Joseph Gemmeke (1900-1973), Clyde, Missouri
Joseph Gemmeke was a master cattle breeder and a herd manager of superior ability. His achievements in developing and bringing the Clyde Hill Farms to national prominence (1937-63) is one of the more illustrious achievements in Holstein history.
The story begins some three-quarters of a century ago when the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration was founded at Clyde, Missouri by three sisters from Switzerland. Clyde is a small, somewhat isolated, town in northwest Missouri. The Convent, as a self supporting activity, soon established a dairy herd to furnish milk and meat for its needs. As the herd grew it became evident in 1920 that an experienced manager was needed. Through two of his clergyman uncles in Germany, Joe then a young man serving as an assistant manager of a royal farm in West Germany, learned of the opening. He had worked on his home farm, graduated from high school and one of the agricultural colleges in Germany. Joe had experience with Holstein-Friesian cattle, Chester White hogs and Belgian horses. He joined the staff at Clyde Hill Farms July 17, 1923. By 1930 he was manager of the Convent herd, a position he held until 1963 when the herd was dispersed.
The Clyde Hill herd might have never been heard of were it not for Joe’s guidance. The herd had its start by the purchase of several registered females when the herd at the U.S. Military Base, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas was dispersed. Among the cows acquired was Zuba Amarilla King DeKol. This cow, once her merits were discovered, went on to become a famous brood matron. In the early years no production testing was carried on; the bull calves were sold for veal or grown out for beef; little effort was made to capitalize on the purebreds. Later the herd was entered on DHI test and then on the Holstein Dairy Herd Improvement Test. Knowledgeable dairy cattle breeders, including several of the staff from the University of Missouri Dairy Department, were highly impressed with the size, strength, production ability and quality of the herd, and urged that it be further developed as a source of good pureherd cattle. The herd was officially classified for type. These steps brought the herd into the limelight. “Zuba” and her oldest daughter “Elsie” both were scored Excellent. “Zuba’s” second daughter went Very Good, and her son Clyde Hill Rock River Al. Jr., in use in the herd, also went “Excellent.”
From “Zuba,” who had a lifetime production of 216,262 pounds of milk, and her 13 offspring several of the most prominent cows families is the Holstein breed were developed. Eight cows in the herd exceeded 200,000 pounds of milk in a lifetime. The herd received the “Progressive Breeder Award” 19 times. The cattle were much in demand and breeding a stock was sold throughout the United States. Clyde Hill Farms cattle were dominate in production and won many show awards. In 1950 as a part of the Holstein-Friesian National Convention, held in Kansas City, a tour was made to Clyde Hill Farms and the herd displayed to over 1000 people.
Joe was born October 1, 1900 at Ottenhausen bei Steinhein, Westfalen, West Germany. He was 23 years old when he come to America and to Clyde Hill Farms. In 1953 he was married to Miss Maria Lange of West Germany—a welfare at worker in Germany with an advanced degree in social service. The Gemmekes worked and lived at Clyde Hill Farm until 1963 when due to help problems and the growing pressure of the farm operations the herd was sold privately. Joe died April 16, 1973. Few men in a space of 40 years equaled his accomplishments in the field of dairy cattle breeding.