Johannes Katronnes Wilhelm
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The first version of the legend of Johannes Katronnes Wilhelm comes from [[Carl LeRoy Wilhelm|Roy Wilhelm]] as told to him by his father, [[Zemira George Wilhelm]]. This version of it was written down in 1981: | The first version of the legend of Johannes Katronnes Wilhelm comes from [[Carl LeRoy Wilhelm|Roy Wilhelm]] as told to him by his father, [[Zemira George Wilhelm]]. This version of it was written down in 1981: | ||
| - | Johannes Katronnes Wilhelm was a single man in the Prussian Army, probably in the 1760s or 70s. The army compound where he was assigned was bordered on three sides by a high barbed fence but was bordered on the other side by the Rhine River. It was not considered possible for anyone to swim the river. | + | Johannes Katronnes Wilhelm was a single man in the Prussian Army, probably in the 1760s or 70s. The army compound where he was assigned was bordered on three sides by a high barbed fence, but was bordered on the other side by the Rhine River. It was not considered possible for anyone to swim the river. |
| - | Johannes became unhappy and dissatisfied with the army and devised a plan to escape. He saved some bread from every meal and hid it in a knapsack in his bed. When he thought he had enough bread to sustain himself he took the knapsack and a 14" straight edge razor and with only the clothes he had on his back he slipped out of the barracks in the night and succesfully escaped by swimming the river. When he reached the opposite shore he was in a foreign country. He was able to make his way to the seacoast where he became a stowaway on a steamship bound for America. He arrived in New York City. | + | Johannes became unhappy and dissatisfied with the army and devised a plan to escape. He saved some bread from every meal and hid it in a knapsack in his bed. When he thought he had enough bread to sustain himself, he took the knapsack and a 14" straight edge razor, and with only the clothes he had on his back, he slipped out of the barracks in the night and succesfully escaped by swimming the river. When he reached the opposite shore he was in a foreign country. He was able to make his way to the seacoast where he became a stowaway on a steamship bound for America. He arrived in New York City. |
| - | According to the Wilhelm family he met and married an Englishwoman by the name of Mercy Farrington. Wilhelm was resourceful and had natural business instincts. He amassed a sizeable fortune, raised a large family and eventually became a farmer in the Finger Lakes district of New York. | + | According to the Wilhelm family, he met and married an Englishwoman by the name of Mercy Farrington. Wilhelm was resourceful and had natural business instincts. He amassed a sizeable fortune, raised a large family and eventually became a farmer in the Finger Lakes district of New York. |
When Johannes died his family squabbled over his properties. [[John Benjamin Williams|John Benjamin]] (our ancestor), became so disgusted with the squabbling that he ignored his inheritance. He married Clarissa Hardin and joined the Mormons in Nauvoo and started west with them. | When Johannes died his family squabbled over his properties. [[John Benjamin Williams|John Benjamin]] (our ancestor), became so disgusted with the squabbling that he ignored his inheritance. He married Clarissa Hardin and joined the Mormons in Nauvoo and started west with them. | ||
