Samson Family Genealogy
TRAVELS WITH FRIENDS IN GERMANY
With all the arrangements made, we flew to Germany on May 7, 2004, for a two-week whirlwind visit in his homeland. In Oberschopfheim they stayed with Karl Heinz and Ute Huck who were very gracious hosts. They took us to visit many points of interest from Strasbourg, France, to Lake Konstance, stopping at the Hofbauernhaus, a museum of early life in the area, and the House of 1000 Clocks in Triberg.
We also visited D’Epfig, France, where the Gettinger family, originated; and the Gremminger home place in Fessenbach. Both of these are also in my ancestry. There are no Samsons today in Oberschopfheim, however we visited the house occupied by the Samsons from 1781 to the 1850s. Ottmar Geiger who was happy to show us through it, now owns the home.
Suzie and Ottmar Mueller and Bruno too! in France.
I also got the chance to take a few shots at the shooting club. My ancestors were among 100 residents to leave Oberschopfheim. Other descendants had visited the town before to get information, but we were the first to stay and be Oberschopfheimers for a while. So the town held a “Samson Day.” Janice and I visited the mayor’s office, the same building my ancestor occupied as mayor from 1837-1846.
Above are some gifts I received from the Oberschopfheim Shooting Club 2002.
Mayor Willi Ehret took off at noon and escorted us to the Samson Quarry, the remains of which are still visible. Today the county owns the quarry. Production stopped there about the 1880s, but the quarry was generally successful in the 1830s and 1840s. It produced red sandstone that was used to build the Ortenburg Castle and an Evangelical Church in Offenburg. Both are still standing. The mayor assured the us that if I wanted to return and reopen the quarry, the town would grant us the privilege. While the offer was very kind, we chose to stay in Sainte Genevieve Missouri.
Mayor of Oberschopfheim, Willi Ehret and John Samson at the Samson Quarry.
That evening a big celebration was held at city hall with all the town officials and social representatives present. Mayor Ehret presented us with two stones from the quarry. Janice and I presented the mayor with a 1985 commemorative coin of Ste. Genevieve that had belonged to his late father, Warren Samson. We also gave the town a crocheted wall decoration, handmade by Millie Kraenzle, with the town name, Oberschopfheim, spelled out on it. I still thrill at the melody of the Badner Anthem, which was so beautifully performed by the music group, and residents of Oberschopfheim. With my hand on my heart, I expressed a oneness with this family in Oberschopfheim as I listened respectfully.
Today he listens to it on his computer and truly feels its significance. For him now it really is “My Badnerland.” John and Janice are at the old Samson stone quarry. They hold a red sandstone, presented to them by the current mayor of Oberschopfheim, Wilhelm Ehret. The quarry was owned by John’s fifth great grandfather, Karl Samson, and his son, Karl Samson. Oberschopfheim Mayor Wilhelm Ehret (from left) joins Janice and John as three regional news reporters in Germany snap a shot of them early in the day dedicated to the Samson's of Oberschopfheim.
Willi and John signing the Baden Germany anthem, Das Badner Leid!! Janice too many bottles!!