Descendants of
Henry Gerling
of
Fort Hunter
Town of Florida

Montgomery County, NY

Contributed by Lisa Slaski.



This Gerling family is not directly connected to my own as far as I know. However, in researching my Gerling lineage, I also looked a little further into this family as well. Though I don't have specific information, it is likely that Henry and Elizabeth Rothmyer Gerling were born in Hille, Westfalen, Germany. Once again I note the connection between families who resided in Fort Hunter, Amsterdam and Schenectady!

First Generation

1. Carl Henry Gerling was born about 1842 in Germany, the son of Charles and (Carrie?) Gerling. He went by the name of Henry. He was married to Elizabeth Rothmyer. Elizabeth was born March 1847 in Germany. She immigrated about 1872 and settled in Fort Hunter. Henry died on 5 Mar 1894 in Fort Hunter. At the time of his death he was a sexton (presumably for the German M. E. church of Fort Hunter) and was 52 years old. He died of pneumonia. Elizabeth is living by herself as a widow in the town of Florida in 1900. About 1902 she moved to Schenectady and is found living with her daughter, Mrs. William (Mary) Uphoff, in later census records and died at her residence.


Amsterdam Daily Democrat and Record, on or about 6 Mar 1893 (edges of newspaper image cut off)
Mr. Henry Gerling

Henry Gerling of Fort Hunter died at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon aged 52 years. His death was due to pneumonia and he had been ill just a week. Mr. Gerling was a prominent member of the German Methodist church of Fort Hunter and for several years has been the sexton of the church. He was a member of the German Benevolent society of this city. Mr. Gerling had many friends in Amsterdam who will regret to learn of his deaht. He is survived by a widow and three children, two daughters and a son. The funeral will be held from the German Methodist church at Fort Hunter, Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock. Interment will be made in Pine Grove cemetery.



Amsterdam Evening Recorder, June 13, 1924
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Gerling

    Mrs. Elizabeth Rothmyer Gerling, widow of the late Cary [sic] Henry Gerling, died Wednesday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William H. Uphoff, 26 Hegeman street, Schenectady. She had been in poor health since two years ago, when she broke both arms, and she had been seriously ill since the first of the year. Mrs. Gerling was born 77 years ago in Germany. She came to America in 1872, making her home at Fort Hunter, and 21 years ago she went to Schenectady to live. She became a member of the Fort Hunter M. E. church in 1872, and kept her connection with the church until her death. She was also a member of the German Ladies Benevolent society. Mrs. Gerling is survived by two daughters, Mrs. William H. Uphoff of Schenectady and Mrs. Charles Droege of Mohawk; one son, Harry Gerling of Schenectady; two grandchildren, Mrs. Albert Wellman of Schenectady and Miss Helen Droege of Mohawk. There are also three brothers, Christian and Louis Niemyer [spelled Niermeyer in many census records] of Schenectady and August Rothmyer of Germany, and a sister, Mrs. Louisa Van Buren of Germany.

    The funeral will be held at the home Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock. Interment will be made in Pine Grove cemetery at Tribes Hill.


Henry and Elizabeth had the following children:
    1.1. Henry Louis Gerling, jr., b. 5 Jan 1880 in NY, d. 6 Jan 1948
    1.2. Mary Gerling, b. abt 1882 in NY, m. William H. Uphoff.
    1.3. Ella Gerling, b. abt 1885 in NY, m. Charles Droege.
    1.4. (child) Gerling, d. before 1900.


Second Generation

1.1. Henry Louis Gerling was born 5 Jan 1880 in NY. He was married about 1902 to Susanna Katherine Ehrke. Susanna was born 25 Nov 1880 in Schenectady, NY, a daughter of Charles and Catherine Sunday Ehrke. They resided in Schenectady, NY. Sometime after Susanna's death, he married Mabel Winsor. Henry and Mabel resided in Cobleskill, NY and had no children.

Amsterdam Evening Recorder, Saturday, June 7, 1902

Henry Gerling of Fort Hunter and Susane Ehrke of this city were married Wednesday evening at Schenectady, where they will reside. They are stopping at Fort Hunter for a few days.


Schenectady Gazette, Monday, April 13, 1942
Mrs. Henry L. Gerling
Funeral Tomorrow

     Mrs. Henry L. Gerling, 63, of 412 Glen avenue, Scotia, who died Friday at her home after a brief illness, will be buried tomorrow in Park cemetery, Scotia, after services at 2 P.m. at the Healy and Mabee funeral home, 1 Mohawk avenue. Rev. Dow S. Clute, pastor of the Scotia Methodist church, will officiate.

     The former Susan K. Ehrke, she was born in Schenectady and resided there until 12 years ago when she moved to Scotia. She was a member of the Townsend movement. Surviving are her husband; a daughter, Mrs. Albert Wellman of Scotia; a brother, Gus Ehrke, and a sister, Mrs. James Baldwin, both of Fallon, Nev.


The Otsego Farmer (Cooperstown), 1956/57 (exact date of newspaper cut off)
Mrs. Henry Gerling

Mrs. Mable Gerling, aged 67, of Schenectady died on April 25.

