Notes:

Both Delta and Helen were supposed to have taught at a one room school called Hells Half Acre a few miles west of Nashville. In the Nashville News on Wednesday, May 7, 2003, under their section listing items of interest from years ago it mentioned the school. It stated: The Half Acre, Grattendick and Addieville schools voted to consolidate, 80 to 4. This appeared under the heading "Fifty-Five Years Ago" (1948).

HELEN married FRIEND JOHN PERCY on 6 Jun 1927 in Nashville, Illinois; Dom maybe June 9, 1927. JOHN (son of FRIEND UNKNOWN) was born on 9 Apr 1905 in O'fallen, Illinois; FTW says born Shilo, Illlinois; dob may be 4/8/05; died on 15 Sep 1979 in St. Louis, Missouri. [Group Sheet]

1. Living
2. Living

Notes:

CHARLES F. BRINK

After a brief illness, and almost without warning, Charles F. Brink, one of our most respected citizens, was summoned Tuesday afternoon at 2:50 o'clock in his residence on West Lebanon Street, at the age of 68 years, 1 month, and 19 days. Sunday morning, as was his custom, Mr. Brink and wife attended services in the M. E. church and on Monday morning he was engaged in work at home. During the noon meal he suffered a dizzy spell, but this later left him and he then indulged in reading. At 3:45 p.m., feeling worse, he took to his bed and on Tuesday at 2:50 p.m. a stroke of apoplexy terminated his life. While Mr. Brink had for years, at times, been afflicted with high blood pressure, he continued his trade as builder and no one suspected that the end was so near.
Decedent, a son of Charles L. C. Brink and wife, Elizabeth, nee Krughoff, was born February 15, 1865, in North Prairie. In 1889, when a young man, he left for the state of Washington, where he remained over three years. He was married on Thanksgiving Day, November 29,1900, to Emma Finke, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Casper Finke, in North Prairie, by Rev. H. F. Miller, their pastor . In 1920 the family moved to Nashville where they have since resided.
Mr. Brink was a master builder, "a workman that needeth not be ashamed," in a mechanical and in a spiritual sense. Recognized as a skillful carpenter, he was a genius at moving houses, accepting contracts which others did not venture to attempt. He was friendly, obliging and had a high sense of honor. His integrity was unquestioned and he remained steadfast under all circumstances. His family life was happy and as member and officer of the Methodist Church he was ever faithful and unswerving. He and his family were very devoted to each other and his happiest moments were spent in his family circle.
Surviving him are his bereaved wife and four children, Elinor, Mrs. Arthur Burnett, of East St. Louis; Delta, Mrs. Gardner Bride of Harrisburg; Helen, Mrs. J. P. Friend, of O'Fallon; and Raymond Brink of here. Four Grandchildren, Dolores Burnett, Garda Jean and Gardner Bride, Jr., and Joan Friend; three brothers, Fred Brink of Harviell, Missouri, H. F. W. Brink of Centralia, and William Brink of North Prairie; four sisters, Minnie, Mrs. (Rev.) Theo. Ludwig of Norfolk, Virginia, Mrs. Mary Rademacher of Nokomis, Miss Louise Brink of North Prairie and Miss Elizabeth Brink of St. Louis.
Funeral services were held this Thursday afternoon in the M. E. Church, Rev. J. W. A. Kinison officiating, with interment in the M. E. Cemetary in North Prairie.

CHARLES married FINKE EMMA CHARLOTTE on 29 Nov 1900 in Home of Bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Casper Finke. EMMA (daughter of FINKE CASPER and KRUEGER MARY (MARIA)) was born on 13 Aug 1875; died on 23 Jun 1951 in East St. Louis hospital, Il.; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington County, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Newspaper Obituary

MRS. EMMA BRINK

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 1 o'clock in Wesley Methodist church for Mrs. Emma C. Brink, 76, widow of Charles Brink of this city, who died Saturday at 1:10 p. m,. in the Christian Welfare hospital in East St. Louis where she had been a patient for six weeks.
Rev. Gail Hines officiated and Robert N. Smith was in charge. Interment was in the North Prairie cemetery.
Mrs. Charles Brink, nee Emma Finke, daughter of Mary and Casper Finke, was born on a farm in Hoyleton township of Washington County August 13, 1875. Early in life she placed her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and united with the Methodist church. To this faith and this church she remained faithful and true until her death.
On November 29, 1900, she was united in marriage to Charles F. Brink by the Rev. H. F. Miller. To this union were born four children. The family made their home at Huegely Station until 1920, when they moved to Nashville.
She is preceded in death by her husband, who died in April 1933. She was also preced by one sister, Martha, and three brothers, George, William and Edward and one great-grandchild.
Surviving are her four children, namely, Elinor, Mrs. Arthur Burnett of East St. Louis; Delta, Mrs. Gardner Bride of El Paso, Texas; Helen, Mrs. J. P. Friend of Salina, Kansas; and Raymond of Nashville; one brother, Joe Finke of near Hoyleton; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, as well as many other relatives and a great number of friends.
Pallbearers were: Harry Eise, Charles Huegely, E. W. Poirot, Earl Wilson, E. F. Gewe, and Harry Schmidt. Mrs. Milo Brown sang with Mrs. E. F. Gewe at the organ.
Among those attending the funeral were: Mrs. J. P. Friend and daughter and husband of Salina, Kan; Mrs. Arthur Burnett and daughter and husband and baby of East St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Finke, Mr. and Mrs. O. Luessenheide, Mrs. Fred Brink, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Langley, Mrs. Wesley Brink of Hoyleton; Mrs. Mary Hiller of Granite City; Harvey Brink and sister Edith of Centralia; Louis, Elizabeth and William Brink of North Prairie.

Notes:

Died, at his home near Huegely, Thursday, Jan. 7, 1926, at 5:15 p.m. One source states death date as June 17, 1926. This same source states birth as Feb. 12, 1835.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. at the family residence and at 1:30 p.m. in the North Prairie M. E. Church.
His wife Martha preceded him in death. She was originally buried at the old Evangelical Cemetery in "Kleeman" field. She was moved to North Prairie Cemetery when her husband died. the children who died are still buried in the old cemetery in "Kleeman" field.


BRINK REUNIONS FROM NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

The Brink Reunion (August 25, 1921)
Ernst Fredrich William Brink and Anna Maria Dorothea Charlotta Ilsabein, nee Meyer, were both born in Eiksen, Westphalia, Germany in 1790 and 1798 respectively. In their native land they were united inmarriage and moved by the spirit that moved so many they migrated to this country in the year 1845 landing at New Orleans, after 75 days on the Ocean in a sailing vessel. Here they experienced some difficulties and hardships and novelties in a new country with a new language. From New Orleans they took the boat up the Mississippi River to Grand Tower, 25 miles south of Chester, Illinois. Here the Reiver became ice bound and they were detained some time. Under great difficulty anbd hardships they kept from freezing by housing the best they could in the boat and on the banks of the river in the snow. From this point they crossed over land by wagon to Washington County, Illinois arriving in the vicinity of Nashville on Christmas day 1845.
However the change of climate seemed to have a very unfavorable effect upon their health, for within a year they both passed to the better world. Their remains are resting near the old home.
The Brink Reunion was held under the trees on this old homestead, wehre Henry Brink now lives. It was a great day of joy and rejoicings, happy meetings and greetings making acquaintances of many relatives who had never met, happy associations and uniting hearts into closer fellowship and love and leaving pleasant memories lingering in the minds of all never be forgotton while life lasts.
This union was blessed with 10 children, 8 of which survived the parents, two having died earlier in life: Christ, deceased in 1873, William in 1888, Louise in 1904, Fred in 1906, Henry in 1894, Caroline in 1897, John Ernst in 1860, Charles the only surviving member of the family has reached the age of 86 years.
The union of William and Ilsabein Brink resulted as follows: 10 children, 67 grand children, 162 great grand children and 92 great great grand children making a total of 331. These are grouped under the following families:
F. E. W. Brinnk 66, Louisa Brink Meyer 62,Christian Brink 44, carolina Brink Hoffman 43, William Brink 43, Charles Brink 31, Henry E. Brink 21, Ernst John Brink 21, A total 331. 58 of thsi number have died and gone on before. These families today are represented by 273 direct living descendants, while the makeup of the entire family including sons-in-law and daughters-in-law is 377.
The total number present at the reunion was 194 (or more).
The day was very happily and pleasantly spent, with plenty to satisfy the bodily needs. In making acquaintances and in associating with one another the time passed all too soon. All departing at the evening tide wishing that they could have such a reunion each year.

