What was the most common route taken to Ohio for immigrants in the 1840's?

Question:I am trying to figure out the route my Hammerstein ancestor's took from Germany to Ohio. I haven't been able to find them on the passenger lists. I can't find them when they first arrived. just on the 1860 Census in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am trying to figure out the route my Hammerstein ancestor's took from Germany to Ohio. I haven't been able to find them on the passenger lists. I can't find them when they first arrived. just on the 1860 Census in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio.

I have the original census image for J and Elizabeth up, and it raises some questions. Unless a serious handwriting error, it looks to me as if the husband is age 31, and wife is age 38.
NORMALLY, I'd see where the children were born to zoom for estimated immigration. For the older children, that is not a problem. George, who is 16 was born in Germany then Nancy age 12, is born in Ohio. So, the immigration was before Nancy's birth in 1848, but after 1844.
BUT, red flag time here.. the oldest son, is Phillip age 18, then George age 16. The flag is whether or not those boys are actually Hammersteins, or sons of the wife, from a first marriage. It seems very possible that the marriage MIGHT have been in Ohio, with mom immigrating under another name. I think mom's estimated immigration is clear.. her husband's isn't as obvious (unless there is an error on his age). There is a 7 yr gap between Nancy, and the next daughter, who is age 5. It might indicate a lost baby, or it could indicate the likely time of the marriage.
Several things can narrow this down more. If my hunch is accurate, there may be a marriage record between 1850-1860. If not for them, it would be very useful to find the marriage dates for the elder children. The boys could have taken the Hammerstein name, and the census assumed they were his children. You can try searching 1850 for Meigs with a fine tooth comb, page by page, see if Phillip, George and Nancy are with mom and another name.
Land records will be a very important record for you (offline, however). The first indication of Dad buying land will prove he was there "by that date". If he married a widow with land, he might not buy land. Did dad happen to live until 1900? I believe it has the year of immigration asked (that may be 1910). If Meigs has any of those county history books that were popular around 1870s 1880s, there could be a bio of any of them with clues.
The easiest answer is that the age for Dad in 1860 was written in error, or I have misread it. But, if he was only 31, it opens up a bunch of possible scenarios.

They came by tubing down the Ohio River.

Route 66 with a left in Albuquerque.

Today it is known as Route 30. Goes from Lancaster, York, all the way out west. Many mennonites can be found today along this way, as well as Amish.

That is interesting. All I know is that I live in the Buffalo New York area and Ohio is very close. I-90 passes through Buffalo until you get to Cleveland, and then I-71 cuts a diagonal through Ohio. That is the shortest route, and how I go to see my folks in Indiana. I hope that is helpful. I know my German side also came over around that time period. Buffalo is not close to the Atlantic, however.

THEY CAME DOWN CANADA!!!