Buchhorn from Stettin to Toledo, Ohio, USA
In the years 1922 and 1923 Bertha and Lotte Buchhorn from Stettin chanced starting a new life.
Bertha Buchhorn arrived in New York on October 25, 1922. She was a passenger on the ship "Bayern" and was 51 years old. Bertha's maiden name was Buckendahl and she was born in Gollnow, Naugard District, Pomerania on April 07, 1871. Gollnow is called Goleniow today and is located around 23 km (14 miles) north-east of Stettin. Her parents were August Buckendahl and Amelia Kubler. She was married to Albert Buchhorn who passed away before her emigration.
According to the passenger list Bertha's destination was her brother-in-law Hermann Kittner in Tecumseh in Michigan. Hermann Kittner (born November 12, 1880) was married to Bertha's older sister Marie. They had one daughter called Hazel who was born in America around 1918.
Bertha's contact in Germany was her brother-in-law Wilhelm Haselau in Stettin.
Lotte or Lottie as she was called, arrived New York on June 17, 1923 on the ship "Hansa". She went directly to her mother. Bertha moved to Monroe Street 2330 in Toledo, Ohio before Lotte's arrival. Bertha didn't stay long in Tecumseh, Michigan. Lotte's contact in Germany was her sister Gertrud Jäger, Stoltingerstr. 33 in Stettin. Lotte's occupation was druggist.
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Ohio, USA |
Stettin in Pomerania
| | Next what we learned was Bertha's marriage on June 01, 1926 to Charles W. Burkle. Mr. Burkle was a German and his first name probably was Karl.
The marriage application no. 52349 reports following facts:
Chas. W. Burkle is 58 years of age on the 28 day of January 1926, his residence is Freemont, Michigan, his place of birth is Germany and his occupation is butcher. His father's name is Philip Burkle and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Yaech. He was once previously married and is now a divorced man.
Bertha Buchhorn is 55 years of age on the 7 day of April 1926, her residence is 1155 Fernwood Ave., Toledo, her place of birth is Germany and her occupation is none. Her father's name is August Buckendahl and her mother's maiden name was Amelia Kubler. She was once previously married and is now a widow, her married name being Mrs. Albert Buchhorn.
It is expected that …………will solemnize the marriage of said parties. Sworn to and before me and signed in my presence this 1st day of June 1926, R. Birkenhauer, Deputy Clerk Probate Court.
The marriage certificate no. 52349 provides following information:
I do hereby certify that on the 1st day of June 1926, I solemnized the marriage of Mr. Charles Burkle and Mrs. Bertha Buchhorn. Signed Rev. George N. Lüdke.
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The 1926 Toledo city directory shows that George N. Lütke was the pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church. This church was also known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church.
From the 1930 Toledo Census Bertha was noted a single person living in Lotte's home. Lotte was married to Mr. George Valassis.
Bertha appears in the passenger lists of Ellis Island on April 16, 1930. She came back from Germany and is registered as divorced. The marriage with Charles Burkle didn't last very long.
The US-Census of 1940 contents following information:
Name:
Place:
Age:
Marital staus:
Relation:
Place of birth:
Year of birth: |
George Valassis
Toledo City
38
Married
Head
Greece
ca. 1902 |
Lottie Valassis
Toledo City
33
Married
Wife
Germany
ca. 1907 |
Raymond Valassis
Toledo City
14
Single
Son
Ohio
ca. 1926 |
George Valassis jr.
Toledo City
10
Single
Son
Ohio
ca. 1930 |
Bertha Buckle
Toledo City
68
Widowed
Mother of law
Germany
ca. 1872 |
| The complete place description is: Ward 21, Toledo City, Toledo City, Lucas, Ohio, United States |
Bertha's obituary was published in the "Toledo Blade" on Tuesday, October 30, 1956:
Mrs. Bertha Burkle, former Toledo resident, died yesterday in the Odd Fellows Home, Springfield.
A native of Germany, Mrs. Burkle lived in Toledo 40 years. She entered the home a year ago. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, and Rebekah Lodge.
Surviving are daughters, Mrs. George Valassis, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Mrs. Bruno Reitt, Germany; sisters, Mrs. Hedwig Flieth and Mrs. Meta Schütte, Germany, and Mrs. Marie Kittner, Ann Arbor, Michigan: five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Bennett Mortuary, Adams Street. Burial will be in Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery.
The "Odd Fellows" is actually the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and the "Rebekah Lodge" is the female side of this fraternal organization.
Three years later Lottie's obituary was published in the "Toledo Blade" on Monday, March 23, 1959:
Mrs. Lottie Valassis, 53, of Kenwood Blvd, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, died yesterday at her home here. Born in Stettin, Germany, Mrs. Valassis had lived in Toledo 40 years. She was a member of the "Daughter's of Penelope" and the "Arcadian Society".
Surviving are her husband, George; sons, Raymond N. and George F., both of Detroit; a sister, Mrs. Margarite Reitt, Stettin, Germany, and three grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bennett Mortuary, Adams Street, by the Rev. Walter W. Larson, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Toledo Memorial Park.
The "Daughters of Penelope" was a Greek organization. Bertha's husband was born in Greece and he was a member of the male version, the "American Hellenic Progressive Association".
George Valassis was born on August 10, 1900 and passed away in Toledo, Ohio on April 20, 1978. He was 77 years old. His surviving sons were; George F. and Raymond N. and brother Perry.
The following information is known about the two sons:
| Raymond N. Valassis was born on May 29, 1925 and died in Grosse Point, Michigan on August 17, 1987. The obituary of Raymond N Valassis, who died at age 62, was published in "The Blade, Thursday. August 20, 1987. His only survivors were his wife June and brother George. He lived in St Clair Shores in Michigan. Raymond visited the Longfellow School in Toledo. A picture of him was published in the yearbook of 1938. Raymond was a member of the Detroit Rotary Club. |  |
George F. Valassis is the founder of a very successful and international operating company, the "Valassis Communication, Inc.". His company designs and prints advertisement flyers for example as supplement for newspapers.
In the 1930 Toledo census, Raymond was 4 years older than "Franklin", so is George's estimated birth year 1929/30. He was probably known as Franklin to eliminate any confusion with his father. George Franklin Valassis may be living in the state of Florida. |
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Who can provide additional information?
Many thanks to a nameless helper in the USA but especially to Astrid Schäfer from the famint-list. Both sent very valuable information.
 Wolfgang Buchhorn June 09, 2014 |