Brink Family Reunion (August 7, 1932)
Last Sunday, August 7, after the close of church services, instead of going to their homes, the various branches of the Brink family repaired to the City park at Hoyleton for a family reunion. Well-filled baskets were divested of their contents and a fine dinner enjoyed by 180 members. Two o'clock a divine service was conducted by the pastors present, Rev. Edw. Brink, Rev. Gus Brink, and Rev. F. J. Rolf. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in a social manner. Traditionally the Brink posterity meets every three years.
The following were present: Rev. and Mrs. Edward Brink and daughter Marie of Weldon Springs, MO., Miss Rose Brink of Sedalia, Mo., Rev. and Mrs. F. J. Rolf, sons, Frederick and Robert, and daughter Helen of Rock Island, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Burnett and daughter Dolores of East St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Bride and children, Garda Jean and Gardner, Jr. of Harrisburg, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Friend and daughter Joan of O'Fallon, William and Miss Louise Brink of Huegely, Sam Meyer and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Wisdom of Belleville, Mrs. Wm. C. Schnitker, A. C. Brink and Mr. and Mrs. Rudie Brink and daughter Betty of New Minden, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Brink and children, Kurt, Marie, Ruth, Carl, and Marvin of Decatur, Mr. and Mrs. Jul Brink, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Buchholz, Irvin Brink, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bruhn and son Julius and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Seyler and son of Centralia, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Greiman and son Kendreth of Hookdale, Mrs. Alvin Gilbert and daugher Kathryn of Cordes, Rev. and Mrs. Paul Brink and children, Eunice, Helen, Walter and James of Red Bud, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Gaebe and children, Betty and James of Addieville, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Brink and sons, Clarence, Wesley and Harold of Harvieel, MO., Dr. and Mrs. C. Allen Brink and sons, C. A. and Brice of Princeton, Indiana, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Brink and children, Virginia, Laverne and Lorente of Effingham, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Hoffman, P. G. Hoffman and son Lawrence and Mr. and Mrs. McDonald and sons of Moweaqua, Mrs. C. A. Pruitt and son of Indianapolis, Indiana, Melvin and Irene Meyer and Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Brink of St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Enno Karstens and son Wallace of Mascoutah, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Greiman and daughter Edna, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Greimann and sons, Alfred and Clifford, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cohlmeyer and daugher Minette, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Krughoff and daughers Frieda and Rose, Rev. and Mrs. Gus Brink and children David, Frederick, Mildred and Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Rolf, Mrs. Frieda Grommet and daugher Louise, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Racherbaeumer and sons William and Milton, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Brink and daughers, Winona and Minerva, Charles Brink and daughers Ida and Lydia, Mr. and Mrs. George Hoffman and daughers Leona and Clara, Amelia and Lydia Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. John Seyler and sons Noble and Niles, Alvin Hoffman and family and Louis Meyer, all of Hoyleton, Mr. and Mrs. Phil. Hoffman of Irvington, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brink and son Willard, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Meyer and son Willard, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Kugler and son Kenneth Dean, George Lyons, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Rumig and daughters Mildred and Ruth, Mrs. Henry Brink and daughter Miss Hannah, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Brink, son Venice and daugher, Miss Irma Finke, Mrs. Rolla Snyder and daugher Claudine, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Brink and son Raymond, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. J. Cohlmeyer, Mrs. Clara Rixman and son Harold and daughter Miss Rose, and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hohman and litle son Billy, all of Nashville.

Brink Family Reunion Held at Hoyleton (Held approximately 1926 or 1927)
The Brink family reunion was held at the Hoyleton park last Thursday. The first gathering of the family was held on Aug. 25, 1921, and the next one will be the first Sunday in August in 1932. There are now 449 living descendants, 25 deaths occurring in the past five years A collection was taken at the outing which netted $14.60, of which $10 was given the orphans home.
The following were present: Fred Hoffman of Evansville, Ind., Louis Hoffman and family of Moweaqua, Wm. Rolf and family of Red Bud, Fred Brink and family of Decatur, Mrs. Rice, son and daughter of Madison, Wis., John Brink and family of Bible Grove, Fred Brink and family of Effingham, Gardner Bride and family of Harrisburg, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Friend of Columbia, Mo., Mrs. Flora Greiman and daughter and Rev. R. H. Mornhenweg of Hookdale, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Brink, Rev. and Mrs. Theo. Ludwig, P. Pruitt and family, Misses Lizzie Brink and Grace and Joy Tschudin of St. Louis, Arthur Burnett and family of East St. Louis, Rev. F. Rademacher of Nokomis, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bruhn and Julius and Wm. Bruhn of Wamac, Enno Karstens and family of Mascoutah, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fieker, Mrs. A. W. Pistorius and Miss Clara Fieker of Carlinville, Floyd Seyler and family of Centralia, Rudie Brink and family and Mrs. Minnie Schnitker of New Minden, Philip Hoffman and family of Irvington, Wm. Rolf and family, Louis Racherbaeumer and family, Mrs. Frieda Grommet and daughter Mrs. Ann Cohlmeyer, Paul Cohlmeyer and family, Chris Greiman and family, Fred Greiman and family, Albert Krughoff and family, Charles Brink and daughers, Mrs. John Seyler, Alvin Hoffman and family, Geo. Hoffman and family, Lawrence Hake and family, Wm. and Miss Louise Brink, Albert Brink and family, Misses Lydia and Amelia Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. John Hoffman and Waldo Brink of Hoyleton and vicinity, Mrs. Ted Gaebe and children of Addieville, Mrs. Henry Brink and daughter Miss Hannah, Mrs. Clara Rixman and daughter Miss Rose, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hohman, Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Cohlmeyer, A. E. Gilbert and family, C. F. Brink and son, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brink and son, Mrs. Rolla Snyder, Mrs. Philip Rumig and Wm. Rumig and family of here.

Brink Family Reunion (1936)
The Brink family, descendants of Ernest and Anna Brink, celebrated their reunion at the Hoyleton Park Sunday afternoon. Everyone came with well-filled baskets and there was an abundance of free lemonatde and ice cream which was appreciated by everyone because of the warm weather. There was an interesting volunteer program. Each one of the eight branches of the family was supposed to contribute something to it. There were 156 present of the 465 descendants of Ernest Frederick and Ann Maria Brink, who emigrated from Germany 91 years ago and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Waldo Brink and family. Waldo is a great-grand-son of Ernest and Anna Brink. It was decided to have another reunion three years from now.
Those present of the eight branches of the family were: Christian, the first branch: Mr. and Mrs. Bruhn and son Julius of Centralia.
The second branch, William: Mr. and Mrs. Julius Brink, Mrs. Lawence Brink and daughters Corneila and Betty Rose of Centralia, Charles Brink and daughters Ida and Lydia, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brink and children Williard and Beatrice, Mrs. Henry Brink and daughter Hannah of Nashville, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Brink and daughters Winona and Minerva, and Rev. and Mrs. Gus Brink and daughters Ruth and Mildred.
The third branch, Louisa Brink Meyer: Louis Meyer and son Lesile and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Meyer of Nashville.
The fourth branch, Frederick: Mr. and Mrs. Albert Krughoff and Rose Leonard, Rev. and Mrs. Gus Brink and daughters Ruth and Mildred, Mrs. Lena Krueger of Scotts City, Mo., Mrs. Wm. Rolf, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Racherbaumer and son Milton, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Gaebe and children Betty and James of Addeville, Mrs. Frieda Grommet and daughter Louise of Rock Island, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hohman and sons Billie and Rolf of Nashville, Mr. and Mrs. Enno Karstens of Mascoutah, Wallace Karstens of Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. George Cohlmeyer of Nashville, Mrs. Anna Cohlmeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Gilbert and daugher Kathryn of Cordes, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cohlmeyer and daughter Mirretta, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Greiman and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Greiman and sons Cliford and Alfred and Mrs. Clara Rixman of Nashville.
The fifth branch, Henry: Mrs. Minnie Schuitker of New Minden, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brink and son Venice of Nashville, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brink and children Kurt, Marie Ruth, Carl and Marvin of Decatur, Mrs. Rolla Snyder of Nashville and Arthur Brink.
The sixth branch, Carolina Brink Hoffman: George Hoffman and daughters Leona and Clara, Lydia and Amelia Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Philllip Hoffman of Irvington, Mr. and Mrs. John Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hoffman, son Virgil and daughter Gladys, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hoffman of Moweaqua, Mr. and Mrs. John Seyler and sons Niles and Noble and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Seyler and son Jimmy of Centralia.
The seventh branch, John Brink: Mr. and Mrs. John Brink, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brink, children Phyllis, Fay and Lorane of Winterrowd, Mr. and Mrs. Hy. Brink and children, Yvonne, Laverne, and Lorenta, Lloyd Brink and daugher Marta of Effingham, Mr. and Mrs. Edris Brink and children Joyce and Jean of St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Will Brink of Detroit, Michigan, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bennet of Cleveland, Ohio.
The eighth branch, Charles: Mrs. Charles Brink and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Brink and daughter Wanda Lee of Nashville, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Burnett and daughter Dolores, Mrs. Percy Friend of St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Bride and children Garda Jean and Gardner of Harrisburg, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hake and children Kathryn, Frederic, and Lawrence of Centralia, Mr. F. D. Rademacher of Nokomis, Miss Elizabeth Brink of St. Louis, Louis and William Brink and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brandhorst and son and daughter Robert and Jean of St. Louis.

CHARLES married KRUGHOFF MARTHA MARIE ELIZABETH on 29 Apr 1863 in Zion Evangelical Church, Washington Co., IL; dom may be 5/19/64; Carol Hotz states 5/24/64.. MARTHA (daughter of KRUGHOFF FREDERICK WILHELM (WILLIAM) HESEMAN and KRUGHOFF SOPHIE MARIE (MARY) ELIZABETH) was born on 10 Apr 1844; died on 24 Jan 1899 in Tombstone has Sept. 24, 1899; Carol Hotz states June 24, 1899/1900.; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington Co., IL.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Krughoff family came to America ten years later than the Brinks and moved into their home across North Creek about a half mile from the Charles L. C. and Martha Brink home.

