52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 14 "Multiples"

THE SCHLUESSLER TWINS:

In all my years of genealogical research I have not uncovered evidence of many multiple births in my direct line.  Recently I did learn from newly released church books from Tangen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Preußen (now Tagowie, County Bytow, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)  that my 4th great grandfather, Joachim Kautz was a twin.  Joachim and his twin brother, George Kautz, were born August 12, 1759 in Tangen to parents Joachim Kautz and Anna Marie Jarke. This was an interesting discovery for me and only the second set of twins in my direct line.  Definitely more research will be needed on these twins to see if I can flesh out more information on them.

For the purposes of this post, though, I am featuring my great-grandmother and her twin brother.  Emilie Auguste Christina Schluessler and her twin brother, Albert August Christian Schluessler, were born November 25, 1876 in Sterling Township, Macomb County, Michigan to parents Wilhelm Schluessler and Emilie Schauer as their 4th and 5th children.  As I was 15 when my great-grandmother passed away I did know her well and she often discussed the fact that she was a twin.

Both Emilie and Albert were baptized on December 3, 1876 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Fraser, Macomb County, Michigan.  It is interesting to note that their two middle names mirrored each other.  Each baby had 3 godparents but none of their godparents were family members.  

Eventually Emilie would marry George Wellhausen on February 14, 1895 at St. John's and twin brother, Albert would marry Anna Auguste Quandt (Annie) on September 4, 1909 in Detroit.  Both families settled in the Utica/Sterling Township, Michigan areas and raised their respective families there.  

Albert Schluessler passed away on November 7, 1944 in Utica and he is buried in Utica Cemetery.  His wife, Anna (Annie), 14 years younger than him lived to the age of 102 passing away on February 25, 1993 in Utica, Michigan.  She is buried with Albert in Utica Cemetery.

My great-grandmother, Emilie Schluessler Wellhausen, passed away on May 25, 1963 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and is buried with her husband, George Wellhausen, in Utica Cemetery as well.  George Wellhausen died on April 8, 1938 in Utica.

Left to right:  Emilie Schluessler Wellhausen, Annie Quandt Schluessler, Albert Schluessler, Helena Schluessler Herz Rine and son Edwin Herz, Catherine Quandt (mother of Annie Quandt Schluessler).  Picture was taken before 1928:

This is all pretty much dry material in the research on one's family.  While names, dates and places are vital, other interesting facts add flavor to the story.

When I began my research in the 1970's, I questioned my grandmother, Ella Wellhausen Schulte, about her family.  She mentioned to me one day that she still had an aunt living.  This surprised me as my grandmother was then 82 years old herself.  She explained that the wife of her Uncle Albert (her mother's twin brother) was still living as her aunt had been much younger than her uncle.  In reality Annie Quandt Schluessler was only 6 years older than my grandmother.

I suggested that we go and visit her aunt but my grandmother didn't feel inclined to do that.  She made excuses such as "Aunt Annie won't remember me", "I haven't seen or talked to her in years", etc.  I took it upon myself one day to just telephone Aunt Annie in Utica.  I explained who I was and she was very gracious and pleased to hear from someone in the family.  Of course, she knew who my grandmother was and she invited us to come visit her.  She also mentioned another niece, Helen Steffen, and wondered if she could come with us to visit her as well.  I set it up with her and THEN told my grandmother!

Once everything was arranged and my grandmother was assured that her Aunt Annie was eager to see us my grandmother was on board.  We contacted my grandmother's cousin, Helen Rine Steffen, who was also excited to pay Aunt Annie a visit.  

We found Aunt Annie, at 88 years young, to be gracious and pleasant.  She had baked a cake and served us cake and coffee.  She had a beautiful home where she still lived independently and showed us her beautiful flower gardens that she tended herself.  Her daughter-in-law had come to visit as well and we had a wonderful afternoon.

Aunt Annie Schluessler (in center) with nieces, Ella Wellhausen Schulte and Helen Rine Steffen in 1978:

Not long after my grandmother gave me a box of old photos and what did I find but a photo of these same 3 women, standing in the same position, dated 1918 - 60 years previous.

