Maria Thresia Grasmeter|KFLY-YDT,K8FG-WXJ
MARIA THERESIA GRASMETER was born in Telgte, Westphalia, Prussia, 2 Dec 1813 along with her twin sister ANNA ELIZABETH. They were the first two children of 8 to be born to JOHANNES GRASMETER and SOPHIA HILGENHECKER.
Church in Holtwick
Her future husband, FRANK AVERKAMP, born in Holtwick, Westphalia, 25 Aug 1812 served in the infantry for at least a couple years. In a letter written in 1836 during this service, she writes that he is so far away and keeps reading his letter over and over at night. She states that she is sad he is not there. The last letter is dated 1838 and is apparently near the end of his military involvement.
They were married 18 November 1838. The Catholic priest wrote beside FRANK's marriage entry that he had sent the authorization to the bride's priest for him to perform the ceremony. The note did not say where this was. Later information now indicates it was likely at Telgte.
There were three children born between 1840 and 1844 but two died within a few months and the third died before two years. A son WILLIAM was born 13 Dec. 1845 and then JOHANN BERNARD was born 6 Jun 1849, both in Holtwick. Unfortunately FRANK died in Holtwick 2 Nov. 1851, leaving THRESIA and the two young boys.
FRANK’s ancestors on the AVERKAMP side came from Billerbeck. Below is an aero-photo of Holtwick; photos of the inside of the churches at Holtwick and Billerbeck, and a photo in Billerbeck.
Holtwick
Inside Church in Holtwick Twin Steepled Church in Billerbeck
FRANK's next younger brother, CHRISTOPHER ADOLPH (born 4 Apr 1815 in Holtwick) had gone to America with his wife ANNIE SCHWIETERS in 1845. He had a daughter ELIZABETH,
born abt. 1850, CAROLINE, born about 1852, and CHRISTINE, born about 1854 in Wisconsin. A son JOHN was born in Illinois in 1860. This indicates that ADOLPH had moved to Illinois sometime after 1854. Other daughters were born in Quincy. Another younger brother JOSEPH BERNDT AVERKAMP (b. 31 Oct. 1826 in Holtwick) also came to America in 1848. He and his wife ANNA went to Wisconsin.
According to family information FRANK and THRESIA were planning on going to America before he died. After his death she decided to stay with the plans. THRESIA came to America with her two young sons, landing in New Orleans about 1854 and went up the river to Illinois where her brother-in-law was living.
Both WILLIAM and BERNARD grew up in Quincy and had their families. Interestingly, all of WILLIAM’s descendants moved west to California by the early 1900’s.
THRESIA died at the age of 68 on 24 Dec. 1881 in Quincy. She was buried there 26 Dec. 1881 in St. Boniface Cemetery.
<< Back