(CATHARINA) married BRINCK TONNIES (TOENNIES) HINRICH on 19 Nov 1747 in Bergkirchen Par., Westfalen, Prussen.. TONNIES (son of BRINCK TONNIES (TOENNIES) and BRINCK ANNA MARGARETHA) was born on 18 May 1724 in Eicksen #6, Westfalen, Prussen; baptism May 28, 1724; dob may be 30th; died about 1758 in Eicksen, Westfalen, Prussen; buried April 24, 1758 in Bergkirchen Cemetery. [Group Sheet]

(CATHARINA) married BRINK JOHANN DIETRICH FREIMUTH OR on 15 Oct 1758 in Eicksen #6, WestfalIen, Prussen; dom may be 18th.. JOHANN was born about 1735 in Rothenuffeln, Westfallen, Prussen.; died on 19 Apr 1796 in Eicksen #6, Rothenuffeln, Westfallen, Prussen.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Toenies (Tonies) was from Eicksen #6 by Rothenuffeln. He was baptized on 1 October 1748 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bergkirchen. Apparently there were no male heirs for the family life and name was carried by the daughter, Anna Marie Engel Schnaken - the name in those days went with the house, rather than with the individual. So after Tonies Heinrich Brink married Anna Marie Schnaken, and having moved into her house, he was known as Tonies Heinrich Schnake, born Brink. He was a peasant farmer, Three children were born to this union.
Information provided by Roy Johnson

In 1773 Toenies Brink of Rothenuffeln married Anna Maria Engel Schnake, moved to farmstead no. 19 in Unterluebbe, and took the Schnake name. They bore two sons and a daughter. The oldest son inherited the No. 19 farmstead.
Information provided by Roy Johnson

In 1777 Anna Maria died and May 1777 Toenies married Anne Marie Ilsabe Stumpelmeyer. Since he lived at the Schnake farm he was still called Schnake, so was she, and so were their two sons and four daughters. Only one son, ernst Henrich, survived to adulthood. He moved to a new residence at No. 48 Unterluebbe. (The records show that as late as 1762, there were only 42 houses in the village, so we know this was a new residence.) In the late 1700s and early 1800s, new residences were being opened up. A new peasant category was created, that of "Neubauer" (New Farmer). These "new farmers" were given only a few acres, sometimes only a garden spot, to farm, and therefore had to work away from home as day laborers. Sometimes the grant was for military service. Apparently Ernst Henrich acquired one of these new houses. Since it was a new residence, it would not have a name, so Ernst Henrich kept the Schnake name instead of taking the name of the farmstead where he moved. This is an interesting situation, as the descendentws of this line have no actual Schnake ancestry before Toenies, but must trace their past family trees through the Brink and Stumpelmeyer lines. This is why I have referred to them as the "Brink-Stumpelmeyer Schnakes".
Descendents who came to America include: Maria Schnake (Donnig, Fortmeier), b. May 24, 1822, Unterluebbe #43, d. May 12, 1917, USA. Emigrated early 1850s. M. Sophie Caroline Hehrt in New Minden, Illinois, 1866. I have two family histories from this line. One history is of the descendents of Henry F. and Caroline's fourth child, August Carl Schnake, supplied to me in 1972 by Pauline Schnake Pixley of Des Moines, Iowa. The other is of the ancestors of Marsha Schnake Anglin of Lebanon, Missouri, a descendent from another of Henry F.s offspring.
Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Schnake b. August 8, 1841, Unterluebbe no. 43, Westphalia, Germany, emigrated before 1864, d. April 12, 1897 St. Louis, Missouri, m. Anna Elizabeth Kleiboeker b. December 25, 1838 d. 1929; marriage date February 8, 1864. Information came from Lois (Schnake) Stone of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts 3/1/96. She writes that he was a farmer and carpenter who loved to hunt and fish. He married Anna Elizabeth here; they bought a farm near Hoyleton, Illinois, and lost it because the person they bought it from did not have title. They moved to St. Louis and he worked as a carpenter. She came to USA on a ship at age 15 (1863) with a brother (records lost) and a friend.
Information provided by Roy Johnson

