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not sure if both of these written by the same person but I think they were written to my great great grandfather Fred Wilhelm Gerling (Fred b. 1840 Hille near Minden Germany; used to be called Prussia or Westphalia) about his brother Carl Heinrich Gerling who was killed as an elderly man by a couple of boys wanting guns and money. The boys put a note on the mailbox to untie him after they hit him over the head and robbed him but sadly he died, still tied to his bed. They were teenage boys. These are two letters written about the incident to our family one from Mrs Radtke.... and hoping to identify the writer which I assume is one of C. Henry Gerlings daughters which I have listed their first names below. Would like to know more about Mr and Mrs. Paul Radtke's family
So. Haven Mich
May 10, 1921
My dear Uncle,
Your kind letter was received Saturday. We drove to Watervliet Sunday the ?
of May. to find out about fathers case. The robbers are at large yet. My
oldest brother has offered a small reward in behalf of the estate for the
robbers and I do hope the fellows will be caught sometime soon and severely
dealt with. Yes father was still living at the old homestead, the same place
when you were there and all urging on the part of his children could not
make him see that he should not stay there alone. He said it was home to him
and nothing else would suit him. It certainly seems ? sad when he had 9
children that could have made it comfortable in his old age, but I am
afraid father had a will of his own that no one could break not even his
children. My husband has very much respect for old folks and tried to go and
see father at least once a month . If I couldn't go along he would ? out
alone or take one of the children (as we have five) we had planned on going
the following Sunday when we received the sad new of his death. I will send
you murder ? cover some account of fathers death. also the addresses of my
brothers and sisters with this letter. If there is any thing more I can do
for you just let me kneow,
with best regards,
?Irene au? your neice
( Letters from my cousin Rachel and she writes "Augusta" under the signature)
South Haven Mich
Oct 15 1923
My Dear Uncle,
After a long long wait I am at last able to send you the news of father's
death. The sherriff has found the culprits after two and one half years. It
really doesn't seem possible that such young boys could do such a rash deed
but it seems they did. I am enclosing some of the newspapers with the
account of the murder.
We are all quite well and always busy. Yesterday we had a small family
gathering at our home. Three of my sisters and their families and others
were here, 24 in all. They are all well too. Mary ?Koehneke isn't living in
Chicago any more she is at ?Egerten Wisconsin, keeping home for her youngest
son the other sons are all marriend and live in Chicago yet. We are having
lovely fall weather now and the trees are just lovely in their colors. Just
wish you could see our yard as we have at least 15 different kinds of trees
near the house. But I presume you have such sights all year in Oregon. Now
Uncle don't feel too bad after reading the papers. As I myself always told
father it wasn't right for him to live alone as it encouraged some fellows
to think they could do a mean act which eventually these boys did. Hope you
are quite well these days. Must close now with kindest regard to the whole
family.
I remain your niece
Mrs Paul Radtke
South Haven Michigan
Descendants of Carl Heinrich Gerling
(children's names not set in stone)
Generation No. 1
1. CARL HEINRICH4 GERLING (CARL FREDERICK AUGUST3, CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH2, JOHANN DIETRICH1) was born October 27, 1835 in Hanover, Germany, and was murdered in 1921. He married AGUSTA DAMLER September 13, 1856 in Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, daughter of WOHLRATH DAMMLER and CHRISTIANA. She was born January 15, 1834 in Germany, and died 1913 in Maybe Berrien County, Michigan.
Children of CARL GERLING and AGUSTA DAMLER are:
i. FRED5 GERLING.
ii. HENRY GERLING.
iii. LAURA GERLING.
iv. JOHN GERLING.
2. v. MARY GERLING, d. 1940. m. William Koehneke
vi. KATHERINE GERLING.
vii. CAROLINE GERLING.
viii. AGUSTA GERLING.
ix. FRANCIS GERLING.
x. SELMA GERLING.
xi. INFANT GERLING.
thank you for any help you can offer us
Kristie Lana (Reynolds) Davis
sldavis@nwi.net
Washington State
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