Notes:

Casper Finke article from 1979 Washington County History book.
Casper Finke was born in Germany on January 6, 1846 and came to this country at the age of eleven with his parents and brother, Henry. They settled in Washington County. In 1868 he married Mary Krueger, who was born December 17, 1850 at Cairo, Illinois, and came to Washington County with her parents while quite young. they were the parents of Martha, William, Emma, Edward, George, and Joseph.
Casper died in March, 1927 and Mary died May 12, 1935. They are buried on the North Prairie Cemetery. Martha was never married.
William and Mary Finke were the parents of one son and two daughters: Waldo, Ruth and Florence. Waldo and Viola Finke were the parents of one daughter, Mary Ann. Waldo passed away in the fall of 1978; Ruth Finke who also died in the fall of 1978; Florence and John Wildgen of Sunset Beach, Missouri are the parents of one son, John.
Emma married Charles Brink and they were the parents of three daughters and one son: Eleanor, Helen, Delta and Raymond. Eleanor and Arthur Burnett were the parents of one daughter, Delores. Eleanor now lives in East St. Louis; Helen Friend is deceased. She and Percy Friend were the parents ot two children, Joan and Dale; Delta, who married Gardner Bride, and now lives in Lemon Grove, California and are the parents of Garda Jean and Gardner; Raymond and Mildred Brink were the parents of Charles and Wanda Lee. Raymond now lives in Centralia. Edward died in infancy.
George married Lydia Queren and they were the parents of one daughter, Irma Finke, now living in Nashville.
Joe married Emma Queren and they were the parents of one daughter, Vera. Joe is the only one living of the children of Casper and Mary Finke and now lives in Hoyleton. Vera married Orlin Luessenheide and they are the parents of Ron and John, both of Hoyleton, Illinois.
By: Vera Luessenheide
Casper and Emma Finke celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary probably in 1918. He was 72 and she was 67.

CASPER married KRUEGER MARY (MARIA) on 21 May 1868 in Washington Co., IL; Geo. Buehner, Minister of Gospel. MARY (daughter of KRUEGER C. HEINRICH and BAKHAUS CHRISTINE (CHRISTINA) CHARLOTTE (BACKHAUS)) was born on 17 Dec 1850 in Cairo, Illinois; died on 12 May 1935; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington County, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

They moved to Hoyleton, Illinois in 1919 and transferred their church membersthip to Bethel M. E. Church.

Notes:

Johann and his wife, Anna Maria, were the parents of the first of our Ancestors to come to America. All ten of their children, except those several who were already in America and one who died in infancy in Germany, joined their parents on the trip to America in 1845. The story of this trip occurs in Chapter 1, German History. Johann was christined October 18, 1788, at Bergkirchen, Westfallen, Prussen. He was a soldier in the French/German War (Napoleon War).
Johann's wife was always known to us as "Anna Maria Dorthea Schalotte
Ilsabein Meier Brink". The Bergkirchen records give her name as Anna Sophie Dorothea Marie Ilsabein Meier. The St. John's Lutheran Church in New Minden, IL. shows her name as Tisabein instead of Ilsabein.
In 1945 , there were 56 grandchildren who grew to maturity here and whose progeny down to the eighth generation are now scattered all over the U.S. This information was collected by Minnie Brink Ludwig when she published her Brink History in 1945. Frederick, their son, served several terms in the Illinois Legislature, both as Representative and Senator. Christian's great-great-granddaughter, Martha Keyes, was elected a Representative in Congress from the Second Kansas District.
We have not made an attempt at counting the number of descendants as of today. We're satisfied to say the number is very large.



In the story of the travels from Germany to Washington County, Illinois, it is mentioned that they sailed by boat up the Mississippi being stopped by ice at Grand Tower. Grand Tower is a rock tower left in place for a bridge which was never built. Tower Rock stands majestically in the Mississippi River still today.

JOHANN married MEIER ANNA SOPHIE DOROTHEA MARIE ILSABEIN on 10 Mar 1816 in Bergkirchen Parish, Westfalen, Prussen.. ANNA (daughter of MEIER ZACHARIAS JOHANN CHRISTIAN and RODEKOFF ANNA MARIE ILSEBEIN) was born on 19 Sep 1799 in Eicksen #1, Rothenuffeln, Kreis Minden, Westfalen, Prussen; Dob may be 9/9/1799; died on 12 Feb 1846 in North Prairie, Hoyleton Twp., Sec. 30, Washington Co., Illinois; was buried in Field to the east of the home.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Chap4.doc
FTM in notes of Anna Meier
CHAPTER 4

Our Brink Ancestors arrived in America in Washington County in December of 1845. They were a people of high standards, high moral values, integrety, and had a strong faith in God. According to information passed on from older family members of the first generation in America, the Brinks were first associated with St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Minden, Illinois. Then as the German Methodist Conference of St. Louis provided a preacher for the circuit which included North Prairie, many of them became Methodists. See appendix 2 for location of Brink settled land in 1845.

“WASHINGTON COUNTY IN THE 1850s” copied from the Hoyleton Centennial Celebration 1858 - 1958.

Before the fifties, Washington County was dotted with the one-room log cabins familiar to this age; the slow, yet dependable ox-team still was here, as well as the wooden mold-board plow, the open fireplace, and the Kentucky (made in Pennsylvania) squirrel rifle. These conditions existed in general until a few years before the Civil War.
The old log cabin will ever occupy a place in American reminiscences. It was picturesque to say the least. One end was devoted to the open hearth and fireplace; the chimney, made of split sticks of wood and clay, ran up on the outside. The clay was first made into a kind of mortar, and with this the sticks were freely plastered, to keep down the fire hazard as well as cement the chimney in place. It was referred to as a “chink-and-daub” chimney.
Usually the fireplace was so large that backlogs for it had to be rolled in at the open door too big to be carried. The forestick and other pieces of wood rested on the “dog-irons,” so as to be above the hearth level. At one side of the hearth, on pegs driven in the logs, hung the various blackened pots, kettles, skillets. There also stood the cupboard, made of smoothly dressed walnut. The prized blue-edged dishes and pewter were kept there. In a corner usually was a rude shelf resting on oak pegs, upon which was a wooden bucket filled with water for drinking and cooking purposes. A gourd, the pioneer’s drinking vessel, always hung on a nearby peg. The dining table was usually a dextrously-made affair that had folded leaves and could be pushed against the wall to save space.
On the other side of the fireplace, about six feet off the floor, and just beneath the low ceiling, resting on wooden hooks, was the long-barreled flintlock Kentucky squirrel rifle. The stock ran the entire length of the long barrel, was made of white walnut and from incessant use added to the original polishing of the gunsmith, had become smooth as ivory. The mounting always was of well finished brass. Near the butt of the stock was a cavity about an inch in width, an inch deep and four or five inches long, covered with a brass lid, controlled by a spring. This was used to carry tallow with which to lubricate the “patchen” that was made to cover the bullet when loading the rifle.
Also hanging on one of the hooks on which the heavy rifle rested was a bullet pouch and a powder horn. The pouch was made of strong leather, usually buckskin; had two or three pockets to hold bullets and cloth for patchen. The powder horn originally adorned the head of a cow; the larger end was closed and into the smaller end was filled a stopper, easily removed. Pouch and horn were provided with leather straps, to be carried over the shoulder. A horn to call the dogs usually rested or was hung from another peg on the wall. If the family was prosperous, there usually was a percussion-type shotgun in a corner, to be used by the boys who were not as accurate in their shooting as father.
Another article of furniture in the cabin was the candlestand, upon which usually reposed a worn copy of the Bible and an almanac. The one window generally contained six 6 x 6-inch panes of glass.
The door of the cabin swung on wooden hinges, the only kind known, fastened with a wooden latch, and raised and lowered by a leather thong which passed through a hole and left the free end hanging outside. At nights, when the pioneer wished to lock his cabin, he merely pulled in the latch-string.
The bed usually was softened by a huge feather-tick. A trundel bed rolled under the big bed in the daytime, and pulled out for the children at night. The floor of the better cabins was made of unhewn oak; on the more common, it was of puncheon-slabs smooth on one side and unhewn on the other. The loft of the cabin was usually reached by a ladder, and the rafters would be festooned with dried apples, hung on strings; dried pumpkin, dried fruits, peppers, bunches of sage with which to season the sausage; pennyroyal to “sweat” the sick ones; boneset to “break the ager”; strings of stuffed sausage, chunks of dried beef.
Crowded as was the cabin, it had at times another article that took up a lot of floor space--the loom to weave cloth. Cumbersome as it was, the housewife was an artist on this pioneer contrivance, and from it came pants for the men, linsey for the women, pretty coverlets, counterpanes and pillow cases. The spinning-wheel was the running-mate of the loom, and upon it the carded wool was woven into thread.
Cooking was done almost entirely in iron pots, a dextrous art for the housewife, who toiled with the heavy utensils, the spider, the iron tongs with which to pick up hot embers, the big shovel to manipulate the wood fire. Always in the cabin was the pleasant odor of burning wood; old-timers insisted that no meal could ever approach the delicacy of one cooked at an open hearth.
With the advent of the 1850’s, matches started to come into more general use. Before this time the fire on the hearth never went out, unless by accident. If it did, someone went to a neighbor’s for live coals; or if there was no neighbor, or the weather was inclement, a bit of powder would be put into the pan of the flintlock rifle, a piece of cotton held beside it then when a trigger was pulled, a spark from the flint would ignite the powder; it in turn would set fire to the cotton, and while this was blazing, it would be hurriedly transferred to “shavings,” or other easily inflammable material under the laid kindling in the fireplace.
Food in the pioneer days was simple: corn bread and salt pork were the staples. Wheat bread was practically unknown before the fifties. The children ate corn mush and drank copious quantities of milk, warm from the cow. In winter, kernels of corn were treated with lye, which removed the hull, after which the grains were boiled or fried. This was a wholesome food that was called “big hominy.” With the coming of the first frost, one neighbor would kill a hog and divide it with his neighbors and friends. Perhaps a little later another would kill a beef and divide it likewise. No one had a cellar in those days.
The present method of canning fruit and vegetables did not come into vogue until about the middle of the fifties. The woods and prairies were full of blackberries, wild plums, crab-apples, wild grapes and persimmons. Pawpaws were eaten like bananas today.
Soap was made with lye and fat, a custom that still prevails today in many rural areas. The lye was made by leaching wood ashes, and the fat came from saving all sorts of meat scraps.
Many an early Washington County settler had to depend upon a nearby spring or the “crick” for their drinking water. The only rain water collected was that in a barrel, set under the eaves, and generally full of “wiggle-tales” as soon as the weather got warm.
The manner of dress was far simpler than today. For everyday wear, men had shirts and jeans cut loosely; trousers were called breeches, and vests were universally known as “roundabouts.” An outer garment called a “wammus” was also popular with men. Boots came into fashion in the early fifties; working men wore heavy shoes referred to as brogans. Clocks and watches were rare, only professional people and ne’er-do-wells carried a timepiece, or owned one; time was referred to “by sun”.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY SETTLERS

