Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

William Ernest Romkee, Friend (Idalia/Kirk).
Images and family information contributed by Dallas Riedesel.

   Wilhelm Ernest Romkee was born in Germany in 1845 and immigrated to the United States about 1866 to live with an uncle in Ohio. About 1870 he married Cahta "Kate" Gerloff who was born in Iowa about 1850 the daughter of German immigrants. William and Kate had eight children, six of whom survived. Kate died in Tinley, Iowa, in 1888.

   William Romkee brought his family to Colorado about 1889 and homesteaded southwest of Friend. In 1891 he married Elsie Trachsel who was born in Switzerland in 1856 and came to the United States about 1885. William and Elsie had two children. William died in 1909 and Elsie in 1932. Both are buried in the Lucas Cemetery.

Photos circa 1888.
Left Photo: William E Romkee Sr.
Right Photo: back - Charles, Martha and Ella; front - Kate, Edith and Emma.

Charles and Kate Romkee's Children --
Edith Romkee married Johan E. Hanson
Charles Romkee never married
Martha Romkee married John A. Giem
Ella Romkee married Albert E. Giem
Cahta (Kate) Romkee married Dick Weeds
Mina Romkee died shortly after childbirth in 1881
Emma Romkee married Frank John Riedesel.

William and Elsie Romkee's Children --
Ernest Romkee married Myrtle A. Collette
William Romkee married Orpha M. Manley

Wedding photograph of William Ernst Romkee and Myrtle Alida Collette.  Probably taken east of Kirk aound 1920  (at her parents home?).  She was the daughter of Jessie and Alida Bayless Collette. He was the son of William Ernst Frederick and Elsie Trachsel Romkee.  They also lived in the Idalia area.

Images and family information contributed by Dallas Riedesel.

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