1998 Reunion

Note from the Editor

Greetings from Germany

Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Special Events

Additions to "The Book"

Introductions & Queries

Historian's Corner

Update on Book Reprint

Lost Gerkings

How  To Send Your News to the Newsletter

Link to Minutes of the Last Three Reunions

A Note from the Editor 

That's because genealogy is a living, ever-changing and ever-expanding pursuit. The more information one finds, the more questions are raised. The information in this newsletter comes from those who contribute it. In most cases, there is no hard proof that it is accurate, but it's what researchers have found at this point. 

There's much that's new in this issue, including expanded information about some lines; a Gerking/Gurkin line in NC that holds its own reunions; a German connection from a man who wants "to find my American family;" and examples of how use of the Internet is bringing forth new information. 

When we voted at the 1989 reunion to create the newsletter, its purpose was to build on Florence Bowe's Gerking Family in America book so our family information could be kept current and not be lost. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd be so successful in obtaining information. In addition to those of you who send your information via the U.S. Postal Service, the Internet has provided a very nice way of supplementing and updating our family information. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this project a success. Don't stop now!

I'm writing this at the "bitter end" of putting this issue together and find there's about a page of information that's not going to fit (every editor's nightmare), so y'all come to the reunion to learn more about what's missing! Some hints: where you can get keys to Kees; flags on veterans' graves at Blue Mountain Cemetery; why the cemetery's name was "changed," what happened to the original plaque for Dave Lenox's grave; pictures of Gerking grave markers on the web; the Pioneer Picnic Guest Book on the web; and more about Gerkings on the web. Hope to see you all August 9! — Beth 

"Rollin' on the River" III 

The date is Sunday, August 9 (always the second Sunday in August). Plan to meet around 11:00 a.m., and we'll eat about 1:00 p.m. (although last year hunger struck a little early). We've reserved a tented area again, and we'll have a grill, electricity, and running water. 

The park overlooks the beautiful Columbia River, and there's plenty of flat grass area for kids, playing or just strolling. 

The Reunion 

•Bob Gilliland of Weston, OR, has been invited to attend. Bob is a Trustee for Blue Mountain (Kees) Cemetery and will be able to update us on the status of the cleanup and restoration project as well as other fascinating details. He also has a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Union/Umatilla/Walla Walla Co. areas and is well acquainted with the Gerking Flat area. 

•Our business meetings are usually fairly short, but this time we're not leaving until we elect a President! Come prepared to either accept nomination gracefully or to be railroaded. Whoo! Whoo! 

The rest of the agenda is flexible and open to all ideas and input. Some items I'd like to see discussed include our decision to reprint the "Gerking Book" and rising newsletter costs. Also, next year will be our 40th Annual Reunion — that's a lot of years, so do we want to do anything special? 

What to Bring 

Bring lawn chairs, if you'd like — they're usually more comfortable than picnic table benches. Games that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages are always welcome. Gerking Family Historian Florence Bowe will be there with her knowledge of family history to help answer your questions, and she may have other surprises for us. Florence has requested that everyone bring family information and items for sharing, including pictures of past reunions, if you have them. 

We hope the Bixby Family will be bringing their voices. Joe Bixby has kindly sent words to "The Rooster Song," which was so popular last year. There will be reprints at the reunion so we can all sing along if they can be convinced to sing it again this year! 

Lodging 

Camping 

There also are many Oregon State Parks in the area; however, you'll want to check on availability. For reservations or information on those sites accepting reservations, call (800) 452-5687. For information on non-reservation parks, call (800) 551-6949. 

Things To Do 

The Dalles Chronicle has published a far-ranging booklet titled "Visit the Gorge," which lists much more to do and more places to stay than we could put in the newsletter. To order a copy (I think it's free), call (541) 296-2141. 

There are also: 

The Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge — The sternwheeler plies the Columbia River from Cascade Locks to Bonneville Dam, ususally accompanied by a live historical narrative. Reservations are necessary — call (503) 223-3928 for information. 

