3 
 
Andreas Mickan was a foundation member of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Bethel, New 
South Wales. 
 
Three of Andreas and Anna Mickan's children were married at this church. 
 
During the year 1869 Andreas Mickan took up 350 acres of land at Walla Walla, 8 miles North of 
Bethel. 
 
In 1876 he built a timber home, the timber having been cut and dried on the farm. There were a 
large number of gum trees and grey box trees and these came in very useful in these early 
pioneering days. 
 
On August 28th 1884, an event took place, namely the marriage of the Mickan's youngest son, 
Andreas. 
 
Now, at this very moment it has come to my mind, that I should write and explain something in 
reference to my forebears Johann Gottlob and Sophia Arnold. 
 
Gottlob Arnold, was born at Schleswig Holstein which was in possession of the Kingdom of 
Denmark, at that period of time. (Editors Note : Gottlob Arnold was not born in SchleswigHolstein. 
See Arnold Family History Book for information on Gottlob Arnold's birth) 
Sophia Arnold nee Hanschke, was born in Saxony, both were migrants to Australia, whilst still in 
their late teens, or very early twenties. 
 
Now I am not quite sure really, at what period of time, they arrived in Australia. It would probably 
have been during the late 1840’s or early 1850’s. 
 
I do remember when I was told, in regards to the time that Johann Gottlob Arnold proposed an offer 
of Holy Matrimony to Sophia. Well it was something like the following : Gottlob said “ Sophia, I 
love you, do you want me, if you don’t, you need not bother.” Well, Sophia knew that Gottlob was 
in possession of a farm, and having been previously employed by people in Saxony, who were well 
up in society, I do not know exactly, but I was told they were people of distinction, anyway there 
wasn’t very much Sophia could not accomplish, so after giving this a good thought, her reply was 
“Yes, Gottlob, I will marry you.” 
 
The name of the locality, the Arnold’s were living at was Gnadenfrei, South Australia and their 
postal address was Greenock, South Australia. 
 
I have been told that Sophia was a very capable and very intelligent farmer’s wife. 
 
And now something in reference to the Mickan home at Walla Walla. I shall now continue, and 
therefore repeat somewhat, that which I feel sure would be much more interesting during the year 
approx. 1878. 
 
Andreas Mickan built a home on their farm at Walla Walla, N.S.W. The dwellings at that period of 
time, were built of timber, cut and dried on the farm. I presume there would have been a large 
number of gum trees and grey box trees, all very useful indeed, during those early pioneering days 
and years, the walls were pugged with a substance of clay and sand both the interior and the exterior 
of the house. 
 
The ceilings were built of long wooden planks, which were bought at a sawmill at Albury, probably 
Mates. The size of the planks were approx. 10 inches in depth and were fitted to the length of the 
ceilings, and the spaces in between the planks were finished the same as the walls , both the inside 

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