Departure for the New World
In the 19th century, millions of Germans left their homeland to begin new lives in America. Among them were members of the Nisius family from the Eifel region. Their stories tell of courage, hardship, and the hope for a better life – but also of the connections that endured across the Atlantic.
The wave of emigration from the Eifel had many causes: crop failures, population growth, limited farmland, and the inheritance practice of Realteilung, which fragmented farms with each generation. Political unrest following the failed revolution of 1848 added further pressure. For many families, the voyage to America was the only escape from poverty.
The journey itself was a gamble. From the villages of the Eifel, emigrants first traveled to Antwerp, Le Havre, or Bremen – Europe’s great emigration ports. There, overcrowded sailing ships and later steamers awaited, crossing the Atlantic in six to ten weeks. Disease, storms, and cramped conditions took their toll. Not everyone reached their destination.
Wisconsin became home for many German emigrants. The state offered fertile farmland, established German communities, and a climate reminiscent of the Eifel. Cities like Milwaukee, Madison, and smaller towns in rural Wisconsin became centers of German immigration. Here, Nisius families established farms, opened businesses, and built new lives.
The connection to the old homeland never completely severed. Letters crossed the Atlantic, relatives followed, and some even returned. Today, descendants of the emigrated Nisius families live in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other U.S. states – often unaware that their roots lie in a small village in the Eifel.
Explore the Topics
The Crossing
From the Eifel to America: Routes and Fates
What routes did the emigrants take? This article reconstructs the journey: from Eifel villages through Rhine ports to the arrival halls in New York and Baltimore. With passenger lists, ship routes, and individual stories.
Life in Wisconsin
Life in Wisconsin: Nisius Immigrants in the American Heartland
What awaited the Nisius families in the New World? This article will document immigrant life in Wisconsin: farm establishments, community life, integration, and the preservation of German traditions across generations.
Migration Timeline
Occupational Map: Eifel → Wisconsin
The interactive timeline visualizes the transformation of occupations across time and space – from the vintners and farmers of the Eifel to the farmers and merchants in Wisconsin.
Sources & Resources
Various archives and databases are available for researching emigration history:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| US National Archives (NARA) | Census Records 1880, 1900, 1910 |
| Ellis Island | New York passenger lists 1892–1957 |
| FamilySearch | Free genealogical database |
| Landeshauptarchiv Koblenz | Emigration lists from the Rhineland |
Continue Reading
- The Name Nisius – Etymology and origins of the family name
- The Occupations – Working life and social origins
- The Nisius Chronicle – All articles on family history
This page is part of the Nisius Chronicle – a research project on the history of the Nisius family in the Eifel and America.