The Mount Hood Railroad — Shhhhh! Don't tell a soul, but word has it that the train will be robbed on its August 15th and 16th runs. Built in 1906, the train hauled passengers and freight between Hood River and Parkdale for many years. Phone (800) TRAIN-61 or (541) 386-3556 for more information or reservations. 

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, combined with the Wasco County Historical Museum, offers a view of the entire Mid-Columbia region, both the past and the present, and from all accounts it falls in the "Don't Miss It!" category. Phone (541) 296-8600, or write to P.O. Box 998, The Dalles, OR 97058 for more information. 

Almost directly across the Columbia from Cascade Locks is the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center run by the U.S. Forest Service. Phone (800)-991-2338 or (509) 427-8211 for information. 
 

You'll go down a small hill and make a rather sharp curving turn to the right under the railroad tracks. From there you'll be able to see the picnic area off to your right. 

Karl Gerking
Born 1930 
Bremerhaven, Germany 

Dear Gerking Families In the USA: 

My greetings over the ocean, for you and your families, from Karl Gerking. I have connection to your Gerking-reunion. Internet it makes possible. Mrs. Beth Johnston tell me were I find the "Gerking NewsPaper" on the Internet. Now I know something about the Family History Gerking. 

Maybe we have the same roots. The connection are come over. 

My email-address is [email protected] — it was here that Gina Gerking wrote me with a message. I am happy if you write me also. 

The plaque reads: "This monument commemorates the beginning of German emigration to America in 1683. For millions of Europeans Bremerhaven was the port of embarkation for those leaving the old world and going to the new. Veneration and esteem for the past and hope and confidence for the future form the basis for the continued friendship between the people of Germany and the United States of America. October 1983." 

In Loving Memory 

Dorothy "Dot" Chaney Beck, widow of Paul Beck (12-4-3-9), died during the summer of 1997 after a long illness. (Information from niece Patricia Adsit). 

Ruth Loretta Scott Burnett (12-11-3-2) passed away 1 Aug 1995. This information is from her granddaughter, Ceridwen Attwood, who also reports that all of Ruth's sisters, including Helene Ariadna Scott Stivers (12-11-3-3), who passed away in late 1994, are deceased. 

Lloyd Estes Cannon, husband of Iona Alice Gerking (12-4-5-3) passed away 2 Apr 1995. (Information from Iona A. Cannon). 

Zenith Vaarwick Gerkin, wife of Rebert Emill Gerkin (7-9-2-2), died 28 Sep 1997 at Torrance, CA. (Information from Shelley Esterholt). 

Shelby Delos Gerking (5-7-2-3-1) died 11 Jan 1998. His ashes were interred in the Memorial Garden of St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church, Scottsdale, AZ. (Information from his wife, Louisa B. Gerking). 

Editor's Note: Shelby's academic and scholarly contributions were nationally known. A general search of the Internet for the surname "Gerking" turned up numerous references to his work and publications and also references to Louisa's civic activites. 

Lois Bernice Lewis (Parrish) Morris (12-7-1-4-2) died of cancer 22 Dec 1997 in Marysville, WA. A memorial service was held 18 Dec 1997 at Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church; disposition was by creamation, with ashes to be deposited in Puget Sound. (Information from Paul A. Lewis) 

Florence Jackson Perisich (12-5-5-3) passed away 6 Mar 1996. Her husband, Pete Perisich, also has passed away according to information from her niece, Janelle Jackson. 

Lloyd Willis "Bill" Robison (12-7-2-3-3) passed away 13 Sep 1997. He was living in McMinnville, OR at the time. (Information from Betty Thomas Van Meter). 

Howard Averald Scott, husband of Charlotte Gladys Goodfellow (6-7-3-2), died 28 Dec 1997 at Fall River Mills, Shasta Co., CA. Burial was at Lassen Cemetery, Susanville, Lassen Co., CA. (Information from Clyda L. Goodfellow. Clyda also wrote that Gladys is in the long-term care center at Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills, CA). 