Anna Marie Engel Schnake and Toenies Brinck had a son, who inherited the estate, but she only lived a few years before she died in childbirth. Toenies kept the Schnake name and married again. There are at least two descendents from that marriage who came to the U.S. They have no Schnake ancestry at all but are named Schnake.
So a large number of American Schnakes actually go back through the male line to Brink.
Seems the records for a few of the local villages in this area of Germany were not kept with the records for the Bishopric of Minden, but rather in the smaller church of St. Martini. Back in the middle ages (1300s), a couple of local nobles rebelled against the Principality of Minden. they got their comuppance and lost their land. It became church property and the Bishop got permission from the Pope to set up a monastery and make this land monastery property.
He set up the offices for the monastery of St. Martini but never got around to establishing the monastery itself. Instead, he took the land as his own private domain and used the monastery officials to collect the rents.
The Schnake family and a lot of others in the villages of Unterluebbe and oberluebbe were serfs on this land, so they became serfs to the so-called "monastery" and their records were kept in the church of St. Martini, the "patron", I suppose, of this "monastery."
When elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg (later Prussia) took this area over in 1848, it became protestanat (mostly) and he siezed the church property. However, using the "monastery" officials to collect the rent was handy, so he never abolished the "monastery" - no need to since it didn't exist anyway. His descendents became the kings of Prussia. The Schnakes and others were his serfs, but their landlord was listed as the "Monastery of St. Martini."
This left an unusual situation - nearly unbroken set of records from the 1500s to the 1900s kept in one place.
In the 1980s the St. Martini church opened its archives, and some local scholars wrote articles about the area, which were collected into a pamphlet. I have a copy of that pamphlet and a house-by-house listing of families in those two villages, plus some good articles about the area in general. Some of these I have translated and you will find links to them on the Schnake page.
Brinks mostly did not live in Unterluebbe or Oberluebbe, as I recall. Still, there are some mentioned and I will check to see if there are more. These records pre-date the church records by a century or more.
Information provided by Roy Johnson

TOENIES married SCHNACKEN ANNA MARG. (MARIA) ENGEL on 23 Feb 1773 in Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bergkirchen, Germany. ANNA (daughter of SCHNAKE JOHANN HINRICH and VOLKMANN ANNA MARIA(SCHEPER)SCHOPEN\SCHOPER BORN) was born on 6 Oct 1745 in Hilverdingsen #19 near Unterlubbe, Westfalen, Prussen.; died on 8 Feb 1777 in Hilverdingsen #19, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

TOENIES married STUMPELMEIER ANNE MARIE ILSABE on 9 May 1777 in Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNE was born about 22 Dec 1757 in Maschege #30 by Oberlubbe, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 2 Nov 1815 in Hilverdingsen #43 by Unterlubbe, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 5 Nov 1815. [Group Sheet]

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]

Notes:

Baptized February 23, 1755 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized November 26, 1756 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized January 16, 1774 Bergkirchen.

ANNA married DREIER JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM on 23 Jul 1796 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. JOHANN (son of DREIER WILHELM and BOEHNE ANNE MARIE ELISABETH) was born about 1766 in Schuerbusch; died on 30 Nov 1841 in Oberlubbe #19, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 4 Dec 1841 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized March 19, 1775 Bergkirchen.
Johann Friedrich was a "horsekeeper for the Schladenschen military regiment".

JOHANN married JUERGENS ANNE SOPHIE. ANNE was born before 28 Dec 1850 in Date?. [Group Sheet]

JOHANN married PAUL ANNA MARIA ELISABETH on 12 Nov 1797 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNA (daughter of PAUL JOHANN FRIEDRICH and KLEINEN ANNE MARIE ENGEL) was born on 26 May 1774 in Bredenhagen, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 14 Jan 1840 in Unterluebbe #19, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 18 Jan 1840 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized February 2, 1777 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized October 30, 1779 Bergkirchen.
Confirmed 1793.

Notes:

Baptized January 30, 1785 Bergkirchen. His baptismal witness was Friedrich Strumpelmeyer.
Ernst was a farmer and shoemaker.
Ernst died Friday, December 21, 1832 at 1:00 p.m. of Pneumonial.

