Hello,
I'm descended from August Borbe born 4/26/1862 within walking distance of Memel River in East Prussia. He said there were Russians (and wolves) living on the other side of the river. I believe the river is now called the Neman separating Kaliningrad and Lithuania. He left the area prior to age 17 to avoid the military draft and migrated to California which is where I live today.
August had two siblings. One was Emiel (Emil) who married Pauline and had five children: Scharolleta, Franz, Fritz, Walter and Paul. This family eventually migrated to just south of Stuttgart, Germany. The other was Otto who had four children: Elizabeth, Erich, Helena, and Gertrude. I don't know the wife's name or where the family ended up.
The father of August, Emil and Otto was Martin Borbe who was French, I think from the Alsace Lorraine area. He had a German wife named Hanna Katherine Colecker. I don't know the name of any of his siblings nor parents. What area did Memelland consist of in today's geographical divisions? Did East Prussia include the western part of Lithuania? Where is Nebbern and what is it called today?
It would seem that August, Emil and Otto may be cousins of the Jonis Borbe siblings Martins b. 1864, Jurgis b. 1871 and Mickel b. 1879. Other possible cousins are Georg b. 1870 and Johann b. 1872. Could Friedrich Borbe b. 1847 and/or Jonis (b. ?) be a brother to Martin Borbe?
Any additional information you have or can access would be greatly appreciated!.
Marilyn Skelton
skelton@joimail.com