While doing some new research for this page, I came across a website www.polishorigins.com on which I put a query about whether the correct spelling is Rejewski or Rejewske. Today I received this answer which was very helpful in pinning down where my Great-Grandmother's family probably lived with relatives probably still living.
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:00 am Post subject:
There are not too many people using Rejewski surname in Poland (Rejewske is most
probably German or English variation of this name). However relatively many of
them lives not far from Berlin in Poznan area. Click here for map with
deployment of living Rejewskis in Poland
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/rejewski.html .According to a daughter's family Bible entry,
Adelheida
Johanna Rejewske (pronounced Re-jeff-ske) was born June 8, 1857 near
Flaoetenan, Westpreussen ; to whom, I do not know.
I'm not sure from what time period this map was made nor if it's complete but
its the most detailed that I've found. Flaoetenan, if it was a small
village, could have been incorporated into a larger town or city by now or it
could no longer exist because of the two world wars. It will have to leave
it to another family historian to find out who their parents were, how they met,
and what route they took to make it to St. Joseph, MO in August 17, 1881.
I'm hoping this website will be seen by another descendent who may have letters
or documents that will be helpful. Another thing to think about is that
boundary lines were changed many times because of wars and power shifts.
If, as her death certificate stated, that she was born "near Berlin" then
Flaoetenan may have been in the Brandenburg province during that period of time.
Adelheida Johanna Rejewske had at least 2 siblings who also came to the United States from Westpreussen (West Prussia):
who is in the middle position in this picture. He was born March 7, 1873.
Sometime after he arrived in Missouri he got a job working for
Burlington Railroad. I don't believe he ever married.
Margarete, Minnie's daughter, stated that he was living with them at the
time he died from an injury sustained at work. He was laid to rest in
the Kerber family area just as you turn into Ashland Cemetery (Ashland
Blvd., St. Joseph, MO) under a
beautiful red-granite, full-length flat stone.
Once I discovered Adelheida's maiden name, I realized that the Albert that
lay below that slab was my kin, The poem is translated: "Quickly all
must be beautiful, I remain in the life flowering time. Splendid to
find it nice in the land of eternity" The Ashland Cemetery records
state the date of his death, January 19, 1912, and that he was 38 years, 10
months, and 12 days old. The plot was charged to his sister residing
at R #1, Saxton, MO. He left no survivors.
Henry was born Heinrich Ludwig Kerber to Peter and Katharina Kerber March 17, 1856, Westpreussen in what is now the country of Germany. I can only imagine what his childhood was like by reading how other town families lived. I know that all children were educated through the elementary years, then learned a trade before marriage. Since Henry became a farmer, I can only surmise that he worked as a helper on a farm where he lived and worked to pay for his room and board. Being a Prussian where serving in the military was compulsory, he would have served his allotted time. I believe they had to serve at least two years and then afterward several months of each year to be ready for the many European wars. Something how our American Reserves do their military service.
I called Paul Alfred Elmer in the late 1970s to ask if he may have heard anything of the family history that may be helpful in my research. He was so kind and happy to hear from his brother, Herman's grand-daughter. He told me that his parents just never normally talked about those things, but he did remember three things that became my clues to follow:
This picture is from the city of Gdansk Poland but then Danzig West Prussia, the largest city along the Baltic Sea Coast.
At that time, I had no idea about Peter or Katharina. To research these clues I had to do research the old fashioned way, reading lots of books in the library. Now there is so much better information on the internet please see the Research Links page. I suppose we will never know how Heinrich and Adelheida met. I do however know they were married October 15, 1879.
All I can really pin down with the dates that I've found is that the three brothers, Heinrich, Frederick and Herman came to the United States. They came by way of the routes German's traveled using the pamphlet circulating throughout the provinces in the Fatherland. They made their way to St. Joseph, Missouri.
St. Joseph had grown and become prosperous from selling the provisions pioneers needed to travel the Western Frontier and goldfields of California, the state in which brother Herman finally settled. The brothers found work. St. Joseph had a large German-speaking community, Lutheran & Catholic churches and groups like the German Benevolent Society that offered assistance. German was the second language used in the city until World War I broke out when the use of it was discouraged.
