SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List (18 August 1896): Scholars, Clergy, and the Gilded Age Elite at Sea

📌 Explore the cabin passenger list of the SS Lahn from August 1896, featuring elite transatlantic travelers—from professors and reverends to aristocrats and financiers. A rare insight into the social dynamics of 19th-century ocean travel.

Front Cover, Cabin Passenger List for the SS Lahn of the North German Lloyd, Departing Tuesday, 18 August 1896 from Bremen to New York via Southampton, Commanded by Captain H. Hellmers. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 1f94143e81

🛳️ Review & Summary of the SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List – 18 August 1896

🎩 "A Transatlantic Crossing of Influence: Diplomats, Clergy, Scholars, and the Gilded Elite Aboard the SS Lahn"

🚢 About the SS Lahn

The SS Lahn, one of the celebrated express steamers of the North German Lloyd (Norddeutscher Lloyd), symbolized the elegance and efficiency of late 19th-century transatlantic travel. Built in 1887, the Lahn operated between Bremen, Southampton, and New York, serving high-profile passengers in luxury and speed.

Launch Year: 1887

Operator: Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL)

Route: 🇩🇪 Bremen → 🇬🇧 Southampton → 🗽 New York

Voyage Date: 18 August 1896

Captain: H. Hellmers

Speed: Approx. 17 knots

Notable Feature: Often carried influential passengers including diplomats, academics, clergy, and industrialists.

🌍 Overview of This Voyage

This 1896 voyage presents a vivid snapshot of elite Atlantic migration. While many passenger lists focus on emigration or steerage class, this cabin list highlights established travelers—many of them returning from European holidays, business ventures, or intellectual tours. The diversity of nationalities and professions reflects the global influence of America’s Gilded Age and Europe’s rising bourgeoisie.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Captain: H. Hellmers
2. First Officer: G. Wilhelms
3. Second Officer: J. Dammann
4. Third Officer: H. Schäffer
5. Fourth Officer: H. Lindrab
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: G. Heeren
12. Fourth Engineer: E. Schläfereit
13. Fourth Engineer: F. Esche
14. Purser: C. H. Schnell
15. Assistant Purser: K. von Schmid
16. Chief Steward: Ed. Lange
17. Second Steward: E. Härtling
18. Second Steward: B. Trendt
19. Chief Cook: R. Heller
20. Second Cook: H. Katt
21. Second Cook: M. Burkhart
22. Second Cook: E. Tröster

Cabin Passengers

1. Mr. Leopold Ansbacher
2. Miss Julia Ansbacher
3. Mrs. Daniela Annisfield and Maid
4. Edith Annisfield
5. Lucy Annisfield
6. Mr. Louis A. Ansbacher
7. Mr. Albert Arnstein
8. Mr. Theodor Alberson
9. Mrs. Johanne Alberson
10. Mr. William C. Allan
11. Mrs. William C. Allan
12. Mr. Henry Behrmann
13. Mrs. Dorothea Behrmann
14. Mr. Dr. Leopold Burgheim
15. Mrs. Dr. Eulalia Burgheim
16. Mr. Geo Bullwinkel
17. Mrs. Johanne Bultwinkel
18. Mr. Cäsar Bullwinkel
19. Mr. Werner Breyman
20. Mrs. Werner Breyman
21. Mr. H. M. Brinsmade
22. Mrs. H. M Brinsmade and Children
23. Mr. Bernhard Budde and Servants
24. Mrs. Minna Budde
25. Anna Budde
26. Henny Budde
27. Minnie Budde
28. Carl Budde
29. Bernhard Budde
30. Mr. Samuel R. Betts
31. Mr. Otto T. Baunard
32. Miss Emma Böhme
33. Mr. Ernst Berger
34. Mrs. Ella Berger
35. Mrs. Joh. Becker
36. Mr. Friedrich Burger
37. Mr. Walther L. Biering
38. Mrs. Walther L. Biering
39. Mr. Adolph Boehm
40. Miss Helene Bartenwerffer
41. Mr. Frank Clark
42. Mr. Wm. G. Coldewey
43. Mrs. Mary Coldewey
44. Anton W. Coldewey
45. Mr. C. A. Campbell
46. Mrs. C. A. Campbell
47. Mrs. Arthur Codman
48. Mr. Chas. J. Colemann
49. Mr. Richard L. Condon
50. Mr. David S. Draper
51. Mr. Bernhard L. Desenberg
52. Mrs. Minna Denney
53. Miss Hattie Denney
54. Minna Denney
55. Mrs. Emilie Düring
56. Walther Düring
57. Mr. Rev. Enno Duemling
58. Mr. Carl Durand
59. Mr. C. C. Davis
60. Miss Dorothea Engelking
61. Mr. Frank Eberhart
62. Mr. Moritz Eberhart
63. Miss Louise Eickhoff
64. Mr. Max B. Ehrlicher
65. Mrs. Dora Ehrlicher
66. Mrs. Marie Ehrlicher
67. Mr. Gust. A. Enders
68. Mrs. Katharina Enders
69. Mr. Lafayette de Friese
70. Mrs. Lafayette de Friese
71. Mr. F. Froehlich
72. Mrs. Wm. Falk
73. Mr. Julius Fluss
74. Mrs. A. Marie Fluss
75. Mrs. Magdalena Flemming
76. Miss Gilson and Servants
77. Mr. Franz Geudtner
78. Mrs. Anna Golle
79. Mr. Louis Guckermus
80. Mrs. Wilhelmine Guckemus
81. Ludwig Guckemus
82. Emma Guckemus

