Joseph PLATTE gt. Valenthorn. To USA

  Research Notes:

"Platte, Joseph, born 1800 in Helden, Westphalia, Germany. Arrived (in Westphalia, Michigan) in November 1836 to become one of the Founding Fathers of Westphalia, MI. Settled in Section 5 of the township and was the first merchant on Main Street in 1852. His wife was Anna Maria Belke, born 30 Dec 1814 in Helden, Westphalia, Germany. (...)"
Source: "Of Pilgrimage, Prayer and Promise", a history of St. Mary's Westphalia.
"In the Beginning - Westphalia traces its origin to November 10, 1836 \endash prior to Michigan's entry into the union \endash When Fr. Anton Kopp, Joseph Platte, John Hanses, Anton Cordes, William Tillmann, and John Salter purchased 560 acres of government land at approximately $1.00 per acre in Section 5, Town 6 North, Range 4 West in Clinton County.
Our Founding Fathers called their new home "Westphalia" in recognition of their homeland, Westfalen, Germany.

Joseph married Anna Maria BELKE, daughter of Unknown and Eva BELKE, on 15 Jul 1832 in Helden, NW, DEU. (Anna Maria BELKE was born calculated 1814 and died in USA.)