FAMILY STORIES

   My grandfather, Sven Hanson, was born in Vellinge, Sweden October 27, 1829. He grew up in Sweden, and on December 28, 1866, married Ali Olsson Nelson (my grandmother) who was born in Malmo, Skone, Sweden September 9, 1835. Her parents were Nets Olsson and Karna Martinson Olsson.

   Their four children, Hans, Hilda, Alice and Magnus, were born in Malmohuslan, Skone, Sweden. Grandfather Sven was an only child and his parents were wealthy at one time, but somehow lost their wealth. If the loss was due to the bad economic times in the later 1800's, we do not know.

   The Hansons decided to go to America. Son Hans and John Malmgren made the trip in 1887. Sven and daughter Hilda (Mrs. Charley Anderson) arrived March 2, 1891. Ali, daughter Elise (Alice, Mrs. Albert Hedlund), son Magnus, 12 (my Father) and grandson Nels came October, 1891. They made their home on an acreage northwest of Ceresco near Shakespeare schoolhouse and later northeast of Ceresco, Nebraska in Saunders County.

   The sons took their father's first name and added son to the first part for their last name, which was a custom of many after arriving in America and also in Sweden. The Hanson children used Swanson for their last name.

   Mr. Hanson died in 1911 and Mrs. Hanson on May 9, 1917. Both are buried at Fridheim Cemetery of the Swedeburg Covenant Church south of Swedeburg. Submitted by Mrs. Willard Johnson, daughter of Magnus Swanson

   My father, Harvey Harger, was born July 24, 1884, in Albia, Iowa. His family traveled by covered wagon through Iowa and into Kansas. In later years when he was a young man he came to Nebraska, living around Plattsmouth and then around Memphis. He was quite a horse trainer and also worked on farms, sometimes for a farmer and sometimes for himself. He married my mother, Josephine Van Horn, on April 18, 1923. They were blessed with four children, my two brothers, Glen, who now lives in Plattsmouth, and Donald in Salem, New Hampshire, my sister, Genelle (Mrs. Jerry Pike) and myself, both from Ashland.

   I remember Dad stacking hay, helping a threshing crew, husking corn and all the other farm chores that needed to be done. In 1936, our family moved to Missouri and then to Iowa and then back to Ashland in 1942. Dad worked at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant, farmed again for a while, then was on Ashland's Police Force, serving as Police Chief for a couple of years. This was at the time of a "walking" force, as the town did not have a police car for a part of this time. Ill health forced him to retire.

   Dad was kind of a quiet man who enjoyed his family, and especially his grandchildren. He liked to sit in the rocking chair with one of them on his lap, telling stories or humming a made-up tune. We lost our silver-haired Daddy on May 21, 1961 at age 77, but his good memories linger on in our hearts.

   On July 12, 1963, my mother married Fritz Holz, also of Ashland. He passed away on April 6, 1971. Mother still lives in Ashland and is quite active. By LaVon (Mrs. Floyd) Root

   I, Eva Denece (Jones) Harpin, first came to Saunders County in 1935 from Cheney, Nebraska, with my parents, Jesse William and Grace Marie (Bosworth) Jones, my brothers, Elwin Preston, Arnold Watson, Jesse Weldon, and sister, Anne Marie. We lived on farms near Swedeburg and Ithaca. In 1937, we moved to Ceresco, in 1939 to Ashland, which has been my home ever since, except for a period from 1948-1956 in which I lived in Sarpy and Otoe County. On returning to Saunders County in 1956, I resumed my teaching career. I was divorced in January, 1958, married Carl Arthur Harpin of Creston, Iowa, on June 14, 1958 at the Howard Schofield home north of Ashland, and have lived in Ashland since. Today, I cashier at Greenwood Truck Plaza.

   I taught rural school for 24 years, 14 in Saunders County. I started in 1943 after graduation from Ashland High School. I was just 17, it was during World War II and teachers were in great demand. I took 12 hours college credit, passed 17 state teacher's examinations and received a teaching certificate good for 3 years. I was the last teacher to teach in Dist. 42, the school house the Saunders County Historical Society acquired in 1976. I taught there 1968-1970.

