At the end of the nineteenth century  the Wiedemeier family made its way to America in hopes of freedom and opportunity.  I am the third generation born in the United States.  As a young person I was always curious, wanting to know who my family and ancestors were.   When I talked with relatives it was apparent that little was passed down from the ancestors.  Soon  the older family started to die and I wanted something from these people before they passed on.  I wanted some reminant of their heritage.    It was a tragedy that the first generation who came to this country left so little information behind about their lives and origin.  There seemed to be alot of confusion about the few things that were passed down.  Most members of our family will soon be cut off from any knowledge of their roots and heritage due to their own reluctance to preserve the past.  All they will have to pass on is a long last name that most people find difficult to spell. 

            I made a decision to collect whatever I could and make it available to the family. A long the way Raymond and Karen Wiedemeier and Gerald and Millie Wiedemeier were very helpful.  Perhaps in my endeavor I have made a few mistakes and have added to the confusion.  At least putting this on paper  will be a  beginning to a new awareness.  After the first book was finished a family meeting was held on November 6, 1994 to discuss my efforts and to add additional materials into my book.  At that meeting were Cecelia Wiedemeier Schwartz,Carol Kobus,Francis Miller Ewaldt,Gerald Wiedemeier, Alice Kampke, John Wayne Wiedemeier, and myself.    I have spent a great deal of time researching materials which have been obscure for many generations.  There were many miracles along the way which speeded me along in my research.  I wish to express my appreciation to many Wiedemeier family members and others who have helped me with much of the information in this book.  I also want to express appreciation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for maintaining the worlds largest collection of records.  It was at their Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah that I was able to get a hold of the Catholic Church's German Saint Nikolaus, Saint Achatius, Saint John the Baptist, and Maria Geburt church records.