SCHNAKES/BRINKS
This section concerns the Schnake/Brink family in Germany. It is included because two Schnake sisters were married to Friedrich Wilhelm Doennig. Those sisters were Louise Christine Schnake who married Friedrich August 31, 1836 andChristine Marie Ilsabein Schnake who married Friedrich May 7, 1844. Both were daughters of Ernst Schnake.
The descendants of the first Schnakes have multiplied and have scattered far from their original family home of Hilverdingsen by Unterlubbe, Westphalia, Prussia, West Germany to several states in America, including Illinois, and Missouri.

ERNST married RODEFELD CAROLINE LOUISE FRIEDERIKE on 9 Nov 1806. CAROLINE (daughter of RODEFELD JOHANN FRIEDRICH and GLIESEKER CATHARINE MARIE) was born on 25 Jul 1781 in Hille #17; died on 19 Oct 1860 in Hilverdingsen #43 by Unterlubbe, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 23 Oct 1860 in Bergkirchen Cemetery, Kreis Minden, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized February 10, 1788 Bergkirchen.

ANNE married SCHNELLE HERMANN HEINRICH in Jun 1813. HERMANN was born about 1772. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized March 1, 1791 Bergkirchen.

CATHARINE married GRIESE JOHANN HEINRICH on 25 Sep 1816. JOHANN (son of GRIESE JOHANN HERMAN and BRAND ANNE MARIE ELISABETH) was born on 13 Jun 1796 in Rothenuffeln, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized July 24, 1795 Bergkirchen.

CHRISTINE married RUSCHMEIER JOHANN CHRISTIAN on 21 Dec 1816. JOHANN (son of RUSCHMEYER JOHANN HERMAN and SIEKMEIER ANNE MARIE ILSABEIN) was born on 28 Nov 1788; died on 14 Apr 1840 in Oberlubbe #27, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 18 Apr 1840. [Group Sheet]

CHRISTINE married OCTMEYER ZACHARIAS NICOLAS ERNST HENRICH SPILKER on 29 May 1845. ZACHARIAS was born on 3 Mar 1782. [Group Sheet]

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:

Baptized August 12, 1804 Bergkirchen.

JOHANN married EULERT ANNA MARIA ELISABETH on 6 Oct 1824 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNA (daughter of EULER JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM and BUENTEN ANNE MARIE ENGEL (BUNDEN)) was born on 26 Apr 1799 in Koehlterholtz, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 11 Aug 1866 in Luebberberg, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 16 Aug 1866. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized August 28, 1808 Bergkirchen.

ANNE married UPHOFF KARL (CARL) FRIEDRICH WILHELM on 31 Oct 1830 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. KARL was born on 16 Aug 1807 in Hille #254, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 18 Apr 1840 in Oberluebbe #19, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 22 Apr 1840 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

ANNE married BUDDE CARL LUDEWIG on 24 Feb 1847. CARL (son of STEINMANN JOHANN FRIEDRICH and BUDDE ANNE MARIE ILSABEIN) was born on 16 Nov 1797 in Luebbe, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized August 6, 1807 Bergkirchen.

HEINRICH married HEINEMANN ANNE MARIE LOUISE on 27 Aug 1837 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNE (daughter of HEINEMANN JOHANN FRIEDRICH and ROETHEMEIER ANNE MARGRETHE ILSABEIN) was born on 27 Nov 1814 in Unterluebbe #18, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 3 Jan 1852 in Unterluebbe #64, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 7 Jan 1852 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

HEINRICH married FEHRMANN KAROLINE MARIE LOUISE on 5 Mar 1852 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. KAROLINE (daughter of FEHRMANN CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH and DREYER DOROTHEE LOUISE) was born on 8 Nov 1809 in Hille, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized January 7, 1796 Bergkirchen.
Roy Johnson does not have Friedrich in his name.

CARL married KORTGAERTNER ANNE MARIE ILSABEIN on 19 Oct 1817 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNE (daughter of KORTGARTNER JOHANN FRIEDRICH and WEGENER ANNE MARIE ELISABETH NAGELS ENGEL) was born on 19 Jul 1796 in Buehnte, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 11 Jan 1835 in Oberlubbe #2, Westfalen Prussen; was buried on 14 Jan 1835 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

CARL married WILKENING ANNE SOPHIE CHRISTINE LOUISE on 10 Apr 1835 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNE (daughter of WILKENING FRIEDRICH WILHELM and WISCHMEYER ANNE MARGARETHE ELISABETH) was born on 11 Oct 1800 in Rothenuffeln, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized December 27, 1801 Bergkirchen.

