SS Lahn Passenger List (28 August 1894): Migration from Central Europe to America

📌 Explore the 1894 SS Lahn steerage passenger list from Bremen to New York. Discover names, ethnic origins, and historical insights into late 19th-century migration. Ideal for historians, genealogists, and educators.

Front Cover, Steerage Passenger List for the SS Lahn of the North German Lloyd, Departing Tuesday, 28 August 1894 from Bremen to New York, Commanded by Captain H. Hellmers. GGA Image ID # 129a3f945c

🛳️ Review & Summary of the SS Lahn Passenger List – 28 August 1894

📜 "Migration in Motion: Lives Aboard the SS Lahn from Bremen to New York"

🚢 About the Ship: SS Lahn (1887–1904)

The SS Lahn, launched in 1887, was a North German Lloyd (Norddeutscher Lloyd) express steamer. Designed for transatlantic service during a peak decade of European emigration, she regularly transported passengers from Bremen to New York, with a stop at Southampton.

• Launched: 1887 by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Glasgow
• Operator: Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen
• Route: Bremen → Southampton → New York
• Voyage Date: Tuesday, 28 August 1894
• Captain on this Voyage: H. Hellmers
• Passenger Class: Steerage
• Notable Feature: Known for speed and reliability; served thousands of emigrants bound for America

The Lahn carried hundreds in steerage, many escaping political instability, poverty, and religious discrimination across Central and Eastern Europe. This voyage was no exception.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Captain: H. Hellmers
2. First Officer: E. Raetz
3. Second Officer: C. Schmidt
4. Third Officer: H. Textor
5. Fourth Officer: J. v. During
6. Physician: Dr. P. Fischer
7. First Engineer: F. Spormann
8. Second Engineer: H. Dittelbach
9. Third Engineer: Ph. Stührmann
10. Third Engineer: E. Göbeler
11. Fourth Engineer: A. Kauffmann
12. Fourth Engineer: C. Kapitzky
13. Fourth Engineer: G. Wetzlau
14. Purser: C. H. Schnell
15. Assistant Purser: A. Steffens
16. First Chief Steward: E. Lange
17. Second Chief Steward: J. Wippert
18. Third Chief Steward: R. Schönherr
19. Chief Cook: B. Heller
20. Second Cook: E. Kilan
21. Second Cook: C. Rohloff
22. Second Cook: F. Schüttger

▓▓▓ "A" ▓▓▓

1. Anna Ahrens
2. Katha. Ahrens
3. Heinr. Apke
4. G. L. E. Arnold
5. A. Avinger

▓▓▓ "B" ▓▓▓

6. Anna Bargestedt and Children
7. Wilh. Bascbnagel with Family
8. Josephine Baumann
9. Mako Bekelja
10. Karoline Betz
11. Peter Biertempfel
12. Maria Binger
13. Robt. Blumberg and Wife
14. Lina Bock
15. Anton Bönisch
16. Georg Borchert
17. Gertrud Bronner
18. Meta Bruening and Child
19. Susanna Buss

▓▓▓ "C" ▓▓▓

20. Anna Calmbacher
21. Joh. Georg Calmbacher
22. Mrs. Wwe. Ciskel
23. Ersebet Csontos
24. Pal Czibak

▓▓▓ "D" ▓▓▓

25. Wilhelm Debus
26. Beta Denker
27. Johann Denker
28. Amanda Dirndl
29. Johann Döscher
30. Wilh. Döscher
31. Juro Dragos
32. Annie Drewes
33. Christian Driemeier and Wife
34. Anna Dzublnska and Child

▓▓▓ "E" ▓▓▓

35. Heinricb Eckhard
36. Valentin Eckhard
37. Adelheid Ehlers
38. Lina Ehlers
39. Diedr. Eiskamp
40. Pauline Ey and Child

▓▓▓ "F" ▓▓▓

41. Bertha Feldmann
42. Josef Ferencz
43. Siener Fisher
44. August Fix
45. Marie Flierl
46. Marie Förster
47. Johann Frieberthausen
48. Stanko Furjanic

▓▓▓ "G" ▓▓▓

49. Mihaly Geczy
50. Elis. Gensheimer
51. Elisabeth Georgens
52. Georg Germann and Wife
53. George Gierer
54. George Gierer
55. Johann Gierer
56. Janny Glen and Children
57. Markus Golobic
58. Henriette Gravenhorst and Child
59. Katalin Grosik and Children
60. Franjo Grsic
61. Arafat Gurnik
62. Mina Gutgesell