   There are many school teaching memories, from the first day of school, to the bitter cold winters, coal stoves, twelve-foot snow drifts, mud, and the last day of school and the school picnic. I still remember their bright, shiny faces, and the satisfaction of their having accomplished something. Most favorite time -- Christmas Programs.

   One experience my children like to hear about is the summer of 1943 during World War II when I worked at the Mead Bomber Plant putting explosives in 2-ton bombs. A treasured memory is my graduation from Nebraska Wesleyan University in June, 1972, after 29 years of summer schools, correspondence courses, and night classes. An unusual happening -- when teaching at Memphis 1959-61, I taught Janet and Marla Penke. Their little sister at home, Lorna, married our son, Wayne.

   My husband, Carl, has been employed by the Burlington Northern Railroad for 32 years. He is a foreman in the Communication Dept. We met in June, 1957 at the Depot Cafe in Ashland (it burned in November, 1979). I was a waitress; he had just come in from being out in a rainstorm and was soaking wet. I always tell him that was his lucky day. He had two sons, John and Jim, I had two girls, Nancy and Kay, when we were married, and we have three sons, Wayne, David, and Gregg.

   Our family today: John and Connie, children -- Dawn, Scott, Christopher, Lancaster, Wisconsin; Jim and Cathy, (both in Air Force), children -- Margaret, J.J., San Antonio, Texas; Nancy and Marcus Hamann, children -- Kristy, Brandon, Fort Collins, Colorado; Kay Washburn, children -- Jodi, Aubrie, Sara, Lincoln, Nebraska; Wayne and Lorna, Ashland; David (18); and Gregg (8) at home -- a total of 7 children and 10 grandchildren. Submitted by Eva Denece Harpin

   In 1868, Carl and Augusta Hass, with their two small children, Louie and Minnie, came from Pomerin Province, Germany, to LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Louie was four years old. Four years later, the family moved to the Ithaca community in a covered wagon.

Catechism Class -- Evangelical Church. Back Row: Charles Hass, Fred Timm, Roy Hageman, Fritz Holtz, Lloyd Wagner, Laurence Stauss; Front Row: Elsie Rucks, Esther Hageman, Frieda Treptow, Lila Hass.

   Louie Hass married Anna Cornell in 1892. Except for a brief time in Oklahoma and Norfolk, Nebraska, they spent their entire lives on farms in Saunders County near Ithaca. Louie and Anna had 8 children. One daughter, Agnes, died in infancy. Five of the children: Esther (1893-1972), Francis (1895-1976), Olga (1897-1961), Raymond (1899-1973), and Charles (1902-1960), lived, worked and died in Saunders County. Their faces are well-remembered around Ithaca as they shared in the many functions centered around the farming community. Two daughters, Mrs. Hildred Marcy of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Mrs. Lila Endres of El Cajon, California, are still living. Don Hass, son of Raymond and Frankie (Hageman) Hass, and Marvin Hass, son of Charles and Vera (Hageman) Hass, and their families still reside near Ithaca.

   Carl and Augusta Hass were charter members of the Evangelical Church south of Ithaca, which no longer exists. We attended the South Church faithfully for many years, freezing in our "surrey with the fringe on top" many Christmas Eves before transferring to the much closer Evangelical Church in Ithaca. However, it was a pleasant memory, watching the big candle-lit Christmas tree with our Sunday School Superintendent, August Timm, and other men on either side, ready to snuff candles and avoid disasters. There was gift exchange and big sacks of nuts, candy and an orange for the kids so we had a bag of goodies to keep us warm on the way home.

   There are 36 living descendants of the Louis Hass family. Besides the two daughters, there are eleven grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

   I still consider Ithaca home. Submitted by Hildred Marcy

   John C. Hauschild was born in 1911 to William C. Hauschild (1890) and Clara (Jensen) Hauschild (1885). His brothers and sisters are Louis, Mabel, Irvin, Irene, Raymond and Margret. They lived on a farm near Cedar Bluffs, until 1932, when they moved to a farm west of Malmo, and in 1935 to Ashland, where his parents spent their remaining years.

