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Marie Sommer Kruse History and
Documents
New - Marie Sommer Found
Update 10 Sep 2004
Marie Amalia (Emilie) Sommer was found in Willmine, or called Wilhelmine in the older records, in Kries Uckermark, of Brandenburg, Prussia,
now of the current German State of Brandenburg, Germany. Willmine is near the churches of Gerswalde, or Gross Frederwalde (map link), or
about 50 miles north northeast of Berlin. An internet friend located a Sommer family also from Willmine, and then I ordered the churchbook
record of Gross Frederwalde, that includes Wilhelmine and sure enough the birth record shows Marie Emilie Sommer, born 17 June 1860
to Christian Sommer and Freidrike Weber in Wilhelmine. The facts that are most striking is the exact month and day as was listed on many
of her other documents that were found in the U.S. and the town listed as Wilhelmien on her marriage record from Trinity Lutheran Church.
Title Page of duplicate of actual churchbook record from microfilm
Title Page of churchbook record showing births and baptisms in 1860
Wide view of Marie Sommer birth record showing Willmine birth on 17 Jun 1860
Two Page View of Marie Sommer birth showing Parents Christian Sommer and Friedricke Weber and Witnesses
Christian Sommer and Friedrike Weber, parents of Marie Sommer, closeup of birth to Wihelmine Sommer in 1856
Help Find My Mystery Sommer Family from Prussia (see above new info)
My Great Grandmother, Marie A. Sommer, married John Kruse in 1884 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago. The marriage record shows she was from Wilhelmien, Prussia. A ship record shows she came over with possible relatives on 21 March 1882 with August Sommer, his wife Emilie Wendt, and 2 children, August and Wilhelm. Since they came from the Bremen port the departure records that would show the town are destroyed. Marie Sommer Kruse died on 25 April 1934 and her death certificate shows she and her parents were from Brandenburg, Germany. Brandenburg was a large Prussian Province, so this town could be in Brandenburg. Relatives say that she came alone and at a young age, and that she was from Mecklenburg and John, her husband, was from Brandenburg. It looks like they have this reversed. Also the statement that she came alone may mean that she came without her immediate family. So far no one has been able to locate the town of Wilhelmien for certain. It may be the Wilhelmine of Kreis Schlawe of old Pomerania, Prussia. We are currently researching more of the other Sommer family that came on the ship, and that are in the Trinity church books. Marie Emilie Kruse's (4th child of John and Marie Kruse) birth and baptizm record shows Emilie Sommer, wife of August Sommer, was a godparent. August Sommer's death certificate has unknown for him and his parents birthplace. Emilie Wendt Sommer's death certificate shows she and her parents were from Berlin, Germany. The trouble with these death certificates are that if the informant did not know the town, then they may have guessed, or repeated what they had been told. If anyone has any clues, or more information that would be great.
Marriage Photo of my Great Grandparents on their Wedding Day.
John Kruse married Marie Sommer on 9 September 1884 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago.
Marie Sommer marriage showing town of Wilhelmien, Prussia. This has been copied from Trinity Church Churchbook.
Marie Sommer Kruse (middle) before she died in 1934. From left to right are her daughters.
Sophie Kruse, Nelly Kruse Block, Marie Kruse Hafner, and Jim Kruse (son of John Kruse and Mildred Dane)
Death Certificate of my Great Grandmother, Marie Sommer Kruse. This document shows that she and her parents were from Brandenburg, Germany.
Death Certificate of Emilie Wendt Sommer showing from Berlin, Germany.
Germans to America 1875-1888
Port of Embarkation: Bremen
Sommer, August Age : 31
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Male
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, Emilie Age : 45
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Female
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, August Age : 2
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Male
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, Wilhelm Age : 3 months
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Infant
Gender : Male
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, Marie Age : 21
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Female
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
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This is the record from Germans To America showing this Sommer Family all on the same ship in 1882 from the port at Bremen. They came on the ship "Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm". Strangely the Occupation shows "Uncle" on all of them. So it is possible that August Sommer was an uncle to Marie Sommer. The ages match with know dates from census and Trinity Church records, except for Emilie that shows as 45. This could have been a typo because she should be 25 years old in 1882.
