Bio of JOHNK, Erhardt (m.1938) and POSSEHL, Adeline, Clay Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Don Hansen Submitted: June 2006 ========================================================================= Clay County Family Album A History of Rural Clay County, MN, 1976 ERHARDT JOHNK FAMILY HISTORY Johnk, Kuehl, Possehl and Butenhoff are the family names that make up this "Family History." Erhardt's parents were both born in Germany. His father Fred Johnk, the oldest son of Fred and Anna Johnk, was born in Hamburg, Germany, August 7, 1877. He came to the United States with his family while still a very young boy. Erhardt's mother, Mary (Marie), was the third daughter of Bendix and Henrietta Kuehl. She was also born in Germany on January 11, 1884. She came to the America with her parents and brothers and sisters in the year 1890. Both families settled in the Sabin area. Marie and Fred homesteaded on a farm 4 miles south of Sabin after their marriage in April, 1904. They were the parents of thirteen children. Erhardt was the oldest son. On June 26, 1938 Erhardt was married to Adeline Possehl in Trinity Lutheran Church at Sabin, Minnesota. Adeline is the youngest daughter of Henry C. and Rosa Possehl, whose parents were also natives of Germany. Erhardt and Adeline lived in an upstairs apartment at the Fritz Johnk home during their first year of marriage. They moved to their present home the fall of 1939. They rented this farm W1/2 Section 12 in Holy Cross Township for one year from Walter Altenbernd. The following year the property changed ownership and Erhardt continued to rent from the new owner, Andrew Krogh, until Andrew's death in 1947. In June of that same year Erhardt purchased the farm from the Krogh Estate where he still lives and farms. In 1962 Erhardt's brother Bendix decided to quit farming and sold his farm NE1/4 Section 18 in Alliance Township to Erhardt. Erhardt and Adeline are the parents of three daughters; Carol, Mrs. Dennis Zimmerman, lives with her husband, two sons Joey and David and daughter Debbie in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Both Carol and Dennis are employed by the Sauk Centre Public Schools. Dennis teaches in the Business Department and is Distributive Education Coordinator. Carol works as a Teachers Aide. They moved into their newly built three bedroom home two years ago. Nancy, their second daughter, is married to Larry Cuklanz. They have one daughter Julie Christine. They make their home in Spring Grove, Minnesota. Larry teaches Math and is Basketball and Track Coach at the Mabel High School. Nancy is a professional cake decorator which keeps her very busy. They are both very active in their church and community. Rosemarie, their youngest daughter is a vocal major and piano minor from Moorhead State College. She is employed by Nels Vogel Inc., teaches private voice, piano, and does professional singing. She is the Senior Choir Director at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and the Junior Choir Director at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead. Erhardt and Adeline are members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sabin. They have both been very active there and served in many capacities in the church and community. Erhardt is presently serving as a member of the church council, Vice-President of the local branch of Aid Association for Lutherans, a member of his township board, Sabin Lion's Club, Rod and Gun, Comstock Wild Life and Clay County Farm Bureau. Adeline has served as a church Guild officer, is presently Chairman of her church circle, taught Sunday School and served as it's secretary for several years. She is a member of the Comstock Lady Bug Garden Club. Both Erhardt and Adeline sang in their church choir for many years. They are looking forward to retiring in the near future. ========================================================================= Copyright Don Hansen 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm =========================================================================