Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance
FAMILY HEIRLOOM RECIPES
Illinois State Fair
August 17, 2013
(images by Catherine Lambrecht)
Contestant:
How Great-Grandma’s German Potato Salad Survived the Generations
Jill Jackson, Grayslake, Illinois
Although I was young, I remember my Great-Grandma well. My Mom, Sister and I, lived in the basement flat, my Grandparents on the first floor and Great-Grandma, Upstairs Grandma we called her, lived on the 2nd floor of the Chicago 2-Flat Home.
Great-Grandma was born Magdalena E. Hackemer on November 10,1872 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey. Her Father, Johann Hackemer ,was born in Germany in 1847 and immigrated to the US in 1867. Her Mother, Magdalena Busch, was born in Bas-Rhin, France, where the native language was German. She immigrated to the US in 1869, met Johann and married in 1870 in New Jersey. This is the beginning of how the recipe became part of our family.
They moved to Chicago where Great-Grandma met and married Eugene Gisselbrect who was also born in Bas-Rhin, France, the same place as her Mother.
She brought the recipe with her and passed it on to her daughters, Selma Emma and Katherine Gisselbrecht. Selma married Otto Neubauer of Austria and had a child, my Mother, Jeanne in 1929. I never met my grandmother Selma, as she died in 1938. My Mother was then raised by her Aunt Katherine, who was married to Ervin Moninger. She was then always considered my Grandmother. And so the recipe was then passed down another generation to my Mother and Aunt.
I have always loved German Potato Salad. We must have had it at all special occasion dinners. I also remember my Mother making it when we were growing up. What I never knew until recently, is that the recipe was never written down, just passed down over the generations by word of mouth and/or demonstrating. It was never passed down to my generation. I remember every time I took my Mother to a deli, she would buy some German Potato Salad and rate it.
A few years ago, Mom in her 80’s, had the foresight of writing down the recipe so it would not be lost. It looks as if she was writing it as she made it, as she remembered it, so she could get the ingredients accurate for us. Mom recently passed away from complications of a long 30 plus year fight with Myasthenia Gravis. It was after that when we discovered this recipe that we have grown up with. I hope that I can do the same justice with the recipe and then pass it on to my own Daughter.
Ancestors of Jill Sally Paschke
First Generation
Jill Sally Paschke was born on 15 Oct 1951 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. I
Second Generation
Jeanne Shirley Neubauer was born on 1 Jan 1929 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.4 She was christened on 17 Feb 1929 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA Pastor B. H. Leesman, St John’s Evangelical Church, Chicago, IL.
Jeanne Shirley Neubauer and Gerald Gordon Paschke were married on 8 May 1948 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.4
She died on 12 Jun 2011 at the age of 82 in Barrington, Cook, Illinois, USA. Jeanne was buried on 16 Jun 2011 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois,
Third Generation
Otto Ferdinand Neubauer was born on 18 Dec 1901 in Ottakring, Wien, Austria.4,11 He immigrated in 1913 to Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.12 He was naturalized on 18 Jun 1931 in US District Court, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Otto died on 20 Jun 1993 at the age of91 in Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Cook, Illinois, United States. 13 He was buried on 24 Jun 1993 in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. 13 He was also known as Ottokar Ferdinand Neubauer. Immigrated to US 1913 with his aunt and male friend of his aunt; Naturalized after 1920
Occupation: 1920 Laborer, cemetery; 1930 Milk distributor
Selma Emma Gisselbrecht and Otto Ferdinand Neubauer were married on 27 Jun 1925 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. 14
Selma Emma Gisselbrecht was born on 7 Dec 1901 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. 14 She died on 14 Feb 1938 at the age of 36 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. 14 She was buried on 17 Feb 1938 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States.7,14 Funeral at St John’s Evangelical Church, Moffat St and Campbell Ave.
Fourth Generation
Eugene Gisselbrecht4 was born on 28 Apr 1874 in Baldenheim, Bas-Rhin, France. 14,24 He died on 28 Mar 1949 at the age of 74 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. 10 He was buried on 30 Mar 1949 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States.7,14 Immigrated to US 1893; Naturalized 1903; 1920–born in ALsace-Loraine, native language French (also for parents)
Occupation: 1900 Woodworker; 1910 Manufacturer of window frames (employer); 1920, 1930 Mill worker in a Sash/door company (owner)
Magdalena E “Lena” Hackemer and Eugene Gisselbrecht were married on 31 Aug 1899 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.5 Marriage License issued 31 Aug 1899; Vol 25, p.132, Lic# 296709
Magdalena E “Lena” Hackemer was born on 10 Nov 1872 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United States.14,25 She died on 19 Jul1963 at the age of 90 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. 14 She was buried on 22 Jul 1963 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States. 7 Funeral Home: Matz Funeral Home, 3440 N Central, Chicago, Cook,IL
Fifth Generation
Laurent Gisselbrecht was born on 29 Nov 1843 in Baldenheim, Bas-Rhin, France.24 He died on 27 Mar 1898 at the age of 54 in St. Elizabeth, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.1O He was buried on 29 Mar 1898 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States.10,14 Laurent was also known as Lorenz Gisselbrecht. Came to US in 1893.
Salome Jehl and Laurent Gisselbrecht were married on 27 Dec 1871 in Baldenheim, Bas-Rhin, France.24
Salome Jehl was born on 25 Dec 1850 in Baldenheim, Bas-Rhin, France.24 She died on 23 Aug 1908 at the age of 57 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.IO She was buried on 25 Aug 1908 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States.1O Came to US in 1893. Six children; 5 living in 1900. Cause of death: Tuberculosis
Johann Hackemer was born on 1 Apr 1847 in Hessen Lande, Germany. 5,25,33 He died on 2 Aug 1926 at the age of 79 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.34 He was buried on 4 Aug 1926 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States.13 Johann was also known as Johann Hackmeyer; John Hackemer. Came to US in 1867; naturalized 1884; 1870 census HannoverlHanover; 1880 census Kier Hessen
Occupation: 1870 Carpenter; 1880 Millwright; 1881 Millwright, house es.; 1900 Grocer; 1910 Grocer (directory) Coffee roaster, wholesale house (census); 1917 Grocer; 1920 Proprietor grocery store.
Magdalena Busch and Johann Hackemer were married in 1869 or 1870 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey. 14,35-36
Magdalena Buschl4 was born on 16 Oct 1846 in Bas-Rhin, France. 10,25,35 She died on 27 Aug 1928 at the age of81 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.37 She was buried on 30 Aug 1928 in Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, Schiller Park, Cook, Illinois, United States.13 Immigrated to US in 1869; 1920– born in Alsace, native language German (also for her parents) 1900: gave birth to 4 children, 2 living; 1910 gave birth to 2 children, 2 living. Possibly from Sundhausen or Mulhausen (Haut-Rhin)
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