(Or: Will the Real Ida Kube Please Stand Up?)
Not long ago I was working on researching the family of John and Ida Kube, who settled in Watertown, Wisconsin after emigrating from Germany in the 1850s. According to The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin (published in 1879) they had four children who grew to adulthood:
Laura, born 7 Jan 1861
Alfred, born 15 November 1863
Ida, born 25 July 1867
Adolph, born 26 May, 1871
It was fairly easy for me to research three of these children: there were plenty of records online providing direct evidence for the marriages and children of Laura (m. Charles Stickney), Alfred (m. Levina Showalter) and the youngest son Adolph (m. Estella Ash). However, the youngest daughter Ida was a bit of a puzzle - there was conflicting evidence all over the place, with family trees (sourced and unsourced) providing misinformation. As I went through the evidence, and discarded one theory after another, it struck me - it wasn't enough for me to know that these were incorrect. I needed to write up my findings, in order to direct future generations to the correct family.
Was Ida Kube the wife of Otto Gericke? In 1930 Otto and Ida D. Gericke were living in Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.[1] Their children were Wesley (1898-1974), Sarah (b.1902) and John C. (1906-1969).[2] The birth record for John Carlyle Gericke states that his mother’s maiden name was Ida Strauss.[3] In addition, Wesley Gericke’s 1974 death record also states his mother’s maiden name as Strauss.[4] On the 1900 census of Lake Mills, Jefferson, Wisconsin, Ida D. Gericke indicated her birth date as Nov. 1869.[5]
Not long ago I was working on researching the family of John and Ida Kube, who settled in Watertown, Wisconsin after emigrating from Germany in the 1850s. According to The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin (published in 1879) they had four children who grew to adulthood:
Laura, born 7 Jan 1861
Alfred, born 15 November 1863
Ida, born 25 July 1867
Adolph, born 26 May, 1871
It was fairly easy for me to research three of these children: there were plenty of records online providing direct evidence for the marriages and children of Laura (m. Charles Stickney), Alfred (m. Levina Showalter) and the youngest son Adolph (m. Estella Ash). However, the youngest daughter Ida was a bit of a puzzle - there was conflicting evidence all over the place, with family trees (sourced and unsourced) providing misinformation. As I went through the evidence, and discarded one theory after another, it struck me - it wasn't enough for me to know that these were incorrect. I needed to write up my findings, in order to direct future generations to the correct family.
Was Ida Kube the wife of Otto Gericke? In 1930 Otto and Ida D. Gericke were living in Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.[1] Their children were Wesley (1898-1974), Sarah (b.1902) and John C. (1906-1969).[2] The birth record for John Carlyle Gericke states that his mother’s maiden name was Ida Strauss.[3] In addition, Wesley Gericke’s 1974 death record also states his mother’s maiden name as Strauss.[4] On the 1900 census of Lake Mills, Jefferson, Wisconsin, Ida D. Gericke indicated her birth date as Nov. 1869.[5]
(1) 1930 U.S. census, Jefferson, Wisconsin, population schedule, Lake Mills, enumeration district (ED) 0022, sheet 3B, dwelling 78, family 84, Otto Gericke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication 2576, FHL microfilm 2342310.
(2) “Swift Family,” Public Family Tree, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014), entry for Ida Kube.
[3] “Wisconsin Births and Christenings index, 1826-1908,” birth record for John Carlyle Gericke (1906); Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014).
[4] Minnesota Historical Society, death certificate #MN-018039 for Wesley O. Gericke (1974); database, “Minnesota Death Certificates Index,” Minnesota Historical Society (http://people.mnhs.org: accessed 24 Nov 2014).
[5] 1900 U.S. census, Jefferson, Wisconsin, population schedule, Lake Mills, enumeration district (ED) 0146, sheet 8A, p.192 (stamped), Otto Gericke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1793, FHL microfilm 1241793.
I should note here that even without this Ida's children's records, I would be suspicious just because of her stated birth month on the 1900 census. In my experience, years are often incorrect; months, not so often.
