John Bernard PohlmanJohn Bernard PohlmanInterviewInterview

By Amanda PohlmanBy Amanda Pohlman

John was born onJohn was born on August 19August 19thth, 1938 in , 1938 in

Cincinnati Ohio.Cincinnati Ohio.

GermanyGermany

Where did your family come Where did your family come from?from?

Even, John Pohlman is a Even, John Pohlman is a little unsure as to the little unsure as to the exact location that his exact location that his family emigrated from. family emigrated from. He knows that his He knows that his family is from Germany. family is from Germany. However, he did say However, he did say that “the only city that that “the only city that came up in the records came up in the records as their (his family) as their (his family) home in Germany is home in Germany is Neuenkirchen and there Neuenkirchen and there is more than one city by is more than one city by that name.”that name.”

Where did your family first Where did your family first settle upon arrival?settle upon arrival?

The first Pohlman to take this tremendous The first Pohlman to take this tremendous leap of faith and start anew was Johann leap of faith and start anew was Johann Dierk Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany. Dierk Pohlman, born in 1784 in Germany. He came from Germany directly to He came from Germany directly to Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with five Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1844 with five of his children. His wife stayed back due of his children. His wife stayed back due to medical complications, but joined him to medical complications, but joined him 4 months later with the other three 4 months later with the other three children the couple had between them.children the couple had between them.

Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio

Why did your family come Why did your family come here?here?

Although there is somewhat of a question as Although there is somewhat of a question as to the exact origin of the Pohlman family to the exact origin of the Pohlman family from Germany the reason why is much more from Germany the reason why is much more clear. John relays that” his ancestors came clear. John relays that” his ancestors came over from Germany mostly due to political over from Germany mostly due to political and economic hardships they were having and economic hardships they were having there in the home country. The reason to there in the home country. The reason to settle in Cincinnati was due to the large settle in Cincinnati was due to the large community of Germans that had settled community of Germans that had settled west of the Allegheny Mountains.west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Where has your family Where has your family branched out to from branched out to from

Cincinnati?Cincinnati? John Pohlman, a fifth generation John Pohlman, a fifth generation

Pohlman, although born in Cincinnati Pohlman, although born in Cincinnati moved with his parents and other nine moved with his parents and other nine brothers and sisters to Indiana. Up until brothers and sisters to Indiana. Up until then all Pohlman’s since moving to Ohio then all Pohlman’s since moving to Ohio had never left the state. John and his had never left the state. John and his brothers and sisters however chose to brothers and sisters however chose to branch out even further. John going all branch out even further. John going all the way to California and the others the way to California and the others through out the south and even parts of through out the south and even parts of Canada. Canada.

Pohlman Geographical Pohlman Geographical MovementMovement

ChangesChanges Since coming to America many things Since coming to America many things

changed for the Pohlmans, but one thing that changed for the Pohlmans, but one thing that stands out is the language. Upon arrival the stands out is the language. Upon arrival the Pohlmans’ only knew how to speak German Pohlmans’ only knew how to speak German and had to teach themselves English. and had to teach themselves English. Although faced with this obstacle they still Although faced with this obstacle they still preserved. The German dialect was still preserved. The German dialect was still being passed down clear until the fifth being passed down clear until the fifth generation. The younger generations in generation. The younger generations in John’s family have not taken on this traditon John’s family have not taken on this traditon however.however.

Work LifeWork Life John Pohlman’s father John Pohlman’s father

worked for a printing worked for a printing company. He worked company. He worked on the printing presses on the printing presses that were in charge of that were in charge of getting out the news getting out the news to the locals. Although, to the locals. Although, looking back on looking back on previous generations previous generations there is an apparent there is an apparent pattern of Carpenters pattern of Carpenters and Tailors. John and Tailors. John Pohlman was a Pohlman was a salesman during his salesman during his working career.working career.

