Tag: Luken

Emmo (Emil) Jürgens Kettwig (1877-1955) oo Ricka Luken

The history of the Kettwig family can be traced back to the year 1572 in Northern Germany where the family originated. Emmo was the son of Haukelena and Jürgen Kettwig, born in Hesel, Ostfriesland, Germany, in 1877. He grew to young manhood there before coming to America. At this time all young men had to serve in the German army, which Emmo and his brothers did not want to do. One brother John C. and sister Irene came before him. They settled at Daws [Dows], Iowa, where they had relatives. Emmo returned to Germany in 1900 to visit his parents and never saw them again. In 1903 he came to South Dakota where he met and married Ricka Luken Nov. 13, 1907. They farmed in the Hazel area. The Kettwigs moved to Watertown [South Dakota, SD] in 1950. Emmo passed away in May, 1955 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Continue reading Emmo and Ricka Kettwig

Johann Christian Kettwig (1875-1951) oo Anna M. Luken (1889-1981)

Brother of Emme (Emil) Jürgens Kettwig (1877-?) and Jürgen Harminus Kettwig (1894-1920).
John C. Kettwig was born Oct. 31, 1875 at Hesel, Ostfriesland, Germany. At the age of 15 he came to the United States as an immigrant whose passage was paid by an uncle who already lived in Iowa. In turn, John worked as a farm laborer for him for five years to repay this passage. After farming in Iowa, he came to South Dakota in 1905. He and his brother Emil rented land just on the southern edge of Codington County, South Dakota, three miles north of Hazel. By 1907 he had built a house and farm buildings four miles north and one west of Hazel, presently owned by Earl Paulsen. Continue reading Johann and Anna Kettwig