Johann Jurgens's Death
This will be sad to read, and it is hard for me to write. Yet it is part of our family history and might turn out to be helpful information. We all want to be proud of our ancestors, and certainly Johann Jurgens did many things for which we can feel proud. He was a gifted artist and a talented gymnast. He had the vision of bringing El Dorado Carousel to Coney Island even though circumstances ruined his chance to profit from it. I think, however, he never found a lasting peace of mind. Actually, very few do. Even in his business, Johann moved to a new place every few years, always looking for better opportunities. If we track his location by the time we know he was definitely there, here's what it looks like. Altona, Germany, 1856 birth; August 1881 German citizenship certificate Germany, 1887-1880 military service Meiningen, Germany, March 1886 first marriage New York, August 1887 immigration Buffalo, NY, March 1891 photo Hamburg, Germany, April 1894 birth of son Ernst; August 189...