Aunt Annie Schluessler (center) with nieces, Ella Wellhausen Schulte and Helen Rine Steffen in 1918:

Undoubtedly they had seen each other during the 60 year interval but it was an interesting photo in any case and another example of "multiples"!  

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 7 "Letters and Diaries"

AUGUST GOTTLIEB KOLBERG'S 10TH BIRTHDAY:

I have created the following post using notes and recollections that my maternal grandmother, Ella Kolberg Kijak, shared with me regarding HER father, August Gottlieb Kolberg's, 10th birthday.  

On November 24, 1919, during a celebration of August's 65th birthday, he related the details of his 10th birthday celebration as follows:

"I was born on November 24, 1854 in Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Preußen*.  I was the third son of my parents.  In our family, a boy's 10th birthday was a special occasion and the year I was turning 10 my birthday in November was on my mind constantly.

Thursday, November 24, 1864 began early.   I awoke even before it was light outside and could hear Mama and Papa working in the house.  Today would be my special birthday and many aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors would be coming by.  Papa and Mama had a strict rule in our family that each child must attend school for four years; that was very important to them as they were not able to have any schooling.  So far my two older brothers, Albert and Fritz, had studied for four years in school and then when they were 10 they were allowed to stop school and begin working on the farm with Papa.  I was looking forward to this as well.  I must admit that school was not my favorite thing to do; I would have rather been outside in the fields or playing with my brothers but Papa and Mama were very strict about the school rule.  Today I would be allowed to stop school and begin to work on the farm as well.

Papa called to us boys to get up while it was still dark.  Fritz and I got up immediately.  Our oldest brother, Albert, had died last year at age 12 and that had been a very sad time for all of us, especially Mama and Papa.  Today our younger brothers, Heinrich and Johann, were lazier and had to be prompted to get up.  They were only 7 and 5 at the time.  Baby Hermann would be 2 tomorrow and he was still sleeping.  Mama also had the new baby, Gustav, who was only 5 weeks old.  There had also been another brother,  Franz, but he had died last year when he was only 2.  Mama had been so hoping that this latest baby would be a little girl but now we were a family of Mama, Papa and 6 sons.

That  morning Mama had our breakfast ready for us and told us to hurry and eat because aunts would be arriving soon to help with the birthday celebrations.  Because Mama had baby Gustav to tend to some of the aunts would be helping with the food for the birthday so that Mama could rest.  Mama would do this for the aunts in return as well.  Having a large family was important Mama would say because everyone would help everyone else.

We had barely finished our breakfast and the light was just beginning when we could hear a wagon outside.  It was Oma Kautz coming to help with the birthday.  Oma was Mama's mother and all us boys loved Oma Kautz because she always brought us special breads and cakes that she had made.  Oma was the only grandparent I had anymore.  I had not known Opa Kautz because he had died long before I was born.  When he died, Oma married Mr. Krause so that she would have help on the farm.  Mr. Krause was very stern and never smiled so we boys stayed away from him.

Oma came in the house and told me "Happy Birthday, August" and showed me the basket she was bringing that held some special cakes with sugar on top.  She went over to Mama and inquired how baby Gustav was doing.  Mama said he was sleeping fine but not eating well and she was worried.  We did not know it then but in a few months baby Gustav would die.

After breakfast all us boys were sent outside to give Mama and Oma room to work on the birthday.  Soon the aunts arrived carrying baskets of food as well.  Mama was going to make my favorite Pommern potatoes and the aunts had been helping her the last few days by boiling and cooling pounds of potatoes.  Now they were bringing them to the house so Mama could prepare them.  The potatoes took a long time to make but it helped Mama that the aunts had boiled them ahead of time.  Mama then sliced them and put them in the pan on the fire with lots of lard.  The potatoes sizzled and fried for quite some time while Mama kept slicing more potatoes.  We would need a lot for all the family that were coming.  What made these potatoes special was that after they were almost done frying Mama would crack eggs into the potatoes and fry them together; the eggs would work into the potatoes and Mama would get them very crispy.  I always wanted the potatoes around the edge of the pan because they were the best.  Many times we had only these Pommern potatoes for dinner because they were so good.  Mama had promised me she would make them herself for my birthday because her potatoes were much better than those made by the aunts though we could not tell them that.

