The autobiography of Julius Lohmeyer (1849-1929)
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Gottlieb Johann Eduard Julius Lohmeyer was born in Minden, Germany in 1849. This is his extraordinary story. After extensive travels through Europe, he emigrated with his brother Adolph to South Australia on the sailing ship 'Sophie', arriving in Port Adelaide on 11. September 1879. Adolph returned to Germany six years later, but Julius settled and became the forefather of most of the Lohmeyer families in Australia today.
Read Julius Lohmeyer's autobiography (pdf-228kb, 
). The original was first published as a 26 page booklet in 1936 by Clamor and Dora Lohmeyer. A copy was kindly provided to me by Mr. Rex Lohmeyer and the annotated transcript is published here with his permission.
Download Julius Lohmeyer's family tree (1770-1940) (pdf-350kb).
List of surnames mentioned in Julius Lohmeyer’s Autobiography
BASEDOW, BECHTEL, BECK, BOCK, BORGELT, BRAUN, BRENZEL, BRONNER, BRUCH, BRUGGEMANN, BUDER, CHOMEL, DANIELS, DAVIS, DEGENHARDT, DORSCH, DOWNS, DRAUZ, DYKE, EBELENZ, EDWARDS, EITEL, EIZEN, EUNEKE, EY, FALTING, FISCHER, FISCHER, FORWOOD, FRICKER, FROHLICH, FULTON, GARDINER, GEBHARDT, GÖDEKE, GOGARTEN, GREYMANN, GÜNTHER, HARGREAVES, HARMS, HEGELAU, HEWITT, HOMANN, HOOD, HORWOOD, JUST, KEMP, KLEINSCHMIDT, KLINGENSPOR, KOGEL, KRICHAUFF, LANKAU, LESKE, LOHMEYER, LUTZ, MAISE, MANKE, MARTIN, MARTIN, MASCHMEDT, MEIER, MONCRIEFF, NIEHUS, NIQUET, NITSCHKE, OGILVY, PACKERT, PARKER, PIENING, PRICE, RAPKO, REUSCH, SAGER, SCHAFER, SCHIRMEISTER, SCHMIDT, SCHOFF, SCHULZ, SCHULZE, SMEATON, SULZMANN, THIELE, TUCK, von SACHSEN-WEIMAR, WAITE, WALTERS, WEIL, WICHART, zu FÜRSTENBERG, ZWAR
I have also compiled a complete list of all 132 individuals mentioned by name in Julius Lohmeyer's autobiography:
Julius’ father and relations:
Herr LOHMEYER, senior – great-grandfather of Julius, baker and landowner in Minden, Germany: page 2
Herr LOHMEYER – grandfather of Julius, distillery owner in Minden: page 2
Ludwig LOHMEYER, senior – husband of Matilda Fricker, father of Julius, lived in Brunswick/Braunschweig, Cologne/Köln and Minden: pages 2, 8, 10, 15
Eduard LOHMEYER – brother of Ludwig and uncle of Julius, a coppersmith, emigrated, married and lived in Russia: page 2
Eduard LOHMEYER, junior – son of Eduard Lohmeyer, engineer, born in Russia, educated in Hannover, the returned to South Russia: page 2
Ludwig LOHMEYER, junior – son of Eduard Lohmeyer, engineer, born in Russia, educated in Hannover, the returned to South Russia: page 2
Friedericke NIEHUS, née Lohmeyer – aunt of Julius Lohmeyer: page 2
Otto NIEHUS – son of Friedericke Niehus: page 2
Dora EBELENZ, née Lohmeyer – aunt of Julius Lohmeyer: page 2
Bertha SCHMIDT, née Lohmeyer – aunt of Julius Lohmeyer: page 2
Justus SCHMIDT – son of Bertha Schmidt, a baker: page 2
Julius’ mother and her relations:
Mr. FRICKER, senior – blacksmith in Helmstedt, grandfather of Matilda Fricker: page 3
Kantor FRICKER – Kantor in Ottenstein, Father of Matilda, Augusta, Julius and Dr. Fricker: page 3
Mrs. FRICKER, née Alert – wife of Kantor Fricker: page 3
Mrs. FRICKER, née Alert – wife of Kantor Fricker: page 3
Matilda LOHMEYER, née Fricker – wife of Ludwig Lohmeyer senior, mother of Julius Lohmeyer: pages 2, 3, 8, 10, 15
Augusta FRICKER – sister of Matilda Fricker, unmarried housekeeper in Hamelin: pages 3, 9, 10,
Julius FRICKER – director of music in the English army in India: page 3
Dr. FRICKER – chemist in Borsum, Brunswick and later doctor in Hamelin: pages 3, 9
Mrs. FRICKER, née Klingenspor – wife of Dr. Fricker: pages 3, 9
Dr. KLINGENSPOR – doctor in Hamelin, father of Mrs. Fricker née Klingenspor: pages 3, 9
Julius’ brothers and sisters and their partners and children:
Bertha LANKAU, née Lohmeyer – oldest child of Ludwig Lohmeyer: page 3
Ludwig LOHMEYER – Third child of Ludwig Lohmeyer: page 3
