FAMILY STORIES

farm southwest of Ithaca. He has two brothers, Frank of Alameda, California, and Earl, who lives on the family farm.

George and Imogene Hageman

   George attended School District 102 and Wahoo High School. George was a World War II veteran, serving in the United States Army for four years. He served from January, 1944, until January, 1946, in Europe. When he came home from the service, he went back to farming.

   George and Imogene Endres were married March 26, 1946. My parents were William and Julia Endres. I was born August 26, 1919, on a farm east of Ithaca. I attended Ithaca School District 50 and graduated from Mead High School. I clerked in the Ithaca grocery store several years before we were married, and again in the late 1950's. I have been a postal clerk at the Ithaca Post Office since 1962.

   Both George and I have been active members of the Ithaca Methodist Church for over 50 years. George is the financial secretary, and I am Vice President of the United Methodist Women.

   We have two children. Glenn was born on September 17, 1947, and Georgia was born on June 10, 1950. They attended school District 102 and District 50 and graduated from Mead High School. Glenn is a Vietnam veteran, serving in the United States Marines from January, 1969, until January, 1971. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in December of 1974, he joined the Lincoln Police Department. He and his wife, Malinda, live in Lincoln. Malinda has two children by a former marriage, Barbarella, 13, and Brian, 10.

   Georgia married Larry Lamprecht on January 4, 1969. They purchased their farm south of Ithaca after living one year in Colorado Springs, while Larry was serving in the United States Army at Fort Carsen, Colorado. They have three children, Traci, 12, Terri, 10, and Troy, 7.

   George enjoys fishing. His hobby is raising game birds. Submitted by Imogene Hageman

   Nyle Hageman was born in 1949 from the marriage of Robert and Leora Hageman of Ithaca, Nebraska. He was raised in the Ithaca community and attended District #16 rural school and graduated from Mead High School. He attended an Electronics Tech. School in Des Moines, Iowa and was in the Army during the Vietnam Conflict.

Nyle and Diana Hageman

   He married Diana Dawson of Ashland, Nebraska in 1975. She is the daughter of Lloyd and Helen (Jordan) Dawson. She has lived in Ashland most of her life where she and Nyle still live.

   Nyle worked for the Burlington Railroad for six and a-half years but now is working in construction. He and Diana raise purebred dogs. They raise Cocker Spaniels and Shih-tzu dogs. Diana shows them at dog shows in many states.

   Robert W. Hageman was born in Saunders County in a home in 1923 from the union of Ernest W. Hageman and Willa McReynolds. The Hagemans were of German descent and the McReynolds of English Scotch-Irish descent. Robert (Bob) was the oldest of this family. He had a brother, Joe, now of Lincoln, Nebr.; a sister, Mrs. Edwin (Florence) Hass of Ceresco, Nebr., and a brother, Leslie, of Lincoln, Nebr.

Robert Hageman Family. Back Row, L to R: Nyle, Brad, Robert; Front Row, L to R: Renae, Roxann, Sandra, Leora.

   Bob attended grade school at Dist. 16, High School at Mead, and served in the Navy during World War II. He then attended the University of Nebr. on the G.I. Bill of Rights, graduating with a degree in Vocational Agriculture in Jan., 1950. He then taught on-the-farm training for G.I.'s and Voc. Agriculture in Mead, Diller, Battle Creek, Ceresco, and Wahoo Nebr. High Schools. He returned to farming on the home farm in 1958 after his father's death. The farm is located in NW ¼ Sec. 14 of Green Precinct.

   In 1946 Bob, married Leora (Lee) Nygren of Concord, Nebr. in Dixon County. She was born in 1925 of pure English descent as both of her grandparents came from Sweden. Her parents were John and Linnea (Erickson) Nygren. She was the oldest of their three children.