Aunt Carolina and Uncle Johann arrived soon with some of the cousins.  Aunt Carolina was one of Papa's sisters.  They brought more food and chicken as well for the meal.  Mama was happy to see them because Aunt Carolina was a hard worker.  Soon Uncle August and Aunt Friederike arrived.  Uncle August was Papa's brother and he was my godfather which was something he reminded me of all the time.  I liked Uncle August because he would take my older brothers out behind the barn and let them smoke some tobacco and he had been promising this to me all year.  Aunt Friederike came bearing her usual gift for all the cousins which were hand knit socks.  She took great pride in using heavy yarn so that the socks would be warm and she would always say the same thing "if your feet are warm you won't get sick".  We boys thought her socks were picky and uncomfortable but Mama always frowned at us and we quickly thanked Aunt Friederike.  Later Mama would tell us that we needed to be grateful because we had many feet in the house to put socks on and it helped Mama when an aunt would give us new socks.

By midday we had many guests - aunts, uncles, cousins and even some neighbors all coming for my 10th birthday.  Uncle Gottlieb and Aunt Karolina brought a smoked ham from the hogs on their farm and Papa praised the ham. Uncle Gottlieb was Papa's brother as well.  They had children the same ages as us boys and even had an August born the same year as me.  Sometimes it became very confusing when all the cousins were together.

The day went by quickly but it was grand fun.  Uncle August tried to take me out behind the barn to show me his tobacco but Papa saw us and quickly stopped this.  Uncle August and Papa talked loudly about this for a while but in the end Uncle August shrugged and walked away.  Papa told me that there would be plenty of time for tobacco but he didn't want me to be sick today on my birthday.  I wasn't very happy but we boys knew we had to obey Papa.  That was the way it was.

By the end of the day the families were all leaving but Aunt Carolina and Oma Kautz stayed longer to help with cleaning up the house.  Mama was looking very tired and Oma was worried about her.  But Mama said to me "I think August Gottlieb that you had a grand 10th birthday and now you are a man".  Oma Kautz reminded me that Mama had worked hard on my Pommern potatoes while tending to baby Gustav and I should never forget the grand birthday I had.

And I never did!"

August Kolberg, November 24, 1919, 65 years old, Stevensville, Michigan:

(As a side note - the making of Pommern potatoes continues in our family to this day and the recipe has been passed down mother to daughter.)

* Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Preußen is currently, as of 1945, Tuchomko, Bytow, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

From Whence I Came - August Gottlieb Kolberg

AUGUST GOTTLIEB KOLBERG

My maternal great-grandfather, August Gottlieb Colberg (Kolberg) was born on November 24, 1854 in Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Germany.  He was christened the following day, November 25, 1854, at the Evangelical Church in Groß Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern.  His sponsors were listed as (1) August Colberg (likely the brother of his father), (2) August Goll, (3) Helene Litwinke.

It should be noted that at this time, in 2021, the former Evangelical Church in Groß Tuchen, Pommern, Germany is now a Roman Catholic Church in the renamed village of Tuchomie, Poland.  This explains why the birth/baptismal certificate I received is in a Polish format though the Catholic Church in Tuchomie does have the original churchbooks from when the area was a part of Germany.

August was the third son of Friedrich Wilhelm Colberg, Sr. and Henriette Amalie Kautz of Klein Tuchen.  This couple would eventually have 12 children with 11 sons and 1 daughter.  Four sons and the one daughter died in childhood with 7 sons living to adulthood.  These 7 sons were Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr., August, Heinrich, Johann, Otto, Paul and Ferdinand Colberg/Kolberg (surname is shown with either spelling in the early churchbooks).

In 2008 when I visited the descendants of brother, Johann Colberg, in Berlin I was able to see Johann's journal in which he documented important dates of his parents and brothers.  Here is August's entry, written by his brother, Johann showing that August was born on November 24, 1854 and that he later went to "Amerika":

On October 4, 1878 in Groß Tuchen, August was married to Bertha Kramp at the above named Evangelical Church:

They had at least three children while still living in Germany with two of the children dying in infancy.