When the white man came to Southern Illinois, this area was the home of the Illini Indians, mostly from the Tamaroa sub-tribe. They had been preceded by several other groups of Indians over a period of some thousand years. All left some of their artifacts behind them, which are still being found. In the War of 1812 it was the Kickapoo tribe from Central Illinois which raided this far south and killed the first settlers, the Livelys. In the same war, the Shawnee, being driven out of Indiana and Ohio, came to Southern Illinois, some to the county. The last resident Indians were removed to Oklahoma in the 1830’s. We also have a number of families who have some Indian ancestry, most often Cherokee.
The first white settlers here were Americans who came from the southeastern coast states, part of a migration that began in the early 1800’s, when small farmers in Georgia, North and South Carolina, were being crowded out by the large spread of cotton plantations worked by slaves. While some stayed in the South in mountain valleys, others headed north and west to a new and free land. Many who came here after the War of 1812 came from Kentucky and Tennessee. They were mostly of English ancestry, a varying amount of Irish, German, Scotch, and Welsh blood, and a few free slaves. By 1830 they had spread to every part of the country.
In 1830 there was a well organized migration from South Carolina by several groups of Presbyterians of Scottish descent. They were people with quite strong religious convictions and who were opposed to slavery. They settled in and around Oakdale. In 1837 the first Low German emigrants from north Germany came to Venedy and Hoyleton townships and in the next twenty years, they were followed by more. They spread over the northern tier of townships and then to the south. They came mostly from Westphalia, but also Hanover, Oldenburg, and Saxony. Most of the early emigrants traveled by boat to New Orleans and then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. Later, they entered the country at New York and came west by rail. They were mostly craftsmen and farmers.
Selected from article written by Venice Brink for the 1979 Washington County History book.

Newspaper article re. original Zion Evangelical Cemetery in North Prairie - date of article unknown.
HOYLETON CHURCHMEN HONOR PIONEER DEAD by Grover Brinkman

Back in 1861, a group of eighteen farmers met at the home of Frederick E. W. Brink in North Prairie to establish a new church. Eight acres of land was purchased from F. W. Krughoff for $12.50 per acre, and preliminary plans were made for the building program, which included a church, school, parsonage and "laying-off" a cemetery. Later that year, carpenter Henry Hake was given a contract to build a church 30 x 50 feet, 16 ft. high, with eight windows and a tower. He was to receive $217 for his labor.
The day the tower of the new church was completed, a bad storm leveled the building. Undaunted, the members set about to rebuild the church, completed it in 1863.
Back in those days, when the infant farm congregation was being organized, prices of commodities, compared with today, are little short of amazing. For instance, when the parsonage was ready for painting, the labor amounted to $15. Later a fence was built to enclose the property, each member being required to furnish ten fence posts or contribute a dime. On one occasion, the pastor was compelled to build his own chicken house. Another pastor, desiring a porch on the parsonage, added it himself.
Today this pioneer church is gone, its members long ago having transferred to Hoyleton, but the old cemetery remains. And recently a cemetery committee composed of Rueben Westerfeld, Clarence Hake, Roland and William Beckemeyer, were appointed to restore the long-neglected burial ground, now a thicket of hedge and bramble, dug up by marmots. Many of the old stones were gone, broken or vandalized. So, for the record, a large central marker was erected, upon which are engraved the names of all who are buried here, 85 in number. The oldest grave is that of Marie Westerfeld, born in 1832. In the photo are Reuben Westerfeld and Clarence Hake, two of the four-man committee responsible for this fine restoration. (We do not have the photo.)
A new chain fence protects the site, which is southeast of New Minden and southwest of Hoyleton. Here is an example of pioneer cemetery restoration that is commendable. Washington County, like its sister counties in southern Illnois, has many of these old burial grounds, most of them completely neglected. Updating the same with a central marker, inscribed with all the names of those buried, seems a fine idea. See Appendix 17 for list of people buried in this cemetery.

VILLAGE OF HOYLETON

Hoyleton was settled in 1858 by two Ministers of the Congregational Faith. Rev. A. Bent and Rev. Ovid Miner and their group came from the state of New York. That is why Hoyleton, until 1860, was called Yankee Town. The name Hoyleton came from a man named Henry Hoyle, who donated a bell for the Seminary belfry, which was completed in 1860.
An election was held on March 26, 1881, to incorporate Hoyleton as a village under the general incorporation laws of Illinois, 37 votes being cast, 25 for and 12 against. The first officers of the village were: president, Christ Krueger; clerk, Wm. Weigel, Sr.; treasurer, Wm. Heidler; and trustees were Henry Horst, Sr., Wm. Grote, Christ Grabenkrueger, Diedrich Rixmann, Sr., and Fred Pries, Sr.
In 1883 the first wooden sidewalk was built and 1896 the first brick sidewalk was laid.
In 1901 the Village Board granted H. William Rixmann and Henry F. Rixmann the right to build the first telephone line within the village limits. In 1915 the president and the board of trustees signed a franchise granting H. Rixmann the right to furnish electric current for light, heat and power and also a contract for street lights. Many improvements followed over the years.


ELM POINT SCHOOL

Elm Point School was district #31 and was not annexed to another school until 1947. All the young people from Huegely and the surrounding area walked to Elm Point school, some of them four and five miles.
The Elm Point School was opened in 1896 and stood west of the Evangelical Cemetery in North Prairie. From there it was moved to a hill near the German Methodist Episcople Church to be more centrally located.
It was a one room school, but at times had forty pupils enrolled. After the regular school year, came one month of German school taught by the pastor of the Methodist Church, for North Prairie was a tri-lingual community -- English, German and Flemish called low-German. The school was closed in 1947. See Appendix 18 for a picture of Elm Point School.