   To this marriage of Bob and Lee five children were born: Sandra, 1947, now Mrs. Kent Thomsen of Ceresco, Nebr.; Nyle, 1949, of Ashland Nebr.; Renae, 1950, now Mrs. Ronald Vincent of Plane, Texas; Roxann, 1951, now Mrs. Jack Blake of Lincoln, Nebr.; and Brad, 1953, of Ithaca, Nebr. These children have added ten grandchildren to the family.

   Bob and Lee have lived on the farm where Bob grew up since 1958. Besides farming Bob is also employed at the University Field Lab. at Mead, Nebr. They are both active in the Methodist Church, Republican Party, Farm Bureau and the Mayflower Assoc. of Nebr. By Robert Hageman

   L. Jas. P. Haggard, who was a well-known resident of Marietta Precinct, was born on a farm in Lee County, Iowa on May 10, 1842. He resided there until he was ten years of age when the family moved to Clark County, Missouri. Here, the boy grew to manhood, receiving like so many farmer boys, only a common school education.

   At the age of nineteen, he went to Lee County, Iowa, and enlisted May 19th, 1861, in the 2nd Iowa Infantry, Co. A. He served in this regiment for twelve months when he was discharged for disability, having a lame leg that incapacitated him for infantry duty. He went to the home of his parents in Missouri, and in about a month, re-enlisted in a cavalry regiment, the 11th Missouri.

   After war, they consolidated with the 2nd Missouri, M.S.M. Col. McNeil commanding. He served in this regiment to the close of the war and was mustered out in April, 1865. This made his service practically continuous throughout the entire war of the rebellion. He was a non-commissioned officer.

   At the close of the war he commenced farming in Lee County, Iowa, and farmed there for two years. He next moved to Saunders County, Nebraska and took a pre-emption of 160 acres, the land being where the Baptist Church in Marietta now stands. He relinquished this and homesteaded 160 acres where he now resides. By special act of Congress, ex-soldiers were permitted to file on 160-acre tracts within railroad limits at the time. Mr. Haggard immediately began to improve this farm, planning wisely and well for a future home. He hauled lumber from Fremont and built his first house, a shack 8x10 with roof slanting one way, on the land about forty rods south of where house of P.J. Johnson now stands. The house and farm buildings now stand midway of the farm on the west line. The house stands 30 rods east of the road.

   To the north and west of the buildings was a dense set of grove and fruit trees. So dense was it that one scarcely noticed the great cottonwoods growing there. Mr. Haggard set the slips in the first years of his settlement. He had lived to see these monuments of his labors grow to great sheltering trees. He also enjoyed the fruit from the orchard he planted years ago.

   The gentleman had been married three times and was the father of seven children. In 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. Jack who only lived eight months. In 1872, he married Miss Mary J. Armstrong of Indiana. Of this union seven children were born. She died December 18, 1894. In 1905, he married Mrs. Minerva L. Nutting. Together they lived a quiet life with employment enough to bring zest to life.

   The children of Mr. Haggard are scattered and gone. They were: Mrs. Lena B. Dierks of San Diego, California; William G. Haggard of Tripp County, South Dakota; Ernest E. Haggard of Winner, South Dakota; Mrs. Eva I. Fauquet of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska; Mrs. Margaret M. Bailey of Fremont, Nebraska; Chester E. Haggard, Clearfield Tripp County, South Dakota; and Mrs. Florence E. Parker, San Diego, California.

   It was a pleasure to meet these veterans of the Union and record the events of their lives. Mr. Haggard never belonged to any Lodge except the Good Templar. He became a member of the Baptist Church at the age of 12 years. He was chairman of the Central Committee of the Prohibition Party for Saunders County, and one of the State Central Committee of the same party.

   Ermin M., son of John L. Hajek and Frances Hobza, was born on the family farm near Linwood, graduated from Cedar Bluffs High School, and served in the Air Force during World War 2.

Ermin Hajek Family

   Agnes is the daughter of John W. Vampola and Anna J. Stock, born and raised in Omaha, graduated from St. Joseph's High School, and married to Ermin at St. Rose Catholic Church, Omaha, May 1, 1947.

