This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/2FC.2ACI/1581.1.2 Message Board Post: Hi, Minnie Marie Magdelena Lemke, b. 15 Nov 1890 in Nicollet Co., MN to Gustav Friedrich LEMKE & his wife, Wilhelmina Sophia ENGEL. Gustav was born Martin Friedrich LEMKE 10 Apr 1860 in Ortwig, Kr. Lebus, Brandenburg, Germany to Martin LEMKE, b. Oct 1791 Germany & his wife, Caroline Wilhelmina RAASCH b. 7 July 1829 in Ortwig, Kr. Lebus, Brandenburg, Germany. The interesting story is that Gustav came to the USA [arr Nov 13, 1882 on the SS Weisland] to look for his older brother (name unknown). In researching the Evang. Church records from Ortwig, Germany, Gustav did not have an older brother. His father was married previous to his marriage to Carolina Wilhelmina, and we assume that he had children in that marriage. So Gustav had to have been searching for his half brother [prob born between 1811 - 1850]. The story goes that Gustav went first to near Antigo, WI where his brother was last heard from (cutting wood) but his brother had already moved on. Gustav went on to the New Ulm, Brown Co., MN area where he met and married his wife (1888). They farmed in various locations in MN, and finally settled on a farm just South of Fargo, Cass Co., ND in 1905. Gustav d. 1910 [a month before his last child was born]. His newspaper obit says they were waiting to hear from "relatives" before finalizing funeral arrangements, but the family does not believe he ever found his brother. Gustav's sons said that their Dad persued at least two other Lemke families (Senator Lemke from ND & the Lemke family near Sabin, MN) but they had determined that they were not related to each other. I always figured that I would, some day, find the brother ... as we knew who was Gustav's Mother (she came over in 1888 and is buried next to her son), but of course, the HALF brother throws a real wrinkle in that plan. So now I am searching for a LEMKE whose father was a Martin LEMKE from Ortwig, Germany. As LEMKE is a fairly common name in Germany, it is not an easy task, but I keep hoping. Because of this, I have gathered a lot of info on various LEMKE families. I have posted a lot of it on my LEMKE list on yahoo. Have you checked there? Or let me know what you know about your line and I will check what I have. Gustav is my GrGrandfather. Sharon