Is there a historical society in PR?

[Ibenburg]

Hi, my name is Christopher and I am looking for information on my maternal great-grandfather, Friedrich Louis Otto Gassdorf, whose last known residence was 'an old wooden shack' (as he himself described it) somewhere in Central Aguirre, Puerto Rico, from where he sent his last letter to his daughter - my grandmother - in March 1913. He said he was about to return to NY on a ship, but this was the last time anybody heard from him.

Friedrich was born in 1869 in a little town near Erfurt, Germany, and worked as a chemist in the sugar industry. He left his estranged wife and several kids (one of whom was my materal grandmother Linda, who died two years ago at the age of 102) to find his fortune in America. He probably worked on a sugar plantation in Puerto Rico somewhere around 1904 and later 'americanized' his first name to spell it 'Fredrick', or sometimes 'Frederick', on official papers and eventually became a naturalized US citizen in 1906. Then, he tried his luck as a businessman in Yonkers, NY. His business associate took Friedrich's money and vanished, apparently leaving the latter penniless.

Friedrich continued to write to his beloved daughter, Linda, every once in a while, but the few letters I have do not shed much light on what he was actually doing during the last few years. I only know he had been to various places throughout the Carribean and to Mexico.

I wonder if there is anybody out there who can help me to find out what happened to him. Is there a historical society perhaps which could help?

Any information would be very much appreciated!

Bye!

Chris

[macumba]

Hi Chris,
Try searching on http://www.EllisIsland.org. He is listed as arriving on June 16, 1918. It lists his residence as Essexville, Michigan.

Good luck!

Miguel
http://www.cumba.com

[Ibenburg]

Thank you so much for the information you provided in your reply to my posting, Miguel! I immediately tried the EllisIsland.org database search and I found him!!! Man, this is great! I always thought he died before World War I, and now I find out he was still alive in June 1918! Even the place of residence is listed! Wow!!

Apparently, he had been to Puerto Rico regularly during that time, possibly still working for that sugar processing plant where I know he had already been working in 1904. Unfortunately, I do not know where this plant was situated. Could anyone give me a hint as to where I could find out which sugar processing plants have been in existance around 1918 in PR?

Miguel, thank you once again for helping me! Contrary to what many people think, the Internet is a place populated mostly by GREAT people!!!

[macumba]

Hi Chris,

I found some more info for you. Central Aguirre is the name of the sugar plant.
Here is a link about it: http://www.asme.org/sections/prsection/aguirre.html

On the Ellis Island database, it said he was coming from Coamo in Puerto Rico. Coamo is a town in central PR. It is well known for it's natural baths.

It's not too far from where I was born but I never made it there, maybe next time.

It is a pleasure to help you out in this quest, I too, have been doing my family search and it is not easy. Any chance I have to help out, I take it.

Miguel

[Camano]

With so many contradictions with loyalists I forget that humane individuals still exist!!!