MARY married RADEMACHER FRANK D.. [Group Sheet]

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:

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

Notes:

Baptized January 21, 1753 Bergkirchen.

FTM Notes of Friederich Wilhelm Brink
Chap01.doc

CHAPTER 1

OUR ANCESTORS, JOHANN (ERNST) FRIEDRICH WILHELM AND ANNA SOPHIE DOROTHEA MARIA (SCHARLOTTA) ILSABEIN MEIER, AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT GERMANY (PRUSSIA) DURING THEIR ERA.

The German surname Brink has several origins. Firstly, the surname Brink is of locative origin, deriving from a feature, either man made or natural, near which the original bearer of the name once lived or held land. In this instance, the surname Brink derives from the Low German "brink" meaning "grassy knoll". Someone residing next to such a feature could have been called Brink. Research also indicates, that the term "brink" is used to indicate land that was not used for farming purposes.
The term Brink is found also as an element in many German locative names such as Brinkwirth (innkeeper next to grassy knoll), Brinkhaus (someone named Hans living next to a grassy knoll), Hasenbrink (rabbit grassy knoll), and Kreienbrink (a grassy knoll which comes from the name of the place where the original bearer once lived.)
We have our Brinks traced back to the late 1500s. From information received while in Germany, older records were destroyed by fire and thus are not available. This has not been confirmed as yet.
Surname changes seem to have happened in our older German ancestors. According to the information we have received, the man in a marriage took the wife's maiden name when she was the heir of her family's estate and there was not a male heir. She and her husband then lived on the estate and continued the name of the estate.
The closest example of this to our current time is the marriage of Frederich William Heseman and Mary (Marie) Elizabeth Krughoff. They were married in Germany in 1828 and living on the Krughoff estate continued the Krughoff name. They migrated to America in 1852.
Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm Brink was born October 19, 1788, and his future wife, Anna Maria Dorothea Scharlotte Ilsebein Meyer born in 1798 (Minden, Il. records show baptism February 5, 1800), both in the little village of Eicksen, near Minden, in Westphalia, Germany. Appendix 1 is a map showing the location of Eicksen and Bergkirchen in relation to Minden in Northern Germany. They grew up, married, and inherited quite a large estate of farm and timberland. The large house which was their home, was built in 1798 and is still in use today although it has been totally reworked and remodeled. They had a number of tenants according to Minnie Brink Ludwig as learned from her father, Charles L. C. Brink. In doing further research including spending time with the Heinz Bokemeyer family who currently own the Brink home in Germany, it is doubtful there were many tenants. The home was actually built by the parents of Ernst. Ernst farmed, logged, and did carpenter work.
Ten children were born to this marriage. Christian (1818-1873) married Christena Krughoff; Louisa died in infancy; William (1820-1888/89) married Maria Woepke Gerken; Louisa (1825--1904) married William Meyer; Frederick (1827-1905) married Caroline Hoffman; Heinrich (1828-1894) married Wilhelmina Weihe; Carolina (1830-1897) married Ernst Hoffman, brother of Frederick's wife; John (1832-1860) married Mary Wolfman; Charles (1835/6-1926) married Elizabeth Krughoff; and Christena (1823-1847). It was discovered as further research was completed that the names we were given for the above parents and children didn't all agree with the Bergkirchen records. We've tried to include all names used to be as nearly correct as possible. Also birth and death dates are often not available. Bergkirchen is on a small mountain top and during winter travel was difficult so people would often wait until Spring to record events in the church records. The result is that often the only dates we have are baptismal and burial dates.
As the children grew up life became much less attractive in Westphalia and reports of the United States attracted them. Christian and William took off about 1840 and came to Washington County, Illinois. Christian returned to Germany about 1842 to get his bride and persuaded his parents to emigrate too. His brother Frederick came to America with him. Ernst and Anna sold their property and had their sons here buy them about 1500 acres in Hoyleton Township. (In looking at older maps it appears that the acreage might be more like 1200.) Some of this is still held by some of their descendants today. See Appendix 2 for a map of Brink holdings in Washington County in 1845. They sold their German home for $10,000, small price now, but no small sum then. In late August of 1845, they (with their remaining children) boarded an English sailing ship at Hamburg, Germany, with the destination, New Orleans. After a stormy voyage of 70 days they finally landed in late October. Then they headed north on the Mississippi River on a wood burning steamer for St. Louis. It was now November and winter came early and hard, and floating ice in the river forced their boat to tie up at Grand Tower in Jackson County, Illinois.
