Johannes Gilhoff

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Johannes Gilhoff was a teacher and author, born in a small town called Glaisin in Mecklenburg, Germany. He wrote a book in 1917 called "Juern Jacob Swehn der Amerikafahrer", roughly translated into English: "Juern Jacob Swehn, the Traveler to America". The book is about a single individual who had emigrated to America, and details his experiences there in the form of letters sent back to his old school teacher in Mecklenburg. The style of writing is rough and coloquial, such as would be found in personal correspondance. Some have said this gives the book an earthy charm. The book enjoyed some success in Germany around the time of its release. The book has been translated into English in Iowa.

The book was often thought of as fiction, but in actuality it was an amalgum of real letters, detailing real experiences of mutiple German (Mecklneburger) immigrants to America. These letters were written by former students of Gilhoff, and sent to him over the years. Insights about the experiences these people had, and the life they had lived in Mecklenburg can offer the reader some sharp insights. There are some suggestions that the book was solely or largely based on the experiences of one man anmed Carl Wiedow who left Glaisin for America in 1868 and died in Iowa in 1913.

There is a small museum in Galisin honoring the work of Gilhoff, and displaying artifiacts surrounding the man and the letters that were sent to him.