provided faith-filled lives and were very fortunate to have strong family ties. Margaretha turned 95 in November 2019 and has eight great grandchildren. She speaks highly of her childhood in Billed and wishes everyone could visit. Actually, it might still look and feel very close to what she remembers.