Because of undo delays the steamer ran low on provisions. Men went ashore to hunt for game, with only fair success. Needed foods were in short supply in Grand Tower. The Brink group went into the countryside seeking supplies from the farmers, again with little success.
One of the traditional jokes handed down in the family tells of their refusal to buy sweet potatoes with which they were totally unfamiliar. They thought sweet potatoes were like rutabagas grown in Germany to feed livestock. As the story goes the one refusing to buy later became extremely fond of them.
River ice continued to run until it was decided to hire a wagon with oxen and complete the journey overland. It was midwinter, the roads were bad, and there was a marked shortage of bridges. Travel accordingly was very slow. One bit of good fortune, however, came their way. On the second day out they were met by their two sons who had received their letter and were on the way with a wagon and more oxen. It was decided that the hired wagon would proceed to Washington County and that the sons would continue to Grand Tower and bring goods stored there.
On one of the early days of their journey they found themselves being followed by a man on horseback. He proved to be a tavern keeper where they had stopped for the night. He was looking for goods he said had been taken from his tavern. He asked them to unload and allow him to search for articles he claimed someone had taken. The party protested the inconvenience and delay, whereupon he decided to ride along and ask at the next place available for a search warrant. They bid him welcome to do so. When mealtime came they stopped to prepare food and insisted that he eat with them. Because they insisted he grudgingly consented to do so. After a solemn grace pronounced by the elder Brink the rider ate in silence. At the end of the meal he mounted his horse told them that people so gracious, pious and friendly would not steal anyone's property, and turned back toward Grand Tower.
After several days of most difficult travel, and on Christmas Day, the party reached the cabin in which they were to lodge until their home was completed. The mother, already ill, died there before the new home was completed. She was buried in a grave a short way east of the new home being built. A few months later the father also fell ill, died, and was buried beside her. The story has been passed down through the family that during heavy rain North Creek had flooded and lots of trees and logs were being lost. Johann Ernst knowing how scarce wood was in Germany could not stand to see this happen. He went in after as much as he could save which resulted in his getting pneumonia which caused his ultimate death. The third grave in the little plot is that of a Peithman, the first of record found coming to the German settlement in the county. The grave site is now fenced in by an iron fence and the tombstone marker reads:
Ernst Friedrich William Brink*It was actually thought Ernst died 1790-1845*in the first part of January 1846. Anna Mariea (Illsabein) BrinkFamily also said they both died in 1798-18451845 right after arrival in
Fredrich Peithmann Washington County. The plaque indicates this.
Further information on their deaths was found in St. John’s Lutheran Church records in New Minden, Illinois. Ernst was born October 19, 1788 and died September 20, 1846. Anna was born September 19 or 9, 1799. St John’s show her being baptized February 5, 1800 in Bergkirchen. Her death date is shown as February 12, 1846. So it appears the Lutheran Minister conducted their funerals, and that they lived a little longer than Charles L. C. Brink, my great-grandfather, remembered. After all, he was only nine years old when they came to America. Also, we find it interesting that St. John’s showed his name as Colonius John Fred Wm. Brink. Bergkirchen records show his name as Johann Frederick Wilhelm Brink.
Winona Brink Huckshold and Minerva Brink Clouser both remember the old rock foundation that had appeared to be a one room cabin. It was north of the old house about where the current drive way is located. Their father, Waldo, remembers his father saying they had used it for a smoke house after building their new home. We feel Christian and William and possibly Frederick had built it so the family would have some place to stay when they arrived in America. They built the original Brink home where we assume everyone lived until moving to their own places. This home was demolished in 1975 when Winona Huckshold built her current home on the same location. If Minnie Ludwig's story is true that they moved into an empty cabin that was available while waiting for their home to be vacated, perhaps the stone foundation was this home. Minerva Brink Clouser has a deed from a family by the name of Flint deeding the property to William Brink. We had always been under the impression they had homesteaded so this must not be true.
While visiting in Germany at the old Brink home, currently the home of Heinz and Margret Bokemeyer and their family, Wanda Gines discussed at length with the Bokemeyers the original structure of their home. See Appendix 3 for a sketch of the floor plan drawn for us by Frauke Bokemeyer. The original builders of the Brink home were Friederich Wilhelm Brink and Anna Marie Ilsebein Karfs from Elfte #4, Oberlubbe, Kreis Minden and their five children. One of their sons Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Brink married Anna Sophie Dorothea Marie Ilsabein Meier from Eicksen #1 (across the street from Eicksen #6, the Brink home). These were the parents of the Brink family traveling to America in 1845.
The home was one long building made of the typical beam and brick or stone construction with a tile roof. It was at least twice as long as it was wide. You entered through a large double door which opened from the center out without a center post. This was so you could drive your wagon or carriage straight into the home.
On each side of this large hall were three animal stalls (total of 6) built as in any normal barn without solid walls to the ceiling. In the middle of the house at the end of each stall were small rooms, one for a hired farm worker and one for a hired farm girl. The next area went across the entire width of the building and served as the kitchen. In the middle facing the outside door was a large fireplace used for cooking. When I was there in 1959, the fireplace was still there. There was an arm that swung out on which was hanging a large kettle. I was told that had belonged to the Brinks.
Behind the kitchen and across the end of the house were three rooms with doors into each from the kitchen. On the left was the parents' bedroom, on the right was the children's bedroom, and in the middle was a living room.
As is typical of most German farm houses, the home was gradually torn down in sections with the new being built right under, the old house often surrounding it. In 1928 the left side and around to the edge of the front door was redone. In 1954 the right side and around to the edge of the front door was redone. In 1964 the house was shortened by 10 feet at the back wall. When I was there in 1959 if I understood correctly, the head beam above the original door had just been removed about six weeks earlier and the front door totally remodeled. In 1967 new rafters were installed in the roof.
See Appendix 4 for a sketch of the carving on the head beam. On the left hand side of the board was:
FRIE.DER.RICH.WIL.HELM.BRINCK
ANNA.MA.RI.E.IL.SE.BEIN.KARFS
On the right side was:
WO.GOTT.NICHT.SEL.BER.BAUT
DAS.HAUS.DA.RICHT.KEIN.NE.MUE
WAS.AUS
1798
The right side translates "Except God Build the House they labor in vain that build it."
Between the two inscriptions was carved four bell shaped flowers on one stem. The dots (.) indicate syllables and not separate words. Therefore, his name was Friederrich Wilhelm Brinck, and hers was Anna Marie Ilsebein Karfs. In old German the name was always spelled with the added "c". The Brinks at Eicksen #6, however, even in the 1700's spelled it without the "c". That leaves one a bit confused to find Brinck spelled with the "c" in 1798 when the house was built. Also, Friederrich is spelled with two "r's". The church records show only one.
In 1947 a small, old bread baking house which sat on the left side of the house was torn down. See Appendix 5 for a picture. See chapter 16 in the book by Minnie Brink Ludwig for a description of how the old bake houses were built and used. Appendix 6 is a view of the back of the Brink home and appendix 7 is the front of the home. Appendix 8 shows Heinz Bokemeyer leading a horse from the inside of their home.
Just a word about the house numbering in Eicksen. In the old days the Meier home was #1. However, today (approx. 1968) the postal system in Rothenuffeln which serves Eicksen changed the house numbers. Meier's number is now #37. Surprisingly, the Brink home remained #6. So both old and new numbers for the Brink, now Bokemeyer, home is #6. See appendix 9 for a picture of the home today.
In 1870 the Meier's had only daughters and no sons. When their third daughter, Sophie Louise Caroline, married Friedrich Hinrich (Meynert) Meinert, Eicksen #1 became the Meinert home and is the family name that still resides there today.
There are two beautifully carved chests and one large beautifully carved wardrobe in the Bokemeyers' main entry hall. The chests were left by the Brink family.
The first one is inscribed as follows:
MARIE ILSABET GRANDEMANS
ANNO 1735
This chest was from the same Grandemans family as Margret's stepfather, Heinrich Grannemann and which in turn belonged to the Brinks. At that time this family lived in the Nordhemmern district but today they live in the Hille, Brennhorster #143 area.
The second chest was inscribed with:
AN.IL.SCHE.ROML.FINGES.AN 1747
ANGOTTES.SEGGEN. ISTALLES.GELEGGEN.AMEN
The second line translates "Everything is kept in God's Blessing".
They had to abbreviate some of the names and again the dots are for syllables and not words. It reads ANNA ILSEBEIN SCHARLOTTE ROMLFINGES. The last name was undoubtedly misspelled. It should be Rohlfinges. This was confirmed by Heinz Bokemeyer, the current owner. In the seventies, Heinz said the two chests were probably worth about $1,800 each.
The wardrobe chest came from Eicksen #1, probably when Anna Sophie Dorthea Maria Ilsebein Meier’s great-niece, Caroline Sophie Louise Meier, married Karl Ernst Fredrich Bokemeyer, and they purchased the Brink home in 1845. Caroline was the daughter of Anna’s sister, Sophie Louise. Karl Bokemeyer was Heinz’s great-grandfather. Heinz mentioned that the wardrobe was worth at least $2,000 in the 1970’s. See Appendix 10, 11, and 12 for sketches and pictures of these three pieces of furniture.
The Brinks were members of the Bergkirchen Lutheran Church. The history of the church is quite interesting and we thought it was appropriate here.

BERG KIRCHE, WESTPHALEN

Berg Kirche, in northwest Germany is in the present province of Westphalia. It stands on the crest of a ridge commanding a vast panorama of the Weser River Valley. The original structure was built as a result of Charlemagne's "Cross and Sword" Campaign in old Saxony. It was here that paganism held out longer than in any of the neighboring provinces. Bonifuss of England and a group of Irish monks had succeeded in Christianizing most of Germany except this strong willed ancestral tribe of ours. (There is no relationship between old Saxony and the present German province by the same name.)
In 779, Charlemagne, King of the Holy Western Empire, met Pope Lee the Third in Anahen (Aix la Chapelle) where he had come from Rome on a special mission to place the Papal hand on Charlemagne's great new cathedral there. The one in Minden and also in Berg Kirche had been recently completed, so being an opportunist, the King brought the Pope north with him to dedicate and bestow special blessings on these two churches also. A signal honor through coincidence no doubt.
During the early 14th century the church was rebuilt as it stands today. Portions of the massive walls of the original church form it's basic structure. The nave is approximately 120 feet long and about 60 feet wide. There is a small square narthex below the bell tower under which burial space was reserved for a privileged few. The slabs, with epitaphs, are so worn down however, by the shuffling of centuries of communicants, that they are not for the most part legible. Through the center, the stones are worn down some six to eight inches. The pulpit, built high above the church pews, is about half way down along the south wall.
The dedication of the rebuilt Kirche was again honored by the presence of the Pope. This happened during the period of Continental History when there was great controversy between Church and State over the civil powers of the Pope. History records the moving of the papel seat into France, where the Pope (probably Clement the 4th) traveled from one cathedral town to another until Phillip the Fair of France provided a permanent seat at Avignon. During this period of French residence the second dedication of Berg Kirche took place. So again the little church was privileged to receive a blessing which might never have transpired had the Pope been in far distant Rome.
During the Reformation the missionaries of Martin Luther reached into the Northern Provinces and the "Church of the Hill" became Protestant. It is still an active parish referred to as a Parochial Mother Church and now conducts it's services according to the creed of the Evangelical church. It is attended by villagers from both sides of the ridge for such special services as baptisms, weddings, funerals, holidays and mass confirmations, of which records show as many as 300 at one time. Each village (or Dorf) has it's own chapel for regular Sunday worship.
Legend has it that the origin of a spring, known as Wittikinds Well, and still to be found in front of the church, dates back to the founding of this parish seat. The conquest of Charlemagne is definitely linked with the story --- though, as in all legends, there are slight variations in some of the details. So after extensive research and comparisons of a number of versions, I have concluded the following:
King Wittikind (White Child, or Albino I presume) of old Saxony was approached by Charlemagne to renounce paganism and embrace Christianity. The King was troubled, so during his mental battle of indecision mounted his stead, rode to the top of the range and conferred with his pagan gods, but without any satisfaction. He was so lost in thought during his sojourn that he discovered he was also lost in fact and very thirsty, so he offered a prayer to this new God of Charlemagne for water, as well as a manifestation, to determine which course to take. Christianity or Paganism. He had but a few moments to wait because at that very instant his restless horse pawed the ground and from the rocks at his feet burst forth a sparkling freshet. Wittikind was convinced and chose this spot for the first Christian church in his kingdom. It remained Catholic until the reformation.
It was from old Saxony that the Anglo-Saxon invasion was launched in 499 A.D. It is a significant fact that the Westphalians of today are akin to the English in physique and coloring, (tall, blue eyed and blonde) as well as in their language. Their native tongue is a dialect known as low German, (being in the lowlands) which is almost pure Flemish with a smattering of English words and phrases. This may account for the fact that North Germans learn to speak English with ease and little accent in contrast to the heavy tongue of the Prussians and throaty R's of the South. See Appendix 13 for a map showing where Low German was spoken.
New Minden in Washington County, Illinois was settled by pioneers from the parish of Berg Kirche. Their church is patterned after the mother church in Germany and is built also of hand hewn native stone, fashioned into fortress like walls. It celebrated it's Centennial in 1947.
To reach Berg Kirch today, one must go via Minden and from there by Kleinbahn (narrow gauge) to either Rothnufeln or Sudhammern, through a picturesque countryside, far removed from crowded tourist routes. (This article was written in 1979, and the directions would be much different today.)

