Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
Dorothea Vollmer’s Father’s Ancestry
Henry Vollmer Family
(The Vollmer and Plambeck family lines will be followed.)
(1) Johannes Vollmer and Anna Margaretha Krouel > (2) Heinrich Vollmer and
Dorothea Plambeck > (3) Henry Vollmer and Jessie Allen Peck > (4) Dorothea Vollmer
The Vollmer family came to the United States from Germany in the early 1800’s. They arrived
in New Orleans and later settled in Davenport, Iowa with many other German immigrants.
1. Johannes Vollmer Jr.
Johannes Vollmer, son of Johannes Vollmer Sr. and Elisabeth Ernstin, was born in 1800 in
Reutingen, Germany. Johannes Vollmer Jr.’s father was a veterinarian. According to the State
Archives in Bremen, Germany, Johannes lived in Bremen from 1826 to 1841 when he left for
America. Johannes Jr., married Anna Margaretha Krouel in Bremen, Germany. Anna was born in
1800 in Bremen, the daughter of Johann Reinhard Krouel, a local brushmaker. All the children of
Johannes Vollmer and Anna Margaretha Krouel were born in Bremen before the family
immigrated to America. The entire family boarded the ship Diana in 1841 for their long voyage.
They arrived at the port of New Orleans in June of 1841. The New Orleans Passenger List shows
Johannes was a “confectioner.”
The Johannes Vollmer family settled in Saint Louis, Missouri. At that time at least half of the
city’s population was German. Johannes Vollmer appeared in the 1850 Saint Louis Census.
Their names had been Americanized to John and Margaret Folmer. Johannes died in St. Louis,
Missouri. In 1861, during the beginning of the Civil War, several of the Vollmer and Krouel
family members moved to Davenport, Iowa where they appeared in the 1870 census.
1850 St. Louis census for Vollmer family name which was Americanized to Folmer: Margaret, John
305
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
It appears that Johannes “John” and Anna Margaretha “Margaret” Vollmer were the parents of
six children all born in Bremen, Germany. Their fifth child was Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer (2).
There was possibly a seventh child.
2. Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer
Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer, son of “John” and
“Margaret” Vollmer was born in 1836 in Bremen,
Germany and sailed to America with his family in
1841 at the age of four. The family settled in Saint
Louis, Missouri, a city predominately populated by
Catholic German immigrants. As a young man
Heinrich learned the printer’s trade and worked for
the Daily Missouri Democrat newspaper.
In 1861 Heinrich served in the Civil War. The
German population mostly supported the Union
Army effort.
At age 25 Heinrich moved to Davenport, Iowa,
another city with a large German population. In
Davenport Heinrich Vollmer began working as a
foreman for Der Democrat, Davenport’s influential
German language newspaper. He worked for the
newspaper for almost 20 years. Then he acquired an
interest in a successful business in manufacturing rubber
stamps. Soon he added printing to the business. They
created the firm Mossman & Vollmer, which later became
the Tri-City Lithographing & Printing Company, one of
the largest in the Mississippi Valley.
Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer
Henry Vollmer was a prominent citizen both in business
and public affairs. In 1883 he was elected to the Office of
County Recorder where he worked for two terms ending
with his retirement in 1887.
In 1887 Heinrich Vollmer made a six month journey back
to Bremen, Germany, the land of his nativity, and other
European cities. He kept a beautifully written journal,
European Diary of Henry Vollmer, Sr. 1887, which, upon
his return, was translated into German for publication in
Der Democrat. His detailed descriptions and commentary
indicate he was highly educated and very articulate. During
his trip, he visited several relatives and families of those
living in Davenport.
306
Mossman & Vollmer Tri-City
Lithographing & Printing
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
His trip journal began, “Chicago, April 7/87. Left Davenport last night at 10:30. A balmy
moonlight night, worthy the descriptive pen of a Byron. Became quite sentimental, as I rested in
reclining chair ‘taking in’ the scene in crossing on the Bridge—thinking of the dear ones at
home-…. The only sound to be heard was the neighing of the iron horse (train) as he rushed with
his human freight over the prairies of Illinois.”
