Francis Xavier and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken

Francis Xavier Gerken was born on March 26, 1854, at Hegensdorf, Westphalia, Prussia, son of Jodocus Wilhelm and Catharina (Thiele) Gerken. A family tree prepared in Germany listed his birth date as March 27, 1844 (baptismal date?). His given name was Caspar Xaver Franz, but he was ever known in the United States as Francis Xavier Gerken or F.X. Gerken, and commonly called "Xavier."

German documents indicate that Francis Xavier Gerken came to the United States in 1875. His April 10, 1877, Declaration of Intent to Become a Citizen of the United States indicates he landed in the United States on December 12, 1874. The family oral tradition holds that he was put on board a ship bound for America by his mother when he was a young man, for she had already lost one son to the fighting in the German states, and she was determined not to lose another. He would always miss his homeland in Germany, but he was never to return there. Thus he travelled to Dyersville, Iowa, where his uncle Herman Gerken lived, and where his half-brother C.H. Gerken had also previously settled.

On April 16, 1877, Xavier Gerken was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Hinners of New Vienna, Iowa. The wedding took place at the St. Boniface church and was celebrated by the Reverend Father Conrad Schulte. Gertrude Hinners was born on February 28, 1851, in Ohio.

Xavier and Gertrude Gerken settled in Dyersville, where Mr. Gerken engaged in the wagon making business, having started the Ignatz Summer shop in Eagle Pt. Two years later they moved to Parker, Turner County, South Dakota, where he engaged in the milling business. The 1880 U.S. Census has the Gerken household in Turner County, South Dakota, consisting of Xaver, age 26, running grist mill, born in Prussia; Gertie, age 29, keeping house, born in Ohio; and Gertie, age 2, born in Iowa.

A family story relates that F.X. was in a partnership agreement with another man in the milling business (probably that meant buying and selling wheat, flour, feed, and the like). The Partner ran the office, paid the bills, etc. F.X. ran the mill, waited on customers, loaded and unloaded grain and the jobs that go with it. The Partner's wife had a niece who hung around the office a lot, but F.X. thought nothing about it. One good day both the Partner and his wife's niece were gone, and F.X. found that the bills weren't paid and the bank account was empty. Then what happens? One version of the story states that they had fled town and were never heard from again. Another version tells that the Partner and the niece, who was pregnant, went to Sioux City, Iowa, where he reportedly murdered her, was caught, tried, convicted, and hanged for murder. This episode may have meant the ruin of the milling business for F.X. and prompted his return to Iowa. At any rate, F.X. refused to discuss the matter with anyone.

The Gerken family lived in South Dakota for eleven years and then returned to Iowa, settling in New Vienna, where he took up carpenter work, and where they lived the rest of their lives. In 1900, the Gerken household consisted of F.X., age 46, his wife Gertrude, age 49; and their children, Gertrude, age 22; John, age 19; Lizzie, age 15; and Henrietta, age 8.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerken, during all their years in the New Vienna vicinity, enjoyed the friendship and esteem of their neighbors and many friends. F.X. was quite a nice old guy and very knowledgeable. He served in various offices on community boards, in town offices, and as head of organizations. He was mayor of New Vienna at the turn of the century and was again mayor in the early 1920s, having been returned to the office in previous years, and was perhaps the oldest mayor in Iowa. By 1922 he was the only member of the original council still living. He was active in the matter of incorporating the Town of New Vienna. He was also instrumental in the installation of the waterworks system and, in 1921, was active in the erection of the fine community center of the town. He also served in the capacity of justice of the peace, treasurer of the town, secretary of the school board, and was always found to be ready to promote any movement that had for its purpose the development and progress of his home town and community. The appreciation of his efforts was attested by his relection to office at the various periods.

The 1910 U.S. census has the F.X. Gerken household consisting of F.X., age 56, his wife Gertrude, age 59, their daughter Lizzie, age 25, school teacher; Henrietta, age 17.

MAYOR OF NEW VIENNA AND WIFE WED 50 YEARS.
MR. AND MRS. F.X. GERKEN CELEBRATED GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY.
Mr. Gerken Was Mayor of New Vienna 22 Years Ago--Re-elected in Recent Years.

In 1927 Mayor and Mrs. F.X. Gerken, highly esteemed residents of New Vienna, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home last Wednesday in New Vienna. The day was ushered in by attending Mass in St. Boniface Church, Rev. Father Reinert singing the High Mass as a thanksgiving to God for all His blessings bestowed upon them during their fifty years of wedded life. In the evening a party of relatives, neighbors, and some of the members of the town council called on them unexpectedly to help them observe the arrival of the golden milestone of their wedded life. The anniversary of their marriage was in reality on April 16th, but owing to to the fact that this year the date was within Holy Week, the celebration was postponed.

