FAMILY STORIES

   Douglas graduated from the University of Nebraska and is now farm manager for the University at Mead. He also farms the home place. He served in the National Air Guard. He married Janice Nelson, daughter of Alden and Myrtle Nelson of Wahoo. They have three children, Diane, LeAnne, and Marcia. They live in Mead.

   Ronald graduated from Wayne State College, taught school for 4 years, and then went to school for 2 years at Denver, Colorado where he became a respiratory therapist. He is now at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is a clinical instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He married Nancy Lowrie, daughter of Willard and Lillian Lowrie of Longmont, Colorado. They have 3 children, Alan, Anne, and Erin.

   Harold and Alta Jurgens Gustafson were born in Saunders County, he at Mead, and she at Cedar Bluffs. They were married in April, 1946, and lived on the family farm in Center precinct since February, 1947, until recently, when they moved to Wahoo, where they purchased a home. They are the parents of two children, Rick and Sharon. Rick, and wife, Pam, live on the farm vacated by his parents. Sharon lives in Fremont, and has a son and a daughter. Harold is a veteran of World War II, serving with 8th Air Force in England as a sergeant for two years.

Harold and Alta Gustafson

   John Hanson, maternal grandfather of Harold, was a native of Sweden, and came to America in 1868, landing at Quebec, and then on to Chicago, and finally to Nebraska. He homesteaded in Section 8, Center precinct in Saunders County. His first home was a dugout, which was one of the two shanties between Fremont and Colon. Mr. Hanson married Eva Wall in December 1870. They had ten children, five of whom died in infancy. In 1892, the John Hanson family purchased the farm where Harold and Alta lived in Section 19, Center precinct, from Nels Brodahl. Selma Hanson, John's daughter, acquired it after the death of her father. She, the mother of Harold, married Gust A. Gustafson, of Mead, in August 1915.

   Per Christoffer Gustafson, paternal grandfather of Harold, homesteaded near Mead, in the fall of 1869, shortly after Nebraska became a state. He was born in Ostergotland, Sweden, and was married to Hilda Malmstrom in the spring of 1868 in Illinois. They were engaged before they left Sweden, and rode over on the same boat to America. After living a short time in Rockford, Illinois, he brought his young wife and baby son, Carl Henry, to his new home, a dugout, in Nebraska. Later, they moved into a sod house, a short distance south of the Morningside Cemetery, south of Mead. The homestead document was signed by Pres. U.S. Grant. Ten children were born to this union. Gust, Harold's father, was their second son.

   Agnes Siemsen, the maternal grandmother of Alta, was born in Germany in 1867, and came to America at the age of 17. She worked in Fremont for a time. Her family, the Henning Siemsens, soon came from Germany and settled northwest of Colon, in Section 25, Douglas Precinct. They bought 80 acres of land from Lars Sunden, Oct. 4, 1888, for $2600. Later, Agnes acquired work as a hired girl at the John Schlichting home, southwest of Cedar Bluffs. The Schlichtings had a son, Wilhelm, who became attracted to Agnes, and they were married in September 1885. To this marriage, six children were born, three dying in infancy. Daughter, Mary Schlichting, Alta's mother, married Adolf Jurgens, grandson of Hans H. Jurgens of Colon, in August 1909. They had six children. One child, Bert Jurgens, still resides on the Schlichting farm in section 17, in South Cedar precinct, making it the fourth generation to live there. Submitted by Alta Gustafson

   Swedish immigrants, settling in Saunders County, beginning in 1869, and continuing for the next two decades, are the roots of this family. Christopher and Hilda Gustafson, John and Gustava Olson, Frederik and Gustafa Anderson, and Gust Magnuson chose the area close to Mead, Nebraska to establish their homes. Later generations brought the names of Olson, Rand, House, Spjut, Travers, Brown, Wood, and Pops into the family.

Norman D. and Veo Gustafson

   The farm, one mile south of Mead, homesteaded by Christopher Gustafson, was acquired by the United States Government in 1941 from David Gustafson. Third generation Norman Gustafson relocated the farming interests of the family to a farm four miles north of Mead, which is presently farmed by Mark Gustafson.

