Otto A. Zemke

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
March 21, 1941

Pages 1 and 4

Caro Civic Leader Killed by Auto Saturday

Otto A. Zemke, civic leader and businessman of Caro was killed instantly shortly after midnight Saturday as he was going home from a long day spent in his store [hit by an automobile]?.

Mr. Zemke came to Eaton County, Michigan in 1891 as an immigrant boy from Germany and there worked on a farm, saving his money to get a better education. He attended Ferris Institute, and at Big Rapids was married to Miss Ann R. Oleson on September 17, 1903. The same year he and his brother, Max Zemke, commenced the mercantile business of Zemke Brothers in Deckerville?.

Surviving are his widow, the former Anna R. Oleson, to whom he was married September 17, 1908, at Big Rapids, a son, Jack Claude Zemke of VanDyke; three granddaughters; three brothers, Richard and Herman Zemke, of Vermontville and Erwien Zemke of Caro; and a sister, Mrs. Frieda Cooper, of Marysville, South Carolina.

Page 6

Colwood

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Zemke of Detroit were called here Sunday by the death of Mr. Zemke's father.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, June 2008)

(Research):Census Listings:

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola, Indianfields Twp
Enumerated 25 April 1910
SD 8 ED 122 Sheet 9B
502 223 226
Zemke, Otto Hd M W 34 m1 6 Germany Germany Germany Merchant Dry Goods
Zemke, Anna Wf F W 31 M1 6 0 Mich Norway Norway
Zemke, Bertha Sister F W 40 S Germany Germany Germany Bookkeeper Dry Goods

1920 Census
Michigan, Tuscola, Indianfields, Caro Village
Enumerated 27 and 28 January 1920
SD 7 ED 190 Sheet 23 B
512 572 622
Zemke, Otto A Hd M W 48 M 1891 na 1898 Germany Germany Germany Retail Merchant Dry Goods
Zemke, Anna R Wf F W 41 M Michigan Norway Norway
Zemke, Bertha Sister F W 50 S 18?? Na Germany Germany Germany Saleswoman Dry Goods
Zemke, Rudolf Nephew M W 20 S 1911 Pa Germany Germany Germany

1930
Michigan, Tuscola County, Indianfields Twp, Caro Village
Enumerated 8 April 1930
ED 22 SD 11 Sheet 8A Stamped 8
207 191 196
Zemke Otto Hd M W 54 M 27 Germany Pomerania Germany Pomerania Germany Pomerania Manger General Store
Zemke, Anna R Wf F W 52 M 25 Mich Norway Norway
Zemke, Claud Son M W 16 S Mich Germany Pomerania Mich

Otto married Ann R. Oleson on 17 Sep 1908 in Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan. Ann was born about 1879 in Michigan; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Claude "Jack" Zemke was born on 12 Sep 1913 in Michigan; died in Feb 1976 in Florida.