the DOM mertes family
From Sharla: This is a partial tree for the Mertes family of Pawnee County. It is not my family and not an official tree. I just wanted a framework for looking at family pictures. The information below is largely derived from casual research on Ancestry.com and FindaGrave.com. This tree was not easy to sort out because many of the family have been identified by different names over the years. Dom was on the 1900 census identified as Thomas, on the next as Dan, and then Dom. Dom's wife Mary Katherine was identified as Katie in earlier times, later as Mary. Edward Peter was in early records identified as Peter but then later he went by Edward -- probably because it looks like TWO of the children were named Peter, Peter C., and Peter E. And so on! Of course dates of birth are always problematic. These are a mixed bag from Ancestry and FindagGrave and I leave family to sort them out and verify. You can send me corrections at [email protected] or [email protected].
where dom mertes came from
Mary Duder wrote a history of St. John's, which her son John transcribed and presented to the Historical Societh in 1989. He believed that she probably wrote it in the time period between 1953 and 1962. In the history, she sheds some light on Dom Mertes's arrival in Table Rock:
Theodore Grof, who had come here from Luxembourg and liked the country, returned to his native land recounting to his relatives and friends the many opportunities offered here.
He induced quite a number to accompany him on his return, some of whom were Nick and Pete Goodenkauf, Jim and Dominic Mertes, and his sister, Catherine Grof. They were welcomed into the Joseph Reuter home until they could establish themselves in the new land.
Catherine Grof worked in the home of Orval Howe’s grandmother, where she learned many things including the native tongue. She married Dominic Mertes about a year later.
who married whoThomas (Dom) and Mary Katherine "Katie" Grof Mertes (1858-1925, 1859-1944) Their children appear to have been: Peter C. (1881-1943), Theodore (1882-1948), Edward Peter (1884 -1967), Lena (1887-1965), Tommy (1892-1929), and Frank (1901-1980) Dom & Katie's son Peter married Elizabeth Rock. On the Mertes tree of brigwarner on Ancestry, a son Edmond born in 1906 is noted. Nothing else is known of them. Dom & Katie's son Theodore (1882 or 1884 -1948?) married Wilhelmina (Winnie) Buman (1888-1967). Theodore & Winnie's children: Zelma (1911-1977) and Arnold (1914-2002) . Zelma married Arnold Sodman, and they had three children Shirley, Georgene Ann, and Wayne. Arnold married Dorothy Leonard and they had two children, Patty and Ben. Patty married Roy Stevens and had children Melissa (Missy) and Jennifer. Ben married Gail Richer and they had one son Jacob. Dom & Katie's son Edward married Lucy Covault. They had one child, Leonard, who married Marguerite Frank and had two daughters, Karen and Connie. Dom & Katie's daughter Lena never married. Dom & Katie's son Tommy married Lena Zelenka, and they had two children, Art and Mabel. Art married Fran Johnson; their infant Duane died in 1939. Mabel married Bill Morse; they had no children. Dom & Katie's son Frank married Mary (maiden name unknown) and they had three daughters: Dorothy, Marjorie, and Darlene (born about 1929, 1932, and 1935 based on the 1940 census). By 1940, Katie was living with son Frank and family. (Dom died in 1925). |
notesThe 1900 census includes a column about citizenship which includes the year of immigration. Both Dom & Katie are identified as immigrating in 1880. All their children were born in Nebraska. On the 1900 census, Dom and Katie identify their place of birth as Germany but in later censuses as Luxemburg. As we know from Mary Duder's history, it was Luxemburg. On the 1900 census, Dom & Katie appear to have been immediate neighbors of the John Vrtiska and William Binder family and also neighbors of the John Fellers family, the James Vondrasek family, and a couple of Kovanda families. |
DOM & katie'S SON PETER C. MERTES
Peter married Elizabeth Rock. On the Mertes tree of brigwarner on Ancestry, a son Edmond born in 1906 is noted. Nothing else is known of them.
dom & katie'S SON THEODORE MERTES
Theodore (1882 or 1884 -1948?) married Wilhelmina (Winnie) Buman (1888-1967). Theodore & Winnie's children: Zelma (1911-1977) and Arnold (1914-2002) . Zelma married Arnold Sodman, and they had three children Shirley, Georgene Ann, and Wayne.
theodore & winnie's son arnold
Arnold married Dorothy Leonard and they had two children, Patti and Ben.
Their daughter Patti married Roy Stevens and had four children Melissa (Missy) Stevens Freeman, Jennifer Stevens Newman, Paula Stevens Jasa, and a son, _____.
Ben married Gail Richer and they had one son Jacob.
Their daughter Patti married Roy Stevens and had four children Melissa (Missy) Stevens Freeman, Jennifer Stevens Newman, Paula Stevens Jasa, and a son, _____.
Ben married Gail Richer and they had one son Jacob.
arnold & dorothy's son ben
Ben Mertes, his school picture as a freshman, school year 1963-4.
arnold & dorothy's daughter patti
Photograph 287, Volley ball team in 1964, winning the 32-team volleyball tournament at Peru State College. Patti is front row, far right.
Photo 8538 -- Patti's daughter Missy at work in her hair salon, Freeman Hairitage in 2019
DOM & katie'S SON EDWARD P. MERTES
Edward married Lucy Covault. They had one child, Leonard, who married Marguerite Frank and had two daughters, Karen and Connie.
EDWARD & LUCY'S SON leonard
Leonard Mertes & cousin Wayne Covault. Photo 3965, shared by Brad Bowen, a nephew of Wayne Covault.
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This is photo 1866, a family photo shared by Historical Society member Terry Hunt Purcell. At first glance, the boys are all identified, but upon closer examination, the list of names is one short. That throws the whole list out of whack. Which one is missing? Is the one on the far left an adult not identified and the names are for the others, or is there a boy in that line who is not named? If anyone can identify a family member, please email [email protected]; it will help sort this out. FYI, I think the 3rd from the left is Delmar Covault.
Which one is Edward? Comparing Photo 1771 (below), he is the 5th from the right, 7th from the left. |
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This is Photo 1771, a family photo shared by Brad Bowen. Back row 2nd from left. It is John Covault’s Sunday school class, taken on the steps of the Christian Church. Front row, Wayne Covault, Margaret Mays, back row John Covault, Elmer Carter, Faye Aylor, ______, Zelma Phillips, Clifford Carter Arthur Harris, Arnold Morton, Leonard Mertes, and Floyd McKnight
Here's the class again -- Photo 3940, shared by Brad Bowen. Leonard is front row, far left.
July 5, 1956
dom & katie's great granddaughters karen & connie-- the children of edward's son leonard & wife marguerite
1959
dom & mary's daughter lena
We don't know much about her except that she never married.
dom & mary's son tommy mertes
Dom & Katie's son Tommy married Lena Zelenka, and they had two children, Art and Mabel. Art married Fran Johnson; their infant Duane died in 1939. The daughter Mabel married Bill Morse; they had no children.
dom & mary's daughter-in-law lena zelenka mertes
(tommy's wife)
Photo 838b, Lena Mertes, Emma Rabstejnek, Minnie Hubka, honored at Mothers Tea
don & mary's son frank mertes
Dom & Katie's son Frank married Mary (maiden name unknown) and they had three daughters: Dorothy, Marjorie, and Darlene (born about 1929, 1932, and 1935 based on the 1940 census). By 1940, Katie was living with son Frank and family. (Dom died in 1925).
Photo 3107, colorized by Steve Bixenmann
Frank and Mary Mertes with Gordon Bethel, shared by Bob and Jeanne Bethel. Frank & Mary are buried at St. Anthony's Cemetery near Steinauer. Photo 3107.
frank & mary's daughters: dorothy, marjorie & darlene
All three daughters are in this one. Photo 1440, students at District 65 country school. The names are of the students as they stand in columns. Column 1, Joan Johnson, Marjorie Mertes. Standing, Marilyn Kent, Column 2, swings: Darleen Mertes, Dorothy Mertes. Column 3 on swig: Vernon Kalina, Marion Kalina, Norris Gold, Column 4, Allen Gold, and Dale Johnson. Undated.
some random mertes news
1961
