How I wish I could be of more help to you. I have a Hartke patriarch in my records born in 1820, but I only know he was born in Germany. I got out my copy of his family's "official" history, and it also only says Germany. His name is John Henry Hartke -- now you know that's not going to be the way his name appears in any German records!
Unfortunately, he did not marry until he was in America, and his wife, Anna Bruns, was born in America and I have no idea of her parentage. I've so far not found an obituary for either of them in Iroquois County, Illinois.
The Hartke family, as with many families which ended up in Iroquois County, began their American life in Cook County, in Downer's Grove and in Bensenville.
I have been informed along the way that in Germany the Hartke family and the Niehaus family can be one and the same. The legend has it that the Hartke family was so populous that is was deemed prudent to change surname for part of the family and that part of the family adopted the name Niehaus, with the first generation so doing writing their name as Niehaus bodo Hartke. I have no documentation for this other than an e-mail from another researher informing me of the happening.
It is possible that census records in Cook or Iroquois county might yield clues, but then again, maybe not.
Best of luck to you.
My HARTKE family settled in Kansas. Family legend is that there were about 5 brothers who came along with some male cousins and they settled in different areas. I have seen other HARTKE's in Illinois and Missouri. They all may be part of the same clan, but that will take more research.
krumbar@comcast.net wrote: How I wish I could be of more help to you. I have a Hartke patriarch in my records born in 1820, but I only know he was born in Germany. I got out my copy of his family's "official" history, and it also only says Germany. His name is John Henry Hartke -- now you know that's not going to be the way his name appears in any German records!
Unfortunately, he did not marry until he was in America, and his wife, Anna Bruns, was born in America and I have no idea of her parentage. I've so far not found an obituary for either of them in Iroquois County, Illinois.
The Hartke family, as with many families which ended up in Iroquois County, began their American life in Cook County, in Downer's Grove and in Bensenville.
I have been informed along the way that in Germany the Hartke family and the Niehaus family can be one and the same. The legend has it that the Hartke family was so populous that is was deemed prudent to change surname for part of the family and that part of the family adopted the name Niehaus, with the first generation so doing writing their name as Niehaus bodo Hartke. I have no documentation for this other than an e-mail from another researher informing me of the happening.
It is possible that census records in Cook or Iroquois county might yield clues, but then again, maybe not.
Best of luck to you.