Message Board - Tampico Area Historical Society, Tampico, Illinois

Message Board > Fred Gerken

Fred Gerken
The Tampico Area Historical Society encompasses parts of Whiteside County and Bureau County in Illinois. Focus is on Tampico, Hume Twp., Hahnaman/Deer Grove, & Prophetstown in Whiteside County & Yorktown & Thomas in Bureau County.

Page: 1

Administrator Denise 461 posts Nov 30, 2006 9:50 PM	Email received from Judith Fair: Hi again from Roscoe. I am having no luck finding where my GGGrandfather lived in 1900. Fred Gerken was listed on the Coloma Twp 1890 tax list. In 1910 he was in Jordan Twp where he continued to live until his death in 1928. I have tried all kinds of spellings on the census on Ancestry and Heritage Quest. There should be two and probably 4 family members. I've tried all four with the facts for them and NOTHING. I am now reading all the censuses thruout Whiteside County and some of Ogle and Lee as well. I can live with not knowing. The OBITS say they lived in the vicinity all the time from 1884 on. Questions? Would there be a 1900 tax list? Could they have been missed in the 1900 census? What else could I try? Thanks again. Judith Fair
JackP 14 posts Dec 02, 2006 12:57 PM	Judith, Could he be the Fred A. Gerkin listed in Lyndon Twp. 1920 census. I've closed the window, but as I remember he had wife Minne, and four children listed. I couldn't find him in the 1910 Jordan listings to find his wifes name, which would help. This Fred A. didn't appear in 1930, Lyndon. Jack
JackP 17 posts Dec 08, 2006 6:32 PM	I tried searching a little more, and went through the Sterling Gazette Index for Gerken. I believe the Loza in the 1910 (wife of Fred)Jorden census, could be the Lena Gerken found with obit of Henry Landherr 1902. ???? Another listing in the Gerken's is a Fred Henry Gerken, obit 23 Aug., 1928. A Helen Drantmann, is to be found in this obit. Could your Fred Gerken, be the same or another Fred Henry Gerken? I find a Henry Gerken, 1900 Coloma Twp., Fourth Street, Rock Falls, b. July 1851 Germany, has wife Catherine and a daughter Emma, b. 1881, Germany. Fred Henry Gerken, has an obit for 23 Aug. 1928. Appears that another Fred Gerken, the same year (1928)has an obit and many articles about his connection with Rock River. Need more information to do any more looking. Jack
JAF 8 posts Dec 09, 2006 9:29 AM	There are three Fred Gerkens from Whiteside. One Fred H.-my great grandfather was married to Helena(Lena-Loza) and died in August, 1928. This is the one I am looking for his location in 1900. He was in Coloma's tax list 1890 and in Jordan 1910 and in 1920 and until his death. He lived 6 miles north on 88 and owned a house- not a farm as I find the facts. He belonged to the German Lutheran Church on # 88. He is buried in Riverside. The other Fred A.was my step-grandfather. He drowned in Rock River and was married to Hermina-Minnie. There is A Fred-Fritz- Henry Gerken who was my uncle married to Jesse Arnold. They lived 4 miles north of Sterling. All three are buried at Riverside. The Henry Gerken was Fred H's brother. He is buried in IOOF Cemetery in Rock Falls where he lived. The facts you have uncovered are all correct as I have found them. Thanks for your research both past and present. Judy Fair Last Edited by on Dec 10, 2006 6:04 PM
JAF 9 posts Dec 23, 2006 6:10 PM	In a 1903 OBIT it stated that Fred, Lena, Fred, and Lida Gerken had lived southwest of Rock Falls for many years. That would probably be the 1890 location in Coloma Twship on the 1890 tax list. I have looked at all the censuses for Whiteside, Lee,Ogle and Henry Counties and can not find them. Could they have just been missed? Last Edited by on Dec 23, 2006 6:11 PM
Administrator Denise 479 posts Dec 23, 2006 7:27 PM	Judith, Did you page through each page of the census or are you going by an index? Or transcriptions such as Ancestry. It is possible (but not probable) they could have been missed. Most likely, it has either been mis-transcribed in an index or they were not in that area at time of census. Perhaps just out of town,not necessarily living elsewhere. Can we assume you tried using a "soundex" search if you were searching census records electronically? ---------- Denise Family History Coordinator Tampico Area Historical Society
JAF 10 posts Dec 29, 2006 8:45 AM	I found the 1900 census from Whiteside County transcribed in paperback at the Rockford Public Library. I looked through the index and through many pages of the townships but found nothing. I have found nothing on Ancestry or Heritage Quest. Illinois's 1900 census isn't soundexed, is it? Missing one would be easier to miss than four, I would think. In Hajo's OBIT it stated that the family had lived southwest of Rock Falls for many years. So I have searched those townships several times. Even searched other counties. I have contacted Marilyn at Sterling Public Library but she has not gotten back to me as of yet. The OBIT also stated that Bernhard had lived in Canada which was a new puzzle piece. Perhaps the family was visiting him????? Is there a Canadian census available? This is the last undocumented census family fact--the whereabouts in 1900 of the four Gerkens. Perhaps 2007 will bring me the answer. Always hoping. Last Edited by on Dec 29, 2006 8:46 AM

Post a Message

TAMPICO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY - MUSEUM - FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY/RESEARCH CENTER 119 Main St., P. O. Box 154, Tampico, IL 61283 www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com tampicoareahistory@gmail.com We are an all-volunteer organization so your donations are always appreciated! Sign up to receive our e-newsletter. Thank you! Visit us on FACEBOOK.