My Marquart ancestors emigrated from Erbach in Hessen, Germany to Viborg, Denmark in 1759 with about 200 others. They were settled on the 'Alhede' heath with the objective of cultivating it. However it wasn't until about a century later that their efforts were rewarded after they had found that potatoes were a popular new food source which could be grown in the infertile soil. These settlers became known as the Potato Germans. The Book (668KB)
The society:
The Kartoffeltyskerne society of descendants was formed some years ago in Frederiks near Viborg. Home page..
The spark:
The spark that started interest in documenting my genealogy was a small booklet written by Joh. P. Pedersen called "Our Family History and Memories". Danish Booket.. (330KB)
