Heitkemper, Margaretha

Other Events:

• Baptism: 7 Oct 1708

Notes:

Baptism:
Legden, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Margaretha married Hesterbrinck, Johann Heinrich 24 Nov 1732, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Johann was born 25 Oct 1705, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Bef 1805. [Group Sheet]

Anna married Fleige, Johann Gerhard 14 Jun 1768. Johann was born Bef 1750; died Bef 1850. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 24 Feb 1737

Notes:

Baptism:
Legden, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Johann married Wenning, Anna Gertrud 13 Nov 1779, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Anna was born 19 Sep 1754, Legden, Haulingort, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died 9 Dec 1783, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Johann married Baronbrock, Anna Christina 27 Jul 1784, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Anna was born 28 Apr 1758, Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Bef 1795, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Johann married Feldkamp, Anna Christina Baetkes 17 Aug 1795, , , , Germany. Anna was born Abt 1742, , , , Germany; died 26 Jul 1826, Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Anna married Steinengerd, Johann Gerhard 12 Nov 1765, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Johann was born Bef 1747; died Bef 1847. [Group Sheet]

Anna married Honermann, Johann Albert 8 Jan 1785, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Johann was born Bef 1767; died Bef 1867. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: Abt 1846

Notes:

Family History Researcher:
Also see notes in file of Joan Richards on her research on the descendan ts of Johann Gerhard Heitkemper.

Immigration:
immigrated to the United States in 1846, see notes in autobiography of gra ndson Herman Heitkemper.

Johann married Feldkamp, Anna Maria 15 Nov 1808, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Anna was born 24 Jun 1786, Heek, Westfalen, Germany; died 9 Jul 1849, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Gerhard married Segbers, Anna Maria 18 May 1819, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Anna was born Abt 1777; died Bef 1877. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Emigration: Abt 1846
• Immigration: 29 Aug 1846

Notes:

Emigration:
1846 immigrated with parents Auswanderer list #73

Died:
possibly Cincinnati

Other Events:

• Emigration: 2 Apr 1859
• Immigration: 12 May 1859, New York, New York, New York, USA

Notes:

Gerhad Henry sold his home and farm in Germany in 1859. On April 2, 185 9, he sailed with his wife and five children from Antwerp aboard the "Plut arch". The ship arrived in New York on May 12, 1859.
Gerhard Henry died just 2 weeks after arriving in Iowa. He was the fir st person to be buried in the cemetery at Our Lady of Seven Dolors chur ch in Festina, IA.
G.H.'a widow, Catherine Blank married John Gerhard Heitkemper (G.H.'s brot her) on 8/31/1866 in Winneshiek County, IA. Catherine sold the land in Io wa and moved to Columbus, Nebraska in 1884. John G. died in 1893 and Cath eirne went to Oregon to live with her daughter Clara Delman.

Emigration:
Sailed from Antwerp to New York

Immigration:
1859 Immigrated to the Unites States, see notes in autobiography of son He rman Heitkemper.

Gerhard married Blanke, Anna Catherina 15 May 1838, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Anna was born 10 Oct 1811, Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Abt Sep 1902, Tillamook, Tillamook, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1860 Census: 1860, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA

Notes:

John Gerhard was Gerhard Henry's brother. After Gerhard He nry died 7/28/1859, Anne Catherine married John Gerhard.

Family History Researcher:
EMAIL Date: 7/19/2004 7:31:01 PM Pacific Standard Time From: jrichards9@ci nci.rr.comHello Jay, I was researching the Heitkemper line and ran across your posti ng. We are grateful to get this information. My husband is a great grand son of Catherine Heitkemper (daughter of Johann Gerhard Heitkemper and Eli sabeth Struebing). We have more information on that line if you are inter ested in it. We have not finished our research yet so the informati on is not complete in one area. We would be very interested in seeing your notes and citations. Als o, my husband (Bob) is contacting his mother to see if she has any pictur es of Catherine Heitkemper Beckman. Thank you for posting your work. Please let me know if you would li ke me to send information on the descendants of Catherine Heitkemper.Jo an Richards
Johann Gerhard HEITKEMPER (Johann Gerhard) was born3,4 on 5 Apr 18 16 in Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. He died5 in 1893 in Col umbus, Nebraska.Johann married6,7,8 (1) Elizabeth STRUEBING on 6 Aug 1848 in Cincinnat i, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Elizabeth was born9,10 about Sep 1825 in German y. She died11 in Sep 1862 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. She was bur ied12 on 19 Sep 1862 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA.

Immigration:
Unknown

1860 Census:
page 124; Listed living with wife and 3 children

Johann married Streubing, Elizabeth 6 Aug 1848, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Elizabeth was born Abt 1825, Oldenburg, , Niedersachsen, Germany; died Abt Sep 1862, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Johann married Blanke, Anna Catherina 31 Aug 1866. Anna was born 10 Oct 1811, Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Abt Sep 1902, Tillamook, Tillamook, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 5 May 1819

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1819 Legden Catholic Church records page 39 #31Anna Catharina Heitkemper born on May 5, 1819 in Wehr to Joan Gerhard Heid kemper and Anna Maria Feldkamp. Sponsors Joh Bernd Konert? and Anna Cathar ina Heidkemper ? Homermann.

Anna married Elsbernd, Gerhard Herman BERNARD 27 Jul 1841, Isingort Bie Wehr, Westfalen, Germany. Gerhard (son of Elsbernd, Joannes Hermannus and Elpert, Elisabetha) was born 21 Dec 1812, Legden, Isingort, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Abt 1888, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 17 Mar 1822
• Emigration: 7 Jul 1844
• Emigration: 12 Sep 1844

Notes:

Immigration:
Unknown

Baptism:
1822 Legden Catholic Church Baptism records page10 #20; Anna Maria Gertru dis born on 3/16/1822 in Wehr to Johann Gerhard Heitkemper and Anna Mar ia Feldkamp. Taufpatben Joseph ? Blomer and Anna Maria Segbers uxor Beyer.

Emigration:
1844 Auswanderer List of Legden, applied to emigrate 7/07/1844.

Emigration:
Left Germany at age 22 aboard the American ship SS timoleon from Bremen and arrived in Baltimore (9/12/1844).
1844 Auswanderer List of Legden, applied to emigrate 7/07/1844.

Anna married Peek, Bernard 24 Feb 1846, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Bernard was born Bef 1828; died Aft 1846, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 15 Apr 1826, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; Page 38, #28
• Emigration: 12 Sep 1844

Notes:

Immigration:
Unknown

Birth - Church Record:
Taufpatben Johann Henrich Evelt? ? Bullermann and Maria Thenegers ? Lunver mann. (1826 Legden Catholic Church Baptism Records page 38 #28)

Emigration:
Left Germany at age 18 aboard the American ship SS Timoleon from Bremen to Baltimore (arrived 9/12/1844)

Anna married Niehaus, Johann BERNARD Stephan 16 Oct 1846, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Johann (son of Niehaus, Johann Bernard and Pliete, Anna Margaretha) was born 25 Jan 1819, Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died 23 Dec 1905, Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; was buried , St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Death Record - Civil: 20 Nov 1912

Notes:

From Oregon Historical Society:
Came to America with parents in 1859, first to Cincinnati then to Iowa. Ca me to Portland in 1871. Returned to Iowa in 1883 and returned to Portla nd in 1890. Also lived in Montana and crossed Rockies numerous times. Bu ilt Elkhorn in 1890. Lived on SW Stark St. between 3rd and 4th next to B en Holladay residence.

Immigration:
Unknown

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Henry Heitkemper
Death Date: 20 Nov 1912
Death Place: Clackamas
Certificate: 3129

Henry married Honerman, Katherine 24 Jan 1865. Katherine was born Abt 1850, , , , Germany; died Abt 1876, Vail, Crawford, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Henry married Fortkamp, Elizabeth 8 May 1877, St. Francis Catholic Church, Winneshiek, , Iowa. Elizabeth was born Abt Apr 1858, , , Virginia, USA; died 8 Apr 1919, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Election: 1877
• Biography: 1904; Hietkemper, Herman Biography
• Biography: 1916; Hietkemper, Herman Biography Addendum
• Occupation: Bef 19 Apr 1918; Cigar Manufacturer

Notes:

Surname Given Name Month Day Year Certificate Number
HEITKEMPER Monroe 12 22 1921 2805
HEITKEMPER Gerhard H 12 6 1923 2817
HEITKEMPER Herman 4 19 1918 907