FoodFood There are still many There are still many

German dishes that German dishes that were continued once were continued once the Pohlman’s moved to the Pohlman’s moved to America and some of America and some of these cuisines are still these cuisines are still enjoyed by the Pohlman enjoyed by the Pohlman family to date. One of family to date. One of those meals being those meals being sauerbraten and sauerbraten and spaetzle. Which is in the spaetzle. Which is in the most basic terms a type most basic terms a type of pot roast and soft of pot roast and soft egg noodle or egg noodle or dumpling.dumpling.

ReligonReligon Dating back into the early 1700’s the Dating back into the early 1700’s the

Pohlman family has been devout Catholics. Pohlman family has been devout Catholics. These religious beliefs and morals were These religious beliefs and morals were carried over when they arrived here in carried over when they arrived here in America. It was of the up most importance America. It was of the up most importance that all the Pohlman children receive their that all the Pohlman children receive their education from private catholic schools in the education from private catholic schools in the area. Although this was an economic area. Although this was an economic hardship for them, they felt they would not hardship for them, they felt they would not want their children brought up any other way. want their children brought up any other way.

Catholic SchoolingCatholic Schooling John Pohlman was John Pohlman was

brought up going brought up going to an all boys to an all boys Catholic school and Catholic school and also made it a also made it a priority that his priority that his own children own children receive the same receive the same type of education type of education that he did.that he did.

PoliticsPolitics

We know that part of the reason that the We know that part of the reason that the Pohlman family choose to leave Germany Pohlman family choose to leave Germany was to get away from political movements was to get away from political movements that were occurring there around that time. that were occurring there around that time.

TraditionsTraditions Whether or not this is a tradition, there Whether or not this is a tradition, there

is an apparent patteren that Pohlmans’ is an apparent patteren that Pohlmans’ have been forming dating back as far have been forming dating back as far as the 1700’s. This is the tradition of as the 1700’s. This is the tradition of having a big family. Looking at all of having a big family. Looking at all of the Pohlman’s each generation the Pohlman’s each generation normally has a family of at least 8 normally has a family of at least 8 children or more. John Pohlman was children or more. John Pohlman was raised with 9 other brother and sisters.raised with 9 other brother and sisters.

The Pohlman FamilyThe Pohlman Family

WarWar Johann Bernard Heinrich Pohlman, for Johann Bernard Heinrich Pohlman, for

whom John Pohlman gets his name sake, whom John Pohlman gets his name sake, played a role in the famous civil war. He played a role in the famous civil war. He was one of the 15,000 “Squirrel Hunters” was one of the 15,000 “Squirrel Hunters” called upon during the Civil War to called upon during the Civil War to construct and man a series of construct and man a series of fortifications on the crests of hills on the fortifications on the crests of hills on the Kentucky side of the river in anticipation Kentucky side of the river in anticipation of an invasion by Bragg-Smith which of an invasion by Bragg-Smith which never happened.never happened.

Civil War “Squirrel Hunters”Civil War “Squirrel Hunters”

War and its direct influenceWar and its direct influence John told of many family John told of many family

members that had been in members that had been in some way apart of the civil some way apart of the civil war, but one family member war, but one family member that is held close to his that is held close to his heart that directly affected heart that directly affected him was his brother Jim. He him was his brother Jim. He was only 18 when he joined was only 18 when he joined the Marines and was soon the Marines and was soon shipped off to fight in Iwo shipped off to fight in Iwo Jima where he tragically lost Jima where he tragically lost his life. This deeply affected his life. This deeply affected John and it is what inspired John and it is what inspired him to also join the Marines him to also join the Marines when he turned 18.when he turned 18.

What do I think of all this?What do I think of all this? After interviewing John Pohlman, my After interviewing John Pohlman, my

dad, I am very proud of my German dad, I am very proud of my German heritage and am grateful for this project heritage and am grateful for this project to bring to light things about my family to bring to light things about my family that I was previously unaware of. I that I was previously unaware of. I have always wanted to be able and have always wanted to be able and travel back to Germany and see where travel back to Germany and see where my ancestors came from and immerse my ancestors came from and immerse myself in a culture that is my birthright.myself in a culture that is my birthright.