Sommer, August Age : 31
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Male
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, Emilie Age : 45
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Female
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, August Age : 2
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Male
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, Wilhelm Age : 3 months
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Infant
Gender : Male
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
Sommer, Marie Age : 21
Country of Origin : Prussia
Arrival Date : Mar. 21, 1882
Final Destination : Baltimore
Ship's Name : Kr. Friedrich Wilhelm
Occupation : Uncle
Gender : Female
Purpose for Travel : Staying in USA, but not a citizen of USA
Mode of Travel : Steerage
Manifest ID Number : 15912
Country : Prussia
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This is the record from Germans To America showing this Sommer Family all on the same ship in 1882 from the port at Bremen. They came on the ship "Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm". Strangely the Occupation shows "Uncle" on all of them. So it is possible that August Sommer was an uncle to Marie Sommer. The ages match with know dates from census and Trinity Church records, except for Emilie that shows as 45. This could have been a typo because she should be 25 years old in 1882.
Marie Sommer Kruse's last home where she lived with Sophia, Minnie, and Frederick on 8443 Oglesby Avenue.
Originally the Kruses, after arriving in 1869, lived on 164 Kossuth (changed to 25th Place in 1881) with the
Schroeders, Lehmanns, and Thodes. Around 1888 the Kruses moved to 3648 S. Fifth Avenue (changed to
Wells Street). Then by 1920 they lived at 6004 S. Marshfield Ave., and finally to Oglesby Avenue by 1930.
Kruse Family Timeline
- 1852 - John Kruse, my great grandfather, born in Vietzen, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany
- 1860 - Marie A. Sommer born 17 June in Wilhelmien, Kreis Ukermark, Brandenburg, Prussia
- 1865 - Trinity Lutheran Church built at Hanover and Kossuth (now S. Canal and 25th Place)
- 1869 - Ship S.S. Allemannia departs Hamburg port on Oct 13 with Kruse and relatives.
- 1869 - Allemannia arrives Castle Garden, New York port on Oct 28.
- 1869 - John Kruse and his mom Maria, with Lehmanns, Schroeders, Thodes, migrate to Chicago
- 1869 - 12 Dec, Minnie Kruse (John's sister) and Carl Lehmann married at Trinity
- 1870 - 17 Feb, Sophia Lehmann born, baptized at Trinity
- 1870 - Census shows on 6th Ward, John is a carpenter with Hoepp and Schoenthaler 195 W. Chicago
- 1871 - 26 Jul, Louise Lehmann born baptized at Trinity
- 1872 - St. Peters Lutheran built - First Frame, probably by John Kruse, church at 3918 Dearborn St.
- 1873 - Jan 24, Emma Lehmann born and baptized at Trinity
- 1875 - Aug 24, Louis Lehmann born and baptized Trinity
- 1875 - St. Peters, 2nd Frame built, probably by Kruse.
- 1877 - Sep 29 Minnie Lehmann born Trinity (not found?)
- 1878 - Louis Lochner, pastor at Trinity, ordained at St. Peters, old pastor Lehmann sick.
- 1880 - Kruse and Schroeder at 164 Kossuth, Lehmann 202 Kossuth, Thode 168 Kossuth (now 25th Place)
- 1880 - Census shows Louis Lochner, Pastor of Trinity, at 162 Kossuth at Hanover
- 1880 - 28 Sep, Meta Lehmann born and at Trinity (last child born in Chicago to Lehmanns)
- 1881 - Marie Sommer immigrates by herself to Wisconsin as nurse maid for an unknown family
- 1881 - Are there church records at St. Peters in Reedsburg to show her and family?
- 1881 - Carl Lehmann Family move to Ironton, Sauk Co., Wisconsin. (John Kruse's sisters family)
- 1881 - Mary Thode nee Kruse dies Chicago on 168 Kossuth, buried Concordia.
- 1882 - John Lehmann born 26 Dec in Reedsburg, Sauk Co.
- 1882 - Mar 21 ship Kr.Freid.Wilhelm, August, Emilie, August,Wilhelm, and Marie Sommer arrive from Prussia. (Is this our Sommer?)
