Johann Joachim Karl Köpke a.k.a. Joseph Koepka immigrated to America with his wife Mary, at least one son, Charles; his father Johann Frederich Köpke and other siblings; in 1863 from Rambow, Mecklenburg, Germany. They settled in the german community of Farnham in Erie County, NY where he lived his life as a farmer. Farnham is about 15 minutes today from Brant, and Angola where the Köpke / Koepka men have married, lived and died.
Joseph, born Oct. 23, 1829 died Aug. 7, 1900. His wife Mary was born Sep. 15, 1831 died Sep. 24, 1896. He is the father of Charles J. Koepka husband of Rosabelle A.A. Hammond and grandfather to Wylie E. Koepka. Joseph appears in both the 1880 and 1900 census the later being just prior to his death. He and wife Mary, son Charles, two other children Joseph Jr, Minnie, and his father Johann Frederich are buried in Farnham Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery. The cemetery records are written in old German as are many of the tombstones.
Joseph and Mary had at least five children; Charles born Mar. 4, 1853; Joseph Jr. dates unknown at this time; Frederic born 1865 in NY; Minnie born 1872 died 1873; and Mary born 1867 in NY. Daughter, Mary appears in the home with her father in 1900.
As the search for the other Koepka family members continues we may be able to learn the names of the other family members who came to America with Joseph and his father. Ellis Island was not open at the time of his immigration, and so far ships from Germany specifically the port of Hamburg that have been transcribed have yet to yield results. Many passenger lists are still waiting to be transcribed. Also, locating them in the 1870 census as well as land records and church records will reveal more insight into this great great great grandfather.
Charles Koepka follows the Train Disaster
Tragedy struck Angola on December 18, 1867, when the worst
railroad accident in the history of Erie County occured on the Lake
Shore Railroad. The train, made up of three first-class coaches, a
smoking car, and two baggage cars, was eastbound and due in Buffalo
at 1:30 P.M. Several hundred yards beyond the Angola depot as the
train was approaching the bridge over Big Sister Creek, the rear coach
loosened an axle, worked it- self from the rails, and pulled off the
coach just in front of it. The rear car broke loose and went plunging
down the bank to the creek below.
The second car almost reached the far end of the wooden span when
its coupling was torn loose, and it also went rolling down the bank
resting on its side. In this car were two pot-bellied coal stoves used
for heating, and both of them were thrown among the victims. Almost
immediately the wreckage caught fire. By the time water could be brought
from a nearby farm house it was too late. Fifty persons died in the
fire of this coach; three managed to crawl out.
The first coach, which had broken in two, also caught fire; but
the flames were extinguished before they caused much suffering. There
were forty casualties here and one death. Doctors, many from Buffalo,
plus large supplies of medicines were rushed to the scene of the
"Angola Horror" to do all that was possible to relieve the suffering.
An Excerpt from "A History of Angola"
Elizabeth Alice Jackson was born April 21, 1895 in Lancashire, England to Bessie Hartley and John Jackson a stable hand. Elizabeth known as Lizzie had a younger sister named Ethel who was born 3 months after her fathers death. Bessie brought her daughters from England to Canada and then to America. Whether they came to America through a land border or by a ship is unknown at this time. A passenger list has yet to be found of their journey from England to Montreal, and on to New York. I have checked the Ellis Island records, and although there are several Elizabeth's none fit the age or her mother.
Lizzie married 1908 in Angola Village, Erie County, NY to Wylie Koepka a street inspector who later became a lighthouse keeper like his father-in-law who taught him the trade. Wylie was a keeper at Ashtabula, OH lighthouse, Henderson Harbor, Galloo Island 1933-1942, and Stoney Pointe in Sackets Harbor. Eventually they moved to Cheboygan, MI living in a log cabin near Levering. Wylie died in 1945 and is buried in a family plot in Brant Cemetery, with his mother and brother Harry in Brant, NY. Wylie, his brother Lloyd and father Charles all owned property in Cheboygan, MI.
Wylie and Elizabeth are shown on the 1910 census one month before Myrtle was born living in his mother's home in Angola, NY, they had been married 2 years and had Edwin. This is an important census because it asked how long married, where born, how many children living/dead, as well as immigration information. Here Elizabeth tells us a very different story than her death record does. She claims to be 19 years old making her DOB 1891, married for 2 years at age 17, mother of 1 child age of Edwin 1 yr 4 mo, and she immigrated to America in 1896 which would be age 5. These ages and dates conflict with family stories she told, which can be put to the discreation of a lady nevers tell her age.
Lizzie and Wylie had six children:
Edwin Russell Koepka - born 23 Feb 1909, Angola Village, Erie County, NY; he drowned in Lancaster Lake, Cheboygan County on 12 Oct 1918.
Myrtle Koepka, born June 17, 1910, married Milo (Niles / John) Kauppanen, they had three children born in Ashtabula, OH.
Grace Koepka - married John Ovak, second married Robert Pfohl and lived in NY.
Ethel Koepka - born about 1915, died while a child.
Laurel Koepka - married Harold Carlson and lived in Cheboygan, MI.
Arkley Koepka - was killed in action during World War II.
Lizzie and Wylie divorced and she married William Tuuri, a Pinkerton Detective. They lived in Cheboygan, MI, where the Koepka family had property. Elizabeth is buried in Pine Hill cemetery with her husband William Tuuri and her mother Bessie and step - father Richard Dissett a former lighthouse keeper at Whitefish Point, in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan, and other family members. Family members still live in the Cheboygan area.
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