The Henry and Maria Gerken Family

Henry A. Gerken was born on February 28, 1858, in the village of Dorf of Brokel, Kreis or county seat of Rotenburg, Province of Hannover, Germany. His parents were Heimrich Gerken and Ilse (or Anna as she was called) nee Rohrs. The father was a shoemaker by trade, so Henry learned the trade very young. There were two daughters, Anna and Maria.

The Gerkens immigrated to this country in the year 1875. After entering this country, they traveled by train to Defiance where they were met by some relatives who had been living near Okolona for some time. The family settled on a farm in Freedom Township. Henry worked on a farm for several years, then he did carpenter work until he married, when he again went to farming. He loved the farm.

His wife was Cristina Margaretha Maria Jungmann. She was the daughter of Christopher Jungmann and Margaretha nee Bargmann. She was bornon April 5th, 1862, in the dorf or village of Heber, Amt or Kreis (county seat) Soltau in the Province of Hannover, Germany. Christopher Jungmann was a teamster and hauled lumber, logs, and other freight by horse and wagon to various towns and cities.

Henry and Maria Gerken

There were fourteen children in the Jungmann family. Maria with several brothers and sisters immigrated to America in the year 1882. They made their home with a sister, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meyer, in Freedom Township until they found employment. Maria found employment as a maid in Napoleon. Several years later the parents also immigrated with the rest of the children. One son, August, was born in the United States. The parents settled on a farm near Florida and later in Flatrock Township, Henry County, Ohio.

Henry Gerken and Maria Jungmann were married in the home of Henry and Catherine Meyer on April 10, 1884. The first few years they rented a farm in Freedom Township, but soon bought sixty-five acres in Section 30, the corner of Road U and 19 in Freedom Township that was to be their home for the rest of their lives. Henry passed away on July 23, 1933, and Maria soon followed on August 27, 1933. Soon after their marriage they joined St. John Lutheran Church in Freedom Township. They were faithful members there until they died.

Their marriage was blessed with eight children, three boys and five daughters: George, Henry C., Erna, Ida, Carl, Emilie, Maria, and Helen.

All the Gerken children attended parochial school.

George Gerken was born March 30, 1886, and married Doris Badenhop. He did carpenter work and custom butchering for farmers in winter; also he worked in the brick yard in Ridgeville Corners as a young man. After they married, they rented the Elmer Dish-elm farm north of Ridgeville for two years. Then they moved on the farm in Napoleon Township on which their son Edwin is still residing. One son, Eldor passed away at seven years of age.

Henry C. Gerken was born on August 30, 1888. He did carpenter work and worked on a farm as a young man. He served overseas during World War I. I remember when he came home from the war in France. It was about 2 o'clock on a Sunday morning. He was to come to Napoleon where we were to meet him. But due to poor connections or whatever it was, he did not come to Napoleon. He came to Pettisville by night on the street car and hired someone to take him home. He rapped on the bedroom window to wake Dad and Mother up. It was not long until we were all downstairs in our nightgowns and pajamas. That was a happy reunion. He married Ida Rickenberg. She passed away on February 1, 1935. They lived on a farm not far from Malinta. Henry passed away on February 19, 1962. After the death of his wife he moved to Ridgeville Corners where he again resumed carpenter work and worked for Raymond Behrman. They were blessed with three sons and two daughters. The boys all served in the Army. The oldest was wounded in Korea; the two younger also served overseas. They all three live in Henry County, with their families. Both daughters are married. One lives near Hamler, the other near Tontogony.

Erna Gerken was born July 24, 1890, and married Ernst Lange. He was born November, 1888, and died April 24, 1974. Erna died December 28, 1973. They lived on a farm in Marion Township that is now owned by their son, Julian. He served overseas in the U.S. Army during World War II. There are also three daughters. All but one daughter now live in Henry County with their families. One daughter lives in Wauseon.

Ida Gerken was born September 17, 1893, and died December 20, 1972. She married August Knape who was born September 27, 1886. They lived on a farm in Adams Township, Defiance County. Upon retiring they moved to Ridgeville Corners. Their union was blessed with four children - three sons and one daughter. One son died in 1970; the daughter lives in Adrian, Michigan. One son, Paul, lives on the old homestead. One son lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Carl Louis Gerken was born on July 20, 1895. He married Anna Storch who was born on January 17, 1896. Carl worked on a farm all his life. He and his wife lived on the Fred Wieding farm for some time and then bought the Charles Hurst farm north of Ridgeville Corners. They still reside on that farm. Their union was blessed with one son and one daughter. The son served in the U.S. Army during World War II and gave his life in a battle in Sicily. The daughter lives in Sidney, Ohio.

Emilie Gerken was born October 1, 1897, and died June 9, 1961. She married Karl Amos who was born October 8, 1897, and died November 28, 1969. They lived on a farm in Ridgeville Township. They had three children. The son still resides on the old homestead. One daughter lives in Fostoria, Ohio, and the other lives in Ridgeville Township.

Maria Gerken was born October 8, 1900, and married Ervin Wesche who was born October 9, 1899, and died August 19, 1932. Maria Gerken Wesche then married John Mohrman who was born in September, 1903.

Maria Gerken and Ervin Wesche lived west of Ridgeville Corners on the Wesche homestead. Their union was blessed with one daughter and two sons. Both sons served overseas during or after the Korean War. One son passed away in 1971 and one lives in Fort Wayne. The daughter lives in Napoleon Township.

Maria Gerken Wesche and John Mohrman lived on the old Gerken homestead. They had two daughters who both live in Fort Wayne.

Helen Gerken was born May 15, 1902, and married Carl L. Naitzka who was born November 25, 1894, and died January 3, 1962. Helen Catharine Gerken was a licensed Practical Nurse.

They lived in Holland, Ohio. After Carl's death, she moved to Napoleon and resumed her profession as an L.P.N. She retired in 1973 and lives at 1445 Ohio Street, Napoleon, Ohio.

Submitted By: Helen Gerken Naitzka