Jean's Family Stories

MEJ Plucker Family + kids and grandkids

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 02:49:00 +0000

Back Row: H. Gene Straatmeyer, MEJ Plucker, Dale DeVries, Eddie DeVries, Kenny DeVries, Bob and Barbara Plucker

2nd Row: Jean Straatmeyer, Dena Plucker, Dots DeVries, Faye DeVries, Dorothy "Dottie" & Virginia "Ginny" Plucker

Front Row: Sandra "Sandee" and Cynthia "Cindee" Straatmeyer and Nola DeVries

about 1964?

Christina Witte Plucker

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 00:40:00 +0000

Written and Compiled by Esther Poppens Soderberg in July 1978

Christina Witte’s father was a minister, the Reverend Philipp Witte, who became the first pastor of the Germantown Presbyterian congregation which was organized in 1886. The building was erected in 1887 on land given by Menne Plucker. It was there that John Plucker and Christina Witte met and in 1893 they were married by the bride’s father.

They lived for 28 years on a farm that was originally homesteaded by a Frenchman and purchased from him in 1884. The land was half cultivated and half prairie. Before the prairie land could produce, the grass had to be burned in the fall, and then plowed back after being broken in the spring. This was called “back-set). Wheat was the only crop that would grow on this kind of land at first.

There are many stories to be told about life in the South Dakotas – drought, poverty, and hard work. The first house that Menne built for his family in 1877 was a mud, or sot, house. Benne had to borrow money to live and at that time the interest was 10% with an additional 5% commission to the lender. By contrast, prices were low: eggs 3 cents a dozen and corn 25 to 20 cents per bushel.

Since this was a community of German people, everyone spoke in the Low German dialect and children learned their English in school. School laws in the early days did not say at what age or in what grade a pupil could leave school. High schools were uncommon so if anyone wished to continue their education, they attended an Academy.

John Plucker bought his first car in 1916, a Reo. He kept it in the granary in the alley between the bins. The story is told that after he had instructions about how to start, stop and drive the new “contraption”, he decided to park it in the “garage”, namely the alley of the granary. Everything went well until he had gone as far as he thought necessary and decided to stop, but his mind went blank and all he could say was “Whoa!” Both he and the family were happy that both doors of the granary were open at the time.

In 1921 John bought a grain elevator in Lennox and a big home on the outskirts of Lennox. John and his son, Menne, operated the elevator until 1926. John and Christina lived in the Lennox house until their deaths.

FIFTY-EIGHTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

MR. AND MRS. JOHN P. PLUCKER

From The Presbyterian Messenger – written by Lydia Plucker Mihelic

1951

On November 29^th Mr. & Mrs. John P. Plucker of Lennox observed their 58^th wedding anniversary. They have spent most of their lives in the Germantown and Lennox vicinities. The parents of both of them were pioneers. Mr. Plucker’s parents came from East Friesland, Germany to Oregon, Illinois about 1860. From there they moved to Ackley, Iowa, and in the fall of 1877 they took a homestead in the present Germantown township area. Mrs. Plucker’s father, the Reverend Philipp Witte, became the first pastor of the Germantown Presbyterian congregation which was organized in 1886. The building was erected in 1887 on land given by Menne Plucker the father of John P. It was there that John Plucker and Christina Witte met and in 1893 they were married by the bride’s father.

After 28 years of farming the family moved to their present home in Lennox. Mr. & Mrs. Plucker enjoy visiting with friends and neighbors and especially with their three daughters and one son who come to see them as often as possible. At 82 Mr. Plucker still likes to tell stories of incidents which happened in his childhood, and which are of interest to our generation in that they furnish some very sharp contrasts in methods of work and attitudes of people then and now. Some of these stories follow and could be matched by other pioneer couples whose children still live in this area.

Mr. Plucker tells that the farm which is presently owned and operated by his son, M. E. J. Plucker, was originally homesteaded by a Frenchman. His father, Menne Plucker, purchased it from him in 1884. The land was half cultivated and half prairie. Before the prairie land could produce, the prairie grass had to be burned in the fall and broken the following spring, and then it was plowed back in the fall. This was called “Back-set.” It was not till the following spring that the land was ready for sowing wheat. Corn could not be planted because the land was too hard to work.

Another recollection of Mr. Plucker is that the first summer of their married life, in 1894, there occurred a very severe drought which caused a total failure of crops, both garden and grain. Then every effort had to be made in order to keep the animals alive.

Still another story which he likes to tell is the one about their trip from Ackley, Iowa, to the homestead claim in the Germantown Township. His father came ahead to begin the homestead and to have some of the land broken. Six months later the family of six children came by train. With two wagons they brought some lumber, stock and one pig. Since there were no wild animals which could be hunted for meat, the pig which they brought with them was their only source of meat for the first year, 1878. Because of adverse circumstances, the Menne Plucker family had very little money when they moved from Illinois, and when Menne came to South Dakota to claim the homestead, he had only $5.00 in his pocket. He borrowed money to build a mud house and to buy the absolute necessities for his family. The interest on the borrowed money was 10% and a 5% commission. Another item of interest which Mr. Plucker recalls is the prices. In 1895 eggs were three cents a dozen, and corn cost 25 to 30 cents a bushel. In 1920 oats sold for $1.04 a bushel, but in 1922 it was only eight cents a bushel.

Amid all these difficulties and every day problems the Pluckers took a lively interest in the church. The church was to them a haven of rest and a source of strength. They did all in their power to preserve it for future generations. May the gracious Lord continue to grant the John P. Pluckers a pleasant eventide.

Henry Gene Straatmeyer's Obituary

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 21:39:00 +0000

Obituary

Henry Gene Straatmeyer

3.4.1934-2.20.20

Due to complications after a fall and a broken hip, Henry Gene Straatmeyer, age 85, died in Galveston, Texas on February 22, 2020. Gene often said that his life changed when he started going to church as a child. He dedicated his life to God and became a Presbyterian Minister. After a very tough and trying childhood, the church became his life. He will be remembered for his gift of cross-cultural ministry from the deep south of Mississippi to the Arctic to Africa, as well as his constant jokes, and his larger than life personality.

Since he was born on March 4^th during the Great Depression and the Dustbowl, it was always said that he was born to MARCH FORTH. He began by becoming the first in his family to graduate High School, and then went on to college and on to finish his Master of Divinity degree in 1959, and his Doctor of Ministry in 1978. Following the Scriptures’ guidance, he started early looking for “the least of these” to minister to, helping his churches become active in justice-based ministry in the process. As a young pastor he traveled to Mississippi to register African Americans to vote and, at one time, was even chased by the KKK. He started a farmer exchange program with white farmers from Iowa and black farmers in Mississippi. He led many mission trips to Indian reservations including Pine Ridge. After moving to Alaska, Gene saw the need for Alaska Native Leadership in the church and began encouraging Alaskan natives to become pastors of their own churches.

Maybe because he was so proud of his own 100% German heritage, he saw the impact of white pastors bringing the white culture with them to Alaska, and the need to preserve the Alaska Native culture. Gene continued on the mission of raising up indigenous Christian leadership, making that the focus of is Doctoral Studies. As a result, when he moved back to the Lower 48, he ran two different Native American Ministries Departments at two different Schools of Divinity: Charles Cook Theological School and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. After Gene retired, he continued his cross-cultural work with a year in Malawi, Africa where he worked in a church and learned that culture. Indeed, he never quit learning. In his last years he did research and finished a book on the old German Synod of the West, to which he attributed his love of “mission work.” Even in his last years he was reading several books a month and enjoyed talking about his life’s work at Toast Masters.

Throughout life Gene used humor to interact with almost everyone. He often embarrassed his family by making cat noises in restaurants and then would sit back to watch all the waitresses look for the cat under all of the tables. Pun should have been his middle name. Most of the time, his puns were met with groans and sighs, which seemed to make make him laugh more than the pun itself, as if it were some sort of torture he enjoyed dishing out. On one Alaskan Christmas Eve he anonymously called his brother-in-law in South Dakota at 5am in the morning (1am Alaska time) and told him his cows were out. He waited 30 minutes and called back to laugh after his brother-in-law was back in the house grumping that he had found that no cows were out. It became a funny family story, that was really only funny to Gene at the time.

Gene was an imposingly big man--- 6’2” with a deep voice and was used to getting what he wanted…maybe because he was an only child. He loved to eat, but also loved to exercise. He started riding bikes and wearing shorts in the 1960s, which, in that day, was unheard of for pastors. He bought a green rambler instead of the traditional black car for pastors, which was scandalous in the Midwest. When he moved to Alaska he joined an adult basketball league. He started jogging. He loved to canoe, but had his wife gotten in one more time, they may have divorced, since he didn’t know how to steer them. (If he were here, he would deny that comment.) Gene documented every minute he spent exercising, making graphs and yearly announcements of how many hours he had done which exercise.

Gene knew everything and told everybody what he knew. He was rarely wrong, but even if he were wrong, he would insist he wasn’t. Gene knew a LOT of people and never forgot a face or name. He maybe should have gone into politics since he loved glad-handing everyone. In busy places he would scour the crowd to find people he knew and would go talk to them, which would lead to talking to the guy next to him and on it went. He did love to talk, which is probably why everyone said he was a such a great preacher.

His roots were in South Dakota where there was a concentration of German immigrants from Northern Germany. He heard German growing up, but was not taught German because of World War II. Gene especially enjoyed the summer of 2011 that he and Jean spent living in Northern Germany where much of his low German came back to him, allowing him to communicate in his quest to find out more about his ancestors.

He was born in Chancellor, South Dakota, 3/4/34 to Henry W. Straatmeyer and Gertrude Bossman. On the eve of his marriage to Jean Plucker, 6/11/57, at Germantown Presbyterian Church, they found out they shared the same great-great grandmother. Fearing at first that they were too closely related, they then decided it wasn’t that important and went ahead with the wedding. A family of genes, Gene and Jean had three children: Cynthia Jean (Karns), born 4/25/59, Sandra Jean (McCubbin), born 4/21/61, and died 11/2/2018 and Michael Gene, born 4/19/65.

Gene is survived by his wife of 63 years, his daughter Cynthia and son-in-law Rev. Dr. Curtis Karns of Eagle River, Alaska; his son, Michael Straatmeyer, of Crystal Beach, Texas; as well as his grandchildren: Jeanie Karns Talbot of Upland, California; Keith Karns, of Salem, Oregon; and Aaron, Tyler, Layni, Conner, Chase, Ashlynn, Kylee McCubbin all from the Houston, Texas area. There are 5 great-grandchildren as well.

Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Galveston on what would have been Gene’s 86^th birthday, March 4^th at 2pm. A graveside service at Germantown Presbyterian Church near Lennox, South Dakota will be held sometime in the future.

***********

In lieu of flowers, we ask you donate to the Gene Straatmeyer Memorial Fund

Much of Gene's life was given to training indigenous Christian leaders. This fund will provide scholarships for future Native Americans students at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, who don't have the funds to realize their goals of ministry at this time in their lives. You will be giving to master degree programs in ministry. It trains followers of Jesus to empower others to join in God’s mission in a variety of callings. Graduates are equipped to pursue such callings as ministers of outreach, urban ministry, new church development, young adult ministry, teaching, or work with parachurch organizations. It would give Gene great joy to see you contribute to this very vital mission. Visit www.dbq.edu/Invest to make your donation.

Make sure to put GENE STRAATMEYER MEMORIAL in the Alternative Designation box

Addendum:

Gene religiously listened to Paul Harvey every noon on the radio, so with that in mind, here is “the rest of the story.”

Sadly in Gene’s later years in retirement, without the focus of a mission, without keeping himself so busy and distracted with his work, he succumbed to the need to continue the cycle of violence that was so prevalent in his own childhood. Having never dealt with his own demons of abuse, he plead guilty to violating his Texas granddaughters and spent the last five years of his life in prison with regret and shame. He was stripped of his ministerial ties to the Presbyterian Church USA. He was only two weeks shy of his possible parole.

In the prison infirmary, because there was no TV, radio, roomates, windows, or even his glasses, he reported that he would sing old hymns to pass the time. An old Stanley Brothers gospel song summarized his last years of struggling with forgiveness.

Oft I sing for my friends
When death's cold hand I see
When I reach my journey's end
Who will sing one song for me?

I wonder (I wonder) who
Will sing (will sing) for me
When I'm called to cross that silent sea
Who will sing for me?

When friends shall gather round
And look down on me
Will they turn and walk away?
Or will they sing one song for me?

So I'll sing 'til the end
Contented I will be
Assured that some friends
Will sing one song for me.

Jean Ellen (Plucker) Straatmeyer's Obituary

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 21:32:00 +0000

Obituary

Of Jean Ellen (Plucker) Straatmeyer
November 25, 1938 – April 23, 2021

On a dark November winter evening in 1938 in an upstairs room of the South Dakota farmhouse, Jean Ellen Plucker was born. How many times did we hear the story that Aunt Alma had to sleep with her the first night to keep her warm after she helped with the delivery? Her cries were a thrill to her brother Robert (10) and Dorothy (12), but especially her dad, since Jean was a surprise baby and her mom was older. She grew up adored and babied. She didn’t do much work on the farm, and often got in the way. The baby lambs followed her around each spring and sometimes the cranky goose chased her.

She was able to observe first-hand how much work the farm was. Besides her mom, her sister married a farmer down the road when Jean was 8. She had nine uncles on her mom’s side, four were farmers and five were Presbyterian Ministers. It did not go unnoticed that the farmers wives worked all day along-side of the farmer, but the preacher’s wives got to do really fun things: sing, teach Sunday School, lead women’s aide groups, make desserts for the session members….all of the things that Jean loved to do. When her parents weren’t working, they were at the Germantown Presbyterian Church ¼ mile down the road from the farmhouse. Jean’s great grandfather had given the land on which the church was built and every male member of the family since had served on the session. In fact, her grandfather fell in love with the very first preacher’s kid and married her. Jean’s mother played the piano every Sunday morning and evening, as well as for Wednesday night choir practice and Thursday night prayer meeting. She tagged along to all the bible studies, women’s aide groups, weddings, etc. Needless to say, Jean set her sights on marrying a minister, not a farmer.

One Sunday in 1956 a young man from Lennox, who was headed to Dubuque Seminary in the fall, came to Germantown Church as a guest speaker. Jean batted her eyelashes and the rest is history. Jean married H. Gene Straatmeyer on June 11, 1957 when she was still 18 years old. Sadly, on the night of their wedding rehearsal, Jean’s grandfather on her dad’s side died. As news of his death arrived at the church, it turned out that Gene’s family was also related to Jean’s grandfather. The couple shared the same great-great grandparents: Jurjen Roelf and Swaantzje Bossman, a testament to the tight-knit German community that settled near Lennox from Ostfriesland Germany in the 1800s. They decided to proceed with the wedding, but to forgo their honeymoon in order to stay for the funeral.

Jean and Gene moved to their first rural German church, Stateline Presbyterian Church, near Rock Rapids, South Dakota. The church, manse and cemetery sat in a cornfield in the country, many miles from town. Luckily Jean had a sewing machine so that besides doing her preacher wife duties, her days were filled with sewing clothes for all of the family members. Their first born, Cynthia Jean, arrived on April 25, 1959, the same year that Gene graduated from Seminary. Sandra Jean arrived April 21, 1961.

In 1963 Gene received a call from Colfax Center Presbyterian Church, another German country church near Holland, Iowa. It was in this church that Jean came into her own as a strong preacher’s wife. She had a beautiful voice and sang at all of the weddings and funerals. She sang in the choir. She taught Sunday School and Bible School music. She made desserts for each session meeting. She dressed perfectly and pinched her kids so that they would behave and look perfect in church. One summer she and Gene left the girls with grandparents in Lennox and went to Mississippi to register blacks for the vote. After they were chased by the KKK and had to take cover in the safety of a bar all night long, they decided that henceforth Jean would stay home with the girls. They wanted to make sure the girls would at least have one living parent. That experience solidified her life-long stance for social justice.

That decade also brought “The Sound of Music”. Jean was so enamored, she scraped enough money together to buy a ukulele. She learned to play it and in no time, the family became the Straatmeyer Family Singers, singing for all sorts of church events and special music. A lot of practice time was driving in the car.

No longer going to Mississippi, Jean sometimes joined the work parties and mission trips to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Gene and Jean felt strongly that they should do something to help children growing up in poverty. They requested to adopt an Indian baby. Much to their surprise the adoption agency called and said they had a perfect baby boy, but of German descent. They took one look at Michael Gene and it was love at first sight. Michael was born on April 19, 1965 and joined the family 3 days later. He brought much joy, laughter, adoration and some jealousy to is older sisters, Cindee and Sandee.

In 1971 Gene accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was an adventure. They sold most of their belongings, packed up the family in an LTD Ford, and headed up the Alcan Highway. That was a LONG 7 days in the car! But what a change. This was the first time Jean lived in a town, as well as the first time the manse was not next to the church. It was the first community that didn’t share the German culture. Instead the church was bilingual English/Iñupiaq. When Jean started using her perfected preacher’s wife skills, the session started feeling guilty that she was bringing desserts, so they started bringing their own. She joined the choir, but wasn’t asked to sing at weddings and funerals. Truth was, times had changed. It was the 70s and women didn’t work at home anymore. She was no longer expected to work alongside her husband. Jean’s world shifted.

Jean got her first for pay job at the Presbyterian Hospitality House, a boarding home for mostly Iñupiat girls going to high school in Fairbanks. She liked her job, but that meant that she had to give up cooking dinner. Cindee took over that job and the food got a lot better. Sandee took over the cleaning and the house was cleaner. Mike, the baby, didn’t get a job. When Gene suggested to Jean that she get her degree in social work, Jean fought the idea. It really wasn’t her goal to become a working woman. In the end, she graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a BS in Sociology and got her first job at the Literacy Council teaching adults to read. It was rewarding work.

In 1978 Gene uprooted the family to accept a position as seminary faculty at the University of Dubuque, Iowa, his alma mater. It was back to their roots. U.D. was the same school that Jean’s father graduated from and Jean’s mother got a nursing degree from; the same seminary that all of her uncles graduated from. However, she was not happy and neither were the kids: they did not want to leave Alaska. It just felt wrong. This was the first time Jean was not a preacher’s wife and she was not living in a manse. She and Gene purchased their first house, but to do so they needed a second income. Jean easily got a job using her degree inspecting low income houses. She wrote grants and oversaw the work of repairing the homes. Cindee and Sandee left home and Mike, in high school, learned to cook. This was the 9 to 5 era where she banked her money and they felt very well-off.

In 1986 Gene accepted a position at Cook Christian Training School in Tempe, Arizona. Jean got a job working for a renewable energy company. Jean learned to swim, she started scrapbooking, she continued singing in the church choir, she began her love of bike riding. She loved Arizona. It was here that having her own jobs/identity broadened her perspective on service and she was truly happy with life in general. She always wanted to return to Arizona, but never got a chance.

In 1991 Gene accepted a call to return to Alaska at First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla. It was in Wasilla that Jean finally had a job that truly connected her calling for service with her profession. She felt just as fulfilled as her preacher’s wife dream job—maybe more. She was the Director for the Valley Women’s Resource Center, where she helped low income and often abused women, often with the goal of helping them get jobs through education, improved personal appearance, and other efforts to improve self-esteem. In Wasilla she also served on the Habitat for Humanity board and was in charge of at least one home build. Jean spent a year organizing and picketing the XXX Video store on the street where she lived---all winter and all summer, every Saturday until finally the Video store closed.

Because Gene developed a severe allergy to glacier dust, the doctor suggested they retire to a beach somewhere where the air would be clean and moist. They chose Crystal Beach, TX. Jean said she’d be happy anywhere as long as she had a sewing machine.

It wasn’t long after retirement that they applied to be missionaries in Malawi, Africa. Again, Jean rose to her preacher’s wife status with perfection. She called her sister, who still went to Germantown Church and got that church to donate and send the first treadle sewing machine all the

way to Africa. Jean started sewing classes and soon the women there began having their own spending money and independence. She was so loved in Africa.

After returning, Jean started writing children’s books to continue raising money for the orphaned children in Malawi. You can still find those books on Amazon: Tales of an African Dog; Tales of an African Dog in Alaska; Tales of an African Dog in Texas.

Jean and Gene took one last major trip together to Ostfriesland, Germany where they lived for one summer and traced their ancestors. They made new friends, walked through many cemeteries and practiced the low German dialect they had learned as children, but were forbidden to use during the World War II era.

Sadly, in her last years of life, she basically went to prison with Gene, who was sentenced to 10 years for sexual misconduct with his granddaughters. She was so angry, but in reality after spending over 60 years with him, could not justify abandoning him. She wrote to him every day and talked to him on the phone every other day. She drove 200 miles once a month to visit him. When he died February 22, 2020, Jean lost her confidant and best friend. She was so sad.

