An honorable life: a priceless legacy

From time to time I have been dabbling in researching my Ernst ancestral line.  With the busy semester I have had in finishing up my bachelor's degree in Family History, I haven't had much time to do any research.  Early this morning, (about 3 a.m.) I was playing around on the computer again.  I usually do this when I can't sleep very well.  Once again, the computer called to me, and I felt compelled to dabble a bit more on researching my Ernst line.  My 3rd great grandfather is Henry (Heinrich) Moritz Ernst; born 8 January 1802, and died 11 February 1892.  I knew his father was John Zachariah Ernst.  The family had immigrated to the United States about 1806 and settled in the frontier town of Cincinnati, Ohio.  I had found a reference to Henry Ernst on Ancestry.com about a year ago; in which his name was in a book entitled, "Cincinnati Sonst Und Jetzt".  The book is written in German.  Well, I can't read much German, so I used Google Translate to help me decipher what the reference said.  The book was not only referencing my Henry Ernst, but someone had actually interviewed him!  How thrilled I was to not only have Henry's life story in his own words, but there was also a lithograph picture of him!

                       

As I continued my translation of this chapter on Henry, I learned that his family had immigrated when he was about 3 and a half years old.  The translation left some questions for me.  Why did the Ernst family leave their German homeland and come to America?  I did not know the circumstances surrounding immigration of this family.  It wasn't until I found the obituary of Henry's older brother Andrew early this morning, that I learned the story behind their immigration.

Andrew H. Ernst (1796-1860)

The following is Andrew's obituary:

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"Andrew H. Ernst, who died at his residence in Spring Garden, February 13th, 1860, was born in Koringen, Germany in 1796.  His father and grandfather had both held the office of Burgomaster in their native city - which involved the duty of Commissary to collect the supplies for the army of Napoleon; frequently requiring them to take the last sous from a widow and her destitute children - made such by the bloody wars so recklessly entered into for his aggrandisement.  This so affected the warm humanity of the father's heart, as to induce him repeatedly to request permission to resign his office.  But being steadily refused, he at last determined to leave his country at all risks, which he did with his family.  In 1806 leaving his house as it was, with the furniture standing, lest he should be prevented from his purpose, and expecting it to be sent after him.  This, however was never done, and he arrived in this country with his wife and children, Andrew H. being the oldest - then ten years - a stranger to the language and the people.  Cincinnati at that time had few houses and none of brick, and he did what all of that day did, just what his hand found to do.  He apprenticed his son to the baking business, and afterwards went into it himself, with him.  Proving unfortunate, they lost everything, and the Father died leaving the subject of this notice with a family of six to provide for and the burden of debts to settle.  It was at this time he taxed his iron frame and indomitable energy of mind to pay these debts by his confectionary and baking establishment, which he did and won for himself the honor and respect from the community he has always loved so well.  He then entered into the grocery business, but too generous and unselfish, he was never made for trade, and the bulk of his fortune was made by shrewd and judicious investments in Real Estate.  After a few years, he left the grocery business to devote himself to horticulture, which had been a life time passion with him.  His early dream of happiness had been to own a beautiful garden home, and for thirty years this had been his aim and study.  How far this has been realized those can say who have shared his hospitality and enjoyed his lovely bowers and vine covered trellises.  He was a consistent and warm hearted Abolitionist of "the Political Party", although respecting the rights of private judgment in those of the more ultra school.  His honorable life is a legacy for his children; may they imitate his virtues."

I can't even begin to imagine the hardships this family faced as they immigrated to the United States during a time of war and upheavals in their homeland.  They surely must have faced political persecution for John Zachariah's resignation of the title of Burgomaster during the Napoleonic Wars of the late 1700s in Germany.  Escaping and leaving behind all their worldly possessions to face a new life in a frontier town; crossing ocean and mountain in search of a place where they could reside in peace. How it warms my heart to know that he stood for a just cause in the face of so much persecution!  He remained true to his values and principles, which in turn carried forth to his posterity.  It is a reminder to me that I too, can act courageously in the face of opposition.