Jim McGuire related through my
http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/Seamus/MCGUIRE/d0/i0000092.htm#s1
BERKE Family
First Generation
1. Wilhelmius1 Berke was born Germany.
He married Maria von Gurska. The family's move to America started during the
reign of Bismark, "The Iron Chancellor" with sons Frederick and Ludwig. One
was in the army, the other due for call up. Both took off for America,
probbably in the mid 1850s. They were followed by Herman and Albert who
joined Uncled Ludwig in Northfield, probably in the mid to late 1860s.
Ludwig, Herman, and Albert then helped older brother Wilhelm and family to
come over to Northfield in 1874. Caroline stayed in Germany.
Wilhelmius Berke and Maria von Gurska had the following children:
2 i. Caroline2 Berke. She married twice. She married an unknown person. She
married mallack. Remained in Germany. Died in Berlin at the age of 92.
3 ii. Herman John Berke. Learned the milling trade at the Archibald Mill in
Dundas, MN, where the grinding process was developed that made Minneapolis
the world's leading milling center. Later he owned and operated mills and
elevators in the Britton Montrose, SD area. Came to Northfield with brother
Albert to join Uncle Ludwig.
+ 4 iii. Wilhelm Berke was born 1821.
5 iv. Ludwig Berke was born 1831. Ludwig died 1886 at 55 years of age. He
married Caroline.
Second Generation
4. Wilhelm2 Berke (Wilhelmius1) was born Germany 1821.
He married Veronika Gorlisch. A cabinet maker. Came to America at age 53 in
1874 with tjree youngest childen to join brother Ludwig and two oldest sons
in Northfield. Very good with numbers. Standiong on customer side of
counters, he could ada column of upside down figures faster in his head than
the clerks could right-side up with pencil and paper. Very upsetting to the
clerks. Originally from Oberniki, about 20 miles Northwest of Posen. Wilhelm
died two weeks after a fall from the back porch.
Wilhelm Berke and Veronika Gorlisch had the following child:
6 i. Mary3 Berke was born 12/1864. She married John H. McGuire Northfield,
MN, 4/17/1893. John was born Dakota County, MN 1864. John was the son of
Thomas McGuire and Mary O'Boyle. John died 6/23/1926 Northfield, MN, at 61
years of age. His body was interred Northfield. (See John H. McGuire for the
continuation of this line.)