The Danenberg Family

Emma Smukule 1886–1970

Peter's great-grandmother.

Also recorded as Emma Sirlaka; Emma Smukulis; Erna Smukul (1911 marriage list, a clerk's slip); Māte (memoir); Emma Smukule (married name Sirlaks).

Emma Smukule was born on 6 Jan 1886 in Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia6, the daughter of Dāvis Smukuls and Marija Kajone2,6,23. She married Mārtiņš Vilhelms Sirlaks on 5 May 1911 in St Martin's church, Rīga, Rīga, Vidzeme, Latvia23. She left Latvia in 194413. She arrived at Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 7 Jul 194916,17. She died on 9 Oct 1970 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada9,18,19 and was buried at York Cemetery, Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada20,21.

Family

Parents
Dāvis Smukuls and Marija Kajone documented
Husband
Mārtiņš Vilhelms Sirlaks 1883–1942 · married on 5 May 1911 in St Martin's church, Rīga, Rīga, Vidzeme, Latvia
Children

Life events

EventDatePlace and details
Born6 Jan 1885Vecrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia2,3,4
Born6 Jan 1885Branti (Brantu muiža), Vidzeme, Latvia5
Baptised1886Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia6
Born6 Jan 1886Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
Old Style (Julian) date: 25 Dec 1885
Preferred version: Her baptism (Rauna births 1886 no. 33, a primary record naming both parents, Dahw Smukkul and Marie geb. Kahjon) gives born 25 Dec 1885 (Julian) = 6 Jan 1886. The DP-2 card's '6.I 1885' mixes the Gregorian day with the Julian year; the memoir (Vecrauna, ¶9) agrees on Rauna parish. 'Branti' on her 1950 declaration (and the 1947 Regensburg list) is not named in the register.6
Lived1914Cēsis, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia8
Workbet 1944 and 1945Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
'Landarbeiterin' (farm labourer) in Landkreis Regensburg; 'House wife' (DP-2, 1945); 'housekeeper' (IRO roll, 1949)11
Left1944Latvia13
Livedbet 16 Sep 1945 and 22 Jun 1949Haunstetten DP camp, Augsburg, Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany2
Note16 Sep 1945Marital status 'Widowed' on her DP-2 card (registered 16.IX.1945), so her husband Mārtiņš Sirlaks had died by then. This fits the memoir, where he is not in the 1944 party. The 1949 roll and manifest also say W.2
Left28 Jun 1949Bremerhaven, Germany14,15
Arrived7 Jul 1949Boston, Massachusetts, United States16,17
Lived1970Southfield, Oakland County, Michigan, United States9,10
Died9 Oct 1970Toronto, Ontario, Canada9,18,19
Buried13 Oct 1970York Cemetery, Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada20,21
OriginLatvia
According to the family's 2015 tree7
WorkCēsis, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
Helped in Mārtiņš’s food shop in Cēsis. The memoir gives NOTHING on her maiden name, parents or siblings (no Smukule/Smukuls anywhere in the text).12
NoteRauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
NEGATIVE: no child of Dahw Smukkul × Marie Kahjon (and no other Smukkul child) in Rauna Latvian births 1886 nos. 66–261 (img 315–334), 1887 nos. 213–320 (img 365–376), 1888 nos. 1–136 (img 377–391), 1889 nos. 276–327 (img 436–441) and 1890 nos. 1–146 (Jan–Jun 1890, img 441–455; right page of 455…22

Photographs

Marija Sirlaka with her sons Kārlis, Mārtiņš, Dāvis and Augusts and Mārtiņš's wife Emma, c. 1911–1913
Marija Sirlaka with her sons Kārlis, Mārtiņš, Dāvis and Augusts and Mārtiņš's wife Emma, c. 1911–1913. Standing, right (white jacket, hand on her husband's shoulder). Family photograph, Peter Danenberg's collection.
The same portrait in the family album, with its handwritten Latvian caption
The same portrait in the family album, with its handwritten Latvian caption. “Mana tēva māte Marija Sirlaks, pa kr. viņas vecākais dēls Kārlis, pa labi dēls Mārtiņš ar sievu Emmu, stāv no kr. dēls Augusts un dēls Dāvis. Trūkst meitas Anna un Erna.” (My father's mother, Marija Sirlaks; on the left her eldest son Kārlis; on the right son Mārtiņš with his wife Emma; standing, from the left, son Augusts and son Dāvis. Missing are the daughters Anna and Erna.). Family photograph, Peter Danenberg's collection.

Records

Scan of the record: Manifest of In-bound Passengers (Aliens), No. 48, USAT General Blatchford, Bremerhaven 28 June 1949 → Boston
Manifest of In-bound Passengers (Aliens), No. 48, USAT General Blatchford, Bremerhaven 28 June 1949 → Boston. US passenger list, U.S. National Archives RG 85, image via the National Archives, public domain.

