Elmer Kegel (1912 - 1984), son of the immigrant Albert Kegel, continued the family tradition in the USA
Ernest Walter Kegel (2nd row from the front, 2nd from left), grandson of
the Calbe native Albert Kegel, lives on the 1905 homestead of Albert and
his wife Bertha, whose descendans include 34 grandchildren and 36
great-grandchildren
In the 1880's, the 25 year old Calbe native Albert Friedrich Heinrich
Kegel, took a leap into the unknown.
And in his honor, his descendants meet every year on the last weekend in
July near the town of Colville,
around 300 kilometers northeast of Seattle.
"The meeting point is located in the woods along a small river, with no
electricity or gas connection," explains engineer Steffen Held.
Mr. Held, born in Calbe and now living in Hamburg, is proud to be a
descendant of the once respected and influential families of Calbe.
And not without reason - the name Kegel has been inextricably linked to the
city since the 17th century.
Along with other master fishing families, the Kegels belonged to the
"Fishing Brotherhood of St. Nicolai", which was formed more than 575 years
ago in Calbe and became an influential guild.
So it was a German immigrant, the Albert Kegel surrounded by wild and rich
but rough area helped in the search for suitable land with dense trees and
ponds full of fish that have been used well with the year dog ertel ancient
knowledge from the Saale city. 1912 came son Elmer born, the second of
eight children, which should continue fishing tradition of the Kegel in the
US.
In the wilderness of Washington State, traces of a once famous fishing
dynasty from Calbe
Steffen Held, returning from a visit to the United States, said "I got to
fulfill a longtime dream -- what a gift!"
Unique experience
Back then, fishing was a profitable business on the river Saale. Fish was
an important staple food, especially during the long, meatless period of
Lent. The fishermen themselves would act charitably and against poverty
alongside the sole right to fish on the Saale by the creation of a
guild-like institution. Clever and stubbornly kept the fishing master
families - for a long time there were only six - their brotherhood through
the ages and across all provincial rulers upright. Again and again, there
was controversy over the salmon and sturgeon caught in the Saale. In Calbes
Salmon War 1702-1705 called the Saale city dwellers, first deliver the
salmon in Calbe for sale. Early 20th century, the fish are sold to Bremen.
So it was the Emperor himself, the fishermen finally their ancient
privileges, which earned them a monopoly denied. Justification: The fishing
fraternity is a pure acquisition cooperative, have nothing Nonprofit
effected and paid in their history too little tax. After the Second World
War finally succeeded with the industrial pollution of the river of the
decline of the fishing fraternity, but continues to exist as to discover
traditional heritage community, thanks Steffen hero or the Calbenser Oskar
Werner Heinz who remember their ancestors.
Steamer "Chemnitz"
So the long-cherished desire Steffen helds finally went with the trip to
America and getting to know the Kegel-clan true. "The families travel to the
weekend with campers, pick-up SUV and tents," reports Held. It was eaten
together, played and laughed. Even without electricity, a projector has
been installed and hero as a representative of the German family branch was
able to show a small presentation to the great history of the Kegel in Calbe
and fishermen brotherhood. "In preparation, there was Schierker Feuerstein,
tourist flyers and old postcards of Calbe" says Held. "It was all a unique
experience, because about the family history before 1902 knew those present
to nothing so far."
Continued tradition in USA
It was July 1902, when ancestor Albert Kegel together took all his money
and his courage and traveled for 150 marks of Calbe to Bremen Haven to can
embark on the steamer "Chemnitz" across the Atlantic to Baltimore on the US
East Coast. The dream of owning land drove the then 25-year old well to
take this step. Background: 1862 signed US President Lincoln a homestead
law that allowed each person over 21 years to settle on a previously
uninhabited piece of land, to stake out an approximately 64-hectare land
and farming. After a period of five years the settlers was the owner.