JOHANN married FEGEL ANNA MARIA ELISABETH on 12 Oct 1822 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNA (daughter of FEGEL FRIEDRICH WILEHLM and POHLEANN CARTHARINE MARGARETHE) was born on 2 Oct 1799 in Hille #167, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 26 Nov 1830 in Hilverdingsen #19 or Unterluebbe #10, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 29 Nov 1830 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

JOHANN married WEIHE MARIE ELISABETH on 5 Nov 1831 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. MARIE (daughter of WEIHE JOHANN HENRICH and SCHLINGER MARIE ELISABETH) was born on 8 Nov 1807 in Eickhorst #29, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized October 16, 1803 Bergkirchen.

JOHANN married JUERGEN ANNA MARIE ENGEL on 12 Nov 1826 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNA (daughter of JURGENS JOHANN DIEDRICH and BRINKMANN MARIE CHARLOTTE) was born on 24 Feb 1799 in Koehlerholz, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 1 Apr 1836 in Hilverdingsen #19 or Unterluebbe #19, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 4 Apr 1836 in Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

JOHANN married SCHEIDEMANN MARIE ILSABEIN on 31 Jul 1836 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. MARIE (daughter of SCHEIDEMANN HEINRICH and VINKEN ELISABETH) was born on 19 Apr 1789 in Frotheim, Gehlenbeck. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized February 2, 1806 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized April 10, 1808 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized October 28, 1810 Bergkirchen.

JOHANN married KRIETMEIER ANNE MARIE CHRISTINE on 11 Mar 1838 in Dom may be March 4, 1838.. ANNE (daughter of KRIETMEYER KARL DIEDRICH and BRINKMANN MARIE CHRISTINE LOUISE) was born on 28 Mar 1812 in Oberluebbe #10, Westfalen, Prussen; died on 8 Jun 1876 in Hilverdingsen, Westfalen, Prussen; was buried on 12 Jun 1876 in Unterluebbe, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized September 5, 1813 Bergkirchen.

KARL married BOLLACKER ANNA MARIA ELSABETH on 9 May 1839 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. ANNA (daughter of BOLLACKER JOHANN CORD and TRENTELMANNS ANNE MARIE ELISABETH) was born on 13 Nov 1809 in Hille, Westfalen, Prussen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized July 14, 1816 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized June 27, 1819 Bergkirchen.
According to obituary he was born June 16, 1819. Married Louise Brink Nov. 2, 1845. Immigrated to this country 1849. Settled in St. Louis and from there to New Minden. Later, Hoyleton. Wife died Aug. 30, 1898. Of six children one child died at sea; another, in 1862. Remaining four children are August Schnake, Mrs. Herman Peithman, Mrs. Sam Cohlmeyer, and Wm. Schnake. Other survivors include 23 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren. Burial North Prairie Cemetery.

ERNST married BRINK CHRISTINE LOUISE CAROLINE on 2 Nov 1845 in Evangelisch, Bergkirchen, Westfalen, Prussen. CHRISTINE (daughter of BRINK JOHANN HERMANN and MEINERT ANNE MARIE ELISABETH) was born on 8 Jun 1819 in Dob may be June 8, 1825; Rothenuffeln, Westfalen, Prussen; died in in Washington County, Illinois; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington County, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized March 8, 1807 Bergkirchen.

ANNE married SCHUETTE FRIEDRICH ERNST LUDEWIG on 10 Jan 1827. FRIEDRICH was born on 24 Feb 1794. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized October 29, 1809 Bergkirchen.

MARIE married KRUEGER UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet]

MARIE married GERSTKAEMPER CHRISTIAN MORIZ (MARTIN) on 20 May 1829. CHRISTIAN (son of GERSTKAEMPER JURGEN HENRICH and HOFFMANNS ANNE MARIE CHARLOTTE) was born on 5 Apr 1802; died on 27 Feb 1860. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized May 31, 1812 Bergkirchen.

