Our Ancestors

This is a summary of what we have learned so far about our ancestors. Some of this came from our conversations with Dad, with Cecilia Waldecker Hinker (Fred’s daughter and my first cousin once removed), with Lenora Waldecker, Harland Wilts (son of Bill, son of Rena) Lorraine Hoas (daughter of Rena and Siebe Wilts), Minnie Newbour (granddaughter of Mainard and Annie), Olive Musser, and with Aunt Millie and Uncle Arlo. Other information comes from our investigations online, in the government offices of Luverne, MN, and in the Lemmon library and the cemetery. Janice has also been helping gather information, but I don’t remember what exactly came from her.

A Family Photo

Tom Waldecker

1. The documents we found in Luverne, MN, call him Thije Waldecker (Cecilia says Theije). He shows up in census data as Tom and Thomas.
2. Born 1871 in Germany (Cecilia says: March 4, 1871). Died September 15, 1945.
3. Parents both born in Germany I think.
4. Tom came over in 1891 at the age of 20. This is stated in the 1910 census. (However, the 1900 census says he came in 1982.)
5. The story is that he came over as a stowaway (so I guess we wouldn’t find him on a passenger list, but see this update) and then sent money for Kate, whom he married in the States. The stowaway story was confirmed to me by Olive Musser, who heard it from her father, Okko Waldecker. Kate came in 1892 (according to the 1910 census). Some say Tom’s brother Mainard came over with him, but I have found no evidence of this. Lorraine said they came over in order to avoid the draft.

Tom’s Parents and Siblings

1. Cecilia says two sisters and a brother also came. I have discovered that his parents came over also.
2. It appears that Tom’s father’s name was Frieling, but also known as Fred. He was born in 1842 in Bunde, Germany, and died in 1932, in Murdock, MN. I had the hardest time finding out his mother’s name, but I suspected it was Gerdina since we have a picture of her with her name, dates of birth and death and a poem on it. Here is just the picture. To see the whole thing, go to this link at albums.waldecker.net. Use your first name as both username and password to get in. When I talked to Lorraine Hoas, she couldn’t remember at first, but when I said “Gerdina” she immediatey said, “Oh yes, now I remember.” In the 1920 Census, there is a “Fredin Waldecker” listed. You can see this even without a subscripton at ancestry.com. According to the 1930 census, he was living with his daughter Rena (see below) at the time and was 88 years old. Which means he was born in 1842. In that census he is called “Fred Waldecker.” Cecilia didn’t remember his name, but she remembers the kids calling him Opa, which means “grandfather” in German. She remembers him with white hair and a long white beard. Lorraine said she didn’t think he spoke English. She also said she doesn’t remember him ever working and that has always surprised her. Her opinion is that his children supported him. They lived with Rieka in Claire City, SD, and then moved to Murdock where they lived with Rena. Lorraine also said that Fred couldn’t hear very well so people were always having to talk loudly around him. Gerdina’s maiden name was Rüiter. She was born October 16, 1837, so if my calculation are right, she was five years older than Fred. She died September 17, 1913. The story I have heard is that they came to the States and Gerdina didn’t like it. She was lonesome. So they saved up money and returned to Germany–everyone but Tom and Mainard (see below). But when they got back to Germany, she didn’t feel at home there either. So they saved up money again and went back to the States. According to Karen Hudson, both are buried in Clara City, MN.
3. One sister was Rena. Rena was born in Germany in 1880. I have a note that makes me think her birthday was March 15th. Lorraine says she did housework for a Jewish family in Germany. As I understand it from Lorraine, the government assigned jobs, and you couldn’t change jobs. Rena came to the States in 1901, along with her parents, but according to Lorraine this was the second time (see above). She was 21. She married Siebe Wilts in 1901. Siebe was born in Illinois probably around 1869, but his parents were born in Germany. Audrey says his name is pronounced “see-ba” in German but Harland Wilts says they pronounced it “seeb”. I think it was Lorraine who said “see-bee”. Siebe was living in Lyon county, Iowa, at the time of the 1895 Iowa census. Here is a picture of the two of them, probably with their son Fred. The Wilts lived in Ellsworth, MN for a while. The 1910 census has them living in Nobles county, MN. Then they moved to Campbell, where they got flooded out and lost the farm. Then they moved to Murdock. They lived near Murdock, MN (Swift County or Chippewa county), at the time of the 1930 census. At some point Siebe wanted to go to South Dakota, but Rena didn’t want to go. I have a note from somewhere that Frederick and Gerdina were housekeepers for Siebe Wilts. Siebe built a house for them on his property. Their children were: Fred (1902), Dena (1904) Toni (1906), William who went by Bill (1908), Minard who was also called Mike (1910) Siebe (1912), Grace (1914), Viola (1916), Lorraine (1919), Leona (1922). This order and these dates were given to me by Lorraine. Leona lives in Washington State and her last name is McGinty. Dena married Henry Wellbrook. Their children are: Richard, Delores, Delmar, Marvin and Ivrin. I think Delores was still alive when I got this info three years ago. Bill had three children: Harland (Nov 18, 1938), Joann (Dec 18, 1945 or 1946), and Karen A. Hudson (April 30, 1947?).
4. The brother appears with various names: Minard, Mainard, Meindert as well as some scribal errors. He was born in 1874. He married Annie (Anna), who was from Holland, when he was 20 and she was 22 (so in 1894). Apparently he went to the US at some time, then went back to Germany. There are verbal reports that he went with Tom in 1981. But I haven’t found this trip yet. (See this post for an update. Looks like he came in 1892). In December of 1897 he arrived in the port of Baltimore on the ship Oldenburg that had departed from Bremen, Germany. He was 23. According to the passenger list, this was not his first time in the States. However, he brought with him three people who were there for the first time. His wife, Anna was 25. She was born in Holland and her mother tongue is Dutch. With them is their daughter “Geerdina.” This is probably a scribal error since she is no doubt named after her grandmother who is “Gerdina.” Their daughter is 2, and was born in Germany. Also with them is their son “Frieling” who is 3 months old, also born in Germany. Other documents indicate that both Meindert and his parents were born in Hannover. I think at that time there was an area called Hannover. The passenger list says their last place of residence was “Bunde, Germany.” It also indicates that Meindert’s brother paid for this trip. They brought 35 dollars with them, which according to the Consumer Price Index would be about 850 dollars in 2005. Their intended destination was “Magnolia, MN.” This is very close to Ellsworth and Luverne. (See the map below.) In 1906 both Mainard and Anna became citizens of the US. The 1910 census misspells his name as “Midneleot” and “Meinetest.” He is 35, almost 36. They live in Little Rock township of Nobles county, MN. His wife is called Annie. Their children are: Dena (15), Martha (10), Freda (8), and Martinus (2). Apparently Frieling has died or is not with them for some other reason. There is an 11 year old boy living with them called Harrold Ferris. There is a note saying he was “taken from children’s home.” At the time of the 1920 census they were living in Orono township in Hennepin County, MN. “Fredia” (Frieda) is 18 and Martin is 12. During the 1930 census they were living in Straight River township of Hubbard county, MN. This is northeast of Wilkin county. They owned their home and had a radio. Martin was still living with them and was 22. Their daughter “Freda” (now 28) had married at the age of 19 and her last name is Heirshtel. In 1930 she is widowed and is living with her parents. Freida’s daughter “Anna B. Heirshtel is 7 and also lives with them. I called Minnie Newbour (sp?), who is the daughter of Martha. She said Martha was born June 8, 1899. There is a son called Frieling who was born around September of 1897. She thinks Frieda was two years younger than Martha (so 1901). She thinks Martin was 8 years younger than Martha (so 1907). Anna died Sept 4, 1952, in Wilkin county, MN. Mainard died December 3, 1944, in Otter Tail county, which is the county just east of Wilkin county.
5. The other sister was Rica or Rieka (real name= Henrieka). She also appears as Henrietta. She was born in 1867 in Germany and was married to Eppe Hayunga in 1891. They came over to the States in 1901, with her father, mother and sister Rena (but I think this was their second time coming to the States. See this link). At the time of the 1910 census they were living in Nobles county, MN. At the time of the 1920 census and the 1930 census, they were living in Chippewa county, MN. Their children are Dena (1893 Iowa), Henrietta (1896 Germany), Frieda or Lena (1898 Germany), Senus (1901 Germany), Mike (1903 MN), Albertus or Eppe Jr. (1905 Iowa), Theodore (1907 Iowa), Annie (1910 MN or Iowa), Richard (1913 Iowa). I wonder if any of these are still alive. At some point they lived in Clara City, MN.
6. Here is a map showing relevant places in Nobles and Rock counties.

Kate Waldecker

1. I have her name as Trientje (Walkins) Waldecker. In Luverne, her name was written as “Trentje” and her age as 25 at the birth of the first Henry (1896, see below). In the 1910 Census she is listed as “Trinka.” In the 1910 Census she is “Katharine.” In the 1920 Census she is called “Traja.”
2. Born in Holland in 1870, she is less than a year older than Tom. According to Cecilia, she was born May 22.
3. Came to the States in 1892 (a year after Rica was married).
4. According to the 1910 census, she had 8 children, and only four of them were living at that time. We only know of one that died (the first Henry–see below).
5. She died August 11, 1928, at the age of 58.
6. In 1911 she was fined one dollar for shooting a gun in the air when a neighbor who had come to the house when she was alone to retrieve a saddle he had leant to her sons (from old Lemmon news clipping found in Lemmon library).
7. Update: This weekend (8/30/2014) ancestry.com is opening up international records for free for a few days. I found the following:

1. Trientje Waalkens was born in Nieuw Beerta, Groningen, Netherlands, on May 22, 1870.
2. Her father: Ockko Waalkens. He was born 1829 in Finsterwolde, NL, and died on July 14, 1878, in Beerta, Netherlands.
3. Her mother: Trientje Graalman. She was born October, 1829 in Stapelmoor, Germany. She died 5 Nov 1910, in Murray County, Minnesota
4. Trientje Graalman and Ockko Waalkens were married in Beerta, Netherlands, on June 5, 1852.
5. Trientje Graalman arrived in the States in 1893, at the age of 64. In 1900 she was living with her son Henry in Silver Creek, Stephenson County, IL. She is listed as being a mother of 7, with 6 living, and widowed.
6. Trientje Graalman’s father was Hinderk Graalman, and her mother was Lamke Teen.
7. There are no marriage records for Trientje Waalkens, which confirms our information, that she was married in the U.S.
8. Someone whom I assume was her brother, Lamko Waalkens, was married to Gielje Okkens (born in Scheemda). I assume this because the same parents are listed. Lamko was married on 21 May 1891 in Winschoten. He was born May 4, 1864 and died August 16, 1927. He died in Goodwin, Deuel County, SD.
9. Another brother, Ockko Waalkens, was married to Sebina Moerke on February 19, 1892 in Finsterwolde, Netherlands. He was born in Beerta, Netherlands in 1861. He came to the States in 1892. In 1910 he lived in Murray, MN. He died on February 16 in 1911.
10. Another sibling, Karssien Waalkens, was married to IJktje Groote
11. Another sibling, Hindrik Waalkens, was born in 1854 and died in 1856
12. Another sibling, Henry Waalkens, was born in 1858 and died in 1927.
13. Another Sibling, Hilko Waalkens, was born on August 6, 1874, in Beerta, Netherlands. He arrived in the States in 1893. He married Sjobbejien Okkens on January 24, 1899. He married Marie on Jan 24 or 29, 1919 in Gettysburg, Potter County, SD. He died on June 10, 1942, in Morris, Shawano, WI.

