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[Excerpts from letters from Marilyn Burgard, daughter
of Arthur Burgard and
granddaughter of Bertha (Rambow) and William Burgard.] The spelling of
BURGARD is used on all the deeds and papers of the farm (these date
back to the 1860'.) as well as on the tombstones.
We know of no family history before the time that Frederick Burgard and Lisette Schrader, came to the United States from Mecklenburg,
Germany (this was a part of East Germany) in the mid 1860's.They
were married after coming to this country although they had known
each other in Germany before coming to USA The trip to the USA was
made by sailboatt and took 16-17 weeks. Some days the winds took
them as far backward as forward.
 Frederick and Lisette bought the
farm later owned by
Arthur and Ella (Hartwig) Burgard (left) in 1869. They lived at first in an old
log house which stood on the property, then built the present house
in about l882.They were glad to have the new house as the winter
winds and snow blew in through the cracks between the logs in the
old one. When the new house was built they moved the log house
behind the new one, to serve as a wood house.
There was also an old
log stable which stood on the property when they moved there. This
building stood on the east side of where our barn stands now. The
barn was also built by Frederick before the house was built. This
barn is built of oak.
Lisette was always called upon by families in the neighborhood to
lay out the dead for burial. Frederick and Lisette lived on the farm
until 1906 when they sold it to their son, William. At this time
they moved to a house in Ida.
 Frederick and Lisette were members of
St
Matthew Lutheran Church (Ida Maybee Rd. ) and they are buried
in the church cemetery. This church has since merged with another
Ida church and renamed
Prince of
Peace Lutheran Church. Its address is also Ida Maybee Rd. Ida,
Mich.
William and Bertha (Rambow) Burgard
lived on the farm until the 1940's when they moved to a house in
Ida. Arthur and Ella (Hartwig) Burgard bought the farm in 1949 and still live
there now. Arthur and his son,
Lee still farm there.
The only thing that we know about the reasons for Henry and Lou
Burgard going west to work was that Chris Schrader owned land there
and the pay was better there for farm labor. They worked in Iowa for
a time, found their wife, and then moved on to Nebraska.
Henry's wife, Anna, came from Iowa, also Lou's. William and Phoebe
Burgard also worked in Iowa for 5 years, he doing farm work, and she
housework, but eventually returned to Michigan.
 William Miller is buried in St. Matthew's cemetery as are Anna,
Albert and his wife, Esther (Rambow). Carl's wife was Elizabeth
Mathis and their children are Margaret (Mrs. George Riggs) one son,
John. Allison (Wilma) two sons, Larry and Gary Willard (married twice)
children from 1st marriage. are Richard (Linda Berns) and Pam (John Moskwa)
Anna and Henry Nickel are buried in Memorial Gardens in Toledo.
Walter Nickel married Celia Meinhart, one daughter Caroline. Alma
Nickel married John Burwitz, no children.
 Albert Miller's children are
Charles (Bernice Hehl)
two sons, Helen,
(Merle Kreps) l son, two daugthers, Bill,
Barbara, Karen.
Norma (Homer Ballard
deceased) three daughters, Mary,
Jane,
Gayle.
Letha (Don Pullou)
two
sons, three daughters David,
Grace Ann,
Jeanie,
Mark,
Faye
Lee Burgard
(right), son of
Arthur married Rebecca Zellers May 30,198l in Findlay Ohio. Arthur's daughter is
Marilyn.
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Pictured
is what was called a cassette tape back in pre-digital
times.
Norma "Jeanie" Heiden - They may have lived in Dundee for a while because Ma got
confirmed in the church in Dundee, I think. But maybe the preacher from Dundee came down here to do the confirmations. [See Note Below]
Jeanie & Helma (Heiden) Nickel - Remember when
Helma (Heiden) Nickel
-
Over
the years, we have also received written memories and
remembrances about this person or topic from various family
members. 
Wilma, Jeanie, Wm Frank, Helma & Marie were
children of 