Immigration:
Unknown

Election:
Elected as "constable" for Ossian, Iowan

Biography:
1904 Auto Biography of Herman Heitkemper 734 Corbett St Portland Ore
In Writing my autobiography I beg the reader to hold me excused for bad gr ammar and spelling, for I never went to an English School.
The German which I have lernt in Germany, I have almost forgotten. So I wi ll try to do the best I can, in leaving a record to my progeny of my Se lf and Ansesters.
I was born July 7th 1844 in the old Cottagehome of the Heitkempers near t he castel Egelburg ownt by the Von Orr's 20 minuts walk from
Legden Kreis, Ahaus, Regiernug bezirk, Munster, Germany.
I was the 4th Child born to my parence who are: Gerhard Henry Heitkemper a nd Anna Katharina Blanck. My parence were the elevent (11) Generation of t hat name. The first Heitkempers Derivat there name from a piece of Land ca llt Heitkamp or (Field of heath latin Campus) name of posser Heitkemper. T here original names were Preckel a neigbors son and Bullerman a neigbors d aughter Who were then callt Heitkemper by the State or Government. Had I h ad sens enough while my Father was alive, I could tell more about this, f or he could have told me of what he new from his father.
My grandfather emigrated to America in 1846 when he was about 67 years ol d, he did not arive for he died on the ship and was buried in the Gu lf of Mexico; Grand Mother died of collora at Cincinnati, Chio in 1849, du ring the collora epidemic. My grandfather was a miller by trade as we ll as his ansesters at the Mill of Egelburg a grist and oilmill combine d. He was also violinest, and a student of history, aspeshily of Americ a, on account of his Democratic princibles. My Father also a Democrat, a nd lover of liberty and government by the people and for the people. In 18 59, he sold out the old home and farm and came with his wife and 5 childr en to America. We sailt on April 2, 1859 from Antwerb and arived May 12, 1 859 in New York. We encountered Two severe storms on the Ocean. From New Y ork we went by rail to Cincinnati, 0hio. where we stopt for a few weeks, a nd were I started to learn cigarmaking. From Cincinnati went by steaboat d own the Ohio River and up the Missisipi to Iowa. We landed at McGrogor th en we went by Team to Calmar., Winneshik County. That part of Iowa was th en very new, the oldest settlers had only been there 5 years. My Father bo ught a 160 acre Farm.on which were about 20 acres in grain (Wheat and Oat s) but not fencet. The house or cabin was about 12 x 18 feet built of log s. No stabling, not even a post to hitch a horse to. Nothing but grass a nd tall weeds which were alive with snakes and gouphers. The snakes were m ost of the Bullsnak kind. My Father bought 13 head of catle among them 2 c ows. Also he bought I yoke of Oxen and a Sow with 6 pigs. Thise hogs we re turnt lose on account that there was nothing to pen them up with, but t his was death to the snakes for the old hog made war on them.
After 2 Weeks my Father died of inflamation of the bowls. Had there be en a Doctor or Drugist in the country my Father might have lived. A neigb or had enough rough boards for a caskat out of which he made the coffin. T he day of the funeral an other neigbor came with an Oxteam, and we plac ed the remains of my father on the Wagon, then Mother and her 5 children t ook seats on the rough casket. No other morners were present but our sel fs and Mr. Theo. Timp the Oxteam driver. There was no road so the driver h ad to go through creeks, over hills and dales to the catholic Church and b uring ground. It was the first burial in that grave yard. After Mass and b urial the good Priest Father Fetterman gave us some refreshments and encou ragements. We went home very sad My mother was then 47 years old, my oldest brother Henry 19. I was 15. T he next younger Gerhard 11, 6 months. Anton 8 years. My only sister Cla ra was 4 years old.
I will now go back to my Infancy, that is to my first recolection that I h ave sins alive. When about one year and 10 months, my grandparence we nt to America, which made such an impreshion on me that I now can imagen t he sights of the two big covert Wagons, the hand shaking and bidding go od by, I was held in my mothers arms. She cried tears. An other occuren ce was that I remember when a few months latter a sister was born which di ed a few days old. This I do not remembert but I do remeber that Mother o ne morning took me out of my bed to hers, and nurst me. I was again the ba by of the Family: dont laugh it felt good that I was nurst the second tim e, it seems that this continuet for a year or so. When I was about fi ve or six years old my Mother made me releave a sick neigbors wife who suf fer from sore brests of her milk. My Mother being ofcharitable inclinati on did not think that harm could come to her own child so I had to go by c oaxing and promis. I did the to me disagreable job. Sometimes at night I w as taken from my warm bed and caried on the shoulders of a man who had a s tiff knee, which gave me a good shaking up. It was in the Winter and I w as mostly chillt when put back to bed. When about 6 years old 1 had to sp in dud, that was a coars yarn from the combings of flax. The yarn was us ed for gunnysacks. My days work was one knot or 60 threds on the Reel. So me times I had to peel Potatos or rock the baby. 'When 7 years old, I w as sent to School, but it lasted only 6 months when I got sick. First t he thought that it was from a cold, but it proved to be scrofula which per haps I contracted from the sick neigbors wifs milk. The desease brok out f irst at my neck then at my thighs and hips. The first two years I was bedr idden. The cords in my legs contracted or shortened espeshialy in one le g, so my right knee stood at an angel of 45. After I was able to be up o ut of my portable basket bedstead, I walk on crotches for about 6 month s. When about ten and a half years old, I was started to School again. Aft er School I had to spin linnen yarn or threats. On Wetnesdays when there w as no School I had to spin all day. I spon with both hands. I could sp in a whole skein in one day. A skein cosists of 24 knots, a knot is 60 thr eaths around the Reel of fine linnen yarn. Maybe it would be of interest to the reader that I relate the linnen Industry at that ti me in my old Country. Every Family raist its flax those that owent no la nd would rent it for that purpose. In the month of August the flax was har visted or pullt from the field not cut. It was bound in sheaves then put f or a few days in a pool of water then taken to a grassy or a field where h eath grows sprad carefull on the ground to bleach after four or five wee ks it was bundelt again and housed. When time permited it was then dri ed in a dry kiln and broke, that is the woody part was saperated from t he fibers. The seeds had been thrasht out when it came from the bleachi ng field. The linseed was wenowd and cleant, taken to the Oilmil or sol d. After the flax had been broken it was combt out and put away for the sp inwheel. The spining was don in the winter time, and in the spring or somm er wove in to linnen. Whatever the people had to spare was sold to Jober s, who shipt to Amsterdam or to England where it was sold for Irish linnen .
There I got of my track again. I wanted to tell about My young life though ts and doings, which I remember. I want to tell of the kind of dog we ha d, and so on. Well the first dog that I remember we had was partly blind a nd very cross but he was kind to me. His name was Moppel. I playd with h im he was my horse sometimes, but when I had him hitcht tip he would lay d own and not go. When my Mother took me to Church for the first time I thi nk it was to the midnightmass on Christmas, I could not see well in to t he sanctuary, so I thought it was like in an other Dwelling that there w as the kitchen and dining table, so I askt my mother if we should go the re and eat. Therafter I would play Church at home. I would put something a rount me, and say Mass. But when my mother cot me at that she scold me a nd told me that it was sin and mockery. I was then very softhearted wh en my mother would sing Sympathetic songs such as 3 Souls standing befo re heavens gate, or told me of suffering of Jesus, tears would co me in my eyes. Could I have died then when my mind and Soul were so pur e. I stradled a stick and playd horsey as well as any other boy, b ut it had to go hard. Get good and tiert. Wanted to suffer hard ship s. It must have been a prefiguration for my sicknis and suffering in futu re life.
At the age of eleven (11) years I learnt cotton weaving, which callt Schne llweben in German. The Material was furnisht by an English cindicate. We w ere payd by the yard. We had two looms going. My brother and I don the wor k. As long as I went to School I had to weave after School hours, when the re was no School then all day. In the morninl we had to do our thrashing like everybody els for that was the cost um in our whole country, from two to three beds were put on thrashing flo or or callt Tenne (Orn) in succeshion. The work was don with a flail. Ea ch of us had his own flail.
When Mother was well she would help at the first or the second. Then s he would make breakfast. Father, Henry and I would finish. 7 O'klock we w ould eat and then go to our days work. Thrashing
is not so easy as you might think. The performer must keep time, in ord er so he brings his stroke down at right intervel like in music. I sopo se that that is the reason that Germans are good musicians becaus the lear nt thrashing. Of cours this has all changed by this time. At that time.t he claping of the flail could be heard at any time after 4 5 O'klock in morning. In Westfalia or Munster land, the farmhouses are bu ild pecurialy. Imagine a barnlike building, all sizes. Some as long as fr om 50 250 feet and about 50 feet wide. All according to the size of the fa rm. Farmers live on there farms like here in the U. S. I say this becau se in som parts of Germany Farmers live in Villages and not on there lan d. The Westfalian farm house of which one third is used fore dwelling a nd two thirds or so for the farm animals. This two thirds in length h as an aisl (Tenne) or a stone floor like in a barn, which is used for Thra shing. The Door on the end of this is big enough to admit a load of h ay or grain for four horses. The stabling for Cows or horses is on both si des of the aisl, the animals facing the aisl so the can be fed from this a isl. The dung is trown out of the back of the stalls. The fodder is hous ed in the garrit above. Also all the grain in straw it holds. Most of t he farmers have a barn besides but not for catle but for the grain which t he house dont hold. The dwelling part for the people is separated by a par tition with a commen door leading on the aisl or vis vercey in the big Kit chen or center Room of the dwelling. Generaly this main room has at two si des joining rooms for all purpos of living. Our hous was of very ancient S tyl. There was but one more like it in the whole Country.
The dwelling part was not seperated by a solit partition for it had no chi mny. Therefor the smoke from the Kitchen fire had to have chance to get ou t. On both sids of the Kitchen were dweling Rooms which we occupied in t he winter and heated by a stove. The fire place or hearth, was well protec ted so that no fire could do any damage.
It was a sight to see the beautifull Coloring inside of the house, Where f or hundreds of years the smoke had blackent it. The wood work was so shi ng black. No painter could have don such glosy and fine polishing. Also t he carving or scalluping which was on the sharp edging of the wood work. E verything glasing black. Now days the people think that no body could li ve in such a house. But my ansasters lived happy and healty in that hous e, even 350 Three hundred and fifty years. The smok must have kept all des eases away from them.
Our farm consisted of 128 Morgen or about 80 acres, but the land was not a ll under culturvation. The reason was that from Father to son, the h ad to be in the mill. My grandfather had this mill rented for Ninety ni ne years. Now back to myself again.
I made my first h. comunion on Ludgerus day in the year 1858 in our pari sh Church of Legden and by our pastor Berhard Richters. In the early Spri ng of 1859 we sold out and came to America. We settled in Washington towns hip, Winneshick County Iowa. After my father was dead my oldest brother a nd my self had to put our shoulders to the wheel and devellop the land. T he first winter (which was milt) we split fence rails and cleart lan d. In the next spring we build fence and put in 20 acres of grain and cor n. On the first day of May I was hiert out to our Neigbor for six mont hs at six Dollars per month. That same sommer, my brother and my bose m ad up a breaking team of four yoke of Oxes. My brother and I don the wor k. We brok up that season about 50 acres. The next year I hiert out aga in to an other farmer at 72 Dollars a year. In the breaking season I we nt home again, and helpt to breake more land. Land breaking was hard wo rk espeshily for a boy. The boy has to do the runing when big folks sit do wn and smoke there pipe. In the early morning I had to look for the Oxen a nd bring them to where the plow was. The grass was very tall and wet of d ue or from rain. I would get wet up to my armpit and shoulders. My boots w ould be full of water. I would empty my boots and put dry footrags arou nd my feet when I had any otherwise the wet ones had to do. Then after bre akfast we would hitch up. This yoking up of young steers was sometimes dif icult to do. A steer is a steer till he is an Ox not every body can bre ak a steer that is to teach him to work. At mid day we would stop f or 3 or 4 hours so the Oxen could feed and also on account of heat becau se an Ox can not stand hot wheather as well as a horse can. We kept on plo wing till dark. Thinking back to that time of my life: I wish that I cou ld live that kind of life over again. It was my joy and pleasure, to dri ve the big breaking Team, to conquer the wild steers. If I do say it my se lf, I was the best Bullpucher in in that Country. I had wunderfull contro le over the Animales. Over horses as well as over Oxen. The word Whoa or W hoo spoken by me had suiting and quiting efect. I never had a runaway a nd no horse would balk after I drove him awhile. After working out the sec ond time I ingaged myself to my cousin to learn the Wagonmaking Trade. I w orkt at that for a while till I went to work with an other cousin as hou se carpenter. When I was 21 years old, I ingaged ones more in farmin g. It was not very prosperous for me. I lost a valuable horse, and the har vist was poor all over. Then my brother persuated me to buy Town proper ty and engaged in business. I bought out a Butcher shop and Saloon combin d, I ran that duble business for some time but as Saloon keeping was n ot my choice, I sold that part out and kept on butchering a while longe r. Then I renteted out and drove a beerwagon for one year and 8 months. Th en took back my butcher shop and went in partnership with a young butche r. I discovert some dishonesty. Made him quit and ran it alone f or 6 or 7 months. When the Rail Road Co. put up a large hotel. That kil lt the hotel business of the town, and also my business because the R.R. p eople shipt there Meat in from Millwaukee or Chicago. I rented my place o ut again and went east to Springfield 0. where my brother was, there I wo ve Carpet for a few months. From Springfield I went to Cincinnati to wo rk at the butcher trade. It was hard work, so that I was full of Rheumati sm and in bed for sometime. When better I went at carpet weaving again. B ut the wages being small I left in the Spring for Iowa. This was in 187 1. 1 sold my house and lot in Calmar, Iowa, for about half what I had pa id for it 6 years before. I then went to Springfield 0. and bought out a S aloon. I kept that for 2 months. Lost a little money in the transation. Th en I went in partnership with a man who was very dishonest and bankrupt, w hich I did not know till it was too late. I lost over $600.00 Six hundr ed Dollars in about a month. Busted dead broke. The worst thing that cou ld happen to me at that time for I was engaged to be married. My betroth ed sweet heart had com all the way from Iowa. We were to be Married in a f ew days. The hous was least. My bride had started to clean it. When the cr ash came. Dead broke every thing lost exept my Sweet heart. Dont you thi nk that everything lookt blue to me. Yes it did I asure you. But I did not lose coura ge however. For I could make my self usefull in many things and trade. I w ent to Dayton, 0hio 26 miles distans. I got a job by a Sausage maker. Th is man was also a bankrupt and my pay not coming regarly, so I quit and we nt to work in the Dayton Carshops. My knowlige of woodwork or carpentery c ame handy to me. I earnt and saved from October to February enough to g et married on. So on February 6th, 1872, 1 made good my promis and to ok my dear darling to the Altar in the holy Trinity Church of Dayton, Ohi o. Feb. 14, 1873 Valentinday. My dear wife made me a present in the sha pe of our oldest born, John. I forgot to say who my Dearest was. I mean h er name before we were married. Her name was Barbara Siegl, born at Matha us Pilsen Austry, a German born December 19, 1844. One day after our ba be was born I cut my self in my leg with an adze at the carshops. I h ad to lay in bed so my wife and myself had to be fet in bed. I was lame f or some time. The next sommer I got sick with the chills and fever. Aft er consolting 4 Doctors I was atvised to go back to Iowa where I had gro wn up. So we packt up and went to Festina Iowa where most of my relatio ns lived. After I had been sick for 7 months I went to work for my broth er in his Cigar Factory in the Winter months. In Sommer I worked at the ca rpenter trade. We stayt there till two more children were born to us, Jose phine and. Amelia. When the babe was a few weeks old we moved to Osian 6 m iles distant. There I was apointed Town Marshall and workt for my brothe rs as Cigarmaker ontil my brothers moved to Nebraska when I got the taile nd of the Cigarfactory. I manuffactured from 1878, till 1882 when by prom is of a good job and a brilliant opening in the butcher business we mov ed to Columbus Nebraska. On January 8, 1882 we loaded the cars for Columb us Neb. I must speak here of the bad luck we had in selling out. The pupl ic auction took place on January 6, 1882. It happent that it was a bitt er cold that we got no crowt, about a half a dosend men was all. So our Fu rniture and sundris went for about 10 cents on the Dollar, such as 6 gall on Jars full of preserves went for 50 cents when an empty jar was wor th 10 cents a gallon. Everything went in proposhion. Think of it. When we got to Columbus I was disapointed by for ce of my contract I took the job, partnership I had to refuse under the ci rcumstans. Becaus the man was an ignorent fool. I would have lost my tim e. Money I could not lose for I had non. After working 6 or 7 months for t hat fellow he fisselt out or sold out. I could have held him for damage b ut as I had pitty on his wife and children I declind to prosacute. Th en I took my Saws and hatchet again and workt a few months, till in the Wi nter when I enterd as grocery clerk in my step brothers store. I don ve ry well, I astablish a good trade, in two years this businiss had duble d, We sold as much as three Carloads of Flour and feed besids fancy and st aple Groceris. My youngest brother Anton seen that we were doing a prosper es businis so he secretly bought half intrest in the store. Of cours th at let me out of my job. There I was again in hard luck in Columbus was no thing for me to do. We had enough money to get to Portland Oregon. So on J une 6th 1885 we held another auction, this time the weather was very ho t, therefor I guess it turnt out very bad finacialy. Coming to Portla nd on June 11th I found it very dull, no work it was just after the Willa rd boom had busted. I don the best I could. My carpenter tools came hand y. I workt hard to the debterment of health for about 21 years. I engag ed again in the Cigar manufactoring which we continued up to this da y. My Son John is my partner. I have always strivet to have my children we ll educated and well trainth. John G. who was born in Dayton 0. graduat ed from St. Michals College. Josephine is a Highschool graduat and busini ss College graduat she folows stenographic and book keeping. Amelia is a g ramar grate graauat. She is a good dressmaker and seemster, she is marri ed and has one child. Bruno my youngest son is a Cigarmaker and an emine nt Muscian, violin and clarinet. He was born at Osian Iowa May 11th 187 9. He is a graduate from the St. Michels College. He is now Married and wo rks in our factory. I forgot to say that my Daughters where born in Festi na Iowa Josephine on December 2 1874, and Amelia January 14th 1877.
I am satisfied that I don all.I could for the wellfare of my children so t hat they dont have to go through the hardships, as I had to do on accou nt of lack of education. I have to go back now to the year of 1865 to sta te a little more of Family afairs which might be of some Intrest to reade r. In that year, my Uncle John Gerhard a brother of my Father came from Ci ncinnati Chio to us in Iowa. He was a Widower with three children Caty 1 3, John 11, and Georg one year 6 months old. My mother had then been a Wid ow for 7 years. By dispence from the pope of Rome they were married and we nt to live in my Mothers house in Festina Iowa one year before our Fathe rs Estate had been atministrated. My brother Henry bought one part or 80 a cres of the old farm and Mother the other 80 for me (as I was not of ag e) I were to pay $1600.00 for it. But I had a notion to study for the prie sthood so I sold my option on the land for $400.00 profit in order to indu se Mother to make the Deed to the party I had to give Mother $100.00 so s he got $1700 (seventeen hundred) for her land. She got about $700.00 for c hatels that is live stock and farm product. Her house in Town was worth $1 000.00. Furniture and all she was worth about $4000.00 Dollars. Her new hu sbant had about 2000.00. My stepfather was a cigarmaker and not a very str ong man. I have many times felt sory for my Mother as she had to do all t he hard work. They had a 5 acre track of land. They kept a cow and pigs a nd chickens. Mother had to do all the hard work besids raising the 3 child ren. My Mother had been apointed guardian for her miner children. She h ad controle of thise childrens money from fathers estate and colect the in trest of such money which was loant out. Of cours John G. took care of a ll that, you bet. I hope that every thing was justly don. In due time I th ink it was in 1884 they also came to Nebraska, bought a home and loant mon ey out, but somehow they trusted theyr money in the wrong hands. In 1893 t he oldman died 72 years old. Mother went to live then with her daughter Cl ara, Mrs. Delsman. Delmans Family together with mother came on to Portla nd in 1896. A few month latter they moved to Tillamook where my Mother di ed in September 1902. She was then 91 years and 11 months old. She had be en a hard worker all her life, she was very charitable, a traint mitwife a nd good as a nurs. She helpt many Children in this world in Germany as we ll as in this Country. My Mother was the youngest of her two brothers a nd her two Sisters. Her parence had died when she was five years old. S he used to tell us of her hardships when.an Orphen. She had never been per mited to go to school although she could read print in prayr book and Doct or book. She was married to my Father when she was 26 years old. Let her r est in peace.
I said that we came to Portland in 1885. I was then 41 years old, and in g ood health, but not in good health finatialy. I workt hard and saved by t he help of my good wife and children. We succeded in businiss and pose ss a nice home. But my health is bad. I have suffert for the last fifte en years with astma, the worst Malady that can com to a human bein g. I am now three score and nothing to hope for then death and Eternit y: at present my sicknis is bad that I have no rest day or night. If I wou ld be a little better I would make Cigars. I am so nervis that my writi ng is bad. I have spent a good many Dollars trying to get well but a ll to no avail. It is hell with out the fire and brim stone. I have one co solation and that is there will be an end to it, in death, gone accross t he big devide to Eternity to meet God and Ansasters. We are here on ear th to gain heaven. And I sopose that the good God gave us all a chan ce to earn it, som by preyr som by good works and som by suffering to bl ot out our sins. Could I live my life over again I would do things defere nt from what I have don providing I had the experience which I now hav e. A good many mistakes I might avoided Had I listent to my mother a nd to older experest people. I was like most the young people. I knew bett er. The Egg always wants to teach the hen that laid it.
It is the general run in this world how much better off would some peop le be if they had taken advise from old experiend folk. The journey throu gh life has many pit falls and when a young fellow full of imaginary pran ks and heedless of what older True friends say and caution him he is a pt to fall in a pit from which he might not get out of in his whole life t ime. My advice is, be you young man want to go into anything, trade or oc cupation take counsel with your parence or som one that knows. Make a thor ough investigatiohn. Then if suitable then learn it study it becom a mast er of it. Then stick to it. Life is too short for to learn and many thin gs. One trade or occupation is enough. Competition is keen in all branch es of business or trade. Be up to date, don't be driven by your busines s. You must drive your business. Dont depend on others, relie on yoursel f, and above all be honest in your dealing with others. Then you will suc ced. As things look to me now is that the next generation will have ha rd times of it worst then we have it now. Looking through the newspape rs I see nothing but proud and dishonesty. The penitentiarys are filli ng up with young criminals. In politics it is to stand in to have a pul l, and do up the other fellow. No more honesty wherever you look. The fau lt of all this is sistem, the way things are runing. Yes runing every thi ng must go fast. People nowdays have too many desiers. They are childlik e. The must have it whether it is good for them or not. Autos, bycicles a nd what not to go fast. The faster way is downhill and downhill gose the n ation. Yes degenerate.
The only salvation is to rais the children at home and not on the stree t. Teach them religion and keep them out of bad company. Make them be at h ome at bed time. Keep bad literature away from them. The future of this na tion depence upon your children. (1904)

Biography:
Portland, Oregon
Dec 27 1916Twelve years have past since my last writing. I have regaint my healt part ly. I no more have astmah, did not have it for about 3 years. My predicti on 12 years ago came too true. I mean hard times ar here now. Every body k nows about the Europian War. No body knows when it ends. W'e have that pro hibishion now a year. It did us big harm in our cigar business and d id no good for any body.Real estat is down to about 2/3. Bad for the Ci ty of Portland. Cost of living is about 3 times heigher then it was 31 ye ars ago wen we came here. Rent is low and tax is heigh. Wages dont compa re with the cost of living. Every body knows about the Europian Wa r. No body know when it ends. We have that prohibishion now a yea r. It did us big harm in our cigar buisenis and did no good for any bod y. Real estat is down to about 2/3. Bad for the City of Portland. Co st of living is about 3 times heigher then it was 31 years ago wen we ca me here. Rent is low and Tax is heigh. Wages don't compare with the co st of living.

Occupation:
Cigar Manufacturer

Herman married Siegel, Barbara 6 Feb 1872, Trinity Church, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Barbara was born 19 Dec 1844, Mathaus, Pilsen, Austria; died Abt Jul 1923, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 12 May 1859

Gerhard married Boerger, Mary A. 12 Jan 1869, Springfield, Clark, Ohio, USA. Mary was born 30 Jan 1850, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; died 7 Mar 1928, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1880 Census: 1880, Columbus, Platte, Nebraska, USA
• Occupation: Bef 8 Jan 1933; Tobacconist

Notes:

Other Info or Events:
From St. Bonaventure Parish - "Our Parish 100 Years 1877 - 1977", page 89:
The Catholic Knights of America were organized in Columbus in 1882. Lambe rt Geis, Alois Geis, William Schilz and Anthony Heitkemper were among tho se received into the organization at that time; Joseph Henggeler was recei ved in 1883. Mr. Heitkemper was elected president. Mr. J. W. Herrod join ed the group in 1889 when he came to Columbus from North Platte.

Immigration:
Unknown

Occupation:
Tobacconist

Anton married Lensing, Mary Katherine 21 Jul 1874, , Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA. Mary was born 29 Nov 1853, Waterford, Racine, Wisconsin, USA; died 28 Nov 1939, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Biography: From The History of Nebraska
• Birth - Church Record: 16 Dec 1855
• 1900 Census: 1900, Tillamook, Tillamook, Oregon, USA
• Residence: 1925

Notes:

The following information is from the Delsman family website:In the financial panic of 1888 the shop had to close. Although there w as plenty of money in the books the wholesalers came one day and demand ed the keys to the store. They immediately loaded out the stock on two b ig drays.As the papers said that everybody was doing so well in Oregon, John and Cl ara decided to move to. They settled on the Trask River at Tillamook. Th ey later moved to Hillsboro, Oregon. After his death in 1904, Clara a nd 3 of the children moved to Ashland.

Funeral services held at Catholic church in Ashland, OR on 10/06/1925. Burial took place at Mount Calvary

Biography:
Clara Heitkemper married John Bernard Delsman in Omaha, Neb. in 1875. T he following is an excerpt from "The History of Nebraska":"J. B. Delsman, dealer in dry good, boots and shoes, hats and caps and gro ceries, Eleventh Street, Columbus, established in 1875 by J. B. Delsma n. From 1877 to 1882, the business was managed by a firm J. B. Delma ns & Co. On the 1st of January, 1882, Mr. D. bought the entire interest a nd now conducts the store solely in his own name. He carries a stock of $ 9,000 and gives employment to three men. J. B. Delsman was born in Manito woc, Wis. in 1852 living there until 1870 when he went to Iowa living at s everal places in that State until 1874, when he came to Columbus. For thr ee months he was employed as a clerk in the store of J.C. Morrissey. He t hen returned to Wisconsin, making a short visit to his parents and returni ng to Columbus; after clerking for two months, he opened a grocery stor e, which he has carried on until the present time. In 1875 He married Mi ss Clara Heitkemper. They have four children: Clara, Freddie, Henry and C lemens. In 1882 Mr. D. was elected City Treasurer.

Immigration:
Unknown

Birth - Church Record:
1855 Baptismal Records Page 219 #68 Anna Maria Clara Taufpatben Johann Bern Popping and Mar Cath Peck.

1900 Census:
ED 72 page 4B Listed living with husband and 7 children age 43 born Nov 1856 in Germa ny parents born Germany 12 children 8 alive.

Residence:
943 Oak Street, Ashland, Oregon

Clara married Delsman, John Bernard Abt 1875. John was born 4 Jul 1852, Francis Creek, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA; died 27 Jan 1904, Tillamook, Tillamook, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

possible spouseMagdalen Heitkemper died 9/10/1962 age 97, spouse of George, in multnom ah co, certificate # 12105
george died 1/30/1941 in portland cert # 377

Catherine married Beckman, Anthony Abt 1876, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; divorced Yes, date unknown. Anthony was born Abt 1847, , , , Germany; died 11 Nov 1912, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; was buried , St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 8 Jul 1842
• Immigration: Aft 7 Jul 1842; Unknown

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1842 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records, Film # 0858928, page 146 #5 1Maria Catherina born on July 8, 1842 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and Mar ia Catherine Heidkemper. Baptised on July 8 1842 Sponsors Johann Gerhard H eidkemper and Anna Cath. Elsbrend ? Rumkamp of Asbeck

Maria married Gehling, Unknown Abt 1868. Unknown was born Abt 1843, , , , Germany; died Bef 1943. [Group Sheet]

Maria married Moeller, Bernard Joseph Franz 2 May 1871, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Bernard was born Abt 1834, , , , Germany; died Bef 1888, , , , Germany. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 13 Apr 1845

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1845 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records, Film # 0858928, page 163 #2 2 Gerhard Henrich born on April 13, 1845 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and Mar ia Cath. Heidkemper. Baptised on April 14 Sponsors Gerhard Henrich Hemk er and Anna Cath Elpers m. Elsbernd

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 19 Aug 1846
• Death Record - Church: 25 Aug 1846

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1846 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records, Film # 0858928, page 1 70 # 36 Anna Maria born on Aug 19, 1846 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and Heidkempe r, Baptised on Aug 20, 1846, Sponsors Wilhelm Rumkamp of Asbeck and Anna M aria Feldkamp m. Heidkemper.

Death Record - Church:
1846 Legden Catholic Church Death Records page 141 #26 Anna Maria of Gerhard Herman Elsbernd died 8/25/1846 age 7 days.

