Caspar Hermann Heinrich Patberg (1827-1901) Branch I was born in Hünterberg, Westphalia. His father was Friedrich Wilhelm “Meyer”. The term “Meyer” was used to indicate a farm worker. His mother was Maria Elisabeth Padberg. Friedrich Wilhelm and Maria Elisabeth had five children: Christiane Maria (b. 1815); Johann Christoph (b. 1818); Catharina Maria (b 1823); Gerhard Friedrich (1826-1827); and Caspar Hermann. The first three children were given the surname Padberg, the last two were given the name Patberg. Caspar Hermann’s mother’s parents were Johann Padberg and Anna Margareta Muxel of Engter, Westphalia.
Caspar Hermann was a field hand on an estate farm in Hüntberg, Germany. Another worker at the estate was Katharina Surkamp. She received letters from her brother Philip Surkamp who had emigrated from Germany to Cincinnati, Ohio. Hearing about the many opportunities in Cincinatti, Casper Hermann emigrated in 1847. He left the estate and travelled to Bremerhaven where he boarded and hid on a ship bound for the United States. He was discovered when the ship was well out to sea and was forced to work on the ship to pay for his passage. Later he worked driving a team on the Erie Canal to earn money to pay for his trip to Cincinnati. Katharina Friedericke Surkamp (b. 1816 in Langerich, Prussia - d. 1896), decided to emigrate in 1848 and join Casper Hermann. Her ship, bound for New York was blown off course and landed at New Orleans. She managed to get to Cincinnati on a river steamboat. The couple married, and in 1853 with two small children, they moved to Indiana where eventually they purchased a farm in Washington, Indiana.
Caspar Hermann’s name has been shown in a photo as Herman Kasper, a name difference that occurred in the US. He and Katharina had 7 children:
