NSGS Ancestree

Index to Probate File, Boyd County, Butte, Nebraska (continued)

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Submitted by: Mrs. Margerie (Unkel) Fuhrmann, Norfolk, NE

THE SETTLERS FROM IXONIA, WISCONSIN TO NORFOLK, NEBRASKA 1866
Madison County

The members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Ixonia, Wisconsin sought more farm land for their sons, after so many immigrants from Germany poured into that area. The Homestead Act of 1862 opened land in the Territory of Nebraska for the head of a family to settle on. By 1865 the crowded Congregation (Gemeinde) sent Frederick WAGNER, Herman BRAASCH and John GENSMER to seek out good land in Nebraska. They sought land at West Point but it was being settled already, so Mr. T. F. SPORN transported then to the Junction of the North Fork and Elkhorn Rivers.

There they found good land, wood, excellent drinking water, and plenty of grass. Mr. WAGNER said, "Here will be my homestead. Here we will build a town." Mr. T. F. SPORN must have been related or a member of the Wisconsin Church because he moved to this area with the wagon train. Mr. GENSMER was too frightened by the Indians to come with the wagon train.

Pastor John N. HECKENDORF (HOECKENDORF) was the founder of the Congregation in Ixonia, WI. He must have traveled with a later wagon train, as he arrived in October 1866. He closed his record book and brought it along, opened it and continued on the same page with a notation that this was now Norfolk, Nebraska. He also took a homestead to support his family. The land where St. Paul's Church, School, Cemetery, Parish house, teacherage and playgrounds

The Settlers From Ixonia, Wisconsin to Norfolk, Nebraska 1866 (continued)

are, were purchased from Pastor HECKENDORF in 1876. The wagon train kept a log in which all the men signed their first initial and last name. They left Ixonia on May 23, 1866. They arrived on July 12, 1866, when the entire company joined in prayer on the banks of the river.

At various times this original log was printed in the booklets when St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Norfolk, NE celebrated an anniversary of their founding. Various people have attempted to translate from the German script or the German printing. Following will be various lists that may be of genealogical help to someone. My father-in-law, Carl P. FUHRMANN, was a Lutheran day school teacher at St. Paul's of Norfolk for 27 years. As a history project for his classes, he helped them gather and compile an early history of Norfolk and St. Paul's. He gave each of the 8th grade of the 1939-1940 term a typewritten copy. Miss Esther UECKER of St. Paul's Church, found it when preparations were made to celebrate the Centennial of Norfolk and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The first part of the list was of the married man with families. The last six names were single men who were on that first wagon train of forty-two wagons. The names are not identified by the first name, only an initial and last name in the original. A first name has been supplied in instances where it was known as of the present time--June 1965 by Esther UECKER.

Men With Families:
BRAASCH, H. (Herman)	BRAASCH, J.	BUETTOW, J. (John)
BOCHE, F. (Fred)	BOCHE, W. (Williaia)	BERNHARDT, J. (Jacob)
DEDERMANN, F. (Fred)	FISCHER, W. (William)	HAASE, Ch. (Charles)
HAASE, Fr. (Fred)	HAASE, Ferd. (Ferdinand)	HILLE, K. (Karl)
KAUN, J. (John)	KLUG, W. (William)	LENTZ, Aug (August)
MACHMUELLER, K.	NINOW, K.	RAASCH, M. (Martin)
ROHREE, G. (Gotlieb)	RUBLOW, W. (William)	SEIFERT, W. (William)
UECKER, K. (Karl)	WACHTER, A. (Amil?)	WACHTEK, H. (Herman)
WICHERT, J. (Julius)	WICHMANN, K. (Karl)	WINTER, C.
WINTER, W. (William)
Single Men:
BRAASCH, W. (William)	HOECKENDORF, F.	MELCHER, A. (August)
NINOW, A.	RAASCH, A. (August)	WICHMANN, F.

Then in 1975, some sentimental, community minded descendants of those first people who came on the wagon train from Ixonia, WI got together to remember them for the Bicentennial celebration. Their object was to have a stone memorial engraved, paid for and placed in Norfolk. This took many meetings, much searching of records and much discussion as to who the original men were. That first initial had not been easy to translate. Much time was also spent in finding descendants who were willing to help pay for the memorial stone.

The ones who come to my mind as having worked the hardest are: Mrs. Franklin GESKE, nee Elvira DECKER: Harold DECKER, her brother, Fern, Mrs. Alvin RAASCH; and Miss Ruth RAASCH, who descended from August RAASCH, Elvira GESKE descended from Herman BRAASCH, she is a member of the Madison County Genealogical Society and quite an historian. She has published the BRAASCH/RAASCH family history.