   Community organizations important to this family from its earliest settlers are the Covenant Church, Mead Farmers Union Cooperative Association, Farmers Union and Farm Bureau, Saunders County Soil Conservation District, and the Mead Public Schools.

   A record of the Gustafson name and the descendants of our particular family would read as follows: Christopher Gustafson, born 1838 in Sweden, immigrating to the United States in 1869, died 1917; David Gustafson, born 1879, died 1956; Norman Gustafson, born 1914; Mark Gustafson, born 1944; Christopher R. Gustafson, born 1980.

   Contemporary members of the family are Norman Gustafson who married Myrtle Rand. Three children, Joan, Mark, and Gay blessed this marriage. Myrtle, a teacher of the Mead Public Schools, died in 1962.

   Veo Teel, married to Howard House, raised her two sons, Dalton and Gene in Pacific Grove, California after the death of her husband in 1946.

   Norman and Veo were married in 1965 and have seen their children marry and establish new families.

   Dayton and Marilyn House, living in Scottsdale, Arizona, have two children, Jon and Cara.

   Paul and Joan Spjut, living in Ceresco, Nebraska have two children, Dana and David.

   Gene and Rhonwyn House, who live in Kentfield, California have daughters, Heather and Wendy.

   Mark and Dianne Gustafson, Mead, Nebraska have a son, Christopher.

   David and Gay Brown, Carmel Valley, California have a son, Joshua.

   Preparations for the challenges of life included a university education for all five children and their spouses, all of them earning at least a degree in their chosen field. Travel, too, has been a source of information and knowledge. Norm and Veo have visited and traveled extensively in the United States and forty-four foreign countries.

   How do you measure the worth of life lived in Saunders County in the twentieth century? Good neighbors, good friends and churches to nourish our spiritual lives. Quality schools to provide an education and also a place for us to serve the community. Proximity to large cities where the enrichment of recreation, art, and culture have added a dimension to living. Good land to work, with a desire to leave it better than we received it. The privilege to enjoy God's creation while making a living, to plant and to harvest, to enjoy the flowers of summer, the foliage of autumn, the landscapes of winter and the new life of spring, has been a dream fulfilled, an inheritance of those who pioneered the way. Submitted by Norman D. Gustafson

   Andrew Hageman and wife, Fredericka Siefert Hageman, and family of five sons and one daughter, namely Albert, Herman, Richard, Ida, Robert and Fred, decided to leave Provence Saxony, Germany. But so much had to be done.

1900-1960 Farm Home of Herman Hageman, Ithaca, NE Section ¼ 12-13-7

   A message to Grandma Siefert, who lived on the other side of the Black Forest, had to be delivered by one of the boys. Although this was the only way for them to communicate, the path through the forest was often used. The son, Herman Hageman, eight years old, was to take this last message alone. Grandma Siefert pinned the envelope, containing $200 and a message, to the inside of his shirt with a safety-pin and told him not to touch it or tell no one until he got home. Also to run as fast as he could thru the Black Forest before it got dark. Then he could walk the rest of the way home. This trip was approximately ten miles.

   For the trips made by the immigrants, led by an agent and company, they paid so much down and the balance when they arrived at the proper place of Ashland, Nebraska. Then they went with a team and wagon to a farmer, named Thompson Bissell, who had a large ranch for cattle and farming near Ithaca, Nebraska. They lived in a two-room house

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until they bought land from the R.R. Company at $4.00 an acre. There was no railroad and the town of Ithaca came later.

   The oldest son, Albert Hageman, married Mathilda Ott; his family was Anna, Charles, Albert, Alma, Ernest, Edward, Martha, and Ewalt.

   Herman Hageman and Bertha Cornell were married on February 8, 1887 in the home of an aunt and uncle at Milton, a small place with a store near school District 102. This family of Louise, Ezra, Amanda, Eda, Selma, Marie, Alvin, Emma, Esther, and Fredamae grew up around Ithaca, Nebraska.

