Johann Krohmann
Immigrant, Gold Miner, Mayor, Philanthropist
AN INDEX TO FAMILY NAMES ON THE FAMILY TREE CAN BE ACCESSED ON THIS ROOTSWEB LINK:
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Johann Krohmann was born on 4th January 1830 in Budenheim, Germany. He was one of six children resulting from the marriage of his father, Johann to Magdalena Helena Kost. He died in Budenheim on 20th October 1879. Seven years after he returned to Germany from the gold fields of Australia.
He was naturalized an Australia citizen on 9th August 1869 and re naturalized a German citizen on his return there in 1872. He became Mayor of Budenheim
His ancestral line goes back to his second great grandfather Conrad Gromann born abt 1694 in Niederselters,Nassau, Germany. (The Krohmann name has various spellings)
He arrived in Australia on board the “Caesar” in 1855 and spent some time in Clarence Town, NSW before travelling to The Hill End goldfields in 1857.
Johann married my great aunt Eva Heinz in 1860 and he took her to Hill End where he had already built his timber slab and mud cottage, and where the first of their three children were born in 1861.
Johann and Eva built further additions to what is now called "The Krohmann Cottage" (see Krohmann Cottage in section 3 book 1) and his future brother in law, Michael Ackermann built his cottage at the bottom of the block. (Also see the Book "Hill End" by Alan Mayne)
On 30th June 1871 Johann was appointed by the Colonial Secretary,s office to the Board of Public Schools at Hill End (Gov. Gazette 30/06/1871 Issue # 165) along with William Toft Pullen and Alfred Chapple,
Three of Johann's children are listed in the Hill End School Register 1870 to 1872 i.e.
Mary Anne 30th. May 1870
Magdalena 30th. May 1870
Elizabeth (Lizzy) 30th. May 1870 and again on 4th. March 1872
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Five members of the "Frenzel" family lived in Krohmann's cottage in 1925
Elizabeth Krohmann nee Ackermann (Johann's second spouse) stayed in the cottage in 1881 on her return to Australia
Johann became a very rich man from his Gold Mine on Hawkins Hill, registered as "Krohmanns Gold Mining Co". with a nominal capital of 80,000.00 Pounds.
He was also one of 17 registered proprietors with 800 shares in the "Bald Hill Mining Company which was registered on 1st October 1872. On 30th March 1872 he applied for a lease on "South Hargraves" of 10 acres and paid rent of 19 pounds but let the lease lapse when he returned to Germany (Gov. Gazette 05/06/1874)
In 1871 Johann held land situated in Tambaroora of 11 3/4 perches being portion # 152 ( Gov. Gazette 12/11/1872) and according to the Hill End land Occupancy Index 1869/70, he held allotments 1 and 3 in section 19.
According to the Government Gazette dated 27th June 1871 he purchased allotment 6 in section 18 of the Hill End Town Map which in 1874 was owned by J. Bell and is beleived to be the original site of the Dorhauer Timber Yard before it moved to the Germantown Lane area. The appraised value being 6 Pounds. Heinrich Dorhauer either purchased the lot from John Krohmann or leased it from him
On 16th November 1870 he purchased land of 1 acre, 8 1/2 perches which was listed in Book volume CV!!, Parish of Tambaroora Folio 50. (Gov. Gazette 16/11/1870 Issue 279)
Also on 7th October 1871 it was reported tin the "Freeman's Journal" Sydney that he donated 100 pounds of the total raised of 500 pounds to aid in the erection of a Catholic Church in Hill End. The meeting took place at Gard's Hotel on the 30th September 1871.
It was reported in the Evening News, Sydney on 23rd November 1871 that Johann was vice chairman of a large meeting that took place to protest statements that had been made by B. O. Holtermann against Eisenstater's Tambooroora diggings. The result being a unanimous vote of censure was passed upon Holtermann.
Eisenstater struck gold at 4pm the same day as the meeting.
Krohmann Cottage. Photo taken by Ken Duncan abt 2004
Russell A J Dorhauer in the Krohmann Cottage with caretaker resident, Lorraine Miller c. 2008
the Krohmann Cottage extensions
Jon and Russell A J Dorhauer at Krohmann Cottage at Hill End. C. 2010
Krohmann Wine Shop at Hill End. Painting 1974 by William Groves. Supplied by Annette Taylor
When Johann and Eva and their children returned to Germany in 1872, he pledged that if they arrived safely he would commission paintings of the Stations of the Cross for the local church. The Images of the Krohmann Family can be seen in the background of this painting of the Station of the Cross. There is a circle around the image of his deceased wife, Eva. Their son Johann who died age 6, is depicting him as an Angel.
Hung in St. Remigius Church,Osthofen near Alzey, after being transferred from St. Pankratius at Budenheim.
Painting of the Krohmann Family by "Adolf Pfeiffer" 1873. Supplied by Bernhard Krauthausen
L to R > Mary Ann, Madeline (Lena), Elisabeth (Lissy), Eva, Johann jr, Eva Christina Maria, Johann
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Pocket Watch that Johann gave to Adam krohmann, the son of his brother Nikolaus Krohmann after his return to Germany.
The watch is in the possession of Katrin Krohmann who lives in Berlin, and she kindly sent this photo to me in 2010.
Inscribed "In memory of Johann Krohmann 1872"
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See Johann & Eva Heinz site> http://sites.google.com/site/johannevaheinz/
Additional site for the Grohmann Family Tree>http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=grohmann
Link to the Krohmann Photo Album> https://sites.google.com/site/johannkrohmann/home/krohmann-photo-alb
For a wealth of information on the Western Goldfields and particularly Hill End and Tambaroora click on the following website:-
Hill End Gathering Group Website
Author:
Russell Albert James Dorhauer
Krohmann Share Script and a copy of the photo of the Krohmann Gold mine on Hawkin's Hill Hill End
Map of Hill End showing Landholders
The Dorhauer Timber yard had not yet been established on the Kerr block opposite Short street
Johann Kromann's two Blocks are shown in Section 19
John Heinz Allotment is shown in portion 148
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,HEINZ FAMILY https://sites.google.com/site/johannevaheinz/