Written by Ruth Watts for the 1979 Washington County History book.

We have in our possession, an English translation of the German history provided by the Bergkirchen Church. It is very similar to the above article.

Appendixes 14, 15, and 16 show views of Bergkirchen.

FRIEDRICH married KORFS ANNA MARIE ILSEBEIN (KARFS) on 10 Feb 1780 in Eicksen, Westfalen, Prussen.. ANNA (daughter of KORFF JOHANN HERMANN and HOPMEYER AN. MARIEN ENGEL (HAUPTMEYER)) was born on 8 Jun 1754 in Elfte #4, Oberlubbe, Westfalen, Prussen.; died on 2 Apr 1832 in Eicksen #6, Westfalen, Prussen; buried April 5, 1832; Mormons say dod 1/3/1809. [Group Sheet]

ZACHARIAS married RODEKOFF ANNA MARIE ILSEBEIN on 24 Jan 1784 in Bergkirchen, Kreis Minden, Westfalen, Germany. ANNA (daughter of ROHKOP JOHANN HENRICH ROKOP gen. NIEDERSTER and LIELIENKAMP ANNA SOPHIA) was born on 6 Jan 1768 in Kohlterholz #8, Unterlubbe, Kreis Minden, Westfallen, Prussen; Baptism 6/6/1768.; died on 3 Jan 1809 in Rothenuffeln #1, Westfallen, Prussen.. [Group Sheet]

JOHANN married ILSABEIN A. MARIE on 1 Nov 1794 in Bergkirchen, Kreis Minden, Prussen.. A. was born in in Rothenuffeln Nr. 30, Kreis Minden, Prussen.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Took last name of wife's first husband.

JOHANN married PRIES ANNE MARIE ILSABEIN on 22 Jan 1804. ANNE was born in Jul 1763 in Von der Heide; Rothenuffeln Nr. 34, Kreis Minden, Prussen.. [Group Sheet]