Although we always speak of our ancestors, August and Rika (Knaack) Heiden as having come from Germany, in reality, that was only true for the last two years before they left for America.  Germany did not exist as a unified nation as we know it today until 1871. Prior to then, this area of Europe consisted of a loose confederation of about 300 independent dukedoms and principalities.

One of these territories in the northern region was called Mecklenburg-Schwerin which is now known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to the available church and other records, ancestors of the Monroe County Heiden Family had lived in this area at least as far back as the mid-1700's. The earliest ancestor that we have found so far, Friedrich Heiden was born there in 1755.

Within Mecklenburg-Schwerin, our Heiden and Rambow ancestors came from several very small, rural towns within a relatively short distance from each other. August and Rika lived in the town of Gross Wokern which is spelled Groß Wokern in German. August was born there in 1838 and was a resident until emigrating to America in 1873. He was a brick mason by trade so he probably held a slightly higher status in the community of farm laborers and house servants.