83. Mr. Leo Hartwig
84. Mr. John Collamore Hatch
85. Mrs. John Collamore Hatch
86. Mr. Frederick A. Haserick
87. Miss Sophie Hellwege
88. Mr. Salomon Hirsch
89. Mrs. Bertha Hirsch
90. Freddy Hirsch
91. Mr. Rudolph Hantzsch
92. Mr. Marcus Hencke
93. Mrs. Maria Hencke
94. Miss Maria Hencke
95. John Hencke
96. Mr. Otto H. Heegard
97. Mrs. Hulda Harms
98. Mr. Henry Hillebrandt
99. Mr. William Hoecker
100. Mr. Henry Hollmann
101. Mrs. Thos. Ingram
102. Mrs. Martha Jacob
103. Eddy Jacob
104. Hans Jacob
105. Mr. W. A. King
106. Mrs. W. A. King
107. Mr. Adolph Kastar and Servants
108. Mrs. Adolph Kastar
109. Eduard Kastar
110. Alfred Kastar
111. Robert Kastar
112. Mr. Dr. Adolph Kessler
113. Mr. Otto Koch
114. Mrs. Pauline Kundiger
115. Miss Pauline Kundiger
116. Mr. Conrad Kaffenberger
117. Mrs. Katharina Kaffenberger
118. Mr. Henry F. Kleykamp
119. Mrs. Pauline Kleykamp
120. Eimer Kleykamp
121. Mr. Julius Kleiniuächter
122. Mr. Wilhelm Kuhlmann
123. Mrs. M. Kirchhoff
124. Mr. Edmund Kopp
125. Mrs. Pauline Kopp
126. Miss Minnie Kopp
127. Mr. Jacob Katz
128. The Hon. & Rev. Dean Leigh and Servants
129. Mrs. Rev. Leigh
130. Miss Leigh
131. Mrs. Babette de Laubell
132. Johann de Laubell
133. Minna de Laubell
134. Mr. Max Langguth
135. Mrs. Lena Langguth
136. Mr. Henry Luhrman
137. Mrs. Mary Luhrman
138. Mr. J. A. McCord
139. Mrs. J. A. McCord
140. Mr. Charles F. Mattlage
141. Mrs. Katharina Maria Mattlage
142. Miss L. Meiners
143. Mr. Dr. F. Maass
144. Mrs. Dr. F. Maass
145. Mr. T. W. Merriam
146. Mrs. T. W. Merriam
147. Mr. Charles S. Millard
148. Mrs. Marchmont
149. Mr. Walter H. Martin
150. Mrs. Lina Miller
151. Biancho Miller
152. Oscar Miller
153. Mrs. W. Müller
154. Mr. Christian Merkenschlager
155. Mrs. Maria Menz
156. Mr. C. F. W. Meyer
157. Mrs. Minna Meyer
158. Miss Louise Meyer
159. Miss Clara Meyer
160. Mrs. C. H. Northam
161. Miss Northam
162. Mrs. Margaret J. Van Nest and Maid
163. Miss May Van Nest
164. Mrs. J. Natelsohn
165. Mr. Conrad F. Nagel
166. Mr. Thomas O'Neill
167. Mrs. Roberta O'Neill
168. Mr. John B. O'Brien
169. Mrs. John B. O’Brien
170. Miss Blanche E. O'Brien
171. Mr. N. Olsen
172. Mrs. Aug. Opitz
173. Miss Elizabeth Price
174. Miss Elisabeth Poth
175. Mr. A. Post
176. Countess de Potulice-Potulicka