And then Jean became a statistic. Long time partners often die within a year of each other. Most people only last 3 months in an assisted living facility. Her heart gave out on April 23, 2021.

She and Gene will be returned to the Germantown Presbyterian Church Cemetery just ¼ mile down the road from Jean’s old farmhouse where she was born and where many of their relatives have been laid to rest over the years.

Jean is survived by daughter, Cynthia Karns, son-in-law Curtis, of Anchorage, AK; her son, Michael Straatmeyer, of Crystal Beach, TX; her sister, Dorothy Plucker (95), of Sioux Falls, SD; and her brother Robert Plucker (93), of Haines, AK. She had 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra McCubbin and her husband Henry Gene Straatmeyer.

William Witte born 1808

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 19:13:00 +0000

WILHELM WITTE

Wilhelm Witte

Born: 1808 Died: ____?_____

He joined Zion Presbyterian Church, Fosterburg, Illinois on March 28, 1861

Married: Amalie (Amelia) Witte on __?__ in ____?____

Born: 1809 Died: ____?_____

Wilhelm and Amalie came to America on the ship “New Orleans” from the port of Bremen in Germany. They landed in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 25, 1860 with their three grown children.

Note from 3/24/2005: There was a huge tornado that took many buildings in Fosterburg, Illinois in 1948, so no records or evidence of their graves were found in any cemeteries in or around Fosterburg. Did they leave with Philipp? Did they die before Philipp left? If so, did he bury them in his plots in Fosterburg without stones? And what of Amalie and Wilhelm, their other children? Didn’t they want to take care of their parents? Wilhelm and Henretta have a very nice stone in the Woodburn cemetery, but no other Witte names are present.

Children:

Amalie Witte (27 at time of arrival in US)

Born: 1833 Died: _____?______

Wilhelm (William) Witte (24 at time of arrival in US)

Born: 1836 Died: _____?______ Buried: January, 1909 in Woodburn Cemetery, Fosterburg, Illinois

Married: Henrietta, who died on August 30, 1906 and was buried in Woodburn Cemetery, Fosterburg, Illinois – (no maiden name, birth date is known.)

Ernst Phillipp Witte (23 at time of arrival in US)

Born: 12/1/1837 in Lippe-Detmold, Germany

Joined the Zion Presbyterian Church in Fosterburg, Illinois on March 28, 1861.

Died: 9/11/1910 in Marion, South Dakota.

Buried in Germantown Cemetery, Chancellor, South Dakota.

Note: No mention of the name “Ernst” in the Zion Church records in Fosterburg or at Dubuque.

On March 28, 2005 records were found in the Library of the University of Dubuque in the Archives. A book identified as “Minutes of the convention of German Presbyterian Preachers (Ministers) and elders of the Northwest 1862-1889” was found listing Phil Witte several times. A Certificate of Incorporation of “The German Presbyterian Convention of Ministers and Elders in the West” dated August 14, 1868 was handwritten in this book. Most of the minutes were written in German, but the wording of this certificate is in English. One of the things that stood out was that German, Dutch and English would be used, but the minutes would be “chiefly in the German language.”

Trustees of the incorporation were Rev. Gottfried Moerz, Jacob Conzett and Conrad Knackstedt. A. VanVliet was the first signer. Then a listing of all the ministers and elders present at that time showed Phil Witte in line #52. (He must have been an elder.)

Another section in the book written in English in 1880 was regarding some “unrest” among the ministers and elders. Some must have made allegations of mismanagement of the school at Dubuque. Others said these people knew nothing about it and instead of doing their own research into the problem were using hearsay as truth.

Phil Witte must have been an ordained minister by 1883 because his name is listed as being from Prairie Dell, Illinois in May of that year. Monetary amounts were noted at each name on this page ranging from the 100’s down to almost nothing. After Philipp’s name was the amount of $32.50. It might have been the amount of money given by his church to the Convention.

April 30, 1885 shows Phil Witte as attending the Convention, but no church was identified.

Married: E. Anna Weimers (spelling may be Wiemers according to sources in Fosterburg, Illinois on March 24, 2005)

Born: 8/2/1843 Died: 5/19/1878 in Fosterburg, Illinois

Date of marriage: _____?_______ in ___________?_______________

Joined the Zion Presbyterian Church in Fosterburg, Illinois as Anna Wiemers on August 4, 1864.

(The date of their marriage must have been around that same time – at least between 1864 and 1869 when their first child was born. Since she didn’t arrive with the Witte’s at the same time, she may have lived in or near Fosterburg for quite some time, but it is doubtful that she was born there since so many of the Germans came during that time.)

Children:

Lydia Witte Highstreet Born: 1/26/1869

Baptized as “Lidia Karolina” Witte in Zion Presbyterian Church, Fosterburg, Illinois on February 28, 1869. “Philipp Witte and Anna” as parents.

(Found in Session records on Zion Church on March 24, 2005)

Christina Rebecca Witte Plucker Born: 12/1/1872 (Grandmother of Jean)

Emma Witte Coleman

Martha Witte Ludwig

Anna Witte Born: (date) Died: 6/19/1878

(There is speculation that the mother, Anna, died in childbirth and the baby, Anna, died just a month later. However, the birth and death dates of both “Annas” are suspect. For instance, in a Witte genealogy, p.76, it notes that little Anna died at age one.)

Note from 3/24/2005: The Witte grave site was found in the Fosterburg cemetery. The cemetery records show “Phil Witte” owning 10 plots, but visible is only one large stone with two small stones on each side. It looks like mother (Anna) and baby (Anna) were buried together. The sandstone marker has worn away quite severely, but some of the lettering is still visible. Here is a picture and a partial translation of the wording. Translation was very difficult since it was written in Platt Deutsch, not High German. No other Wiemers names were found in the community and no one remembered the name other than to say they must have moved away.

Anna Witte, the mother, was born August 2, 1843 and died March 19, 1878. The baby, Anna Witte, was born March 2, 1878 and died June 19, 1978. The wording is very faint, but speaks of her righteousness and faithfulness so that when she stands before God she will get into Heaven.

The 1880 census records from Madison County, Illinois, noted the following persons in the William Witte family:

William Witte 72

Amelia 72

Philip 42

Henrietta (Voss) 18

When Phillipp was 42, he would have had four children, Lydia (11), Christina (7), Emma and Martha (both younger), so he may have hired Henrietta to take care of them for him. While she was his “housekeeper” he may have decided to marry her.

Note: According to his obituary, Phillipp (spelling from obit) went to Dubuque to Seminary the same year Anna died, 1878. But no date is given for his marriage to Henrietta.

Second wife:

Henrietta (Harriet) Voss

Born: 1862(?) Died: 1933

Marriage date: unknown

(Jean Straatmeyer’s grandmother, when speaking of her step-mother, said that she was a “wicked step-mother.” She made the girls do all the work while she did nothing. If this woman was only 18 or 20 years old when she married Phillipp, it is no wonder the older kids called her the “wicked step-mother.” Since she came from Louisiana*, she may have had servants so she might not have known how to cook. When Bill (Phillipp’s brother) married Mary, he said it was the first good food he ever had!) (* Cindee here: if Henrietta was from Louisiana and that's where their ship landed, isn't it possible that they hired her as a servant in Louisiana and brought her along to Illinios?--see below)

Children of Phillip & Henrietta:

Infant son (No birth dates for three of four children – Obit notes five children)

Lena Witte Hippen Born: 2/7/1890 Died: 7/27/1984

Anna Witte Tellingheusen

Carl Fredrick William (Bill) Witte Died: 1955

Married 2/22/1910 to:

Mary Johanna Handwerk Born: 5/10/1894 Died: 3/1/1985

Children of Bill & Mary:

Ernest Witte – married ?

Elma Witte – married Lee Mabee. She died 9/29/99.

Ellory Witte (died circa 1970) – married Mercedes

Eunice Witte – married Raymond Ries, died: 1/14/2000

NOTE from Jean Straatmeyer: Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary (my father’s aunt & uncle) lived in Marion, South Dakota and when I was young, we would visit there quite often. Eunice, although older than me, would pay a lot of attention to me. They had a very nice home and a beautiful garden with a fish pond in the back yard.

Evelyn Witkop, age 84, of Sioux Falls, SD, on Thursday, March 16, 2000, tells that “no one ever talked of Henrietta’s beginnings.” She said neither her mother nor her grandmother ever discussed Henrietta’s family, how she met Phillip or how she got from Louisiana to Illinois. Evelyn Witkop said she was 16 or 18 years old when her Grandma, Henrietta Witte, died.

On Phillip’s tombstone in Germantown Cemetery, there is a loose square of cement with the word, “Anna” or “Anne” on it. According to Mrs. Witkop, this is the name of his daughter, Anne Tellinghuisen, who died when she was young, although already married and had a child.

Mrs. Witkop said that both of Philip Witte’s wives and his daughter are buried with him at Germantown. (We believe that is not true since Anna’s grave marker was found in Fosterburg on March 24, 2005.)

Evelyn Witkop on 3/16/2000 said she remembers John & Christiana Plucker very well and that they would often come to visit. She said Grandma was (in her estimation) “The best example of a real lady.” She would always be wrapped in a blanket. She would get out of the old Marquette, bring her blanket along with her and wrap herself up in it (her legs) during the visit. Mrs. Witkop said that Christina Plucker had such a “kindly face.”

Henrietta Voss was probably 71 years old when she died. She married two more times after Phillip Witte. She was Mrs. Van Gerpen and Mrs. Ben Cornelius – in that order, but nothing is known of those unions. She is said to be buried in the Germantown cemetery with Phillip Witte and that Bill Witte was put in charge of getting her name on the tombstone. He never did. It is still a “sore subject” with Evelyn Witkop, his niece.

Phillip was 40 years old when his first wife, Anna Weimers, died. He was 42 (+/-) when he married Henrietta Voss. He was 72 years old when he died.

Henrietta was 48 years old when Phillip died. And she probably died in Marion, but there was a fire in Marion that burned old city records, so no obituary could be found.

So Henrietta was 16 when she got married to old Phil at 42 years old!!!???? (Cindee added this)

Compiled by Jean E. Straatmeyer

March, 2000 and March, 2005

4/3/2005

Engel Jansen Poppen

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 19:11:00 +0000

HINDERKS, Hinderk Poppen

Came from Eilsum to Grimersum. Died in Grimersum on October 27, 1840

Married in Uttum April 27^th, 1800, to

JANSSEN, Engel

Born in Uttum around 1775. Died in Grimersum on November 14, 1831.

