Passenger Lists for Gerhard Böes and Maria Anna (Nieland) Böes

Gerhard Heinrich Böes, called Gerhard Boes when he lived in Iowa, was born about September, 1837 in Ramsdorf, Prussia. Family stories say that he served as a Prussian soldier in both the Danish War (1864) and Austrian War (1866), and that he was wounded while he served. Gerhard was said to have put salt into his wound, so it would not heal and he could get out of the army. This didn’t work, so he deserted and fled to America. He is said to have been a stowaway. Census records list his date of arrival as 1867. He became a naturalized citizen on April 3, 1877 in Sac County, Iowa.

Maria Anna Nieland was born January 16, 1843 in Eschlohn, Prussia. Family stories tell of Ann earning passage for herself and Gerhard Boes by working as a hired girl for the Jasper family for two years. She may have traveled with the Henry Jasper family, which had five children and settled in Dyersville, Dubuque County, Iowa. They arrived in 1866. Anna and Gerhard Boes married on February 1, 1870 in Dyersville, Dubuque County, Iowa. They soon moved to Sac County, Iowa, where they purchased land and raised a family of nine children. Census records list Anna’a date of arrival as 1867.

We are looking for any information about the immigration of Gerhard and Maria Anna (Nieland) Boes. We would especially like to find passenger lists.

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