Tom and Kate and family

The census data doesn’t give a marriage date, but it asks how many years they had been married. Based on this, I would say they were married in 1893. [Update: I now have evidence indicating they were married August 9, 1892, in Grundy, IA. See the copy of the info below. Notice the different spellings for their names). For example the census of 1910 (done in July) says they’ve been married for 17 years. Tom and Kate lived south of Luverne, MN in Kanaranzi Township at least from 1894 through 1899. This is located in Rock County, which was established in 1857. The following were listed as having occurred while they were living in this township:

1. Frielina Waldecker (Lena or Lina, I assume) born Aug 11, 1894. Her father is said to be “T. Waldecker” from Germany, age 23. Her mother is said to be “T. Waldecker” from Holland, age 24.
2. A son named Henry Waldecker was born June 4, 1896, died August 11, 1896. Reason not given. Note that this is obviously not Dad’s father, but another Henry who died in infancy.
3. Okko Waldecker born June 30, 1899.
4. The birth of Okko was reported by Lena Hauge (pronounced “howgee” with a hard “g” according to Olive), his sister, in 1956 !!.
5. We couldn’t find them in the 1900 Census as living in the Luverne area, so we assume they moved away right after Okko was born. Later I found information that they were living in Murray, MN during the 1900 Census. This is just northeast of Rock County (see map below).

Fred (son of Tom and Kate) was born in Ellsworth, MN., Rock County. Actually, Ellsworth is in Nobles county, but he may have been born in a hospital in Luverne, which is in Rock county. Ellsworth is Southeast of Luverne, practically on the border with Iowa. It is also Southeast of Kanaranzi. See map below.

1. Fred was born June 11, 1897.
2. He married Mary Henry on June 4, 1919 in Lemmon, SD. He was 21 and she was 18, and of Irish descent and from a Catholic family. Her parents were born in England.
3. Their daughter Cecilia was born in 1926 in Port Angeles, Washington. Her parents lived there for a while during the 20’s when work was hard to find. She married Robert W. Hinker in Lemmon, SD, on February 5, 1947. She was 21 and he was 20. She is dad’s cousin, and graduated from Lemmon High School the same hear he did (1945). Her email address is ceciliah@iw.net. She lives just north of the Black Hills.
4. Fred died Dec. 30, 1945. He would have been 49.
5. After Kate died (1928), Fred and family lived with Tom, but when Cecilia was in first grade, they were no longer living with Tom. I guess that would have been about 1932.

The 1910 Census says that Kate had 8 children, four of which were then living. We know of one that died, but according to this note there were three more.

Henry Waldecker, our grandfather, was born in Selby, SD, (Walworth county) on December 1, 1903. His mother is listed as “Traeja.” This record wasn’t filed until May 4, 1964. I remember something about the land around Lemmon opening up around 1907, but that Tom and his family arrived and settled in beforehand. This needs more research. Henry married Bertha McKim in Corson country, SD (Thunderhawk) on April 22, 1926. She was born in Deloit, Iowa, on June 30, 1903. They were both 22 when they got married. Their children were as follows:

1. Thomas Claude Waldecker, born Feb 23, 1927
2. Henry G. Waldecker, born 19 Sept 1928. Died June 4, 1945.
3. Albert L. Waldecker, born Nov 17, 1931 and died April 17, 1991.
4. Mildred Waldecker Lovitt
5. Arlo Waldecker

Other Information

1. Notice that the first Henry was born on the same date that the third Henry died—June 4th, 49 years later.
2. Notice also that the first Henry died on Frielena’s second birthday—August 11. Kate also died on this date, 32 years later.
3. According to the 1930 Census, Earl St. Jacques was a hired man living in Tom’s household at that time. He was 17. Katherine, whom he later married (I assume this is the same one), was less than 2 years old at the time of the census.
4. Arlo put us in touch with Harland Wilts, the grandson of Rena Waldecker Wilts. He gave us the number of Leona McGinty, a daughter of Rena, who lives in Washington state. He also gave us the number or Lorraine Hoas, also a daughter of Rena. We called Lorraine and she gave us a lot of good information, most of which is integrated above.
5. Millie told us that Lena Waldecker Hauge is buried in Longview, Washington.

Here is a map of some of the places we know our ancestors lived.

1. Luverne, MN
2. Ellsworth, MN
3. Marshall, MN
4. Campbell, MN
5. Murdock, MN
6. Clara City, MN
7. Watertown, SD (mentioned below in a comment by Dad)
8. Selby, SD
9. Lemmon, SD