David Jakob DREYDOPPEL

David Jacob Dreydoppel immigrated to America with his brother, Philip Carl , circa 1851. David married Sophia Neitzeert in Oberhonnefeld, Prussia. Her sister, Catherine, immigrated with them, and married Philip Carl in Louisville. I haven't been able to locate many records for David Jacob. His younger brother appears on the federal census records and city directory listings much more often. The 1874 Caron's Directory for the City of Louisville has David Dreidoppel, laborer, residing at 355 Shelby, at the corner of Broadway. We found the corner of Shelby & Broadway, with a new building sitting on this location. The 1875 city directory has David Threedopple still residing at 355 Broadway, corner of Shelby. I didn't findhim in 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, or 1883. Then he's listed in the 1884 issue as David Dreidubble, boards ss Broadway opposite ?. I haven't found his death record, or his wife's. Apparently he died between 1884-1886. She appears in the 1886 issue as widow of David J. Dreydoppel. The 1890 city directory is the latest listing I found for her. 
They weremembers of St. John's Evangelical Church, where their daughter, Anna Catherine Dreydoppel, married Peter Steinauer. I found the confirmation record for Anna Catherine in St. John's records. Her nameis listed as Anna Catherina Margaretha Dreydoppel. The only federal census record I found for them was for 1860. David is listed with wife, Mary, and daughter, Theresa. Theresa is about the age of Anna Catherine, who was known as Catherine or Kate in adulthood. Did she have a fourth name of Theresa? Her death record has some discrepancies. The birth date and age are obviously wrong. I think the informant, obviously her husband, Peter, was so distraught that he couldn't think straight. She left him with young children and babies. He hired a German housekeeper to raise them. We have the housekeeper's portrait, but there's no name on it. 

Getting back to Anna Catherine's father, David Jakob, I was surprised by a message through Ancestry's connection service from Karl Anhauser, giving me vitals on David Jakob Dreydoppel andSophia Neitzert. I replied to the e-mail, and Karl turned out to be a German cousin! He speaks no English, but uses Google Translator, which sometimes gives a broken version of his messages. I imaginemy messages to him sound funny to him, too. He's retired, and his hobby is genealogy. What luck for me! He sent me records on the Neitzerts and the Dreydoppels. He said that he has the old church records from the Protestant church in Oberhonnefeld. He scanned and sent photos of the church where David Jakob and Sophia were baptized and married, as well as all the church records on them. He scanneda drawing of my great-great-great-great grandfather from an old volume , the history of Oberhonnefeld. He was a hunter for the Prince of Weid. Priceless! 

My great-great grandfather, David Jakob Dreydoppel was nephew and godson ofhis namesake, David Jakob Dreydoppel. Karl informed me that references to this uncle could be found on the internet. He was hunter and taxidermist for Prince Maxmillian of Weid, Neuwied. Prince Max was a naturalist, and took David Jakob along with him on an expedition to America. He hired the Swiss artist, Karl Bodmer, to accompany them. At first, Prince Max thought he would document the flora andfauna of North America. When he got there, he decided the native Americans were much more interesting. He had Bodmer draw and paint several tribes of Indians, while he documented their customs, etc.He put together a book about the trip, which can be found on the Internet starting at about $1000. Maybe my Great-Great Grandfather, David Jakob Dreydoppel, got the courage to immigrate to America after hearing about his uncle's trip. It was 30 years later before David immigrated, though. Karl gave me the immigration date of 1851; they appear on only one federal census record of 1860, and I'm notcertain that it's really them. They ARE listed on several city directory issues for Louisville, KY. 
Karl Anhauser said that there are a few old housesin the former settlement of Oberhonnefeld, now called something else. These houses were formerly occupied by Dreydoppels, who were early hunters. Karl lives near the area, and invited me to come to Germany, and he would show me these places. How lucky can a genealogist get?