        She was born October 1, 1888, in Portlandville; the daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Sexton) Winsor. She was married to Henry Gerling in Cobleskill. He died January 6, 1948.

        She was a member of Portlandville Methodist Church.

        Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Mary Georgia of Westford; three brothers, Edgar Winsor of Binghamton; Gilbert Winsor of Portlandville; and Albert Winsor of Cooperstown; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Tillapaugh Funeral Home in Milford, with the Rev. Philip Pitcher, pastor of the Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was in Milford Cemetery.


The Leader Republican, Gloversville and Johnstown, Saturday, January 3, 1948

Cobleskill - Henry Gerling, 67, Cobleskill, was killed instantly yesterday afternoon when the automobile he was driving struck the left side of a truck near Waterville, Schoharie county. Troopers said he suffered a fractured skull, broken neck and fractures in the left arm and leg. Coroner Leroy Becker of Cobleskill gave a verdict of accidental death.


Henry and Susanna had the following child:
    1.2.1. Ruth Gerling, b. abt 1904 in NY; m. Albert Wellman.

1.2. Mary Gerling was born about 1882 in NY (probably in Fort Hunter). She was married about 1902 to William H. Uphoff. William was born 22 Sep 1876 in IL, a son of Henry and Christina Uphoff of Washington county, IL in 1880. William and Mary resided in Schenectady. He was a motorman on an electric railway in 1910. In 1920 he was a machinist in "electrical works" (likely General Electric). In 1930 he was a repairman in the (Bucket? Dept.) at General Electric. They had no children by 1930. Mary's mother lived with them from around 1902 'til her death in 1924. William died Nov 1968.

1.3. Ella Gerling was born about 1885 and married Charles Droege. Charles was born about 1879 and is likely the son of Charles and Caroline Droege of town of Florida, Montgomery county, NY in the 1880 census who is listed as being born Aug 1879 in that census. In 1920 they are residing in Mohawk, Herkimer county, NY. In 1930 they are residing in Schenectady, NY.

Ella and Charles had the following child:
    1.3.1. Helen E. Droege, b. abt 1911 in NY.

The following legal notice provides additional information about Elizabeth Rothmeyer Gerling's relatives:

Schenectady Gazette, Friday, June 16, 1944

The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God, Free and Independent, Send Greeting:

To the Heirs, Distributees, and all other persons interested in the estate of C. Louis Niermeyer, deceased, late of the Town of Niskayuna, in the County of Schenectady, and State of New York, but especially to Ella L. Droege, 17 Horstman Drive, Schenectady, N.Y.; Edward Rothmeyer, Tribes Hill, N.Y.; Matie Rothmeyer, R.D. No. 3, Amsterdam, N.Y.; Louis Rothmeyer, 20 Phillip Street, Amsterdam, N.Y.; Carrie Trentleman, 11 Brandt Place, Amsterdam, N.Y.; Emily Rothmeyer Tribes Hill, N.Y.; Winifred Rothmeyer, Tribes Hill, N.Y., and to Ludwig Rothmeyer, Lavelslyh No. 67, Kries Neinburg, Post Diepenan, Germany; Wilhelmina Schlueter, Lubbecke, Feldmark 26, Kries Lubbecke, Germany; Louise Von Behren, No. 218 Hille; August Rothmeyer Jr., Hille No. 382; Sophia Kratv, No. 120 Sudhemmern; Wilhelmina Engelage, No. 287 Hille; Sophie Horstman, Hille No. 230; Louise Haake, No. 98 Sudhemmern; Frederike Finke, Eickhorst, No. 67; Maria Rothermeyer, Hille No. 382; Louise Bahmoller Hille No. 440, all in Amt Hartum, Krieg Minden, Germany, if living, and if they be dead, to their respective executors, administrators or widow, issue, heirs at law, next of kin and distributees are unknown, and to "John Doe" and "Jane Doe" representing any unknown issue, heirs at law, next of kin or distributees, and to Allen Property Custodian, Washington, 25, D.C.

Whereas, Henry L. Gerling, who resides at Cobleskill, Schoharie County, N.Y., has lately applied to the Surrogate's Court of our County of Schenectady to have a certain instrument in writing dated the 1st day of July, 1936, relating to both real and personal property, duly proved as the last will and testament of C. Louis Niermeyer, who was at the time of this death a resident of the Town of Niskayuna in the County of Schenectady, deceased.

Therefore, you and each of you are hereby cited to show cause before the Surrogate's Court of our County of Schenectady, at the Surrogate's office in the City of Schenectady, on the 26th day of June, one thousand nine hundred and forty-four at ten o'clock in the forenoon of that day, why the said instrument should not be admitted to probate as the last will and testament of said C. Louis Niermeyer, deceased, valid to pass real and personal property.

In Testimony Whereof, we have caused the Seal of our Surrogate's Court to be hereunto affixed. Witness: Hon. William W. Campbell, Surrogate of our said County at the City of Schenectady, the 24th day of May, 1944.