177. Mr. Professor R. A. Rice
178. Mr. Ring
179. Miss Gusta Rothschild
180. Mr. A. Rees
181. Mr. Carl Robitschek and Servants
182. Mrs. Josephine Robitschek
183. Hermine Robitschek
184. Mr. Isidor Rothschild
185. Mr. Alex. Rossbauer
186. Mr. Eduard Riemann
187. Miss Sheridan
188. Mr. Samuel O. Schmucker
189. Mrs. Helen J. Schmucker
190. Mr. J. M. Sanford
191. Mrs. Sophie Simon
192. Florence Simon
193. Doris Simon
194. Mr. A. Sondheimer
195. Mr. Joseph Stone
196. Mrs. Joseph Stone
197. Miss Marian Stone
198. Mrs. Emilie Sachse
199. Mr. Joseph Speier
200. Mrs. Rosa Speier
201. Miss Fanny Speier
202. Miss Bertha Speier
203. Eddy Speier
204. Maudy Speier
205. Mr. A. C. Stich
206. Mr. Louis Scheffler
207. Mrs. Louis Scheffler
208. Anna Scheffler
209. Bertha Scheffler
210. Mr. Julius Smolensky
211. Mrs. Gesine Schröder
212. Miss Adelheid M. Sterck
213. Mr. Huldreich Sternkopf
214. Mr. Bernhard Sprenger
215. Mrs. Anna Sprenger
216. Mr. F. A. Schuck
217. Mrs. F. A. Schuck
218. Mr. Wilhelm Schamberg
219. Mr. Fred Scheffield
220. Mr. Julius Schneider
221. Mr. Julius Schödlbauer
222. Otto Schödlbauer
223. Mr. Dr. A. C. True
224. Mr. Hermann Töpke
225. Mrs. Fuluia Töpke
226. Heinrich Töpke
227. Mr. Carl Theisen
228. Mrs. Baronin von Untzer
229. Mr. Heinrich Ulrici
230. Mr. John H. Volkmann
231. Mrs. Franziska Voss
232. Miss Mary Voss
233. Mr. Henry Voelker
234. Mrs. Wells
235. Mr. Carl Weilandt
236. Mr. Simon Weyl
237. Mr. Carl Wojtechoiusky
238. Mr. Frank Willers
239. Mrs. Dora Willers
240. Stella Willers
241. Mr. Martin Winters
242. Mr. Samuel Weinberg
243. Mr. Aaron Weinberg
244. Mr. Hermann Wolff
245. Mr. Gustav O. Weigel
246. Jenny Weigel
247. Mr. Albert Ziegele
248. Mrs. Marie Ziegele
249. Mr. Rev. George Zapf

Cabin Passengers To Southampton

250. Mr. Juan Felix Brandes
251. Miss Eliza Brandes
252. Mr. George Croshaw
253. Mr. Landgerichtsdirektor von Einen
254. Mr. A. P. Heyniclien
255. Mr. Heinrich Michaelson
256. Mr. Otto Schmaltz
257. Mrs. Otto Schmaltz
258. Mr. J. H. Wagner

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 1 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 2277069b7a

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 2 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 22771467a0

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 3 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227749fcef

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 4 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 22779c5294

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 5 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 2277f12c75

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 6 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 22780ebcfb

Listing of Cabin Passengers, Page 7 of 7, Includes Hometown or Country of Origin. SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227853205c

Listing of Senior Officers and Staff, SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227865e24f

Back Cover, SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 18 August 1896. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 1f943a9568

👥 Notable Individuals & Social Context

🎓 Academia & Science

Mr. Professor R. A. Rice

Likely affiliated with an American or European university. His transatlantic presence reflects the period's scholarly exchange—possibly related to international science conferences or academic lectures.

Dr. Leopold Burgheim & Dr. F. Maass

Representing the emerging global medical and scientific community. Their travel may be connected to the medical societies of Vienna, Berlin, or New York.

