Falker Weerts Gerdes

Folker Weerts Gerdes

Memorial Birth: Oct. 20, 1833 Death: Feb. 26, 1884

Sangamon Valley Times, February 29, 1884

We were pained as well as shocked last Tuesday to learn that Father Time with his resentless scythe, had cut off one of our good and true men, a prominent farmer, and county official, Mr. Faulker W. Gerdes. Deceased had been ill but a few days, and no one thought for an instant that he was so greviously ill. He had been ailing all winter, but two weeks ago, was able to go to Virginia to attend court. On coming home he took worse, and by Tuesday, at 3 p.m., February 26, he was a corpse. His ailment was congestion of the bowels. Just before his death he apparently dropped off to sleep, as the family thought, but Mr. P. W. Rickard going into the room at the time told them he was dying. His funeral took place yesterday at 2 p.m., Rev. Martin our Methodist minister, officiating.

Mr. Gerdes was well known in this county having served the people successfully as county commissioner since the fall of 1882, besides being school director of District 5, Township 19, and Range 9, off and on, for a number of years, and has always been known as an honest, straightforward man in all his actions, and his loss is a sad blow to his family, his neighbors, and the county.

He was born in Oltmann Fehn, Amt Stickhausen, Ost Friesland, Germany, in 1836, and came to this country a poor boy, in 1857. He worked about five years for Joshua Morris, and in 1863 was married to Miss Mary Ray, daughter of Philander Ray. He then purchased a farm and went to housekeeping. Four children have been the fruits of this marriage, two boys and two girls, the youngest being 11 years old, and the oldest 18. Deceased has no relatives in this country but has a brother and one sister in the old country. During his life he has accumulated considerable property, and leaving his family in good circumstances.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Mary E Ray Gerdes Franken (1844 - 1898)*

Children:

 John Gerdes (1861 - 1861)*

 Martha Ann Gerdes Davis (1865 - 1932)*

 William R Gerdes (1869 - 1934)*

 Alonzo Gerdes (1873 - 1962)*

 Levi Gerdes (1876 - 1880)*

Burial: Mount Olive Cemetery Chandlerville Cass County Illinois, USA

Created by: Debra Record added: Feb 03, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 65125574

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