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 3 Mar 1848
• Immigration: 1883

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1848 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records, Film # 0858928, page 177 #1 4; Gerhard Herman born on Mar 3 1848 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and Anna C ath. Heidkemper. Baptised on Mar 3, 1848 Sponsors Johann Gerhard Elpers a nd Anna Catherina Blanke m. Heidkemper

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 16 Dec 1850
• Immigration: 2 Jul 1869, Baltimore, Baltimore (City), Maryland, USA; on the ship Berlin from Bremen
• 1880 Census: 1880, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA
• 1900 Census: 1900, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA
• 1910 Census: 1910, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA
• 1920 Census: 1920, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA

Notes:

Family History Researcher:
See Letters that she wrote to Germany.
2002 Letter from Heinrich Liesner in Legden; 13. November 2002 Dear Ja y, I am answering your letter to Josef Kösters, (Hahnehook 12, 48739 Legde n), who turned it over to me. Josef Kösters is a good aquaintance of mine.You are obviously a descendant of Hermann Albert Wilpolt, born 20. Octobe r, 1826 in Legden, and Anna Gertrude Hemsing, born 3. October, 1843 in Ost erwick. I have a list of emigrants from the community of Legden from t he year 1842 until 1900. Therein it states that Hermann Albert Wilpolt em igrated from Legden, Wehr 43 (today Woltkamp, Wehr 243) to America on 2 4. February 1862.In your list about the descendants of Johannes Antonius Schultetus Elper t, appeared the name of Adam Kösters, born 23. October 1804 in Legden. Fr om the Cummunity Archives, I have enclosed in this letter, a copy of the 1 838 list of names of inhaibtants in house # 28 in the village of Legde n. This list matches almost exactly with your list. Louise Margar. Köster s, born 27. July, 1839, emigrated to North America on 10. July, 1866.I asked Josef Kösters (born 1949), if Adam Kösters could be his ancesto r. He does not believe so. His father was named Gustav and his grandfath er Hermann (died at 58 years). He does not know the name of his Great-gra nd-father. A great-grandson was named August Kösters.In spite of this, I hope that your search will be successful.In your descendant list appeared also the name Anna Maria Elsbernd, born 1 6. December 1850. She was a cousin of Catherine Elsbernd, born 1866 and Wi lliam Elsbernd, born 1869. Catherine married Hermann Lammert, William mar ried Elizabeth Lammert. Hermann and Elizabeth were the children of my Gre at-granduncle Bernard Liesner-Lammert (born 29. August, 1835), who, in 186 7, emigrated to Minster, Ohio. Additional information can be found in t he enclosed Family tree.
With friendly greetings, Heinrich Liesner

Birth - Church Record:
1850 Legden Catholic Church Baptism Records Film # 0858928 page 192 #59; A nna Maria Catharina born in 12/16/1850 in Isingort to Gerhard Herman Elsbe rnd and Anna Catharina Heitkemper. Sponsors Johann Henrich Elpers ? Wull en and Anna Catharina Elisabet Hospler ? Hemker?

Immigration:
1869 Germans to America Vol # 23; Franzisca Elpert age 34 from Pruss ia on the ship Berlin from Bremen to Baltimore arriving on 7/02/1869, al so next on list was Anna Elsbernd, age 19, who would marry Franzica's brot her John Elpert in Iowa in 1870.
1869 Auswanderer list of Legden residents listed applied on June 14, 186 9, listed as Anna Maria Elsbernd of Isingort 29.

1880 Census:
page 10; Listed liv ing with husband and two children, age 30, born in Prussia

1900 Census:
page 9A, in June 190 0; Listed age as 49, born Dec 1850, widowed, listed immigrated in 186 9, 4 children, 3 alive. Son Joseph living with her.

1910 Census:
page 6a (Village of F estina); Listed age 59, widowed, occupation merchant, immigrtaed in 186 9, 4 children 3 alive. Son Bernard and wife living with her

1920 Census:
page 6a; Listed a ge as 69, widowed. Son Barney and family living with her.

Anna married Elpert, Johann Bernard Joseph Heinrich "John" Abt 1870, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Johann (son of Elpert, Josephus and Göcking, Anna Margaretha Elisab.) was born 20 Nov 1830, Legden, Wehr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died 12 Mar 1900, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA
• Birth - Church Record: 21 Sep 1853
• Immigration: Aft 21 Sep 1853; Unknown
• Emigration: 1 Apr 1883
• 1900 Census: 1900, , Noble County, Minnesota

Notes:

Residence:
Lived near Adrian, MN. then Crosby ND.

Birth - Church Record:
1853 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records, Film # 0858928, page 207 #4 4Gerhard Bernard born on Sept 21, 1853 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and An na Cath Heidkemper. Baptised on Sept 22, Sponsors Joh. Gerh. Elsbernd a nd Marg. Droppelmann

Emigration:
1883 Legden Auswanderer list page 85 #584
Bernard Elsbernd of Isingort 29 born 21.9.1853 on 1.4.1883

1900 Census:
page 7A Listed living with wife and 5 children, Farmer, Imm 1883, age 46 born Se pt 1853 in Germany, Wife Elizabeth age 42 born May 2858 in Germany also i mm 1883, 10 children 5 alive, married 16 yrs. Joseph 15 Iowa, Anna 14 Iow a, Willliam 6 Minn, Herman 4 Minn Bernard 2 Minn.

Bernard married Schlattman, Elizabeth Abt 1883, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Elizabeth was born Abt May 1858, Stadtlohn, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Abt 1931, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 26 Sep 1856
• Emigration: 12 Mar 1875
• Immigration: 24 Mar 1875, New York, New York, New York, USA; on the ship Cimbria from Hamburg
• 1900 Census: 1900, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA

Notes:

Family History Researcher:
Decsendant working on Elsbernd genealogy; Nancy Brincks Email brincksn@nic c.edu 1472 220 th Ave. Calmar, IA. 52132

Birth - Church Record:
1856 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records, Film # 0858928, page 222 #4 8; Gerhard Joseph born on Sept 26 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and Anna Cath erine Heidkemper, baptised on Sept 26. Sponsors Jos. Gerh Rossmiller and G ertrude Hemsing

Emigration:
1875 Legden Auswanderer list page 84 #557 Gerhard Josef Elsbernd of Isingo rt 29 born 26.9.1856 immigrated 12.3.1875; Arrived New York 3/24/1875 on t he Cimbria From Hamburg.

Immigration:
1875 Legden Auswanderer list page 84 #557 Gerhard Josef Elsbernd of Isingo rt 29 born 26.9.1856 immigrated 12.3.1875; Arrived New York 3/24/1875 on t he Cimbria From Hamburg.

1900 Census:
ED 142 page 1A; Joseph listed livi ng with wife and 7 children age 43 born Sept 1856 in Germany immigrat ed in 1875.

Joseph married Moellers, Mary 16 Nov 1880, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Mary was born 17 Feb 1861, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 6 May 1938, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 11 Jul 1859
• Other Info or Events: Aft 1859; Had 10 children

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1859 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records Film # 0872862, page 8 #44 Maria Clara born on July 11, 1859 to Gerhard Herman Elsbernd and Anna Cat h. Heidkemper, baptised on July 11, Sponsors Christina Droppelmann and Her man Elsbernd.

Clara married Gossling, Johann B. Bef 1885, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Johann was born Abt 1859, Legden, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died Abt 1940. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 12 Feb 1862
• Immigration: 1883
• 1910 Census: 1910, Deerfield, Chicksaw, Iowa, USA; ED 42, page 03b

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
1862 Legden Catholic Church Baptismal records Film # 0872862, page 18 #10 Anna Sophis born on 2/12/1862, baptised on 2/13/1862, Sponsors Joh. Ger h. Stein?gerd? and A. Cath. Alm??

Immigration:
1883 Legden Auswanderer List Page 85 # 583 Sophia Elsbernd of Isingort 28 born 11.2.1862 immigrated 1.4.1883

Sophia married Tilkes, John 14 Feb 1887, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. John was born Abt 1852; died 17 Aug 1925, North Washington, Chickasaw, Iowa, USA; was buried , St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, North Washington, Iowa. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1880 Census: 1880, Winton Place, Hamilton, Ohio, USA

Notes:

1880 Census:
Martin Listermann 30
Mary Listermann 30
Edward Listermann 7
Ida Listermann 6
Caroline Listermann 4
Ludwig Listermann 3
Joseph Listermann 3m
Jos. Mcdonald 58

Mary married Listermann, Matthew Martin Abt 1871. Matthew was born Abt 1849; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900, Springfield, Hamilton, Ohio, USA

Notes:

1900 Census:
listed living with husband and ch ildren, age 45 born June 1855 in Ohio, married 19 years, 9 children 9 aliv e, George W. Hessler born Feb 1853 in Wisconsin occupation Carpenter, Albe rt age 17 Nov 1882

Elizabeth married Hessler, George W. Abt 1880. George (son of Hessler, UnknownM and Unknown, UnknownF) was born 23 Feb 1852, , , Wisconsin, USA; died 5 Nov 1934; was buried , St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Mount Healthy, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900, Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA
• 1910 Census: 1910, Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA
• 1920 Census: 1920, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA

Notes:

1900 Census:
Henry Neahaus 44
Agnus Neahaus 33 (5 child 5 alive)
Mary K Neahaus 10
George Neahaus 10
Anna Neahaus 1
Mike Neahaus 6
Martin Neahaus 3

1910 Census:
John H Nichaus 53
Agnes N Nichaus 45
Annie Nichaus 17
Katie Nichaus 9
Michael Nichaus 15
Martin Nichaus 12
Frank Nichaus 5

1920 Census:
John H Nichaus 63
Agnes Nichaus 54
Michael Nichaus 24
Martin Nichaus 22
Frank Nichaus 15

1930 Census:
Henry Niehaus 73
Agnes Niehaus 64
Martin Niehaus 33

John married Ott, Agnes 4 Oct 1887. Agnes was born 12 May 1865, , Hamilton County, Ohio, USA; died 9 Apr 1938, Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; was buried , St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Frances married Goertemoeller, Henry William Abt 1889. Henry was born Bef 1871; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Bernard married Stoeckel, Magdeline 10 May 1887. Magdeline was born Bef 1869; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Franklin married Drummell, Annie Dorothy Abt 1891. Annie was born Bef 1873; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Death Record - Civil: 14 Jan 1950

Notes:

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Joseph John Niehaus
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 14 Jan 1950
Event Place:
Residence Place:
Address:
Gender: Male
Age: 81
Marital Status:
Race: White
Occupation:
Birth Date: 20 Jun 1868
Birthplace: Colerain Tp., Hamilton Co., O.
Birth Year (Estimated): 1869
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Cemetery:
Father's Name: Bernard Niehaus
Father's Titles and Terms:
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Clara Heitkamper
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Birthplace:
Spouse's Name:
Spouse's Titles and Terms: widowed
File Number: certificate
GS Film number: 2372632
Digital Folder Number: 004109226
Image Number: 00773

Citing this Record:
"Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X62N-GGQ : accessed 28 January 2016), Joseph John Niehaus, 14 Jan 1950; citing , reference certificate; FHL microfilm 2,372,632.

John married Unknown, Anna D. Aft 1886. Anna died Bef 1950. [Group Sheet]

John married Schmidt, Catherine Bef 1897. Catherine was born Abt 1872; died Bef 1972. [Group Sheet]

Anne married Busch, Frank H. Aft 1884. Frank was born Bef 1866; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Dresser, Bernard Joseph Abt 1896. Bernard was born Bef 1878; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Mary married Niedermeyer, Joseph F. Abt 1893, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. Joseph was born 8 Nov 1866; died 19 Oct 1952, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Death Record - Civil: 20 Oct 1962

Notes:

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Clara Broetie
Death Date: 20 Oct 1962
Death Place: Marion
Spouse: Julius

Clara married Broetje, Julius F. Aft 1896. Julius was born Bef 1878; died 7 Jul 1949. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 14 Feb 1873

Other Events:

• Occupation: Bef 19 Apr 1949; Home Maker

Notes:

Occupation:
Home Maker

Amelia married Albrich, John Abt 1902. John was born Abt 1876; died 9 Jun 1965. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Bef 26 Nov 1936; Deputy Sheriff

Notes:

Occupation:
Deputy Sheriff

Bruno — Unknown, Janet. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
Died as an infant.

Notes:

possible death date 12/06/1923
Surname Given Name Month Day Year Certificate Number
HEITKEMPER Monroe 12 22 1921 2805
HEITKEMPER Gerhard H 12 6 1923 2817
HEITKEMPER Herman 4 19 1918 907

Other Events:

• Moved: Abt 1888, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA
• Political Office: Abt 1901
• Residence: Bef 1940
• Occupation: Bef 21 Sep 1940; Jeweler

Notes:

Residence:
Lincoln St., Portland, OR

Moved:
Moved to Portland in 1888 with his mother & father.

Political Office:
In his poitical views Frank A. is was republican and in 1901 was elect ed on the citizens' ticket to th lower house of the state legislatur e, in which body he rendered effective service, having been a member of se veral important committees. He was a memeber of the Benevolent and Protec tive order of Elks, belonged to the Rotary Club for many years and was al so a memeber of the Portland Golf Club and the Portland Chamber of Commerc e.

Residence:
Residence 1940 2463 NW Overton, Portland, OR

Occupation:
Jeweler

Frank married Allard, Maud Mable 27 Aug 1894, South Bend, Pacific, Washington, USA. Maud (daughter of Allard, James J. and Besser, Mary Chilton) was born 21 Apr 1874, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA; died 2 Aug 1951, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Aft 21 Nov 1882; Owned Grocery Store on Braodway Street in Seaside.
• 1920 Census: 1920, Seaside, Clatsop, Oregon, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Seaside, Clatsop, Oregon, USA
• Death Record - Civil: 21 Dec 1960

Notes:

Occupation:
Owned Grocery Store on Braodway Street in Seaside.