- 1883 - John Lehmann christened on 13 Feb, Adolph Sommers, John Kruse are sponsors.
- 1883 - Did John Kruse meet Marie Sommer there at the baptizm? Are Adolph and Marie related? Did Marie go to live with the Reedsburg family?
- 1884 - John Kruse marries Marie Sommer on 9 Sep in Chicago at Trinity Lutheran.
- 1884 - Chicago Directory lists John Kruse, Carpenter, on 164 25th Place, still with mom and Schroeders.
- 1885 - Sophia Caroline Kruse born 4 July, baptized at Trinity.
- 1886 - Walter Lewis Kruse born 22 July, baptized at Trinity.
- 1888 - John Charles Kruse born 10 May, baptized at Trinity.
- 1889 - Marie Kruse born 16 Sep, baptized 3 June at Trinity.
- 1889 - Family moves to near St. Peters Church ? John listed as carpenter at 3648 5th Avenue on Chicago directory. 5th Avenue became Wells later.
- 1889 - St Peters Pastor is John Strekfuss (1883-1891)
- 1891 - St. Peters Pastor is Rev. F. P. Merbitz from Beardstown, Illinois (1891-1924)
- 1892 - Nelly Auguste Kruse born 28 Jan, baptized 14 Feb at Trinity.
- 1892 - Maria Jenning Kruse, John's mom at 164 25th place, dies on 29 July, buried at Concordia
- 1893 - William Christopher Kruse born 23 August, St. Peters?
- 1895 - Charles Kruse born 15 Nov 1895, full name? died 17 Nov, St. Peters?
- 1896 - Anna Bess Kruse born 25 Oct., St. Peters?
- 1899 - George F. Kruse born 17 March, St. Peters? What does the F. stand for?
- 1900 - Census, Kruse living at 3648 5th Avenue and 37th Street, abt 5 blocks from St. Peter's.
- 1902 - Minnie Ruth Kruse born 16 Jan, St. Peters?
- 1903 - Ferdinand Karl Friedrich Kruse, my grandfather, born 14 July, St. Peter's?
- 1906 - Florence L. Kruse born 19 Oct, died 23 Jun 1911, St. Peter's? What does the L. stand for?
- 1909 - John Kruse dies age 57 on 29 Nov, buried at Concordia, funeral by F.P. Merbitz
- 1910 - Marie Sommer Kruse, widow, living at 3648 5th Ave, Chicago Directory
- 1911 - Marie Kruse, widow. Street changed to 3648 South 5th Ave, Chicago Directory
- 1911 - Florence Kruse dies, buried Concordia.
- 1914 - Minnie Kruse Lehmann (John's sister) dies 31 March age 66 in Reedsburg
- 1915 - Lehmanns of Reedsburg purchase 60 acres farmland from Adolph Sommers.
- 1916 - Ferdinand Kruse, my grandfather, confirmed at St. Peters April 16 by pastor F.P. Merbitz
- 1920 - St. Peters moved to Michigan Ave and 74th Street.
- 1920 - Marie Kruse and family now at 6004 S. Marshfield Ave on Census.
- 1923 - Lehmann purchase another 60 acres from William Sommers in Ironton, Wisconsin.
- 1924 - Pastor Merbitz resigned, Rev. Mr. Charles W. Tedrahn takes over.
- 1928 - George Kruse dies 28 April, buried at Concordia
- 1928 - Chicago Directory, Fred Kruse, living at r. 3821 S. Michigan Ave, also Dependon Garage.
- 1928 - Minnie Kruse, Stenographer, Community Motors Inc., r. 8443 Oglesby.
- 1928 - Wm Kruse, Dependon Garage, h 5725 N. Washtenaw Ave.
- 1930 - Census, Marie, Sophie, Minnie, Ferdinand at 8443 Oglesby Ave.
- 1930 - Ferdinand Kruse marries Annabelle Vercruysse in July at St. Peters?
- 1930 - Fred and Annabelle move into apartment at 8545 Yates Ave, a block from Oglesby.
- 1934 - Marie Sommer Kruse dies at age 73 on 25 Apr, buried at Concordia.