Dr. A. C. True

A renowned American botanist, associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He played a key role in experimental stations and agricultural education—indicative of U.S. innovation abroad.

⛪ Clergy and Religious Figures

Rev. Enno Duemling

Likely associated with the Lutheran Church, possibly bridging German-American congregations.

The Hon. & Rev. Dean Leigh

An Anglican or Episcopal church dignitary from Britain, traveling with family and servants—emblematic of ecclesiastical aristocracy.

Rev. George Zapf

Possibly a pastor in German-American communities; clergy like Zapf frequently moved between continents, reinforcing spiritual and cultural ties.

💼 Business & Industry

Mr. Carl Robitschek and Family (with Servants)

Likely a merchant-banker or industrialist, reflecting the elite German-Jewish mercantile class with close ties to New York and Berlin.

Mr. Samuel R. Betts

Possibly connected to Betts & Co., an early industrial firm in the U.S.—his presence underlines commercial ties with Europe.

Mr. Julius Fluss

A surname common among German-Jewish banking families, possibly related to financial activity in Frankfurt or New York.

Mr. Conrad F. Nagel

While not the actor of later fame (born 1897), the name suggests a wealthy family background, potentially in business or law.

🏰 Nobility & Aristocracy

Countess de Potulice-Potulicka

Member of the Polish nobility, whose presence illustrates the continued role of aristocrats in diplomatic or estate affairs abroad.

Baronin von Untzer

German nobility, possibly linked to diplomatic circles—an example of aristocratic travel intertwined with cultural representation.

🛥️ Affluent Families & Socialites

Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Brinsmade and Children

Likely wealthy American tourists or expats—part of the Gilded Age’s global leisure class.

Mrs. Margaret J. Van Nest and Maid

A New York family of means—common among transatlantic vacationers and Grand Tour participants.

Mr. J. A. McCord & Mrs. McCord

Possibly tied to American legal or corporate circles, reflective of the post-Civil War expansion of legal elites abroad.

Mr. John Collamore Hatch & Mrs. Hatch

An upper-class family name, often associated with New England industrial or shipping wealth.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

📸 Image 📝 Relevance

📸 Front Cover of Passenger List | 🆔 GGA Image ID #1f94143e81

📝 Stylish and formal, reflective of the high-status clientele aboard the SS Lahn.

📸 Listing of Officers | 🆔 GGA Image ID #227865e24f

📝 Emphasizes the professionalism and hierarchy of the vessel, lending credibility to its safety and efficiency.

📸 Pages 1–7 of Cabin Passengers | 🆔 GGA Image IDs: 2277069b7a to 227853205c

📝 Shows hometowns and origins—valuable for genealogists. The detailed listings add authenticity.

📸 Back Cover | 🆔 GGA Image ID #1f943a9568

📝 Marks the closing of an official travel document, typical of elite transatlantic records.

🎓 Relevance of This Voyage

👩‍🏫 For Teachers & Students

This list demonstrates the global mobility of elites in the pre-WWI world. It's a lens into:

• International commerce
• Academic exchange
• Clerical diplomacy
• Evolving transatlantic identities

📖 For Historians

🔹 Insight into Jewish diaspora networks, especially the Robitschek and Rothschild names.

🔹 Shows gendered travel patterns, including women traveling with servants or independently.

🔹 Indicates the importance of German-American ties during the empire-building era.

🧬 For Genealogists

🔹 Names, family clusters, and origins offer direct pathways to uncovering family migrations, cultural affiliations, and social status during the 1890s.

🧭 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The SS Lahn’s 18 August 1896 voyage represents a microcosm of international society at the height of the Gilded Age and the Second Industrial Revolution. This was a time when ideas, faith, capital, and kinships crisscrossed the Atlantic—often aboard majestic ships like the Lahn.

From aristocrats to architects, scientists to clergy, and business magnates to cultured tourists, this manifest provides a glimpse into the individuals shaping a transatlantic world. It is an essential document for any researcher tracing late 19th-century social, cultural, and economic histories.

📚 Students: Use GG Archives documents like this one to explore social mobility, migration history, or elite travel culture in your essays and projects.

🛳️ Historians & Genealogists: Let this passenger list anchor your research in authentic maritime history.

⚓ Smooth sailing through time!