ROTHERMAL/ROTHERMEL - Whitman County, Washington ca 1904

[glenysjr]

Looking for the birth of Emma ROTHERMAL 1904 in Colfax, Whitman County, Washington, father is Henry ROTHERMAL and mother is Katharine/Katie.  Also trying to locate the death of Katharine/Katie ROTHERMAL 1904/1905 also in Whitman County. 
I have searched newspapers between 1902-1910; birth and death records that I can find, mostly German Lutheran Church records - all without success.  I located her confirmation record in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott, Whitman, Washington in 1919, no details given as to parentage, etc.  I also found Emma ROTHERMAL (transcribed as ROTHERMIN) in the 1910 census of Dusty, Whitman, Washington living with Henry and Mary SCHMUCK and noted as an adopted daughter.  Mary (Marie Elisabeth) SCHMUCK nee REPP is a sister to the first husband (John REPP) of second wife of Henry ROTHERMAL.
Henry and his second wife Katharine LUFT ROTHERMAL are in the 1910 census of Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin.  They were married in Oshkosh in 1906. Why father Henry left Emma behind when he and his two sons went to Wisconsin is unknown.  The family eventually settled (ca 1916) in Wyandotte, Wayne, Michigan and remained there.  Emma married James RUTLEDGE in Canada in 1920 divorced in Michigan in 1930 and married second, Cloyd FUNK in 1931 in Wyandotte.  She died in 1997 in Trenton, Wayne, Michigan.  The family apparently never talked about the first wife of Henry, or at least did not give any details.
Through this maze I need to find Emma's birth record hoping it will give me her mother's maiden name (I have WEITZ/WHITE as a possibility from one of Emma's brother's death cert.), and also the death of the same.
Any help will be gratefully received!
Glenys

[RayDen]

Have found this:

DetailSource
Name:   Emma Funk
[Emma Rothermal]
Gender:   Female
Race:   White
Birth Date:   27 Jun 1904
Birth Place:   Colfax Whitm, Washington
Death Date:   31 Aug 1997
Father:              Henry Rothermal
Mother:             Cathrine Miller

SSN:   364687526
Notes:   17 Jul 1972: Name listed as EMMA FUNK

hope this helps

Ray

[glenysjr]

Thank you Ray.  I did have her Social Security info which names her mother as Cathrine Miller, but we also have a death cert. of one of her sons and it lists the mother as Katherine White!  They didn't know their mother - so I suppose it's no surprise that her maiden name wasn't known. 
I appreciate you taking the time to assist me. 
Glenys

[oldohiohome]

I tried every combination I could think of at
https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Search
and didn't find the birth or the death you are looking for.

There is a Weitz family in Colfax in the time period. An unnamed male infant died 20 August 1906, son of Julius Weitz and Mary Smick, both born in Russia. other deaths recorded 1909 and after. Have you tracked them for a Katherine in the family?

[glenysjr]

OldOhioHome - thank you for your efforts.  Yes, I've tracked every WEITZ family in Whitman County as well as around Elbing, Kansas and Wyandotte, Michigan, and although Katherine's do appear, they all prove to be not the one we need.  I've also tried the www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Search website - several times and also came up empty.  It's almost as if she was on the ship from Russia, appears on the 1900 census of Elbing, Kansas, had her three children and then completely vanishes.
I have discovered that her husband Henry ROTHERMAL was part of the Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax, but haven't yet found any of their records online.  I'm also in the process of searching through every cemetery in Whitman County online to see if Katherine shows up. Nothing yet   
Again, thank you.
Glenys

[oldohiohome]

no marriage record for Katherine and Henry?

[glenysjr]

Can't locate one - they married in Russia in 1899. 

[oldohiohome]

"Why father Henry left Emma behind when he and his two sons went to Wisconsin is unknown.  "
She was too young to take with him, still nursing, maybe? so he left her with someone he knew.

Also maybe Emma's mother died in childbirth or shortly after and Henry forgot to register the birth and death. There might be a record of Emma requesting a birth record as an adult - a delayed birth record - so you might contact the county.

Peace Lutheran Church itself might still have a baptism and burial record. They are still there.

Also found this
Peace Lutheran Church, Colfax, Washington, Records, 1903-2012 at
https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv20034

The list of what is included doesn't say anything about vital records, just commemorative and historical items, so  ... ?
But if the records are not in that archive and not online, there is a good chance they are still held locally at the church.

[glenysjr]

Thank you again OldOhioHome.  I hadn't thought about a delayed birth certificate so will contact the County.  Will try contacting Peace Lutheran Church too. According to family lore, Katharine, the mother of Emma, died about 6 months after her birth, and Henry married again in Wisconsin in Feb 1906, which gives me the timeline I've been using for her death (1904-1906).
If an obituary can be located for Henry it might mention his first marriage. I have searched for a will or an obit for his death in 1950 in Wyandotte, Michigan, so far nothing.
I do appreciate your help and interest.
Glenys