August, Bertha and their three year old daughter, Hedwig, immigrated to America on the ship Lessing arriving at the port of Castle Garden in New York on November 28, 1883.  They had traveled from the port of Hamburg in Germany, on to the port of Havre in France and then on to the US.  Their name was spelled "Colberg" on the ship passenger list.  Bertha's sister, Emilie Kramp, and Emilie's future husband, Friedrich Skibbe, also traveled with them on the same ship.  Upon arriving in New York, they traveled on to Lincoln Township in Berrien County, Michigan to join August's younger brother, Heinrich, who had arrived a few years earlier.

Over the course of their years in the US, August and Bertha had a total of 6 more known children with one son dying in infancy.  Times were hard, farming did not produce much income but the family still grew.  Here is a photo of August and Bertha with their oldest daughter, Hedwig, sitting and their daughter, Amelia, standing:

In 1903, August owned 17 acres of land in Lincoln Township according to a plat book in the St. Joseph Public Library in St. Joseph, Michigan.  The farm, home and property were located on Cleveland Avenue between what is now Rockey Weed and Linco Roads in Lincoln Township (Stevensville).  I have searched for this property and located it by going out Cleveland Avenue, towards the town of Baroda, and found the property on the left side of Cleveland Avenue, the third farm before Linco Road.

By 1917, August was a laborer and tenant farmer with a house and lot on St. Joseph Avenue in Stevensville.

Besides farming, August was a cabinetmaker and he made such items as coffins.

While I don't have much definitive information on his life, the facts that I do have don't display a very happy lifestyle for August and Bertha.  While August and his four brothers all became farmers in Berrien County, August's farm was probably the least productive.  His wife, Bertha, had to supplement the income by picking berries on farms of the other brothers and then selling them for additional income.  It also did not help that August had a propensity for alcohol and his wife, Bertha, certainly did not have a happy life.

Bertha Kolberg passed away first on February 26, 1915 and, interestingly, each of the 5 Kolberg brothers in the US lost their wives at early ages.  It would appear that the hard work of farming alongside their husbands, coupled with the enormous number of children that they had, made the lives of the Kolberg spouses difficult and short.

In later years, August lived with his daughter, Amelia Mielke, and her family in Stevensville, Michigan

until his death on April 24, 1920 in Stevensville.  He and Bertha are buried in City Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan.

When I was growing up, my grandmother, Ella Kolberg Kijak, never shared any information with me on either of her parents.  While she was the baby of their family and was undoubtedly special to her mother, it just was something she never discussed.  I only have the two above photos of August and only the one of Bertha but I am pleased to have what items I do possess and to have the limited knowledge of my great-grandfather that has been shared with me.

Today I am thinking of him on this 167th anniversary of his birth.

Copyright 2021, Cheryl J. Schulte

The Family Kolberg/Colberg - Part Twelve

END OF A KOLBERG GENERATION

On my Schulte surname side I have 2 first cousins.  My mother, on her Kijak surname side, had 3 first cousins.  My grandmother, however, on her Kolberg surname side had 67 first cousins!  That's correct.  There were 68 children from the 7 Kolberg brothers.  After many years of research on my Kolberg line I have been able to collect data on each and every one of these first cousins of my grandmother.

Today I was saddened to learn of the death of my grandmother's last remaining first cousin.  Over the years that I have lived back in my home town of St. Joseph I was able to interact frequently with this cousin and developed a fondness for her.  She was blessed to reach the age of 95, and when thinking of this what can one say about someone who lived to that age and who will be remembered fondly by many.

Mildred Helen Grace Kolberg was born on August 22, 1917 in Stevensville, Michigan to Paul Kolberg and Augusta Zuhl.  She was their 10th and final child.  When Mildred was only 19 months old her mother passed away and she was raised by a combination of her father, her three older brothers and their wives and was very close to her next oldest brother who always was very protective of her.  On November 17, 1962 she was married to Charles Herman Price and they had 49 years together before Charles passed away in February of 2012.  Mildred had a beautiful smile which she was always ready to give another and she had a strong personality and faith.  She will be remembered.

