Kleiboeker Family Tree - Person Sheet
Kleiboeker Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameCatherina Margaretha Elisabeth "Margaretha" Kleiboeker
Birth20 Oct 1847, Haus #8 Ruesfort, Lower Saxony, Germany
Death1 Jul 1866, New Minden, IL
Burial2 Jul 1866, New Minden IL
FatherJohann Bernhard Kleyboeker (1801-1863)
MotherMaria Adelheit Dirkes (1805-1865)
Notes for Catherina Margaretha Elisabeth "Margaretha" Kleiboeker
Catharina’s sponsors at here baptism were Maria Elisabeth Husmann, Margaretha Adelheit Thumann, and Bernhard Heinrich Schneithorst.

Catharina Margaretha left Germany in 1864 on the Ship, Maryland that left Bremen and arrived New York, 8 September 1864, Catherine’s mother was listed as Adelheid age 58 destination St. Louis. Catharina is listed as “Catherine M Kleiboeker (female)”, listed as 16 years, and Joh. Diedr. Kleiboeker (male) as 14 years old. All three are listed as coming from "Casper Gehrde'. In letter exchanges with Professor Holtmann of Oldenburg University in Germany, that Dennis has on file, Casper was a misinterpretation of "Kirchspiel Gehrde." This basically means coming from the area of the Church community of the village of Gehrde. All three had thier destination listed as St. Louis.

Johann Kleiboeker received a letter from his Brother in Law, dated 2 July, 1866 informing him of his sister, Margaretha’s death. Johann kept this letter in his important documents box that also contained his life story, his will, and his insurance and property deed papers.

Here is the Letter that Heinrich Gerstkemper wrote to Johann. It is assumed that as Heinrich Gerstkemper was married to Johann’s sister Maria (the oldest daughter in the family) that Margaretha was probably living with Heinrich and Maria Gerstkemper in Nashville, IL, near Hoyleton.

Nashville, IL July 2 1866

John Kleiboeker,

Dear Brother in Law,

I must render to you the sad news that your sister Margaretha, yesterday evening at half past nine o’clock departed into eternity. I guess by this time you’ve received my first letter that it’s not so surprising to you.

The doctor visited her everyday. We told him not to spare time or effort to do what he could for her. But sometimes the best is not good enough and we will never see her again in this world. We can however, we must console each other. In sincerity I cas say I am so sorry that she had to leave us in the flower of her youth It is so soon. She was so faithful in her work and upright in her living. Her sickness was as I wrote you before, “nerve fever” (Typhoid fever). For 13 days she suffered much and mightily with much courage. In her final hours she became more quiet and left us peaceably. She realized and knew she was going which is our final comfort.

With this I will close. At the moment we have a feeling of being torn apart without mercy. Yes, she died 9:30 pm July 1 and will be interred July 2, at 5:00 pm. She attained the age of 18 yeaers and 8 months.

With our compassion,
Your friend,
H. Gerstkemper
Last Modified 5 Oct 2014Created 1 Feb 2019 By Dennis R Kruse
For any updates, corrections or changes, please send them to Dennis Kruse at dennisrkruse@gmail.com

To Return to the Kleiboeker Cousins Website, go to the open window or tab that still shows the site, or click on this link: www.kleiboekercousins.org