“Chicago has arisen Phenix-like from its ashes [The United States’ greatest disaster of the
century was the 1871 Great Chicago fire that killed hundreds and burned four square miles of the
city.] —a young giant—and is destined to overreach New York and become the metropolis of
our country … There is no ‘Dolce far niente’ (a carefree idleness) inscribed on the face of its
citizens, but the nervous pursuit of the dollar- the race and strife in the battle for existence- the
desire to beat his fellow man out of his mammon if possible—all in a lawful manner of course. It
would seem as if their sole object in life was money getting, and not happiness, which should be
the aim of all rational beings. This after all is not surprising when we think that the standard of
measurement for mankind is money—this it is that makes man free, that makes him independent
and not our political rights as stated in our Declaration of Independence. But enough of these
vagaries.”
Henry Vollmer described conditions in the industrial city of Cincinnati in 1887. “Cincinnati
produced unpleasant impressions on me … It is one of those old American cities with narrow
streets, which are of remarkable regular irregularity. It would seem as if the original settlers had
squatted here and placed their habitations without any particular design in symmetry, the streets
running long and short, uphill, downhill, zick zack etc. Of course, it has a few wide large
avenues, and charming suburbs where the noblesse dwell. The celebrated ‘Rhine’ is a dirty filthy
canal, with a slothy motion, and should consider it a good origin, for pestilential diseases- paugh!
Cincinnati’s streets are also disgustingly filthy and is continually shrouded a la Pittsburg in
smoke and fog—the soot falling like black flocks of snow on the denizen, covering everythingclothes cannot be dried openly in sunlight—and although I did not work, I had to wash myself 4
times a day to keep half ways clean. People here say then recognize a stranger by the way in
which he tries to rub off those black flakes, as he smears his face and hands by so doing,- while
the old resident acquires a knack of whisking them off by a puff of breath in different directions
on his face.”
The transcontinental railroad was progressing quickly when Henry Vollmer made this journey in
1887. He had never before experienced the marvel of trains crossing mountain ranges. “Left
Cincinnati at 7:30 P.M. on 12th for Washington which I reached after about 600 mile trip …
Some beautiful scenery … on the road in crossing the Alleghenys- immense and grand—very
cold and freezing on these heights—passed Harper’s Ferry, a historic point in late Rebellion. Had
the fastest railway travel I ever experienced—40 to 50 miles an hour—B. & O. R. R.”
Washington, the nation’s capitol, was a stark contrast to the earlier city. “I believe Washington to
the grandest city in the world! Expect to see Berlin and Vienna, whose reputation for elegance is
well-known, but doubt whether they surpass our Capitol. Its broad avenues of asphalt, covered
with its aristocratic vehicles of all kinds, its clear atmosphere, cleanliness of streets are decidedly
exhilarating … Visited the Capitol, attended session of the U.S. Supreme Court … the White
307
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
House, where I went through usual ceremony of hand shaking with our respected President
[Grover Cleveland], who is probably bored by too much of this thing.”
“I now will relate and boast of a feat I performed. I walked up the entire Washington Monument
355 feet, the highest monument as well as building in the world, dragging up my 250 lb. weight
with asthmatic bronchitis with a heroic determination to do it. But believe me it was a hard pull!
It is very deceptive from the outside, it not looking to be near as high. An iron staircase carries
the visitor to the top. The elevator is not in use as so the visitor must bring his own candles and
climb up. The different States of the Union, foreign countries and societies have donated
memorial stones which are placed in the walls at respective distances containing inscriptions and
some beautiful carvings and lettering on stone, but the ‘Relic Hunter’, that modern Vandal, has
been here, and knocked off her an arm, a head, a foot, or a letter, to be able to carry home for his
collection of curiosities. Particularly that beautiful stone donate by the ‘Confederation of
Switzerland’ has been most shamefully defaced, its lettering has been pryed off to a great extent,
and it stands as an insult to our sister republic … there is no one to watch up here, and maybe
some day the entire monument will gradually disappear into the pockets of our patriotic fellow
citizens.”
