The first Pretzer family to immigrate to America was that of Karl Pretzer of Löcknitz (1810-1899) and his wife Esther (d. 1899). They left Hamburg on the ship "Auguste and Anges" on April 1, 1854 for New York. They first lived on farms in Macomb Co., Michigan until ca. 1880, when most of the family left Clinton Twp. and moved to Richland Twp., Saginaw Co., Michigan. The earliest known ancestor, Johann Heinrich Pretzer (ca. 1695-1776), died in Blumenthal, Pommern. His first wife was Anna Catherina Lofer (or Leter) (1705-1755). He married (2) 1756 Maria Barbara Junge (widow Hennen) (1705-1761). Family members live in Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, Dakotas and elsewhere.