Charles and Mildred Price in 2008:

THE COLBERG/KOLBERG FIRST COUSINS:

Family of Friedrich-Wilhelm Colberg, Jr. & Hermine Augusta Melchert:

    Martha Marie Franziska Colberg, 1882-1882

    Paul Willy Colberg, 1883-1886

    Fritz Wilhelm Colberg, 1885-1886

    Erich Ernst Franz Colberg, 1886-1887

    Ernst Friedrich Paul Colberg, 1888-1888

    Max Friedrich Adam Colberg, 1889-1889

    Clara Marie Emilie Colberg, 1893-1893

Family of Friedrich-Wilhelm Colberg, Jr. & Therese Louise Mathilde Lawitzke:   
    Max Erich Colberg, 1899-after 1913
    Anna Meta Therese Colberg, 1901-after 1915
    Paul Otto Colberg, 1903-after 1917
    Helene Martha Minna Colberg, 1905-after 1919

Family of August Gottlieb Kolberg & Bertha Kramp:
    Paul Louis Robert Kolberg, 1879-1879
    Hedwig Johanne Auguste Kolberg, 1880-1956
    Berta Hermine Franziska Kolberg, 1883-1883
    Frederick Gustav Emil Kolberg, 1886-1887
    Amelia Alvina Henreitta Kolberg, 1887-1963
    Kurt Paul Hugo Kolberg, 1890-1935
    Robert Ernest Paul Kolberg, Sr., 1892-1950
    Hugo Otto Heinrich Kolberg, 1894-1951
    Ella Emma Louise Kolberg, 1895-1973

Family of Heinrich Carl Kolberg & Margaretha Auguste Sauerbier:
    Johann Charl Kolberg, 1883-1883

Family of Heinrich Carl Kolberg & Ottilie Friederike Mathilde Kramp:
    Carl Heinrich Kolberg, 1885-1885
    Hertha Emilie Katherina Kolberg, 1886-1976
    Alexander Otto Paul Kolberg, 1889-1965
    Heinrich Friedrich Ernest Kolberg, 1892-1966
    Retha Lina Minna Kolberg, 1894-1947
    Ortha Amalie Friederike Kolberg, 1895-1966
    Erick Carl August Kolberg, 1896-1897
    William Louis Julius Kolberg, 1898-1947
    Bentha Bertha Alwine Kolberg, 1900-1989
    Arnold Albert Emil Kolberg, 1901-1957
    Gerhart Walter Hugo Kolberg, 1903-1966
    Esther Maria Helena Kolberg, 1905-1988
    Lorenz Gustav Johann Kolberg, 1907-1983
    Ralph Nelson Ferdinand Kolberg, 1914-1915

Family of Johann Eduard Colberg & Berta Wilhelmine Hepke:
    Marguerite Amalie Colberg, 1884-1946
    Richard Hugo Georg Colberg, 1888-1982
    Johanna Helene Marie Colberg, 1890-1977
    Johannes Hermann Otto Colberg, 1893-1964
    Walter Max Colberg, 1894-1954
    Max Alfred Colberg, 1896-1946
    Otto Hermann Erich Kolberg, 1904-1937
    Charlotte Berta Elisabeth Colberg, 1906-1997

Family of Otto Ferdinand Paul Kolberg & Alvina Laura Truhn:
    Grace Henreitta Othella Kolberg, 1893-1986
    Frederick A. Kolberg, 1894-1978
    Victor Henry Kolberg, 1896-1993
    Orville Carl Julius Kolberg, 1904-1973
    Viola Elaine Kolberg, 1911-1966
    Leo Henry Kolberg, 1912-1994