NORTH PRAIRIE AND HOYLETON

The North Prairie and Hoyleton Circuit, which in 1849 was founded under the leadership of Brother Hemminghaus, was originally connected to the Mascoutah Mission and counted as its original families the following charter families:
Heinrich Bartelsmeyer, Sr.
Christian Brink
Frederick W. Hake, Sr.
Heinrich Hartmann
Louis Huck, Sr.
Heinrich Lesemann
Heinrich Schnake
William Meyer
and the names of the charter members are as follows:
Heinrich Bartelsmeyer, Sr.
Susan Bartelsmeyer
Christian Brink
Christine Brink
Frederick Hake, Jr.
Frederick W. Hake, Sr.
Heinrich Hake
Henrietta Hake
Heinrich Hartmann
Wilhelmina Hartmann
Maria Hoffman
Heinrich Hoelscher
Ludwig Huck, Sr.
Louise Huck
Frederick Lesemann (could this be Hesemann?)
Heinrich Lesemann (could this be Hesemann?)
Louise Meyer
William Meyer
Heinrich Schnake
Louise Schnake
For a number of years services were held in private homes, but due to the rapid growth of the membership in the congregation, it was decided to build a church. This was completed in 1853, located on a tract of land owned by Heinrich Hartmann and Wilhelmine, his wife; said tract being the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section Twenty-nine, in Township One South of Range Two West, of the Third Principal Meridian, Washington County, Illinois. The Hartmanns lived in a log cabin situated on the southeast corner of the aforesaid tract, and the church was built on the north end thereof. This church site was one and a half miles south of the later North Prairie Church.
The records of the German Methodist Church are quite vague, however, from the records of the St. Louis Conference book, we find that the Huegely family, who were one of the founders of Methodism in Nashville, established their home here in 1853.
The lot on which the Wesley Methodist Church and Parsonage were situated was deeded to the German Methodist organization by Isaac Miller, on January 22, 1854. Rev. Boeschenz was the first German Methodist Minister to conduct services in Nashville, and later Rev. Peter Hinners was sent by the conference, and he in 1854 organized the congregation of the German Methodist Church in Nashville, Illinois. At this time North Prairie, Grand Prairie, and Little Prairie were included in the Nashville Circuit. North Prairie is often referred to as Crooked Creek Circuit.
Charter members of the Nashville congregation were as follows:
John Huegely
Susannah Huegely
Wilhelmina Hinners
Alois Morawets
The number of members of the aforesaid four missions are as follows:
The Nashville Circuit 4 members
North Prairie Circuit21 members
Grand Prairie Circuit18 members
Little Prairie Circuit 8 members
The first Quarterly Conference was held at Nashville, Illinois, on December 3, 1854, when it was decided to build a parsonage, and the following were elected as a Building Committee:
Christian Brink, North Prairie
John Huegely, Nashville
William Meyer, North Prairie
The following were elected as Stewards in 1854:
Christian Brink, North Prairie
John Geisel, Grand Prairie
William Grote, Grand Prairie
Ernest Hoffman, Little Prairie
John Huegely, Nashville
On December 31, 1854, we find that the following were elected trustees for a term of five years:
Christian Brink, North Prairie
Frederick Hake, Sr., North Prairie
Louis Huck, Sr., North Prairie
John Huegely, Nashville
Heinrich Lesemann, North Prairie (could this be Hesemann?)
Ten years later, due to the rapid growth in membership and also the location, it was decided to build a new church. This took place during the ministry of Rev. H. Schulze, and was completed in the year 1863. The new church was located on the northwest corner of Christian Brink’s land.
After Rev. Boeschenz and Rev. Peter Hinners, the following Ministers named hereafter served the Nashville Circuit:
Rev. H. Schultz 1854-1856
Rev. John Ritter1856-1857
Rev. Paul Hertzel1857-1858
Rev. H. Pfaff1858-1960
It was during Rev. Pfaff’s ministry that the first church in Nashville was built.
Rev. Justus Baab1860-1862
Rev. H. Schultz1862-1865
During Rev. Schultz’s ministry the former North Prairie Church was built.
Rev. Wm. Kleinschmidt1865-1867
Rev. Geo. Buehner1867-1870
Rev. Louis Hornel1870-1871
Rev. George Timken1871-1874
Rev. Charles Rodenberg1874-1877.
The North Prairie Parsonage was built in the summer of 1877.
The Wesley Methodist Church was built in Nashville during the ministry of Rev. Rodenberg.
The members of the Hoyleton Methodist bought the old Nashville Church and moved it to Hoyleton.
At the annual conference in the year 1877, the Nashville Congregation, then called the Bischoefliche Methodisten Kirche, was separated from North Prairie, Grand Prairie and Little Prairie, and after that the following Ministers served the North Prairie and Hoyleton Churches:
Rev. J. M. Rinkel1877-1880
Rev. Wm. Kleinschmidt1880-1884
At this time the Conference had set a limit of three years for any minister to
serve one charge, and we have it on good authority that Frederick Hake was the
minister from 1883-1884, but that Rev. Wm. Kleinschmidt served in his stead.
Rev. G. E. Heidel1884-1886
Rev. F. L. Mahle1886-1889
Rev. C. F. Schlinger1889-1891
Rev. Theopolilus Kies1891-1894
Rev. H. F. Miller1894-1899
Rev. S. Saegesser1899-1900
It was during Rev. Saegesser’s ministry in 1900 that the annex to the church was built and rededicated. The deed given the trustees by Mr. and Mrs. Frederich Krughoff dated 1875 was recorded in December 1901 in Nashville.
Rev. H. F. Miller1900-1903
Rev. J. P. Hehner1903-1904
Rev. F. D. Rademacher1904-1909
Rev. F. H. Austermann1909-1913
Rev. C. J. Lotz1913-1917
Rev. E. Hemke1917-1921
Rev. H. W. Brandt1921-1925
Rev. Henry Idel1925-1929
Rev. Henry Meyer1929-1931
Rev. W. E. Browing1931-1931
Rev. S. Albrecht1931-1936
Rev. Albrecht was the first minister to serve the North Prairie congregation after the separation from Hoyleton.
Rev. C. R. Buess1936-1940
Rev. W. D. Richardson1940-1943
Rev. Chas. Ellis1943-1944
Rev. C. R. Yost1944-1945
Rev. Ray E. Brown1945-1947
Rev. Jerry Weiss1947-1948
Rev. Melvin Byrd1948-1951
Rev. Ray Porter1951-1952
Rev. Wm. Suryear1953-1956
Rev. Charles Hartman1956-1961
Rev. Guy Watson1961-1966
In 1951-1956 Hoyleton and North Prairie were one charge again.
North Prairie was closed in 1966 and a shelter for the church bell was erected in the adjoining cemetery. The bell had been bought in August 1890 for some $180 by J. J. Huck and sisters and brothers as a memorial to their parents Mr. and Mrs. Louis Huck, Sr. One family member told me the church congregation had been advised that if they collected silver coins and other bits of metal and turned it in when the bell was ordered, it could be added to the metal used to make the bell and would in turn give it a better ringing quality. This person said the congregation gathered a collection of such from all its members and took it to St. Louis where the bell was made. It was picked up in St. Louis upon completion and brought back to North Prairie by oxen drawn wagon.

In the early 1900s, probably 1903 or 1904, the congregation had approximately 160 members and the following brethren comprised the Administration Board of the Church. Finance Board included Fred Bartelsmeyer, Henry Dueker, L. Wehking, Fred Gerling, John Hake, and H. Peithman. Trustees were Louis Hake, Edward Krughoff, Fred Bartelsmeyer, Henry Dueker, A. Grote, Fr. Wacker, Wm. Huck, Chr. Stelzriede, H. Uphoff, L. Huck and E. Hake. The congregation had two Sunday schools which were attended by 125 children and there was a young people’s society with 58 members.
The following are the names of those who entered the ministry from the North Prairie Church:
Rev. Theodore Brink
Rev. John J. Huck
Rev. Karl Krughoff
Rev. Elmer Wehking
and we also find that a number of women from the church became ministers’ helpmates, and are as follows:
Mr. F. D. Rademacher, nee Brink (Mary)
Mrs. Theo. Ludwig, nee Brink (Minnie)
Mrs. Gustav Brink, nee Brink (Bertha)
Mrs. Carl Opp, nee Dueker (Agnes)
Mrs. Richard Muelder, nee Huck (Esther)
Mrs. Gail Hines, nee Huck (Helen)
Mrs. Harold Dude, nee Kleeman (Clara)
Mrs. William Hummel, nee Wehking (Carrie)
The following were the current ministers and officers of the North Prairie Church in 1946:
MinisterRev. Ray Brown
Sunday School SuperintendentW. L. Dueker
W. S. C. S. PresidentMrs. George Dueker
Youth Fellowship PresidentMary Louise Dueker
StewardsJulius Krughoff
Charles Bartelsmeyer
Julius Hake
Oscar Kleeman
Arthur Dueker
Parsonage TrusteesAlbert Brink
Oliver Huck
Virgil Hoffman
PianistsGladys Marie Hoffman
Eunice Rixman
TrusteesMartin Huck
John Gerling
Gilbert Hake
Walter Hake
Alfred Rixman
UshersJohn Hoffman
W. L. Dueker
JanitorHenry Idel

Most of the above information on the North Prairie Emmanuel Methodist Church was collected and written by H. L. Krughoff. In his closing words, he stated:

“The zeal with which our forefathers worked should be an inspiration to all who read this and be inspired to greater courage and loyalty to the task of building God’s kingdom.
We must confess that we very little realize the hardships
that the founders of our church went through, and it behooves us to carry on this noble work as they would have us do.”

The North Prairie Church was noted for musical talent. The original male quartet consisted of Louis Bartelsmeyer, Julius Hake, Elmer Hake and Edwin Huck. Other later members were Harvey Hake, Arthur and George Dueker and others from time to time. These men were in much demand for funerals, conferences and even political rallies. They were succeeded in later years by a men’s chorus. A concert band by H. F. W. Hake often furnished music for picnics and other programs. See Appendix 19 for a picture of the North Prairie Band.

Of special note to the descendents of Charles L. C. Brink, Charles F. Brink, Raymond L. Brink, and Charles R. Brink is that all four generations have worked on the North Prairie Church. Charles L. C. built the original structure, Charles F. built on the annex, Raymond L. repaired and remodeled it, and Charles R. Brink with Brink and Jones Construction, using their crane removed the bell which is now in the monument they placed on the property. Then others in the community tore the rest of the building down. See appendix 20 for a picture of North Prairie Church, appendix 21 for a picture of the bell being removed, and appendix 22 for a picture of the monument.