Crystal and John Hauschild

   John and Crystal L. Kemerling were married in 1937. We lived in Ashland and near Papillion, Nebr., a few years where he worked on construction and on a farm, and I as housekeeper for his widowed uncle. We have two children, Donna Mae (Hicks) and Larry Eugene. We came to Malmo in 1941. John was employed by Willard Barry Transfer of Weston.

   In 1943, John started a trucking, shelling, and baling business, known as Hauschild Transfer which he operated until his death in 1977.

   Over the years, we had a number of fine employees. Quite often I would have to prepare meals for them at all hours and on short notice. Often thought it was like a cafe around here. (How I could have used a Micro-Wave Oven then). They sometimes had to work late or even all night, hauling livestock or grain, especially during harvest, when farmers,

page 253

truckers, and elevator men all worked late to get crops harvested.

   I also drove a truck when needed and more often as the children got older. Some thought I didn't have anything to do at home, when I was helping so much. Like many women I enjoy working outside, but also want my housework done, like sewing and doing crafts. But we worked together and John would help me in return. Of course, he did not always have the time. He also liked gardening. (My saying was that I had one foot in the kitchen and the other in the carburetor).

   Since John's death, I have been an Avon representative for four years. Friends tease me, that it is quite a switch from truck driver to an Avon lady, but I have enjoyed both.

   Donna is married to William E. Hicks. They live in Englewood, Colo. and have a car repair business. She also works with her husband in the shop. (Her uncle says she is a chip off the old block). They have three daughters, Cynthia, Charlene and Christina.

   Larry is married to Carol J. Spoonhour. Their four children are Ronald, Danette, Jody, and Stacy.

   Larry worked with his father until 1976, when he and his family moved to Joplin, Mo. to work on a ranch. He was badly injured in an accident and not able to work for over a year. In 1978, they moved back to Malmo, where he now has a trucking business. His wife has also learned to drive a truck.

   Danette is married to Randall L. Banghart. They have one daughter, Virginia Lynn, my great-granddaughter. Submitted by Crystal L. Hauschild

   Albert Havel was born on December 17, 1881 in Stejskaly, Czechoslovakia. When he was two years old, he came to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Havel, and a step-brother, Matthew. They came to the Prague area and for a few years his father farmed near Plasi.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Havel

   Times for them were very difficult and money was scarce. Mr. John Hohl, who was the Prague depot agent on the newly-built Burlington Railroad from Ashland to Schuyler, took a liking to Albert and taught him telegraphy. At sixteen, for the first time, Albert owned his own pair of shoes and a suit. Daily he would walk several miles into Prague barefooted, put on his shoes, and start a day of learning depot work.

   It wasn't long before Mr. Hohl recommended him for an agent's job; there was a demand for telegraphers at that time. For eight years Mr. Havel traveled from one depot to another as a relief agent in Nebraska and Iowa.

   Albert Havel met Maymie Hajek of Octavia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hajek. Her birth was August 15, 1886. They were married in David City on December 28, 1908 and started housekeeping in a depot at Bellwood. Soon afterwards there was a permanent opening at the new Edholm depot for which Mr. Havel applied and received, and remained there for over twenty years. Edholm was a small village in northern Butler County on the south side of the Platte River. Here is where the Havel's two daughters, Marie and Helen, were born.

   In 1929, Mr. Havel was transferred to Prague where he had started his career and where he ended it in 1951 after forty-five years of service. Wahoo then became their home where by this time he had joined the Wahoo State Bank as one of the directors. They decided to move to Schuyler where they lived for eight years. Back to Wahoo they came to make their last and permanent home.

   Mr. Havel's hobby was photography, taking and developing many pictures of the early schools and pupils in Butler County. He also sold oil, installed some of the first farm Delco electric home plants, and charged batteries for people with his special equipment.

