Andy Niekamp's Photo Archive

Wedding of Alfrida Kleinhenz and Edgar Willke on July 21, 1931, in St.Marys, Ohio. Standing L-R: Hilda Thieman, Pauline Kleinhenz, Al Willke, Edgar Willke, Hilda Kleinhenz, Jack Willke. Seated Alfrida (Klinhenz) Willke. The wedding was at Holy Rosary Church. The house was at the home of John W. Kleinhenz at 518 W. Jackson Street.

Alois J. Willke Family in 1918. L-R: Alois J. Willke, Lucille (Willke) Vehr, Al H. Willke, Marie (Willke) Goecke, Marcella (Willke) Austing, George Willke, Edgar Willke, Margie (Willke) Landen, Ada (Willke) Limke, Caroline (Vanderhorst) Willke.

Alois J. Willke Family. Rear of home at 1017 Lockman Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. Undated. Men Standing L-R: Alois J. Willke, Al H. Willke, George Willke, Edgar Willke. Women Standing L-R: Tanta Willke (sister of Alois), Ada (Willke) Limke. On ground L-R: Lou Limke, Marcella (Willke) Austing, Lucille (Willke) Vehr (with glasses), Margie (Willke) Landen.

Alois J. Willke Family in 1916. Front of hedge row: L-R: Al, Alois, Marcella, Caroline, Edgar, Tanta & Lucille. Behind hedge row standing L-R: Marie & George Willke. The house and doctor's office (right) was built was in 1900. The address of this house is 8459 OH-119, Maria Stein, OH 45860. This became the home of Edgar and Alfrida (Kleinhenz) Willke where they raised four children.

Last will and testament of Alois J. Willke. April 25, 1933. John died on January 27, 1941. Alois is the father of my maternal grandfather, Edgar Willke.

Last will and testament of Alois J. Willke. April 25, 1933. John died on January 27, 1941. Alois is the father of my maternal grandfather, Edgar Willke.

Photo caption - Alfrida (Kleinhenz) Willke writes in 1977: Charles Eifert residence about 1915. Maria Stein, Ohio. The school in the back is where Edgar Willke received his first three years of schooling. The next five years he went to the boys school. Now house belongs to Lee Eifert. (Note: St. John the Baptist Church is to the right of the photo.)

My grandmother, Alfrida (Kleinhenz) Willke wrote: At the age of five years Edgar Willke started school, which was located northwest of St. John Church. He attended school in this building for three years, which had one classroom for boys and girls, and taught by a nun. It was located on the first floor. The next five years he went to an all-boys school which was located east of the church. It was a one-room school taught by a man. The classroom for the five upper grades for girls was located on the second floor of the school located northwest of the church.

The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway (CH&D) Railroad depot in Maria Stein, Ohio. The CH&D Railroad extended its line through Mercer County and laid tracks near the community of Maria Stein in 1881. The railroad location in Maria Stein became locally known simply as "Station", to the west of St. Johns. As these two communities were separated by only 0.5 miles, many business interests migrated to the vicinity of the railroad, and the two communities eventually merged under the name of Maria Stein. This rail line went as far north as Delphos, Ohio. The last train was in 1922. The CH&D Railroad route was along present day SR-716.

Ed and his sisters and brother. Left to Right: Dr Edgar Willke, Marie (Willke) Goecke, Lucille (Willke) Vehr, Margie (Willke) Landen, Marcella (Willke) Austing, Dr Al Willke. 1966. Dr. Edgar Willke is my maternal grandfather.

Edgar Willke Family Residence on State Route 119 in Maria Stein, Ohio. Circa 19444. The building between the house and the barn is the doctor's office.

Father Vincent Parr, C.PP.S., Edgar J. Willke, Alfrida (Kleinhenz) Willke at Edgar and Alfrida's 40th Wedding Anniversary in 1971 in Maria Stein, Ohio.

Gerhard J. Willke (1818-1873) and Theresia (Schaeper) Willke (1822-1886). Undated photo. Both were born Osnabrück, Germany. They came to America in 1857. These are Edgar Willke's paternal grandparents. Andy Niekamp's 2x great-grandparents.

Jacob VanderHosrt (1836-1941) and Elizabeth (Kroeger) VanderHorst (1843-1927). Undated photo. Jacob VanderHosrt was born in Gemert, Holland and came to America in 1856. His brother came with him but died on ship after contracting pneumonia, and he was buried at sea. The ship landed in New York. Elizabeth (Kroeger) VanderHorst came to America in 1859 from Dinklage, Germany. These are Edgar Willke's maternal grandparents. Andy Niekamp's 2x great-grandparents.

James "Jim" Niekamp at his home on 172 North Sycamore Street during Christmas of 1956. Jim Niekamp is my father's brother. Jim is the son Andrew and Alma (Bertke) Niekamp.

Janet Olive Willke birth certificate. December 9, 1936. Janet is also known as Janet Willke Niekamp Bolton.

The original farmstead of Johan Gerd Frederick Niekamp (1811-1894). Photo undated. The original Niekamp farmstead in Sebastian, Mercer County. It has been in the Niekamp family since 1848. (as of 1996)

Johan Gerd Frederick Niekamp (1811-1894). Photo undated. Johan Gerd Frederick Niekamp son of Johan Henrich and Catharina Margarethe, nee Mormann, Niekamp was born on April 9, 1811 in Essen, Oldenburg, Germany. In the year 1833 Johan Gerd Frederick Niekamp made the decision that so many of his fellow countrymen did and migrated to the United States of America.

Photo caption - Alfrida (Kleinhenz) Willke writes in 1977: Maria Stein, O. in the late 1890s. House in picture belonged to John M. Kramer, now the Ed Garmam residence. House next in line is Leo Streacker’s. The picture of manure spreader was taken before the “spreader part” was invented. In 1899 spreader factory was started in Maria Stein, O. In 1910 factory moved to Coldwater, O. Now Avco New Idea Farm Equipment.

Photo caption - Alfrida (Kleinhenz) Willke writes in 1977: Mike Gagel residence about 1915. Maria Stein, Ohio. Now Marge Goecke residence. Part of the barn and outhouse that belonged to the Willke property can be seen on the picture (left).

St. John Catholic Church, Maria Stein, Ohio. Circa 1915. The completion date is under debate. Some sources say it was completed in 1888. The church was dedicated in 1891. Parish-history information gives 1888–1894 as the overall construction period, indicating that work on the church continued after the dedication. This is the third church in Maria Stein. The first one was completed in 1836. The second one was completed in 1849. The church was destroyed by a fire and declared a total loss during renovations in 2025.