Person:Maria Wilke (1)

Maria Catharina Rosine Wilke was born October 2, 1819, a twin, to Johannes Christian Wilke (12/14/1775-c. 1845), a messerschmidt (cutler) and Marie Elisabeth Emde (10/11/1785-10/11/1837), daughter of Johan Heinrich Emden, an organist, and Marie Elisabeth (thought to have been a noblewoman or princess who married for love). The Wilkes family dates back to 1660 in Berndorf; they are said to have come to Berndorf in 1658, perhaps from Lippe, where the Wilkes name dates back to the 1200s. Before that, the family is reported to have come from Norway or Denmark, where they may first have become messerschmidts who forged harpoons, knives and other ironwork for fishermen. Like members of the Schultz family, members of the Wilke family live in Berndorf to this day--some of them on the farms owned by our ancestors.

THE AMERICAN PIONEERS Rosine married Friederich, her next-door neighbor, on April 13, 1846. After settling in Missouri with one infant, Johannes Friederich George (the Rev. George Schultz), Rosine bore five more children--Maria Katharina Rosina (Mary), Philipa Katarina Rosina (Rosa), Carl Wilhelm, Wilhelm Heinrich (William Henry) and Heinrich Wilhelm (Henry William), who was born in 1858. Though reportedly frail, Rosina kept house in log cabins and raised her own flax and wool, spinning and weaving the fiber into clothes for the family. In the late 1850's, the family's home was burned to the ground. With her husband, she was a farmer, storekeeper, and postal clerk. In addition, she was always an active churchwoman. She died May 26, 1897.Maria Catharina Rosine Wilke was born October 2, 1819, a twin, to Johannes Christian Wilke (12/14/1775-c. 1845), a messerschmidt (cutler) and Marie Elisabeth Emde (10/11/1785-10/11/1837), daughter of Johan Heinrich Emden, an organist, and Marie Elisabeth (thought to have been a noblewoman or princess who married for love). The Wilkes family dates back to 1660 in Berndorf; they are said to have come to Berndorf in 1658, perhaps from Lippe, where the Wilkes name dates back to the 1200s. Before that, the family is reported to have come from Norway or Denmark, where they may first have become messerschmidts who forged harpoons, knives and other ironwork for fishermen. Like members of the Schultz family, members of the Wilke family live in Berndorf to this day--some of them on the farms owned by our ancestors.

THE AMERICAN PIONEERS Rosine married Friederich, her next-door neighbor, on April 13, 1846. After settling in Missouri with one infant, Johannes Friederich George (the Rev. George Schultz), Rosine bore five more children--Maria Katharina Rosina (Mary), Philipa Katarina Rosina (Rosa), Carl Wilhelm, Wilhelm Heinrich (William Henry) and Heinrich Wilhelm (Henry William), who was born in 1858. Though reportedly frail, Rosina kept house in log cabins and raised her own flax and wool, spinning and weaving the fiber into clothes for the family. In the late 1850's, the family's home was burned to the ground. With her husband, she was a farmer, storekeeper, and postal clerk. In addition, she was always an active churchwoman. She died May 26, 1897.

1. ↑ Lawrence H. Schultz. Das Schulzen-Wilken Stammbaumbuch 1972. (January 18, 1972, "Das Huttchen")
   3, 12.
2. ↑ Lawrence H. Schultz. Das Schulzen-Wilken Stammbaumbuch 1972. (January 18, 1972, "Das Huttchen")
   3, 12.
3. ↑ Lawrence H. Schultz. Das Schulzen-Wilken Stammbaumbuch 1972. (January 18, 1972, "Das Huttchen")
   3, 12.