GERTRUDE WILKER

AGED TWO RIVERS WOMAN DEAD AT DAUGHTERS HOME
Mrs. Henry Wilker died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Lamson
1822 South Thirteenth street at Two Rivers Saturday evening, death
being due to infirmities incident to old age.
Mrs. Wilker was born in Hessian Dornstad, Germany in 1841 and came to
Manitowoc county in the late 50's from Chesley, Ontario, while this
section was still a wilderness. She was married at Two Rivers in 1858
to Henry Wilker and he preceded her in death sixteen years ago. Six
children survive to mourn the mother's death. They are Mrs. Katie Schmidt,
William Wilker and Mrs. C. Sprenger of Milwaukee, Mrs. F.W. Neuman, of
Sheboygan and John Wilker and Mrs. George Lamson of Two Rivers. There are
many grandchildren and six great grandchildren also surviving. Mrs.
Wilker's death will be mourned by a wide circle of friends who knew her
as kind and loving mother and a worth while friend.
Manitowoc Herald News, Monday, February 27, 1922 p.8
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Mrs. C.T. Springer and Mrs. Chas. Smith of Milwaukee and Mrs. F.W. Neuman of
Sheboygan were at Two Rivers yesterday, the occasion being the eightieth birthday
anniversary of their mother, Mrs. Henry Wilker, pioneer resident of our neighboring
city. The aged lady is still enjoying the best of health and celebrated the event
in the best of spirits.
Manitowoc Herald News, February 1, 1921 P. 3
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OLD TIMER CELEBRATES
Having reached the good old age of 80 years with a generous share of
good health and strength still hers, Mrs. Henry Wilker gathered her
children around her and celebrated the event with becoming enthusiasm.
Mrs. Wilker settled here with her husband in the late 50's, coming from
Chesley, Ontario, when this vicinity was a wilderness. Her husband
enlisted in the army in the Civil War returning safely. There are six
children, namely, Mrs. Katie Schmidt and Mrs. C. Sprenger of Milwaukee;
Mrs. T.W. Neuman of Sheboygan, who came here for the occasion; also
William of Gillett, who visited here a short time ago; John Wilker and
Mrs. Geo. Lamson of this city. There are many grandchildren and eleven
great grandchildren. The Reporter extends best wishes for many happy
returns of the day.
The Reporter, Thurs., Feb. 3, 1921
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OLD TIMERS
Wisconsin was a much better place for immigrants to settle down then other localities. Many of the early settlers came to America not knowing in just what locality to settle and some of them enquired enroute and were told by the Captain of the boat or some other trustworthy person that Wisconsin was a good country.
Not so with Henrietta Kehler. They landed in the Canadian territory and she and other young men and women of Scwartz, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, settled in central Canada where they found employment for a time. But wages were very low there and the cost of living comparatively high and they found their conditions not much improved over those in the fatherland. The trouble in the old country had been mostly the lack of employment. There was much there that could have been done in the German provinces, but no effort was made to take the work in hand and so the streets and roads were muddy and poor without sidewalks and things in general were greatly neglected. The lack of employment in Germany was largely the cause of much of the immigration to America where work was plentiful.
After living five years in Central Canada, Miss Kehler became united in marriage to Henry Wilker of Two Rivers. He was originally one of the party with whom she came over but who had located at Two Rivers in 1854 and found employment in the lumbering industry. The Wilkers erected a house on the Southside in which they had resided together for over forty years when in 1906 he passed away at the age of seventy four. She continued to reside in the old cottage and lives there today alone. She was born 1840 and is in reasonably good health preferring to do her own cooking and housekeeping.
The Reporter, Sat., Apr. 4, 1914
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DEATH REMOVES TWO AGED PIONEERS
Mrs. Johanna Gebler and Mrs. Henrietta Wilker(sic) Called After Long & Useful Lives
Two more pioneers answered the final summons during the past week. Death called Mrs. Henrietta Wilker last Saturday at the age of eighty-one years at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Lamson, 1822 Thirteenth Street. Death was a relief for she suffered from a stroke of paralysis ten days ago which made her recovery impossible and would have left her an invalid.
Deceased was one of the pioneer settlers of Two Rivers having come here in the fifties from Canada where she, then Henrietta Kohler, with other young men and women had gone to make her home and after several years decided to try for better success in Wisconsin. She came to Two Rivers and was married to Henry Wilker who passed away fifteen years ago. By the industry and frugality which characterized the life of the early pioneer, they acquired their own home and raised a family of whom the following survive: John of this city, Mrs. Anna Neuman of Sheboygan, Mrs. Lydia Sprenger and Mrs. Kate Smith of Milwaukee. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from the Evangelical church, Rev. H. G. Koten officiating.
The Reporter, Thurs., Mar. 2, 1922
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HENRIETTA WILKER
The undersigned wish to express their gratitude to their friends and neighbors for kindness and sympathy extended them during the illness and at the death of their beloved mother, Mrs. Henrietta Wilker. They are especially grateful for loan of automobiles, the floral tributes and serves of Rev. H. G. Koten and the choir and C.J. Jansky the funeral director.
Mrs. George Lamson & brothers and sisters
The Reporter, Thurs., Mar. 9, 1922
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(Note: Henry was married to Gertrude. I think the newspaper got his name mixed up with hers and called her Henrietta)
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