The following is a list that she had found that may have been on the wagon trains. This is what she presented at one of the meetings. It was later discussed and only the ones on the first train were used.

The Settlers From Ixonia, Wisconsin to Norfolk, Nebraska 1866 (continued)

Then in 1975 and 1976, Margerie (UNKEL) FUHRMANN, as a member of the Madison County Genealogical Society did considerable recording of gravestones in all the cemeteries around Norfolk, NE. I had been appointed a committee member, to be in charge of recording the cemeteries in the eastern end of Madison County. I had accumulated considerable information, so I took Elvira's list and typed a list of old timers burial places, also to be used as a guide.

The Settlers From Ixonia, Wisconsin to Norfolk, Nebraska 1866 (continued)

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Donated by: The Nebraska State Historical Society, 1500 "R" St., Lincoln, NE

HISTORY OF STANTON COUNTY
by Albert WATKINS and corroborated by Mrs. G. (nee Magdelena BELT) KRENZIEN
Edited

The first settlers within the boundaries of Stanton County were Jacob HOFFMAN and Francis SOCTT (sic). The first men to enter the county and locate farms were Charles and Mitchell SHARP. They came in the summer of 1865, staked their claims on the Humbug and returned to Omaha. On the way back they met SCOTT and HOFFMAN driving ox teams, and bringing their goods and families. They also located on the Humbug. In the spring, W. D. WHALEN and Andrew BORTTOFF arrived in the county. Mr. WHALEN located about a mile west of the present town. Mr. BORTTOFF took the place since owned by Judge HELMERICK. In the fall, a body of Germans settled five miles north, among them were August DRAUBE, Fred COOK, Adam NYE and Carl SCHWARTZ. About this time, I. R. LAYTON, Andrew SHCAETBLE (sic), John RUSTEMEYER and Paul HEYSE took claims on the Humbug. During this year also, August WAGNER settled south of the river. In the spring of 1866, E. S. BUTLER, E. W. MOSHER and Thomas STEVENS settled on the Humbug. In the same year, Julius POESNECKER and L. BELZ came into the county. During the years 1868-1869, settlers included Fred SCHNIEDER, John WUNNER, Jack DeBEAU, A. N. GILL, Jens NELSON, J. G, MATHESON, and C. L. LAMB, who located on the Humbug; W. L. BOWMAN, Eli BOWMAN, H. KENNEDY, Alex McFARLAND, W. D. LOVETT, H. ROGERS, N. C. LOVETT and J. S. LOVETT, who located on Pleasant Run, now known as Gassey Hollow; Fred and Lewie MEWIS, Alex and Oliver PETERS, Robert BARR, R. HUME, John and Robert McMILLAN, Alex KENNEY, I. W. KING and Thomas MILLIGAN, who located northeast of Stanton; R. OBERG, H. SCHERER, Fred and Tobiaa MACK, Lewis LEY, C. ESSWEIN, John EVERSON and R. LOVERY, who located South of Stanton; Gustav SONNENSCHEIN and J. D. UNDERBERG, who stopped on Union Creek, in the western part of the county. The first store was operated by George GRAVES, in the Humbug settlement, in 1869.

In the spring of 1870, KENDALL and DENSMORE opened a store three miles true the Humbug, at a place called Clinton. Lewis LEY began his career as a merchant in a dugout on the south side of the river. In 1867, the first schoolhouse was built at the Clinton settlement, with the instructor being Gus tav SONNENSCHEIN. In 1870, a frame schoolhouse was erected near W. D. WHALEN's farm. W. L. BOWMAN preached in the log house coon after it was constructed.

On December 9, 1867, Ida HOFFMAN, daughter of Jacob HOFFMAN, the earliest settler, was born, thus being the first child born in Stanton County. The first recorded death was in the fall of 1866 when John MASCATINE died and was buried on his homestead. The first marriage was the marriage of Herman MEWIS and Emma HINKE in the fall of 1869. Lewis LEY was the first attorney and appeared first before Justice M. B. SHARP.

In 1867, two postoffices were established, one known as the Clinton office kept by Fred BIEHLE and another west of town, kept by Fred HELMERICK. George BAILEY was the mail carrier.

