Who emmigrated to America with his family in 1848 to settle on a farm about three miles north of Westphalia, Indiana.
Herman Dietrich Begemann was born in the year 1783 in Germany. He was a sucessful farmer on his own country estate, Yaegerborn (Hunters Spring) in the district of Sternberg, Lippe Germany.
During his time in Germany, the province was called Fuerstenthum (Principality) Lippe Detmold, and it was ruled by Prince Waldemar. (His castle is in Detmold, surrounded by a moat, is now a tourist stop) Prince Waldemar was a thick set man with a luxurious beard and a mild look. He ruled from 1824 to 1875. Lippe-Detmold was 429 square miles in area with a population of 128,400 predominantly Protestant, with 4,500 Catholics and about 1,000 Jews. The chief city was Detmold, with a population of a little under 40,000.
Lippe has long been known for its privately owned small estates, usually about 3 acres in size. Yaegerborn is estimated to be about 100 acres at present. It was twice that size when the Begemanns sold the estate, but it was reduced to its present size when a member of nobility bought it and kept selling parcels of land for personal income. It is said he used the place as a hunting lodge, and in about 1900 built the tower on the living quarters. (Note in 1952 Mrs. Masteller went to Germany and visited Yaegerborn, where the original house is still standing and in good shape. The castle is now owned by Frau Dr. Sommer, who allowed her to take pictures of the buildings on the estate.)
The estate, originally a cloister, earned its name in the olden days of the chase, when hunters stopped there to kill game and refresh themselves at the spring. The main building is two full stories, with a high gabled slate roof, is estimated to have been built in about 1800, Its outside walls are stucco with wood trim. Inside are living quarters. A long front hall with a beautiful staircase. At the rear of these is a huge barn. Tiles in the kitchen and hall are today still the original ones, 18 X 18 inch stone. There are at least four buildings clustered near the house, one which has beautiful tile as the outside walls.
A short distance to the east or northeast of Yaegerborn lies the town of Hamlin (Hameln) on the river Weser, site of the Pied Piper story.
Herman sold his estate in Germany in 1848 to emmigrate to America. Under the German law, Frederich, as the oldest living son, would have inherited the entire estate. It was his suggestion that they come to America, as he wished all to have a fair share in the inheritance, Frederich had to sign a document to give his consent for the sale of the estate. This document was in the hands of his sister Sophia Begeman/Sander, mother of George Sander living on the Sander homestead, north of Westphalia, near Sandborn, Indiana.
Frederich and William came first to America to learn what it was actually like at first hand, before the final desision to move was made. Frederich died before the others arrived. Herman promised his wife that he would duplicate the house in Yaegerborn for her in Indiana, but was unable to find the materials needed
The family came by sail boat, the voyage lasted 8 weeks, they landed at New Orleans. They came, by flat boat up the Missippi and the Ohio River to Evansville, IN where they stayed for 3 months before they found the homestead land in Knox County, IN.
Herman died near Westphalia on Dec. 24 1852 and is buried in the Begeman Family Cemetery, at that time a part of the homestead property. His wife Louise, and many of the children are also buried there, on a farm 1 1/2 miles north of Westphalia, in Vigo Township.
Editors Notes: This document was sent to me by Paul (2nd or 3rd generation photocopy). It does not say who the author is or when it was written. Included was a note saying that the Cemetery still exists and that he estimates that there are 20 to 25 Begemans resting there. Some of the tombstones have double "n" spellings. His brother Conrad (living in Freelandville (Edwardsport?), IN) knows where the cemetery is located. If anyone has any further info on this branch, I would like to post it. Rick