“On Board of Ship: Our staunch steamer Strassburg to under way Sunday, April 17 at 6 A.M.
and plowed it way through the beautiful Chesapeake Bay with only about 30 passengers.”
“April 17th- My surmises proved true, and the morning showed some doleful visages of board,
and I also began to have unpleasant sensations in the stomach, and a great disgust at anything I
the shape of food. The sky was cloudy and the ship rolled from side to side, the waves rushed
over the sides of the vessel, and might produce some tremors in one unaccustomed to such trifles
… However this continued rolling of the ship soon caused a rebellion in our stomachs and I
among a number of others rushed out to offer our first tribute to god Neptune.” There was a long
voyage yet ahead for the small ship. “A grand illimitable rolling prairie of water.”
“April 21st- We have passed out of the gulf stream, and are nearly in mid-ocean.We have all
learned to affiliate, and are mutually acquainted—high and low- rich and poor…and the
passengers are gathered on deck singing their plaintive German melodies in harmony, and
thought of the dear ones at home creep on me unawares when gazing at the starry canopy. We
have a number of so-called ‘Americka-mude’ [America tired ones] on board, and it is sad to hear
them recount their experiences in the land of liberty and plenty … Some of these have come over
to the U.S. well provided with means, but through a series of mishaps and sickness have lost all
and now return, painting a gloomy picture of matters and things in our country, to their native
country sick and disgusted with life: others are returning emigrants who came over about 6
weeks ago…and in the confusion attending the stranding of that vessel and thus re-embarkation
for Baltimore had all their effects stolen—poor people a whole family.”
“April 24th- Sunday- Awoke this morn with a fearful start, a general din and noise coming from
all quarters, everything not nailed down flying about with a terrible confusion, even our lamps,
and clock, put up to meet ordinary rough weather, lost their equilibrium and broke on the floor;
chairs and trunks and balises went flying in all directions, and I found myself in the berth
308
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
alternately standing on feet and then on head. But then this was no storm, only a little rough
weather.”
It took much courage for people to leave their homelands and set out for a new land and new life.
Henry Vollmer contemplates this fact in his next entry.
April 27th- “A strange sensation comes over one when plowing out on the ocean for the first
time- this cutting loose from ‘terra firma’ to meet the dangers of the vasty deep, and one learns to
appreciate the terrors of the first mariners…How glorious, how majestic is the ocean!- whether
we view it in its quiet beauty as the mirror of the clear blue sky or ‘the glorious king of day’, or
when magically illuminated by the mystic moonlight, or under the starry dome of the firmament!
Its grandeur, immensity and majesty awakes our wonder and awe, and makes us realize how
small is man- a sand in the desert- a drop in the ocean …”
“April 28th- “Our officers have a mortal dread of icebergs, which at this season of the year often
come down to this latitude, and with gigantic force like a moving island crush ships as if made of
pasteboard.”
April 29th- We are nearing the Scilly Islands, the place where the ill-fated steamer Schiller went
down with its passengers and where our Davenport townsmen, Kircher, Frahm and Paulsen and
others found a watery grave … all levity has ceased, and the crew and officers of the ship display
an extra amount of care in passing this dangerous locality.”
“Bremen, May 2, 1887- After traversing a piece of Netherland scenery- a quaint straw and tile
covered cottages, windmills, women tilling the fields, few men to be seen except Railroad
officials and soldiers. Strange sentimental feelings took possession of me on entering the city of
my nativity. After leaving a New World, where we have no historic antiquity or knowledge of
past races, and where everything is new, we here have before us a city of the middle ages, with
its narrow crooked and boldered streets, its quaint curious shaped houses—some overloaded with
ornamentation, the tile covered roofs and curious attics and gables—all having that moldy damp
appearance of old age. Bremen was founded in 788 by Charlemagne le Grand, was one of the
three free Hanseatic cities [an alliance of cities to protect trade] but is now under jurisdiction and
control of the German Empire.”
Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer married *Dorothea Plambeck in 1863 in Davenport, Iowa.
Plambeck
Detlef Plambeck and Margaretha Brooks > Dorothea Plambeck and Heinrich
Vollmer > Henry Vollmer and Jessie Allen Peck > Dorothea Vollmer
Detlef Plambeck was born in 1811 in Hollingstedt, Germany. He was a soldier in the Danish
Army when Germany was under Danish control. In 1852 he came to America with his wife
Margaretha and their five living children Heinrich, Detlefin, Dorothea, Emil, and Wilhelmina.
They arrived in New Orleans after an eight-week voyage. The family then traveled by boat up
309
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
the Mississippi River—another four-week voyage due to ice in the river—to Davenport, Iowa
where they joined the large German community.
Detlef Plambeck was in the tanning and shoemaking business. He soon opened a shoe shop in
Davenport. Not long afterwards, he became very ill and could no longer work in his shop. He
died in 1855.
Detlef Plambeck was married to Margaretha Brooks who was born in Preetz, Germany in 1813.
Commerating Margaretha Plambeck’s 88th birthday, the Davenport Times stated, “Mrs.
Margaretha Plambeck, commonly called Mother Plambeck, one of the best known German ladies
of the city, is today celebrating her 88th birthday.”1 Margaretha lived to be 99 years old, the
oldest resident of Davenport at her death in 1912. Detlef and Margaretha Plambeck are buried in
Oakdale Cemetery.
Detlef and Margaretha Plambeck were the parents of eight children including *Dorothea
Plambeck who married Henrich Vollmer. Three of Detlef and Margaretha’s children died in
infancy.
Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer and Dorothea Plambeck Family
Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer
married Dorothea Plambeck in
1863 in Davenport, Iowa. They
were the parents of nine children
all born in Davenport, Iowa,
including Henry Vollmer (b.
1867).
The German people who came to
America played an important
role in American history. By the
early 1900s, eleven out of a 100
people living in America were
immigrants from Germany.
Another 16 out of a 100
considered their main nationality
to be German. Germans made up
the largest ethnic group in the
United States with a total of 27%
of the total population
considered Germans.
By 1914 a great world conflict
known as the “Great War” was
underway. This war would later
Heinrich Vollmer and Dorothea Plambeck married in 1863
and were the parents of Henry Vollmer
310
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
be known as World War I. The heart of the conflict was over European countries expanded their
territorial domains. The conflict involved all of the world’s great powers which were on two
opposing sides: the Allies (The United Kingdom—England, Scotland and Wales—, France and
Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy). Considering it to be a
European conflict, the United States was determined to remain neutral, yet both sides attempted
to engage the United States in the war by heavily saturating the country with propaganda. Much
of the propaganda had a pro-British slant which was acceptable to the majority of the population
who had cultural roots in there. Also, America considered the British as loyal friends. Some
propaganda was sympathic to Germany.2
During these early years of the war most Americans considered Germany an enemy and a threat.
Rumors were spread that the Germans in the United States were engaged in many activities
aimed at undermining America to keep her busy at home and out of the war. When Germany
began unrestricted submarine warfare, most Americans considered the Germans murderers, so
the United States cut off relations with Germany. The anti-German sentiments reached a peak
and on April 2, 1917 President Wilson condemned the German submarine campaign as “warfare
against mankind.” The United States entered the Great War.
The Plambecks and the Vollmers immigrated from Germany to America in the mid-1800s and
settled in Davenport, Iowa where they joined a growing German community. They became
stalwart citizens in Davenport. The Vollmer children became doctors, soldiers, lawyers, and
printers. They were now Americans, but they still had strong ties to their former homeland. In
the midst of World War I, they found themselves surrounded by a fervent anti-German
sentiment. They were looked upon with suspicion and attacked regarding their loyalty.