The event was a most happy one, although it was regretted that some of the children could not be present due to the impassable condition of the roads and inclement weather. The evening was delightfully spent at cards, music, and other amusements. The bride and groom of fifty years were the recipients of a handsome purse, the gift of those present, which was presented by Alderman J.B. Pasker, who, in few well-chosen words, expressed the wish that Mr. and Mrs. Gerken will live many more years of happy wedded life and continue to enjoy the good health they both possess. Mr. Gerken is 73 years old and his wife is 76. Their many friends join in extending congratulations to this estimable couple.

This appears to be a great period of events for the Gerken family, as his cousin William Gerken is the father of Bishop Gerken, consecrated at Ranger, Texas, on Tuesday.

The day was also made happy for this estimable couple, when their nephew, Rev. Anthony Gerken, arrived from Springfield, Illinois, to assist in the celebration. A congratulatory letter was also received from Mr. Gerken's brother, Rev. Frank Gerken, Kickede, Ruhr, Westphalen, Germany. The latter visited in this vicinity a couple of years ago and will be remembered by many.

Mrs. F.X. Gerken dies.
Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken, of New Vienna, Iowa, died on February 18, 1938, at home.

Former New Vienna Mayor Dies at Ninety-One Years
Prominent in Many Civic Affairs During His Life.
Francis X. Gerken, 91, highly esteemed New Vienna resident and former mayor of New Vienna, died suddenly after falling out of bed, on Thursday morning, January 11, 1945, at 11:30 o’clock at the St. Anthony Home at Dubuque, Iowa, where he had resided the past few months.

Survivors.
He was survived by three daughters, Mrs. Bernard (Gertrude) Boge, Cassville, Wisc.; Mrs. Joseph (Elizabeth) Schroeder, Dedham, Iowa; Miss Hattie Gerken, New Vienna; two sons, John B. and Frank Gerken, both of Arcadia. He was preceded in death by his wife, who died six years ago, and by one child in infancy.

Funeral Services.
Funeral services were held at Dubuque Saturday morning from the Didesch funeral home to St. Boniface Church, New Vienna, where the Mass of Requiem was sung for the repose of his soul at 9:30 o’clock. Rev. Father Edmund Becker, assistant pastor, officiated at the Mass and the graveside services. Interment was made in St. Boniface cemetery. Pallbearers were George Vorwald, B. J. Pasker, Hugo Ahlers, Clarence Fangmann, Louis Hoeger, and Alphonse Neuhaus.

Children of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken:

1. Gertrude Gerken was born on March 17, 1878, at Dyersville, Iowa, daughter of Francis Xavier, who was called "Xavier," and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken. She was their firstborn child. The Gerken family moved to South Dakota when she was about one year old, and they lived at Parker, South Dakota. The Gerken family returned to Iowa, to New Vienna, circa 1890, when Gertrude was about twelve years old.

   Gertrude Gerken married Bernard John Boge on February 12, 1901 (undoubtedly at St. Boniface Church in New Vienna, Iowa). Bernard Boge, who was called "Barney," was born in 1869, son of Bernard and Christina (Lansing) Boge. Barney and Gertude Boge had nine children: Alfred Boge, Cyril Boge, Clarissa Boge, Raymond Boge, Hilarius "Larry" Boge, Norbert Boge; Laurence Boge; Arthur "Isaac" Boge, and Eugene Boge. Until at least 1914, the Boge family lived at New Vienna, Iowa, where most of their children were born; by 1920 they were living at Bankston, Iowa, where the last child Eugene was born; and circa 1934 the Boge family settled at Cassville, Wisconsin.

   Gertrude Boge, 73, of Cassville, Wisconsin, died on Tuesday, October 23, 1951, at a hospital in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Services were at 9 a.m., Friday, October 26, from the Eckstein Funeral Home to St. Charles Church in Cassville. Burial was in the St. Boniface Church cemetery at New Vienna, Iowa.

   By 1956, Gertrude's widower, Barney Boge, had moved to Charles City, Iowa, where he had three sons living in the area..

   Bernard "Barney" Boge, 94, of Charles City, Iowa, died Wednesday morning, December 4, 1963, at Charles City. Family and friends called after 7 p.m., Thursday, December 5, at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 7, at Immaculate Conception Church in Charles City. Burial was in the St. Boniface Church cemetery in New Vienna, Iowa.

   See Bernard and Gertrude (Gerken) Boge for more about the Boge family.