Open questions

Sources

  1. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I500140 (person-6500140), GEDCOM lines 9207–9269.
    NAME Emma /Smukule/ · _MARNM Sirlaks
  2. AEF DP Registration Record, Sirlaks Emma, Reg. No. 908280023 (original; duplicate is ObjId 69117903), DE ITS 3.1.1.1, folder DP3761 (03010101 23 169), DocID 69117906.
    Sirlaks Emma | F | Widowed | 6.I 1885 Rauna Vidzeme Latvia | Ev.-Luther | Smukuls, Dāvis | Kajans [?], Marija | Stende Kurzeme Latvia | House wife | Date: 16.IX.1945

    DP-2 (original and duplicate): '6.I 1885 Rauna'. Conflicts: the Regensburg list (DocID 70184107) has '6. 6.85 Branti [?]'. The memoir says she was born in Vecrauna (Rauna parish). 'Branti' [?] may be a farm or estate name; unidentified.

  3. My Life and Times (1912–1949), ¶9.
    my mother in Vecrauna (Old Rauna) and my father in Jaunrauna (New Rauna)
  4. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I500140 (person-6500140), GEDCOM lines 9207–9269.
    BIRT · 6 JAN 1885

    Date: a Gregorian date: the same day as ours. [DNA evidence (private)] Jan 1885 | Miršana: Okt 1970 | Pēdēja dzīves vieta: Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA | SSN izsniegusī pavalsts: Ohio'. [DNA evidence (private)] Jan | Miršana: 1970. Okt | Pēdēja dzīves vieta: Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA | SSN izsniegusī pavalsts: Ohio'.

  5. Declaration of Intention No. 132, Mrs. Emma Sirlaks.
    Mrs. Emma Sirlaks … Housewife … 65 … Jan. 6, 1885 in Branti, Latvia … I am widowed … Elvira Danenbergs-F- Jan. [overwritten] 1912--Riga, Latvia--Rockford, Ohio / Mirdza Sirlaks-f-Jan. 17, 1916-Cesis, Latvia--Montreal, Canada / Biruta Balks--F--June 3, 1919--Cesis, Latvia--Rockford, Ohio

    Declaration No. 132, Celina, Ohio, 14 Aug 1950: housewife, 65, widowed; 5 ft 1 in, 170 lb, gray eyes, gray hair. Three children listed: Elvira Danenbergs (Riga, Jan 1912); Mirdza Sirlaks (17 Jan 1916, Cēsis, then in Montreal); Biruta Balks (3 Jun 1919, Cēsis, Rockford). Same ship, port and date as Arvīds. Certification A-7219632. The family memory is that she was born in Vecrauna. "Branti" may be a homestead in Vecrauna/Rauna parish. Unverified.

  6. Rauna births 1886 no. 33, LVVA f. 235, apr. 7, l. 517, img 311 (right page), LVVA f. 235, apr. 7, l. 517, image 311.
    1885 December fünf u. zwanzig[sten] abends 9 U. | zweiten | 33 Lubar, Lj. Luhzmann[?] / Emma Smukkul / Elt. Kn. Dahw Smukkul u. d. Marie geb. Kahjon, beide lutherisch / Tf. Md. Juhle Meeschit[?], Md. Leene Leepin[?], Jg. August Meeschit[?]
    Translation: 1885 December twenty-fifth, 9 in the evening | [baptised on the] second | No. 33, Lubar[?], [farm] Luhzmann[?] / Emma Smukkul / parents: farmhand (Knecht) Dahw Smukkul and his wife Marie née Kahjon, both Lutheran / godparents: maid Juhle Meeschit[?], maid Leene Leepin[?], young man August Meeschit[?]

    Born 25 Dec 1885 (Julian), 9 p.m. = 6 Jan 1886 (Gregorian). Baptised 'zweiten' (the 2nd) of a later month; sf-rauna read it as 2 Feb 1886 (Jul.), but the month column was not checked. Entry is in the 1886 register.

  7. Peter's tree, danenberg.sql, 2007–2015, personae 4, provenance.
  8. My Life and Times (1912–1949), ¶9.
    When WWI started in 1914, they left Rīga … and went to Cēsis
  9. S-fs-JRNP-MMG.
    Emma Sirlaks; Death Oct 1970 Southfield, Oakland, Michigan; Birth 06 Jan 1885; age 85; ZIP 48075; issued Ohio

    SSDI: born 06 Jan 1885, died Oct 1970, age 85, last residence ZIP 48075 (Southfield), card issued in Ohio. Find a Grave has an "Emma Sirlaks", 1885-1970, age 85, buried in Toronto, Ontario (memorial 276607686), in the same Toronto index as "Mirdza Augeste Gailitis" (1916-2010, memorial 276580240). That is plausibly a burial with her daughter Mirdza's family. There is also an A-file index entry (United States, Index to Alien Case Files, 6FYW-F2RM), so a USCIS/NARA A-file exists.