Clarence L. "Van" Van Meter, passed away in Salem, OR in December, 1997. Van and Betty (12-12-7-2-5-2) were staples at reunions during her many years as Secretary-Treasurer for the Gerking Family group. (Information from Betty Thomas Van Meter). 

Elmer Watson, husband of Alta Lucille Gerking (6-1-1-1-5) died 28 Dec 1997, in Tacoma, WA. (Information from Gina M. Gerking). 

Marriages 

Diane Gerking (12-8-7-2-5) to Doug Boedigheimer, 22 Mar 1997 at First Christian Church, Silverton, OR. (Information from Mike Gerking, Milton-Freewater, OR). 

Cary Strom (7-9-2-2-2-2) to Thuy Le 13 Dec 1997 in Santa Ana, CA. (Information from Shelley Esterholt) 

Shelley Strom (7-9-2-2-2-1) to Mark Esterholt 9 Jul 1994 in Newport Beach, CA. (Information from Shelley Esterholt) 

Births 

Tanner Esterholt (7-9-2-2-2-1-1), to Mark and Shelley Strom Esterholt, 1 Feb 1997, Santa Ana, CA. (Information from Shelley Esterholt). 

Jakob Spencer Gerking (6-4-8-2-1-5), to Robert Mark and Toni Gerking, 5 Jan 1998, Sioux City, IA. (Information from Uncle Richard Gerking). 

Note: Florence and Larry Bowe have two more great-granddaughters, Kyra Lynn Abitz and Katherine RoseToole, but I don't yet have dates for their births. 

Other 

Special Celebrations 

Kathy is the daughter of Kenneth Stewart York (6-7-1-2-2). Her full name is Sandra Kathleen York, and she was married to Peter Ingram Breen 5 Jan 1985. She has a daughter by a previous marriage, Michelle Lee McCormick (6-7-1-2-2-1-1), born 15 Apr 1975. Kathy's sisters and brother are listed in the book, but their marriages and children missed the cutoff: 

Julie Adell York (6-7-1-2-2-2) m. 14 Feb 1980 to Harlan Dennis Andresen. Their children are Dinitia Marie Andresen (6-7-1-2-2-2-1), b. 24 Jul 1980 and Craig Kenneth Andresen (6-7-1-2-2-2-2), b. 28 Jan 1985. 

Tina Marie "Tami" York (6-7-1-2-2-3), whose son Michael Kenneth York (6-7-1-2-2-3-1) was b. 15 Dec 1979. 
 

Her brother, Henry E. Minnick, Jr. (12-2-2-2-1-1-2) has four children by his first wife, Nellie Rose Surface: Henry Edgar Morris Minnick III (12-2-2-2-1-1-2-1), b. 20 Oct 1982; Misty Dawn Minnick (12-2-2-2-1-1-2-2), b. 5 Oct 1984; Shawn Minnick (12-2-2-2-1-1-2-3), b. 27 Oct 1985; and Judith Mae Colleen Minnick (12-2-2-2-1-1-2-4), b. 13 Apr 1987. Henry, Jr. married (2) Ellen Yvonne Leffel 16 Aug 1995. 

Debra also has three more sisters not in the book: 

Penny Lorraine Minnick (12-2-2-2-1-1-3), b. 7 Jul 1959; 
Children of Penny Lorraine Minnick: Alicia Renee Fuller (12-2-2-2-1-1-3-*) d. 6 Feb 1996, Medford, OR, and Tamara Marie Dykstra (12-2-2-2-1-1-3-*). Tamara and Arnold Eugene Dail have a daughter Falisha Marie Dail (12-2-2-2-1-1-3-*-*), b. 26 May 1997. 

Teresa Ann Minnick (12-2-2-2-1-1-4), b. 28 Oct 1960, d. 15 Jul 1962; and 

Brenda Sue Minnick (12-2-2-2-1-1-5) b. 19 Sep 1963. 
Brenda Sue Minnick mar. Alan Ross Horton 1 Jul 1990, and they have 3 children: Jonathan Jordan Minnick-Horton (12-2-2-2-1-1-5-1), b. 18 Sep 1986; Megan May Horton (12-2-2-2-1-1-5-2), b. 5 Mar 1995; and Linda Lee Horton (12-2-2-2-1-1-5-3), b. 17 Oct 1997. 

