Click here to see and idealized 19th century German concepts of life in the United States, courtesy of the City of Hamburg website

Early immigrants to Indiana came primarily from Great Britain and Europe, frequently from Germany. Most settlers were farmers, seeking new, fertile tracts of land.

They traveled to the United States by ship, often in "steerage", the area below the main deck of the ship, where fares were cheaper. The ocean voyage from northern Europe to America usually lasted several weeks, but could last more than a month in bad weather. In steerage, the decks were narrow and usually had a ceiling-height of less than 6 feet. Water and food were often insufficient to meet the needs of these passengers. Living quarters were cramped - up to 300 people might be sleeping on single cots stacked two or three high, with little room for more than luggage by their bedside. Often more passengers than allowed were taken on board. The only air and light available was through a hatchway which was kept closed during stormy or rough weather.

 

The Deutschland, a ship which carried emigrants from Hamburg, Germany, ca 1847. By 1900, Hamburg was considered to be the most important emigration port in Germany. Between 1836 and 1914, more than 4 million people left the continent from Hamburg. Courtesy of the City of Hamburg website.

Indiana Historical Society