1920 Census:
Alfred R Wascher 42
Anna C Wascher 37
Robert G Wascher 14
Jane E Wascher 7

1930 Census:
Alfred Wascher 52
Anna C Wascher 47
Robert G Wascher 24
Jane E Wascher 17
Matilda Peterson 57

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Anna C Wascher
Death Date: 21 Dec 1960
Death Place: Clatsop
Spouse: Alfred
Certificate: 15388

Anne married Wascher, Alfred R. Bef 1905. Alfred was born 18 Jun 1877; died 21 Jun 1956, Seaside, Clatsop, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Julia married Ell, Joseph L. Aft 1894. Joseph was born Bef 1876; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Obituary: 8 Nov 1962, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA; The Oregon Journal

Notes:

Obituary:
See image

Anthony — Unknown, Katherine. Katherine died 3 Aug 1951, Burbank, Los Angeles, California, USA. [Group Sheet]

Tracy married DeVore, Unknown Aft 1902. Unknown was born Bef 1884; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1930 Census: 1930, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA

Notes:

1930 Census:
Anton Heitkemper79
Mary K Heitkemper76
Tracy M De Vore45
John B Honeyman42
Clara E Honeyman42

Clara married Honeyman, John B. Aft 1906. John was born 27 Jun 1888; died 28 Jul 1937, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Agnes married Sommer, Curtis 15 Oct 1913, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. Curtis was born Abt 1888, , , Michigan, USA; died 19 Jun 1946, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Other Info or Events: 4 Sep 1877

Notes:

Other Info or Events:
From the St. Bonaventure parish history: "Our Parish 100 Years - 1877 - 1 977", page 114:
The first funeral was September 6, 1877, for John Bernard Delsman, the ele ven month son of J. B. and Clara Delsman who died September 4, 1877 and w as buried in the southeast edge of the Saint John section.

Clara — Sander, Joe. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900

Notes:

1900 Census:
South Prarie Prec, Tillamook, OR. ED 72 page 4B, Listed living with parents age 19

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900

Notes:

1900 Census:
South Prarie Prec, Tillamook, OR. ED 72 page 4B, Listed living with parents age 14

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900

Notes:

1900 Census:
South Prarie Prec, Tillamook, OR. ED 72 page 4B, Listed living with parents age 13

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900

Notes:

1900 Census:
South Prarie Prec, Tillamook, OR. ED 72 page 4B, Listed living with parents age 11

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900

Notes:

1900 Census:
South Prarie Prec, Tillamook, OR. ED 72 page 4B, Listed living with parents age 9

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900

Notes:

1900 Census:
South Prarie Prec, Tillamook, OR. ED 72 page 4B, Listed living with parents age 7

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900, Tillamook, Tillamook, Oregon, USA
• Residence: 1966, Ashland, Jackson, Oregon, USA; 1149 Oak Street

Notes:

1900 Census:
ED 72 page 4B Listed living with parents age 3, born in Oregon.

Charles married Kelley, Anna Genevieve Bef 1926. Anna was born 19 Jan 1900, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA; died 27 Feb 1969, Ashland, Jackson, Oregon, USA; was buried Aft 27 Feb 1969, Scenic Hills Memorial Park, Ashland, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Eleanor married Meyer, Bernard H. Abt 1901, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Bernard was born Abt 1877; died Bef 1977. [Group Sheet]

Salena married Woehler, George Francis 28 Apr 1917, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. George was born 14 Oct 1883, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; died Bef 1983. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1880 Census: 1880, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA
• 1900 Census: 1900, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA

Notes:

Biography:
JOHN ELPERTJohn, was the first child of Johann and Anna (Elsbernd) Elpert, born in Fe stina, Iowa on July 10, 1873. John, spent his childhood in Festina with h is parents and also received his education in the Catholic School there.As a young man he worked for some of the area farmers, as those were abo ut the only jobs available for young men living in a small town. In tho se days farm work was done with horses or by hand, there were no farm trac tors as we know them today. There were a few steam-powered tractors us ed on threshing rigs.When John was not working for farmers or on other available jobs he wou ld help his parents in their Grocery Store at home. His parents also own ed a Livery Stable, which was a long barn that held sixteen teams of horse s, where farmers would keep their horses when they came to town for churc h, school or shopping, The barn had to be kept clean and in good repair.John, had two younger brothers, Joseph and Ben and one sister Catherine w ho died of Diphtheria at the young age of eight years, On March 12, 1900 J ohn's Father Passed away, age 69. Being the oldest of the family it plac ed more responsibility on him.John had been courting a young lady by the name of Mary Tieskoetter who al so lived near Festina. They were married in Festina on February 7, 1911.At that time there were people from the area moving to Wisconsin, where t he future in farming looked very promising. Shortly after their marria ge John and his young bride also decided to make the move to Wisconsin.They made their new home on a farm near Medford, Wisconsin where they liv ed until September 1929. All seven of their children were born there. Af ter they left the Medford farm they lived in Curtiss for six months unt il April 1930. Then they moved to Withee, Wisconsin until 1932 at which t ime they moved to Maplehurst for two years, and then back to Withee in 19 34 to 1938. In 1938 they moved to Abbotsford until 1944 when they made th eir final move to Loyal, Wisconsin.Mary passed away on September 15, 1945 at the age of 60 years. John liv ed another seven years after Mary's death and reached the age of 79 wh en he passed away on August 11, 1952.To date the three youngest boys, Walter, Joe and Francis now own and opera te the farm and have expanded the operation.Most of the above information was obtained from Ida Goodwin, daughter of J ohn and Mary Elpert. (This note pertains to info recd from Ida to the subm itter John Tieskotter)

Family History Researcher:
Some info from WFT Vol 16 Tree #1853 (Submitter John Tieskotter, 1724 We st 3rd St Waterloo, IA, 50701, sent a letter to him in June 2000, but no r eply)

1880 Census:
page 10; Listed liv ing with parents age 7, born in Iowa

1900 Census:
listed as John age 26 bo rn July 1873 in Iowa, farm laborer at house of Barney klene?

John married Tieskoetter, Mary 7 Feb 1911, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Mary (daughter of Tieskoetter, Bernard and Schrandt, Anna) was born 29 May 1885, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 15 Sep 1945, Loyal, Clark, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1880 Census: 1880, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA
• 1900 Census: 1900, Washington, Winnesheik, Iowa, USA

Notes:

1880 Census:
page 10; Listed liv ing with parents age 5, born in Iowa.

1900 Census:
page 9A, in June 190 0; Listed age as 24, born Oct 1875, single.

Joseph married Wolf, Jennie 16 Jul 1902, Dolton, Turner, South Dakota, USA. Jennie was born 10 Jan 1874, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 25 Jun 1957. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1910 Census: 1910, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA
• 1920 Census: 1920, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA
• Death Record - Civil: 31 Jul 1963

Notes:

1910 Census:
page 6a (Village of F estina), Listed living with wife and widowed mother.
Listed age as 27, born in Iowa, occupation Odd Jobs.

1920 Census:
page 6a, Listed age as 36, born in Iowa, occupation Laborer

Death Record - Civil:
BEN ELPERT
SSN 483-34-8438 Residence: Iowa
Born 21 Jan 1883 Last Benefit:
Died Jul 1963 Issued: IA (Before 1951)

Bernhard married Kessler, Theresa Bef 1910, , , Iowa, USA. Theresa was born 10 Jul 1891, , , Iowa, USA; died 7 Mar 1922, , , Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1920 Census: 1920, Fillmore, Divide, North Dakota, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Riverside, Bingham, Idaho, USA
• 1940 Census: 1940, Riverside, Bingham, Idaho, USA
• Death Record - Civil: 10 Dec 1958

Notes:

Find A Grave:
NAME:Joseph A Elsbernd
BIRTH DATE:19 Jun 1884
DEATH DATE:7 Dec 1958
CEMETERY:Grove City Cemetery
BURIAL OR CREMATION PLACE:Blackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho, USA
HAS BIO?:N
SPOUSE:Clara Elsbernd
CHILDREN:Raymond William Elsbernd
URL:http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-...

1920 Census:
Listed living with wife and children

1930 Census:
ED 6-24 page 1A & B; Listed living w ith wife and 7 children, age 43 married at age 24, occupation farmer, Cla ra age 41 married at 22, Alvina age 20 born MN, Ida 17 Minn, Hilda 14 N D, Raymond 12 ND, Mildred 10 ND, Marcella 10 ND, Leonard 8 Idaho.

1940 Census:
Joseph Elsbernd54
Clara Elsbernd52
Raymond Elsbernd23
Marcella Elsbernd19
Leonard Elsbernd17
Mary Ann Elsbernd8

Death Record - Civil:
NAME:Joseph Elsbernd
GENDER:Male
MARITAL STATUS:Married
AGE:74
BIRTH DATE:1884
DEATH DATE:7 Dec 1958
DEATH PLACE:Blackfoot, Idaho
BURIAL DATE:10 Dec 1958
BURIAL PLACE:Blackfoot, Idaho
SPOUSE:Clara Wieber
FHL FILM NUMBER:2021096
REFERENCE ID:Pg 10

Died:
Poss Binghan County, Idaho

Joseph married Wieber, Clara Abt 1910. Clara was born 6 Jul 1887, , , Minnesota, USA; died 27 Apr 1979. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1920 Census: 1920, Fillmore, Divide, North Dakota, USA

Notes:

1920 Census:
Listed living with wife and 1 child

William married Solars, Frances Abt 1918, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA. Frances was born 19 Sep 1897, Little Falls, Morrison, Minnesota, USA; died 16 Jan 1968, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA; was buried , St. Patrick's Cemetery, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1920 Census: 1920, Fillmore, Divide, North Dakota, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Blooming Prairie, North Dakota
• Death Record - Civil: Jan 1967

Notes:

1920 Census:
page 15A; Listed living with wi fe and 1 child age 23, farmer, Erma age 22, Earl age 9/12.

1930 Census:
page 3b, listed with wife and 3 c hildren age 32, born Iowa, farmer, Erma age 31 born Minn, Earl age 11, Dua ne age 6 born ND, Audrey age 3 1/2 born ND.

Death Record - Civil:
Name: HERMAN ELSBERND SSN: 501-22-0880 Last Residence: 58730 Cros by, Divide, NDBorn: 23 Jul 1896 Last Benefit: Died: Jan 1967 State (Yea r) SSN issued: ND (Before 1951 )

Herman married Unknown, Erma Bef 1918. Erma was born 10 Jul 1898, , , Minnesota, USA; died Abt Jul 1978, Jamestown, Stutsman, North Dakota, USA; was buried , St. Patrick's Cemetery, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet]

Bernard married Bachmeier, Elizabeth Abt 1925. Elizabeth was born 1 Jul 1905, , , , Canada; died 29 Jul 1962, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA; was buried , St. Patrick's Cemetery, Crosby, Divide, North Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Biography:
From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.John and Anna lived in Festina. They lived where Tim and Connie Franzen n ow live. The location of their first house is unknown. John did general repair and blacksmith work. Anna had a large garden, milked cows and had chickens. She sold milk to the town people.

Anna married Lutkenhaus, John 18 Oct 1904, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. John was born 4 Apr 1873, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 15 Sep 1933, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; was buried , St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Festina, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Obituary: Aft 17 Mar 1972

Notes:

From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.Memories of Mary and Bernard Tieskoetter by Alphonse TieskoetterWhen first married my parents, Bernard and Mary, lived on the farm nor th of Festina. Our family was all born there. In 1928 they bought the fa rm west of Ossian where Frank Tieskoetter now lives.Some of you who read this don't know it, but one of the first persons to s ee you was mom as she did assist at some births in the relationship.Mom always had a big garden. Many a Sunday visitor left with an armlo ad of vegetables or berries or apples and plums. Mom always had lots of f lowers. Every nook and cranny had their blooms.Dad always had a great love for his horses. Ours were always some of t he finest in the area. Every year would bring a new foal or two.Dad always had a daily paper. I was told their first paper was a German o ne - The Josef Blat. For years we read the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Walla ce Farmer and Country Gentleman.

