Previously on this blog, I have written two different posts about people with the surname, Damme, who moved to Otoe County in Nebraska. Today, you will read another one. It is the story of a woman who found her first husband in Missouri and her second one in Nebraska. I will begin with this woman. However, I have to admit that there is some debate about the birth date of his girl.

Anna Maria Damme was born near Friedheim, Missouri. I found 3 different birthdays for her. Her Findagrave.com entry says she was born on November 15, 1850, in which case, today would be her 175th birthday. However, her baptism record says she was born on December 5, 1850, and her death certificate says she was born on November 5, 1850. This girl was called Mary during her life, so that is the name I will use. Mary was the daughter of Friedrich and Catherine (Rosswinkle) Damme. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. An image of that baptism record is displayed below. She was born in 1850 but did not get baptized until 1851. You can see that her date of birth in this document was December 5, 1850.

Mary’s father died in 1860 prior to that year’s census being enumerated. We find the Damme’s living in the St. Mary’s Township in Perry County. Mary was 10 years old, and her mother was called a farmer.

Next, we find Mary in the 1870 census at the age of 20. She was no longer living with her mother, who, by the way, had married George Barth in 1864. Mary was a domestic servant in the household of Francis Schumm.

Mary would get married not long after the above census was taken, so we will now look at the man who would become her first husband. His name was Friedrich Wilhelm Koch, who was born on April 21, 1843 in Borgholzhausen, Germany. Friedrich was the son of Johann and Marie (Bredenbeck) Koch. I can display a transcription of his German baptism record.

I was unable to find immigration information for Friedrich. He shows up with his family in the 1860 census at the age of 16. His father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

Friedrich is found in the 1870 census at the age of 27. His father had died in 1863, so his mother was the head of the Koch household. Friedrich and some other brothers were called farm hands.

Friedrich Koch married Mary Damme on January 17, 1871 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. The church marriage record for this couple is shown below.

I am also able to share 2 separate civil marriage records from Cape Girardeau County.

According to Family Search, this couple had 5 children. One died at a very young age. When the 1880 census was taken, there were 4 children in the Koch household. They were still living in the Apple Creek Township, and Friedrich was called a herder.

Apparently, the Koch’s moved to Otoe County in Nebraska not long after the above census was taken. Also, not long after they got there, Friedrich Koch died in January of 1881. I was unsuccessful at finding out where Friedrich was buried. Then, on July 7, 1881, Mary Koch married Edward Borchers. Let’s take a look at Edward’s life.

Edward Borchers was born on May 2, 1836 in Wittmund, Germany. He was the son of Ede and Ancke (Janssen) Borchers. I did not find any evidence of Edward in America until he married Friedericke Friedericks on July 28, 1871. A transcription of their Nebraska marriage record is pictured here.

However, this marriage did not last long because Friedericke died in 1874 In the 1880 census, we find Edward living in the McWilliams Township in Otoe County, Nebraska. He was living in the Annie Janssen household and called an uncle. Edward and Friedericke had two children before she died, so it looks like Edward felt he was unable to take care of those young children by himself. I know one of them was living with a Friedericks family in the 1880 census.

As said earlier, Edward Borchers married Mary Koch on July 7, 1881. I am able to display this transcription of a Nebraska marriage record.

Edward and Mary had 3 children of their own, all born during the 1880’s. When the 1900 census was taken, the Borchers family had all 3 of those teenage children in their household. Edward was a farmer in the McWilliams Township.

Here is a photo of Edward and Mary Borchers.

The Borchers made a move during the next decade. When the 1910 census was taken, they were living in the Union Township of Rush County, Kansas. Just one son was living with Edward and Mary. Edward was still farming.

Perhaps it was about this time that this photograph of the Borchers family was taken.

The Borchers couple did not remain in Kansas. By the time of the 1920 census, they were back living in Otoe County, Nebraska. They were living in the town of Lorton. Edward was called a retired farmer at the age of 83.

Edward Borchers died in 1923 at the age of 87. We can view his Nebraska death certificate below.

We can read Edward’s obituary in the 2 clickable images below. It adds the fact that Edward was a soldier during the Civil War, along with other details that have not been mentioned in this post.

I also found this short biography for Edward.

Mary Borchers died in 1926 at the age of 75. Her death certificate from the state of Nebraska is pictured here. This document says Mary was born on November 5, 1850.

We are also able to read Mary’s obituary. This obituary states that Mary was born on November 15, 1850.

Edward and Mary Borchers are buried together in the Delaware Lutheran Cemetery in Otoe County, Nebraska. Mary’s Findagrave.com site says she was born on November 15, 1850.

Now you know the story of Mary Damme, who may or may not have been born on today’s date.