There are many things that we know about August and Rika (Knaack) Heiden but one key fact that is still to be discovered is exactly why they left Germany and why they chose to come to Monroe County in Michigan. Economic conditions in Germany were very bad during this time in history but to leave one’s ancestral home and sail across the ocean to a new, unseen homeland was still a monumental decision. It was also probably an irreversible one since people often spent their last mark or pfennig paying for the trip. There would be no turning back for most of them.

We also do not know the exact date that August and Rika (Knaack) Heiden left the Port of Hamburg on their journey to America. We do know that papers were prepared in Germany in April of 1873 which declared their citizenship and gave them permission to leave.

They made the trip on the German freighter, Saxonia (above), which from the picture, appears to have been a combination of steam and sail powered. The drawing is a representation of the Saxonia found in the book, Ships of Our Ancestors. Odds are that it was not a luxury craft and it is likely that August, Rika and their children were not in the “First Class” section.

The voyage itself may have taken as little as a week or up to two weeks depending on whether they used steam power or saved money by setting sails once they left port. Either way, it would be safe to think that the Heiden’s were very happy when they were able to see dry land again. The harbor and the skyline of New York City must have been a welcome sight as they approached on June 4, 1873. BTW - The Statue of Liberty would not have greeted our ancestors since it was not dedicated until 1886.

Most people think of Ellis Island when they hear a discussion of 19th century immigration. However, Ellis Island did not begin functioning until 1892 so the Heidens, and a year later, the Rambows entered through another facility. Castle Garden Emigrant Depot (pictured to the right) was in use from 1855 to 1890 and the largest ethnic group that passed through were Germans.

Each ship that entered the port had to present a list of passengers and cargo to the port authorities for clearance. These lists have all been compiled and are on record at the National Archives in Washington D.C. The following is a copy of the captain’s log sworn to by C.D. Brandt, Master of the Saxonia upon landing in New York. August and his family were listed as passengers numbers 303 to 307 so there were probably around 400 to 500 people on board during this trip. Also listed was a man named, “Heiden, Christ., age 56, and Sophie, 28, his daughter” but we do not know what, if any, relation he might have been to our branch of the Heiden family.