Richard Eller
In September, 2007 Lydia and I flew to Athens, Greece for a two week vacation aboard a sailing ship named the ‘Star Flyer’. The cabin we were assigned was not acceptable. We asked if we could change cabins. We were referred to the ship’s Hotel Manager, Richard Eller.
I introduced myself to Mr. Eller. Richard said “You have a good German name.” “I knew Trefzgers.” “Where did you know Trefzgers”, I asked. “In the Black Forest”, he replied. “Where in the Black Forest”, I asked. “In Wehr”.
Richard was born in Wehr. He went to grade school and high school in Wehr with Trefzgers. He knows Herman Trefzger very well. He lived in Wehr until the 1970s.
I told Richard that my great grandfather Simon Trefzger was born in Wehr in 1831. He, his wife and 2 children left Wehr to go to America in 1855. After our Civil War he returned to Wehr to heal sores on his legs. He couldn’t leave Wehr until 1872 because of the Franco-Prussian War. My grandfather Frederick was born in Wehr in 1871.
On my grandmothers side my great grandfather Johann Berger married Katharina Trefzger Bruegger who owned a textile mill in Wehr. They sold the Mill and went to America in 1851.
Richard was quite surprised and said that his family was related to the Bergers.
During the course of our two week sailing adventure Richard told me:
The Trefzger Bakery and Café went out of business.
There is a Trefzger in the tile and construction business.
Another Trefzger is selling ovens.
Another is in music.
Richard said that there are 12 or 13,000 people in Wehr.
The Pharmaceutical Company is the largest industry in town.
A textile mill is still operating.
The firm that made fabrics and carpet for the automobile industry went out of business.
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