SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List (31 July 1889): Elites in Transit Between New York and Bremen

📌 Discover the prominent passengers aboard the SS Lahn in July 1889—from barons to businessmen, ministers to medical doctors. Explore this luxury transatlantic journey between New York and Bremen.

Front Cover of a Cabin Passenger List from the SS Lahn of the North German Lloyd, Departing 31 July 1889 from New York to Bremen via Southampton, Commanded by Captain H. Hellmers. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 1f93ddbe72

🛳️ Review & Summary of the SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List – 31 July 1889

🎩 “Transatlantic Prestige: Society, Scholars, and Statesmen Aboard the SS Lahn”

🚢 About the Ship: SS Lahn (1887–1904)

The SS Lahn, a proud vessel of the North German Lloyd (Norddeutscher Lloyd), was one of the celebrated express steamers navigating the busy transatlantic corridor in the late 19th century. Built in 1887, she was designed for speed, elegance, and reliability, offering elite accommodations for Cabin and First-Class travelers.

Built By: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering, Glasgow

Tonnage: Approx. 4,966 GRT

Route: 🗽 New York → Southampton → Bremen 🇩🇪

Departure Date: Wednesday, 31 July 1889

Commander: Captain H. Hellmers

Typical Speed: Approx. 17 knots

Class of Passengers: Cabin

This west-to-east voyage was returning elite passengers from their American excursions—ranging from society figures and diplomats to businessmen, clergy, and scientists—marking the SS Lahn as a floating salon of intellect and influence.

Senior Officers and Staff

• Commander: Captain H. Hellmers
• Chief Officer: J. Mirow
• Chief Engineer: L. Kiel, I
• Physician: Dr. M. Venedey
• Purser: A. Hosemann
• Chief Steward: H. de Harde

Cabin Passengers

1. Mr. F. E. Atteaux
2. Mr. A. B. Ansbacher
3. Mrs. A. B. Ansbacher
4. Mr Louis Ansbacher
5. Mr. Louis Auerbach
6. Mr. E. A. Becker
7. Mrs. E. A. Becker
8. Mr. Melville Brown
9. Mrs. Melville Brown
10. Mr. T. J. Berry
11. Mrs. T. J. Berry
12. Mr. Adam Buhler
13. Mrs. Adam Buhler
14. Mr. Gustav Berg
15. Mr. Louis Blank
16. Mr. Chas. Bieling
17. Mr. J. Burkhardt
18. Count Ladislaus Batthyany
19. Mr. C. A. Coleman
20. Mrs. R. O. Coe
21. Hon. David A. Depue
22. Mr. E. C. Dalton
23. Miss M. O'Donnell
24. Mr. Richard Engel
25. Miss Ida Eibaeh
26. Mr. Carl Fehmer
27. Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald
28. Mr. George H. Fischer
29. Mrs. George H. Fischer and children
30. Mr. Joseph Frenzel
31. Mr. W. J. Gould
32. Mrs. W. J. Gould
33. Mr. Thomas Gale
34. Miss Galo
35. Mr. S. Gerber
36. Mrs. S. Gerber
37. Mr. John M. Glenn
38. Mr. John Glenn, Jr.
39. Mr. Wm. Geauf
40. Mrs. Wm. Geauf
41. Mrs. P. S. Hutchinson
42. Miss Cintra Hutchinson
43. Miss Margaretha Hutchinson
44. Mr H. Heins
45. Mr. Donald C. Haldeman
46. Mrs. Donald C. Haldeman
47. Miss E. H. Haldeman
48. Dr. W. B. James
49. Mr. Henry James
50. Dr. John D. Jones
51. Mrs. John D. Jones
52. Miss Jones and maid
53. Master Martin Jones
54. Miss M. Jennings
55. Mr. J. Jacobs
56. Mrs. J. Jacobs
57. Miss Josie Jacobs
58. Mr. A. Jaeckel

59. Mr. Theo. A. Kochs
60. Mr. John Stewart Mackintosh
61. Mr. Henry W. Munroe
62. Mr. Chas T. Morgan
63. Mr. F. Marks
64. Mr. George Meier
65. Baron von Nellessen
66. Mr. F. Nellessen
67. Mr. Henry W. Oliver
68. Mrs. Henry W. Oliver
69. Mr. A. Openhym
70. Mr. Cortlandt Parker
71. Mrs. Cortlandt Parker
72. Mrs. Potter
73. Miss Potter
74. Miss Pomeroy
75. Mr. A. Pastor
76. Mr. E. M. Padelford
77. Miss E L. Philbrook
78. Mr. C. G. H. Petzold
79. Mr. Jacob Polil
80. Mr. E. M. Quinby
81. Mrs. E. M. Quinby
82. Hon. A. A. Ranney
83. Mr. Henry H. Rueter
84. Mr. Ernest Rueter
85. Miss Bertha Rueter
86. Mr. Henry R. Rea
87. Mrs. Henry R. Rea
88. Mr. Manuel Rionda
89. Mrs Manuel Rionda
90. Rev. M. J Savage
91. Dr. Schneider
92. Mrs. Schneider
93. Mr. F. E. Smith
94. Mr. Dietrich Schindler
95. Mr. George Schmalz
96. Mrs. George Schmalz
97. Miss Anna Schmalz
98. Mr. F. W. Seidewitz
99. Mrs. F. W. Seidewitz
100. Miss Seidewitz
101. Mr. Edw R. Slanton
102. Mr. Phil. Schmidt
103. Mr. John Smith
104. Mr. C. A. Schuetz
105. Miss Ella Suder
106. Miss Nannie Schlosser
107. Mr. Fritz Seegelken
108. Mr. John B. Tytus
109. Mr. Herman Thyssen
110. Mr. Eugene Thyssen
111. Mr. B. B. Tuttle
112. Mr. Wm. Veerhoff
113. Mrs. F. H Valentine
114. Mrs. Gardner Washburne
115. Mr. Eug. Wallerstein
116. Mr. G. O. Wallenberg
117. Mrs. G. O. Wallenberg
118. Mr. Carl Wedemeyer