The Nine Children of Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer and Dorothea Plambeck
Emil Vollmer (b. 1864) became a printer following in his father’s business. He died at the age of
32 of cancer and was buried in the Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport, Iowa.
Karl Vollmer (b. 1869) became a doctor and surgeon. Karl was a medical student under Dr.
Washington Freeman Peck in the medical department at Iowa State University. Then he studied
in Vienna and the Royal Ophthalmic Hospital in London. He returned to Davenport and opened a
medical office where he specialized in the eye, ear, nose and throat. Karl Vollmer married Paula
Koehler.
Fred Vollmer (b. 1874) became a successful and prominent lawyer in Davenport. He was
elected Scott County Attorney in 1908. Fred was active in politics as a strong supporter of the
Democratic Party. He served in the Spanish American War in 1898 in the 50th Iowa Infantry.
The United States had just entered World War I when the Espionage Act of 1917 was enacted.
Shortly thereafter, Fred Vollmer brought a controversial League of Humanity speaker, Daniel H.
Wallace, to Davenport. Fred Vollmer and others were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for
assisting and abetting a conspiracy to violate the newly enacted Espionage Act. During his trial,
Fred was defended by his brother Henry Vollmer who was also an attorney. The first trial
resulted in a hung jury, but in the second trial, Fred Vollmer pleaded guilty and paid a fine. He
311
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
moved to California to begin a new life away from Davenport. Daniel H. Wallace, the speaker
invited by Fred Vollmer, became the first person convicted under the Espionage Act for making
his seditious address.3, 4
Attorney Fred Vollmer indicted
by Federal Grand Jury in 1917
for assisting and abetting a
conspiracy to violate the newly
enacted Espionage Act
Fred Vollmer, represented by his
brother Henry Vollmer. plead
guilty to charges in his second trial
in 1918. (continued on next page)
312
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
(Article continued from
previous page.)
Fred Vollmer plead guilty
to charges in second
trial in 1918
The Vollmer family members were proGerman and volunteered support for the
German war effort. They helped organize relief
funds for the Germany Army. During the war,
activities such as these were viewed as antiAmerican.
Fred Vollmer married Ida Laura Stark.
313
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Dorothy Vollmer (b. 1877) attended local
schools and later St. Katherine’s School. She
married Henry Von Maur who owned Von Maur
Department Store in Davenport, Iowa. Von Maur
stores are now located in 16 Midwest states.
Agnes Vollmer (b. 1871) attended local
Davenport schools. Agnes Vollmer married
William R. Weir and lived in Davenport.
Dorothy Vollmer
Agnes Vollmer
Arthur Vollmer (1890) was an officer in the
United States Reserve Corps, stationed at Fort
Snell, where he was an instructor. He was a
Major in the United States Army. Arthur married
Ada Lorrain Maloney. When Arthur Vollmer
died, he was buried in Arlington National
Cemetery.
Hugo Vollmer (1872) died at age four.
Arthur Vollmer
314
Chapter 12
Gregory: Part 2
Dorothea Vollmer’s Vollmer Father’s Ancestry
Chapter 12
Walter Vollmer (1884) died at age three.
*Henry Vollmer (3) (b. 1867), became a lawyer. See Chapter 13, Henry Vollmer.
Heinrich “Henry” Vollmer and Dorothea Plambeck Vollmer are buried with their sons Hugo and
Walter in the Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport.
Vollmer plot in Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa:
Henry Vollmer, wife Dorothea and sons Hugo and Walter are buried here
1
Davenport Times, Davenport, Scott, Iowa,
2
America Entry, America’s Entry into WWI, http://smoter.com/america'.htm
3
The New York Times, Aug. 2, 1917, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archivefree/pdf?res=F10E10FB385E11738DDDAA0894D0405B878DF1D3
4
Iowa City Citizen, Thursday, October 03, 1918, Iowa City, Iowa, 1.
315