Other family trees on Ancestry state that Ida Kube became the wife of Frank Gherke. In 1920 Frank and Eda Gherke were living in Waterville, Le Sueur County, Minnesota; Frank was 42 (b. about 1878) and Eda was 34 (b.1886).[6] Their children at the time were Ester (8), Agnes (7), Albert (5) and Ellen (2). Agnes’ 1912 birth record states her mother’s maiden name as Eda Freitz.[7]
[6] 1920 U.S. census, Le Sueur, Minnesota, population schedule, Waterville, enumeration district (ED) 81, p.4A, dwelling 86, family 84, Frank Gherke; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: access 24 Nov. 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 843.
[7] “Minnesota, Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980,” database entry for Agnes Minna emma Gehrke (1912), Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov. 2014).
Even without the children's evidence, the fact that Eda was born about 1886 is a dead giveaway - this is not the person I'm looking for.
Another possible candidate for Ida Kube is the wife of William Gehrke; in 1920 they were living in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail, Minnesota with their children Rudolf (35) and Selma (18).[8] However, the 1910 census of Fergus Falls reveals that these were children from William Gehrke’s first marriage, to Maria Gerke.[9] Maria Gehrke died in 1911 and is buried in Western Cemetery in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.[10]
William Gehrke died in 1936, and is also buried in Western Cemetery.[11] His second wife Eda is buried there, also, having died in 1941.[12] However, she shares a gravestone with Herman Bartelt, who died in 1911.[13] A look at the 1910 census shows Herman and Ida Bartelt living in Lawrence, Grant County, Minnesota.[14] On the 1900 census, Ida Bartelt indicated that she was born July 1866, which most closely matches the information we have.(15)
Evidently after Maria Gehrke and Herman Bartelt died, their widower and widow married. Eda Bartelt Gehrke’s death certificate needs to be obtained, with the knowledge that the accuracy of that information depends upon the informants, who may have been her stepchildren. It does not appear as though Ida/Eda had any children. She is the most likely candidate for the daughter of John and Ida Kube.
William Gehrke died in 1936, and is also buried in Western Cemetery.[11] His second wife Eda is buried there, also, having died in 1941.[12] However, she shares a gravestone with Herman Bartelt, who died in 1911.[13] A look at the 1910 census shows Herman and Ida Bartelt living in Lawrence, Grant County, Minnesota.[14] On the 1900 census, Ida Bartelt indicated that she was born July 1866, which most closely matches the information we have.(15)
Evidently after Maria Gehrke and Herman Bartelt died, their widower and widow married. Eda Bartelt Gehrke’s death certificate needs to be obtained, with the knowledge that the accuracy of that information depends upon the informants, who may have been her stepchildren. It does not appear as though Ida/Eda had any children. She is the most likely candidate for the daughter of John and Ida Kube.
[8] 1920 U.S. census, Otter Tail, Minnesota, population schedule, Fergus Falls, enumeration district (ED) 143, sheet 4A, p.34 (stamped),, dwelling 69, family 84, William Gehrke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov. 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 849.
(9) 1910 U.S. census, Otter Tail, Minnesota, population schedule, Western, enumeration district (ED) 0130, sheet 10A, p.10 (stamped), William Gehrke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 714, FHL microfilm 1374727.
(10) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474726 for Mary Gehrke (1859-1911), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
(11) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474725 for William F. Gehrke (1855-1936), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
(12) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474729 for Eda B. Gehrke (1863-1941), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
(13) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474709 for Herman Bartelt (1853-1911), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
(14) 1910 U.S. census, Grant, Minnesota, population schedule, Lawrence, enumeration district (ED) 0028, sheet 1A, p.37 (stamped), dwelling & family 9, Herman C. Bartelt; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 25 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 699, FHL microfilm 1374712.
(15) 1900 U.S. census, Grant, Minnesota, population schedule, Lawrence, sheet 6A, p.76 (stamped), dwelling & family 9, Herman C. Bartelt; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov. 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 765, imaged from FHL microfilm 1240765.
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