Obituary:
Missing

Mary married Tieskoetter, Bernard "Barney" Jr. 6 Jun 1905, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Bernard (son of Tieskoetter, Bernard and Schrandt, Anna) was born 25 Feb 1879, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 4 Jun 1950, Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

died of Diptheria

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 2 Oct 1889
• 1920 Census: 1920

Notes:

Family History Researcher:
From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.; Memories of Anton and Ro salia Elsbernd by Leo ElsberndAnton Elsbernd married Rosalia Timp on February 16, 1916. They farm ed on about 120 acres of land one mile east of Fort Atkinson, IA. They a re the parents of ten children, five boys and five girls. The youngest bo y, Edward, was born in October 1934 and died in December 1935 when he w as 14 months old. Rita Elsbernd Nolte died November 28, 1995 of cancer a nd Andrew Elsbernd died June 14, 1999 from a blood iron disease which beca me leukemia. The remaining seven children live within 25 miles of their c hildhood home.For some years (around 1915) as young men, Anton and his cousin Frank Moel lers owned a threshing machine. One year they finished the stack threshi ng the day before Christmas. At one place, as they pulled into the yar d, they broke the telephone wire. The owner of the place went "wild," bec ause now he couldn't call the help. He thought that the "magic" which w as in the line was gone for sure. Anton told him that they would splice t he wire and everything would be all right. The owner was sure that wou ld never work. They went ahead and spliced the wire and sure enough, it w orked as good as before.In the 1930's Leo and Wilfrid were old enough to do the farm work, so Ant on took a job for the ASC, measuring the land that was in the hog and co rn programs. Anton was also the director and president of the Farmers' Co op in Fort Atkinson, a member of the Winneshiek County Fair Board, and a m ember of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He held local offices in the Fo resters and was a Trustee of the Iowa State Court of the COF for a few yea rs.In 1952 he retired from farming and moved to Fort Atkinson. He became t he town treasurer for a number of years and sold Funk's G seed corn. He d rove a light colored Packard for years. He was social and visited his chi ldren and grandchildren often. Anton died of stomach cancer.Rosalia was a very hard worker. She had a large garden. Her grandchildr en remember her kolaches and her poppy seed cake with lemon pudding and wh ite frosting. She also had an electric roaster for family events to ke ep dozens of young fryers hot for the meal. Rosalia made quilts for mo st of her grandchildren before she died. She began with quilts for her go dchildren, then for Anton's godchildren and then the others. Rosalia h ad a stroke on Thanksgiving Day six months after Anton's death. She had c ompany in the afternoon. When some other children stopped by in the eveni ng, they found her. She died about a week later in the hospital.

Alt. Birth:
possible birth date 10/02/1889

1920 Census:
Washington Township ; Listed living with wife and 2 children

Anthony married Timp, Rosalia 16 Feb 1916, St. Alousius Church, Calmar, Iowa, USA. Rosalia was born 10 Sep 1891, Calmar, Winneshiek , Iowa, USA; died 30 Nov 1968, Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Marriage Status: Never Married

Notes:

From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.
Frances Elsbernd by Sister Ruth ElsberndFrances Elsbernd was a dedicated single woman who cared for both parents u ntil they died. Her mother died first of diabetes and her dad died six mo nths later.Frances was the operator and had the Festina Telephone Company switchboa rd in her home until 1964. All of the party lines were hooked into the sw itchboard. Party lines could have more than ten phones on one line. If y ou wanted to call someone on another party line you rang the operator w ho would then ring the other party and plug the two lines together in t he switchboard. Each party had a combination of long and short rings f or their number. When you were being called you had to listen for your pe rsonal combination of rings as it would ring in every house that was on th at specific party line.Frances was a great organizer of family reunions and the large family of c ousins would gather and play on the adjacent spacious school grounds. Fran ces' goodness extended to sewing new coats with capes for her three year o ld nieces - Ruth and Virginia Elsbernd.After her parents died, Frances shared her home with Rudy and Ethel Lutken haus. They built a room added to the house, and Frances' room became th is special addition which opened into the living room.For a number of years Frances devoted her life to caring for the two child ren of a widower in Waterloo. After they grew up, Frances moved back to l ive in Festina. Mary Fierfiel enjoyed her friendship.On February 9, 1971, Frances attended Mass as usual, but was not feeling w ell. Feeling worse by afternoon, Frances called John and Martha Elsber nd who took her to the hospital where she died shortly after arriving.

Other Events:

• Family History Researcher: Aft 14 Feb 1964

Notes:

Family History Researcher:
From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.
Memories of Frank and Ida Elsbernd by Virginia HumpalFrank was in the military service during World War I. His rank was PFC Co mpany B Machine Gun Battalion. He was sent to France to help build hospit als. When he came back home he married Ida Heying on February 11, 192 0. They had five children - four boys and one girl.He farmed and also had a cream route. The cream was hauled to the Festi na Creamery for five years. He farmed all his life and lived southea st of Calmar on 120 acres now owned by Romuald Elsbernd and his sons. Fra nk built a new barn, chicken coop and milk house. Henry Hackman was the m ain carpenter at 35 cents per hour. Hugo and Carl, sons of Henry, were hi red at 25 cents per hour.Frank also rented the Stovern farm when Cletus started farming then boug ht another farm north of Calmar when Linus started farming and another fa rm southwest of Calmar. He built a new house, barn, and hog house with t he help of Anton Lutkenhaus. He bought tractors for each of the boys so t hat they could work all of the land together.Frank and Ida worked very hard together side by side. Ida would husk co rn by hand. She would be in the field when the oats was ready. She wou ld shock oats together with the best of them. I remember her milking co ws by hand.Frank loved baseball, golfing and going to town to visit with people and h ave coffee at the cafe. Frank died at the age of 69. Ida moved to Calm ar and died at the age of 84.

Frank married Heying, Ida 11 Feb 1920, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Ida was born 2 Sep 1898, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 23 Aug 1984, Decorah, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Biography:
From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.Memories of John and Martha Elsbernd by Jerome Elsbernd and Colette KuhnJohn married Martha Kuennen on October 15, 1924. They had six childr en - four boys and two girls. After they were married they lived with Alo is on the Elsbernd home farm. His parents and sister, Frances, moved to F estina.John and Martha built a whole set of buildings on bare land. The first bu ilding was a barn followed by a milk house and a house to live in. Other b uildings were built after that - all with home sawed lumber. Martha cook ed noon and evening meals and took lunches to all the help. John hauled lo ts of sand for foundations with a steel wheel wagon and horses. They rais ed corn, oats, and hay. They had chickens, hogs and dairy cows for lives tock.They had a large wood shed near the house. It would be filled with wood e very fall to heat their home during the winter. In later years when so me coal was used in the basement furnace, the shed housed John's truck.There was a windmill and a pump jack in case there was no wind to pump wat er for a cooling tank in the milk house. A separator was cranked by han d, to get the cream from milk and it was cooled in the water tank. A ha nd pump for water was also under the windmill. Milking about15 - 20 cows was done by hand. Children that could milk did so in the mor nings before school and in the evenings.Kerosene lamps and lanterns were used for light. In the late thirties, Jo hn put up a six volt Windcharger system for lights. He had a six volt Zen ith radio and ran an aerial from the chimney on the house to the top of t he windmill. On one especially clear night he was dialing foreign statio ns when we heard Adolph Hitler from Germany. We were never able to recei ve that station again.John spent most of his spare time one winter and spring going from neighb or to neighbor to get them to sign up for REA (Rural Electric Association ). Electric came to pass in the early 1940's. This made quite an improve ment in farm life. It enabled us to have yard lights, a refrigerator a nd electric motors to pump water, etc.John sold seed corn and alfalfa for Pioneer Hi-Bred for twenty-five year s. John and Martha went from farm to farm to sell and enjoyed doing it.John owned and operated a threshing machine until the combines took ove r. He threshed oats, timothy seed and even some flax. John was not afra id to try new things. He had one of the first milking machines and the fi rst hydraulic tractor manure loader and rubber tired wagons in the area.John loved to hunt and play cards. In later years he and Martha went tro ut fishing. John was a very honest man who always said the truth as he kn ew it.Mother and Dad were very strong in their faith. All of their children we nt to eight grades of school in Festina and then to a Catholic high schoo l. They pooled rides to school in Festina with usually five neighbor s. At one time there were 12 children with the driver. They sat 3 de ep in the back seat and 3 in front besides the driver. If you were sma ll you were lucky to be near the top at first. Everyone was able to g et to school in time for the 8 o'clock Mass.

John married Kuennen, Martha 15 Oct 1924, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Martha (daughter of Kuennen, Joseph and Schmitt, Katherine) was born 4 May 1902, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 11 Aug 1992, Decorah, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; ED142, page 01a
• Religious Vows: Bef 1929
• Ordained: 17 May 1929
• Occupation: Bef 31 May 1997; Catholic Priest
• Biography: 31 May 1997
• Obituary: Aft 31 May 1997

Notes:

Family History Document:
Kurze Geschichte der Familie Elsbernd in Festina und Ossian, Iowa, Von Alp honse Elsbernd, 1975
3).9ELSBERND, Gerhard "Joseph", * 26. 9. 1856 Legden, + 13. 10. 1938 Festin a, IA.
Er wanderte am 12. 3. 1875 nach Amerika aus. Er fuhr mit dem Schi ff Cimbria von Hamburg über Le Havre nach New York und kam dort am 2 4. 3. 1875 an.
¥ 16. 11. 1880 Festina, IA
MOELLERS, Maria (Mary), * 17. 2. 1861 Festina, IA (?Eltern: Henrich Mölle rs und Anna Teigelkamp aus Telgte?), + 6. 5. 1938 ebd.
Kinder :
1. ELSBERND, Anna, * 23. 10. 1881 Festina, IA. Siehe 3).9.1
2. ELSBERND, Mary, * 20. 6. 1884 Festina, IA. Siehe 3).9.2
3. ELSBERND, Sophia, * 20. 6. 1887 Festina, IA, + ... 3. 1893 ebd.
4. ELSBERND, Anton, * 2. 10. 1890 Festina, IA. Siehe 3).9.4
5. ELSBERND, Frances, * 8. 5. 1892 Festina, IA, + ...
6. ELSBERND, Frank, * 22. 9. 1894 Festina, IA. Siehe 3).9.6
7. ELSBERND, John, * 4. 3. 1897 Festina, IA. Siehe 3).9.7
8. ELSBERND, Alphons, * 13. 12. 1899 Festina, IA. Er wurde am 1 7. 5. 1929 zum Priester geweiht. Pater in der Societas Verbi Divini (SVD ). Er schrieb die Familiengeschichte "Elsbernd, und die Geschichte von Fes tina.
9. ELSBERND, Alois, * 5. 5. 1903 Festina, IA. Siehe 3).9.9

1900 Census:
Listed living with paren ts age 5/12 born Dec 1899 in Iowa.

Ordained:
1929 Became a Priest 5/17/1929.

Occupation:
Catholic Priest

Biography:
In the 200th year of the existence of the USA, the thoughts of many tu rn to the past, to the achievements of their ancestors who came to this la nd seeking freedom and a better life. They came on slow sailing ships, tr aversing the land in ox-drawn wooden wagons to settle on the pristine prai rie land. They survived difficulties we can today but barely imagine.
On the following pages you will find the story of the Elsbernd Famil y, as best as I could seek out the details. The memory of this family mu st be kept alive in order that their great body of descendants knows ju st who they are. Details are easily forgotten, and then are lost foreve r. For a closing there is a report about mother's relations, althou gh in less detail. Some free space has been left so that each family c an write its own supplements
to this monograph.
I gratefully acknowledge the gracious assistance provided to me by many in terested persons. First of all I thank my sister Frances, who maintain ed a name list through the years and from a visit to the homeland of my fa ther brought back the names of his ancestors from the church register. Gr atitude is also due to Martha and Loretta and the many others without who se help this work could never have been concluded.
If this short history brings the Elsbernd family closer together in mutu al understanding and bonding, I will feel richly rewarded - because uni ty is strength!

FR. ALPHONSE ELSBERND
October 1975
How the Catholic Church in Winneshiek and Surrounding Areas Got Starte d.
The first church in our diocese was St. Raphael in Dubuque, which was foun ded in 1833. Four years later it became a cathedral as bishop Loras was or dinated. Iowa became a state in 1842. The church here started out as an I ndian mission. The Winnebago tribe was relocated from Wisconsin to Fort A tkinson, and the fort was build to protect them from the Sioux. As ma ny of the Winebagos were converts, the bishop sent Father Remigius Per ot to attend to their spiritual needs. He arrived early in 1842, but did n ot stay very long as the Presbyterian minister of the fort gave him troub le (his woodshed was actually burned down).
Father Joseph Cretin from Dubuque arrived early in 1843; he stayed until 1 849 when the Winnebagos were sent back to Minnesota. Soon after his arriva l;, with the help of the Indians and a few white settlers he build a wood en church. It stood East of the current catholic cemetery on the farm whe re now the Philipp Huber family lives (the church was destroyed by a prair ie fire in 1853). One year later Father Cretin build a small school on t he reservation and later a small chapel, which he called "Our lady of t he seven sorrows" because of the many problems he encountered during his c are for the Indians.
After Father Cretin left in 1849 there was a short interruption. Howeve r, in the same year a group of Catholic families from Indiana and the surr ounding areas moved in and settled in the reservation. Frank Huber donat ed 20 Morgen (about 15 acres) to the diocese, and most of the wooden build ings were relocated close to the place where now the "littlest church" sta nds. In the same year Bishop Loras sent a priest from New Vienna to take c are of the spiritual needs of the immigrants, who visited every three mon ths. Later the priests from Guttenberg came to visit monthly. Catholics fr om far away came to attend the services.
Then, in either 1853 or 1854, the wooden church burned to the ground. Ma ny thought it was arson. A new church was built with wood in 1854, b ut in two stages. The church stood northwest of the church offices.
In the following year, Philipp Laurent came to Festina, as it was now know n, and Festina became the main church for all in this area and the surroun ding parts. One story tells of a couple who came all the way from north W ashington so they could be married in the in the church in Festina. The w ooden church was used until 1861, when the current stone church was dedica ted.