They had at least one child:

POPPEN, Jan Hinderks (father: Hinderk Poppen from Grimersum),

1838 Kleidermacher, 1849 Schneider Meister,

Born in Grimersum, died 28.07.1849, Buried 02.08. (He was over 48 years old when he died.)

He died of “Todesursache: an Hals- u. Brusten-zundung.

He was married 15.02.1835 (Kirche), (34/-) to Grietje Heyen Luitjes (parents: Heye Hinderks from Cirkwehrum and Houke Hansen (who later married Klaas Sieverts Steenlage) She died 24.06.1879, buried on the 29^th, (she was over 79 years old)

Todesursache: Krebsschaden.

One child: Engel Jansen, born 12.08.1838. Baptized on the 19^th.

A poor translation of the above:

Jan Hinderks Poppen was born in the village of Grimersum. In 1838 he was a clothes tailor and then became a master tailor. Suddenly, in 1849 he died (7/28/1849) of a throat or chest ailment and was buried on 6/29/1879.

Jan married Grietje Heyen Luitjes on 2/15/1835. She was born in Cirkwehrum (no date) and died of cancer on June 24, 1879. She was buried on 6/29/1879.

One child was born to this union – Engel Jansen Poppen – on August 12, 1838.

Engel lost her father when she was nine years old. Her mother lived for 30 years after her father died. She re-married to Mr. Steenlage, but eventually died of cancer in 1879.

The above information gleaned from “Die Familien der Kirchgemeinde Suurhusen (1705 – 1900)

Band 81 Printed in 2008 by Gerhard Neeland.

There were families with the Poppen name living in two houses in Suurhusen:

In 1803, Foske Poppen lived in House #20.

In 1835 Jan Hindrichs Poppen and Greetje Luitjens lived in House #37.

Between 1845-1856 Jan Hinrichs Witwe Poppen owned house #37.

John Poppe Plucker - Stage Coach incident

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 19:09:00 +0000

November 12, 2007

STAGECOACH TRAIL RECALLED

LENNOX MAN CHANGED HORSES

Lennox, S.D. May 2 –One of Lennox’s well-known pioneer residents, John P. Plucker, includes narrations of the old Sioux Falls-Yankton stage coach trail among his recollections.

Both Mr. & Mrs. Plucker have been longtime residents of this community. They were married November 20, 1893—a wedding partnership of nearly 47 years—and they farmed seven miles northwest of Lennox until 1920, when they moved to Lennox with their retirement. They were married in the Germantown Presbyterian Church, eight miles northwest of Lennox, which was organized May 5, 1886—with Mrs. Plucker’s father, the late Rev. P.H. Witte, the first pastor of that church.

Father Homesteaded

Mr. Plucker was born November 11, 1869, at Rockford, Ill., and Mrs. Plucker was born December 1, 1872, at Alton, Ill. The former’s parents were natives of Germany, immigrating to America and Rockford in 1866 and moving to Ackley in 1872.

In 1877 Mr. Plucker’s father filed on a homestead six miles northwest of Lennox, his family joining him nearly a year later. It was by this farm that the Sioux Falls-Yankton stage coach trail served. Horses were changed at the Plucker farm and at Swan Lake. Although only a youth then, he tells of various experiences in connection with the early stage trail, at times assisting in the changing of horses. Indians were common in the Plucker family’s earliest years here. Likewise, Mr. Plucker and a brother were caught in the blizzard of 1888, in which three neighboring boys lost their lives while returning from school.

Belong to Old Church

Mr. and Mrs. Plucker still are affiliated with the Germantown Presbyterian church. He has served as elder and deacon more than 15 and 20 years, respectively. He was an alderman on the city council from ward 3 for four years.

There are four children, namely: Mrs. P. H. Poppens, Princeton, Ill.; M. E. Plucker, on the old home place; Mrs. J. L. Mihelic, Chicago, and Mrs. Charles Wadleigh, of Albuquerque, N. M.

In her letter, Dots says:

“Lennox Anniversary Edition 1879-1939”

Did you ever read the account of the Yankton-Sioux Falls stage coach trail as it crossed the Plucker farm? The book tells that John P. Plucker was an eye witness of one of the robberies. He was 10 at the time as he saw the “federal” men capture the robbers.

More research from the Chancellor History Booklet:

This book says the Yankton, S.F. coach trail ran across the Menne Plucker farm in Section 10 of Turner County. That Plucker farm would be where Uncle Enno Plucker lived (his father had homesteaded that land). Now the farm is occupied by Michael Plucker and family. Mike is the great grandson of Enno and Minnie Plucker.

Engel Poppen Plucker Obituary

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 18:41:00 +0000

OBITUARY

ENGEL PLUCKER

August 12, 1838 – September 4, 1915

Miss Engel Poppen was born August 12, 1838 at Suurhusen, Ostfriesland, Germany, and died September 4, 1915 and was seventy-seven years and twenty-three days of age at the time of death.

She was united in marriage to Mr. Menne Plucker on April 18, 1866, who still survives her.

The young couple came to America a short time after their marriage and lived in Illinois from 1866 until some time in 1872 when they moved to Iowa living in that state until the year 1878 when they immigrated to Dakota, settling on a farm four miles northeast of Chancellor and upon which her and her husband have lived continuously up to the time of her death.

She leaves to mourn her loss her aged husband seven children – all married, forty-two grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was an every day Christian, being a faithful member of the Germantown Presbyterian Church from the time it was organized twenty-eight years ago until her death. The beautifying influences of a pure religion were spread over a life and character as spotless and charming as was ever possessed by any of the noble women who have lived and died during the ages that are gone. As such a life was a blessing and benefaction to all within the sphere of its influence so is the death of such as an irreparable loss to the home circle made desolate by her departure. It is difficult to pay a fitting tribute to the memory of so noble a woman – one whose every day life was embellished by the most charming and lovable attributes of her sex.

She could tell many interesting incidents of early pioneer experience with the Indians, the old time Dakota blizzards and other hardships through which she passed.

Dena Thaden and MEJ Plucker wedding announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 22:03:00 +0000

PLUCKER – THADEN

WEDDING NOTICE IN THE LENNOX INDEPENDENT

1924

A very pretty scene took place at the home of E. L. Thaden on Wednesday, June 4^th, at high noon, when Miss Dena Thaden became the wife of Mr. Menno Plucker.

At twelve o’clock noon, the bridal couple were lead into the parlor by Rev. John Smidt, where the immediate relatives and friends were gathered.

The bride was attended by Catherine Bunger, a very charming young lady from Davis, S. D. The groom was attended by her brother, Mr. Jerry Thaden, a student from the University of Dubuque.

After the ceremony, a delicious three course dinner was served to which all did justice.

The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Thaden, and is well known, as she grew to womanhood in this vicinity. She was educated at the University of Dubuque, and also took a course in nurse training at the Clinic Hospital at Huron. She has by her kind actions and disposition and her pleasant ways won a host of friends. We are sure she will bring sunshine in the home that will soon by organized.

She was beautifully attired in silk charmeuse satin trimmed with white and she carried a boquet white roses.

The groom is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Plucker of Lennox, S. D. He grew to manhood in and near Lennox and was also educated at the University of Dubuque. He is well known and has for the past few years conducted a grain elevator in Lennox. Through his steady disposition and civil manner he has won a host of friends.

The bridal couple left for Princeton, Ill., where they will spend a few weeks on a honeymoon.

They will be at home to their friends in Lennox after the 20^th of June.

The Independent and friends of Mr. & Mrs. Plucker wish them success and happiness.

Menne Albert Plucker + stage coach

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 21:59:00 +0000

MR. & MRS. MENNE A. PLUCKER

Mr. & Mrs. Menne Albert Plucker were early pioneer settlers of this vicinity. (The Lennox, South Dakota vicinity)

Mr. Plucker was born September 17, 1837 in Uttum, Ostfriesland, Germany. Mrs. Plucker, also a native of Germany, was born at Suurhusen, Ostriesland, August 12, 1838. Prior to her marriage, her name was Miss Engel Poppen. Both members of this union were reared in Germany and subsequently married abroad on April 18, 1866. The newly married couple then left their native land and immigrated to the United States, settling in Ogle County at Rockford, IL. They resided there for nearly six years, and in 1972 continued their trek westward to Ackley, IA.

After residing nearly half a decade in the Hawkeye state, Mr. Plucker in 1877 came to Dakota Territory and filed on a homestead claim six miles northwest of Lennox. The following year, 1878, his family took up their residence here with him.

Nine children were born to this union, two of whom died when quite young. They were Wessel (1867-1939, John (1869-1957), Harmke (1871-1931), Menno (1873-1917), Henry (1876-1953), Grace (1878-1958) and Enno (1880-1950).

Mr. Plucker attained the age of 87 years, 11 months and eight days at the time of his death on August 25, 1925. Mrs. Plucker preceded him in death, passing away September 4, 1915 at the age of 77 years and 23 days.

Mr. & Mrs. Plucker were charter members of the Germantown Presbyterian Church and he was one of the original elders. Following Mrs. Plucker’s death in 1915 Mr. Plucker spent his remaining years with his son, Enno M. Plucker.

The Plucker family came to Sioux Falls on one of the first freight trains and was delayed briefly while the railroad was being completed. They endured the many early hardships which prevailed, and witnessed the progress of this large area.

In the blizzard of 1888, Menne Plucker lost 37 head of cattle, and the following year he constructed a large barn which was used until 1997.

The two eldest boys, Wessel and John, were caught in the blizzard of 1888, one and ½ miles from home, while they were hauling straw. When the blizzard struck it took the load of straw and rack, leaving them with a bobsled. With the aid of the hard trail and other indications leading to their farm they reached the place safely, although the blizzard was so severe they passed their father in their yard unnoticed. The two boys and their horses, were coated with ice and snow when their father located them in the barn.

During the winter of 1881 the Plucker family was unable to get to town for three months due to the deep snow and many snow storms. During that time they ground six sacks (15 bushels) of wheat in a coffee mill. Early in March, Mr. Plucker and his son, Wessel, went to Lennox on snowshoes to get necessary supplies. It was impossible for them to get to their stock for three days on one occasion during that winter.

The old Yankton-Sioux Falls stage coach trail crossed the Plucker farm and John P. Plucker was an eye witness of the robbery of one of the stages. A lad of but 10 years, he saw the “federal” men capture the robber – approximately 80 rods from the Plucker home. The stage coach horses were kept at Sioux Falls, the Plucker farm and Swan Lake. The horses were changed at these places enroute to and from Yankton. There was only one other farm home recorded between Sioux Falls and the Plucker farm.