Family of Paul Wilhelm Rudolf Kolberg & Augusta Adeline Henrietta Zuhl:
    Oscar Otto Gustav Kolberg, 1892-1970
    Ralph Heinrich Johann Kolberg, 1893-1894
    Waldimar August Wilhelm Kolberg, 1895-1985
    Clarence Heinrich Berthold Kolberg, 1897-1989
    Lillian Maria Ottillie Kolberg, 1899-1905
    Leo Otto Edward Kolberg, 1902-1903
    Ruby Edna Kolberg, 1904-1988
    Edna Olga Kolberg, 1907-1991
    Harry Paul Ferdinand Kolberg, 1910-1985
    Mildred Helen Grace Kolberg, 1917-2013

Family of Paul Wilhelm Rudolf Kolberg & Amanda Burk:    
    Alvin Albert Kolberg, 1921-1984

Family of Ferdinand Robert Kolberg & Helena Mielke:
    Oscar Friedrich Hermann Kolberg, 1898-1970    
    Waldemar Paul Hugo Kolberg, 1899-1989
    Alfred Paul Ferdinand Kolberg, 1900-1995
    Selma Anna Helene Kolberg, 1901-1988
    Gertrud Martha Marie Kolberg, 1903-1904
    Herta Anna Augusta Kolberg, 1904-1910
    Kurt Hugo Max Kolberg, 1905-1986
    Arthur Ferdinand August Kolberg, 1906-1990

What a glorious reunion they must all be having tonight in heaven!

May they rest in peace!

----------

Ferdinand and Helena (Mielke) Kolberg Family Photos:

Copyright 2013, Cheryl J. Schulte

The Family Kolberg/Colberg - Part Eleven

FINALLY...FINDING THE FRIEDRICH-WILHELM COLBERG, JR. FAMILY

The amazing story of my Kolberg ancestors continues with Part Eleven.  It is hard for me to fathom that I have been able to have as much success with this line as I have and to have been able to continually find information to allow this series to grow.

One of the roadblocks in this research has always been the varying way that the surname has been spelled.  There has been no rhyme or reason as to why sometimes the name will be spelled with a "C" as in Colberg and other times with a "K" as in Kolberg.  I have found old records, from the late 1700's and early 1800's where children in one family have been listed with both spellings.  While I originally thought the name was always with a "C" and was changed when my great-grandfather and his brothers, Heinrich, Otto, Paul and Ferdinand immigrated to the US, that wasn't accurate.  These variances in spelling have made the search more difficult but certainly not impossible.

As my story has unfolded through the past 10 episodes I have shared how I was able to successfully research my great-grandfather, August's,  life and those of 5 of his 6 brothers, Heinrich, Johann, Otto, Paul and Ferdinand.  However brother Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. and his family have eluded me.

In the sequence of children born to my 2nd great-grandparents, Friedrich-Wilhelm Colberg, Sr. and Henriette Amalie Kautz, son Friedrich-Wilhelm Jr. was their second son and the first child to survive childhood.  From family documents here in Michigan it seemed that Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. had inherited the Colberg family farm in Klein Tuchen and he had remained there for his life.  This practice was quite common with the eldest son inheriting the family property and that story seemed logical.  It made sense as well that 5 of the brothers would take their chances by immigrating to the US while brother, Johann, chose to settle in Berlin.  However, family stories while helpful and interesting are not always accurate and the story of the life of Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. did not include a life on the family farm in Klein Tuchen nor a life in Klein Tuchen at all.

To flesh out this story and find further data on Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. was a journey that I could not take all on my own.  Without the unbelievable help of three researchers, two in this country and one in Germany, I would not have been able to finally fill in most of the gaps on this brother of my great-grandfather.

Special thanks must go to a wonderful researcher in Germany, Marion H, who helped me find more than I could ever hope to find on my own as well as researcher and cousin, David M, in Arizona and a long time research friend, Steve M, in Illinois.

As I began this next step in my research I reviewed the information that I did have on Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr.:

1.    Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. was born September 28, 1852 in Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, the second son of Friedrich-Wilhelm Colberg, Sr. and Henriette Amalie Kautz.  At the time of his birth their first born son, Albert Johan Carl Colberg, was still living but he would pass away in 1863 at the age of 12.

2.    Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. was baptized on October 3, 1852 at the Evangelische Kirche, Groß Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern.

