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‘Pen Pictures of Thought THE BERKENEIER FAMILY AND KALMBACHS. Joseph Berkemeier, er., was born in the province of Hanover. ..April 14, 1822, and warried to Elizabeth Buschermole, Nov. 30, 1846. Eliza beth was born at the same place, Sept. 1, 1820. They emmigrated to America in 1852. They landed at New Orleans, Dec. 5, having been on the ocean seven weeks. During the voyage the ship took fire, but being discovered in time it did no serious damage. From New Orleans they took lagoons a steamboat to Newport, Kentucky. The trip lasted ‘twelve days. ‘They remained in Newport only a short time, and then moved to Cincinnati, where they lived about three years, but the city ‘atmosphere not agreeing with his health, concluded to move on a farm. They first bought forty acres from Rosena and Martin Kalmbach, in the fall of 1855; said farm being about one fourth of a mile south from St. Maurice. To them were born seven children, three boys and four girls. One boy and one girl died in Germany, one girl died in Cincinnati, one boy in infancy died at St. Maurice.Elizabeth, who was the wife of John “anstrath, died Oct. 9, 1880. Two of their children are yet living, Joseph Berkemeier, Jr,and Josephine Mauer, wife of ichael Mauer, living on a farm two miles west from St. Maurice. They have six girls yet living; Rosa, Lizzie, Anna, Mary, Josephine, and Eva. Joseph Berkemeier, Jr., lives on the old homestead with his father. He was married to Josephine Alt en on April 29th 1884. To them were born seven children; all living, Frank, Lizzie, Josephine, Mary, Tony, Anna, and Louis. They have bought more land, and the farm now contains two hundred and forty acres with good buildings and general im provements. Mr.and Mrs. Joseph Berkemeier, son, lived on the farm quiet and happy, until August 1st., 1893, when Mrs. Berkemeier was called to a happier land. Since that time Mr. Berkemeier has lived with his son, Joseph, son. enjoying fair health considering his age. Mr. Berkemier started farming in the unbroken forest, and the first year was taken up by hard labor. The crops on the farm are now look ing well, and the stock and farming implements all denote good care and attention. As the names of Rosena and Mar tin smalmuaen have been mentioned in this sketch, we will tell some thing of their history. Although it may be considered a slight deviation, Lena and Martin Kalmbach were originally from Germany. They came to Brookville about 1840, bought two lots in the low part of the town, erected nice buildings and a neat fence around their lots. Mrs. Kalmbach said that before the flood of #47, came,she had warning by some unseen hand laid upon her shoulder, and a voice which said they must take their goods, and flee to the higher lands. She told the vision to her husband and some of the neighbors. The old man said “Oh My Gold Woman is Crazy,” but he soon found that he was too late in giving heed to her warnings, for the rain began to pour in torrents, about 8 o’clock in the Morning, and continued incessantly all day. Every little ditch and gut ter contained a rolling torrent of water. The Fast Fork of White Water soon rose to the top of the Jevee and broke it in two or three races and went wildly dashing ward the houses and barns in the low part of the town; then in a short time the West fork came rolling and surging down and the two rivers thus formed counter currents which car ried away nearly all of the buildings in the low bottom part of the town. Kalmbach’s buildings with all their contents were completely washed away. The family went up the hill to the higher land and viewed the des truction of their home and all it con tained, which was so dear to then. By the help of some kind friends they gathered up ‘ome little property and moved to Metamora where they lived some time,and then bought the forty acres already mentioned near St. Maurice. After selling that prop erty they settled near the Battery in Franklin Co., Ind. The flood that carried off Kalmbach’s Property, was the same which washed away Peter Higdons House and goods. The same flood carried off Daniel Higdon’s house,barn, hay stacks and chickens, the same that washed away James Wright's still house and left in ita place a hole of water about ten or fifteen feet deep.
Newspaper Details
Greensburg New Era
Greensburg, Indiana, US
Tue, May 14, 1901
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Derrick B.
USA 16 Jun 2026
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