   They chose to raise their family in Wahoo. Ermin worked for the Saunders County bridge crew until July 1948; then he joined Armco Drainage & Metal

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Products in Wahoo. He retired on July 30, 1982 after 34 years, including 4 years at Mason City, Iowa with Armco Inc., Midwest Division.

   They moved into their present home in July 1961. The neighborhood holds many happy memories, since two sons were born at the old hospital on 8th and Elm Sts., delivered by Dr. Mason Lathrop. Ermin and Agnes both were active leaders in Cub and Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouting as their children joined these groups. The house often overflowed with scouts, working on craft projects or girls baking goodies.

   Ermin is a member of Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and Lector at St. Wenceslaus Church. His main hobby is hunting.

   Son Ermin John, born in 1941, is the first grandson of the John L. Hajeks. He started kindergarten in the old West Ward School, graduated from St. Wenceslaus Grade School, Neumann High School and John F. Kennedy College. Married to Sarah Taylor in 1967, he has 2 daughters and 1 son. Now he is living in Thornton, Colorado and is employed by Sheffield Steel.

   Tim, born in 1949, attended kindergarten at West Ward, graduated from St. Wenceslaus Grade School, Neumann High School and Nebraska University. He married Donna Finke of Deshler, November 28, 1970. Tim is Assistant Park Superintendent of Fort Hartsuff near Ord. He has one daughter.

   Ray, born in 1951, was adopted into the family in 1963 after the death of his natural mother who was a sister of Agnes. He graduated from St. Wenceslaus Grade School and Wahoo High School. He joined the Army in 1970, trained in Radar in Arizona, and served in Germany before discharge in 1973. Ray married Katharine Kadavy of Weston Oct. 27, 1973. He has one daughter and one son, works at Valmont, and lives near Fremont.

   Mary Jo was born in 1958 at Mason City, Iowa. She attended North Ward and St. Wenceslaus grade schools. She graduated from the old Wahoo High School in the bicentennial year 1976. Employed by the Trust Dept. of National Bank of Commerce, she prefers to live at home in Wahoo.

   Chris was born in 1960 in Mason City, graduated from St. Wenceslaus Grade School, Wahoo High School, and Southeast Community College at Milford. He is a draftsman at Valmont and lives at home.

   Michelle was born at Saunders County Community Hospital in 1969. She is in the eighth grade at St. Wenceslaus School, and is the youngest grandchild of the John L. Hajeks.

   Agnes is Treasurer of Catholic Daughters Court Our Lady of Peace and secretary of St. Wenceslaus Parish Council of Catholic Women. We are glad we chose Wahoo. Submitted by Agnes Hajek

   Frances S. Hajek, present day Matriarch of the Hajek family, is a lifelong resident of Saunders County, Nebraska. At age 89 she keeps her own house and is an active member of St. Wenceslaus Church, St. Ludmilla's Guild, and the Rosary and Altar Society of that Parish.

   Born February 17, 1894 on the family farm near Morse Bluff, she was the daughter of Karolina Vyhlidal and Martin Hobza. Her maternal grandparents were pioneers Jan Vyhlidal and Frantiska Coufal, who emigrated from Slavetice, Moravia in April, 1870 with their nine children. They spent the first winter in a dugout, homesteading in Bohemia Township. In spring they built a sod house, and later constructed a permanent home of adobe and wood in which they spent the remainder of their years. Her paternal grandparents were Frank Hobza and Antonia Rambousek who emigrated from Roketnice, Moravia in 1883 and settled on a farm near Colon known as Sand Creek location, later moving to a farm near Morse Bluff. They were all members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Cedar Hill. Jan and Frantiska Vyhlidal, Karolina and Martin Hobza are buried at Cedar Hill. Frank and Antonia Hobza are buried at St. Francis Cemetery, east of Wahoo.