Short History of the Elsbernd Family
The family name is unusual in the old country and here. An uncle of my fat her came to Cincinnati in the early years of 1850. He is, as far as we kno w, the first and only one with that name who came here before my father a nd his brothers who followed. All Elsbernds in the USA derive their orig in from these three, and all came from the same family in Legden, Westphal ia. According to family tradition, as told by my father, the name is a com bination of "Els"" from the German word "Else" (a small tree that grows al ong river shores) and "Bernd", an abbreviation of the Christian name Bernh ard. Originally, it probably meant Bernhard who lives near the Elsen tree s. The name appeared on a document for the first time in the 15th centur y. The name was recorded in a register of soldiers serving the Archbish op of Cologne. Nothing further is known about that Elsbernd. At that tim e, the archbishops were feudal lords who administered parts of the kingd om and thus they had soldiers. The name appeared again in church recor ds of the Legden parish. There it is recorded that a certain Elsbernd (Chr istian name illegible) was married in 1515 to Annaken ten Sundarz. From th ere on a direct line can be traced up to our ancestors.
According to custom (observed even today), the first-born sons were the on es who always inherited the family homestead and, on the day of their marr iage, became "Buhr" (Low German for Farmer). Each then had the obligati on to let his parents and all siblings remain in the family home, the latt er until they became of age or married. When they left the house, they re ceived some money as their share of the inheritance. That is how the fa rm existed for 400 years and how it will continue to exist in the future.
Bernard Elsbernd, the oldest living son of the marriage of 1616, became "B uhr" when he married Maria Wenning. Gerhard Elsbernd, their oldest son, ma rried Adelhard Buschmann. Joan Bernard Elsbernd married Anna Margaretha Me ssing and inherited the family farm. Joan Herman Elsbernd (1770-1835) w as the next in line. He married Elisabeth Elperts. He was the grandfath er of my father. Bernard Herman Elsbernd, the father of my father marri ed twice. Bernard was born in 1812 (the year in which Napoleon suffered h is disastrous loss in Russia), and died in 1888. He married twice. By h is first wife, he had a daughter, Anna Catharina, who married a Mr. Hille r. There is nothingelse known about her. His first wife died early, and then, Bernhard Herm an married Anna Catharina Heitkemper (1819-1892). Seven children come fr om this marriage:
1. Catharina (1842-1920) She married Franz Mi)ö)ller in Germany. after h is early death she came to Festina in 1888 with her 3 children. there, s he remarried, a Mr. Gehling.
2. Gerhard Hermann (1848-1923) The oldest son who inherited the farm.
3. Anna Maria (1850-1933) She was the first of the family who came to Fest ina at the age of 19 years. In 1870 in Festina she married Johann Elpe rt whom she knew already before she left Germany.
4. Bernhard (1853-1915) He came to Festina at the age of 30, married Elisa beth Schlattmann, also an immigrant from Legden. They settled in various p arts of the West. Finally reched/settled downs in Crosby, North Dakota.
5. Joseph (1856-1936) My father. He arrived in Festina in 1875 at age 1 9. There he married and stayed as a farmer. This book tells about his ance stry.
6. Klara (1859 - ) She remained in Legden where she married Gerhard Gossli ng (1859-1940) a farmer. She had 10 children. Klara is the mother of Joha nn Gossling who came to Festina in 1925 and married Auguste Hartmann in 19 25. (This was the first marriage ceremony I performed as a priest). They s ettled near Festina for a while, then moved to Lawler where Johann Gossli ng died in 1972.
7. Sophia (1862-1924) She arrived with her brother Hermann in Festina in 1 883. There she married John Tilkes. They settled near North Washington whe re both are buried.
The first Elsbernd, that we know something about and is the forebear er of all Elsbernds throughout the world - as far as we know - marri ed in 1616. Between him and my father, who married in 1880, are sic gener ations - a total of 264 years. That means, each generation is 40 years! W hat's the reason? There are many! They married late, the first child was n ot always a son. A lot died young from diseases and epidemics. Others di ed on the battlefields in numerous wars that swept across Germany in pa st centuries. We in USA, who never lived through an invasion, cannot poss ibly imagine the destruction that a war can bring to a country.
Father left Germany at 18 years, to avoid the mandatory military servic e. The small Prussian state had under the direction of the infamous Chan cellor Bismarck conquered the smaller German states and unified them und er Prussian rule. The catholic West German states suffered under his prot estant government, which was an additional attraction for Catholics, to em igrate to the new land, which offered them religious freedom.
After a long trip, Father landed in New York. With the train he came to O ssian. The current Milwaukee line was extended to Calmar in 1869 by McGre gor. No doubt the train transported goods for the work groups further wes t. From Ossian he went on foot to Festina with just 5 dollars in his pock et.
In Festina he lived with his sister Anna Elpert, who had come six years ea rlier. At first he completed odd jobs: clearing land of tree stumps (f or one stump he got 15 cents, less for smaller ones), carrying stones f or building houses (the house of Tony Gerlemann east of Rogers farm was bu ilt of stones, that he had carried from the old quarry from Romualds Far m) and other odd jobs, that were to be had. During winter he made wood en shoes, that were in fashion in those days. This was an occupation th at he knew and that he had learned as a boy; he made 4 to 6 pairs in one d ay. They were made in the cellar of our house and in the evening by the l ight of a kerosene lamp finished upstairs in the family circle. He did th is work until 1910, when the demand for wooden shoes receded.
Festina was at this time still a raw boundary city. There was a brewery ( parts of the buildings still stand today west of town) and 13 saloons. Fat her Augustin Saufer, the pastor, tried to rid the town of them but he h ad to fight against must resistance from the local gentlemen. They thr ew stones against the church building, broke windows and threatened with v iolence. The pastor was afraid and asked my father, to sleep in the pari sh house, until the storm had settled.
Most of the grain was harvested by hand. Long scythes were used to cut t he corn down; others followed and collected the stalks to tie them into bu ndles using a handful of the stalks. Then the bundles were placed in a pi le to allow them to dry out. Afterwards the grain was separated from the s talks by means of flails. This took many hours. Migrant workers followed t he ripening corn from the south. They were a rough bunch and since fath er refused to work in the hot sun if he did not have a jug of beer ne ar a shady tree themigrant workers must have kept the brewery and the saloons alive. Fath er remembers that some years later the first mechanical harvesters appeare d. These consisted of a simple horse-drawn platform on which the grain cut tings fell. A worker stood at the side of the platform and used a ra ke to sweep the cuttings aside when a complete bundle had been collect ed on the platform. The men following behind the platform bound the bundl es by means of a handful of straw. Undoubtedly father was doing this wo rk since he was very good at tying loose bundles together that the bind er had lost. Father vividly remembers theuproar when a certain farmer bought the first McCormack mechanical binde r. On Sundays many farmers came from far and wide to look at the wonderf ul and funny thing. Its disadvantage was that it bound the sheaves with wi re that had to be cut and moved away by hand before the bundle came into t he thresher. Later machines used twine.
The stone church in Festina had been built 14 years before he arrived ther e.In this church he married Maria Möllers in autumn of 1880. Friar Sauter ma rried them. In the same year he became a citizen of the USA. They made the ir home in Festina in a house that was located on the side that is present ly occupied by Mrs. Joe Einck. Anna was born here. He continued his work u ntil they bought a farm in Springfield, north of Ossian (now called Wiltge n-farm) in 1884. This is where Mary was born. They only worked on the fa rm for one year and sold it for the same price for which they had boug ht it. Then theybought a farm from Henry Wenthold located to the south of Festina (present ly the property of MR. Wenthold). The other children were born on this far m.
Father was not used running a farm, particularly not an American-style on e. I still remember well having visited a cousin in Germany in 1933 who o wned something that looked like a huge farm for that region. Father had o nly one horse. In order to plow the field, he tied the horse and the c ow together, which were supposed to then pull the plow.Mother however had grown up on a farm, and in the first years, she ran t he farm more or less. But father learned; he was soon free from debt, pro vided well for the large family and saved enough to be able to buy a larg er farm and to hire farmhands instead sending them out as rented worke rs to others.
Toward the end of the year 1908, the 120-acre farm was sold for 80 dolla rs an acre. A farm that was twice as large in area was bought from Mrs. H enry Cremer at 89 dollars an acre. It was divided later between John a nd Alois. Now Ray and Roger live on it. The new farm drove father into l arge debts. He was a man, who worried about the people, whom he employ ed and to whom he had to pay wages. This was often made clear in discussi ons.
One day, as he was again moaning because of the large debts and his inabil ity to pay the wages, we reassured him that if he worked hard and it wou ld not be long, until he was free from his debts. He was sure that we we re wrong. So he agreed to buy a car, in the year in which we were free fr om debt. With the inflation, that the First World War brought, the deb ts were gone, and we reminded him of his promise. And so we got our fir st auto, a Ford Model T. It cost 380 dollars. For us, it was the greate st of luxury. We could drive to church past all the farmers, who were sti ll dependent on horse and wagon.
Until 1916 the roads were bad; Under or over each hill there were ho of or wheel marks. The first road grader, pulled by an early model tracto r, appeared, in order to make the road to Calmar useable by cars. Willi am Ehler operated it, and my brother Johnsteered the tractor. Now the road was passable by cars, except in wint er when it was blocked by snow, and in spring, when the deep, soft mud cau sed the wheels to get bogged.
In Jan 1925 my parents and Frances moved from their farm into a newly bui lt house in Festina (it now belongs to Rudi Luetkenhaus.) Father couldn 't remain idle. He bought a cow, two pigs and a few hens and continued h is farming on a small scale, until his poorconstitution made this impossible. Both parents died in the same year, 19 38, only 6 months apart. They now rest in the cemetery in Festina.
An uncle of father's, on his mother's side, Gerhard Heitkemper, came to Fe stina early in 1859. He died of an illness only few months later. His w as the first burial in the in the new cemetery bordering the church. Befo re this burials were in the old cemetery of Festina, east of the hou se of Miss Catherine Mi(ö)ller. Still earlier people were buried at the "o ld Mission" .

