Ernst [sic] (Ernst as found on Baptismal record also Earnest) Wilhelm Heinrich Valentin Schindler Born in Clausthal Germany to the Miner Johan Carl Schindler and Mother Johanne Whilhelmine Hölling. Ernst and his parents were born in Clausthal, Germany. Ernst had 10 siblings and 1 half-brother. Some of his siblings arrived in America in 1854 and joined them in Lykens. Ernst and his mother immigrated to the US and Lykens in 1852. At the time of first record on the 1860 census Whilhelmine was married to Peter Miller, Johan Carl, his father having died in Germany in 1846.
Ernst married Catharine Butschen a Prus Pole, and she gave birth to 15 children 12 of who lived. Most of the family moved to Harrisburg around the turn of the century when the mine production decreased. Most of the men (9 brothers and 2 sisters) found employment on the railroad after arriving in Harrisburg. When in Lykens the men and boys worked in the mines as soon as they were old enough.
A generic story of a family from Clausthal Germany. Many families took the opportunity to travel to the new lands of Australia The United States, Brazil and other countries in the early to late1800's. This has been called by some as the great European migration. My focus (Schindler-204) during this great migration is mostly those emigrants from the Kingdom of Hanover, And even further my efforts have been strongest in the Harz mountains area of Lower Saxony, Especially Clausthal/Zellerfeld where my ancestors lived. Germany for much of this time was then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until 1837.

Harz Mountains
After that time The Kingdom of Hanover was independent until 1866 when it became a part of Prussia. The Kingdom (and much of Europe) was in a very depressed economic condition and there were few jobs available and no way to provide for a very large population. Because of the continued association with Great Britain, Hanover, a decision was made to offer loans to anyone who wished to migrate to Australia, the USA and other countries that needed immigrants to support their support and grow that economy.

The period of the early 1850's to 1860's Many thousands accepted the offer and the opportunity to raise their standard of living. These migrating Germans and others from Europe provided the labor needed for Australia and the USA especially to become great economic nations.
This profile and family are examples of this migration.

Go here to see his family tree: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Schindler-210