▓▓▓ "H" ▓▓▓

63. Elisabeth Haag
64. Ludwig Haag and Wife
65. Sophie Hannroth
66. Moische Hanselowitz
67. Eduard Harms
68. Regina Hartmann
69. Ida Hecker
70. Franz Heinlein and Wife
71. Kathinka Heinz
72. Joha. Heinze and Child
73. Heinrich Helmling
74. Gregor Hentschel with Family
75. Klauwr. Hettling
76. Kathrina Hickel
77. Metha Hilgerloh
78. Marie Hohmann
79. Catharina Hoist
80. August Homann
81. Fred Homann
82. Miko Hren

▓▓▓ "I" ▓▓▓

83. Wilhelm Ilchmann with Family
84. Dora Israel
85. Hetty Israel

▓▓▓ "J" ▓▓▓

86. Ella Jenworth
87. Franz Jesenik
88. Laura Jessen
89. Adolf Junghain
90. Philippina Jungk

▓▓▓ "K" ▓▓▓

91. Carl Kallenberg
92. Balthasar Kamreck
93. Frant. Karasek with Family
94. Pauline Kellermann
95. Flora Kempster
96. Flora Elizabeth Kempster
97. Harry Kempster
98. Elisabeth Kiefer
99. John Kiefer and Wife
100. Margaretha Kiesel
101. Sophie Kleppin
102. Hermine Klinge
103. Josef Knaszak
104. Bertha Köhler
105. Meta Koppelmann
106. Julia Kosztyo
107. Karoly Kovacs and Wife
108. Anna Krauss
109. Christina Kubn
110. Hermann Kühn
111. Ernst Kuthe

▓▓▓ "L" ▓▓▓

112. Petar Ladesic
113. Marie Leinfelder
114. Frida Lessig
115. Valentine Lukas

▓▓▓ "M" ▓▓▓

116. Yela Macan and Child
117. Andr. Magnusen
118. Otto Masbaum
119. F. W. May
120. Anna Mayerhofer and Child
121. Karoline Maul
122. Franza. Maurer
123. Karoline Mel
124. Maria Meyer
125. Ivan Mikan
126. Josip Mikan
127. Maria Mrazsik
128. Clara Mueller
129. Marie Muller

▓▓▓ "N" ▓▓▓

130. Ad. Carl Neuschäfer
131. Julie Neuwohner
132. Sandor Neuwohner
133. Elise Nicolai
134. Friedr Nicolai
135. Natalie Nicolai

▓▓▓ "O" ▓▓▓

136. Louise Oberschlacke
137. Terez Obruba
138. Frieda Ohland and Children

▓▓▓ "P" ▓▓▓

139. Ezzsebet Panti
140. Zsofia Panti
141. Johann Pape
142. Marie Piwowa
143. Alwine Poot
144. Blasius Pootbeschak
145. Margaretha Popp

▓▓▓ "R" ▓▓▓

146. Michael Reither
147. Ernst Remacly and Wife
148. Katbe Remacly
149. Gerhard Rempel
150. Samuel Shert Rickeard
151. Marie Rief
152. Georg Rippe
153. Wilhelmine Risker
154. Teodor Rogosz
155. Gretchen Röhrs and Child
156. Carl Rose
157. Thekla Rudolf
158. Frank Rutz
159. Kath. Rutz
160. John Ryon

▓▓▓ "S" ▓▓▓

161. Jvan Sajko
162. Barbara Schaborn
163. Dorothea Schaborn
164. Emma Schaefer
165. Dorothea Schafer
166. Dora Schmelke
167. Rud. Schmelke
168. Hermann K. Schmidt
169. Minna Schmidt
170. Katha. Schnackenberg
171. Bartholmae Schreck and Wife
172. Carl Schreiber and Wife
173. Wilb. Schröder
174. F. Schultze
175. Heinrich Schultze
176. Emil Schulz with Family
177. Julius Schulz
178. Leopold Schwarz
179. Siegmund Sommer
180. Vanyo Starinszky
181. Herm. Steiner
182. Hinrich Stelling
183. Carl Stermer and Wife
184. Martin Stipek
185. Helene Stoeffler
186. Minnie Stoll
187. Kalmann Strugatsch

▓▓▓ "T" ▓▓▓

188. Bertha Teltsch
189. Heinrich Tewes
190. Maria Tomko and Child
191. Gyorgy Torkos

▓▓▓ "U" ▓▓▓

192. Sylvester Urbahn

▓▓▓ "V" ▓▓▓

193. Bernh. Varnhern
194. Wilhelmine Varnhern
195. Eduard Vignola
196. Louise Voelkle
197. Miko Vrbasa

▓▓▓ "W" ▓▓▓

198. Anna Weber
199. Marie Wetenkamp
200. Nathe R. White
201. Marie Wiedthoop
202. Virgil Willaner with Family
203. Anna Winkelmann
204. Heinr. Winkelmann and Wife
205. Marie Wirsing
206. Helfr. Wissemann
207. Mathilde Witchen
208. Anna Wittchen
209. Anna Maria Wolf
210. Adam Wolfram