   At first their only means of travel was with an open hand-pumped rail car which they would use to go to Schuyler for necessary merchandise, doctor, or business. For a short time Mr. Havel owned a motorcycle with a side "bucket seat" for passengers. He was one of the first in his community to own a car, which was called a "Star."

   Mrs. Havel loved her crocheting and passed away lonely hours making many beautiful articles for others and herself. Their greatest enjoyment was found in attending dances. They were both active in school, church, and community affairs wherever they made their home.

   Mrs. Havel died on October 27, 1962 and Mr. Havel on March 23, 1963. They are buried on the St. Francis Cemetery at Wahoo.

   Anna Sedlacek married Mathew (Mike) J. Havel in Plasi, Nebraska, on February 7, 1899. Anna was born May 31, 1878, to John and Anna Sedlacek in Polina, Czechoslovakia. Mike was born September 28, 1876, son of Peter and Johanna Havel, also in Czechoslovakia. She came to America with her parents at the age of 11 in 1890, and he came to this country at the age of 3.

Mike and Anna Havel

   After their marriage, their first place of residence was Brainard, Nebraska, and later they moved to Plasi where they were engaged in farming.

   In 1906, they moved to Prague where Mike spent the major part of his life in business enterprises including livestock buying, coal dealership, livery man, and, later, a tavern proprietor. Also, he was active in civil life and during his lifetime served on the Town Board, School Board, Commercial Club and the Volunteer Fire Department. He was one of the original incorporators of the National Hall Association, and served as President of the Board of Trustees until the time of his death.

   The Havels became parents of 11 children, eight of whom are still living. There were seven sons and four daughters, all born in Prague. They are James, Rose, Hattie, Paul, Charley, Bill, Blanche, Mike, Leonard, Marie, and Jerry.

   Although small in stature and one who never raised her voice, Mother had great strength of character, a deep love for her children and left us with fond memories of family living. Dad made a good living for his large family, and was a good father in every way. They were adventurous people with great faith in the future.

   Mother passed away February 12, 1939, after an illness which lasted many years. After that, Dad retired from active business in April, 1940, and moved to Chicago where he passed away June 12, 1941. Both are buried in Prague at the National Cemetery.

   Peter Havel and Johanna Lefler Havel came to America in 1883 from Styskaly, Czechoslovakia which is a small village near the city of Plzen in the parish of Ledce. They started farming a few acres near Plasi but in a short time they moved to Prague to establish a shoe repair shop in the front room of their home. Business proved to be good, but it earned for them just enough to live a very simple and quiet life. The home is still standing today in good condition; it is located on the Main Street, is the first house east of the Funeral Home, and appears much the same as it did sixty years ago.

Peter and Johanna Havel

   Peter was born June 29, 1851. He and his first wife, Barbara Mach Havel, had one son, Matthew, who remained in Europe. Barbara died shortly after the birth of her baby. In time Peter married a widow, Johanna Lefler, who had a son also named Matthew. Her date of birth was July 20, 1857. Two years before embarking for a new life in America a son, Albert, was born. On June 15, 1914 Johanna passed away. Peter planned a trip to his native land to visit relatives and above all to see his first son once again, but the coming of World War II and his sudden death prevented this.

   Mr. Havel died on March 16, 1916; both are buried on the National Cemetery in Prague.

   Alden Havelka, son of Emil and Anna (Houska) Havelka, was born April 29, 1929 on a farm near Weston, Nebraska. He was married to Marcene Wesely on April 23, 1952 at the Prague Presbyterian Church by Rev. Elbert J. Nickerson. She is the daughter of Ely and Henrietta (Nemec) Wesley, being born on a farm near Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska on September 14, 1934.

   They live on the homestead previously purchased by his grandfather, Vaclav Havelka, who came from Czechoslovakia in 1905. They built up a dairy operation, purchasing the farm from Alden's father, Emil, in 1968.

