This family has been native to the former Kingdom of Westphalia (Germany) for the past four centuries. They have been Protestants since the Reformation and Martin Luther. For many years the family business seems to have been tailoring and merchandizing. The first of the family here recorded is Henry Wicke, born about 1769, in Welping-Hussing, Westphalia. He was the fourth of the family to engage in tailoring and was a very expert workman. He died in his native province in 1856. He was twice married, but had issue by the first wife only. She died after the birth of a son Henry and daughter Francisca; the latter married and had issue.
(II) Henry (2), son of Henry (1) Wicke, was born in Westphalia in 1823, died there April 15, 1892. He learned the family trade of tailor, and followed that business in connection with the cultivation of a small farm which he owned. He was a man of some prominence, being appointed tax collector by the government, and was also forester of his district. He held these official positions for a great many years. He was an active worker in the church, and was one of the prosperous, influential men of his town. He married, in Weinburger, an adjacent town in Westphalia, Wilhelmena Kaufman, born December 25, 1831, daughter of a thrifty German Lutheran farmer. She died May 14, 1881, at the old home in Westphalia, in which she had passed her entire married life. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died young. The eldest son, Henry Wicke (3), died in 1909, leaving children. His wife died previous to his death. The living children are:
- William, a pattern maker; came to the United States in 1866, lived in Albany, New York, for a time, now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; married and has four living children; five deceased.
- August, see forward.
- Wilhelmena, married in Westphalia, Germany, Henry Wickmann; three daughters; this family reside in the old country homestead.
- Fredericka, married Conrad Fuller, a farmer of Westphalia; four children.
(III) August, son of Henry (2) and Wilhelmena (Kaufman) Wicke, was born in Westphalia, Germany, March 6, 1848. He was educated in the state schools and was destined to follow the family trade, tailoring. After working at it for a time he refused to continue, and instead learned the shoemaker's trade. After he had served his allotted years of apprenticeship and became a skilled workman, he decided to emigrate to the United States. He sailed from Bremen, in 1867, on the steamship "New York," and that same year located in Albany, New York. He is established in a boot and shoe business at Nos. 219-221 Central avenue, where his pleasant, agreeable manner and fair dealing have won or him a generous patronage and many friends. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, in which he is an active worker. He is a past grand of Albany Lodge, No. 385, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has represented that lodge at eighteen annual sessions of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He is also a member of the Encampment of the same order. Politically he is a Republican. He married (first) in Albany, New York, August 18, 1869, Anna Stockman, a native of Saxony-Haugen, Westphalia, whom he knew in that country. She died in Albany, July 17, 1884, at the age of thirty-six years, leaving three daughters:
- Wilhelmena, married Charles Miller, of Albany.
- Elizabeth, married William Wend, of Albany; son, August William.
- Esther, married Frank Dockler. He married (second) in Brooklyn, New York, Mrs. Annie (Stackman) Kless, born in Brooklyn, November 1, 1852, died in Albany, New York, February 13, 1901, daughter of William and Catherine Stackman, who came to the United States from Germany soon after their marriage, settled in Brooklyn, where they died, he at the age of fifty-eight and she at the age of seventy years.
Children of second marriage:
- August (2), born March 6, 1889; educated in the common and high schools of Albany; now engaged in business with his father in Albany; he is a most excellent business man and has contributed, by his pleasing personality and good business qualities, a great deal to the success of the store; is a Republican politically.
- Anna, born February 27, 1895.
The family are all identified with the Lutheran church.