First Generation

1. Franz "Frank" ECKELBERGER was born in Preussen (Prussia).^1,2 (This is a map of Prussia.)

(The Family Search International Genealogical Index IGI website contains a listing for Friedrich and Anna Elisabeth (Koepke) Eckelberg, who were married 15 November 1811 in Lohmen, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. The listing also contains their son, Christoph Jochen Andreas Eckelberg, born 29 March 1825 and christened 1 April 1825 in Lohmen. That may have been these parents, who also had a son named Christoph.) He died in Preussen (Prussia).¹ He has Ancestral File Number G7P5-1F5.³

Franz "Frank" ECKELBERGER and Isabelle UNKNOWN (ECKELBERGER) were married in Preussen (Prussia).¹ Isabelle UNKNOWN (ECKELBERGER)⁴ was born in Preussen (Prussia).¹ She died in Preussen (Prussia).¹ She has Ancestral File Number G7PR-SRN.³

Franz "Frank" ECKELBERGER and Isabelle UNKNOWN (ECKELBERGER) had the following children:

Friedrich Karl "Frederick" ECKELBERGER.

ii.

Christian Friedrich ECKELBERGER was born about 1820 in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Pomerania) Province, Preussen (Prussia).^1,5 From Wikipedia: "Mecklenburg derives its name from the Slavic castle, 'Mechelenburg.' The castle stands between the two cities Schwerin and Wismar and was first documented by the emperor Otto III. in 995. Germanic tribes established settlements in this region up to the year 500. Around the year 600, the Germanic tribes had left the region and Slavic tribes such as the Obotrite and the Lutician founded new settlements. When Heinrich der Loewe (Henry the Lion) defeated the Obotrites, he began the Christianisation of Mecklenburg. In 1348 the emperor Karl IV. conferred the title Duke on every Count. The territory was then divided in 1621 into two different duchies, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Guestrow.

The Westfalian peace contract from 1648 regulated that Wismar came under the power of Sweden. The Guestrow lineage died out in 1695. Two new duchies were founded as a result of the treaty of Hamburg in 1701, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1803 Wismar was returned to Mecklenburg. Both of the duchies joined the Rhine Federation in 1808. At the congress in Vienna, the two duchies of Mecklenburg received the title grand duchy.

The Civil Revolution ended in 1849 and the first state constitution was introduced. But it was revoked in 1850 and the old ordinance was re-established. Mecklenburg became part of the German Empire in 1871.

The November Revolution finally repealed the medieval ordinance. In 1933 independent Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz were united to the province of Mecklenburg. Schwerin was pronounced capital of the province. After WW II in 1945 Mecklenburg was part of the Soviet occupied zone. It was named Mecklenburg- Vorpommern, but since 1947 it was simply known under Mecklenburg.

East Germany politically restructured the country in 1952 and Mecklenburg was divided into districts of Rostock, Schwerin, and Neubrandenburg. Since 1990, the province is officially called Mecklenburg-Vorpommern again. Schwerin is the capital." He died about 1845 at the age of 25 in Preussen (Prussia).^1,6 His assumed wife and son emigrated to America in 1846, and he is believed to have died before then. (The MyHeritage.com website lists his year of death as "Circa 1860.") He has Ancestral File Number G35L-N8N.⁷

iii.

Christoph "Charles" ECKELBERGER.