HUEGELY

Huegely originally was located further south down the railroad tracks toward Nashville, Illinois. It consisted of only an elevator and a general store. Then the elevator and store were moved to the location where Huegely lies today. Huegely was mainly started by three Brink brothers: Charles F., Fred and Henry.
Charles F., son of Charles L. C., married Emma Charlotte Finke. Their first home was an apartment above Brinks store in Huegely, Illinois. He owned the store in partnership with his brother Fred. See appendix 23 for a picture of the Brink Store. The general store was small but supplied all the needs including food, tools, clothes, etc. As money was not often available payment was made in farm products, garden vegetables, and eggs. As their family grew, Charles F. moved possibly in 1904 or 1905
to the first house on the North side of the road as you come into Huegely from the West. It is not known if Charles F. built the home or if it was preowned. He began carpentering at this time. It is not known at what date he began moving houses. Appendix 24 shows his home in Huegely with his moving van in front of it. Appendix 25 shows a picture of the steam engine he used in moving buildings along with his moving van and wagons of supplies and tools, etc. Across the street from their home was a long building containing a blacksmith shop run by Henry and a carpenter shop on the other end run by Charles F. Above the two shops was a large room used for community gatherings.
The second house to the east on the north side of the road was the home of Henry Brink. Later, the third home was that of Walter Dueker. Across the railroad tracks was the home of Elmer Hake. Across from Elmer Hake's and east of the mill was Rudy Lilenkamps home.
The elevator consisted of one building that the surrounding farmers brought their wheat, corn, oats, and other grains to. Everything originally was handled in burlap sacks instead of bulk as today. It later became the first elevator in the area to have a grain dump which eliminated the use of sacks.
West of the tracks beyond the elevator stood a creamery. At what year in history this began is unknown. They bought milk and stripped the cream. There were no inspections and several times a baby shoe would come in. People were to wash their own cans so the creamery workers would put the shoe back in the can. Yep, it came back the next time still in the can.
Walter Dueker and Elmer Hake bought the Brink store. The date is unknown but was before 1920 when Charles F. moved to Nashville with his family. Walter and Elmer also ran the elevator which was put in by Huegley Elevator of Nashville, Illinois. Walter did this for years.
Huegely was still pretty active in the early 1950’s due to a saw mill first owned by Ed Martin and later by his son-in-law Dale Hassell. But as the roads improved, travel by automobile improved, people began migrating to the larger towns for all their needs and leaving Huegely behind as it is today.

See appendix 26 for a map of Brink holdings as of 1945, appendix 27 and 28 for copies of the Hoyleton, New Minden, Huegely, North Prairie area from the 1971 platbook of Hoyleton Township, Washington County, Illinois and the 1993 platbook of Hoyleton Township, Washington County, Illinois. Appendix 29 is a very early map (date unknown) showing many of the very early owned farms including Stutz Field from Charles L. C. Brink and the farm owned by Casper Finke, the father of Mrs. Charles F. Brink.

Notes:

Per Carol Hotz the story passed down through the family says that Frederick Wilhelm Heseman married Mary (Marie) Krughoff who was the heir to the family fortune and the only way she could inherit this fortune was for Frederick Wilhelm Heseman to take her last name. Thus he became Frederick Wilhelm Krughoff.

Emmigrated to America in 1852.

1860 Illinois Census - Nashville, Illinois - 9/12/1860
1287/1237 Frederick W. Krughoff56 M Farmer 4000-3000Prussia
Elizabeth56 FIL.
Henry22 M FarmerIl.
Elizabeth16 FIl.
Mary11 FIl.
Louis Hilderbrand18 MIl.


At the time of their Golden Wedding in 1878, the Krughoff's sent $1000 to the Barmer Mission in Germany. The mother is quoted as saying, "We were married in Bergkirche by pastor Linkmeyer and that evening we walked to Schnathorst to Pastor Volkening's Mission Study Hour. On the way home, we made the vow that if the Good Lord would grant them fifty years of wedded life they would send $1000 to the Barmer Mission." She gave Pastor Rague the money to send to Germany. A Pastor from Germany sent a letter from there to thank her.Florence Krughoff

FREDERICK married KRUGHOFF SOPHIE MARIE (MARY) ELIZABETH on 11 Jan 1828 in Eixen Rolenufel, Berg Kirche, Kreis Minden, Westfalen, Preuszen, Deutchland; marriage performed by Herr Pastor Linkmeyer.. SOPHIE (daughter of KRUGHOFF JOHANN HEINRICH (Geb. Griese) and PRIES ANNE MARIE ILSABEIN) was born on 20 Sep 1804 in Eiksen, Germany.; died on 8 Nov 1880 in Hoyleton Precint, Washington County, Illinois of bronchitis with attending physician B. Burnreuter, M.D., Nashville, Illiinois.; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington County, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Per Florence Krughoff and information she copied from family Bible of F. W. Krughoff, Sr. her date of birth was September 22, 1804.

Information from a letter received from Lina Romming of 4955 Hille 9, Kohlterholz Nr. 9 in Germany - December 1, 1989

Possible connection to Krughoffs in Germany prior to Mary


Dear Family Krughoff,
With hearty greetings I am here with sending photos of old buildings in which your forefathers were born, and where your ancestors were living until they immigrated to the United States.
The houses burnt down about 15 years ago and now nothing is left. Buldings near by have been rebuilt. Current owners are Rohlfing at Rothenuffeln #33.
I got the pictures from them, the Rohlfings. In addition I have established a family tree that a Mr. Herman Stelze from Unterlubbe #40. On May 8, 1803 he married Marie Elizabeth Krughoff, Otis Krughoff's daughter. Herman Stelze died a few years after marriage. Already April 23, 1809, the widow Marie Elizabeth Stelze nee Krughoff. Mr. Johann Cordt (Kurt) Gerling from Hille. Accompany photo has the inscription which comes from the old house. It was built into the new home, which can be seen on the picture.
Second husband, Gerling took on the name Stelze when married. In this marriage many cildren were born, who have married and at this time still live in same vicinity.
In my conservation, to current owner (home place Stelze), Louise Karmeier nee Stelze is 77 years old. Through Louise Karmeier I got the pictures of the old house and tombstone. I made duplicates.
Tombstone is a Elizabeth Stelze nee Krughoff born August 15, 1786 and died January 21, 1867. Louise Karmeier has a living married sister and married daughter.
Finally I am enclosing photo of place Stelze and Louise Karmeier. I am a neighbor of home places Peithman #16 and Huck #1. And our home place was called Rodekopf #8. Further you can get bits and pieces from the Duekers. Many hearty greetings, also from my man.
Lina

Picture descriptions
1. Two wooded squares gables - Entrance to the right of the old house, Krughoff home place - this picture was taken at a wedding.
2. Home Place (Krughoff) where new house stands (Rohlfings Rothenufflen #33) where ancestors lived, southwest view
3. Home place Stelze #40 with the inscription still readable built in 1823, building still standing
4. Erna (on left) and Louise Stelze in front of old house with inscription Stelze-Krughoff
5. Louise Karmeieer nee Stelze new home
6. Johann Cordt (Kurt) Stelze (born Gerling) from Hille. Wife Marie Elizabeth Stelze nee Krughoff. Roethnufflen built 1823, June 4. Builder F. Pohlmann
7. Beams from old house Stelze #40
8. Louise Karmeier Nee Stelze in front of new house with twin grandsons
9. Stelze Tombstone

Tombstone in North Prairie Cemetary reads:

Marie Elizabeth
Gattin von
F. W. Krughoff
geb
22 September 1804
gest
8 November 1880

HEINRICH married HACKE ELIZABETH (MARIA C. ELSABEN) on 19 Dec 1841 in Pr. Oldendorf, Germany. ELIZABETH (daughter of HACKE FRANZ H. and HEUER MARIA DOROTHEE W.) was born on 1 Jan 1807 in Hanover, Prussia, Germany; tombstone has 1813; died on 14 Jan 1897 in Tombstone has Apr. 27, 1875; may be Apr. 26, (age 62?); was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington County, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

A BRIEF BUT GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF THE HAKE FAMILY

In the early 1849's, the people of Germany rebelled aainst their government and it was this internal strife that caused so many people to migrate to America during this period in history. Germany, at that time, had compulsory military training and as a consequence, many families with boys of military age, left their homeland.

At this time, the Hake Family lived in the small village of Hoerdinghausen, under the Council of Wittlage, in the Lutheran parish of Lintorf, in the kingdom of Hanover. The Father, Friedrich Wilhelm and the mother, Henriette Albertina had three sons, Johann Heinrich, Friedrich Wilhelm and Ernst Friedrich. A daughter, Anna, died in her teens of diphtheria. Since Henry would soon attain military age, application for passports to America was made. The family disposed of their small home, built of native stone and disposed of most of their personal possessions. The father, a stone cutter, by trade, walked eleven miles to the mountains and carried lumber to Hoerdinghausen out of which he built a large chest into which they placed those articles which they wished to take to their new home. In addition to being a stone cutter, the father was also the night watchman in the small village of Hoerdinghausen. He walked the streets, nightly, sounding an hourly blast on a horn furnished by the village. At midnight, his wife relieved him of this responsibility in order that he might get a few hours of sleep prior to his returning to his chores in the stone quarry. The editor of this compilation has the wooden mouthpiece which was used on the horn. It was received by him from his father, H. F. W. Hake, a grandson of Friedrich Wilhelm. A photograph of the mouthpiece appears on a later page of this compilation.

