Gehrke Family History & Genealogy

Possiby the 3rd child of Michael Gottfried Gehrke. Find A Grave Memorial ID 63368935 to see headstone Hermann John Gustave Gehrke son of Michael Gottfried Gehrke was born August 2, 1854 in Kloetzin Circle Cammin, Germany. In August of that same year he was baptized and in September 1868 he was confirmed into the Lutheran Church at Guelzow, Germany. As a young man he learned the carpenter trade. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Albertina Bertha Theresa Hensel of Lietzow, Germany. Albertina was born on July 8, 1858 and little is known of her childhood or family. They were blessed with 7 children (5 sons and 2 daughters). The two oldest boys, Robert (1881-1884) and Berhart (1882-1884) were born in Germany, but laid to rest at St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery in Dickinson County, Kansas in 1884. Sometime in 1883 the family decided to make the trip to America. In Feb. 1884, Hermann, Bertha, Robert and Berhart came to America landing in ? before coming to Kansas. On arrival to Kansas, his family lived for a short time with John Knuth on a farm south of Shady Brook in Dickinson County, Kansas where his 3rd child Carl John August Gehrke was born and the two eldest sons died. In 1885 Hermann moved his farm south and east of Ramona, Kansas where 4 more children were born. After the death of his wife Bertha, in 1896, he lived as a widower until 1907 when he married Caroline Bruckner (Paul Bruckner's sister). She died in 1914 in Herington, Kansas. Hermann and Carrie had no children of their own. On May 15, 1930 Hermann took seriously ill with stomach and kidney trouble. He was taken to the hospital in Abilene, Kansas where after severe suffering he passed away. According to Sophia Gehrke, Hermann was a carpenter and made all his children wear his wooden homemade shoes. He even sent his shoes to his family members in Germany. They sent patterns of their feet on newspapers. Hermann also helped build homes and churches in the Dickinson County, Kansas area. I do have a copy (7 pages), handwritten in German in 1878, of his Room Sermon (Dedication of a new home). This was obtained by one of our cousins, Jim Fronfelter, who has the original booklet. I then had it transcribed in to English. His obituary in 1930 does mention leaving 1 brother in Germany.

Herington Times Thursday May 14, 1896 No. 43 page 8 ALBERTINE BERTHA T. GEHRKE (HENSEL) Mrs. Herman Gehrke, the German lady who was taken to the Osawatomie Insane Asylum a little more than a year ago, died there last week and the remains were brought here for interment in the cemetery by the Germans Church 4 miles west of town. It is a sad case indeed since she leaves a family of six small children who need a mothers care. Her husband and motherless ones have the kind sympathy of all in the untimely death of the one so dearly loved, the one who will be so sadly missed. I think she left five children not six. And back in the day Insane Asylums were like our nursing homes of today. She is buried along with her two sons at the St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Herington, Dickinson County, Kansas. Find A Grave Memorial ID 64666891 to see headstone. She is listed under Bertha Gehrke.

Find A Grave Memorial ID 63369019 to see headstone Headstone is under Caroline but death certificate shows Catherine The Herington Sun Thursday Oct. 1 1914 CATHERINE GEHRKE (1-13-1864 - 9-27-1914) Catherine Gehrke, wife of Herman Gehrke died Sunday at her home 2 miles south and 1/2 mile west of here age 50 years, 9 months and 14 days. She leaves a number of children. Services were held Tuesday at the Lutheran Church in the northeast part of town. She was also known as Catherine, Caroline, and Carrie. Herman and Caroline did not have children together. The children mention above belonged to Herman and Albertine(a) Bertha Theresa Hensel Gehrke. Caroline was a sister to Paul Bruckner. Paul was Sophia (Bruckner) Gehrke's father, so this made Caroline, Sophia's (our grandmother) aunt as well as her step mother-in-law. Caroline was married prior to Mr. Schiendhelm. I don't know much about him or if they had children together.

Otto Gehrke of Hales Corners, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin was born on July 31, 1872, and died at age 97 years old in May 1970.

Albert Gehrke was born on December 3, 1873, and died at age 75 years old in December 1948. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Albert Gehrke.

June Gehrke of Kirksville, Adair County, MO was born on June 15, 1874, and died at age 94 years old on October 15, 1968.

Ida Gehrke of Schenectady, Schenectady County, NY was born on October 11, 1875, and died at age 102 years old in January 1978.

John Gehrke of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio was born on August 9, 1876, and died at age 94 years old in January 1971.

William Gehrke of Ambrose, Divide County, North Dakota was born on October 5, 1877, and died at age 93 years old in December 1970.

Carl Gehrke of Fresno, Fresno County, California was born on November 30, 1877, and died at age 92 years old in May 1970.

Lydia Gehrke of Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois was born on January 13, 1879, and died at age 100 years old in January 1979.

Emil A Gehrke of Luverne, Rock County, MN was born on July 23, 1879, and died at age 87 years old on August 15, 1966.