So this guy right here is one of the coolest people I know. Now I am in no way promoting illegal immigration but things were a bit different back in 1894.

Cord Henry Voge is my great-great grandfather. He was born in Hamburg Germany January 3^rd, 1878 as Cord Henry Voege. His parents were Georg Heinrich Voege and Gesche Homfeld. It is currently unknown how many siblings he had, we know he had at least 3 sisters; Ada (or Adelheid), Gesine, and Kathryn. He also had at least one brother named Frederick. It is believed that Cord was the youngest in the family. His sister Adelheid was born around 1877 and Gesine around 1875.

                In 1892 when Cord was 14 his family began to immigrate to the United States. Germany was suffering religious persecution and was on the verge of war. During this time hundreds of thousands of German citizens were immigrating to America. Georg and Gesche were able to pay for the passage of 2 of his sisters but not Cord’s. Cord was eager to leave Germany and stowed away on the ship Friedrich Der Grosse (pictured on the left). His sisters didn’t know he was on board until they made port. Once he got to America he changed his last name from Voege to Voge.

                Cord made his way to Kansas where he lived for most of his life. He married Grace Darling Pierson in Spivey, Kansas on May 19^th 1904. The next year their first daughter, Zelma, was born. According the 1910 United States Census he lived in Woods, Oklahoma for a short while before going back to Kansas. He and Grace had 18 children; 9 boys and 9 girls. Walter Harold who was born in 1914 was my great grandfather.  According to his youngest daughter he rarely spoke German with his family, he told them “he came here to make his living and we would speak English.”

      From the few known stories gathered about Cord I can tell he was a rebellious  and headstrong person. Aside from stowing away he also lied about his age on his draft registration card, making himself a year older. In addition to being a farmer and a carpenter he was also a police officer in Zenda, Kansas.

                He died in Wichita, Kansas, November 12^, 1964 and was buried in Cleveland Kansas. At least 3 of his children are still alive today, his daughter Ruth was able to provide parts of his story that helped identify his parents and family.