The Klitscher-Zander history

Information provided on this page has been provided via:

  • Barry Zander (Leigh Creek South Australia) in documentation provided to Benno and Helen written in 1994
  • 'Klitscher Family History 1856-2008' book privately published chronicling the descendants of the Klitscher family, who settled in South Australia in 1856.
  • Wikitree https://www.wikitree.com/genealogy/KLITSCHER
  • http://zandermob.com/

Lutheran Heritage

In the 1800s, Lutherans in Tucheim experienced a major religious shift due to the Prussian Union of Churches. While the local parish continued worshipping in its historic 18th-century church, the Prussian crown forced all Lutheran congregations to merge with Reformed (Calvinist) churches into a single state-controlled Protestant church. The attempted suppression of the Old Lutherans led many to emigrate to Australia, Canada, and the United States, which resulted in the creation of significant Lutheran denominations in those countries (see Wikipedia).

Early family records are closely tied to German-Australian Lutheran communities, including congregations like St. Martin's Lutheran Church.

Emigration to South Australia

Johannas Andreas Zander and his wife Maria Dorothea (Ahrendt) emigrated from Tucheim, Germany (at the time in Magdeburg, Prussia) in 1877 to Australia. The journey took four months on the the 462 ton barque the 'Peter Godefroy'.

1877 was not a good year to arrive in Australia, particularly South Australia where Johann and Maria eventually settled in Rocky Plain south east of Robertson.  In the 1880's crops failed regularly and production declined for farmers (which the Zanders were). Rabbits and plague locusts added to the problems. It was a harsh, drought driven area.

Together they had eight children, four boys and four girls. Five of the family were born in Germany before emigration.

Grave of Johann and Maria Dorothea in Robertstown, South Australia

Lutheran church in Robertstown where the Zander children went to school.

Johann Andreas and Maria Dorothea

The church font at the Lutheran Church in Tucheim

Johann August Zander and Anna Elisabeth Klitscher 

Johann August was 13 years old when he travelled from Tucheim with his parents, four brothers and one sister. His name appears as Friederick August on the passenger list of the 'Peter Godefroy' but all other records refer to him as Johann August. He was known by the family as August.

His marriage is recorded in the Emmaus Church Register in South Australia on February 16th, 1888 to Anna Elisabeth Klitscher. Together they had 10 children, the youngest two, Benno included, were born in Marton, New Zealand.

The Lutheran Church played an important part in  the families life.  Anna Elisabeth's brother, Pastor Johannes Gotthilf Klitscher,  went into the Lutheran Ministry and became the pastor at St Martin's Church in Marton in 1899. He came with his mother who became his housekeeper.  After a family tragedy, Anna Elisabeth wanted to be close to her mother so the whole family came to Marton in 1903. Other siblings had also moved there.

Johann August and Anna Elisabeth with some of their grandhildren at Turakina Beach.

August and Anna and extended family

Anna Elisabeth and her day bed she would rest in due to her arthritis, with Keith Zander and other

Granny Zander (Anna Elisabeth) with Fiona and Alan Zander.

They bought a 20 acre property in Calico line where they built their home. August milked a cow and grew a good vegetable garden and planted fruit trees. To frighten the birds he had a tin with stones in  it that had a string attached to it hanging in the trees. The string extended to the in side of the house and when he saw some birds robbing the fruit he would pull the string from the inside of the house.

At first August worked for the Birch family of 'Thorseby', on their nearby farm as a cowman and gardener. He maintained the cricket grounds and had a horse called Polly who used to pull the mower. Polly wore boots so she wouldn't mark the pitch!

Every Sunday the family would go to church and then visit Anna Elisabeth and August in their lovely old house in Calico Lane, and full pantry that the grand children would happily raid with her approval. 

Marion recalls granny singing "Mein kinder, mein kinder," to them as they ran up the drive to see her. She walked with two sticks in her later years and was mostly bedridden.

Benno grew up at the house on Calico Lane in Marton. He walked three  miles to attend the Lutheran school in Pukepapa road. 

The Lutherans went through tough times during the world wars. When WW1 broke out in 1914 the local German community experienced a great deal of discrimination. However, because of the burning of Lutheran Churches elsewhere, a careful watch had to be kept on St Martin's Church, Klitscher family descendants amongst others had to watch the church every night to guard against arsonists.

Benno with family members.

Anna Elizabeth with extended family. Helen and baby to her right.

Marton Lutheran Church gathering.