List of Passengers and Senior Officers, SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List, 31 July 1889. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 22770694c3

Back Cover, North German Lloyd SS Lahn Cabin Passenger List - 31 July 1889. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 1f93f370f4

👥 Cabin Passenger Highlights – Society and Substance on the Atlantic

This particular voyage reads like a who’s who of late Gilded Age transatlantic culture, with its well-heeled travelers returning to Europe following tours, business, or academic affairs.

🎓 Academics & Intellectuals

Dr. John D. Jones, accompanied by Mrs. Jones, Miss Jones, and Master Martin Jones

A likely scholar or clergyman; his party reflects a family of means with a personal maid, indicative of high status.

Rev. M. J. Savage, a leading Unitarian minister, author, and prominent progressive thinker of the late 19th century. His inclusion adds moral gravitas and intellectual weight to this passenger list.

Hon. A. A. Ranney, former U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts, known for his reformist principles. His journey to Europe may have included political observation or diplomatic representation.

Mr. Carl Fehmer, a well-known Boston-based architect, instrumental in designing many civic buildings in Massachusetts. His presence highlights the artistic exchange taking place across the Atlantic.

Dr. W. B. James, and Dr. Schneider, both suggestive of medical or academic professionals—likely contributing to ongoing transatlantic scientific collaboration during the period.

🎖️ Nobility & Diplomacy

Count Ladislaus Batthyany, a member of the famed Hungarian aristocracy. His travel signals cross-European political and familial ties that persisted through the waning Austro-Hungarian period.

Baron von Nellessen and Mr. F. Nellessen, representing Prussian nobility or diplomatic circles, perhaps involved in U.S.–German economic relations during a period of growing imperial ambition.

💼 Business Leaders, Industrialists, and Financiers

Mr. Henry W. Oliver, a prominent Pittsburgh steel magnate, who later served in key U.S. industrial advisory roles. His presence reinforces the ship’s role in facilitating international commerce.

Mr. John B. Tytus, a name associated with industrial America—he would later be known for developing the continuous rolling process in steel manufacturing.

Mr. Melville Brown, likely from the New York banking elite, reflected in the company he keeps and his cabin accommodations.

Mr. Eug. Wallerstein and Mr. Dietrich Schindler, probable industrial or financial figures from the German-American commercial community.

🎭 Socialites & VIPs

Mrs. Gardner Washburne and Mrs. P. S. Hutchinson (with daughters Cintra and Margaretha) typify the Gilded Age’s social butterflies, traveling for leisure and European culture.

Miss Potter, Miss Pomeroy, and Miss Seidewitz: likely among young women of social standing returning from a Grand Tour, an educational rite of passage among wealthy American families.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

📸 Highlighted Visuals 📝 Why They Matter

📸 Front Cover – SS Lahn Passenger List | 🆔 GGA Image ID #1f93ddbe72

📝 A dignified visual introduction to the elite nature of the voyage. Sets a formal tone.

📸 Passenger & Officer Listing | 🆔 GGA Image ID #22770694c3

📝 Places figures of social, academic, and industrial significance beside the ship's officers—capturing the shared space of influence.

📸 Back Cover – North German Lloyd Design | 🆔 GGA Image ID #1f93f370f4

📝 Offers insights into the branding and prestige of NDL's luxury lines in the late 19th century.

🔍 Relevance for Teachers, Historians, Students, and Genealogists

🧑‍🏫 Teachers & Students

This list offers a rich tool for exploring:

• Late 19th-century transatlantic relations
• The role of elites in shaping migration, commerce, and intellectual life
• Social class dynamics aboard ocean liners

📚 Historians

🔹 Highlights the interconnectivity of Europe and America in law, industry, and reform movements.

🔹 Aboard were likely participants in the World's Fairs, economic conferences, and cultural exchanges.

🧬 Genealogists

🔹 The list provides complete names of notable families, enabling connections to Harvard, Yale, MIT, or Carnegie Steel genealogies.

🔹 For those researching elite German-American or Jewish-American lineages, this is a genealogical treasure trove.

🧭 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The 31 July 1889 voyage of the SS Lahn stands out not for the volume of emigrants, but for the caliber of its passengers. Aboard were ministers, barons, reformers, financiers, scientists, and socialites—crossing the Atlantic at a time when the world was being reshaped by industrialism, diplomacy, and intellectual exchange.

This is not just a passenger list—it's a roster of transatlantic influence, the human engine behind many of the cultural, political, and economic currents of the late 19th century.

📚 Encourage Students to research the names aboard and discover who helped shape the Gilded Age on both sides of the Atlantic.

🧳 Use GG Archives as your primary port for navigating transatlantic history.

⚓ Bon Voyage into the past!