The family set sail across the Atlantic early in 1848. Their ship was caught in a hurricane and was buffetted about for three months which ultimately forced the craft south of the equator. Anchor was finally cast at New Orleans, Louisiana where the Hake family transferred to a river steamer and proceeded to St. Louis where they landed later in 1848. The first family home was established in this city when the boys were aged 17, 14, and 12, respectively. A descendant has deduced that this first residence was in the neighborhood of Warren and 12th streets which is in the northern part of the city. Henry, as he was commonly called, joined a Methodist Church in the vicinity. The father, Frederick, though a stone cutter in Germany, did not follow this trade in his new environment but worked at miscellaneous jobs which he sought out.

There is an interesting side light to the arrival of the family in St. Louis. Having announced to their neighbors in Hoerdinghausen their intention to migrate to the United States, they gathered for a farewell party prior to their departure. A neighbor handed a letter to Frederich, Sr. addressed "August Schmidt, America" and asked that he deliver it. Little did he realize the wide spaces in the United States. However, we are told that they did actually meet Schmidt in St. Louis and that he finally delivered the letter from Germany.

Henry was employed as a cooper and remained in St. Louis for several years where he joined the Washington Street Methodist Episcopal Church in 1850. Fred, the second son, started as an apprentice in the tailoring trade in Germany but did not care for that type of activity and turned to bookbinding in his new home. He became a great lover of books as was evidenced by the vast library which he accumulated during his lifetime. He is also reputed to have learned the art of knitting in Germany. It was a common practice for the women of the families to do the spinning while the men often did the knitting. Ernst worked in St. Louis for a cigar maker.

Apparently, it was never the intention of the Hake family to settle permanently in an urban area. Rather, it was their ambition to acquire title to and to live on a portion of the vast prairies of the middle west. By coincidence, an acquaintance from near the present site of Nashville came to St. Louis to market some produce. Friedrich, Sr. accompanied him in his oxen drawn wagon to Nashville and then continued, on foot, to the home of Herman Backs of North Prairie, a distant relative. He stayed overnight and revealed his ambitious plan to his host. The next day, he packed their few belongings, after having been in the city for about one year, and moved into a small log cabin on the Herman Backs farm. This farm is owned, today, by Herman Maschoff and occupied by the Backs brothers and sisters, grandhcildren of Herman. The farm is located on the west side of State Highway #127. Incidentally, Henry remained in St. Louis but the father, mother, and two younger sons made the move to North Prairie. The three men split rails, presumably to earn sufficient money to ultimately purchase the land which they desired. Friedrich, Jr. worked, part-time, for the Henry, Carter and Kennedy families. Ernst worked for a family named Craig. Here the boys leaned the English language. The Craigs were especially interested in teaching young Ernst.

Some years later, the father purchased the farm which was later owned by his son Ernst, then by his son Julius and today by Warner Clark who married LaVonne, the daughter of Julius. The farm consisted of 160 arcres and on it, the family built a log cabin. Land, of course, was comparatively cheap. A short distance northwest of their farm stood a small Methodist Church erected and attended by the early English settlers. The first German people also attended this church. Later, when the commuity became almost 100% German, a German Methodist Church was organized and the same building was utilized for this purpose. Friedrich was a charter member of this new congregation. As the membership increased, a larger edifice was built on the Christ Brink farm. It was named the Emmanuel Methodist Church of North Prairie. The building still stands but the congregation has disbanded. Land was given by Fred W. Krughoff, Jr. for a cemetery. This ended the established practice of burying the deceased near their homes. Adults were, for many years, buried in rows and children were also buried in their rows. This practice originated in Germany because of a scarcity of land. This custom was later abolished in the North Prairie Cemetery and it became possible for a family to purchase a burial lot large enough to accommodate the entire family after death. Another interesting German custom was, in the event of death, to hold brief services in the home of the deceased, then the body was interred after which mourners and friends entered the church for a memorial service.

Late in 1857, Henry moved to North Prairie from St. Louis and acquired the farm now occupied by Howard Hake, his grandson. He built a home for his bride-to-be. On March 18, 1858, he returned to the city where he married Louisa Blomberg. He had belonged to the Washington Street Methodist Church in St. Louis but transferred his membership to the North Prairie church. Frederick, the second son, married the daughter of a charter member of the Emmanuel Methodist Church, Sophia Charlotte Hartmann. At this time, Frederick was 26 years of age and Charlotte was 18. This union was blessed with 15 children. As mentioned before, he was not only a lover of books but was a devoutly spiritual man. As a lay pastor, he filled various pulpits on innumerable occasions and served as Sunday School Superintendent for almost 40 years. He dispensed homeopathic medicines to his friends. Not being licensed, he was not permitted to make a charge for his medications. (His nephew, Henry, son of Ernst, later also became much interested in the study of medicine and practiced homeopathy, also on an unlicensed basis, among his relatives without the benefit of remuneration). He was also known as an expert horticulturist. Frederick suffered a heart attack on January 13, 1903 while walking to Huegly Station where he planned to board a train for Nashville to transact business. Funeral services were held in the Emmanuel Church on which occasion a sermon was preached by the Presiding Elder, the Reverend Mohle of Belleville assisted by the Reverends H. W. Miller and Pannwitt. His wife followed him in death on August 16, 1925, attaining the age of 83 years.

Karl Weber was, as has been pointed out, an adopted son of Frederick, Jr. He came to live with the family about three months before his mother died. His father was confined to a hospital and probably died there. The Webers had lived in Nasville with their three children, Rebecca, Karl and Lenora. The mother died of tuberculosis. After her death, Karl went to live with the Frederick Hakes, the baby, Lenora, went to the Ernst Hake home and Becky made her home with the Henry Hakes. Lenora later lived with a Korf family who had no children of their own. Becky later joined the family of the Chris Fiekers. She married a man named Anderson, had one daughter and died at a comparatively young age. Mrs. Fieker was Martha Brink of North Prairie. Mrs. Karl Weber's mother was a sister of Henriette Albertina Hake, the mother of the three brothers which accounted for their willingness to give temporary homes to the Weber children.

Ernst, when his father could spare him, worked for a family named Craig. They were proud of this teen-ager and it was while he worked for the Craigs that he learned the English language and had the benefit of other related schooling. He was known as a man well versed in the language of his new country and a speaker of fluent English. North Prairie was originally settled by New Englanders, a great many of whom were textile workers. They did the knitting, spinning and weaving in their homes being employed by a large textile company. They were, for the most part, poor farmers and did not meet with great economic success so many of them moved to Kentucky and Tennessee. South of this area, where the Hakes lived, there were several Englishmen who were relatively successful in their farming ventures. Among these were the Henrys and Thompsons who lived their latter days in Nashville.

Ernst's wife, Sophia Schnakenberg Hake came to America with a family named Brink. At tht time, ships did not transport single women without proper chaperonage. Sophia, as a young girl was named Tibke. She came to America under that name with her cousin, Vupke. She worked for an English family the head of which once suggested to her that she choose a name more to her liking than Tibke. On an impulse, she selected "Sophia" and that became her legal name. In later life, she often commented about her choice and wondered why she chose it. Whether Vupke changed her name is not known. Those who knew Sophia agreed that she was a happy person. She used to tell her children and grandchildren about the street dances which she enjoyed in the streets of Hanover. She also described their colorful costumes and the flowers which were strewn in the streets during their festivities. Sophia had a brother in Schenectady, New York, who came to visit her on at least one occasion after he retired. She also had a sister in Sandoval with whom she frequently socialized. A humorous incident is associated with the wedding of Ernst and Sophia. Some of our young readers are probably not familiar with the community participation in a charivari (commonly known as shivaree) following weddings of well known neighbors. The imminent wedding plans of this young couple were a well guarded secret. Only a few of their male friends were apprised of the coming nuptial event. They suggested to their wives that they get ready to make a trip to Nashville on the pretext of business needs. Instead of going to Nashville, however, they stopped at the previously selected home where the wedding was to be held and served as witnesses. This secrecy dampened the enthusiastic celebration which normally followed the knotting of marital bonds.

The original log cabin, built by Friedrich, Sr., stood on the site of Warner Clark's garage which is located on the farm which our pioneer ancestor purchased and cultivated. During the latter years of its existence, it was used as a cattle stall and chicken house. It has disappeared from the scene although many descendants now living still remember it. The home which replaced the log cabin is pictured on a later page of photographs appearing in this study.

About 1857, H. W. Finke and his wife, Maria Elsaben, came to America from Hanover, Germany with their two sons, Heinrich and Casper. Heinrich married Louisa Joebker, a niece of Henrietta Albertina, the wife of Friedrich, Sr. Casper married Mary Krueger. They lived in St. Louis and then North Prairie. Maria Elsaben, it will be remembered, was a sister of Friedrich. A study of the Finke family presents another challenge to the genealogist but it is mentioned here only to show how the family is related to the Hake line.

Pictured on a later page are the two churches which figured prominently in the lives of the early Hakes. The views at the top of the page are of the John the Baptist Lutheran Church in Lintorf, Germany where our ancestors attended. It is very likely that the stones came from the same quarry in which Friedrich worked although long before his time since the church is known to be about 1000 years old. It was originally a Catholic Church but became Lutheran following the Great Reformation. The Lutheran Church is today the state church in Germany and is supported entirely by public taxes. The two lower photographs are of the Emmanuel Methodist Church of North Prairie to which earlier reference has been made. Friedrich, Sr. and his two older sons were charter members of this church. Ernst, while a regular attendant, was only 13 years of age at the time that the church was organized and is not listed as a charter member.