MARIE married ZIMMERMANN CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH on 21 Oct 1838. CHRISTIAN (son of ZIMMERMANN LUDWIG and TIMMERMAN ANNE MARIE CHARLOTTE) was born on 12 Nov 1813; died on 9 Aug 1864. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized November 20, 1814 Bergkirchen.
Confirmed 1829.

JOHANN married RUETER MARIE CAROLINE (RUTERN) on 14 Jun 1840. MARIE was born on 18 Aug 1821; died on 22 May 1859 in Dod may be June 16, 1859. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized April 13, 1817 Bergkirchen. Her witnesses were Anne Marie Elisabeth Huk from Kohllerholz #1, Anne Marie Elisabeth Schnake from Hilverdingsen #19, and Marie Christine Droften from Hosen #8.
Confirmed 1831 Bergkirchen.

LOUISE married DOENNIG FRIEDRICH WILHELM on 31 Aug 1836 in Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hille. Dom may be August 30, 1836.. FRIEDRICH was born on 12 Mar 1811; died on 18 Jan 1855. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized December 19, 1819 Bergkirchen.
Confirmed 1834.

JUSTINE married UPHOFF CHRISTIAN HEINRICH on 6 Apr 1837 in Hille.. CHRISTIAN (son of UPHOFF DANIEL (UPHOFT) and PEPER CHRISTINE) was born about 1807. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Born at 9:00 p.m.
Baptized May 27, 1822 at Bergkirchen by Pastor Juhn. Her witnesses were Catharine Ilsabein Griese from Eiksen #6 by Rothenuffeln, Anne Ilsabein Dehmeier from Bergkirchen #99 and Christine Sophie Marie Elisabeth Huk from Kohllerholz #1.
Confirmed 1837 at Bergkirchen.
She had a son.

CHRISTINE married DOENNIG FRIEDRICH WILHELM on 7 May 1844 in Hille, Westfalen, Prussen. FRIEDRICH was born on 12 Mar 1811; died on 18 Jan 1855. [Group Sheet]

CHRISTINE married FORTMEYER CARL HEINRICH CHRISTIAN on 3 Oct 1857. CARL was born on 28 Sep 1835; died on 2 Aug 1917. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized June 1, 1817 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized October 23, 1820 Bergkirchen.

CHRISTINE married HORSTMANN CORD HEINRICH on 9 Oct 1853. CORD was born on 6 Jan 1828. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized August 10, 1828.

Notes:

Baptized January 11, 1818 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized October 24, 1819 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized August 5, 1821 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized April 6, 1823 Bergkirchen by Pastor Juhn.

Notes:

Baptized November 21, 1824 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized September 3, 1826 Bergkirchen.

ANNE married SCHOF KARL FRIEDRICH WILHELM on 2 Nov 1851. KARL was born on 9 Oct 1827. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptized May 17, 1829 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized February 26, 1832 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized May 31, 1835 Bergkirchen.

Notes:

Baptized October 29, 1837 Bergkirchen.

CHRISTIAN married KRUGHOFF CHRISTENA. CHRISTENA (daughter of KRUGHOFF FREDERICK WILHELM (WILLIAM) HESEMAN and KRUGHOFF SOPHIE MARIE (MARY) ELIZABETH) was born on 22 Aug 1826; died in 1913. [Group Sheet]

WILLIAM married GERKEN MARY (MARIE) (MARIAGLE) WOEPKE on 25 Nov 1849. MARY was born on 25 Mar 1832; died on 31 Mar 1891 in Washington County, Illinois; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington Co., IL.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

St. John's Lutheran Church of New Minden, Illinois lists her name as Ilsabein rather than Tesabein.

Burial records from St. John's Lutheran Church of New Minden, Washington County, Illinois show the following information:

Christine Sophie Ilsabein Brink died of congestive intermittent fever February 11 at 8 p.m. at the age of 26 years, 2 months, and 1 day. Burial February 13 at 12 noon with a grave address. She was a Christian unmarried lady as long as she was known by others among us until her end. She experienced severe spiritual attacks before her end.

She was the second person to be buried in their new cemetary in the year 1847. This cemetary is to the north of the church. There is no record of where they started burying the bodies and most of the stones have deteriorated and are no longer around. At that time there were no family plots. Bodies were buried in the order of death.

