I need help! My great grandfather came to America in 1887. He was 28 years old. He supposidly came from a town called Eckhartshausen or Echardtshausen (there are 5 of them)in Germany - all are SW of Berlin. One of them was in East Germany for awhile.
He told researchers that his family were "builders" and that he was 3 out of 5 children. I have heard that he came here after serving 2 years in the Prussian Army and could not go back or his family would be killed - supposidly they were released for 2 years to get married and establish roots and then they had to go back to do 2 more years - he never went back. I am completely stuck - I can't find anything that verifies anything or his father who was supposidly Heinrich Lieding; mother was reportedly Anna Margaret Erb. If anyone has any information -please share. Thank-you.