Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Fock, Christian Michael Friedrich January 5, 1850 - May 23, 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: George Griffin scidata@earthlink.net May 19, 2007, 4:44 pm Author: George Griffin Christian Michael Friedrich Fock, 1850-1915 Christian Michael Friedrich Fock was born January 5, 1850 in Rubitz, a village near the Prussian Pomeranian City of Barth, in what now is the Lander Mecklenberg-Vorpommern, Federal Republic of Germany. From the partitioning of Germany at the end of World War II until the collapse of German communism and restoration of one German state in 1990, Barth (pronounced Bart) was an East German city, closed, for all practical purposes to western tourists and obtaining genealogical documentation was difficult and in some cases impossible during that period. Throughout his life in the United States, Christian Michael Friedrich Fock was known by the name Frederick Focks, as was his father Jochen Friedrich Fock. Biographical sketches of the Focks families, written at the beginning of the 20th Century, and family tradition, indicated that Christian Michael and Jochen were born in Barth. However, birth and baptismal records provided by Josef Focks of Germany (Josef Focks, Zum Josefhäuschen 14, 53501 Grafschaft-Holzweiler, Germany, telephone: 49-2641-900174; fax: 902509), who is researching a possibly allied branch of the Focks family, indicate the probable birthplace of both these individuals was Rubitz, a village a few miles to the south of Barth. The records provided by Herr Focks are certified copies of extracts from the baptismal registers of the Evangelist Church of the municipality of Kenz. Kenz is another village, about midway between Rubitz and Barth, which, according to the biographical sketches, was the birth place of Jochen Friedrich's wife, Margaretha Elisabeth Brumshagen, daughter of Michael Brumshagen of Kenz. Christian Michael (Frederick the younger) immigrated to the United States in 1868 at the age of 18 settling first in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frederick's father, Jochen Friedrich also known as Frederick Focks Sr., in the United States, was born in Rubitz July 21, 1811. He also immigrated to the United States, but not until 1871, three years after his son had left Europe. The senior Frederick Focks - he was 61 years old when he left Europe - settled first in Chicago, staying there a year, and then moved to Waterville Township, Marshall County, Kansas, where he took up farming. In Germany, he had worked as a ship's carpenter. He was married in Germany, probably in Barth or Kenz, to Margarethe (Margaret) Elisabeth Brumshagen (spelled Brumzagen in America), who was born March 8, 1821 in Kenz. Margaret was the daughter of Michael Brumshagen (Brumzagen). Frederick Sr., and Margaret had three and possibly four children: Maria Corolina Christiane Fock (b. March 23, 1846, Rubitz); Christian Michael Friedrich Fock (b. January 5, 1850, Rubitz); Johann Joachim Friedrich Fock (b. May 3, 1852, d. July 20, 1852, Rubitz); and Lena Focks (b. 1847?). The identification of Lena Focks as a fourth child is based on what may be a confusion of this person with Maria Corolina Christiane Fock in family tradition and biographical sketch misinformation. Lena and Maria Corolina may in fact be the same individual. Research on this individual as of this writiting (August 28, 2000) is incomplete. (GBG). According to biographical sketches, obituary and family tradition, Frederick Jr. (Christian Michael) had been a farmer in Barth and continued farming for a living after settling in the United States. He lived for two years in Milwaukee, then traveled south to Holly Springs, Mississippi, remaining south for a summer. He also traveled for a time through southern Missouri and Kansas, looking for land he could settle and farm. In 1872, Frederick Jr., moved to Waterville Township, Kansas, and settled on a 160-acre farm. Thus Frederick Jr. and his father Frederick Sr., (Jochen Friedrich) finally settled in Waterville, though by different routes from their homeland. Both men would live out the remainder of their lives there. Jochen Friederick Fock and Christian Michael Friedrich Fock were reared as Lutherans in their hometown. A "Portrait and Biographical Album" of Waterville residents published in the early 1900s and found in the collections of the Wichita, KS Public Library, indicates that Frederick Jr., received a "thorough education" under the "compulsory education laws" of the German Empire prior to immigrating to the United States. His farm of 160 acres (a quarter section) was described as being in an "excellent state of cultivation, with adequate barns and other outbuildings, and an excellent house, a view of which, with its pleasant farm surroundings is presented to the readers of this Album." Frederick Jr. was described as an "industrious and enterprising man" who had "risen from the ranks of the poor, to affluence." The Album sketch continues: "On Dec. 28, 1876, our subject (Frederick Focks Jr.) was married to Miss Mary Schroeder. She was born and reared in Bloomington, Illinois, her birth having taken place Jan. 20, 1857. She is the daughter of Anthony and Sophia (Siebert) Schroeder, who were born in Germany, and emigrated to America about the year 1854. They had but two children, Mary and Minnie. "To our subject and his estimable wife, seven children have been born - - Amelia, Minnie, Freddie (Frederick A. Focks III), Hulda, Henry, Louis, and Rudolph. "Mr. Focks affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., the A.O.U.W., and the Turner Society. He has been Road Overseer, and held other township offices. He has held minor school offices, and takes great interest in advancing the cause of education. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a man of intelligence, honor, and steadfastness, and one of those whose citizenship is an advantage to any community." A second sketch of this family is found in the book "History of Marshall County," by Emma Forters, 1917. This book was found in the collections of the Marshall County Historical Society, 1207 Broadway, KS 66508. The sketch begins on page 891, and is titled, "Michael Frederick Focks." That Michael, and not Frederick, was this ancestor's first name is substantiated by his citizenship naturalization record, dated December 7, 1878, which is also on file in the Marshall County (KS) Historical Society. The sketch: "MICHAEL FREDERICK FOCKS "Michael Frederick Focks, now deceased, and who was long a resident of Marshall County, was born at Barth, Germany, on January 5, 1850, and died on May 23, 1915. He was the son of J.F. (Jochen Frederick) (Focks) and Margaret (Brumzagsn) Focks, the former of whom was born in 1811 and the latter in 1821. The parents received their education in the schools of Germany and there grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. "The father was a ship carpenter and for many years worked at his trade in the land of his nativity. In 1871 he and his wife decided to leave the fatherland and seek a home in America. After their arrival in the United States they at once proceeded to Chicago, where they lived until the next year when the came to Kansas. "The father obtained a farm in Waterville township, Marshal County, and engaged in general farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1885 and here the widow died in 1899. They were the parents of two children, Lena, who died in 1888, and Michael Frederick. "Mr. and Mrs. Focks were highly respected and were active members of the Lutheran Church and took great interest in all church work. During his residence in the county, Mr. Focks was active in local affairs, and soon became interested in the new order of things. He was a man of much ability and possessed of excellent judgment. Michael Frederick Focks received his education in the schools of Germany and there he was reared and continued to live until he was eighteen years of age, when he decided to come to America. He landed in the United States in the years 1868, and at once continued his journey to the city of Milwaukee, where he lived for two years. "His life in the Fatherland had been spent as a seaman and a fisherman and at Milwaukee he sought a position on the Lakes. In 1870 he went to Holly Springs, Mississippi, and did much traveling through the south. "In 1872 he came to Kansas, where he homesteaded the present home farm of the family, in Waterville township, Marshall county. He built a log cabin of two rooms, and at once started the task of developing his farm. The tract was a good one, of rich bottom land, and in 1878 he purchased another eighty acres, making the farm one hundred and sixty acres. This tract he thoroughly developed and improved, and in time his farm was known as one of the best in the township, and Mr. Focks was recognized as one of the successful and substantial men of the county. "He took the greatest interest in his general farming and stock raising, in both of which he was successful. Mr. Focks was a man of unusual attainments and of splendid education. He was always a great reader and kept well posted on all current events. He was broadminded and possessed of excellent judgment, and his advice was often sought in matters that pertained to the welfare of the township or county. "Having been educated in the excellent schools of his native land, he well knew the value of an education, and was in a position to advise in all matters pertaining to schools and school work. For twenty years he was a member of the school board of his township and served as clerk of the organization. He took the greatest interest in his family, and was a great home man, giving his family the best that he had to give. "He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and always took much interest in all church work, and were prominent in the social, educational and the religious life of the community. On December 28, 1876, Michael Frederick Focks was united in marriage to Mary Schroeder, who was born at Bloomington, Illinois, on January 20, 1857, and is the daughter of Anthony and Sophia (Siebert) Schroeder. "Her parents were natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, where they were educated in the public schools and were later married. They established their home in their native land, where they continued to live until 1854, when they came to the United States and located on a farm near Bloomington, Illinois, where they died, the former in 1863 and the latter in 1903. "They were the parents of two children, Mary and Minnie, the latter, now deceased, was the wife of John Henning, of Minneapolis. Some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Schroeder married Gottlieb Liepold and to this union two children were born, Bertha, now deceased, and Albert, of Bloomington, Illinois. "Michael Frederick and Mary (Schroeder) Focks were the parents of the following children: Amelia, Minnie, Frederick, Hulda, Henry, Louis, Rudolph, Bertha and Albert. "Amelia is the wife of Will Hall and lives at Red Rock, Oklahoma; Minnie Mills, of Kansas City, Missouri; Frederick A. is a railroad man and lives at Crane City, Missouri; Hulda Dwyer, of Kansas City, Missouri; Louis died in 1892; Rudolph resides in South Dakota; Bertha Talbot resides at Marysville, and Henry and Albert are at home. Henry was born on January 16, 1884, and Albert on January 7, 1894. "The family have long been among the prominent people of the county and have had much to do with the social activities of their home communities. Michael Frederick Focks was a man who accomplished much during his active and useful life. Coming to America as a lad, and without funds and without friends, he had his own way to make, and in this he was most successful. "He always had a high regard for morality and correct living, and during his rambling life of the first few years he was always careful of his associates, and to his family he brought a clean and manly life." File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/fock456gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 12.5 Kb