2. John Bernard Gerken was born on November 12, 1880, in South Dakota, son of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken. He married Mary Terlisner (?), and they lived at Arcadia, Iowa. They raised four boys and two girls. John was employed by J. H. Kohorst, owner of the local hardware store. His nephew Vitus Gerken remembers John selling his father Frank Gerken a Sandwich make grain elevator; he also sold New Idea farm equipment and Maytag washing machines. Vitus remembers his father Frank saying he was also a representive for a funeral home in Manning, Iowa. John was a super salesman: if one had just an idea of buying something one could be assured that customer bought something before he left the store. John was also a plumber and had a small shop. At one time John Gerken was the town plumber; his job was to keep the town waterworks operational. The town was pumping much more water in the tower than they were selling through the meters, so there had to be a leak somewhere. John dug holes all over town, no leak found. One day the mayor came by his shop and stepped in a hole caused by water. John was running a still making bootleg whiskey in his shop but forgot to meter and pay for the water. He lost his job. John Gerken died in Arcadia circa mid-1950s and was buried at Arcadia, Iowa.

3. John Frank Gerken was born on March 12, 1883, in South Dakota, son of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken. Frank Gerken married Anne Marie Bolke. Frank and Anne Gerken lived in Arcadia, Iowa. Born to Frank and Anne Gerken were Bernard Gerken, Arthur Gerken, Ray Gerken, Ervin Gerken, Vitus Gerken, and Rita Gerken.
   • Bernard Gerken was born on April 9, 1912, in Carroll, Iowa, son of Frank and Anne Marie (Bolke) Gerken. Bernard Gerken married Ann Friedman on January 28, 1941, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg, Iowa. Ann Friedman as born on September 24, 1911, in Luxemburg, Iowa, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Clemen) Friedmann. Bernard and Ann Gerken farmed in the area of Lamont, Iowa, until their retirement in 1988. Ann was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Dyersville, Iowa. In 1991, Bernard and Ann Gerken celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, on Sunday, January 27, with an 11:30 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier and an open house from to 1 to 4 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall, both in Dyersville, Iowa.

     Bernard Gerken, 84, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Tuesday, November 26, 1996, after a long illness, at home. Family and friends caled after 2 p.m., Thursday, November 28, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a parish scripture service at 4 p.m. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 29, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with burial in St. Albert's Cemetery at Lamont., Iowa.
           Mr. Gerken was survived by his wife, Ann; three daughters, Marian (Roger) Church, of Custer, Mich., Kayann (Steven) Radke, of Mount Horeb, Wis., and Shirley (Albert) Snyder, of Masonville, Ia.; 10 grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Neal, Mike Church, Sarah, Mary Kay, Susan, Katrina, and Frank Radke, Al John, Eric and Heather Snyder; six great-granddaughters; a brother, Vitus Gerken, of Des Moines, Ia.; and a sister, Rita Brincks, of Carroll, Ia. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Ann; a son, Ralph, who was killed in Vietnam; and three brothers, Arthur, Ray and Ervin Gerken.

     Mrs. Ann Gerken, 87, formerly of Dyersville, Iowa, died Sunday, January 17, 1999, at St. Mary's Nursing Home in Madison, Wisconsin. Family and friends called from 3 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, January 19, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a Catholic Daughters of the Americas rosary at 3:30 p.m. and a parish rosary at 4 p.m. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 20, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with burial in St. Albert's Cemetery at Lamont, Iowa.
           Mrs. Gerken was survived by three daughters, Marian (Roger) Church, of Custer, Mich., Kayann (Steven) Radke, of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Shirley (Albert) Snyder, of Masonville, Ia.; 10 grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Church, of New Orleans, La., Mike Church, of Atlanta, Ga., Sara, Mary Kay, Susan, Katrina and Frank Radke, of Sun Prairie, Wis., Al John Snyder, of Independence, Ia., Eric Snyder, of Manchester, Ia., and Heather Snyder, of Masonville, Ia.; seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Alfred (Emma) Friedmann, of Manchester, Ia., George (Jean) Friedmann, of New Vienna, Ia., and Edward (Ann) Friedmann, of Dyersville, Ia. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard; a son, Ralph; a daughter, Mary Ann; four brothers, Peter, Clement, Anthony and Father Clarence Friedmann; and three sisters, Sister Rosalita, Irene DeMuth and Lenet DeMuth.

4. Maria Elizabeth Gerken was born in March 1885 in South Dakota, daughter of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken. Elizabeth Gerken, who was called "Lizzie," married Joseph Schroeder, and they lived at Dedham, Iowa.

5. Anna Maria Frances Gerken was born on February 13, 1890, daughter of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken. She died in 1891.

6. Maria Bernadina Gerken was born on May 26, 1892, daughter of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken.

7. Henrietta Gerken was born on August 20, 1891, in Iowa, daughter of F.X. and Gertrude (Hinners) Gerken. Hattie lived in New Vienna, Iowa. She died on March 2, 1945.

© 2007-08 Tom Larson P.O. Box 141 Peosta, IA 52068-0141 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/gerken/xavier/index.htm Last revised November 1, 2008.