Information was provided by LuAnn Sprehe, Secretary of St. John's, New Minden, on March 15, 1995.

Notes:

According to obituary, came to America in 1845. Of 12 children, 7 sons and 3 daughters survived her death. Surviving children were Ted, Charles, Samuel, John, William and George Meyer of Nashville; Louis of Hoyleton; Mrs. George Lyons of Beaucoup; Mrs. Andrew Voelkel of New Memphis; Mrs. Louis Geyer of Belleville. Two brothers: ex-senator F. E. W. Brink and Charles Brink. 23 grandchildren.

LOUISE married MEYER WILLIAM on 21 Jun 1846. WILLIAM was born on 27 Jan 1818 in Prussen.; died on 19 Jul 1898 in Beaucoup, Illinois; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington Co., IL.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Among the foreign born citizens of Washington County was Senator F. E. W. Brink, who was born on March 17, 1827 in Westphalia, a Province of Prussia. He left his native country at an early age and came to America, landing in Washington County September 22, 1844. His parents followed a year later. He went to New Orleans as a shipping clerk for 7 years and returned to Washington County on May 6, 1854 and married Carolina Hoffman who had also immigrated here from Prussia. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Fred Brink, Carolina Krueger, Louise Rolf, Mary Cohlmeyer, Henry Brink, Ann Cohlmeyer, Elizabeth Greiman, Rev. Edward Brink, and Flora Cohlmeyer. Frederich was involved in farming and stock-raising. They owned a farm in North Prairie, now owned by the Dueker family. In 1872 they moved to Hoyleton where he and William Weigel owned the Mill.

In politics, he was a democrat. His first vote was cast for Lewis Cass in 1848. In 1874, the Repubican party nominated him for Representative in General Assembly, but he did not accept. In 1876 he was nominated for the office of State Senator on the Democratic ticket for the 42nd District. He accepted the nomination and was elected by a handsome majority. While a member of the 30th Legislature he was honored with the chairmanship of an important committee. In the 31st General Assembly, he was a member of the committee on State Charitable Institutions, the Agriculture Drainage, Miscellaneous and Manufacturing and Labor Committee. He and his wife were life-long members of the Hoyleton Zion Church, of which he was one of the founders.


Newspaper article regarding the original Zion Evangelical Cemetery and Zion Evangelical Church in North Prairie - date of article unknown. (This cemetery is prior to North Prairie Methodist Church Cemetery).

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.
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

FREDERICK married HOFFMAN CAROLINE C. (MARIA) on 5 May 1854. CAROLINE (daughter of HOFFMAN UNKNOWN and UNKNOWN UNKNOWN) was born on 7 Jul 1834 in May have arrived New Orleans via ship President Schmidt in 1852.; died on 6 Jan 1909 in Washington County, Illinois; was buried in Zion Evangelical Cemetery, Hoyleton, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

HENRY married WEIHE WILHEMINA on 16 Apr 1871. WILHEMINA (daughter of WEIHE UNKNOWN and UNKNOWN WILHELMINA) was born on 30 Dec 1840; died on 2 Jun 1891 in North Prairie, Hoyleton Township, Washington County, Illinois; was buried on 4 Jun 1891 in New Minden, IL. [Group Sheet]

CAROLINA married HOFFMAN EARNEST (ERNEST) HENRY on 10 Dec 1851. EARNEST (son of HOFFMAN UNKNOWN and UNKNOWN UNKNOWN) was born on 23 Nov 1827 in Westfalen, Prussen.; died on 5 Nov 1920 in Washington County, Illinois; was buried in North Prairie Cemetery, Washington Co., IL.. [Group Sheet]

JOHN married WOLFMAN ANNA MARY ELIZABETH (WULFMAN) on 28 Aug 1856 in Washington Co., Illinois; dom maybe September 25, 1856. ANNA (daughter of WOLFMAN JOHN T. OR L. and UNKNOWN MARY) was born on 23 May 1838; died on 2 Jul 1920 in Valley City, N.D. at age of 83 yrs.; was buried in Unmaked graves in Greenwood Cem., Nashville, IL on lot with oldest dau. Anna & John L. Meyer & other members of Meyer family.. [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]