MY MATERNAL ANCESTRAL FARMS
Many of my mother's maternal ancestors were farmers both in Germany and in Berrien County, Michigan. While I don't have many photos of the actual farms, quite a few original farm homes are still standing in excellent condition.
My maternal grandmother's sister, Amelia, nee Kolberg, Mielke, and her husband, Edward Mielke, had a large farm in Stevensville, Michigan on Roosevelt Road. Their farm produced a variety of fruits and vegetables which they sold from a stand in front of their home. Their daughter told me many times about how she loved to help her father on the farm despite the fact that she was only 3 or 4 at the time. Recently when I was talking to her I mentioned that I had bought a bushel of peaches from a farm in the area and she asked me the price of the peaches (2021 price!). When I told her that they were $44 for a bushel she was shocked and told me that her father sold their peaches for 50 cents a bushel! I told her I would drive by her old home and see if peaches were being sold there for 50 cents a bushel and she got quite a laugh out of that.
Following is a photo of Amelia, nee Kolberg, Mielke with two of her children in 1946 and a photo of their home today:
My great-grandfather, August Kolberg's, brother Henry and his wife, Ottilie, nee Kramp, had a large farm on Cleveland Avenue in Stevensville, Michigan. They also had a large family of 14 children which required a very large home. Today their home is a showpiece along Cleveland Avenue which owners over the years have renovated.
Following is a photo of Henry and Ottilie with two of their children in approximately 1890 followed by a photo of their home today:
Another Kolberg brother, Otto, and his wife, Alvina, nee Truhn, also farmed in Berrien County though their farm was in the village of Baroda, Michigan. They grew berries on their farm and their farm produced such an over-abundance of fruit that family from Germany came each year to visit and to help pick the fruit. It was through memories of descendants of Otto and Alvina that I was able to connect with Kolberg cousins still living in Germany.
Following is a photo of Otto and Alvina on their 25th wedding anniversary in Baroda, Michigan:
August, Henry and Otto Kolberg's younger brother, Paul Kolberg, and his wife, Augusta, nee Zuhl, also farmed in Stevensville, Michigan. Their farm was on Cleveland Avenue and their home is still standing today. The windows on the second floor of the home opened up to a part of the roof where their younger daughter, Mildred, told me she used to climb out on when she was trying to avoid her father's anger. Paul's wife, Augusta, had passed away at a young age when Mildred wasn't even 2 years old and it was quite a challenge for Paul to raise his younger children by himself.
Following is a photo of Paul and Augusta Kolberg on their wedding day followed by a photo of Paul with his family in approximately 1955:
The youngest Kolberg brother, Ferdinand, and his wife, Helena, nee Mielke, also had a farm in Baroda, Michigan very near older brother Otto's farm. Ferdinand and Helena had both been born in Germany and married there as well. They came to the US in 1910 with their 6 children long after his 4 older brothers had immigrated. At first they stayed with older brother Henry and his wife Tillie on their farm but later were able to purchase farm property of their own.
Following are photos of Ferdinand and Helena standing by their home in Baroda:
Of the five Kolberg brothers who immigrated to the US the only one that I don't have information on their farm is my own great-grandfather, August, and his wife, Bertha, nee Kramp. I do know from a plat map that they did have a farm in Stevensville, Michigan but the current location of the property today has been difficult to ascertain.
To give my great-grandparents, August and Bertha, equal coverage, following is a photo of them with their two oldest daughters in approximately 1889:
In conclusion, on August 16, 1953, on the occasion of the 84th birthday of Paul Kolberg, the three remaining brothers were photographed together. From left to right they are Otto Kolberg, 86 years old, Paul Kolberg, 84 years old and Ferdinand Kolberg, 81 years old. The occasion elicited an article in the local paper which stated that all three brothers had immigrated to the US from Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Germany between 1880-1910, all had been widowed and each of the three brothers were now making their home with a daughter - Otto Kolberg with his daughter, Grace Gaul, Paul Kolberg with his daughter, Edna Kolberg, and Ferdinand Kolberg with his daughter, Selma Jung:
Copyright 2021, Cheryl J. Schulte
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