History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Gerke, Edward J. proprietor with his wife of the Merrill Concrete Block works, at Merrill, Lincoln County, was born in Germania, Marquette County, Wis., June 23, 1883, son of Ludwig and Minnie GERKE. The parents were natives of Germany who came to the United States when young and were married in Marquette County, this state. They spent their active years in farming until Mr. GERKE'S death in 1920; Mrs. GERKE, now 83 years old, is living with her daughter at Princeton, Wis. There were six children in the family: Pauline, who married Arch HENRY of Princeton and is now a widow; Bertha, wife of Will SHERWOOD, a farmer of Green Lake County, Wis.; Millie, wife of Frank KRUEGER, a farmer near Wautoma, Wis.; Vina, wife of Irvin SHERWOOD of Green Lake County; Edward J. of Merrill; and Clara, who is now Mrs. Richard KEMMETZ of Green Lake County. Edward J. GERKE acquired his education in the district school and subsequently worked on his parents' farm until reaching the age of 21 years. He then went to Minnesota with a threshing outfit, subseqently worked as clerk in a hardware store near Mankato and afterwards for one year in a general store. He then returned to Wisconsin and during the following winter was cook in a lumber camp at Knox Mills. His next employment was as brakeman on the C. M. & St. P. Railway, Chicago Division, and as freight conductor, in which occupation he continued for four years. Then going to Oshkosh, Wis., he bought a farm in Winnebago County, which he operated for two years. In 1913 he came to Merrill, where he was engaged in the retail business for six months, and later for a similar length of time in the restaurant business. Then in 1914 the Merrill Concrete Block works was started by John EBERT with Mr. GERKE as manager. In 1921 Mrs. GERKE purchased the business and he and his wife operated it on a profitable basis until Aug. 1923, then moved to their present new plant. He is a member of the Eagles and Odd Fellows and of the Merrill Social and Sick Benefit Society. Mr. GERKE'S marriage on Oct. 28, 1915, in Merrill, united him to Silma EBERT, daughter of John and Mary EBERT, her parents, now living in Merrill, having been early settlers in Marathon County.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 558-559, History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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