Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

AGNES MATILDA GERLACH née STRICKER

Agnes Matilda Stricker was born on 31 August 1870 in Roseville, Macomb, Michigan, USA to Jacob/Christian Stricker (1837–1910) and Lydia Hammel (1844-1930). Agnes had two sisters, Louise (1867-1935) & Juliana (b 1868). Agnes grew up on the family farm in Warren, Macomb, Michigan.

Agnes married Paul Frederick Gerlach (1871-1924) on 10 May 1899 in Halfway, Macomb. Agnes and Paul had three daughters, Miriam Lydia Catherine (1900-1995), Gretchen Louise Frances (1903-1981) & Gertrude (1904-2000).

Agnes and her family arrived in Canada in about 1907 and first settled in Lost River, Humbolt, Saskatchewan. By 1918, they were living at 414 9th St, Saskatoon which was to remain their home until 1924. Paul was a farmer, but also President of the Cuff Manufacturing Co (established by Thomas Cuff). Paul died on 27 August 1924. Following Paul’s death, Agnes lived on in Saskatoon until the mid 1940s when she moved to the USA. Agnes died on 19 July 1963 in Kanabec, Minnesota where there was a large community of Gerlach families.

Miriam was a school teacher in Saskatoon before she married Yngve Ragnvald Anderson (1902-1983) and moved to Toronto. Miriam & Yngve had three daughters, Beatrice Ann (1931-1989), Joan Shirley (1936-1995) & Dorothy Louise (1938-1989). Miriam died on 13 February 1995 in Toronto.

Gretchen married Karl August Kriesel (1897-1966) and she moved to Lockport, Niagara County, New York. Karl was a Lutheran pastor. Gretchen died on 16 May 1981 in Cook, Illinois.

Gertrude moved to Ottawa in the 1940 and attended drama school. She subsequently joined the civil service and was heavily involved with the Canadian Home Economics Association. She was president 1960-1962 and treasurer in 1976 - see We Are Tomorrow’s Past. Gertrude died in 2000 in Ottawa.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Gerlach Tree.

Additional information and family photographs courtesy of Karen Nielsen, Miriam’s grand-daughter.

This signature is a good example of the challenges we faced in deciphering the names on the quilt. Both names are ambiguous. Gerlach as a surname is unusual but not rare. ‘Canes’ as a given name was our interpretation, but did not match any individual. Only when we found the travel record of 1944 in an exhaustive trawl of records with Gerlach as a surname did we strike gold! Travel records of this type are usually filled out by the traveller themselves and frequently include space for a signature. The image at the top of this page shows how Agnes Gerlach wrote her name in block capitals and explains how ‘Canes’ is really ‘Agnes’.

Printed name from 1944 travel record

Paul Gerlach
 in 1915 on his farm

Miriam, Gretchen & Gertrude