David Scott Naske - Naske Family History

Started by David Scott Naske on Wednesday, July 26, 2023
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Naske family history
The first Naske to emigrate to America was Eduard Julius Naske. He was born on May 21,
1857 in Pomerania*, in what was the German Empire. (Today his birthplace is in Poland, near
Gdańsk).
His parents were Hermann Natschke and Louise Kuhn, and he was baptised in the Lutheran
faith.
In 1882, at age 24, Eduard boarded the passenger ship SS Rhein and sailed, in steerage,
from Bremen, Germany, and landed in New York City on April 12, 1882. He was processed
through Ellis Island.
Eduard (now Edward) settled in Albany, NY, where he married Auguste Reschke on May 28,
1883. Auguste was also a German immigrant. Her parents, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm
Reschke (1843-1910) and Anna Augusta Schoenfeldt (1848-1918), also emigrated to the US
and settled in Albany. They are both buried at Eagle Hill Cemetery in Albany.
Edward and Auguste had at least 9 children, but only 5 lived to adulthood. They were:
-Clara Wilhelmina, 1885-1968. Married Martin Henze and had at least 3 children**
(buried at Memory Gardens)
-Anna Sophia, 1888-1959. Married Don Upham and had no children
(buried at Memory Gardens)
-Edward Gustave 1896-1946. Married Dorothy Adams, had one son, David Edward (my
grandfather)
(buried at Memory Gardens)
-Arthur Carl, 1900-1983. Married Mary (May) Coons and had no children
(buried at Calvary Cemetery in Glenmont, NY)
-Harold Martin, 1910-2002. Married Anna Maudrich and had 3 children***
(buried at St. John's Cemetery in Colonie)
The family lived at 57 Partridge Street, Albany (the house still stands) and attended St Paul's
Lutheran Church in Albany. Edward worked as a laborer for the New York Central Railroad at
the West Albany shops, and retired in 1930. He then then became the caretaker of Eagle Hill
Cemetery until his death in 1945, age 87. Auguste died in 1921, age 56, after a stroke. Her
son Edward Gustave wrote a moving diary entry about her unexpected death. Edward and

Auguste are both buried at Eagle Hill Cemetery.
According to my grandfather, David E. Naske, his grandfather Edward spoke very little
English. He remembered having "eyer und wurst /eggs and sausage" on Sunday mornings,
but otherwise, the family assimilated into American life easily and quickly.
My great-grandfather, Edward Gustave, died suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep of a
heart attack at age 50. Otherwise, the Naske children who survived to adulthood all lived at
least into their 70s.
I hope you enjoy this picture of all the Naske siblings (except Clara, sadly).

footnotes
*St. Paul's Lutheran church in Albany, NY, records his birthplace as "Schwetz," but I believe
this is a clerical error, because his German birth record states he was baptised in Bohlschau,
West Prussia. There was a small settlement called "Schmelz" near Bohlschau, so I believe this
is where he was born. In addition, Eduard told his grandson (my grandfather David) that he
was from Pomerania. Schmelz was in Pomerania, and Schwetz was not.
**(I'm still working on finding that branch of the family!)
***please forgive any mistakes I've made about Harold, and let me know any corrections I
need to make. It's very important to me to get family history right!

by:
Theresa Naske
42 Carol Anns Way
Saugerties, NY 12477

July 1, 2023

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