Here’s another picture from the “Opderbeck” book. This is Hermann Op der Becke, born in 1786 and died in 1885. This picture proves that the Opderbeck body type — which is not, shall we say, tall and lithe — lies deep in our family genes.
I’ve also been trying to use a web-based translator to figure out some of the text. Here’s what I have so far (anyone know German?).
Der name op der becke bedeutet nicths anderes als die rennzeichnung feines tragers nach feiner wohnung auf dem bache. Diefe bezeichnung ift ganz mortlich zu nehmen, denn bei ultena standen die drahtmuhlen megen ihrer wasserrader unmittelbar auf dem bache.
The name Op der Becke means none other one than the running design fine tragers after fine dwelling on that bache. This designation is completely mortlich to take, because with Ultena the drahtmuhlen megen their wasserrader on that bache stood directly. [Some of the words are older or I’m not reading them right. I think it’s suggesting the name refers to a dwelling on a river — or, as I like to say, “up the creek”]
One reply on “More Early Opderbecks”
My niece has been studying German, so I had her take a peek at this. Unfortunately, some of the words could mean two different things if the umlauts were left out. Below is her translation. If there were umlauts in the original, that would change a few things.
“The name “Op der Becken/[Op of the Bowl/Basin(s)” means nothing other than the running-design (run-drawing?) of fine carrier to finer living on the brooks/creeks. This designation is completely/quite [mortlich] to take, because at Ultena stood the wire mills, [megen] their water-wheels directly on the brooks.”