   Richard Hageman and wife Minnie Hass had a family of Clara, Laura, Sam, Louie, Eddie, Minnie, and Johnny.

   The Ida Hageman and husband, C.H. Cornell, family consisted of Ella, Sadie, Robert and Hubert (twins), Florence, Alva and Melva (twins), and Charlotte.

   Robert Hageman and wife, Rosa Schroeder's, children's names were Leslie, Effie, Veda, Henry, Frankie, Darrell, and Vera.

   The children of Fred Hageman and wife, Anna Nenstiel, were Edna, Irvin, Roy, Nettie, Ralph, and Elsie.

   John Hageman was born in U.S.A. and married Louise Bunde. Their two children were Gertie and Hubert.

   Anna Hageman was born in U.S.A. and married Sam Schneider. Their family was Ida, Arthur, Walter, Mae, Mary, and Sam.

   They all continued living in the vicinity of Saunders County Nebraska. They endured all hardships of pioneer life in the open prairie, being a settler and land owner in a frontier country.

   Their hardships: prairie fires, wolves and coyotes, sand storms and drought, grasshoppers, blackbirds in flocks; also wanting food, Indians, gypsies, carpetbaggers, and scavengers. Submitted by Selma Hageman

   Albert G. Hageman was born on Apr. 29, 1889, at Ithaca. He is the second son of five sons and three daughters of Albert and Mathilda Hageman.

Albert Hageman Family. Back Row, L. to R.: Grandpa Frank, Dad and Earl Hageman; Front Row: Grandma Hageman.

   Albert married Clara Schmidt on Mar. 8, 1916. Clara was the youngest of four daughters and one son of August and Johanna Schmidt of Ithaca. Three sons were born to this union. They are Frank, who is now living in Alameda, CA., George, and Earl, who both live near Ithaca. In 1916, Albert and Clara purchased a farm 1½ miles southwest of Ithaca for $162.25 per acre. The farm is now occupied by Earl and his wife, Marilyn.

   In 1914, Albert bought a Model T Ford. He got behind the wheel and drove it without ever having driven a car before in his life!!

   One of Clara's hobbies was sending cards to shut-ins; especially to service men during World War II and the Korean conflict.

   Clara, who was born on July 14, 1892, passed away on Apr. 4, 1977.

   Albert has been a member of the Ithaca United Methodist Church for nearly 82 years. He was a member of the building committee of the present church building.

   At age 93, Albert can tell you of the progress in farming over a long period of time. He stopped operating the tractors at age 86.

   Although Albert is no longer active in farming or community responsibilities, he is active in social events at the Haven House in Wahoo where he now resides, in November, 1982.

   My parents, Mathilda and Albert Hageman, were both from Germany. Mother was from Hinter Pommern and my father from Saxon. They didn't know each other as they were from different places.

Alma Hageman, Nov. '82

   Mother came alone and settled in Ashland and worked for a clinic of doctors.

   My father, the oldest of eight, settled here around Ithaca. Some way they met and got married. There were eight of us -- five brothers and three sisters. We were all born and raised east of Ithaca where still a Hageman lives. Our parents retired and moved to Ithaca until their death.

   We always drove a pony or team to school. My father built a small barn on the school ground for the ponies or horses to stay in during the day.

   We all went to a country church, south of Ithaca, driving horses, until a church was built in town.

   Things have changed since those years. Now there are cars, tractors, combines, etc.

   I was born December 22, 1892 near Ithaca, Nebr. at the farmplace. In 1938, I went to California by train and lived there for sixteen years. I came back in 1954 to make my home here in Ithaca. My hobby is making quilts. Submitted by Alma Hageman

   Brad Hageman was born in 1953 to Robert and Leora Hageman of Ithaca, Nebraska. He was raised in the Ithaca community, attended District #16 country school, then Mead High School and attended one year at the University of Nebraska.

   In 1973, he was married to Audrey Hartmann, the daughter of Erich and Elsie Hartmann. She was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska and attended school there.

   To this union were born three children: Heather, in 1977, Brian in 1980 and Shawn, in 1981. Heather now attends school in Mead, Nebraska where her great-grandmother taught, where her grandfather attended and taught, and where her father attended.