Introductions & Queries

You don't have to be on the Internet to send a query — just write a letter or send it in on the form at the end of the newsletter. If you have email, you can use the addresses following the names to respond; if you don't have email, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the person. 

John wrote that he would be very interested if anyone has information about the following: ". . . . As far as my Gerkin line, the James Gerkin could be the right line . . . . All the names I have to this point are Gerkin. I start with John Gerkin who was born abt. 1826 in Indiana, he was married to Parmelia ? They had children Mary, Susan, Alice, Henry, and Wesley. Census records show that John was born in IN but that he married Parmelia in KY. 

"At some point this family moved to Shelbeyville, IL. My line is through Wesley Gerkin b. 1860 in IL, d. 1944 Brush, CO. He married Annie Wiser 2/6/1881 in Moultrie Co, IL. Annie was b. 1861 in Case Co, KY. Their children were Cora, Bertha, Oval, William, Effie, John, Rosa, Oliver, and Jane Ann. Some of the children were born in Nebraska and some in Colorado. My line is through Jane Ann Gerkin who is my maternal grandmother." 

From Ceridwen Attwood ([email protected]) 

Ceridwen (12-11-3-2-1-2) is pursuing her Scott and Jay lines and writes: "Not only did Mary [M. Gerking, Ceridwen's gggrandmother] marry a Scott, but her brother Jim married two Scotts. . . . He apparently married Margaret Jane Scott in Sullivan Co., MO in 1862, 22 years before he married Susan Isabel Scott in Weston, OR. My information lists twin daughters born after they came to Oregon (which I think was in 1864?) and that his wife died while the girls were infants. The marriage to Susan was in 1884. My information conflicts on number of children—one source says 10, one says 6. I can tell from what I have that Susan Isabel was the sister of William Henry Harrison Scott; my question is if Margaret was also a sister, or perhaps a cousin of the same family." 

Ceridwen also is interested in pursuing the Nancy Myers and Rachael Rice families (which should make Florence very happy — see story on page 5!). 

From Gina Gerking ([email protected]) 

Gina (6-1-1-1-6-2-1) is descended from David Peter Gerking through Peter Maple Gerking. She's been a very active researcher and has sent her family information — unfortunately, there's not quite enough room this time to get it all in. She's stayed in constant touch with Karl Gerking of Germany. Hopefully we'll see Gina at the reunion where she can share all her information. 

From Cheryl Gerkin ([email protected]) 

Cheryl (5-10-5-8-*-**) is descended from one of the more elusive Gerking branches, that of John Gerking, Jr. through his son Robert Gerking. The asterisks (*) in her number indicate that The Gerking Family in America doesn't have information on those generations — * represents Cheryl's father, Jerry Gerkin, Sr., and ** represents Cheryl. I've not heard back from Cheryl since my last message to her so have no further information to share at this point. 

LaDonna (7-5-*-*-*-*) wrote: " I just started research on GERKIN and . . . [have] found almost nothing listed for Gerkin. . . . My gg grandmother was Permelia Gerkin b. 1826. She was married to Abraham M. Harding 7 Dec 1843 in Martin Co., Halbert Twp., IN. The only other Gerkin I've found is Mary Gerkin m. 8 Aug 1856 in Orange Co., IN to Jacob Gromer b. 28 Dec 1832 KY, d. 10 Jun 1899, Orange Co., IN." 

Thanks to Florence and The Gerking Family in America, we could determine that LaDonna is descended from John Gerking, Jr.'s son, James. 