William F. Hahn, Jr.
Clerk of the Surrogate's Court.
H. E. Blodgett,
Attorney for Pettitioner,
Office and P.O. Address
408 State Street
Schenectady, N.Y.


Sources:

  1. Obituary: Amsterdam Evening Recorder, 13 Jun 1924 for Elizabeth Gerling
  2. Death record of Henry Gerling of the town of Florida
  3. Will/Probate for Henry Gerling in Montgomery county
  4. 1860-1930 Federal Census records, various
  5. Amsterdam Daily Headlines (http://www.mohawkvalleyweb.com/genealogy.html)
  6. Social Security Death Index
  7. Various newspaper articles as provided
  8. WWI Civilian Draft Registration

Ehrcke Family

I'm sure there is missing information for this family. Early newspapers (pre 1900) are difficult to find online for Schenectady, and as it is a large city, not all deaths are recorded in the Schenectady newspapers for area residents. John's date of death is determined by searching city directories (he was last listed in 1910 and his wife was listed as widow of John in 1915).

Charles Ehrcke resided in 1880 in the city of Schenectady and in 1892 in Glenville, Schenectady county, NY. He married Catherine Sunday and had the following children (though the eldest son may have come from a previous marriage). Catherine died on 1 Jan 1890 in Schenectady. Charles died in Glenville on 1 Mar 1894.

Variant spellings of the surname include: Ehrke / Ehrcke / Echrke

Their children were:

  1. William A. Ehrcke, b. 28 Oct 1859, Germany, d. 24 Sep 1932, m. Albertine Verweive, resided in Schoharie, NY
  2. Waldreth Ehrcke, b. abt 1871, Germany
  3. Albert Ehrcke, b. abt 1872, Germany, d. 23 Oct 1890, Schenectady
  4. Anna Ehrcke, b. abt 1874, NY
  5. John Ehrcke, b. abt 1875, NY, d. between 1910 and 1915, m. Emma Brinkman (she d. 25 Dec 1926 in Schenectady)
  6. Mary Elisabeth Ehrcke, b. 9 Jun 1878, Schenectady, NY, d. 28 Feb 1952, Fallon, Churchill, NV, m. James Baldwin
  7. August Henry Ehrcke, b. 8 Aug 1879, NY, d. 14 May 1950, Washoe Co., NV
  8. Susanna Ehrcke, b. 25 Nov 1880, m. Henry Gerling (see above)
  9. Herman Ehrcke, b. about 1884, m. Mary, residing in Rotterdam, Schenectady, NY in 1915
  10. Dora/Dorothy Ehrcke, b. abt 1886

Schenectady Gazette, Thursday morning, October 6, 1932

Under Central Bridge

William Ehrcke, Sr.

        William Ehrcke, sr., 72, who died at his home here September 24 after a short illness, was born at Insel Ruegen Pommerin, Germany, October 28, 1859.

        Mr. Ehrcke was actively engaged in farming in Schoharie county for over 40 years. He was a progressive supporter of the Dairymen's League and other organizations of farmers.

        He is survived by his widow, Alberta Verwieve; two sons, Albert Ehrcke of Schenectady and William Ehrcke jr., of Central Bridge, and five daughters, Mrs. Earl Lott and Mrs. Albert Stalker of Central Bridge, Mrs. Phillip Soper of Bouquet, Mrs. Howward Abel and Mrs. Kenneth Failing of Fort Plain.

        The funeral of Mr. Ehrcke was held September 27 at his late home. Rev. g. O. Sands officiated. Interment was in the Lutheran cemetery at Schoharie.


Schenectady Gazette, Monday morning, December 27, 1926

        Ehrcke - December 25, 1926, Emma Ehrcke, aged 63 years, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. [Myrtle] Willard C. Haver, No. 321 Germania avenue.

        Funeral services Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from F. H. Glock's funeral chapel, No. 30 Jay street, to which relatives and friends are invited. Friends may also view the remains Monday evening between the hours of 7 and 9. Interment in Vale Cemetery.


Schenectady Gazette, Monday morning, December 28, 1926

        Mrs. Emma Ehrcke, 63, mother of Mrs. Willard C. Haver of 321 Germania avenue, died at the home of ther daughter on Saturday after an illness of several days. The service will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in Glock's funeral parlors, 30 Jay street, conducted by Dr. Philip L. Frick of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Vale cemetery.

        Mrs. Ehrcke was born in this city and had always lived here. She was the wife of John Ehrcke. She leaves a son, Earl Horstmann; two daughters, Mrs. W. C. Haver, and Mrs. Harvey Bump; a brother, Ceo Brinkman, and a sister, Mrs. Leah Verkins.


Sources for the Ehrcke family:

  1. Census Records
  2. Newspaper Articles as provided
  3. death certificate of August Henry Ehrcke and Mary Elizabeth Ehrcke Baldwin
  4. NYS death index
  5. Schenectady City Directories
  6. WWI Civilian Draft Registration


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Created: 2/22/05
Updated: 2/24/18 - now includes more information on the son, Henry Gerling and his wife and her family.
Copyright © 2005 Lisa Slaski
All Rights Reserved.
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