Adolph LOHMEYER – Fourth child of Ludwig Lohmeyer, travelled extensively, to Australia with brother Julius, returned to Cleves/Kleve, Germany: pages 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16
Emilie LOHMEYER – Fifth child of Ludwig Lohmeyer: page 3
Thekla LOHMEYER, née Günther – wife of Adolph Lohmeyer from Cleves/Kleve, Germany: pages 4, 16
Ludwig LANKAU – husband of Bertha Lohmeyer, merchant and mill-owner in Hagen, Westfalen, Germany: pages 3, 4, 8
Paul LANKAU – engineer, son of Bertha Lankau, née Lohmeyer: pages 3, 4
Else BOCK, née Lankau – music teacher, daughter of Bertha Lankau, née Lohmeyer: pages 3, 4
Hedwig LANKAU – daughter of Bertha Lankau, née Lohmeyer: page 3
Mr. BOCK – husband of Else Lankau: page 4
Gerda BOCK – only child of Mr. & Else Bock: page 4
Julius’ wife and her relations:
Anna LOHMEYER, née Maschmedt – fourth daughter of Rev. Christian Maschmedt, wife of Julius Lohmeyer: pages 15, 28
Pastor Christian MASCHMEDT – father-in-law of Julius, minister in Adelaide: pages 11, 15, 16, 17, 21
Henrietta MASCHMEDT – mother of Anna Maschmedt and mother-in-law of Julius Lohmeyer: page 25
William MASCHMEDT – brother-in-law to Julius Lohmeyer, Adelaide: page 21
Martin BUDER – brother-in-law to Julius Lohmeyer, Adelaide: page 16
Fritz GREYMANN – brother-in-law to Julius Lohmeyer, Adelaide: page 17
Julius’ children, in-laws and grand-children:
Christian LOHMEYER – first child of Julius and Anna Lohmeyer: pages 16, 25
Maria THIELE, née Lohmeyer – first daughter (2nd child) of Julius and Anna Lohmeyer: pages 16, 25
Ludwig LOHMEYER, junior – second son (3rd) of Julius Lohmeyer: page 25
Emilie CHOMEL, née LOHMEYER – second daughter (4th) of Julius: page 25
Rudolph LOHMEYER – third son (5th) of Julius Lohmeyer: page 26
Clamor LOHMEYER – fourth son (6th) of Julius Lohmeyer: pages 1, 25
Friedrich ‘Fred’ LOHMEYER – fifth son (7th) of Julius Lohmeyer: pages 19, 25
Auguste LOHMEYER – third daughter (8th) of Julius Lohmeyer: page 28
Lieschin LOHMEYER – fourth daughter (9th) of Julius Lohmeyer, died in infancy: page 19
Herold LOHMEYER – sixth son (10th) of Julius Lohmeyer: pages 20, 25, 26
Matilda LOHMEYER – fifth daughter (11th) of Julius Lohmeyer, born in Port Wakefield: page 20
Alwin LOHMEYER – seventh son (12th) of Julius Lohmeyer: pages 21, 24
Julius LOHMEYER, junior – youngest son (13th) of Julius Lohmeyer: page 24
Dorothea LOHMEYER, née Basedow – from Tanunda, wife of Christian Lohmeyer: page 25
Albert THIELE – husband of Marie Lohmeyer: page 25
Ethel LOHMEYER, née Ogilvy – wife of Ludwig Lohmeyer, junior: page 25
Walter LOHMEYER – second son of Ludwig and Ethel Lohmeyer, died aged 14 months: page 25
Fred CHOMEL – coach builder, husband of Emilie Lohmeyer: page 25
Caroline LOHMEYER, née Daniels – from Adelaide, wife of Rudolph Lohmeyer: page 26
Dora LOHMEYER, née Edwards – from Port Pirie, wife of Clamor Lohmeyer: pages 1, 25
Winifred LOHMEYER – third daughter of Clamor and Dora Lohmeyer, died after 4 days: page 25
Elizabeth LOHMEYER, née Nitschke – from Rowland’s Flat, wife of Friedrich Lohmeyer: page 25
Elsie LOHMEYER, née Hood – from Adelaide, wife of Herold Lohmeyer: pages 25-26
Other named individuals (in alphabetical order):
“Sophie” – sailing ship conveying Julius and Adolph from Hamburg to Port Adelaide, Australia in 1879: page 10
Robert BECHTEL – saddlery owner, bondage maker and lay preacher in North Adelaide: pages 11, 12, 17, 21, 22
Rev. BECK – pastor of the Evangelisation Society in Minden, Germany, emigrated with his family to America: page 9
August BORGELT – acquaintance of Julius Lohmeyer, Gwalia & Perth: pages 22, 27
Rev. BRAUN – minister in Adelaide: page 17
Family BRENZEL – German family in Appila-Yarrowie, South Australia: page 15
Miss. BRONNER – Methodist Sunday school teacher, Adelaide: page 21
Pastor BRUCH – pastor at the Petrie Kirche in Minden, Germany: page 8