Indians were numerous here years ago. It was common to see 50 wagons of Indians coming through – often camping on the Plucker farm along Long Creek. They would sometimes ask for clothing and food. Their hunting and trapping centered on muskrat, rabbit and skunk. At one time there were approximately 150 wagons conveying nearly 500 Indians camping on the Plucker farm. Most times they were quite friendly, and the boys frequently visited them. Occasionally, when the weather was inclement, Indians were taken in as guests and slept on the floor of the Plucker home.

In 1884, Menne Plucker lost a son, Dierk, who was born December 28, 1882 and died March 2 1884. When this child died, Menne donated land where this child was buried. This became the first burial of Germantown Cemetery.

In 1886 Great Grandpa Menne Plucker donated land for the Germantown Church. He was one of the first elders of the church and he and his wife were charter members.

From the Chancellor Anniversary Book

(check date)

How they got Germantown Church

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 21:58:00 +0000

Pastor Witte's Obituary

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 21:56:00 +0000

WITTE

PASTOR ERNST PHILLIPP WITTE

This is his obituary:

“Oh to us becomes the heart so empty in the ringing world, and we all long for the Father’s House so very much.”

On Sunday evening, just as the sun disappeared in the west, Pastor Phillipp Witte died on the 11^th of September (1909) in his house in Marion, South Dakota. Long days of biter suffering were left behind, although he still believed that he had to do something still here on earth so that his death would have meaning. Through innocent beliefs in Jesus Christ, he exhaled his life at an age of almost 73 years.

Pastor Witte was one of the pioneers of our German undertakings in the west. He had seen the same small beginning and was permitted to still rejoice and see how the work of God’s success grew and how beautiful it spread.

On December 1, 1837, he was born in Lippe-Detmold. When he was 23 years old he came to America and settled in the vicinity of Fosterburg, Illinois. There he married Fraulein Antje Wiemers. They had five children, four of whom are still living.

Already for a long time he felt the pressure inside that the Lord wanted to make use of him in the ministry. But he was against it. Then came a hard belt. The Lord took away his wife in the year 1878.

In this time of darkness, he saw the Lord’s hand and in the same year he entered the seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Through hard studying and love of his work he decided to finish his years of studying. During this time he had again gotten married to Fraulein Henrietta Voss. There were given five children. His first field of work was in the area of Prairie Dell in Illinois. He worked there several years until he took the train and followed the German immigrants to the west. He took over a small field in the vicinity of Chancellor, South Dakota, a field which is now such a blooming community. In the year 1888 he came further west to Marion, South Dakota and there became established through him our present community in the year 1889 where he spent the decline of his life.

For about 15 years the community was building a church which unfortunately before they were finished, burned to the ground. On the ruins stood Pastor Witte, with the discouraged community. Still with trust in God, they agreed to begin building again. So, he spent his time in the middle of the work which he had started, until God took him on the above mentioned date of time. Rest after the work!!

(Translated by Cynthia Jean Straatmeyer, great, great granddaughter of Phillipp E. Witte, on June 26, 1979, 69 years after his death.)

(The great grandfather of Jean Ellen Plucker Straatmeyer. His daughter, Christina Rebecca Witte, married John Poppe Plucker. Their son, Menne Elvin Plucker was Jean’s father.)

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 20:23:00 +0000

FIFTY-EIGHTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

MR. AND MRS. JOHN P. PLUCKER

From The Presbyterian Messenger – written by Lydia Plucker Mihelic

1951

MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 20:42:00 +0000

I was looking for something else in my computer records and stumbled upon a piece I wrote in memory of my mother, Dena Margaret Thaden Plucker. Because I was in Africa at the time, I wasn't able to attend her funeral in 2002, so I wrote a short piece about my memories.

Dena Thaden Plucker will be 100 years old on October 29, 2002 -- the Lord willing. Since her death seems rather imminent, I have been thinking about her and decided to put into words some of my thoughts.
Since my brother and sister were 10 and 12 years older than me, I was raised almost like an only child. Both my mother and my father were very important in my life, but my mother did most of the teaching -- of life's lessons. My earliest memories are of Mom playing the piano in the old church in at Germantown. I would sit with my Dad and watch her play. She was the driving force behind my piano lessons. When the "new" church was built and an organ purchased, she played that, too -- and when I was old enough, I even played that organ a few times, although I was never as accomplished as she!

I have many early memories -- Mom would read to me a lot. I wonder now, how she found time and energy for that since she had the house and the farm yard to take care of. We didn't have many books, but we did have “Hurlbut's Story of the Bible” and she brought to life (with her reading) all the Bible stories from Genesis to Revelation -- including "Noah and the Prophets." We read many episodes of the Israelites warring with the Philistines. She wasn't one to talk much about her faith, but in all she did and said, it was there. She was a good example for her children.

There were other books, too. Most notably, "Little Brown Koko." I loved hearing about the adventures of this little African American boy and his family -- so far removed from our Midwest farm. I was fascinated by another book about Africa where "Little Black Sambo" played with lions and ate pancakes. Little did I know that I would one day go to Africa.

Since I was alone at home most of the time, I watched as Mom planted and weeded her garden and learned when it was OK to pick peas and beans. I also learned the sweet, tender taste of new potatoes, new onions and other fresh vegetables all cooked together. When the time was right, we would go out in the ditches and hunt for new asparagus.

Mom taught me so many things that in later life became useful again when we moved to Africa for a year -- like washing clothes and hanging them on a line, and how to roll a pie crust or how to cut a chicken into frying-sized pieces.

In the Spring, -- very early Spring -- baby chicks would be ordered and when we got a call on our party line that they were ready, we'd go into town to pick them up. Oh, the peeping! We usually got between 500 - 800 chicks and Mom would watch over them like their "mother hen." They would be housed in the "brooder house" and kept warm under a hood. If we were lucky, the chicks learned to eat and drink and grow. If not, they would crowd each other or start picking each other and we would lose some. Mom would worry and fuss over them until they finally got bigger.

As the chickens got older, Mom would start talking about eating them and soon a day would come when we would have our first Spring chicken for dinner. I was all eyes when it came to killing, skinning, cleaning and cutting up chickens. I even got pretty good at doing it myself.

In Africa, I used what I learned back home on the farm quite often. For instance, the lost art of baking bread from scratch, by hand! It was never one of my favorite activities, but in Africa, I remembered the lessons Mom taught me and we had fresh bread to eat on a regular basis since in that climate, store bought breads tended to mold quite easily.

One of the memories I have of Mom is one that I haven't duplicated since I was a very young housewife: mopping the floor on my hands and knees. Mom used to say that you can't really get a floor clean unless you get down on your knees to do it. It was a weekly chore for her. I am now quite satisfied to clean floors the easiest way possible.

Most farm wives even today, work harder than their city counterparts. And when I was young, I watched my Mom get dressed up in the "chore clothes," go out in all kinds of weather and do just about anything except drive the tractor, although I'm sure she did that, too. Early on, she would go out to pick corn by hand, with the horses and wagon and she always helped to shock the oats. She helped milk the cows, tend the sheep and of course, the chickens were really her responsibility. Every morning she religiously washed the cream separator. It was her least favorite job she used to tell me -- often. I didn't like it either, because the disks that did the separating were difficult to manipulate and could cut you if you weren't careful.

In the winter, Mom would love going out on a cold day to scoop the snow. She loved the fresh air. And in the winter there was more time for her "fancy work" -- when the north wind was lifting the linoleum on the floor. She was a member and sometimes president of the "Willing Workers," the women's group at her church. I would go along to be with her when there were meetings, when there were quilting parties at someone's house and when we held sales on the sewing, craft projects and homemade foods to raise money for Missions.

She taught me how to sew with a sewing machine, how to embroider beautiful patterns on towels and pillow cases. There always seemed to be time to cut out a dress on the dining room table. But, she would always save the zippers for my sister to put in saying that she did it so much better. (I thought Mom just didn't want to tackle the hard part!)

On Saturday afternoons, she would wash her hair and when I was a teen-ager, she would have me "put it up" in pin curls. We would have some good talks while I was doing that. And while we were doing the dishes together, she helped me memorize the Books of the Bible and my memory verses for Sunday School -- not to mention to "times tables" for school!

Mom had a lot of experiences in her life and I've mentioned only a few that occur to me. She was the steadying influence in my life as a child and remained close throughout -- seeing me through my teens, my marriage, my babies and even visited me in Alaska a few times!

Like everyone, my mother had her faults, but she had my love and respect for her part in my life.

Jean E. Plucker Straatmeyer

2002

THADEN FAMILY MINISTERIALLY INCLINED

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:28:00 +0000

Willow Lake, South Dakota - The E. L. Thaden family here is ministerially inclined. Three sons are so engaged, two are studying for such careers, and one daughter is married to a minister.
Clifford and Robert are shown in the back row. Seated are Jerry, Ben, and Clarence, and their brother-in-law, Rev. Lester Alberts. The picture was taken at a family reunion this week.
Jerry is a minister in the Presbyterian church at Hickman, Nebraska; Clarence is a minister in the Presbyterian church at Cambell, Nebraska, and Ben is a minister in the Reformed church of Gardiner, New York.
Clifford is enrolled as a junior in the Mission house seminary, at Plymouth, Wisconsin, and Robert is enrolled as a sophomore in Hope College in Holland, Michigan
Johanna, the youngest girl, was Sunday school teacher and church pianist, and married Rev. Lester Alberts, a Willow Lake boy, son of Mr. & Mrs. Sam Alberts. Rev. Alberts is pastor in a Reformed church near Wallkill, New York.
Mr. & Mrs. E. L. Thaden are pioneers in this community, having moved here from Lennox 37 years ago.

Transcribed by Jean E. Straatmeyer

From a very old newspaper clipping saved by her mother,

Mrs. M. E. J. (Dena Thaden) Plucker

Circa the early 1940's

THE HARM and DENA BUUS STORY

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:23:00 +0000

THE HARM & DENA BUUS STORY

FROM

LENNOX, SOUTH DAKOTA ANNIVERSARY BOOKS

Among the pioneers of this section who shared in its early struggles and development were Mr. & Mrs. Harm Buus who settled on a homestead four miles southwest of Lennox in 1878. They were the days of prairie fires, grass hoppers and primitive transportation. Harm Buus was born in Ostfriesland, Germany on February 1, 1848, and at the age of 16 came with his parents to America locating near Freeport, IL. In 1870 he moved to Grundy County, Iowa, locating near Grundy Center, and that same year was united in marriage to Hedina Margaret Bossman.