I found a clue in a letter written to me by Minnie's daughter, Margarete, who said that Minnie told her that she was 6 months old when she came to America and Margarete never heard anything of them going back to Germany for a visit. Minna was born August 1880. The Bible notation as seen above, shows that Adelheida came August 17, 1881 when Minna was a year old. Only passenger lists can show if they all came together or at separate times.
In 1890 Henry became a naturalized citizen of these United States of America.
Heinrich bought farmland in what was to become Rt. 1 Saxton, Missouri. Only rich men could afford the scarce land offered in the Fatherland. I have a note that one of the children made the statement that the only reason there were so many children was to work the farm. To be fair, most families were large given only primitive methods of birth-control and it was true, it took a large family to work a large farm. So many women died in childbirth also back then that it's amazing that Adelheida survived all of those births.
Henry and Adelheida Rejewske Kerber are my direct ancestors. The were the parents the following children:
Henry Kerber Family Photo Album
Missouri soil is rich and the family did well enough so that Henry was able to
build a fine brick home in the city of St. Joseph at 17th and Walnut Streets
and leave the farm to be run by Louis William,
his eldest son. I believe only
Clara and Albert were living with the parents at that time.
One afternoon, after Grandpa Herman Henry could no longer drive himself, he
asked me drive him up to the house. I
never knew of it before. 
He was very proud that it was still standing and
looking much like it did when his father had, had it built. I think it was built after he was grown and on
his own. I always wanted to go inside but never got up the nerve to go to
the door and ask to see the interior.
I found various references to the religious and social clubs listed below. I researched the organizations on the internet and found that they are still functioning today. Given the church teaching of the "old Lutherans" in West Prussia against membership, it confirms my belief that Henry and Adelheida had joined the more reformed Lutherans at Zion. So the next generation will save some time by looking for the family in their records.
The present day King Hill Lodge is connected to the Freemasons of Missouri. Although #19 is no longer, I can only conclude that it was a Freemason organization as well.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows began in 18th Century England, it was deemed odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need without recognition and pursuing projects for the benefits of all mankind.
The family of Oddfellowship, composed of Men, Women, and Youth, believing in a supreme being, the creator and preserver of the universe, who have come together in our local communities having the same beliefs and values as others, that; Friendship, Love and Truth are the basic guidelines that we need to follow in our daily lives. Through working in our local Communities, States, Provinces, or Nationally we understand that we can make a difference in the lives of people in our World.
The Order of Red Men traces its origin to certain secret Patriotic Societies founded before the American Revolution. They were established to promote Liberty and to defy the tyranny of the English Crown. Among the early groups were: The Sons of Liberty, Sons of Tamina and the Red Men.
After the American Revolution the name was changed to The Order of Red Men. They kept the customs and terminology of the Indians as a basic part of the Fraternity. Some of the words and terms may sound strange, but they soon become a familiar part of the language for every member. The Masons are similar to the Order of Red Men in that they have patterned their rituals and work after the Ancient Masonic Craftsman.
The German Aid Society - these were formed in cities that had immigrant populations to support and give aid as the name describes. They lost membership during the World Wars so as not to look unpatriotic.
Adelheida belonged to:
Henry bought a automobile which was driven to the farm each day. After finding that he had stomach cancer, he drove the vehicle to John Hopkins Institute in Illinois for treatments, but died April 24, 1920.
These
are the documents that I thought would be interesting to read first-hand.
Newspaper Notice X
Death Certificate
Probate Notice
Court Probate 
Probate Certificate
Will Cover
Will & Testament
Eugene Kerber, shared these pictures of his Grandmother Adelheid Kerber 
There is no one left who can tell me where these were taken. My guess is
this is Kansas and may be a visit to see her sister Carolina.
Adelheida, according to her death certificate also died of stomach cancer
exactly four months to the day later at the home of her son Albert and his wife
Jesse who were living and working their wheat farm in Lexington, Oregon. 
Her body was brought to St. Joseph by train and taken to the home where the
service was held. Margarete remembered that the funeral was held at the
home on 17th and Walnut Streets in the front parlor then driven to Ashland
Cemetery on Ashland Ave. Henry's body rested in the Ashland Mausoleum until
Adelheida joined him in death. Both then were buried in their plots in the
front section of the cemetery were rests man of the family members
