My great grandfather is Charles (also Carl, Hermann, August) Baake. He married Bertha Wilhemine Sophie Karock in Berlin, Germany 14 April 1877. He came to America in 1881. Bertha came in 1882 with daughter Hellenna and 11 month old son, Willy. The family perhaps were joined together in Crown Point, Lake, Indiana. Bertha perhaps died in America. Both children were orphaned and sent to the Coldwater Orphan School in Coldwater, Michigan. Hellenna was indentured to the Harry E. McDowell family in New Haven, Shiawassee County, Michigan where she died 1 Mar 1891. Willy was indentured to the James Eccles' family in Bad Axe, Michigan where he resided until he was judged able to support himself at nineteen years old.

Meanwhile, Charles married Jennie Boonstra DeBore who had been married to Peter DeBoer and had two daughters. He died. Charles (Carl A.)Baake married Jennie 17 Feb 1897 in Manistique, Schoolcraft, Michigan. They had 7 children. He passed away 7 April 1926 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. My grandfather Willy married Emma Augusta Killinger from Indianapolis, Indiana and they settled in the west first in California and then to Sparks, Washoe, Nevada with their four children. Willy was killed in Susanville, California in 1922. There are still family members in Sparks/Reno, Nevada.