Maria Moellers (1861-1938), My Mother
Her father, Henrich Moellers, was born in 1823 in Telgte in Westfali a. At the age of 23 my mother came with her younger brother Bernard, 1 7, to Festina. She was among the first settlers in the region if Festin a. The Iowa Indian territory was opened to white settlement only eight ye ars earlier. Fort At(k)inson was still occupied by soldiers who were prote cting the Winnebago tribe (driven there from the other side of the M issis sippi)from their enemies, who held their traditional hunting grounds. A C atholic priest was stationed in the fort for the soldiers and the Indian s. The wooden church was built on the old military trail somewhere betwe en the Brinks, now Huber farm and the Catholic cemetary. Without doubt, He nry and his brother attended this church, on foot at that.Pioneers were very used to moving around. In 1848 the government beg an to move the Indians onto the reservation in Minnesota. The chaplain le ft them. Next year a group of six Catholic families came from Indiana a nd settled on the abandoned Indian Reservation. They soon built the large st wooden building on the reservation and established it on the site whe re now the "smallest church in the world" stands. It was named "Our La dy of Seven Aches/Pains/Sufferings/Anguishes (take yourpick)". The same y ear Priests from New Vienna and later from Guttenberg came to hold regul ar church services with the first settlers. Grandfather was certainly o ne of the worshippers in this wooden church. It was at the time the on ly Catholic church in this region and people came from from Waucoma, Spill ville and West Union. In 1853 or 1854 someone set the wooden church on fi re. It was thus completely destroyed. Immediately the settlers began to b uild a new church, but in two Fruehjahren, as Festina was then called. Th is wooden church stood northwest of the present rectory. In this small ch urch Henry married Anna Tegelkamp, born in 1828; also an emigrant from Tel gte in Westphalia. Reverend Louis Decailly married them.It was the 19th marriage that taken place in the church that year.
The current stone church was built around 1860 (dedicated 1861). Togeth er with the stone church, the current cemetery was also put into operatio n. The first man who was buried at this cemetery was an uncle on my father 's maternal side, Gerhard Heitkemper, who died in 1859. Up until his wedd ing grandfather had a herd of sheep and did odd jobs.Then he bought a farm, measuring 120 morgens. The land had earlier been g iven to a certain Mills Beddach, a captain of the Virginia Militia, as a r eward for faithful services. He however never came to take possessi on of the farm. His widow sold it for 2 dollars a morgen to Henry. It w as untilled soil, which had been never touched by a plow. Here he beg an to cultivate the land using oxen as beasts of burden. His son Willia m, who modified the name to Mi(ö)ller, and the grandchildren (the Miller b rothers) continued the agriculture until recently. Now Steve Einck liv es on the farm, who married Marylin
Humpal, a great-great-granddaughter of Henry.
The life of the settlers was hard. A rough hewn log cabin served as hom e. No, no carpets, not even a cement floor, no electricity with all the a menities and comforts, no railway, no proper roads, but simple paths betwe en the fields, no telephone and no newspapers, no fuel for heating and coo king except wood. Tallow candles were the first source of oil three year s, after Henry had begun farming in Pennsylvania. The few businesses, whi ch operated in small towns, made these in exchange for eggs and other fa rm products. They traded for goods and not cash.
In order to sell grain, for instance wheat, for cash, one had to bri ng it to McGregor, since the river was the only route of transportation. T he way with an ox truck, which did not have springs, took four to five da ys on the military route, which those was only finished road at the tim e, when one began with the agriculture.
Mother told us once that (Henry?) had been late. The dark night had alrea dy begun. Their mother ignited a lantern, climbed to the top of a tree ne ar the house, and hung her there inside. So the light could lead him hom e. Another time, than the winter was very severe, mother brought the on ly cow, which still gave milk into the house to guarantee that the small c hildren were supplied.
One day the news of the Indian massacre, which had occurred in New U lm in Minnesota, spread in the village. Some settlers began to hastily pa ck their carts in order to flee. Those things that could not be carried, w ere hidden. Cooler heads prevailed and made it clear to the others that N ew Ulm was far away. Thus all decided to remain.
Toward end of the civil war, while the family was working in the field, T he local sheriff road out to Henry and gave him his induction orders in to the army.
But he could not leave wife and children behind. Unfortunately he beg an to look for a substitute for his army position. This was possible in th ese times. Finally he found a loafer. After a lot of haggling they agre ed on 200 Dollar, a very considerable amount backin those days. The man joined the army, but no sooner had he put on his un iform than the war was over. Nevertheless he demanded the whole amoun t. He left Henry with a staggering high amount of debts. It took years unt il they were payed off. Money was scarce, farming was primitive and the p rices very low. The rustic family was practically only self-supplier. Mo st of what one ate came from the farm. The sheeps wool was processed a nd spinned to threads by hand, then knitted to socks, gloves, caps, wool en jackets and other things. As a boy I used to watch mother processing a nd spinning the wool, while father would finish the wooden shoes that he h ad made this day. While doing so the family gathered around a kerosine lam p.
The garden products were preserved. Cabbage was fermented to sauerkra ut in tall stone pitchers. The pigs were slaughtered during the winter. Me at was cut and all kinds of sausages prepared and hang up in the smokehou se until they were smoke-dry. They were preserved until the summer in th ey way the Indians preserved things. Mother had not received many formal s chool lessons. In the 1870ies Festina had a one-room school. If a teach er was found, he taught reading, writing and calculating and maybe some mo re with the help of few books and the ever present and much used cane.
Since mother was the only girl at home and was called upon to do much wor k, she was not able to go to school but for less then a year as she oft en told us. In spite of that she was able to learn enough high German to r ead the prayer book. Since all settlers were of German origin, with the e xception of one or two, it was German that was the language that was taug ht in school. This continued until the first World War. When I went to sch ool English was taught as a foreign language then. Church services w ere also entirely in German until 1918. This was changed because of patrio tic reasons. That's how a new generation grew up that learned no Germa n. Mother was able to "speak" with her grandchildren only using signs a nd her smile.
ALPHONSE ELSBERND SSN 341-44-5401 Residence: 60082 Techny, Cook, IL Born 13 Dec 1899 Last Benefit: Died 31 May 1997 Issued: IL (1966)
From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002. Written by Sister Helen E lsberndAlphonse was born on December 13, 1899 in Festina, IA. He received his gr ade school education at Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Festina. After graduati on he helped his father on the farm. While cultivating corn he received h is calling to become a priest. Alphonse joined the Society of Divine Wo rd (S.V.D.) receiving his education at Divine Word Academy Techny whe re he was ordained a priest on May 9, 1929. Father Elsbernd read his Fir st Solemn High Mass at Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Festina on May 30, 192 9. The bride chosen to carry the burse was Rita (Elsbernd) Nolte, flow er girls were Agatha (Tieskoetter) Hoffman and Leona (Lutkenhaus) Krull.His first assignment was teaching at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. In 193 8, he was sent to England to study African languages. On October 13, 19 38 Father Elsbernd arrived in Gold Coast, Africa, one of the first two S.V .D. priests to establish the mission there. When Gold Coast gained its in dependence from England in 1954, it became Ghana and was the size of the s tate of Louisiana and had about 50 different languages. Father Elsbernd w as highly respected for his facility with languages, his ability to exchan ge different money currencies, and his emphasis on promoting educatio n. He is credited by his S.V.D. confreres for establishing over 100 schoo ls in that country, including the first girls' school, a teachers' traini ng school, and a college seminary. The educational system he establish ed is seen to be the basis for all the education in that country today.In 1971 he returned to the States and became the chaplain at St. Joseph 's Hospital, New Hampton, IA. During his stay at the hospital he establis hed St. Frederick's parish in Fredericksburg and became their pasto r. In 1975 Father made a family history of the life of his parents and th eir families. He also wrote how the Catholic church was established in Fe stina.Retiring in 1981 his home was at S.V.D. college in Epworth. He enjoyed st amp collecting as a hobby during his retirement. With failing health he r eturned to Techny at the Divine Word retirement home. Father Alphon se J. Elsbernd, S.V.D., age 97 died at the Divine Word Infirmary, Techn y, IL on May 31, 1997 of complications of heart and pneumonia. He will al ways be remembered as a gentle, soft-spoken, and devout priest.

Obituary:
Missing

Notes:

Biography:
From Nancy Brincks Elsbernd Family History 2002.Memories of Alois and Loretta Elsbernd by Sister Helen Elsbernd, Anna M ae Kuhn and Lawrence Elsbernd
Alois Elsbernd married Loretta Kuennen on September 1, 1926. They had twe lve children - six boys and six girls. They farmed on the Elsbernd home f arm located between Festina and Calmar. They were members of the St. Mary 's parish in Festina until they moved to Calmar in 1973.Alois experienced many changes in farming during his lifetime. During t he depression he purchased his first milking machine, which was run by a g asoline engine, from Korbel-Flaskerud Hardware in Calmar. With a generat or that provided six-volt lights, the barn had lighting during milking.In 1938 Alois bought his first tractor by trading in a team of horses as p artial payment. This tractor originally had steel wheels but Alois replac ed them with rubber wheels a year later. He was one of the first farme rs in the area with a corn cultivator on the tractor. He also had an ensi lage cutter that could handle eight bundle-wagons. Later he had a field c hopper with a motor on it and did custom silo filling. His first corn pic ker was a Woods single row picker.Good farming methods and soil conservation were important to Alois. The U niversity of Iowa literature, the Doane's Digest, and the County Extensi on Agent were ready sources of information for him. In the early 1940 's he was a pioneer in strip cropping and contour farming. He was named t he Master Soil Conservationist of Winneshiek County in a later year. He f requently entered the county corn yield contest and was among the top prod ucers.Alois and Loretta built a new house in 1940 for their growing family. Th ey had the house wired for electricity in anticipation that the REA (Rur al Electric Association) would be coming soon to their neighborhood.Loretta cared for the family and the home throughout the years. She alwa ys had a large garden, from which supplied the family table all summer a nd from which Loretta was able to can vegetables, make preserves, and sto re food for the winter months. Loretta did a lot of sewing, making mo st of the girls' clothes. She always was pleased when Alois came home wi th a load of feed that had many feed sacks of the same print so she cou ld make dresses from them. In her retirement years she enjoyed crocheti ng and knitting afghans, caps and mittens.In addition to many family pictures, the family photo album contained a pi cture of a handsome black man in an army uniform. This man, John Novak, c ame from Mississippi to live with Alois and Loretta's family for a time ar ound 1935. John Novak had lived in an orphanage all his life and Father A lphonse Elsbernd, Alois' brother, asked that John could live and work on t he farm in order to learn the value of money. John played baseball on t he Festina team that summer. The Elsbernd family lost track of John wh en he entered the army during World War II, and they were greatly surpris ed to meet him again in 1989 when he came to Epworth for Father Alphonse 's 60th Ordination celebration.Their family and their Catholic faith were priorities for Alois and Lorett a. They enjoyed many family celebrations as their children followed vario us ways of life - nine married, one was ordained, and two became Sister s. Whether their children lived close to Calmar or were at a distance, th ey were always welcomed at "home". Alois died in 1974 from bone marrow ca ncer, having survived an initial bout of stomach cancer eight years earlie r. Loretta then lived alone in Calmar for 17 years until six months befo re her death in 1991 due to congestive heart failure.

Alois married Kuennen, Loretta 1 Sep 1926, Calmar, Winneshiek , Iowa, USA. Loretta (daughter of Kuennen, Joseph and Schmitt, Katherine) was born 8 May 1904, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA; died 30 Aug 1991, Calmar, Winneshiek , Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 2 Nov 1924
• Naturalization: 27 Oct 1931
• Death Record - Civil: 25 Jan 1973

Notes:

The names you have given below appear on the Lawler Mt Carmel Cemetery lis t. Unfortunately, the gravestones have only the year so still don't know t he date of the month for either John and Auguste. I accessed the Socie ty Security disk and find the same information that you have given witho ut the date.. The Soc Sec file does indicate the birth dates, month and ye ar of death and the location of the death as Lawler.I looked into our obituary clipping 1973 and 1977 files and find no obitu aries for either John and Auguste Gossling.I would guess that obituaries may have been placed in the New Hampton News papers. There is no Lawler newspaper, so the New Hampton ones would probab ly have it. The bi-weekly newspapers for the time period were either New H ampton Tribune and/or Economist, both names by the same newspaper company .

Immigration:
Name: Johann Gossling
Arrival Date: 2 Nov 1924
Birth Year: abt 1900
Birth Location: Germany
Birth Location Other: Leyden
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Race-
/Nationality: German
Port of Departure: Hamburg
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Albert Ballin

1924 Ellis Island records; Arrived on 11/02/1924 on the ship Albert Ball in from Hamburg to NY.Listed his father as Johann Gossling of Leyden (sic-Legden) Wehr 45. List ed destination Uncle Josef Elsbernd, Calmar Iowa.Listed Height as 5'10, h air- dbld, eyes- br.

Naturalization:
Name: Johann Gossling
Birth Date: 8 Feb 1900
Birth Place: Germany
Age at event: 31
Court District: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa
Date of Action: 27 Oct 1931

Death Record - Civil:
Lawler, Chickasaw, IA Born 8 Feb 1900 Last Benefit: Died Jan 1973 Issue d: IA (1956)

John married Hartman, Auguste Abt 1929, Festina, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. Auguste was born 28 Oct 1903, , , , Germany; died Abt Feb 1977, Lawler, Chickasaw, Iowa, USA; was buried , Mount Carmel Cemetery, Lawler, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Unknown married Unknown, UnknownF Aft 1905. UnknownF died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
Aged 11 Months

Other Events:

• Tombstone: St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA

Mary married Schmidt, John F. 18 Mar 1908, , Hamilton County, Ohio, USA. John was born 4 Dec 1875, Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA; died 24 Nov 1952, Hamilton, Butler, Ohio, USA; was buried , St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Tombstone: St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA

Anna married Schmidt, Ferdinand George Jr. 29 Jan 1913, , Hamilton County, Ohio, USA. Ferdinand was born 9 May 1885; died 10 Oct 1949; was buried , St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• WWI Draft Registration Card: 5 Jun 1917
• 1940 Census: 1940, Green, Ohio
• Death Record - Civil: 18 Feb 1963

Notes:

CONFLICTING Birth Date See Military Draft Reg Cards

1940 Census:
Michael Nichaus 45
Elenor Nichaus 45
Bertrice Nichaus 17
Herbert Nichaus 15
Velaria Nichaus 12
Ruth Nichaus 9
Rita Nichaus 9
Herbert Stolford 81 Wd. Born Germany

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Michael F Niehaus
Birth Date: 1896
Gender: Male
Race: White
Residence County: Hamilton
Residence State: Ohio
Residence Country: United States
Death Date: 18 Feb 1963
Hospital of Death: Good Samaritan Hospital
City of Death: Cincinnati
County of Death: Hamilton
Certificate: 12051
Age at Death: 67
Certifier: Physician
Autopsy: No Autopsy performed
Marital Status: Married

Other Events:

• Death Record - Civil: 28 Feb 1968

Notes:

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Martin H Niehaus Birth Date: 1898
Gender: Male Race: White
Residence County: Hamilton Residence State: Ohio Residence Country: United States
Death Date: 28 Feb 1968
City of Death: CincinnatiCounty of Death: Hamilton
Certificate: 021359
Age at Death: 70 Certifier: Physician Autopsy: No Autopsy performed
Marital Status: Married
Source Citation: Certificate: 021359; Volume: 19199

Martin married Unknown, Marian Aft 1934. Marian was born 18 Mar 1916; died 7 Feb 2005. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Tombstone: St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA

Catherine married Gutzwiller, George R. Aft 1919. George was born 26 Jul 1898; died 27 Sep 1977; was buried , St. John The Baptist Cemetery, Bevis, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]

Francis married Unknown, Gertrude Aft 1922. Gertrude died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Cordula married Schalk, Walter Aft 1915. Walter was born 11 Dec 1896; died 27 Mar 1972, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet]