Johann Freidrich "Fredrick" Buerk

Notes:

Frederick Buerk was a carpenter and undertaker, making caskets of wood, in Waldhausen, Germany. He made the wooden trunks bound by iron straps to carry the families possesions during their journey to America. He bought land from John Striffler to establish a farm.

The Buerk's lost their possessions in the fire of 1881. Fred had just erected a new grainery and completed thrashing, leaving a large straw stack when the fire swept through in September. It ignited Fred's straw stack and burned the barns and house. The family survived by lying face down in a sugar cane patch, which kept them from suffocating from the smoke of the sorgum field, which was still green. They were forever grateful to Reverend Fred Klump, who carried a dish of water to wet his eyes as he walked through the woods until he found them still alive. Those families who were spared the tragedy of "burning out" formed a relief agency from which the Buerk's and others received hay, lumber, furniture and other supplies. Starting over again, the family picked blackberries in the woods which Catherine carried in a basket on her head to town and traded. The next summer the buildings were rebuilt and the family carried-on. The family rebuilt one half mile south of the original buildings on what is now the Lawrence Buehrly farm. (From Art Peck book, recounting the memories shared by Mrs. Elsie C. Anthes of Cass City, with additional information from an article about the Frederick Benkelman family from Volume 27 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, published September 4, 1967, as well as from BonnieMargaret Jacobs unpublished 1981 manuscript, p. 161).

Cass City Chronicle
September 6, 1912
Local Items, Page 5

While driving to Cass City Saturday afternoon the horse of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Buerk became frightened and ran into the ditch. Mr. Buerk was thrown from the buggy and dragged some distance in the water. Fortunately neither Mr. or Mrs. Buerk sustained any serious injuries and aside from a few broken eggs no damage was done.

Cass City Chronicle
April 2, 1915

Elkland Twp. Pioneer
Fred Buerk Laid to Rest Tuesday, March 30

Elkland township loses another pioneer in the death of Fred Buerk who passed away Saturday night, March 27, following an illness of several years duration.

Fred Buerk was born in Walthausen, Wuertemberg, Germany, Sept. 16, 1840. In 1867 he was married to Catherine Benkelman. Two children were born to this union, one dying in infancy. In 1873 he and his family came to America, locating at Cass City where he endured the hardships of pioneer life, clearing the farm on which he lived and where he passed away. He was converted to God in 1874 under the labors of Rev. Berge. He continued a faithful member of the Evangelical Church and held many important offices of the society. Besides his wife, he leaves one daughter, Mrs. Leonard Buehrly, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon. Rev. J. A. Schweitzer of Bay City, a former pastor of the deceased, preached a short funeral service in German at the residence and Rev. D.J. Feather, pastor of the local Evangelical Church, officiated at the church service. Interment was made in Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Spring 2007)

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Federal Census

Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
John F. BURK Self M Male W 39 WERTENBERG Carpenter WERTENBURG WERTENBURG
Cathrine BURK Wife M Female W 36 WERTENBERG Keeping House WERTENBURG WERTENBURG
Cathrine BURK Dau S Female W 14 WERTENBERG At School WERTENBURG WERTENBURG
Christina BURK Mother Female W 63 WERTENBERG WERTENBURG WERTENBURG
Source Information:
Census Place Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan
Family History Library Film 1254607 NA Film Number T9-0607
Page Number 96C

Johann married Anna Catharina Benkelman in 1867 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Anna (daughter of Johann Friedrich "Fredrick" Benkelman and Rosine M?ller) was born on 6 Aug 1843 in Bartenbach, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 12 Sep 1917 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Catherine Buerk was born on 16 Aug 1865 in W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 20 Mar 1954 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.

Johannes married Christina Reinert about 1835 in W?rttemberg, Germany. Christina was born on 4 Jan 1817 in W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 11 May 1907 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Christina Buerk "came from Waldhausen to America in 1873, with her granddaughter, Katherine Buerk," later the wife of Solomon Striffler, according to the obituary of Katherine Buerk published in the Friday, January 21, 1938 issue of the Cass City Chronicle.

Christina's own obituary is below:

Tri County Chronicle
Cass City Michigan
Friday, May 19, 1907

Mrs Christina Buerk nee Reinert died at the home of her son, Fred Buerk, on Thursday, May 11 after an illness of several months. She was born in Walthausen, Wurtenberg, Germany on January 4, 1817, where in 1835 she was united in marriage to John Buerk. To this union came five children, four sons and one daughter. Two sons, Charles of Caro and Fred of this place survive. Mr. Buerk died in Germany in 1866 and in 1873 Mrs. Buerk and her children came to America, settling on a farm in Elkland township, northeast of this village.

She was converted during a series of meetings conducted by Rev. W. Berge during his former ministry here and has since lived a christian life. At that time there was no Evangelical church organized in this village. For several years past she has made her home with her son, Fred. Besides her two remaining sons she leaves 5 granchildren and 15 great-granchildren. The funeral services were held in the Evangelical church Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. W. Berge, and her remains laid to rest in Elkland Cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Notes:

Married:
They were the parents of four sons and one daughter