   Brad was employed as a welder for many years but now lives near Ithaca and helps his father.

   In 1870, my maternal grandparents, Oscar and Emily Nash and six children traveled by train from New York to Ashland, Nebr. where land was available at $6.00 an acre. My mother, Flora Nash, attended school, and at age 16, became the teacher. Six daughters followed in her footsteps.

   At the age of six weeks, Rachel Burge and parents went from Mt. Morris, Pa. to Muscatine, Iowa by covered wagon. She was a rare novelty to the Indians, who were allowed to enter the log house to see the strange papoose.

   Grandfather Burris Boydston left Pennsylvania settling near Iowa City, Iowa. He and Grandmother Rachel Burge, eight days less than 16 years, married. Later with six children, 12 head of cattle, a span of mules, an ox team, and household goods, they started west, settling on 80 acres near Ceresco.

   Grandfather was instrumental in building the Pleasant Hill Church in his community. Music was important to him. He bought an organ and instructed his children in singing. A hand operated sewing machine was bought to speed the family sewing, However, Grandmother could out-sew the machine She made the family clothes, and pieced quilts by hand for each of her family down to the great, great-grandchildren.

   After my parents, Charley and Flora Nash Boydston, married, they settled on a farm near Ceresco in 1886. Memorable occasions were the birth of 13 children, the blizzard of 1888, a rabid dog attack and buying their own farm. A tragic and unavoidable accident caused the death of my father.

   Ralph's maternal grandparents, Casper and Elizabeth Bauer Nenstiel, found the Colorado timber claim almost a myth. Daughter Anna came to Ithaca to work. Here she met and married Fred Hageman, who had come with his parents, Johann and Fredericka Siefert Hageman, from Germany. They homesteaded 80 acres southeast of Ithaca. After the father's death about a year later, the sons became the farmers.

   Anna Nenstiel and Fred Hageman, after a few years, settled on their own farm where six children grew to adulthood.

   In 1939, Ralph and I married, making the Ithaca farm our home except for two years in California and northern Nebr. The Ithaca farm seemed to call, and we returned.

   I resumed teaching with a total of 26 years. Our sons, Duane, Dwight, and Boyd, grew to young men on the home place. They were active in 4-H and graduated from Mead High School. Duane graduated from Luther College and Dwight and Boyd from Milford Technical School. Boyd served in the Vietnam war. Ralph and I were recognized for 50 years membership in the United Methodist Church. As a family we served the church in many capacities for many years.

   Our desire for daughters and grandchildren was fulfilled when Donna John, Patty Matzen, and Deanna Hanson, and six grandchildren, Karen, Ginger, Gregory, Scott, Nicole, and Billy joined our family.

   With the death of Ralph in 1979, and Patty in 1981 two links are gone from our family chain Submitted by Charlotte Boydston Hageman

   Earl Hageman was born March 14, 1931 to Albert and Clara Hageman at Ithaca, Ne., the youngest of three boys, his brothers being Frank and George. Earl grew up on the family farm. He attended school in the Ithaca community and graduated from Wahoo High School in 1948. Earl served two years in the Army during the Korean War and he was stationed 18 months in Kassel, Germany.

   On June 18, 1954, he married Marilyn Duel from Rockford, Illinois in the Evangelical Church of Ithaca. To this marriage were born Bruce Earl, April 14, 1956, and Pamela June, November 11, 1958.

   Bruce is employed as a pipefitter at the Goodyear Plant in Lincoln, Nebr. He also farms with his father.

   Pamela married James Patterson of Florida. A daughter, Anjelle Marie, was born to them September 29, 1981 at Fort Ord, California where both were stationed in the Army. They are now stationed in South Korea.

   Marilyn has taught school for 25 years in Saunders County and has been teaching the last 16 years at Yutan Elementary School. For 30 years, Earl has farmed and raised livestock on the farm where he was born, south of Ithaca. Submitted by Earl Hageman

   George Hageman, son of Albert and Clara Hageman, was born on October 17, 1919, on his parents'

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