Harm & Hedina were married in Sept. 11, 1870

Mrs. Buus was born at Holthusen Kries, Wiener, Germany on December 28, 1850. There she spent her childhood days and when yet in her teens she came to America. They settled first in Illinois, where they lived a few years. Later the family moved to Grundy County, Iowa, near Ackley. There, on September 11, 1870 she was united in marriage with Harm Buus. They continued their residence in Iowa for eight years, and then in 1878 came to Dakota Territory to cast their fortunes with the other early homesteaders in this region.

Mr. Buus was one of the organizers and charter members of the First Turner County Presbyterian Church (now called Turner County First Presbyterian Church) and active in all community affairs in those early days. For 33 years they continued on the farm and in 1911 retired to take up their residence in Lennox. Here they continued to enjoy the material comforts that were their reward following years of hard work and thrift.

Mr. Buus died from anemia (Bright’s Disease) on July 31, 1924 at age 76 and six months. Rev. John Rops officiated at the funeral.

Coming here many years ago when the section was but a bare prairie, Mrs. Buus experienced all the hardships of the early days. In 1882 she joined with the Turner County First Presbyterian church and for 56 years was a faithful and active member. She was one of the pioneers who took the lead in the organization of this religious institution. She was a kind wife and mother, a true friend and neighbor, who was always willing to do everything humanly possible to help those in need of her services. Mrs. Buus was one of the sturdy pioneer women who played an active part in the up-building and advancement of this locality. In the fall of 1937, Dena became seriously ill and then failed rapidly. She died on the morning of May 7, 1938. Funeral services were conducted in the Turner County First Presbyterian Church and interment for both Mr. & Mrs. Buus is in the cemetery there.

Mrs. Buus passed to her reward on May 7, 1938 at the age of 87 years, four months and seven days. Twelve children were born to this union. (Eleven of those children are pictured in the previous blog: "BUUS GENERATIONS 1774 - 1979")

This picture from the "family archives" was not labeled, but it is safe to say that the two fellows on the near side of the car are father and son: Harm in the front and Hinderk in the back. The presumption is that their companions are their sons.

BUUS GENERATIONS 1774 - 1979

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 21:51:00 +0000

HARBERT HINDERKS BOES

Born February 26, 1774 in Larrelt, Ostfriesland. Died July 14, 1848 in Twixlum, Ostfriesland.

Married: Aje Allen Poppen Eertmoed, born in 1786, died on January 18, 1871 in Twixlum, Ostfriesland.

(Great, great, great grandfather of Jean E. Straatmeyer)

HARBERT HINDERKS BOES WAS FATHER TO:

HENDRICK SIMONS HARBERTS BOES (BUUS)

(Great, great grandfather of Jean E. Straatmeyer)

Hinderk Simons Harberts Boes was born on October 25, 1810 in Twixlum, Ostfriesland and died on February 22, 1911. He was buried in Turner County First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

He married Antje Berends Ailts who was born on March 10, 1810 and died on May 26, 1889.

Great, great grandpa - Hinderk Simons Harberts BOES

He died at the age of 100 years, 3 months and 4 days.

She died at the age of 79 years, 2 months and 16 days.

The Hinderk Buus family - circa 1910

Children of Hinderk and Antje Buus:

1. Aje (Ella) b. Dec. 12, 1835 d. Feb. 25, 1880 Buried at Grundy Center, IA

Married: John Haan

2. Berend b. Nov. 27, 1837 d. Jan. 28, 1919 Buried at Lennox, SD

Married: Kia Friese

3. Harbert b. Dec. 1, 1840 d. July 26, 1923 Buried at Ellsworth, MN

Married: Abena Laura Schnus

4. Henderk b. Mar. 24, 1842 d. Oct. 9, 1911 Buried at Lennox, SD

Married Antje Fokken

5. Engel b. July 19, 1845 d. May 2, 1938 Buried at Ellsworth, MN

Married: Jan Meester

6. Harm G. b. Feb. 1, 1847 d. July 31, 1924 Buried at Lennox, SD

Married: Hindina Margaretta Bossman

HARM G. (Hinderks) BUUS (Boes)

(Great grandfather of Jean E. Straatmeyer)

Harm Buus, born Feb. 1 1847 in Twixlum, Ostfriesland, Germany, died July 31, 1924 in Rural Lennox, SD. He was the son of Hinderk Simons Boes and Antje Berends Ayelts. He married Hedina Margaret Bossman Sep. 11, 1870 in Grundy Center, Iowa.

Note: His birth name was Harm Hinderks Boes. He may have changed his middle initial later because of similarities in names of his relatives. The family name also went through several changes – from Boes to finally, Buus.

Hedina Margaret Bossman, born Dec. 29 1850 in Holthusen Kreis, Weiner, Ostfriesland, Germany, died May 7, 1938 in Rural Lennox, SD. She was the daughter of Juren R. Bossman and Swantze Geersma.

Circa 1900

Children of Harm Buus and Hedina Bossman are:

1. Antje (Annie) Buus, born May 11, 1871; died July 24, 1919, m. John Kuper – six children

2. Jerry Buus, born Dec. 11, 1872, died Feb. 3, 1899, m. Minnie Braak – two children

3. Henry Buus, born Oct. 17, 1874, died Oct. 6, 1952, m. Amanda Bunger – six children

4. Swantje (Maggie) Buus, born Oct. 4, 1876; died June 22, 1964; married John Naatjes.

5. Harmina (Minnie) Buus, born Oct. 24, 1878 in Lennox, South Dakota; died Sep. 8, 1949 in St. Johns Hospital, Huron, Beadle Co, South Dakota; married Eilert (Louie) Ludwig Thaden Mar. 11, 1897 in Lennox, South Dakota; born May 25, 1870 in Peoria, IL, died Dec. 19, 1962 in Huron. Both Minnie and Louie were buried at Willow Lake, SD. (Minnie was Jean Straatmeyer’s grandmother on her mother’s side.)

6. George Buus, Born Nov. 9, 1880, Died in 1882 (while Hedina was pregnant with the next baby, also named George.

7. George Buus, born Dec. 9, 1882, died Feb. 28, 1971, m. Tena Cramer – two children

8. Engel (Annie) Buus, born Jan. 7, 1885, died July 12, 1955, m. Fred H. Bunger, 2^nd husband: Mr. Ludens after 1921, m. Henry Weise before 1955 – four children

9. Kate Buus, born April, 1887, died June 2, 1962; m. Andrew Mortenson, - two children

10. Habina (Bertha) Buus, born June 23, 1889 in Lennox, South Dakota; died Oct. 16, 1974 in Lennox, South Dakota; married Luberto (Bert) F Oltmanns; -- three children

11. Harmannus (Herman) Buus, born Sep. 16, 1891, died July 21, 1969, m. Bertha Hippen, - two children

12. Berend (Ben) Buus, born 13 Dec 1893, died Dec.10, 1979, m. Lizzie Knock – three children

The remaining eleven children of Harm and Dena Buus
Grandma Thaden is far right, back row
Circa 1900

--From internet search June, 2011

--Matched to database of Berdine Kock, Lennox, SD

--Edited by Jean E. Straatmeyer August, 2014

HINDERK BUUS OBIT

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 18:57:00 +0000

Recently I have come into possession of some obituaries pertaining to my mother’s maternal grandparents. Most interesting to me is the phrasing of the obit writer and the addition of some unnecessary information. Here I’ve tried to put together facts along with the poetic phrases used in days gone by.

Hinderk Buus was the grandfather of my mother's mother. I will publish her maternal lineage shortly.

HINDERK BUUS

OBITUARY

The last days of the centenarian came to a close at 10:30 on Wednesday, February 22, 1911. His days of sickness were few and with little discomfort to this siren. But the burning candle of life grew fainter and fainter until the pulse failed to beat and the failure of the respiratory organs became evident to those at the bedside. The man who trod this vale for a hundred years and more, he whose every physical constitution was of the rugged type became stifled and the pallid cheek and the shrunken eye told them that he was no more. His days were grown ripe in years and his wish was and had for sometime been that he could rest and be with his Father in Heaven. Such comfort was his when death drew nearer. He was pleased when he knew that only a few more hours and there would be eternal happiness in wait for him, so near at his door, and though so aged, he was conscious to the last and congratulated on the very morning of his death, George Buus, a grandson, upon the marriage this young man was about to join in.

The Lutheran Church at Twixlum, Ostfriesland, Germany

Hindrick Buus was born at Twixlum, Ostfriesland, Germany [also known as Prussia] on October 25, 1810 to Herbert and Obina(?) Buus and came to this country in 1865. The first few years he spent in Illinois after which eight years were passed in Iowa, when at the close of that period he moved on to his farm near Lennox, South Dakota where he remained until his death. His wife, Antje (Anne) Seine Gattin Ailts was born March 10, 1810 also in Germany. In 1880 they lived in Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County, Iowa. Antje died in 1889, 22 years ago this coming May. After her death, Hinderk remained, living with his son, Harm Buus.

Here the Hinderk Buus family is shown together - perhaps in front of the Harm Buus home.

The following are children who survive him and who were present at the funeral: Berent Buus of Lennox, Herbert Buus of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Henry Buus of Lennox, Mrs. John Meester of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Harm Buus of Lennox. Mrs. John Haan, the oldest of the family, preceded her father in death thirty-one years to the very day of his funeral.

Among the numerous relatives that attended were: Mrs. John Slight of Parkersburg, Iowa, Mrs. O. Neihhuis of Aplington, Iowa, Mrs. John Haan, Jr. and C. Henrich all of Rock Rapids, Iowa. The funeral took place last Saturday at the home at 12 o’clock, conducted by Rev. A. Peterson and H. Gerdes. Interment was made in the Presbyterian Church cemetery southwest of Lennox, SD.

The Lennox Independent

March 3, 1911

SYNOD OF THE WEST MEMORIES

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 15:53:00 +0000

Note: This little essay was found in research papers collected for a history book about the "Synod of the West." The writer is my aunt (my father's sister).

Synod of the West Memories

Lydia Mihelic (Mrs. Joseph Mihelic)

Dubuque, Iowa

My grandfather was the first minister of the Germantown church in South Dakota. It was a little white, wood-sided church that had been raised from the prairie land. In that small community of farmers where everyone had come from Germany, the church and its German-language services took on great importance.

