My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL BAUSHKE, a leading fruit-grower and old settler of Berrien County, Mich., is a native of Prussia, and, reared in the land of his birth, there married Miss Minnie Vileer, and to the husband and wife, who long continued in the home of their childhood, were born six sons and two daughters: John C., August F., Albert, Lewis, Theodore, William and Hannah and Amelia (twins). Our subject and his good wife with their family emigrated finally to America, and came at once to St. Joseph, Mich., and soon after located upon the farm now the home of Mr. Baushke. The parents had but very little money, and invested their small capital in a forty-acre homestead, then all heavily timbered. Industriously the father, aided by his sons, set to work to clear the land which has since — brought up to a high state of cultivation — yielded annually a bounteous harvest of fine fruit. After arriving in America one child was added to the family group, William, now residing in Benton Harbor. John Baushke, born in 1842, and the eldest of the children, was but a boy when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States. When the Civil War broke out he offered his services to the Government of his adopted country, and, only twenty years of age, enlisted in Company B, Seventh Michigan Cavalry. August F., the second brother, had previously entered the Federal army, and both of them served with faithful fidelity until the close of the rebellion. They were both engaged with the Army of the Potomac, and John Baushke was captured at the battle of Cedar Run, at the time Sheridan made his famous ride. Confined in Libby Prison, he was a total wreck when released, but after a long time partially recovered from his sufferings. He was married in 1866 to Miss Minnie Brunke, who was also a native of Prussia. The union was blessed by the birth of two sons, John W. and William C. The mother did not long survive, and the husband was united to a second wife. Miss Elvina Sheets, also a Prussian by birth. Mr. and Mrs. John Baushke are the parents of six children: Benjamin R., Levi, Pearl, Irvine, Amy and Rosa. This son of our subject began life for himself with a capital of energetic industry, and owns eighty acres of valuable land. In 1866, when he located upon it, the land was heavily timbered, but is now finely cultivated and improved with substantial and commodious buildings.

August F. Baushke, a successful general agriculturist and prominent fruit-grower of Benton Township, is the second son of Daniel Baushke, and, born in Prussia in 1844, has spent almost his entire life in his present locality. Only a lad, he enlisted in 1862 and gallantly fought, serving in the Army of the Potomac in Company B, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and was later under Sheridan until he was mustered out at the termination of the war. Wounded at Winchester at the time of the famous ride, August was taken to the hospital in Baltimore, and two months after, receiving an eighty-days furlough, made a visit to his home. He afterward returned to his command and passed safely through the other dangers of the campaign, and when peace was declared soon found his way back to Michigan, and at once entered upon agricultural pursuits upon his own account. Together with his brother John C., he purchased a farm, and in partnership the two cleared it of its growth of timber, two hundred acres of valuable land. They enterprisingly cut a road from the main line of nearest travel to their farm, and on the original line there is now a public highway.

August F. Baushke and Miss Tena Blankshien were joined in marriage in 1868. Five children brightened the fireside of the husband and wife: Edward, William and Frank died in infancy; the two youngest, Henry and Philip, are at home. Mr. Baushke has one hundred acres of excellent land under high cultivation, and has improved his farm with a comfortable and attractive residence, good barns and other buildings.

Our subject, Daniel Baushke, and his two sons, John and August, have always been stanch Republicans. The sons gave patriotic and courageous service to the Government in its hour of need, and are to-day true and loyal citizens, ever ready to assist in the promotion and maintenance of the public welfare. Upright, Intelligent and hard-working, they have through their self-reliance won success, and possess the esteem and best wishes of many sincere friends.