   They were members of the Weston Presbyterian Church in which they served as officers there, and in the Ladies Aid, and taught Sunday School and Bible School. They joined the Czech Presbyterian Church

page 254

in 1976. They are members of Hilltop Mariners of which they served as Skippers and Pursers. Marcene is a member of Ladies Aid and the adult choir. Marcia and Lisa are members of Sunday School Youth Choir and C.E. Alden is now serving as Elder.

Front Row: Marcene and Alden Havelka; Back Row: Marcia, Kenneth, Ra Shelle, Laura, Jeffrey, Curtis and Lisa.

   They are Saunders County Czech Club members, Mid-Am Dairy Association and Farm Bureau Board members. Marcene also belongs to Rural Belles Extension Club.

   Lisa and Marcia were in 4-H Dairy Division for 9 years. Marcia won the Jr. Champion Holstein Trophy in 1980 with a 2-year-old cow, Jitters. Lisa won Jr. Champion Holstein in 1982 with a heifer, Misty.

   Curtis attended Weston High, graduating as Valedictorian in 1971, attended Grand Island School of Business, and is now farming near Wahoo and raising hogs. He has coached Jr. High and Freshman boys' basketball for 10 years. He will be married this March to Jeanne Owens who teaches business at Neumann High.

   Ken is a 1973 graduate of Wahoo High and received his Bachelor of Science Degree with distinction from UNL in 1977. He is a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Innocents Society, and is now living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He did some post-graduate work at the University of Minnesota and UNL. Aside from counseling at the Nebraska Regional Center, he has held the position of counselor at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center. He is on the Organizational Board of the Open Harvest Store.

   RaShelle (Shelly) graduated from Wahoo High in 1975 and from Midland Lutheran College with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught school in Dist. 119. She married Jeff Peterson of Fremont. He is employed by Sid Dillon Motors. They have a daughter, Laura Michelle, born Aug. 16, 1981.

   Lisa and Marcia attended Dist #44 and will graduate from Wahoo in May of 1983. Lisa was reserve cheerleader in 1980-81 and varsity cheerleader the following two years. She is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, holding office of secretary. She plans to attend Southeast Community College in the secretarial field.

   Marcia has been on the girls' basketball team for 4 years, and now is a starter on the varsity this year. She is a member of F.B.L.A., holding the office of president. She played the lead in the fall musical, "Brigadoon," as Fiona at Wahoo High School. Her plans are to attend Lincoln School of Commerce, and have a double major in accounting and computers.

   The Havelka's most enjoyable entertainment was when they were members of the Wahoo Whirlers Square Dance Club. For the children it was horseback riding with neighbor children and friends, and riding in the fair parades with their horses.

   And of course, the most exciting event was the birth of the twin daughters, Lisa and Marcia. By Marcene Havelka

   Great-great-grandparents -- Vaclav and Marie Havelka, came to America in 1893. Vaclav, one of 19 children was the son of a Bohemian landowner. However, when the land was divided among the children, his share was very small. So he decided to come to America.

   Great-grandfather, Emil E. Havelka, Sr., son of Vaclav and Marie, was eleven years old when he came to America. He later married Anna Houska.

   Emil Sr. worked hard and by the time he was in his late twenties he had helped his parents buy a farm which he managed himself. He and Anna raised seven children as well as caring for his aged parents until their deaths. For some years he lived in a small house in Weston with a few acres of pasture behind it in which he raised a few head of calves. The last few years of his life he spent at the Saunders County Care Center in Wahoo.

   Our grandfather, Emil E. Havelka, Jr., was the oldest of those seven children. He now resides on the outskirts of Saunders County, near Fremont, Nebr. while owning the house and land in Weston. He works for the Wahoo Farmers Union Co-op.

   Emil Jr. married Clara Ruzicka, and had four children, Daniel, Pauline, Adrian and Lyle Dale.

   Our father, Daniel, married Peggy R. McMurray, Nov. 14, 1971 at the Czech Presbyterian Church near Weston. They had us, Shannon LeRae, Sept. 19, 1974 and Daniel Dale (named for Lyle Dale who died in childhood) July 27, 1976.