3.    Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. remained in Klein Tuchen his entire life with his family which included a wife and 7 children and he inherited the Colberg family farm upon the death of his father in 1900.

4.    A photo, taken in Bütow, Pommern, was shared with me with the caption on the back which read "Friedrich-Wilhelm Colberg, Sr. and wife, with son, Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. and wife, standing behind, 1898".

5.    Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. passed away in 1918 in Klein Tuchen.

Some of the above information (1 and 2) proved to be accurate while parts of 3, 4 and 5 were not.  These are common occurrences with written memories; so helpful to have as starting points but not something that can be used as primary sources.

With the interest in genealogy growing and the use of the Internet, a huge ongoing project began with the goal to transcribe the church books from the Pommern counties of Bütow and Stolp and any other Pommern church books that could be discovered.  The researchers, most in Germany, had a mission to transcribe these records but also to aid researchers in learning more about their ancestors.  Over the years this "Stolp Global Index" has grown with a huge database of their transcriptions and the ability for people around the world to discover information on their ancestors has been successful.

With the assistance of members of this Stolp group I have been able to discover the following new and accurate information on Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. and his family:

1.    On January 7, 1881 Friedrich-Wilhelm Colberg, Jr. married Hermine Augusta Melchert.  They were married in Reinwasser, Kreis Rummelsburg, Pommern, a neighboring county to Bütow which was the county of birth of Hermine.  Hermine had been born on May 14, 1848 in Friedrikenfelde, Kreis Rummelsburg, Pommern to Gottlieb Melchert and Henrietta Winkel.

2.    Friedrich-Wilhelm and Hermine began to create a family of their own but tragically each of their children died either at birth or shortly thereafter including the two eldest that I had hoped had lived to adulthood.  Birth, baptismal and death information was found in the church books being translated by the Stolp group and shared with me.

Sponsors for all of their children were listed as well and were helpful in proving other familial lines.  It was common in those days, in those particular church books to list descriptive data on sponsors such as "uncle of the child", "brother of the father of the child" and in many cases "grandmother of the child", etc.  I learned as well that a male child would have three sponsors with two being godfathers and one godmother while a female child would have three sponsors as well but two godmothers and one godfather.  It was very interesting.

In the records of the children it was noted that father, Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. was a farmer or landowner or tenant farmer depending on the year.  Here are the 7 children of Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. and Hermine Colberg:

Martha Marie Franziska Colberg, born May 28,1882 in Klein Tuchen and died July 19,1882 in Klein Tuchen.

Paul Willy Colberg, born December 25, 1883 in Klein Tuchen and died August 3,1886 in Zemmen (which was a neighboring village to Klein Tuchen).  This also showed that between 1883 and 1886 the family had moved to Zemmen.

Fritz Wilhelm Colberg, born May 27,1885 in Zemmen and died April 21,1886 in Zemmen.

Erich Ernst Franz Colberg, born November 12,1886 in Zemmen and died January 24,1887 in Zemmen.

Ernst Friedrich Paul Colberg, born January 17,1888 in Zemmen and died February 5,1888 in Zemmen.

Max Friedrich Adam Colberg, born November 1,1889 in Zemmen and died November 20,1889 in Zemmen.

Clara Marie Emilie Colberg, born about 1893 in Zemmen and died February 10,1893 in Zemmen.

3.    Hermine Melchert Colberg passed away on January 5, 1898 in Zemmen with the following notation from the church books of Groß Tuchen:

    "Died 5, Jan 1898 in Zemmen, Death Nr. 1 of 1898, Hermine Kolberg, geb. Melchert, 49 Years, 9 Months and 9 Days old, buried on 9 Jan 1898."  (Note the spelling of Kolberg in those church books for this record).

With the death of Hermine in January of 1898, and the fact that none of her 7 children had survived, I felt this indicated the end of the line of this family.  My hope that I would be able to find descendants of Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. still living today was thwarted.  While reviewing this information around in my head I remembered the photo I had of Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. and "his wife" and his parents which was dated 1898.  Upon further examination of the photo I found it hard to believe that "the wife" indicated was a 49 year old woman as in this photo Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr.'s wife certainly looked much younger.  A thought came into my mind.  Could Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. have remarried?  He was 46 at the time of Hermine's death and it could have been possible he would have married again even though he had no children to raise that he needed help with.

