Obit: Gemmeke, George H. (1842 - 1925)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: GEMMEKE TELLE SMYTH CHRISTENSON

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner 2/12/1925

OBITUARY OF GEORGE H. GEMMEKE

George H. Gemmeke was born in Carlsdorf, Kurehessen, Germany, December 23, 1842. He left home when about 18 years of age and traveled quite a lot in the foreign countries and then went to London. He was on the ocean from London to East India for 3 years. Later he learned the harness making trade in London.

In 1869 he came to America, landing in Ohio. That same year he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzy Telle. They later moved to India where they resided until 1880, when they came to America and located on a piece of land 4 miles west of here (Greenwood, Clark County). Here Mr. Gemmeke started making a farm out of the wilderness. The place is now the Lenherr farm.

In 1910 he sold the farm and moved to Hillyard, Wash., where he had an apple orchard. He worked this orchard for 12 years, when his health failed and he was brought back to Greenwood by his oldest son Henry, and was taken care of here for nearly 2 years.
He died February 5, 1925, at the age of 82 years, 1 month and 12 days.

Deceased was the father of 10 children, three, Mary, Louie, and Louise, preceding him in death.

He leaves his wife, who also is very ill at Spokane, Wash., and seven children, Henry of Greenwood; Paul of Hillyard, Wash.; George of Greenwood; Mrs. Carrie Christenson of Moscow, Idaho; Mrs. Minnie Smyth of Spokane, Wash; Alfred in Minnesota; and August of Spokane, Wash.; also 22 grand children and 5 great-grandchildren.