   We now live on a farm near Colon with our mother and step-father (Eugene Tomsicek) and attend a two-room country school (District 70) with 16 other children. Father lives in Mead, Nebr.

   We have lots of pets and things to do to keep us busy, including taking care of our new little brother and sister. Story by Peggy Tomsicek

   Grandmother Mary Haxby Smith watched the funeral procession of her mother, Dorothy Bradley Haxby, go up the hill while she lay in bed, just having given birth to a daughter, Dorothy. This was January 22, 1892, in Cedar Bluffs.

Mary Haxby Smith and Joseph Smith Jr.

   Dorothy Bradley and her husband, John Haxby, along with two other Bradley families, sailed from England, came up the Mississippi River and arrived in Dubuque, Iowa in 1844. John Haxby died in 1855-56.

   At age 15, in 1871, Mary Haxby came to Nebraska with her mother, Dorothy Haxby and they lived with her older brother, William, who had homesteaded southeast of Cedar Bluffs. She attended school in a schoolhouse that used to stand opposite the Paul Keller home. It was her earnest desire to secure a higher education, but home duties were too urgent. She married Joseph Smith, Jr., on July 17, 1876 who homesteaded land just west of them. Joseph Smith, Jr., came to America from Brno, Moravia with his parents, Anna Zeleny and Joseph Smith, Sr. in 1852, arriving in Cleveland, Ohio. At that time the great bubonic plague was raging and Joseph Jr., contracted it and was laid out on a truck or chest, supposedly dead -- but survived. This was when homes and bodies were burned, being the only way it could be controlled, so they went to Woodstock, Canada. He was a cabinet maker of violin cases, coffins and beautiful dressers and cabinets. Joseph Jr. went to school but later carried on the same work as his father. After moving to Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana they obeyed the 'call of the land' in 1870, came to Saunders County, and took a homestead three-and-a-half miles Southeast of Cedar Bluffs. Joseph Sr. lived with his son and wife for seven years, his wife, Anna, having passed on in 1906. He died July 26, 1922. Had he lived until Christmas he would have been 97. He learned to read and speak English of his own accord.

   Joseph Jr. and Mary together went through all the hardships of pioneer life. Together by unceasing labor and sacrifice, they raised, educated, and brought to maturity, all of their large family of ten children: six sons, Jack, Henry, Ray, Robert, Marion, and Kenneth, my father; four daughters, Dorothy, Florence, Emma, and Alice. My father had his own mechanic's shop in back of the Smith home which was the last house on the street east of town. He married my mother, Grace Snodgrass September 30, 1933 and lived in Cedar Bluffs until his death in 1941. Of this union were two children, a son, Douglas and myself, Suzanne. In 1942, we moved to Fremont. In 1953 I married Dennis Wobig and we are the parents of three daughters: Pam Rowe, Rt. 5, Fremont; Jill Wegman, Lincoln; and Sandra Soukup, Morse Bluff. In 1971, we built a home on the south bluff of the Platte River in Saunders County. Five generations and still in Saunders County -- it's home. Submitted by Mrs. Dennis (Suzanne Smith) Wobig

   Henry Hayes Sr. was born in Virginia in 1762. He served as a private soldier in a company of Virginia Militia in the Army of the Revolution, 1781, for two terms of three months each, from Lunenberg County, Virginia. The first term began in March, 1781. The second term he was drafted in October, 1781, and was present at the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Warren Hayes, 40th Anniv. Back, L. to R.: Stewart and Steven; Front: Warren, Sandra and Doris.

   Unlike many of the present generation, he felt it unpatriotic to apply for his pension until 1855, age 93, when he was no longer able to make a living for himself.

   In 1795, he married Eliza Cabinus. Their children were: Henry Jr., James, Richard, Mary Jane, Elizabeth, John, Nancy, William, Susan, Cather, and Martha.

   William Hayes was born 1801 in Virginia. He was married in 1823 to Louisa Herring. Children were: Lucy Ann, Martha, Francis, William Henry, Susan, Lavina, John, and Judith. Their inventory

page 255