  10. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I500140 (person-6500140), GEDCOM lines 9207–9269.
    RESI · Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA

    [DNA evidence (private)] Jan 1885 | Miršana: Okt 1970 | Pēdēja dzīves vieta: Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA | SSN izsniegusī pavalsts: Ohio'. [DNA evidence (private)] Jan | Miršana: 1970. Okt | Pēdēja dzīves vieta: Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA | SSN izsniegusī pavalsts: Ohio'.

  11. Kategorie III list of foreigners no longer resident, Landkreis Regensburg, Blatt 1, 29 May 1947, DE ITS 2.1.1.1 BY 125 LET 7 ZM, DocID 70184107.
    Danenbergs Arvids 17. 1.13 Sturnonnischa [?] m Dipl. Landwirt 12. 1.45 / Danenbergs Elvira 9. 1.12 Riga w Ehefrau 12. 1.45 / Danenbergs Peter … Schwanenberg m — 12. 1.45 / Sirlaks geb. Sumkulis Emma 6. 6.85 Branti [?] w Landarbeiterin 12. 1.45

    'Landarbeiterin' (farm labourer) in Landkreis Regensburg; 'House wife' (DP-2, 1945); 'housekeeper' (IRO roll, 1949)

  12. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS CETURTO BĒRNU MĀRTIŅU".
    kur palīdzēja sieva Emma, ļoti glīta, pilsētnieciska, inteliģenta kundze
    Translation: where his wife Emma helped, a very pretty, urbane, cultured lady

    Helped in Mārtiņš’s food shop in Cēsis. The memoir gives NOTHING on her maiden name, parents or siblings (no Smukule/Smukuls anywhere in the text).

  13. Zudušie ASV: Miris Arvīds Danenbergs (in 'Ziņas un chronika'), Daugavas Vanagu Mēnešraksts, Nr.2 (01.04.1996).
    1944.g. Arvīds ar sievu, 2 gadus vecu dēlu Pēteri un sievas māti Emmu Širlaku dodas bēgļu gaitās uz Vāciju.
    Translation: In 1944 Arvīds, his wife, their two-year-old son Pēteris and his wife's mother Emma Širlaka fled as refugees to Germany.

    Fled to Germany in 1944 with Arvīds, Elvīra and Pēteris (aged 2).

  14. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS CETURTO BĒRNU MĀRTIŅU".
    Meitas kopā ar māti emigrēja uz ASV, kur dzīvo vēl šodien labi un pārticīgi. Emma aizgājusi mūžībā.
    Translation: The daughters emigrated with their mother to the USA, where they still live well and prosperously today. Emma has passed away.

    Emigration of Emma with her daughters (via DP camps, after 1944) to North America; dead by 1998 (our data: d. 1970 Toronto). "USA" is approximate: Emma and Mirdza were in Canada.

  15. IRO nominal roll, USAT General Blatchford, 28 June 1949, page 74, DE ITS 3.1.3.2, ref. 8302110, DocID 81660461.
    1099 39463 Sirlaks Emma Latvian prot. W F 64 Latvia housekeeper NLC Erie County, Ohio

    IRO roll no. 1099, separate European case 39463, no CM/1 number, NLC sponsor, destination Erie County, Ohio. She was added at the end of the roll, which agrees with the memoir: Arvīds had her added to the papers at the last moment (¶42–43).

  16. Manifest of In-bound Passengers (Aliens), No. 48, USAT General Blatchford, Bremerhaven 28 June 1949 → Boston, NAID 76075234, image 122 of 651, object 76075356, file 41253_B124264-01143.jpg, line 17.
    SIRLAKS Emma Erie County, Ohio 64 F W I-790421 Latvian Med. Cert. B. No 6(b)

    Manifest 48, line 17; travel document I-790421; age 64; widowed; 'Med. Cert. B.'; destination Erie County, Ohio

  17. My Life and Times (1912–1949), ¶42–43.
    We applied to go to the US, which we entered in July, 1949. … The ship landed in Boston
  18. Toronto (news column), Laiks, Nr.83 (17.10.1970), p. 2.
    Izvadot māc. A. Briedim, 13. oktobrī Jorkas kapsētas latviešu nodalījumā apglabāja 9. oktobrī 85 g. vecumā mirušo Emmu Sirlaku. Viņa pārmaiņus dzīvojusi gan ASV, kur paliek divas meitas ar ģimenēm, gan - pēdējos gados - Toronto pie meitas Mirdzas Gailītes un znota - matēmatikas skolotāja Friča Gailīša, kas mira pērngada septembrī. Emma Sirlaka nedaudzu gadu laikā pārcieta vairākas smagas operācijas, amputācijā zaudējot vispirms vienu, bet pirms diviem gadiem arī otru kāju.
    Translation: With Rev. A. Briedis officiating, Emma Sirlaka, who died on 9 October aged 85, was buried on 13 October in the Latvian section of York Cemetery. She had lived alternately in the USA, where two daughters survive with their families, and, in recent years, in Toronto with her daughter Mirdza Gailīte and son-in-law, the mathematics teacher Fricis Gailītis, who died last September. Within a few years Emma Sirlaka underwent several serious operations, losing first one leg and, two years ago, the other to amputation.

    Aged 85, so born about 1885. She spent her old age alternately in the USA, where two of her daughters lived with their families, and (latterly) in Toronto with her daughter Mirdza Gailīte and son-in-law Fricis Gailītis, a mathematics teacher who died in September 1969. She had had both legs amputated over the preceding years.

  19. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I500140 (person-6500140), GEDCOM lines 9207–9269.
    DEAT · OCT 1970 · AGE 85

    [DNA evidence (private)] Jan 1885 | Miršana: Okt 1970 | Pēdēja dzīves vieta: Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA | SSN izsniegusī pavalsts: Ohio'. [DNA evidence (private)] Jan | Miršana: 1970. Okt | Pēdēja dzīves vieta: Southfield, Michigan 48075, USA | SSN izsniegusī pavalsts: Ohio'.

  20. Toronto (news column), Laiks, Nr.83 (17.10.1970), p. 2.
    13. oktobrī Jorkas kapsētas latviešu nodalījumā apglabāja
    Translation: buried on 13 October in the Latvian section of York Cemetery

    Rev. A. Briedis of the Toronto Latvian Eastern (Austrumu) congregation officiated. Mirdza Gailīte was also 'laid to rest in Toronto' in 2010, probably the same plot or section.

  21. Emma Sirlaks, Memorial 276607686.
    Emma Sirlaks 1885 – 1970 York Cemetery Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada Plot info: Section A, Lot 379

    Find a Grave gives 1885–1970, no photo. Mirdza Gailīte (d. 2010) and Fricis Gailītis (d. 1969) may share the lot (to check).

  22. Rauna births 1886–1890 (partial scan), LVVA f. 235, apr. 7, l. 517, img 315–334, 365–391, 436–455, LVVA f. 235, apr. 7, l. 517, image 315–334.
    (none)
    Translation: (none)

    NEGATIVE: no child of Dahw Smukkul × Marie Kahjon (and no other Smukkul child) in Rauna Latvian births 1886 nos. 66–261 (img 315–334), 1887 nos. 213–320 (img 365–376), 1888 nos. 1–136 (img 377–391), 1889 nos. 276–327 (img 436–441) and 1890 nos. 1–146 (Jan–Jun 1890, img 441–455; right page of 455 at overview only). NOT read: 1886 nos. 262–end and 1887 nos. 1–212 (img 335–364), 1888 nos. 137–end and 1889 nos. 1–275 (img 392–435), 1890 from no. 147 and 1891. Oto Smukulis (b. 1890) is therefore not among Jan–Jun 1890 baptisms; the family may also have moved parish (Emma's farm 'Lubar' read uncertainly).

  23. Rīga St Martin Latvian marriages 1911, no. 34 (summary list; main register no. 62), LVVA f. 3036, apr. 4, l. 66, image 105 (left page, fol. 98v), LVVA f. 3036, apr. 4, l. 66, image 105.
    Бракомъ сочетавшіеся въ 1911 году. | 34 | Апрѣля двадцать второго | Мартинъ Вильгельмъ Зирлакъ сынъ Петра (Martin Wilhelm Sirlak) / Эрна Смукулъ, дочь Дава (Erna Smukul) | 62
    Translation: Married in 1911. No. 34, 22 April: Martin Wilhelm Sirlak, son of Pēteris; Erna [Emma] Smukul, daughter of Dāvis. Main register no. 62.

    Married 22 Apr 1911 Julian (= 5 May 1911 Gregorian). Groom Martin Wilhelm Sirlak, son of Pēteris; bride written 'Erna' (Эрна / Erna) Smukul, daughter of Dāvis (Дава). The register here is only the year's summary list (no., date, names, fathers, and a reference to no. 62 of the main register, which is not in this volume), so no ages, residence, witnesses or banns. 'Erna' is taken as a clerk's slip for Emma: same clerk writes 'Эмма' plainly at no. 27. Confirms Emma's father's name Dāvis (her US SS record: Dāvis Smukuls) and places the marriage eight months before Elvīra's birth, in the same congregation that baptised her. Corrects the memoir's 'married young': he was 27, she 26.

See in the family tree