In the late “teens,” it became unfashionable to speak German. In fact, if you had German friends it was thought to be – terrible. We had a telephone in the community, the old-time party line. My father had five brothers and two sisters living close by, and they would try to find times to talk when no one was likely to be listening in. Eventually they took the phones out – just look them away – because people were talking German on them.

For a time, there was a debate over what to name the church. Once my father and another man were discussing it on a train when a woman across the aisle admonished them, “I thought you were not to talk German.” My father’s companion turned to her and answered, “I didn’t realize no one could speak French!” She responded, “Oh! Pardon me; I thought you were talking German.”

In the wintertime we used big bob sleighs. My dad would take us to school and, if he had time, go further and pickup other children. In winter we had a bad time with groceries. There were few grocery stores and they didn’t always have everything. If they had oranges, that was truly a gift at Christmas.

Christmas in the church is one of my favorite memories. The men and boys sat on one side of the aisle and the women and girls sat on the other. I was fascinated by the ladies’ hats. They were all beautiful. But most beautiful was the Christmas tree with its candles. The candles had to be big enough to produce a bright flame, and we were always afraid there would be a fire. The children would watch the tree and alert someone when they saw a candle that wasn’t doing just right.

THADEN UNCLES, AUNTS & COUSINS

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 20:54:00 +0000

The eleven children of E. L. and Minnie Thaden:

(Information circa 1976)

Their first child was born July 16, 1898 and named Gerhard Ludwig after his grandfather. Nicknamed George, he later married Ann Meister, daughter of Levi Meister. They have one son, Kenneth.

Twins were born on August 13, 1899. Harm Daniel married Bertha Bauer. They have two daughters (Lucille and Doris) and live at Huron. Jerry Herman married Irma Twait. They had three daughters and one son (Marianne, Jerry Allen, Ellen, Marcia). Jerry passed away in April 1969 but Irma is presently living at Pardeeville, WI.

Another son, William LeRoy, was born October 14, 1900. He married Grace Hassebroeck, daughter of Fred and Fannie Hassebreock. They had one daughter and two sons, Donald, Lois and Leslie James. Bill passed away October of 1967. Grace is presently living at Bancroft.

A daughter, Dena Margareta was born October 29, 1902. She married M.E.J. Plucker and had two daughters and one son, Dorothy, Robert and Jean. M.E.J. passed away October 1968. Dena is presently living at Lennox.

Eilert relocated his family to a farm three miles west of Bryant, (where Lyle Haug lives now) in 1903.

Another son, Arthur Floyd, was born October 17, 1904. He married Hannah Johnson, daughter of Ailt Johnson. They have one daughter and two sons (Eileen, James and Eugene) and are presently living on the home farm by Willow Lake.

Benjamin Harry was born December 13, 1906. He married Angeline Board and they had two daughters, Sharon and Bonnie. He later remarried Irene Jacobsen. They presently live in Huron.

Once more Eilert relocated his family. He bought the farm east of Willow Lake in Washington Township on October 10, 1908. The house on the farm was unique in its own way because it was a round house. Although it has been remodeled now, the attic still tells of its original shape.

Another son, Clifford Adelbert was born on April 20, 1910. He married Louisa Bartell. They had three daughters and one son, Carolyn, Claudia, Ruth and John. Louisa was killed in a train crash in 1946 and Clifford then married Millie Parsons. This union brought one daughter and five sons, Michael, Patricia, Larry, Gene, Daniel and Steven. They are presently living at Orleans, NE.

Clarence Henry was born January 10, 1913. He married Thelma Reemtsma, daughter of John Reemtsma. They have one daughter and one son (Janice and John) and are presently living at Encino, CA.

Johnanna Christina Amelia was born October 2, 1915. She married Lester Alberts, son of Sam Alberts. Three daughters and one son who died in infancy were born to this union (Elaine, Shirley and Linda). Les passed away November 1973. Jo is presently living in Warwick, NY.

The baby of the family was born on August 8, 1917 and named Robert Lawrence. He married Judith Ride of Australia. They have one daughter and three sons (Pamela, Robert Junior, Ronald and Randall) and presently live at Bloomington, MN.

Like many families of German descent, German was always spoken in the home so E. L. and his wife were known as Opa and Oma to their grandchildren, which means grandpa and grandma in German. Eilert’s children had learned to speak English by the time they went to school but many families clung to old traditions.

It is interesting to note that of eleven children, there are only two different occupations among them. Four brothers became farmers and the oldest sister became a farmer’s wife. The other five boys became ministers and the last sister became a minister’s wife.George & Ann: KennethTHE WAY I KNEW THEM:

Harm & Bertha: Lucille and Dorie
Jerry and Irma: Mariann, Jerry Allen, Ellen and Marcia
Bill & Grace: Bud, Lois and Leslie James
Al & Dena: Dots, Bobby and Jean
Art & Hannah: Eileen, Jimmy and Gene
Ben & Irene: Sharon and Bonnie
Clifford & Millie: Carolyn, Claudia, Ruth, John, Michael, Patricia, Larry, Gene, Daniel and Steven
Jo & Les: Elaine, Shirley and Linda
Bob & Judy: Pam, Robert, Ronald and Randall

OLD PHOTOS FROM THE THADEN CLAN

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 01:26:00 +0000

Old photographs from the Thaden family

Recently my sister and I went through a box of "memories" and she gave me these to share. If anyone wants to have a personal copy of one or some of these photos, I think you can capture them by right-clicking and saving to your own computer.

Grandpa Thaden (Eilert Ludwig)

Benjamin Harry Thaden

(First wife: Angeline Board, Second wife: Irene Jacobsen)

Carolyn Thaden Klassen (Clifford)

Claudia Thaden Freerks (Clifford)

Clifford Adelbert with second wife, Mildred Parsons

Clifford Adelbert

First wife: Louisa Bartell who died in a car/train collision.

Donald and Lois Thaden, (children of Bill and Grace)

Donald Thaden (Bill & Grace)

Donald & Ruth Thaden (Bill & Grace)

Donald Thaden (Bill & Grace)

Doris Thaden & Carl Haug (Harm & Bertha)

Doris Thaden Haug (Harm & Bertha)

Eileen & Edgar Spieker (Art & Hannah)

Eileen Thaden (Art & Hannah)

Gene & Phyllis Thaden (Art & Hannah)

Kenneth, Ann and George Thaden

Jerry Herman Thaden (married Irma Twait)

Johanna Christina Amelia Thaden and Lester Alberts with their parents

Johanna & Lester Alberts

John (Clifford Thaden), Patty and Michael (Mildred Parsons)

Kenneth Thaden (George & Ann)

Leslie James Thaden (Bill & Grace)

Lois Thaden Gilbert (Bill)

Lucille Thaden (married Kenneth Anderson)

Robert Lawrence Thaden (married Judith Ride)

Dena Margareta Thaden (married M.E.J. Plucker)

Clarence Henry Thaden (married Thelma Reentsma)

Johanna Christina Amelia (married Lester Alberts)

Harm Daniel and Jerry Herman Thaden Twins

Harm married Bertha Bauer, Jerry married Irma Twait

Enjoy!

WITTE AND GERMANTOWN

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:03:00 +0000

More than a century ago,

when Dakota was not yet divided into two states,

when it was still one big territory,

when the town of Chancellor did not exist,

when the city of Lennox was just rising from the prairies

and was only a barren town site with a few wooden shacks and tents,

when there were yet prairie fires and Indian scares in the Dakota territory –

At that time, the country became settled with German people,

and the first East Friesian settlers began to arrive

in the part of the country now known as the “Germantown community”

located a few miles northwest of Lennox,

and a few miles northeast of what is now Chancellor.

Back in 1886 and earlier, when the first settlers moved in, they attended the services of the German Reformed Church which was then located five miles south of the present church. Rev. Weiland came to hold services in a public school house, just 1/2 mile south of the present location.

Under present day conditions, it seems unnecessary to build churches within five miles of each other, but back in the 1880’s transportation was not such a convenient thing as today. Many of the people lived farther than five miles from any church and the only means of transportation was by “horse and buggy.”

The Germantown Community had the desire and longing for a church near enough for them to attend regularly. The German Reformed Church through a committee sent from their church organization, decided that it was not advantageous for them to extend the amount of help needed to organize and build a church in the location requested. The people of Germantown then turned to the Presbyterian Church (The Synod of the West) for help, which was granted.

A copy of the minutes from an early business meeting of the Germantown Community shows that a committee of three, consisting of Heere Heibuilt, George Heibuilt and Menne A. Plucker were sent to call upon Rev. Ludwig Figge (who was then the pastor of Turner County Presbyterian Church) for help. The committee's efforts were successful.

Early Germantown Church and manse

As a result, on May 5, 1886, the church was organized and 21 persons were received as members. Among them were Menne and Engle Plucker (my great grandparents). Land for the church site was given by Engel and Menne as well as the land for the Germantown Cemetery across the road. Ernest P. Witte (later called Phillip Witte) served the new church as the Presbyterian Church’s “Stated Supply.”

Services for the Germantown community had been held in a school house about one-half mile south of the church site for about a year, but by 1887 the first services were held in the newly constructed Germantown Presbyterian Church.

In 1888, two years after the formal organization of the congregation, Rev. Witte was called to serve as pastor of the small group. He was the official pastor there for only about one year, but in that year, the first manse was built. Even though his pastorate was short, two of his daughters married men from the congregation. One of them was Christina Plucker (my grandmother), and the other was Lydia Hoogestraat (Mrs. John H. Hoogestraat).

Menne A. and Engel Pucker are seated in the second row center. John Poppe and Christina are seated second and third from the right - holding Alma and Lydia. In the top row, Wilbur is on the extreme left. Menne and Anna are seated directly below Wilbur. The year was around 1910.

John P. Pucker family.
Alma, Christina, Menne, Lydia, Wilbur, Anna, John.
The year was about 1916.

The treasurer’s reports of those days make interesting reading. In 1890 the entire budget of the church not including the pastor’s salary was $174.12. There are no records available to show what Phillip Witte was paid in 1888, but in 1890 the pastor received $350, paid semi-annually.

The following NEWS NOTES were gathered by Wiert Eekoff, pastor at Germantown Church in 1946. He wrote the text of the church’s 60^th anniversary booklet.

* “On August 28, 1862, the residents of Sioux Falls fled to Yankton under cavalry escort for safety from hostile Sioux Indians. After the settlers had fled the Indians entered the town and burned all the buildings. In their escape the old settlers followed the “Old Yankton Trail” which” [was still visible in many placed in 1946].