Stanton County was organized January 23, 1867. The first officers of the county who were elected were: W. D. WHALEN, J. R. LAYTON and Francis SCOTT, Commissioners; Jacob HOFFMAN, Treasurer, Paul HEYSE, Clerk, Joshua MALTBIE, Probate Judge; M. B. SHARP, Sheriff; August WAGNER, Coroner, J. R. LAYTON and M. B. SHARP, Justices of the Peace. The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners was held at Paul HEYSE's sod house, January 23, 1867. In 1869, it was decided that the county seat would be Stanton and in April 1871 the contract to build a courthouse was given to William KENDALL.

History of Stanton County (continued)

In 1879, E. K. VALENTINE, E. N. SWEET and R. F. STEVENSON of West Point came to Stanton to discuss the bond question in extending the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Lines. The first building in Stanton was a residence built by C. M. DENSMORE and occupied by Cornelius NYE. In the spring of 1870 Cornelius NYE opened a tin shop, in the fall Lewis LEY opened a harness shop and John WRIGHT opened a saloon. Dr. BOWMAN also had so office in the town. James McKINSEY came about 1868 and carried mail from Stanton to Schuyler for many years. L. SMITHBERGER came in April of 1870 with his parents and lived south of the river where Emil SCHULTZE later lived. Mrs. EBERLY and Mrs. J. MATHESON of Pilger were often called upon to help with funeral arrangements as there were no undertakers. Mr. L. DERN came in the early 1890's and was the first undertaker, having bought out J. POESNECKER. The first newspaper printed was the Stanton edited by Lewis LEY. The first county Clerk was Mitchell SHARP, the first County Treasurer was Jacob HOFFMAN, the first County Superintendant was Henry SHARP and Ed. KENDALL was the first Postmaster. In 1869, a schoolhouse was built about half a mile west of town and the first term was taught by Lew TAYLOR. Dr. W. L. BOWMAN preached the first sermons and in 1870, Rev. J. W. KIDDER came to Stanton County.

The townsite was platted by L. C. LEHMAN, S. L. HOLMAN and George GRAVES in 1871 on June 21.

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Abstracted by: Georgene Morris Sones, Omaha, Nebraska

THE RUSTLER, Elsie, Perkins County, Nebraska, May 25, 1892,

A. P. KELLY, Publisher, A. R. DAVIS, Editor (paper is badly torn)

Frank PENDARVIS is in the east visting (sic) his family.
Jake WEILINE on business in Wallace.
J. E. MILLER was down from Grant.
Lewis OSLER. ________ SHIPMAN. Chas CUTLER.
W. W. HENDERSON and wife and Ed. SANDERS and wife visited in Grant.
Elder (?) MILLER will preach the Memorial Sermon at Wallace next Sunday.
Miss BATES visiting Miss JOHNSON at the Elsie house.
Co. Attorney SUANDERS of Grant came up from his claim Friday.
The audience for Prof. POTTER was small.
I. J. HOWE donated use of a new organ for dedication of Baptist church at Blanch.
Geo. GIBBON'S horse fell on him.
Mrs. A. HAINES to visit friends and relatives in Oxford and Holdrege.
STARRETT and PENDARVIS have best wind sills.
Johny NOLAN, a traveling men, was a caller yesterday.
Mrs. KNODE from Omaha is ready to do sewing. She lives 3 mi. north of Elsie on Frank KESSEL's farm.
CASEY, FAUCET & PHELPS have completed a large refrigerator for J. P. HOLLONGWORTH for use in his butcher shop, which was erected south of I. J. HOWE's office.
Wm. McDERMETT has papered his tonsorial shop.
The Misses SHORTS of Orchard, Col. stopped to visit with Mrs. Wm. GILLETT, a cousin, and are on their way to Iowa to spend the summer.
Ed. E. DREW, traveling salesman, was a caller.
Geo. BAXTER has moved his barber chair into the JOURNAL office.
Mr. & Mrs. PEARSON living together in home in south part of town. He is one of the oldest settlers.
Thanks to Miss Minnie L. CLIFT of Sutton for a subscription.
J. C. TATE will likely be Republican candidate for lt. gov. this fall.
H. O. CALDWELL has opened a furniture store.
Hon. John L. McPHEELY of Minden met with Republicans of Grant.
John TATTUM (of Kearney area?).
J. L. GRAHAM has horses.
P. C. CARSTENSEN--all persons indebted to me, please call and settle at once.
Wm. H. C. WOODHURST, Receiver U. S. Land Office North Platte.
McBROS. general merchandise.
W. L. RUTLEDGE pays high prices for school orders.
McCULLOUGH Bros. genl. merchandise.
OTTO & FLATER millinery.
D. G. HATHHORN blacksmith.
Butler REES is going to have a pasture.

