AboutJames Derheim Expertise I live part of the year in Rothenburg ob der Tauber and so know a great deal about this town. I can also help with questions about the Rhein River Valley, Neckar River Valley, Mosel area, Erzgebirge,
Bamberg area, Black Forest and more. Because of time constraints, I will not help you plan your entire travel itinerary.
Experience I have lived and worked in Europe since 1989, homebased in Germany. I own and operate "European Focus Private Tours" along with my wife Jenean. We have helped more than 600 clients get the most out of their trips to Europe through our unique, custom-designed and fully escorted private tours.
Publications "German Life," "Heritage Quest," "Palatines to America Newsletter"
"Stars and Stripes European edition," "Boston Globe"
Education/Credentials Masters in Photojournalism
Past/Present Clients Have served more than 500 people through my company "European Focus Private Tours" which provides custom-designed, private itineraries to people in the USA, Canada and elsewhere. I personally escort all tours. The largest group we've had in our 14-year career was 17, the smallest, 1. (I actually have many singles tours) I spend from April through October in Germany each year, leading tours in not just Germany but also Italy, Ireland, England, the Czech Republic and 13 other countries. There is no other company in the world like European Focus, because only European Focus sets the itinerary around what our guests want to see and do.
Question My grandfather immigrated from Germany in 1906 and the records at Ellis Island state that his last place of residence was Egetler, Germany. Have you ever heard of this town / place? Possibly the name has changed since 1906.
Answer Greetings Deb,
Alas, there is no town or village in Germany by this name. Records from Ellis Island are notorious for being incorrect. People at the gates of entry into America were in a hurry and they wrote down what they thought they heard, even coming from a recent arrival who spoke practically no English or who spoke with a thick accent. There was no attempt at accuracy back then. Who would have known that a hundred and one years later someone would want to know?
Regarding name changes, this would only happen if your grandfather came from one of the territories now inside the former Soviet Union, like Poland (Pommern or Pommerania or Prussia).
See if you can find something else, like his obituary. Sometimes obits give clues to a person's origin.