From Beth Johnston ([email protected]) — " . . . What caught my eye was the surname, Gerkin. I have an old scrap of paper where my grandmother has written that one of my ancestors was scalped by the Indians and left for dead but his little dog licked his wound and he lived. First of all, I am not really sure whether the first letter is a G or a J and second, this would have been in New York State, a long time ago, probably 1700s. So my ancestor may be Gerkin, Jerkin or Jenkin, I really can't tell. Did any of yours live in NY?" (Note: This is not your editor, but another person with the same name). 

From Barb Heinie ([email protected]): ". . . It would appear that it was my side of the family (living in NC) that changed the spelling to Gurkin, and that everyone else has maintained the Gerking spelling. [I] made the discovery that the family had split at some point, from the NC area to IN, and (guessing here) the NC end changed the name to Gurkin, hence prompting the search for Gerking. This would explain why I have kept coming up with nothing for the last 20 years! 

My tree starts with Zachariah Gerking, Sr., married to Elizabeth Walker. The son of Zacharaiah Sr. Zachariah Gerking, Jr., was married to Hannah Harrison Banks. Their children were Joshua, Zachariah Gerking III, & Benjamin. Our side of the family, and yours, assuming your John Gerking (Jonathan Rice Gerking's father) is this John, branches from Joshua Gerking. 

Editor's Note: In other words, Barb is saying her research shows John Gerking, Sr.'s father as Joshua Gerking, and that her descent is from John, Sr.'s brother Jeremiah Gerking/Gurkin. This is not new, but it is not reflected in The Gerking Family in America. The numbering system used in the book begins with the children of John Gerking, Sr., so right now there is no way to show Barb's lineage using the book's numbering system. Hopefully Florence will be able to explain more at the reunion! 

I have come across two letters and information that say that William Rice, Rachael's father, was a colonel in the Revolutionary War. This has not been proven. Effie Tolle told Will & Minnie [Junkin] that Grandfather Gerking's mother's mother was a nurse in the war but I'll have to check out if it was the Revolution or 1812. 

Another line for our family there is the [Nancy] Myers connection. I don't think other family lines would be objected to. . . ." FMB 
 

Book & Index Reprint Update 

Due to Florence's not feeling very well during the last year, we've had to put reissuing The Gerking Family in America on hold. Currently we have expressions of interest for 20 books, which should be enough to get a reasonable price for re-copying. The "orders" dribble in as people learn about the book, so the interest is there. 

We've sold eight copies of the book's Index, which was offered independently of the book at $4.00 each. I still have a few copies left and will bring them to the reunion for anyone else who would like to purchase one. 

The only Gerking I knew besides my grandmother, Angie Junkin, was Grover Gerking. I met him in the late 1940s when my mother hired him to paint our house. He had dinner with us every evening until the work was done. I found him to be extremely nice, very quiet and a gentleman. He attended our wedding and gave Larry and me a beautiful pink wool blanket. I wish we had kept in touch, but I was a young bride and mother with a lot of responsibility. However, as I have done my research in later years I have found so many who had questions about their family after those who would know have passed away. 

Grover Gerking was born August 10, 1885 at Athena, Oregon. He was the ninth child of Jonathan Napoleon Bonaparte Gerking and Lucy Pottorf. He was a very handsome young man when he married Mary Hubbard, the daughter of Frank Hubbard and Mary Paxton. The event took place April 20, 1920, in Portland, Oregon. They were the proud parents of a lovely daughter, Betty Jo, who was born October 30, 1923. Just a few years after Betty Jo's birth, Mary passed away from a complicated pregnancy. Betty was raised by her father without her mother's touch. She probably felt this deeply. 

Grover died July 27, 1958, in Portland. Other than this, I know little else but I am sure there would be interesting stories. 

LOST GERKINGS 

If you have a current address for any of them, please let us know. Thanks to all who helped us find our "lost" ones. 
 
 

Lost 1998 

Lost 1997

Carol Stulz Clark 
Margaret Cowger 
Don Leabo (WA) 
Mabelle Morlan 
Vada Graves Walker

Lost 1996 

Lost 1995 

Lost 1994 

Lost 1992 

Minutes of the 1996 Gerking Family Meeting

Minutes of the 1997 Gerking Family Meeting