This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lemke, Brammer, Westphal, Koolmo, Jesse Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gFC.2ACI/1371 Message Board Post: Wilhelm F. F. Lemke, owner of a good modern farm of 120 acres in Section 24, town of Lucas, known as Shady Home Farm, was born in Pommern, Germany, Aug. 11, 1853, son of Ferdinand and Dorothy (Brammer) Lemke. It was in 1872 that the family emigrated to the United States, landing at Castle Garden, New York, whence they came directly to Dunn County, Wis., locating in Menomonie, where Ferdinand Lemke found employment with Knapp, Stout, & Co. They remained there 2 years, after which the parents made their home with their son August, who was operating a farm in Section 1, town of Lucas. Later they returned to Menomonie and still later took up their residence with their son Wilhelm, on whose farm the father died in 1897, and the mother some 22 years later in 1919. Of their family of six children, four daughters died in Germany, while of the two sons, August and Wilhelm, August died in 1919, leaving Wilhelm the only survivor. Wilhelm F. F. Lemke acquired his education in his native land and was 19 years old when he came to the Unitd States with his parents and brother August. His first employment in this country was on the Moore farm for Knapp, Stout & Co. and he worked there for three seasons, being employed in the woods at lumbering during the winter months. Also, until 1883, he worked more or less in and about the mills. He then purchased his brother's farm in Section 1, town of Lucas, which he operated until 1901, making some improvements on it. Then he bought his present farm of 120 acres in Section 24, town of Lucas, which during the 20 years that he was active on it he developed into an excellent farm with good, substantial buildings and all necessary modern equipment. In 1921 he rented it to his son Arnold, but still makes his home on it. He is a stockholder in the Hudson Road Creamery. Mr. Lemke was married May 27, 1877, in the town of Red Cedar to Wilhelmina Westphal, of whom he was deprived by death on Nov. 1, 1923, after they had spent 47 years together in happy wedlock. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lemke, the first four, Gusta, Lena, Louis and emil are deceased. The others are: Paul, a farmer in Marathon Co.; Julius, who is farming in the town of Menomonie; William of Chicago; Arnold who married Olga Koolmo and operates the Lemke farm, he and his wife having one child, Jane R.; and Wilhelmina, who is now Mrs Joseph Jesse of Menomonie. The Lemke family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Menomonie. Extracted from The History of Dunn County (Wis), 1977, p. 544 I have no further information about this family.