Henry John Bethke was born September 5, 1890 on a farm in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents Robert and Agnes. His parents were among the founders of the Zion Lutheran Church in Stemmers Run.
He was baptised on October 5, 1890 at Zion Evangelical Church in Stemmer’s Run by Pastor Karl Nottrott.
He bought his two-room home on Pulaski Highway in 1921 and added on five more rooms through the years. His first job was at a Baltimore copper works, then the Baltimore Brick Company in Rossville, where he was in charge of the burners.
He married his first wife, Marie Holscher, who was from Hannover, Germany. She had at least two sisters, Lena Casek and Leola (I have since found out that Marie had a sister, Lina (Lena) and brother Karl. The only other Leola in the family is the Leola S. that married Carl Bethke, Henry Bethle’s brother).
Marie and Henry had two boys and sadly Marie passed away the day after the second son’s birth.
Henry married Lena de Vries on October 19, 1929.
His 1917 draft registration card lists his occupation as electric crane operator at Canton Copper Works in Baltimore City.
The 1940 Census lists him as living in Rosedale-Rosedale Terrace-Chesaco Park, Baltimore, Maryland on Philadelphia Road South of Middle River Road.
Highest level of education completed was Elementary school, 3rd grade.
He was listed as a Wage or salary worker in private work, who worked 45 hours in the week prior to the census and 39 weeks in 1939. He was a laborer at the brick yard, and income is shown as 624.
Lena, his wife, was 35 at the time, had completed 6th grade, and did home housework.
Children:
- William (Bill) R., 12 years old, and had completed 4th grade
- Henry (Pete), 11 years old, and had also completed 4th grade
- Lena A. 9 years old, completed 2nd grade
- Alvina A., 7 years old
- Hilda, 5 years old
- Howard, 4 years old
- Marie, 1 year old
- Daisy (May)
