Hermann Heinrich Pfingsten
Family Tree Maker Volume 13, Tree 1709 (Tamar Schumacher) provided the following information:

The name "Pfingsten" in German means "Pentecost". The word "Kreis" means vicinity or county. Kurhessen was one of the then 39 states, which were later united and became Germany. He was the leader of a group (we don't know how many) that came to Ameria in 1847. The story is that they were all related in some manner. There is no documented proof, but most likely they sailed on the Weser River, from Minden, which is near Apelern, to Bremen, paying toll to each state they passed through. From Bremen they set sail for American. One point of interest regarding the trip is that they missed the ship they planned to sail on and had to sail two weeks later. Not being wealthy, this delay strained their finances and there was some brubling toward Heinrich. But there was no turning back. They had "burnt the bridges behind them". This was the last scheduled trip of the ship they sailed on and then it was to be junked. The ship they missed was last at sea, and never heard from again. Ocean going ship of that time were known as"Coffin Ships" or "Floating Coffins". The ships were overcrowded, and did not provide the legal quota of provisions and water. Dangerously antique in construction, built to carry approximately 200 0passengers but usually took on 275 passengers, more less. No Sanitary conveniences of any kend were provided. Some passengers didn't see daylight during the intire voyage they were shut up in the uninventilated hold of the ship. Sleeping accommodations were very meager. Most passengers slept anywhere and everywhere. These conditions caused the dreaded "Ship Fever" and without doctors and medicines this resulted in many deaths. Of 100,000 emigrants from Europe in 1847, an estimated 17,000 perished and were buried at sea. Sailing time averaged 8 weeks. In 1847, a US commissioner of immigration wrote " If crosses or tombs could be erected on the water, the route of the immigrent vessels from Europe to America would assume the appearance of a crowded cemetery." From the diary of an immigrant comes the entry. "Upon arrival, hundreds were literally flung on the beach, left amid the mud and stones, to crawl on the dry land as best as they could, and dying like fish out of water.

The ship, on which Heinrich Pfingsten sailed to America, landed farther North than planned, ans sailed up the St. Lawrence River. From there on the story is very vague, except that it mentions a "Merritt Ditch". After the long tedious voyage over the Atlantic, there remained the strenous journey inland to Chicago. they may have come overland, but most likely they came by ship, sailing up the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and then through the Great Lakes. Typical of the times, land agents were there to meet them to sell land,some of which is now downtown Chicago, One member of the group, Flente, bought land there and became quite wealthy. Heinrich and the others in the group decided that the land was "too swampy". They headed 25 miles northwest to an area where four families of their acquaintance had settled in 1833. GREVE, MEYER, OTTMANN, and SUNDERLAGE'S.

Their destination was Sarah's Grove, a small wooded area just west of present Schaumburg Center. Sarah's Grove came to be known in later years as Schween's Grove. In 1964 it was named Timercrest. The group of immigrants bought land in this area. Heinrich bought land in the southeast part of what is now Schaumburg township, on Meacham Rd. and at a point where Touhy Ave. would be if it were extended straight west from Chicago. This is the home farm where the remaining six of Heinrich and Sophia's nine children were born. Three secceeding generations were born here, and the farm remained in the Pfingsten family until 1959. On arrival, the settlers had to establish title to land, acquire a team of horses or oxen, and a plow to start the difficutl task of breaking the sod, not always with sublime patience. Fortunately, wild game was plentiful for the early immigrants to subsist on during the first year.

The fireplace was built of rocks and had an iron lid across the top for cooking. It sometimes became smoky in the house, but this did not fade the wallpaper nor harm the paneled and painted walls, as there were none. Beds were usually straw sacks laid on the floors. later, when they were able to buy bedsteads, mattresses were made of corn husks, quilts were filled with goose or duck feathers instead of cotton, as was done later. Wells, for water, were dug by hand. A hole about 4' in diameter and probably 20,20 or 40 ft. deep until water was found.

Entertainment, a social necessity for anyone, was a family affair. Most of the necessities of life were produced on the farm. There weren't many amusements, but being as frugal as they were, our forefathers made pleasure out of work, by turning work into communal activities, such as barn raising, quilting, paring apples or pumpkins, making soap, wolf hunts, or any other task that could make use of more than one or two pair of hands. Weddings were great community social events, and it was considered an honor to be asked, or invited, to help prepare for the festivities, and again the day after, if there was any tidying up to be done. Newspapers and periodicals were scarce in the prairie settlements. At the various gathering, news of the outside world was passed from settler to settler. Political and religious questions were discussed freely, keenly and sometimes violently. Whiskey sold in gallon jugs, for the same price as vinegar. Around 1890 or 1895, whiskey sold for .90 a gallon. In the hot summer months, when working in the field, vinegar was often added to drinking water, same as lemons are added today.

The job of nursing the family back to health, after sickness or injury, usually fell to the housewife. Sometimes she employed home remedies which had been handed down to her, sometimes she used methods learned from the Indians. Native roots and herbs were often used. The fat from skunks was rubbed on the chest to cure chest colds. Beef fat was used as a hand lotion. Lab fat was preferred, but rarely available. Mild camimile tea was used as a hear rinse. Leather work shoes were kept soft and pliable with unsalted port fat.

In 1854, Heinrich received his final citizenship papers.

By 1850 several dozen immigrants had settled in the area and it was time to layout a township. Several names were discussed. Finally, with impatience, Fred Nerge punded his fist on the table and said, "Schaumburg schall it be named." Schaumburg Township was organized in spring 1852 (pop 489) before which time it formed a part of what was formerly known as Salt Creek Precinct. First town meeting was held April 2, 1852. Heinrich was elected as highway commissioner. He was a charter member of the first St. Peters Lutheran Church, Schaumburg,IL when it opened in 1848.

During the Civil War, Heinrich organized a "Home Militia". All able bodied men, and women, were trained to handle firearms, in case of attack. Some of the men from the community served in the Ohio Army of Volunteers during the Civil War. The names of some are inscribed on the "Illinois" monument at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A year after their church was built, Heinrich and Sophia were ready for a new house. Some fine bricks were left over from the the Church construction, and these were bought by Heinrich to start his new house. Additional bricks were hauled by horse and ox-drawn wagons from Dundee and Chicago. This house withstood the tornado of 1933, the winds were so strong, that after the windows had been blown out, straw was driven into the plaster of the opposite wall. Five generations of Pfingstens lived in this house. It was still in use in 1965, 101 years later.

They are buried at St. Peters Lutheran Church, Schaumburg, IL.

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