* “It was during the ninth session of the Territorial legislature at Yankton in the winter of 1870-1871, that a legislative act was adopted forming the new county of Turner. Under the territorial act the new county was formed by taking eight townships off the east of Hutchinson and ten off the west of Lincoln. The new county was named after John W. Turner, who was at that time a member of the senate from Clay County.”

* “In 1880, 679 miles of railroad were completed in Dakota and 341 miles graded.”

* “The year of 1863 was one of unprecedented drought in Dakota Territory. The Indians had burned off six hundred miles of prairie above Fort Berthold and navigating on the Missouri was fraught with many hazards.”

* “Land in Dakota in the middle ‘80’s sold at from $5.00 to $10.00 per acre. Hundreds of families from the east came to settle on the low priced land in this new west.”

Much of the text of this post was taken from

The Sixtieth Anniversary,

The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary, and

The One Hundredth Anniversary

Booklets of

Germantown Presbyterian Church,

Chancellor, South Dakota

Below are several pages reproduced from the actual Anniversary books of Germantown Church:

PHILLIP WITTE BEGINS HIS MINISTRY

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:40:00 +0000

This is the church (Zion Presbyterian Church, Fosterburg, IL) from where Phillip Witte began his quest for the ministry.
Photo from 1902.

On March 28, 2005, on our trip to Dubuque, Iowa, we found old records in the Archives of the University of Dubuque Library. We found a book identified as “Minutes of the convention of German Presbyterian Preachers (Ministers) and elders of the Northwest 1862-1889” listing Phil Witte several times.

A Certificate of Incorporation of “The German Presbyterian Convention of Ministers and Elders in the West” dated August 14, 1868 was handwritten in this book. Most of the minutes were written in German, but the wording of this certificate is in English. One of the things that stood out was that German, Dutch and English would be used, but the minutes would be “chiefly in the German language.”

Early picture of the Presbyterian Church in Prairie Dell, IL.

Phil Witte must have been an ordained minister by 1883 because his name is listed as being from Prairie Dell, Illinois in May of that year (ostensibly as a minister in that Presbyterian Church). We saw monetary amounts listed by each name on this page ranging from the $100’s down to almost nothing. After Philipp’s name was the amount of $32.50. It might have been the amount of money given by his church to the Convention. (There was no official indication as to salary paid to each pastor.)

An April 30, 1885 entry shows Phil Witte as attending the Convention, but no church was identified.

I believe this was the time that Phillip Witte moved his family to South Dakota - the Lennox/Chancellor area where he assisted in the organization of Germantown Presbyterian Church .

PHILLIP WITTE'S SECOND FAMILY

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:47:00 +0000

Phillip Witte's second wife was Henrietta (Harriet) Voss. She was born on September 8, 1858 and died on March 19, 1935 (according to a "descendants' chart" put out by Joe & Judy Adamski - in 1989). Apparently, the Adamskis are descendants of one of the children of Phillip and Henrietta. They shared the survey with my cousin, Eleanor Poppens of whom I have spoken elsewhere in these blogs.

I haven't been able to find a marriage date for either of Phillip's wives and the dates of births, deaths or marriages of other members of the Witte family are also suspect. However, with that in mind, I shall continue...

Children of Phillip & Henrietta:

Infant son No birth date (The obituary notes five children, but family records show only four, with birthdates available for only the two girls.)

Anna Witte Tellinghuisen Born: April 22, 1884. Died: April 16, 1910

Lena Witte Hippen Born: 2/7/1890 Died: 7/27/1984

Lena had nine children and many descendants.

Carl Fredrick William (Bill) Witte No birth date Died: 1955

Married 2/22/1910 to: Mary Johanna Handwerk Born: 5/10/1894 Died: 3/1/1985

Children of Bill & Mary:

Ernest Witte – No birth date. Died in 1955.

Elma Witte – No birth date. Married Lee Mabee. She died 9/29/99.

Ellory Witte - Born in 1914. Died in 1961. – Married Mercedes (no last name)

Eunice Witte – married Raymond Ries who died on 1/14/2000

Eunice and Ray lived in Marian, SD many years but after his death she moved to Sioux Falls, SD.

Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary with their grandchildren.
Circa 1950.

NOTE from Jean Straatmeyer: Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary (my father’s aunt & uncle) lived in Marion, South Dakota and when I was young, we would visit there quite often. Eunice, although older than me, would pay a lot of attention to me. They had a lovely home and a beautiful garden with a fish pond in the back yard.

Evelyn Witkop, age 84, of Sioux Falls, SD, on Thursday, March 16, 2000, tells that “no one ever talked of Henrietta’s beginnings.” She said her mother - Lena Rosina Witte Hippen - nor her grandmother ever discussed Henrietta’s family, how she met Phillip or how she got from Louisiana to Illinois. Evelyn Witkop said she was 16 or 18 years old when her Grandma, Henrietta Witte, died.

[As a grandmother, I am determined not to be close-mouthed about my ancestors to my grandchildren! It will be here for them to peruse or continue to research whenever they wish.]

The Witte grave marker.

See tombstone information below.

On Phillip’s tombstone in Germantown Cemetery, there is a loose square of cement with the word, “Anna” on it. According to Mrs. Witkop, this is the name of his daughter, Anne Tellinghuisen, who died when she was young, although already married and had a child. Anne married Andrew Tellinghuisen and bore him a daughter, Ethel T. Tellinghuisen on March 31, 1909. Ethel died on September 17, 1935.

Mrs. Witkop said that both of Philip Witte’s wives and his daughter are buried with him at Germantown. (We believe that is not true since his first wife's (Anna) grave marker was found in Fosterburg on March 24, 2005.) However, Henrietta Voss Witte may be buried at Germantown since we could not find her obituary due to a fire at the courthouse in Marian, SD.

Evelyn Witkop on 3/16/2000 said she remembers John & Christina Plucker very well and that they would often come to visit. She said Grandma was (in her estimation) “The best example of a real lady.” She would always be wrapped in a blanket. She would get out of the old Marquette, bring her blanket along with her and wrap herself up in it (her legs) during the visit. Mrs. Witkop said that Christina Plucker had such a “kindly face.”

***

Henrietta Voss was 76 years old when she died. She married two more times after Phillip Witte. She was Mrs. Van Gerpen and Mrs. Ben Cornelius – in that order, but nothing is known of those unions. She is said to be buried in the Germantown cemetery with Phillip Witte and that Bill Witte was put in charge of getting her name on the tombstone. He never did. In March of 2000 it was still a “sore subject” with Evelyn Witkop, his niece.

It is obvious here that Phillip's information was put on the right side and the left side is empty.
Was Henrietta's name to be put there?
The tablet with the word "Anna" is loose between the pedestals.

It is interesting to note that I seem to have more information about Phillip Witte's second family than his first. However, the closer proximity in time has made the information more accessible. Most of the information above came from research done since the year 2000.

The next posting will show what I know about Phillip Witte's beginnings as a Presbyterian minister.

PHILLIP WITTE 1860-1880

noreply@blogger.com (Jean E. Straatmeyer) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:42:00 +0000

What did Phillipp Witte do between 1860 and 1880?

Ernst Phillipp Witte, 23 years old at the time of his arrival in the United States, was born in Detmold, Germany in 1837. He came to New Orleans in 1860, made his way with his family to Fosterburg, Illinois and joined the Zion Presbyterian Church there on March 28, 1861. As his time in the United States went on, Ernst Phillipp became Phillip instead.

Phillip and E. Anna Wiemers who was born August 2, 1943 were married in Fosterburg. The date is unknown, but she joined the Zion Presbyterian Church in Fosterburg on August 4, 1864. Her death occurred around the same time as the death of her fifth child, May 19, 1878.

(The date of their marriage must have been around that same time – at least between 1864 and 1869 when their first child was born. Since she didn’t arrive with the Witte’s at the same time, she may have lived in or near Fosterburg for quite some time, but it is doubtful that she was born there since so many Germans came to the U.S. during that time.)

Phillip and Anna's Children:

Lydia Witte Highstreet Born: 1/26/1869

Baptized as “Lidia Karolina” Witte in Zion Presbyterian Church, Fosterburg, Illinois on February 28, 1869. “Philipp Witte and Anna” as parents. (Found in Session records of Zion Church on March 24, 2005)

Christina Rebecca Witte Plucker              Born: 12/1/1872   (Grandmother of Jean)

Emma Witte Coleman                                    No birth date

Martha Witte Ludwig                                     No birth date

Anna Witte                      Born: 3/2/1878                 Died: 6/19/1878

There is speculation that Phillips’s wife, Anna, died in childbirth and the baby, Anna, died just a month later. Note from 3/24/2005: The Witte grave site was found in the Fosterburg cemetery. The cemetery records show “Phil Witte” owning 10 plots, but visible is only one large stone with two small stones on each side. It looks like mother (Anna) and baby (Anna) were buried together. The sandstone marker has worn away quite severely, but some of the lettering is still visible.

Here is a picture and a partial translation of the wording. Translation was very difficult since it was written in Platt Deutsch, not High German. No other Wiemers names were found in the community and no one remembered the name other than to say that “they must have moved away.”

Two Anna's
The wording on the stone is very faint, but speaks of Anna's righteousness and faithfulness
so that when she stands before God she will get into Heaven.

I cleaned the stone as much as I could on 3/24/2005, but the sandstone is so worn down that the dates are almost gone.

Kind is the German word for child.

I believe that between 1860 when the Witte’s arrived in the U.S. and 1878 when his wife and child died, Phillip was farming with his father – probably in Madison County, Illinois. But after that, he gave his life over to becoming a minister of the Presbyterian Church. He moved his family with him to Dubuque, Iowa where he attended Seminary.

In 1878 his four remaining children were under the age of nine. They required full time care. He must have been hard pressed to find help. I’m sure his mother helped him during that time, but in her 70’s she could no longer find the energy it took to care for four little girls.

In the 1880 census from Madison County, Illinois, the following information about the Witte family was gleaned:

William Witte 72

Amelia 72

Philip 42

Henrietta (Voss) 18

(No record was available for children under the age of 18).

My speculation here, is this: I believe that Henrietta Voss was a young woman in the Zion Presbyterian Church in Fosterburg. Phillip may have hired her to be the “nanny” for the girls and a housekeeper for himself. There is no record of their marriage, but we can presume that some time between 1880 and 1890 when their first child was born, Henrietta married Phillip.

Stay tuned for more information coming soon...

On March 24, 2005, we (my husband and I) drove through Fosterburg, Illinois on our way to Dubuque, Iowa to find information about the elder Witte's in the churches and cemeteries located there. Much of the information in this posting was found at that time.