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HISTORICAL ROMANIAN FAMILY HISTORY: Theobald M. Nagel From Theobald M. Nagel and Gertruda Kuss Theobald M. Nagel was born on December 16, 1886 and Gertruda Kuss was born in 1891. They were married on November 17, 1908 in Krasna. Theobald was the son of Michael Nagel and Elisabeth Leinz, while Gertruda was the daughter of Peter Kuss and Marianna Seifert. The couple had seven children together. Petronilla Nagel was born on December 30, 1910 and baptized in December 1910 or January 1911. Apollonia Nagel was born in 1914 and married Peter Menges in 1933 in Brazil, where the family emigrated in 1930. Rufina Nagel was born on February 18, 1918 and baptized the following day. Angela Nagel was born on July 14, 1920 and baptized on July 18 of the same year. Mathias Nagel, the couple's first child with this name, was born on September 11, 1922 and died on June 19, 1926. Elisabeth Nagel was born on November 15, 1924 and baptized the following day. The second Mathias Nagel was born on March 11, 1928, baptized on the same day and died on June 12 of the same year. At the beginning of the 20th century, Romania faced periods of war and political instability, especially in the region of Bessarabia, where the Nagel family came from. Bessarabia, located between the Prut and Dniester rivers, was a historically disputed area and, at the time, belonged to Romania. Its fertile land and strategic position attracted the interest of various powers, making life in the region uncertain for many families. Against this backdrop, the Nagel family, originally from Krasna in Bessarabia, decided to seek a better life elsewhere. Through letters, they learned about the opportunities in Brazil, a country with fertile land and a promising environment for immigrants. Theobald M. Nagel and his wife Gertruda decided to embark on this journey together with their daughters Apollonia (17), Rufina (12), Angela (09) and Elizabeth, known as Lice (05). They left Romania on May 7, 1930 aboard the ship Monte Sarmiento and faced a journey of almost a month before arriving in Brazil. The Monte Sarmiento had a capacity of 13,625 tons, three diesel engines of 7,000 horsepower each and two propellers, built at the Blohm & Voss shipyard. It had large, elegant lounges for smoking, reading, ladies, socializing and entertainment with radio sets and other distractions, such as an orchestra. It also had extensive and luxurious dining rooms, illuminated and ventilated by large windows. It was launched in 1924 and commanded on its maiden voyage by Captain Hans Meyer. On November 20, 1924, it set sail from Vigo on its first cruise. It had a service speed of 14 knots and the capacity to carry 1,300 third class passengers and 1,150 fourth class passengers, although on the first cruises it only carried third class passengers, which was equivalent to the second class of other ships. In 1943, it was sunk by an Allied bombing raid, then recovered and dismantled. On landing in Brazil, the immigrants were taken to warehouses, where they waited for farmers interested in hiring them to work on their land. After a few years of working and saving money, the Nagel family and other Romanian immigrants decided to move to southern Brazil, where some of their compatriots already lived. Theobald, Ghertruda and the rest of the family, except Ângela, settled in colonies near the cities of Santo Ângelo and Ijuí, in Rio Grande do Sul. They found housing and work in the region, adapting to their new life in Brazil. Peter and Apolônia Menges lived for some years in Linha Laranjeira, Itapiranga, where some of their children were born. They were close friends of Simon Soehn. Meanwhile, Angela Nagel remained in Itapiranga with her husband Guilherme Bruno Kroth, whom she met and married. Over time, the Romanian immigrant families adapted to the new reality and expanded their properties, contributing to the development of the municipalities. After their marriage, Angela and Bruno decided to welcome boarders into their home to help with expenses and supplement their income. Angela was known for cooking large pots of food and washing the guests' families' clothes in the River Uruguay. On the other hand, Rufina married Beno Diemer, and Elizabeth married José Cassal, with whom she had several children, expanding the Nagel family in Brazil. Both families settled in Ijuí-RS, where their descendants still live. The Nagel family's story is an example of the determination and courage of Romanian immigrants who sought a better life in Brazil. Over the decades, they adapted to the difficulties and contributed significantly to the progress of the country that welcomed them so warmly. They were able to overcome adversity and create a new life, maintaining the traditions of their homeland while embracing Brazilian culture. A trajetória da família Nagel ilustra os desafios enfrentados pelos imigrantes ao se estabelecerem em um país desconhecido e sua capacidade de se reinventar e prosperar. Com o passar do tempo, os descendentes de Teobaldo e Gertrudes Nagel foram se integrando à sociedade brasileira, mas sem perder suas raízes culturais e mantendo viva a história de seus antepassados. Em resumo, a família Nagel é um exemplo de resiliência e superação, assim como muitos outros imigrantes que se estabeleceram no Brasil no século XX. Eles enfrentaram adversidades e desafios, mas conseguiram se adaptar e prosperar em uma terra estrangeira, contribuindo de maneira significativa para o desenvolvimento do país e deixando um legado importante para as futuras gerações. Text: Marcio Kroth Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator |