ABC Biography of John Nicholas Brocke (1855-1938) and Anna Grieser (1859-1936) Family of Idaho

 Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is another ancestor biography using the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 AI tool.

1) The genealogical sketch for my wife Linda's paternal great-grandparents, John Nicholas Brocke and Anna Grieser, including family members, record abstracts and sources, is in Genealogical Sketch of John Nicholas Brocke (1855-1938) and Anna Grieser (1859-1936) Family.

(AI NotebookLM Infographic - Nicholas and Anna (Grieser) Brocke Family)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with:  "You are an expert genealogist and family historian. Please create a biography based on information in the attached file for the Nicholas and Anna (Grieser) Brocke family. Include parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places). Summarize life events, add historical events as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."

3)  The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 biography (lightly edited for accuracy) is: 

The Story of Nicholas and Anna Brocke: Pioneers of Idaho

Early Years: Nicholas's Immigrant Roots

John Nicholas Brocke came into the world on January 24, 1855, in Michigan, though his story really begins across the Atlantic in Herbede, Prussia. His parents, Johann Heinrich "Peter" Brocke and Christina Webber, were part of that great wave of German immigrants seeking new opportunities in America. They arrived in Baltimore, Maryland around 1849 as single young people, married shortly after in 1850, and started building their American dream.

Peter worked hard to establish himself—first spending three years with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, then three years in the tough Lake Superior copper mines. The family kept moving west, always looking for better opportunities: first to Iowa, then to northwestern Nebraska in 1858, and eventually to South Dakota in 1877. Peter was an industrious farmer who worked until his death at age 65, while Christina outlived him by many years, reaching her late 60s.

Nicholas grew up with four siblings who survived to adulthood:

• Catharine Brocke (1851-1887), who married Theodore Beste and settled in Nebraska

• Franklin Joseph Brocke (born around 1857), who married Catherine Ann Sutherland and eventually made his home in South Dakota

• Charles Hubert Brocke (1859-1949), who married Catherine Teresa Burgel and later joined Nicholas in Idaho

• Mary Brocke (born around 1866), though sadly her story fades from the records

Anna's Journey: From St. Louis to the Prairie

Anna Grieser was born on November 17, 1859, in St. Louis, Missouri, into another German immigrant family with their own American adventure. Her parents, Ignatius Grieser and Katherine Gute, had emigrated from Baden-Württemberg and married in St. Louis in 1858. Ignatius worked as a carpenter and did well enough to own property worth $4,000 by 1870—a substantial sum for the time.

Anna was the oldest of seven children:

• Frank Peter Grieser (1861-1941), who married Catharina Christina Spielman

• Adolph O. Grieser (1869-1941), who married Theresa Henrietta Baumgartner

• Amelia Grieser (1871-1953), who married Charles Wernecke

• Katherine Grieser (1872-1950), who married James W. Peterson

• Elizabeth "Lizzie" Grieser (1874-1939), who married Joseph Nicolaus Hasfurther

• Charles Frank Grieser (1876-1961), who married Anna Barbara Hasfurther

Sadly, Anna's father Ignatius died in 1879 when she was just 20 years old, but her mother Katherine lived until 1920. After living in St. Louis through Anna's childhood, the Grieser family made their own westward move to Cedar County, Nebraska sometime in the 1870s.

A Nebraska Wedding and the Journey West

Nicholas and Anna's paths crossed in Cedar County, Nebraska, and on April 24, 1877, they were married. She was just 17 years old; he was 22. This was frontier country, and young marriages were common as families worked together to carve out farms and build communities.

Soon after their wedding, Nicholas and Anna made a bold decision that would shape the rest of their lives. They joined Anna's parents and her six siblings on an immigrant train heading west to Idaho Territory. It was 1878, and Idaho was still wild country—it wouldn't even become a state until 1890. Nicholas staked a claim for 160 acres of land near Kendrick in Latah County, and the young couple set about turning wilderness into a working farm.

Building a Life in Idaho

The Brockes were among the earliest settlers in the Potlatch Country, and Nicholas proved to be an energetic and innovative farmer. He grew white navy beans, which he cleverly used for bartering at local stores in the tiny settlement of Kendrick. He cultivated both grains and fruit, adapting to what worked in the Idaho soil and climate.

Initially, they settled on a farm nine miles south of Moscow, but in 1888, Nicholas sold that property and moved the family to a new location three and a half miles west of Kendrick. Here, he really showed his entrepreneurial spirit. He built a good residence and large barns, and installed a pumping outfit—quite advanced for the time—that conveyed water not just to the house but all over the farm for irrigation. The neat appearance of everything spoke to his careful attention and progressive farming methods.

Their Growing Family

Nicholas and Anna welcomed eight children into their Idaho home, each contributing to the family's legacy:

• John Ineaughe Brocke (1878-1931), born in Kendrick, married Etta May Stockwell in 1901 and had one child

• Frank Nicholas Brocke (1879-1919), born in Genesee, married Julia Rose Otto in 1903 and had five children

• Etta Susan Brocke (1881-1961), born in Multnomah, Oregon (perhaps during a trip?), married August Charles Hagist in 1902 and had four children

• Caroline Brocke (1883-1965), born in Kendrick, married Harland Page Wilcox in 1903 and had two children

• Amelia Anna Brocke (1884-1975), born in Kendrick, married Severt Oliver Leland in 1904 and had five children

• Joseph Adolph Brocke (1888-1956), born in Kendrick, married Emma Almyra Oliver in 1909

• Charles Joseph Brocke (1892-1946), born in Kendrick, baptized in Genesee, remained unmarried

• Nicholas Francis Brocke (1894-1945), born in Kendrick, married Mabel George in 1927

All eight children survived to adulthood—a remarkable achievement in an era when childhood mortality was common. The family were devout Catholics, attending services together and having the children baptized in nearby Genesee.

Community Life and Later Years

Nicholas wasn't just a farmer—he was an active community member. He served as school trustee and highway commissioner, bringing the same energy and reliability to public service that he brought to his farm. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Woodmen of the World, both popular fraternal organizations of the time. Politically, he was a "stalwart Democrat" in what was often Republican territory.

By 1910, Nicholas had paid off the mortgage on his farm—a significant accomplishment that showed his business acumen. The census that year noted he owned the farm "free of mortgage," a source of pride for any farmer. By 1920, as he reached his mid-60s, Nicholas had semi-retired, taking work as a janitor in the local lodge hall rather than the demanding physical labor of farming.

In the 1930 census, Nicholas and Anna were still living in their Kendrick home, valued at $2,500. Nicholas was 76, Anna was 70, and after more than 50 years of marriage, they were enjoying their retirement together.

The Final Chapter

Anna passed away first, on March 19, 1936, at age 76 in Kendrick. The death certificate listed senility and influenza as the causes—she had lived a long, full life but succumbed to the frailty of age and illness. Nicholas served as the informant on her death certificate, bearing witness to the passing of his partner of nearly 59 years. She was laid to rest in American Ridge Cemetery in Juliaetta.

Nicholas followed her less than three years later, dying on December 14, 1938, in Lewiston at the home on 9th Avenue where he'd been living with his daughter Caroline's family. He was 84 years old (just shy of his 85th birthday), and the death certificate listed angina pectoris and arteriosclerosis—heart disease. Their daughter Caroline Wilcox served as informant for his death certificate. He was buried beside Anna in American Ridge Cemetery.

Their Legacy

As an 1899 published biography noted, Nicholas Brocke could "justly be called a self-made man." He and Anna had arrived in Idaho when it was barely settled, raised eight children to adulthood, built a prosperous farm from raw land, and helped establish the communities that would become the heart of Idaho's agricultural region. Their children and grandchildren spread throughout Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and California, carrying forward the pioneering spirit of their parents.

From Prussian immigrants to Idaho pioneers, the Brocke family story is one of courage, hard work, and the enduring bonds of family—a truly American tale.

========================================

4) An Audio Overview (essentially a podcast) created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) describing and celebrating the lives of Nicholas and Anna (Grieser) Brocke can be heard here (click on "Audio Overview" and wait for it to load).

5)  The Video Overview discussing the lives of Nicholas and Anna (Grieser) Brocke created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool is: 

6)  I edited the Claude biography text to correct minor inconsistencies and errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail when requested.

==============================================

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

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Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 17 to 23 January 2026

Each week, I try to keep track of the number of Full-Text Search collections (indexed, searchable) and the Images collections (browsable but not searchable) -- see Sections 1) and 2) below. In addition, I list the genealogy historical record collections (often name-indexed) that are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list  --  See Section 3.

1)  As of 23 January 2026, there are now 6,624 searchable and full-text transcribed image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, a decrease of 28 from last week. There are over 2.403 BILLION "results" in the collections.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

2)  As of 23 January 2026, there are now 24,545 browsable (some indexed, none transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, a decrease of 23 from last week. There are over 5.894 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,101 collections from the United States, 6,943 from Europe and 221 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

3)  As of 16 January 2026, there are 3,431 Historical Record Collections (many indexed, browsable) on FamilySearch (an increase of 2 from last week) on the Signed In screen (and 3,431 on the Signed Out screen). 

 The added, deleted, and updated collections this week from FamilySearch (from a list supplied by Marshall Clow):

--- Collections Deleted ---

--- Collections Added ---

*  France, Gironde, Civil Registration, 1696-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3235410); 1,218,676 indexed records with 502,219 record images, ADDED 17-Jan-2026

*  France, Loiret, Civil Registration, 1793-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288439); Index only (1,965,105 records), no images, ADDED 17-Jan-2026

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Baptisms, 1645-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520570); Index only (2,273,891 records), no images (was 2,272,426 records with 0 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026
Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1972912); 2,773,107 indexed records with 978,396 record images (was 2,757,113 records with 978,396 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Capital Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1640-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974184); 1,544,630 indexed records with 998,148 record images (was 1,544,630 records with 998,148 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026
Argentina, Chaco, Civil Registration, 1889-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450393); 205,916 indexed records with 204,898 record images (was 205,767 records with 204,898 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Corrientes, Catholic Church Records, 1734-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974183); 253,044 indexed records with 207,943 record images (was 247,702 records with 207,943 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026

Argentina, Corrientes, Civil Registration, 1880-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821282); 761,189 indexed records with 753,273 record images (was 757,116 records with 753,273 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Córdoba, Catholic Church Records, 1557-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974182); 1,005,459 indexed records with 419,985 record images (was 1,005,459 records with 419,985 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026
Argentina, Entre Ríos, Catholic Church Records, 1764-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974185); 545,131 indexed records with 235,772 record images (was 541,870 records with 235,772 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Entre Ríos, Civil Registration, 1833-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006904); 814,555 indexed records with 549,008 record images (was 798,525 records with 549,008 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Jujuy, Civil Registration, 1888-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489444); 17,629 indexed records with 27,656 record images (was 17,384 records with 27,656 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026

Argentina, La Rioja, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974188); 74,759 indexed records with 74,259 record images (was 72,317 records with 74,259 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Marriages, 1722-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520572); Index only (104,450 records), no images (was 104,182 records with 0 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026
Argentina, Misiones, Catholic Church Records, 1874-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974190); 40,969 indexed records with 9,155 record images (was 33,276 records with 9,155 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Neuquén, Catholic Church Records, 1880-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974191); 28,450 indexed records with 11,873 record images (was 25,838 records with 11,873 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Río Negro, Catholic Church Records, 1880-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974192); 14,601 indexed records with 15,221 record images (was 14,601 records with 15,221 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026

Argentina, Salta, Catholic Church Records, 1634-1972 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974193); 347,971 indexed records with 144,293 record images (was 345,557 records with 144,293 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Salta, Civil Registration, 1880-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006885); 599,484 indexed records with 537,699 record images (was 596,924 records with 537,699 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, San Juan, Catholic Church Records, 1655-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974194); 200,707 indexed records with 83,087 record images (was 198,721 records with 83,087 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Santa Fe, Catholic Church Records, 1634-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974196); 759,932 indexed records with 424,329 record images (was 755,080 records with 424,329 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Argentina, Tucumán, Catholic Church Records, 1727-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974199); 662,446 indexed records with 184,969 record images (was 661,495 records with 184,969 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026

Australia, South Australia, Will and Probate Records, 1844-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3007557); 50,005 indexed records with 48,774 record images (was 48,404 records with 47,189 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,832,200 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,834,032 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Brazil, Foreigner Files, 1653-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000160); 134,960 indexed records with 2,444,925 record images (was 134,960 records with 2,588,453 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 8,680,076 indexed records with 1,129,390 record images (was 8,673,302 records with 1,129,390 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Chile, Cemetery Records, 1701-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1428897); 5,937,758 indexed records with 3,675,058 record images (was 5,937,758 records with 3,675,058 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026

Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 27,314,987 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 27,313,615 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Colombia, Migration Records, 1885-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000159); 6,736,692 indexed records with 6,488,263 record images (was 6,735,251 records with 6,488,263 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
Costa Rica, Baptisms, 1700-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520624); Index only (110,127 records), no images (was 113,491 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 2,626,386 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 2,676,711 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Costa Rica, Deaths, 1787-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520629); Index only (26,355 records), no images (was 31,296 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026

Costa Rica, Marriages, 1750-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520628); Index only (35,512 records), no images (was 35,560 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Dominican Republic, Baptisms, 1726-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520622); Index only (144,381 records), no images (was 144,223 records with 0 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 1,153,425 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 1,135,009 records with 238,265 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Dominican Republic, Civil Registration, 1744-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1619814); 6,999,087 indexed records with 3,416,801 record images (was 6,998,359 records with 3,416,801 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026
Dominican Republic, Immigration Records, 1925-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000147); 75,535 indexed records with 205,309 record images (was 67,344 records with 205,309 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026

Dominican Republic, Miscellaneous Records, 1921-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2069829); 182,925 indexed records with 760,173 record images (was 180,777 records with 760,173 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Ecuador, Baptisms, 1680-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520610); Index only (399,934 records), no images (was 398,159 records with 0 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
Ecuador, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1923402); 3,867,977 indexed records with 1,454,787 record images (was 3,774,012 records with 1,454,787 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
Ecuador, Marriages, 1680-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520614); Index only (106,660 records), no images (was 105,802 records with 0 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
El Salvador, Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 2,465,014 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 3,173,907 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026

El Salvador, Civil Registration, 1704-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1821208); 3,147,943 indexed records with 1,381,210 record images (was 3,129,559 records with 1,381,210 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
France, Ardennes, Parish and Civil Registration, 1558-1893 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496126); 2,800,279 indexed records with 1,141,294 record images (was 2,800,719 records with 1,141,294 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Ardèche, Parish and Civil Registration, 1481-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3661216); 1,446,261 indexed records with 839,538 record images (was 1,449,332 records with 839,538 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Bas-Rhin, Parish and Civil Registration, 1525-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4116416); 4,870,559 indexed records with 2,090,701 record images (was 4,876,970 records with 2,090,701 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Births and Baptisms, 1546-1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1782519); Index only (5,313,811 records), no images (was 5,348,521 records with 0 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026

France, Calvados, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279960); 57,909 indexed records with 6,110 record images (was 98,326 records with 6,110 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Calvados, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279948); 20,609 indexed records with 4,988 record images (was 66,267 records with 4,988 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Calvados, Census, 1891 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279959); 42,902 indexed records with 5,365 record images (was 74,296 records with 5,365 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Charente, Parish and Civil Registration, 1550-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4129995); 2,579,938 indexed records with 1,045,469 record images (was 2,595,028 records with 1,045,469 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Coutances et d'Avranches Diocese, Catholic Parish Records, 1533-1894 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408716); 613,224 indexed records with 19,201 record images (was 620,424 records with 19,201 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026

France, Creuse, Parish and Civil Registration, 1568-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316502); 4,179,408 indexed records with 945,996 record images (was 4,182,370 records with 945,996 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Deaths and Burials, 1546-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500691); 332,061 indexed records with 341,046 record images (was 331,707 records with 341,046 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
France, Dordogne, Church and Civil Registration, 1540-1897 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796817); 7,857,723 indexed records with 3,099,653 record images (was 7,866,340 records with 3,099,653 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Eure-et-Loir, Parish and Civil Registration, 1526-1902 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3460907); 4,131,623 indexed records with 1,661,353 record images (was 4,134,825 records with 1,661,353 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Haute-Garonne, Parish and Civil Registration, 1539-1993 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4235684); 8,970,706 indexed records with 2,755,805 record images (was 8,987,942 records with 2,755,805 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026

France, Haute-Garonne, Toulouse, Censuses, 1891 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2363043); 138,452 indexed records with 32,423 record images (was 138,452 records with 32,423 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
France, Haute-Garonne, Toulouse, Church Records, 1539-1793 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2363045); 605,831 indexed records with 95,073 record images (was 607,149 records with 95,073 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
France, Haute-Saône, Parish and Civil Registration, 1551-1872 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4426179); 3,757,991 indexed records with 1,144,354 record images (was 3,765,393 records with 1,144,354 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Indre, Parish and Civil Registration, 1564-1905 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4459649); 5,322,228 indexed records with 1,538,618 record images (was 5,329,809 records with 1,538,618 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Loire-Atlantique, Civil Registration, 1792-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288440); 2,710,673 indexed records with 2,783,499 record images (was 4 records with 2,783,499 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026

France, Marriages, 1546-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500690); Index only (1,178,188 records), no images (was 1,184,723 records with 0 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Nord, Parish and Civil Registration, 1524-1893 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3216848); 8,717,405 indexed records with 2,871,504 record images (was 8,837,369 records with 2,871,504 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Pas-de-Calais, Parish and Civil Registration, 1553-1902 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469407); 5,177,375 indexed records with 1,625,868 record images (was 5,178,064 records with 1,625,868 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Protestant Church Records, 1536-1902 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582585); 148,964 indexed records with 39,994 record images (was 149,574 records with 39,994 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
France, Pyrénées-Orientales, Parish and Civil Registration, 1451-1897 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4320734); 2,081,774 indexed records with 958,474 record images (was 2,081,774 records with 958,474 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026

France, Rhône, Military Registration Cards, 1865-1932 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3007175); 404,564 indexed records with 404,163 record images (was 405,064 records with 404,163 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Savoie, Parish and Civil Registration, 1500-1927 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4380169); 7,363,246 indexed records with 1,531,764 record images (was 7,400,203 records with 1,531,764 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Saône-et-Loire, Parish and Civil Registration, 1530-1892 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2840171); 7,228,055 indexed records with 1,973,984 record images (was 7,237,342 records with 1,973,984 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Seine-Maritime, Civil Registration, 1793-1879 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288436); 3,390,985 indexed records with 3,390,978 record images (was 3,390,985 records with 3,390,978 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Seine-Saint-Denis, Parish and Civil Registration, 1523-1932 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3241307); 707,658 indexed records with 253,227 record images (was 708,381 records with 253,227 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026

France, Var, Civil Registration, 1793-1914 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3277143); 2,306,783 indexed records with 2,311,574 record images (was 920 records with 2,311,479 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Vendée, Parish and Civil Registration, 1508-1894 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000367); 1,994,474 indexed records with 451,682 record images (was 1,997,208 records with 451,682 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Vienne, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2849254); 363,960 indexed records with 6,836 record images (was 388,402 records with 6,836 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Vienne, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2858066); 297,157 indexed records with 5,599 record images (was 324,834 records with 5,599 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Vienne, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2854336); 233,046 indexed records with 4,320 record images (was 255,918 records with 4,320 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
France, Vienne, Census, 1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2858067); Index only (342,366 records), no images (was 372,407 records with 0 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026

France, Vosges, Parish and Civil Registration, 1522-1956 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000301); 2,184,571 indexed records with 873,456 record images (was 3,024,371 records with 873,456 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
Guatemala, Catholic Church Records, 1581-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1614809); 4,850,185 indexed records with 1,160,338 record images (was 4,834,714 records with 1,160,338 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 12,302,981 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 12,095,504 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Idaho, Bonneville County Records, 1867-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135572); 34,145 indexed records with 123,122 record images (was 36,054 records with 123,122 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
Indiana, Births and Christenings, 1773-1933 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674814); Index only (230,558 records), no images (was 230,663 records with 0 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026

Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3155890); 74,499 indexed records with 66,952 record images (was 55,256 records with 52,524 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026
Iowa, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796750); Index only (602,723 records), no images (was 604,912 records with 0 images), UPDATED 17-Jan-2026
Italy, Alessandria, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2197595); 12,477 indexed records with 7,197 record images (was 12,477 records with 9,994 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1795-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392991); 120,754 indexed records with 267,978 record images (was 119,806 records with 267,978 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026
Italy, Palermo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2608509); 1,913,991 indexed records with 4,331,932 record images (was 1,913,991 records with 4,331,932 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026

Italy, Potenza, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1697-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2450876); 3,153,851 indexed records with 3,139,547 record images (was 3,083,609 records with 3,139,547 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
Italy, Roma, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1863-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2390532); 1,379,275 indexed records with 5,066,067 record images (was 1,288,244 records with 5,066,067 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Jamaica, Civil Registration, 1878-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1538386); 1,412,810 indexed records with 3,838,605 record images (was 1,376,493 records with 3,838,605 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 5,409,156 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 5,409,156 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
New Zealand, Cemetery Transcriptions, 1835-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2780088); 2,233,392 indexed records with 103,037 record images (was 2,196,378 records with 103,037 images), UPDATED 20-Jan-2026

Paraguay, Baptisms, 1800-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520613); Index only (48,747 records), no images (was 48,752 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Paraguay, Catholic Church Records, 1754-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922527); 1,277,931 indexed records with 373,775 record images (was 1,322,850 records with 373,775 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Paraguay, Marriages, 1800-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520617); Index only (4,778 records), no images (was 7,176 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1681005); Index only (2,512,971 records), no images (was 2,513,476 records with 0 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026
Peru, Municipal Census, 1831-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274799); Index only (162,245 records), no images (was 162,245 records with 0 images), UPDATED 19-Jan-2026

Uruguay, Baptisms, 1750-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520616); Index only (113,820 records), no images (was 113,842 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Uruguay, Catholic Church Records, 1726-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4134697); 1,065,597 indexed records with 293,845 record images (was 1,053,680 records with 293,845 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Uruguay, Civil Registration, 1879-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,652,127 records), no images (was 1,509,384 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Uruguay, Marriages, 1840-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520619); Index only (7,257 records), no images (was 8,237 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Jan-2026
Utah, Uintah County Naturalization and Citizenship Records, 1888-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2479767); 310 indexed records with 409 record images (was 299 records with 409 images), UPDATED 18-Jan-2026

Venezuela, Catholic Church Records, 1577-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1951777); 17,400,769 indexed records with 1,899,876 record images (was 17,395,647 records with 1,899,876 images), UPDATED 21-Jan-2026
Zimbabwe, Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837900); 320,690 indexed records with 74,045 record images (was 320,653 records with 74,045 images), UPDATED 16-Jan-2026

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,926,835 record images (was 1 records with 2,926,834 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 454,034 record images (was 1 records with 454,032 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 905,871 record images (was 1 records with 905,861 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, São Paulo, Civil Registration, 1925-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2765317); 4,527,942 indexed records with 21,090,537 record images (was 4,527,942 records with 21,090,338 images), last updated 08-Jan-2026
Colombia, DAS Civil Registration Alphabetic Cards, 1914-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000074); 1 indexed records with 26,272,981 record images (was 1 records with 26,272,980 images), last updated 25-Nov-2024

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,730,002 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,728,271 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,204,225 record images (was 1 records with 28,204,224 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 262,294,375 indexed records with 88,641,494 record images (was 262,294,375 records with 88,641,498 images), last updated 19-Dec-2025
French Polynesia, Civil Registration, 1780-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2549721); 138,350 indexed records with 611,296 record images (was 138,350 records with 616,756 images), last updated 13-Jan-2026
Italy, Torino, Diocese of Torino, Catholic Church Records, 1801-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000113); 1,986,339 indexed records with 751,310 record images (was 1,986,339 records with 764,097 images), last updated 01-Dec-2025

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

Minnesota, Marriage Index, 1958-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949335); Index only (2,414,036 records), no images (was 2,414,038 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Sep-2012

===================================

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

• 0 removed entries
• 2  added entries 
• 103 updated entries
• 10 entries with more or fewer images 
• 1 entries with more or fewer records

==========================================

See previous FamilySearch-related blog posts in     https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FamilySearch

The URL for this post is: 

Copyright (c) 2026 Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.

Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 17 to 23 January 2026

  The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 17 to 23 January 2026:

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• Mississippi, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current; 285,575,836 indexed records without record images; Updated 1/21/2026. This index allows you to search for your ancestor by name in Mississippi newspapers that are available on Newspapers.com™ from the 1800s to the present.
• Utah, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current; 230,265,989 indexed records without record images; Updated 1/21/2026. This index allows you to search for your ancestor by name in Utah newspapers that are available on Newspapers.com™ from the 1800s to the present.
• Arkansas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current; 120,497,677 indexed records without record images; Updated 1/21/2026. This index allows you to search for your ancestor by name in Arkansas newspapers that are available on Newspapers.com™ from the 1800s to the present.
• Scotland, Burial Monument Inscriptions, 1507-2024; 653,693 indexed records with record images; Updated 1/21/2026. This collection is an index of information transcribed from gravestones in cemeteries throughout Scotland.
• New Hampshire, U.S., Birth Records, 1631-1924; 2,281,831 indexed records with record images; Updated 1/20/2026. This database contains birth certificates and delayed birth certificates from New Hampshire.
• Index to Tracing and Documentation Files from Arolsen Archives (Formerly ITS), 1947; 2,360,890 indexed records without record images; ADDED 1/19/2026. This collection contains an index of approximately 1.5 million records that document inquiries to Arolsen about people who had been impacted by the Holocaust. 
• Arolsen Concentration Camp Lists, 1939-1944; 8,137,272 indexed records without record images; ADDED 1/19/2026. This collection contains records of concentration camp internees who were held captive by the Nazi Regime during World War II. 

=========================================

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there are 2 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,921 collections available as of 23 January, an INCREASE of 2 from last week.  

                              ==============================================

Disclosure: I pay for an All-Access subscription from Ancestry.com. In past years, Ancestry.com  provided a complimentary All Access subscription, an autosomal DNA test, material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and hosted events and meals that I attended in Salt Lake City.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/01/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_01550808565.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.  

Genealogical Sketch of John Nicholas Brocke (1855-1938) and Anna Grieser (1859-1936) Family

I am writing genealogical sketches, and then will write AI-assisted biographies, of my wife's ancestors by ancestral couple, not by individual ancestor.  

Here is the genealogical sketch for the family of my wife Linda's paternal great-grandparents John Nicholas Brocker (1855-1938) and Anna Grieser (1859-1936) who married in 1877 in Cedar County, Nebraska.

1) Nicholas Brocke Research Notes:

John Nicholas Brocke was born on 24 January 1855 (according to a published book) in Michigan [1-2] to Johann Heinrich “Peter” Brocke (1826-1891) and Christina (Webber) Brocke (1831-1914), who had immigrated from Herbede, Prussia in about 1849 to the Baltimore, Maryland area, and were married there in about 1850. The children of Peter and Christina (Webber) Brocke are:

• Catharine Brocke, born 1 Jan 1851, Wheeling, Ohio, West Virginia; married Theodore Beste, 3 Apr 1877, Cedar, Nebraska; died 13 Jan 1887, St. Helena, Cedar, Nebraska.
• John Nicholas Brocke, born 24 Jan 1855, Michigan; married Anna Grieser, 24 Apr 1877, Cedar, Nebraska; died 14 Dec 1938, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho.
• Franklin Joseph Brocke, born abt 1857, Cedar, Nebraska; married Catherine Ann Sutherland, 1879, Cedar, Nebraska; died 29 Aug 1942, Davison, South Dakota.
• Charles Hubert Brocke, born 4 Sep 1859, St. James, Cedar, Nebraska; married Catherine Teresa Burgel, 17 Oct 1882, Cedar, Nebraska; died 8 Mar 1949, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho.
• Mary Brocke was born about 1866 in Cedar, Nebraska. No further record.

In the 1860 United States census, the John Brocke family resided in Saint James Precinct, Cedar County, Nebraska Territory.[3] The household included:

• John Brookes - age 35, male, a farmer, $700 in personal property, born Germany
• Jane Brookes - age 30, female, born Germany
• Catherine Brookes - age 12, female, born Wisconsin
• Nickolas Brookes - age 9, male, born Wisconsin
• Franklin Brookes - age 6, male, born Wisconsin
• Charles Brookes - age 1, male, born Nebraska 

In the 1870 U.S. Census, the family resided in Brooke Precinct, Cedar County, Nebraska.[4] The household included:

• John Brocke -- age 44, male, white, a farmer, $2500 in real property, $2390 in personal property, born Prussia
• Christina Brocke -- age 38, female, white, keeping house, born Prussia
• Kathrina Brocke -- age 17, female, white, born Virginia
• J. Nicholas Brocke -- age 15, male, white, farm laborer, born Michigan
• Frank Brocke -- age 13, male, white, at school, born Michigan
• Charley Brocke -- age 10, male, white, born Nebraska
• Mary Brocke -- age 4, female, white, born Nebraska

2) Anna Grieser Research Notes:

Anna Grieser was born 17 November 1859 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri,[5] the daughter of Ignatius Grieser (1835-1879) and Katherine Gute (1837-1920), German immigrants from Baden-Wurttemburg, who married in 1858 in St. Louis. The children of Ignatius and Katherine (Gute) Grieser were:

• Anna Grieser, born 17 Nov 1859, Saint Louis, St. Louis (city), Missouri; married John Nicholas Brocke, 24 Apr 1877, Cedar, Nebraska; died 19 Mar 1936, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho.
• Frank Peter Grieser, born 12 Sep 1861, Louisiana; married Catharina Christina Spielman, 17 Jun 1889, Uniontown, Whitman, Washington; died 13 Aug 1941, Genesee, Latah, Idaho.
• Adolph O. Grieser, born 20 Apr 1869, Saint Louis, St. Louis (city), Missouri; married Theresa Henrietta Baumgartner, 23 Nov 1891, Genesee, Latah, Idaho; died 5 Mar 1941, Moscow, Latah, Idaho.
• Amelia Grieser, born 13 Mar 1871, Cedar, Nebraska; married Charles Wernecke, 1888, Nebraska; died 1 Apr 1953, Genesee, Latah, Idaho.
• Katherine Grieser, born 10 May 1872, Cedar, Nebraska; married James W. Peterson, 28 Mar 1895, Grundy, Iowa; died 28 Jun 1950, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho.
• Elizabeth "Lizzie" Grieser, born 13 Dec 1874, Cedar, Nebraska; married Joseph Nicolaus Hasfurther, 18 Jul 1893, Genesee, Latah, Idaho; died 25 Jul 1939, Genesee, Latah, Idaho.
• Charles Frank Grieser, born 13 Jun 1876, Cedar, Nebraska; married Anna Barbara Hasfurther, 22 Jun 1898, Genesee, Latah, Idaho; died 1961, Genesee, Latah, Idaho.

In the 1860 United States Census, the Ignaz Briesser household was enumerated in St. Louis, Missouri.[6] The household included:

• Ignaz Briesser - age 25, male, a carpenter, $250 in personal property, born Baden
• Catherin Briesser - age 23, female, born in Baden
• Anna Briesser - age 1/2, female, born Missouri

In the 1870 United States census, the Ignatz Graeser household was enumerated in St. Louis, Missouri.[7] The household included:

• Ignatz Graeser - age 35, male, white, a H. carpenter, $4000 in real property, $400 in personal property, born Baden, father and mother of foreign birth, a male citizen over age 21
• Cath Graeser - age 32, female, white, keeping house, born in Baden, father and mother of foreign birth,
• Anna Graeser - age 10, female, white, at school, born Missouri, father and mother of foreign birth, attends school
• Frank Graeser - age 8, male, white, born Louisiana, father and mother of foreign birth, attends school
• Adolph Graeser - age 1, male, white, born Missouri, father and mother of foreign birth

The Grieser family moved to Cedar County, Nebraska after 1870 and before 1880.

3) Nicholas and Anna (Grieser) Brocke Life Together Research Notes:

John Nicholas Brocke married Anna Grieser on 24 April 1877 in Cedar County, Nebraska[8] and together they came west on an immigrant train to Idaho along with Anna's parents and their six children. Nicholas had moved the family to a farm near Kendrick, Latah County, Idaho by 1878 and staked a one hundred sixty acre claim for land.

John Nicholas Brocke and Anna Grieser had the following children:

• John Ineaughe Brocke, born 6 Feb 1878, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho; married Etta May Stockwell, 30 Oct 1901, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho, one child; died 2 Jun 1931, Clarkston, Asotin, Washington.
• Frank Nicholas Brocke, born 15 Oct 1879, Genesee, Latah, Idaho; married Julia Rose Otto, 21 Oct 1903, Moscow, Latah, Idaho, 5 children; died 12 Jan 1919, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho.
• Etta Susan Brocke, born 19 May 1881, Multnomah, Oregon; married August Charles Hagist, 4 Dec 1902, Spokane, Spokane, Washington, four children; died 20 Nov 1961, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
• Caroline Brocke, born 23 Apr 1883, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho; married Harland Page Wilcox, 21 Nov 1903, Moscow, Latah, Idaho, two children; died 12 Mar 1965, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho.
• Amelia Anna Brocke, born 1 Nov 1884, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho; married Severt Oliver Leland, 12 Feb 1904, Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, 5 children; died 30 Jul 1975, Redwood City, San Mateo, California.
• Joseph Adolph Brocke, born 18 Sep 1888, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho; married Emma Almyra Oliver, 17 Feb 1909, Livingston, Park, Montana, no children; died 27 Jun 1956, Spokane, Spokane, Washington.
• Charles Joseph Brocke was born on 10 Nov 1892 in Kendrick, Latah, Idaho. He was baptized on 18 Jul 1893 in Genesee, Latah, Idaho; not married. He died on 6 Apr 1946 at the age of 53 in Alameda, California.
• Nicholas Francis Brocke, born 2 Nov 1894, Kendrick, Latah, Idaho; married Mabel George, 12 Nov 1927, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, no children; died 3 Aug 1945, Merced, California.

Nicholas Brocke was a very energetic farmer, he grew white navy beans which he used for bartering at the stores locally at early Kendrick stores, he grew both grains and fruit.

In the 1880 U.S. Census, the family resided in Township 37, Nez Perce County, Idaho.[9] The household included:

• Nicholas Brocke (indexed as Brooke) -- white, male, age 25, married, a farmer, born in Virginia, father born in Prussia, mother born in Prussia
• Anna Brocke -- white, female, age 20, wife, married, keeping house, born Missouri, father born unknown, mother born unknown
• John Brocke - white, male, age 2, son, single, born Idaho, father born Virginia, mother born Missouri
• Frank N. Brocke - white, male, age 6/12, born in October last, son, single, born Idaho, father born Virginia, mother born Missouri

In the 1900 U.S. Census, the family resided in Kendrick Precinct, Latah County, Idaho.[10] The household included:

• Nicholas Brocke -- head, white, male, born Jany 1855, age 45, married, for 22 years, born Michigan, father born Germany, mother born Germany, a farmer, owns farm with a mortgage..
• Anna Brocke -- wife, white, female, born Nov 1860, age 39, married, for 22 years, 8 children born, 8 living, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Germany
• John Brocke -- son, white, male, born Feb 1878, age 22, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri, a farm laborer.
• Frank Brocke -- son, white, male, born Oct 1880, age 19, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri, a farm laborer.
• Carrie Brocke -- daughter, white, female, born Apr 1883, age 17, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri,
• Amelia Brocke -- daughter, white, female, born Nov 1885, age 14, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri,
• Joseph Brocke -- son, white, male, born Dec 1890, age 9, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri..
• Charles Brocke -- son, white, male, born Dec 1892, age 7, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri.
• Nicholas Brocke -- son, white, male, born Nov 1894, age 5, single, born Idaho, father born Michigan, mother born Missouri.

In the 1910 U.S. Census, the family resided in Kendrick Precinct, Latah County, Idaho.[11] The household included:

• Nickoles Brocke -- head, male, white, age 55, first marriage, married 32 years, born Michigan, father born Germany, mother born Germany, speaks English, a farmer, works on general farm, owns farm free of mortgage
• Annie Brocke -- wife, female, white, age 52, first marriage, married 32 years, 8 children born, 8 living, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Germany, speaks English
• Nicholas Brocke -- son, male, white, age 15, single, born Idaho, father born Germany, mother born Germany, speaks English, a farmer, works on horse farm

In the 1920 U.S. Census, the family resided in Kendrick Precinct, Latah County, Idaho.[12] The household included:

• Nicholas Brocke -- head, owns farm, male, white, age 65, married, born Michigan, father born Germany, mother born Germany, speaks English, a janitor, works in lodge hall
• Annie Brocke -- wife, female, white, age 60, married, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Germany, speaks English

In the 1930 U.S. Census, the family resided in Kendrick Precinct, Latah County, Idaho.[13] The household included:

• Nicholas Brocke -- head, owns home, worth $2500, male, white, age 76, married, first at age 23, born Michigan, father born Germany, mother born Germany, no occupation
• Anna Brocke -- wife, female, white, age 70, married, first at age 18, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Germany

Anna (Grieser) Brocke died on 19 March 1936 at age 76 in Kendrick, Latah County, Idaho.[14] She was white, married, wife of Nicholas Brocke, date of birth 17 Nov 1859, aged 76 years, 3 months, two days, a housewife, born in St. Louis, Mo., and died of senility and influenza, The informant was her husband, Nicholas Brocke. She was buried in American Ridge Cemetery in Juliaetta, Latah County, Idaho.[15]

Nicholas Brocke died on 14 December 1938 in Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho.[16] He resided at 1503 9th Avenue in Lewiston, was white, a widower, no birth date, aged 84 years, 11 months, 14 days [Note - that doesn't agree withy the date in the book], retired, born in Maryland, and died of angina pectoris and arteriosclerosis. The informant was his daughter, Mrs. Caroline Wilcox of Lewiston. He was buried in American Ridge Cemetery in Juliaetta, Latah County, Idaho.[17]

4) Published Biography of Brocke Family:[2]

The book An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho (Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing co., 1899) (pages 649-650) published this biography of Nicholas Brocke:

"Nicholas Brocke, one of the prominent farmers and fruit-growers of the Potlatch Country, is pleasantly located three and a half miles west of Kendrick. He was born in Michigan, July 24, 1855, a son of John and Christine (Webber) Brocke, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1849. They were then single, their marriage being celebrated in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Brocke spent three years in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and three years in the Lake Superior copper mines, and then emigrated to Iowa. In 1858 he went to northwestern Nebraska, and in 1877 became a resident of South Dakota, where he industriously and energetically carried on farming until his death, which occurred when he was in his sixty-fifth year. His wife still survives him, and is now in her sixty-eighth year. They had five children, four of whom are living.

"The second child, Nicholas Brocke, was reared in his parents’ home, obtained his education in the public schools and accompanied his parents on their various removals until after their arrival in Nebraska. In that state he was married, in 1877, to Miss Annie Geiser, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. They came to Idaho and located on a farm nine miles south of Moscow, Mr. Brocke improving his property and making his home thereon until 1888, when he sold his farm and came to his present location. In June of that year he entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has transformed into a very desirable and valuable farm. The buildings upon the place stand as monuments to his enterprise, and the neat appearance of everything indicates the careful supervision of a practical and progressive owner. He has a good residence, large barns and all the appliances for successful farming. He has secured a pumping outfit which conveys water to his residence and all over the farm wherever wanted, and thus the fields are well irrigated. He raises both grain and fruit, and his harvest and fruit crops well attest the Business ability of Mr. Brocke, who is most energetic and resolute in carrying on his work.

"Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, namely: John, Frank, Ettie, Carrie, Amelia, Joseph, Charles and Nicholas. The parents and children are valued members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Brocke belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Woodmen of the World. In his political connections he is a stalwart Democrat, and has been school trustee and highway commissioner, filling both offices with ability and fidelity. To all the duties of citizenship he is true, and is ever reliable in all life’s relations. The success he has achieved is the result of his own well directed efforts, and he may justly be called a self-made man."

5) SOURCES

1. "Idaho Death Records, 1890-1967," indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Nicholas Brocke (1855-1938) death certificate.

2. An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho (Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing co., 1899), pages 649-650, biography of Nicholas Brocke.

3. 1860 United States Federal Census, Cedar County, Nebraska Territory, population schedule, Saint James City, page 22 (penned), household #208, family #120, John Brooks household; imaged, "1860 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653.

4. 1870 United States Federal Census, Cedar County, Nebraska, population schedule, Brocke Precinct, Page 169A, household #723, family #709, John Brocke household; imaged, "1870 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 828.

5. State of Idaho, "Idaho Death Certificates, 1911-1937," State File No. 98064, Anna Brocke, died 19 March 1936; imaged, MyHeritage (http://www.myheritage.com : accessed 8 April 2015); citing Department of Health and Welfare, Boise, Idaho.

6. 1860 United States Federal Census, St. Louis County, Missouri, population schedule, St. Louis Ward 1, Page 248, dwelling #836, family #2078, Ignaz Briesser household; imaged, “1860 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 647.

7. 1870 United States Federal Census, St. Louis County, Missouri, population schedule, St. Louis Ward 3, page 108A, dwelling #316, family #752, Ignatz Graeser household; imaged, “1870 United States Federal Census,”Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 812.

8. "Marriage Index for Cedar County, Nebraska," database, Nebraska GenWeb Project (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/county/cedar/marriageindex.htm), Bl-By Surnames, John Nicholas Brocke and Anna Grieser license entry, citing Vol. 1, Page 80.

9. 1880 United States Federal Census, Nez Perce County, Idaho, Township 37, Enumeration District 23, Page 14 (penned), page 246B (stamped), Dwelling # 178, Family #178, Nicholas Brooke household; imaged, “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 173, .

10. 1900 United States Federal Census, Latah County, Idaho, Kendrick Precinct, Enumeration District 66, Page 8A (stamped), Dwelling # 166, Family #167; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 233.

11. 1910 United States Federal Census, Latah County, Idaho, population schedule, Kendrick Precinct, Enumeration District 182, Page 6B (stamped), Dwelling # 124, Family #125; imaged, 1910 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 225.

12. 1920 United States Federal Census, Latah County, Idaho, population schedule, Kendrick Precinct, Enumeration District 118, Page 7B (stamped), Dwelling # 150, Family #158; imaged, “1920 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 292.

13. 1930 United States Federal Census, Latah County, Idaho, Kendrick Precinct, Enumeration District 24, Page 1A (stamped), Dwelling # 4, Family #4; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census ,” Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T626, Roll 401.

14. State of Idaho, "Idaho Death Certificates, 1911-1937," State File No. 98064, Anna Brocke death cerificate, died 19 March 1936; imaged, MyHeritage (https://www.myheritage.com); citing Department of Health and Welfare, Boise, Idaho.

15. Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com), American Ridge Cemetery (Juliaetta, Id.), Anna Grieser Brocke (1859-1936) memorial # 24212345.

16. State of Idaho, Certificate of Death, State File No. 111900, Nicholas Brocke death certificate, died 14 December 1938; imaged, "Idaho Death Records, 1890-1966," imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 August 2017); citing Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Vital Statistics.

17. Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com), American Ridge Cemetery (Juliaetta, Id.), Nicholas Brocke (1855-1938) memorial # 24212340.

6)  Relationship

John Nicholas Brocke (1855-1938) and Anna Grieser (1859-1936) are the paternal great-grandparents of my wife, Linda (Leland) Seaver (1942-still living), through her grandmother Amelia Anna Brocke (1887-1975) who married Torger Severt Leland (1878-1940) in 1904 in Helena, Montana, and their son, Leo S. Leland (1911-2002) who married Edna May Schaffner Leland (1913-1979) in 1937.

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