▓▓▓ "Z" ▓▓▓

211. Mitro Zanovják
212. Maria Zosesak

Zwischendecks Passagiere / Steerage Passengers, Page 1 of 2. SS Lahn Steerage Passenger List, 28 August 1894. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 22765fc522

Zwischendecks Passagiere / Steerage Passengers, Page 2 of 2. SS Lahn Steerage Passenger List, 28 August 1894. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 2276996615

Officiere des Post-Schnelldampfers "Lahn," Listing of Officers, SS Lahn Steerage Passenger List, 28 August 1894. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 2276b9280a

General-Agenten des Norddeutschen Lloyd

• in New York : Oelrichs & Co., No. 2 Bowling Green
• in Chicago, Ill.: H. Claussenius & Co., 80/82 Fifth Ave
• in San Francisco, Cal.: Robert Capelle
• in Galveston, Tex.: B. H. Peters

Form Number S. 2766 (27./8.94. 1030)

👥 Passenger List Highlights: Cultural Mosaic in Steerage

The 28 August 1894 voyage offers a unique glimpse into the demographics of the late 19th-century emigrant. Most hailed from Germany, Hungary, Austria-Hungary, Bohemia, and Russia. Many families traveled together; others, like young women or widows, journeyed alone—a bold and often perilous choice at the time.

✨ Notable and Engaging Individuals:

Moische Hanselowitz

✡️ A likely Jewish emigrant from Eastern Europe—his presence underscores the continued flight from anti-Semitic violence and pogroms in Tsarist Russia.

Meta Koppelmann

💼 A rare listing of a woman traveling independently. Her surname appears in early Jewish-American directories—worthy of follow-up by genealogists.

Samuel Shert Rickeard

🇺🇸 Possibly a returning U.S. resident or businessman. His Anglo name stands out among the Slavic and German names on board.

Harry Kempster, Flora Kempster, Flora Elizabeth Kempster

🧳 A full English-speaking family group traveling in steerage—uncommon, suggesting economic hardship or missionary/colonial movement.

Dora Israel & Hetty Israel

✡️ Jewish women listed together; their voyage may have been tied to family reunification or pre-marriage relocation, both common motives for women in steerage.

Clara Mueller & Marie Muller

👭 A common German surname; possibly sisters or mother-daughter pair. Notable for the prevalence of solo or paired female travelers.

Janny Glen and Children

🧒 One of several single mothers onboard, highlighting the challenges faced by women emigrants of the era.

📸 Noteworthy Images Based on Captions

These images enrich the historical value of the list, allowing visual anchoring for research and teaching:

🖼️ Steerage Passenger List Cover | 🆔 GGA Image ID #129a3f945c

📜 A stark and functional document design reflecting 19th-century bureaucracy.

📄 Zwischendecks Passagiere (Pages 1 & 2) | 🆔 GGA Image IDs: #22765fc522, #2276996615

🧾 Offers a comprehensive and alphabetized listing of over 200+ names, highlighting origin and diversity.

📋 Officers of the SS Lahn (Post-Schnelldampfer) | 🆔 GGA Image ID #2276b9280a

🚢 These names humanize the ship’s command and engineering crew, often overlooked in migration history.

🎓 Educational Relevance of the Voyage

👩‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

Ideal for units on Ellis Island, the Gilded Age, or late 19th-century immigration.

Encourages critical thinking about gender, ethnicity, and family structure in migration history.

🧬 For Genealogists:

Offers complete names, including maiden names, with family groups listed together.

Origin regions span Prussia, Württemberg, Hungary, Bohemia, and Galicia, allowing researchers to trace diaspora roots.

📚 For Historians:

Reflects migration patterns from rural Central Europe to urban America, contributing to studies of industrial-era demographic change.

The presence of Slavic, Jewish, and Scandinavian names in one manifest demonstrates the multi-ethnic makeup of late Austro-Hungarian and Russian emigrants.

🏁 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The SS Lahn’s voyage on 28 August 1894 captures more than a transport of passengers—it is a portrait of transformation. Each name represents a life uprooted and transplanted, shaping the future of cities like New York, Chicago, and Cleveland.

This passenger list is not simply a registry—it is a micro-history of migration, filled with mothers, artisans, farmers, and hopeful youth. From Jewish families escaping pogroms to German tradesmen seeking economic opportunity, the manifest reflects the human drama of immigration.

🧭 For educators, it's a case study in global movement.

🔍 For genealogists, it's a goldmine of personal origins.

🕯️ For historians, it's a moment frozen in transatlantic time.

✍️ Students! Consider using this document in essays about German-American heritage, Jewish migration, or women in steerage.

📚 Teachers! Use it to humanize the numbers behind immigration statistics.

⚓ Everyone else: Find your roots or someone else’s. It’s all aboard the Lahn.