Newspaper Abstracts, Elsie, Perkins County (continued)

Billie LEA has the best wheat in the country.
Rev. Jno. CARMIKAEL of Republican City was in the Phebe neighborhood looking after his timber claim.
J. C. O'BRION will address the Republican club at Phebe school.
J. L. ORR of Hays Co. has a boy born Sat. morning.
County Clerk POTTER of Grant is still unable to fill his place in the office.
75 cases disposed of during last court term; 2 divorces were granted.
Miss Cora SPONDENCE reporter from Grant.
Baptist church at Blanche dedicated on 22 May. Lectures by: E. A. RUSSELL of Ord, J. J. KEELER of Central City. Elder J_____ RICHARDS, pastor. C. E. SKINNER, photographer from Lincoln, made a picture of the audience. Elder W. F. EVANS, pastor of Baptist church of Binkelman, also preached. Elder RICHARDS cams into this neighborhood in May '91, at which time there was but 1 Baptist in the entire community, today this church has 28 members.
A. HAINES, agent Burlington RR.
J. S. MILLER, pastor Christian Church.
Rev. J. J. LOUGHMAN, pastor Catholic Church. No regular stated time for services, notice
will be given through this paper when services to be held.
N. H. MILES, pastor N. B. Church.
W. H. SAUNDERS, attorney-at--law.
W. C. LEMON, land attorney, North Platte.

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A VIEW OF THE VALLEY, Valley County, Nebraska 1873 - 1973.
(Centennial Book)

Submitted by: Mrs. Margaret White, Omaha, NE

Valley County was first settled in April and May, 1872, by a party of Danes from Wisconsin. The party consisted of Peter MORTENSON, Nels ANDERSEN, George MILLER, Jeppe SMITH and Fall MOLLER and his family. Their arrival was in April and were followed by Christ FREY in May, who also located along Dane Creek about two miles north of the present town of Ord. The next settlement was near the present village of North Loop by a Wisconsin colony of Seventh Day Baptists, under the leadership of their pastor, Rev. Oscar BABCOCK. Fifteen families accompanied BABCOCK, arriving in May 1872. In the spring of 1873, J. P. BROWN, John McKELLAR and M. COOMBS settled in the southwestern part of the county.

Organization of the county was begun in 1872/73. The first organizational meeting was held at the residence of George LARKIN on 17 February 1873. Judges: H. A. BABCOCK, George LARKIN, and A. C. POST; Clerks of Election: A. L. CLARK and H. COLLINS were appointed. Commissioners: John CASE, L. C. JACOBS, D. C. BAILEY: Clerk: E. D. McKENNEY; Treasurer: Frank CURTIS; Judge: W. D. LONG; Sheriff: H. A. BABCOCK; Surveyor: Thomas McDOWELL; Supt. of Schools: Charles BADGER were elected on 18 March 1873. The county seat was located at the present village of Ord, but the name was not selected until later. In October, 1873, the following were elected: L. C. JACOBS, John CASE, R. W. BANCROFT, W. D. LONG, E. D. McKENNEY, Oscar BABCOCK, H. A. BABCOCK, Thomas McDOWELL, Charles BADGER. In October, 1874, R. W. BABCOCK, Peter MORTENSEN, M. COONES. In October, 1875, N. COONBS, A. S. ADAMS, C. H. WOOD, Thomas TRACY, N. B. GOODENOW, H. A. BABCOCK, Peter MORTENSEN, Oscar BABCOCK, Charles WEBSTER, Charles BADGER.

First Things:

May 1872: First sermon by Rev. Oscar BABCOCK.
Fall 1872: Post Office established at North Loop with Oscar BABCOCK as postmaster
April 1873: Marriage of Nels ANDERSEN and Miss Hannah MORTENSEN, ceremony by Rev. Oscar BABCOCK. This first marriage was later challenged because Mr. Andersen failed to get a marriage license, so the marriage of Emily BANCROFT and Wm. A. HOBSON in 1873 took the honor of the first marriage. (Wm. age 27, Emily age 17)
Carrie COLLINS, daughter of Warren COLLINS, first birth in Spring of 1873.
Sumter 1873: Death of a young man named Gary.
Spring 1873: School at North Loop. Miss Kate BADGER taught in 1874, later Mrs. W. J. HOLLIDAY.
W. J. HOLLIDAY established store at North Loop in summer 1873.
Orson S. HASKELL built the first frame house in 1873, 3 miles north of Ord.
First lawsuit in 1873, at dugout residence of Peter MORTENSEN. Suit by Samuel HAWTHORNE

A View of the Valley, Valley County, Nebraska 1873 - 1973 (continued)

against George McDELLER, tried before Orson S. HASKELL, J. P.

W. H. MITCHELL established the first newspaper at Calamus, near Fort Hartsuff, in fall of 1875. It was called the Valley County Herald, published there for 2 yrs. and then moved to Ord.

A VIEW OF THE VALLEY
Minnie Mae FREEMAN, teacher 1888. Pupils: Ollie BELL, Emma Lee EBERHART, Bud BELL, Ella Vopat CROSBY, Warren WORTMAN, Mollie Lee KUNZ, Eva WORTMAN, Cassie WORTMAN, Anna Bell BYINGTON, Henry LEE, Fred WHEELER, Ben KELLISON, Charles WORTMAN, Frank KELLISON, Edward LEE, Frank VOPAT. (Names from picture.) Miss FREEMAN married Edgar Byron PENNY, and resided in Fullerton, Nebraska.

Warren Granger COLLINS was born in New York State in 1845. Moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1863 and there he married Amanda THURSTON in 1869. Their first child was born April 11, 1870 (Oscar E.). Arrived in Valley County in the Spring of 1872, homesteading 6 miles east of Ord. Carrie was the first white child born in the county on January 30, 1873. Other children were: Earl, Helen, Ralph, Rex, Lynn and Floyd. All are deceased but Rex. Mr. COLLINS died in 1925 and Mrs. COLLINS in 1927. Carrie COLLINS married W. J. SEELEY in 1898. Both taught school in the county. Mrs. SEELEY died in August 1959 in Brownville, NE.

Oscar Earnest COLLINS married Mary E. JENNINGS in 1896. He died March 11, 1939. Their children: Vivian (Mrs. Wayne TURNER) Vida (Mrs. Wilton WHEELER) Frieda (Mrs. Jack HAYES) Vennard, living in Valley County at the present time. Duane died in 1954. (Two others not named.) Mrs. Mary COLLINS died in 1956. She was born near Elba, NE, the daughter of William and Lucy JENNINGS, who homesteaded southwest of Ord. Lyon COLLINS, born in 1887. Married Edna STAM in 1914. He died in 1937.

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Written by Verle Dority, Wood River, NE
Submitted by: Mrs. Ruth McClurkin, Shelton, NE
Source: WOOD RIVER SUNBEAM, Wood River, NE 68883

HOMESTEADING IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP - HALL COUNTY

On St. Patrick's Day, March 1872, Nathaniel DICKINSON, Northfield, MA arrived at Old Wood River, where he made arrangements to spend the night at the KEEFE residence. Nathaniel was born 24 July 1842 to Porter and Ardelia DICKINSON, at Northfield, MA. He was the first of a family of seven. In November 1861 he enlisted in the Union Army in Vermont, Co. F, First Vermont Cavalry. General MEADE was his commanding officer, he took part in the battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Richmond with General GRANT. He was at Apponattox when General LEE surrendered. During the war his father and younger brother had died, one brother was running the farm, another was operating a broom factory. His three sisters had gone to CA where they married and settled. In trying to decide where to homestead, his travels took him first to Illinois, then to Iowa, then to Nebraska at Wood River where he finally settled 18 March 1872.

Seth LEE also took out a homestead on the same day, and Jackson Township was named after President Andrew JACKSON.Nathaniel married Harriet GLEASON, tenth and last child born to Sherman and Rhoda GLEASON, on 18 December 1837 at Malone, NY. Harriet lived with a sister, Lydia SCHOOLCRAFT in her teens, and when Lydia died in 1862, Mr. SCHOOLCRAFT remarried and Harriet left for other employment. It was during the time she was working in a field job, she and Nathaniel DICKINSON became acquainted and after several years, married. They were issued a license to wed by Judge F. S. TRUE of the Probate Court of Buffalo Co. This was the first marriage licence recorded in Buffalo Co. The wedding was performed by the Rev. J. J. PLACE, a Baptist minister. Witnesses were U. A. DAY and Mr. STERNS. Nathaniel and Harriet had four children, two mentioned are Ardelia RHOAD, born 24 May 1873 and Alma FILLIA, 27 January 1875. A Mrs. STEVENS is named as midwife. On their golden wedding anniversary, the Rev. MANN, of the Northfield church presented Harriet with a gold thimble, and Nathaniel with a gold watch, from the people of the community. Harriet died in May, 1924.

The two older children of the EWING's mentioned are James and Helen. The three DUBS children mentioned are: Etta, 10; Ralph, 8; and John, 7; at this time in the 1870's.

(Continued)

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