I posed this question to my Stolp researcher cousin, David M, who quickly sent me back the following information.

From the church books of Groß Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern was found the following records exactly as transcribed:

Marriage Nr. 12 of 1898 on 25 Mar 1898, Friedrich Colberg of Zemmen, born on 28 Sep 1852, First Wife Deceased, To Jungfrau Therese Lewitzke of Zemmen, born on 31 Jan 1867, Never Married, Daughter of Carl.

Baptism Nr. 13 of 1867 in Groß Tuchen on 7 Feb 1867, Therese Louise Mathilde, daughter of Carl Lawitzke and Albertine Gaul, baptized 7 Feb 1867, Godparents: Mathilde Lawitzke, Mathilde Lawitzke (two people with same name), Ernst von Domarus, all from Groß Tuchen.

Children for this couple were found as follows, exactly as transcribed:

1.    Max Erich Colberg, son of Friedrich-Wilhelm and Therese, nee Lawitzke, Colberg, born 4 Mar 1899 in Zemmen and baptized 17 Mar 1899 in Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen.  Sponsors were Amalie Kolberg, geb Kautz, grandmother of child, Carl Lawitzke, grandfather of child, Ferdinand Kolberg, uncle of child. Confirmed 1913 in the Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen.

2.     Anna Meta Therese Colberg, daughter of Friedrich-Wilhelm and Therese, nee Lawitzke, Colberg, born 1 Mar 1901 in Zemmen and baptized 14 Mar 1901 in Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen.  Sponsors were Helene Colberg, geb Mielke, wife of Ferdinand Colberg, brother of child's father, Albertine Spitzak, geb Kühn, Emil Lawitzke.  Confirmed 28 Mar 1915 in the Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen.

3.    Paul Otto Colberg, son of Friedrich-Wilhelm and Therese, nee Lawitzke, Colberg, born 29 Jun 1903 in Zemmen and baptized in Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen (date of baptism not given).  Sponsors were Theodor Stegman, Carl Lawitzke, Anna Lawitzke, geb Venzke.  Confirmed 1 Apr 1917 in the Evangelische Kirche of Bernsdorf, Kreis Bütow.  Confirmation number 31 of 1917.

4.    Helene Martha Minna Colberg, daughter of Friedrich-Wilhelm and Therese, nee Lawitzke, Colberg, born 21 Mar 1905 in Zemmen and baptized 7 Apr 1905 in Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen.  Sponsors were Emil Kühn, Martha Lawitzke, Minna von Spitzak.  Confirmed 13 Apr 1919 in the Evangelische Kirche of Groß Tuchen, 1919, Nr. 61.

With the confirmation dates for these 4 children indicated in the church books, it was hopeful information that these children did live to adulthood, marry and possibly have children of their own.

The following death information for both Friedrich-Wilhelm and his wife Therese were also found as follows:

Death Nr. 63 of 1918, 7 November, Friedrich Colberg, Pächter (tenant farmer) of Zemmen, Age 66 Years, 1 Month, buried 10 Nov 1918.

Death Nr. 25 of 1928 in Zemmen, Therese Kolberg, geb. Lawitzke, 61 Years, 5 Months Old, died on 23 Jun 1928 and buried at 3PM on 30 Jun 1928.

It only took 30+ years of research to finally fill in the blanks on Friedrich-Wilhelm, Jr. to add to the information on his 6 brothers, August, Heinrich, Johann, Otto, Paul and Ferdinand.  To have the actual excerpts from the church books gave me primary source data and to have made connections with generous researchers willing to search these records for me and share them was phenomenal.  I cannot thank these researchers enough.

But what about the 4 children born to Friedrich-Wilhelm and Therese Colberg?  Did they marry and have families of their own?  

The research is still ongoing!

----------

Paul and Augusta (Zuhl) Kolberg Family Photos:

Copyright 2012, Cheryl J. Schulte