By Rainer Müller–Gummels (Ostdorf/Kleinheide)

Robert Block provides sensation in Ostdorf. Children with fair curly hair curiously look around the corners. What may the man want with the striking goatee beard and a camera around the neck which just pulled up to their village, accompanied by a whole baggage train of vehicles?

Robert Block knows quite exactly what it wants. About 150 years ago his great–grandfather Johann left this little village, off in the direction of America, – - a farewell forever. Johann became John. Now, here is his great–grandchild now again. What does he think?

"Here are my roots." His roots are in Ostdorf. Even the birthplace of Johann Bonnen Block still stands. Does this old house have memories? We are quite sure, says Robert's wife Sheila, "We can feel it."

The Ostfriesian roots have been buried for a long time, though. The 67–year Block tells how he got on the track of the origin of its family from a tangle of numerous irrational and misleading leads, he said, in a broken mixture of English and German chunks. (He had learned some German as a youth at a Lutheran school.)

Robert Block did not allot much time for the trip to these origins. The lawyer in the retirement who lives in the sunny California gives only an entire three days for his visit to the by-far-less-sunny Ostfriesland. Previously the couple had been in Amsterdam to view a painting exhibit (Van Gogh museum). And, before that in England. An "old world" exploration in a tight three weeks. But, the trip had already been planned long before he encountered his relatives here in Ostfriesland, who have known Robert only now for a short time.

A letter in the corner file cabinet ??

Karlheinz Warfsmann from Kleinheide, who is also a lawyer, has put together a tightly planned visit-program: Ostdorf, the church at Nesse, Hage, the church at Hage, a family get together in Norddeich.

His mother, Elise, was born a Block, was born in this very house in Ostdorf. In the family, one always knew that there was a relative in the USA. Right into the middle of the '30er's a letter from America was stored in the corner cabinet, remembers Elise Warfsmann. To be sure, but it took until January 2002 until again a contact between the divided Block-branches came into being.

Based on an incorrect entry in the military papers, Robert had run in the search for its ancestors on the incorrect search. But then, an obituary of Moritz Bonnen Block, a brother of Johann, his great grandfather, who also emigrated to America brought them to the correct trace. In a newspaper of the American-Ostfriesen, the notice had been placed, and John Block was mentioned as a brother.

The contact to the German relatives became at last of all possible through the Wiesmoor (a town) Genealogist Hans-Jürgen Adams. He sought the name Block in the telephone book the name and found the descendants of Wilke Bonnen Block, a further brother of the emigrants Johann and Moritz, who always lived here. A call to Karlheinz Warfsmann, Wilkes Urenkel, heard of the search of by an American, without knowing the names. Then, on the internet, there came final find. An E-MAIL was sent to California. "After two hours then a telephone call came from Robert."

Johann Bonnen Block Ostfriesland middle of the 19th century the back. The life was hard for the carpenter son. With the sailing ship "D. H. Waetjen" departed from Bremerhaven to New Orleans. On board: around 500 emigrants who sought also their good fortune in America. On 18 May 1857, Johann set foot on American ground for the first time. Of New Orleans, the at that time 24-year-old Ostfriesen went on further, up to the state Illinois, became American citizen and had to fight even in the Civil War. Johann Block finally became a Sargent in the 8th Illinois Infantry regiment.

Then, the carpenter became a farmer. And, the land that he acquired at that time is still yet in families possession. After the war, Johann married 1865 Anna Dorothea de Buhr. Nine children became born: Christine, Albert, Tina, Annie, William (named Wilckie), John Bonnie, Emmet Clifford, Bonnie Arnold and Matie Fredricka. John Bonnen Block that had earlier been Johann died in 1920 and has left around 150 descendants today distributed over the entirety of America. Also his wife, Ms. Anna Dorothea (de Buhr), was also an Ostfriesin, came from Strackholt in Aurich. There there is also always yet relations how Robert Block knows in the mean time. On the way to Ostdorf, he and Sheila had made a stop in Strackholt and become acquainted with there Focke de Buhr. "We were totally surprised, after the families so long were separated, that we should find a contact now again."

Further, there are other USA-Blocks already planning to come to Ostfriesland. And, Karlheinz Warfsmann plans a visit in America: "Yes, - - even if I have no knowledge of what flying is like."