Mr. BRUGGEMANN – church chairman and trustee in Adelaide: pages 17, 21
Mr. DAVIS – architect in Adelaide: page 18
Mr. DEGENHARDT - acquaintance in Mannum, South Australia: pages 13-14
Rev. DORSCH – preacher from America: page 15
Mr. DOWNS – workshop owner in Adelaide: page 19
Rev. DRAUZ – minister in Adelaide: page 17
Mr. DYKE – Secretary of the Waterworks, Port Augusta: page 19
Rev. Dr. EITEL – new minister in Adelaide from Hong Kong: pages 18, 21
Mr. EIZEN – acquaintance in Adelaide: page 11
Mr. EUNEKE – itinerant labourer from Sydney: pages 14, 15
Pastor EY – pastor at Palmer, South Australia: page 12
Mr. FALTING – shipmate & miller in Laura, South Australia: page 15
Pastor FISCHER – Perth minister, formerly a saddler in Adelaide: page 22
Edmund FISCHER – father of Pastor Fischer: page 22
Mr. FORWOOD – workshop owner in Kilkenny, South Australia: page 19
Rev. FROHLICH – Baptist minister in Switzerland: page 6
Mr. FULTON – workshop owner in Adelaide: page 19
Maximilian Egon Prinz zu Fürstenberg – noble landowner and employer of Julius Lohmeyer in Reutlingen, South Germany: page 5
Mr. GARDINER – Chief Clerk to the Engineer-in-Chief, Adelaide: page 21
Rev. GEBHARDT – Methodist minister in Switzerland: page 6
Mr. GÖDEKE – German engineer & foreman at Gwalia mine: page 22
Mr. GOGARTEN – carpenter & farmer in South Germany: page 5-6
Mr. HARGREAVES – roads department bridge inspector in Adelaide: pages 16, 17
Rev. Ludwig HARMS – founder of the Hermannsburg missionary school nr. Hannover, Germany: page 20
Pastor Michael HEGELAU – assistant preacher in Adelaide: pages 17-18
Family HEWITT – acquaintances of Julius Lohmeyer, Port Wakefield, SA: page 20
Pastor HOMANN, senior – pastor in Adelaide: pages 10-11
Mr. HORWOOD – workshop owner in Adelaide: page 19
Mr. JUST – butcher in North Adelaide: page 19
Rev. KEMP – from Hermannsburg nr. Hannover, Germany, founded the Hermannsburg or Finke River Mission in the Northern Territory: page 20
Family KLEINSCHMIDT – acquaintances in Lobethal, South Australia: page 10
Pastor KOGEL – court preacher at the Royal household, Berlin: page 8
Mr. KRICHAUFF – purchased land from Julius and Adolph in Lobethal(?): page 14
Dr. LESKE – German associate of Julius Lohmeyer in Leonora, NT: page 23
Mr. LUTZ – hydraulic engineer, Adelaide & Gawler: page 19
Mr. MAISE – Adelaide freemason and chief engineer: page 16
Mr. MANKE – Adelaide freemason: page 16
Mr. MARTIN – acquaintance in Adelaide: page 11
Dr. MARTIN – doctor on North Terrace, Adelaide: page 17
Mrs. MEIER – landlady in Adelaide: page 10
Mr. MONCRIEFF – engineer in Adelaide: page 18
Rev. NIQUET – minister in Adelaide: page 17
Mr. PACKERT – surveyor, Adelaide & Gawler, then England: page 19
Mrs. PARKER – neighbor to Julius Lohmeyer in Adelaide: page 19
Mr. PIENING – egg, butter & chaff dealer in Adelaide: page 14
Tom PRICE – Labour Premier of South Australia: page 19
Family RAPKO – acquaintances of Julius Lohmeyer, Inkerman, SA: page 20
Pastor REUSCH – minister in Adelaide: page 18
Empress Auguste von SACHSEN-WEIMAR – wife of Kaiser Wilhelm I.: page 3
Mr. SAGER – friend of Julius Lohmeyer in Switzerland: page 10
Rev. SCHAFER – minister: page 27
Pastor SCHIRMEISTER – pastor in Brisbane: page 4
Family SCHOFF – acquaintances of Julius Lohmeyer, Inkerman, SA: page 20
Family SCHULZ – South Australian family from Germany: pages 10, 11, 12
Ferdinand SCHULZE – church deacon in Adelaide: page 16
Major SMEATON – chief censor and wartime supervisor of Julius Lohmeyer: page 25
Mr. SULZMANN – butcher in Laura, South Australia: page 15
Rev. TUCK – Baptist minister in Broken Hill: pages 26-27
Mr. WAITE – owner of a sheep-station on the Murray, resident in Adelaide: page 12
Mr. WALTERS – church superintendent: page 15
Mr. WEIL – lay preacher in Adelaide: page 10
Mr. WICHART – acquaintance from Beyern: page 6
Family ZWAR – German family in Appila-Yarrowie, South Australia: page 15