There are in the United States and in the midwest, in particular, families who spell their name "Haake". If that branch is related to ours, the relationship is probably rather remote since the earliest records show our ancestors spelling their name "Hacke" which became "Hake" after arrival in the United States. The "Low" German dialect seemed to prevail among our ancestors. However, when the editor of this publication visited in Hoerdinghausen last summer the common language was more like the "High" German which he studied in college.


A HAKE REUNION, JULY 4, 1920

On one of the rare occasions when the three Hake families met for a reunion, the assembly was held on the Henry Huck farm at North Prairie. The exact date of the picnic has not been positively confirmed but available evidence points to the above date. At the picnic, a band, quartette and baseball teams composed of members of the Hake families performed. Henry F. W. Hake, son of Ernst, gave a talk in Low German in which he traced the history of the family. It was translated into Hihg German and reproduced in the Nashville Volksblatt. It appears below as carefully translated into English which is probably more understandable to the majority of our readers. It is interesting to note that Frederick's wife, Sophia, and Ernst and his wife, Sohia, were in attendance at this outing. The High German version is reproduced following the English text.

The descendants of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Hake, who have increased within 70 years from 5 to 148 members, held a reunion in North Prairie on Monday. Pictures of the two ancestors had been enlarged by the artistic hand of young Herbert Hake (a great-grandson) from a photograph. A quartet composed of Elmer, Julius, Harvey and Louis Hake sang familiar hymns and the Hake Band played appropriate music. The following people attended the reunion from a distance: Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hake and Miss Ella Hake from Benton; Martin Hake and wife, and Melvin Hake and wife from Centralia; as well as Melvin Hake and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hake, Bert Hake and family, and Miss Gertrude Hake from St. Louis.

Reunion speeches were made by the Reverend E. Hemke of North Prairie and the Reverend L. Duewel and Mr. Henry Hake of Nashville, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Hake of North Prairie. In his speech, Mr. Hake said, in part: "If I had the gift of oratory and vocabulary of a William Jennings Bryan, this task would be much simpler, and I would be able to tell you the story of our family tree more eloquently. Since this is not the case, I shall be brief. In the year 1848, there lived in the small village of Hoerdinghausen, in the district of Wittlage, in the kingdom of Hanover, in old Germany, a family of five persons. To this family there came glowing reports of America, the New World, with endless forests and great prairies still untouched and still waiting for settlers. These reports awakened in the family a tremendous desire to emigrate to the New World. The decision to leave Germany was quickly made, and preparations for the long and difficult journey were soon begun. The family home and household effects were sold at auction. Clothing and other personal belongs were packed into one large chest and a single suitcase. Thus, Father Frederick William Hake with his wife and three sons boarded a sailing ship. They turned their backs on what had been their homeland in cramped and crowded Germany and eagerly faced the prospect of a new home in a spacious land of freedom. After almost three months on the vast ocean, during which they were tossed by angry waves, forced to live on the ship's hard-tack, buffeted by storms, abandoned by favorable winds in long days of calm, and weakened by seasickness, they finally arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River near the city of New Orleans. Here, they were transferred with their meager belongings from the sailing ship to a steamboat which brought them slowly upstream to St. Louis. The river port was the first home of our ancestors in the land of freedom.

But it was never the intention of our patriarch to become an urban settler. His goal and desire were to live among the open fields. He wanted to build his home on the prairie, and after two years, he finally succeeded in doing so. In the year of 1850, here on the beautiful North Prairie of the American Egypt, a tract of land was purchased from the government. Amid the high grass of the prairie, a log cabin was built. The tough prairie sod was broken, fields were enclosed with rail fences, oxen pulled the plows, and the virgin soil was seeded. It was a labor of inspiration and perspiration, but Almighty God, whom they had learned to trust in their homeland, responded to their daily supplications by blessing their endeavors. Food sprang from their fields in abundance, and flowering vines beautified their humble dwelling.

Years passed. The three sons grew to manhood. Looking upon the daughters of their adopted land, they found them beautiful, and each of them chose a bride. Here then, grew the main branches of our family tree. From these main branches grew twigs, which, in time, became new branches. These, in turn, grew other twigs. Today, we see this large tree in all of its beauty standing before us. When our eyes look upon all who stand in its shade, we say with the Psalmist: 'Greatly has the Lord blessed us. Let us be joyful!'

Our founding elders lived in this land of freedom for 39 years. For the past 33 years, they have been at rest. Three of the main branches of our tree, a Mother and two Fathers, have also crossed the Jordan and have entered the gates of the Heavenly Jerusalem. The other three main branches, two Mothers and a Father, are still with us, this afternoon. We are grateful that they are here. Whenever we hold their hands in family fellowship, we are filled with wonder and gladness. The burdens of the day have been heavy for them, and the evening of their lives is drawing near. We pray that God will permit them to be among us for a little longer.

Our ancestor chose farming to earn his livelihood, and most of his descendants have also chosen this noble occupation. But we are also represented in other professions. We could move to a different land
and continue to have all the skills necessary to insure our comfort and well-being. We are not only farmers who till the land, seed the land and, almost by magic, produce bread from the land. We also have the Miller, who guides the golden bounty of our fields through his rollers and sieves and produces the white flour which our wives and daughters use to bake bread for us. We have the Sawmill Operator who takes our logs and converts them into boards, rails and beams. We have the Carpenter who assembles this lumber and builds a sturdy dwelling with it. We have the Plumber (also called the Tinsmith) who can provide us with a roof and rainspouts. We have the Decorator who can give our homes a beautiful appearance. We have the Stone Mason who can lay solid foundations and erect strong chimneys. We have the Blacksmith who swings his hammer beside anvil and forge. We have the Storekeeper who takes our eggs in trade, candles them, rejects the bad ones, and weighs our sugar and other staple commodities. We have the Artist who, with pen and ink, can transfer our likeness to paper so that our descendants can see how we looked, long after we have turned to dust. We have the Locomotive Engineer who sits with his hand upon the throttle and his eyes upon the rails, and who makes the great engine cough and thunder according to his will as it pulls the long train with ever-increasing speed behind it.

We have Ministers of the Gospel who proclaim to us the good news of Zion, who warn the sinner, strengthen the weak and comfort the sorrowing. We have the Trained Nurse who attends the sick with dedication and compassion. We have Teachers, both men and women, who instruct our children and prepare them for their future careers. We have the Professor who continues to educate our young people in college, after they have graduated from our grade and high schools. We have also been blessed in the field of music. As our grandfather blew his horn while serving as a Night Watchman in Germany, many of his descendants have followed his example by becoming horn players. But we do not merely coax music out of Horns. We also play the Piano, the Organ, the Violin, the Clarinet, the Accordion, the Ocarina, the Jew's Harp, the Roller Organ and the Phonograph. Nor have we lagged behind in the Art of Singing. Among us, there are Soloists, Duet, Quartet and Choral Singers. Oh, this glorious Art of Song which has refreshed so many a weary pilgrim! Even in our early youth, many of us showed great aptitude for singing. The story goes that I began singing solos before I was a year old. Often in the middle of the night, when my father and mother yearned for peace and quiet after the day's toll, Mother accompanied my singing by marching back and forth with me as I sang. As I grew older, Father added a drum beat to my musical exercises, and this brought the concerts to an end.

Before I close, I should like to mention that, among us, we have never had a Drunkard. Not one of us has ever had to spend time in jail. Not one of us has ever neglected his family. Not one of us has ever run away with the wife of another. We have never planted potatoes in the light of the moon, nor have we slaughtered our hogs when the moon was bright. Like a burr on a woolen stocking, we have always been attached to the church of John Wesley and to the party of Abraham Lincoln. All of us hope that, when we elect a new President this fall, we shall succeed in choosing a President who is, first of all, a loyal American, and that the welfare of the United States will be closer to his heart than the welfare of England and France. Let us elect a President who is willing to make an honorable peace with Germany, and who is willing to accept Germans and the descendants of Germans as human beings. Let us have a President who esteems the Constitution and the laws of this land more highly than his personal theories. Let us have a President who knows how to resolve the problems of our war-torn society and the conflicts which divide Labor and Management. Only then will we have Peace, and the Star Spangled Banner once more '..in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'"

Notes:

Last week Henry Krueger, a former resident of this county, was buried here. He was quite an old man and was well known here. The last few years he has lived in Clinton Co. where he died. (Don't know date of this occurrence.)

Copy of mortgage Deed in file.

C. married BAKHAUS CHRISTINE (CHRISTINA) CHARLOTTE (BACKHAUS) in 1848 in St. Louis, Missouri. CHRISTINE (daughter of BACKHAUS Johann Heinrich and ESMANN Marqarethe Dorothea Marie) was born on 20 Oct 1827 in KirchSpiel, Lintdorf, Westfalen, Germany; came to USA in teens in 1845 (maybe 1835), married here; died on 21 Nov 1914 in Hoyleton, IL; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington County, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mrs. Charlottte Krueger died Saturday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Casper Finke, in North Prairie at the age of 87 years. Deceased was born in 1827 in Germany and in 1835 emigrated to this country. In 1848 she was married to Henry Krueger, who preceded her in death in 1889. She leaves three children, Mrs. Casper Finke, Mrs. Mike Schmidt and a son, John, of Texas, 23 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the German M. E. Church in North Prairie, Rev. Lotz officiating, assisted by Rev. Miller. Interment was made in the adjacent cemetery.
She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church.