Frances S. Hajek

   When she was 17, Frances married John L. Hajek of Linwood, son of Jan Hajek and Marie Pribyl, who homesteaded there after emigrating from Czechoslovakia in 1881. Their marriage was solemnized at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cedar Hill on November 25, 1912. Most of their married life was spent farming in Saunders County. They moved to Wahoo in 1951. Frances worked at Fairview Cafe several years, and as cook in the Saunders County Community Hospital before retiring.

   John died November 6, 1971 and is buried at Cedar Hill. Their 5 children are: Marie (Mrs. Ernest) Hines of Linwood; Leander J. of Columbus; Ermin M. of Wahoo; Marcellin of Wahoo; and Gertrude (Mrs. Bruce) Harkner of Millston, Wisconsin.

   She has 28 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Most of them have cherished handmade keepsakes, since Frances still crochets doilies, caps, and baby-quilts for special gifts. Submitted by Agnes Hajek

   Joe Hakel, the father of Max, came to this country from Bavaria, Europe, with his parents, Joe and Anna Kadavy Hakel in 1882. They made their home in a log cabin southeast of Valparaiso. He married Anna Jansa, daughter of Jim and Josephine Stuchlik Jansa, who lived in the Weston vicinity.

Max Hakel Family

   I was the daughter of Charles and Anna Kavan Kubik. The parents of Charles were Wenc and Josephine Kafeur Kubik who came from Czechoslovakia to Draidwood, Wisconsin. Wenc was a coal miner and later moved to a farm east and north of Plasi. John and Anna Vopalensky Kavan were parents of Anna, who came from Wisconsin and made their home near Morse Bluff on a farm.

   Max's brothers were Rudy and Clarence, and sisters were Ethel and Lucille. My brothers were William and Raymond, and sister, Irene.

   We were married in May, 1941 in Prague, Nebraska at St. John's Catholic Church and the following year started farming on the home place of Max's parents. Times were not easy as money was short after the dry years. Farming was done with horses. Later, we purchased a Farmall tractor. We raised chickens, pigs, and mostly dairy cows. As time went on, we increased the number of the dairy herd and it became a major chore.

   I recall, before electricity came to the rural community, we milked in the wee hours of the morning by lantern light hanging on the side of the barn. We also put the milk can in a cart and wheeled it to the barn to empty the buckets of milk. Then, after milking, which was done by hand, the can milk was put into a barrel and fresh water was pumped on it by the windmill. Now the milk is cooled by electricity in a large refrigerated stainless steel tank.

   I think the biggest enjoyment in our days were the free shows sponsored by the village merchants on Wednesday at Valparaiso, and Saturday nights at Ceresco. Each town had a certain place with seats made up of planks and Ceresco even had backs on their benches. Shopping or trading was done before or after the show.

   Our children: Trina married Tony Kroenke. Trina graduated from U.N.L., taught elementary school at Dist. 70, Wahoo, and Millard. Jerome married Jean Janecek, graduated from U.N.L. and is presently a C.P.A. He served with the Army in Germany. Ron, who farms now, served in the Navy on the USS St. Louis Amphibious Assault Ship. Both boys were in the service during the Vietnam War. Charles is graduating from U.N.L. in 1983, majoring in agronomy.

   A fatal car accident took the life of Max in 1975.

   Grandchildren are Candyce, Randall, and Kristine Kroenke, and Stephanie and Stacie Hakel. Submitted by Helen Hakel

   In 1872, my grandfather, George Haldeman, left Scranton, Pa., by train and came to Saunders County. He crossed the Missouri River by ferry and landed at Plattsmouth. From there he took a train to Ashland. He was 23 years old. Here he met Edward Pancoast who had bought land in Green Precinct in Saunders County. He went home with him, worked for him a short while, and then bought 80 acres in Section 29 at $8 per acre, from the U.P. Railroad.

   His first years were full of hardships as he lived in a dugout, and then lost his land due to the panic of 1873, the grasshoppers and crop failure. He returned to Pa. to earn more money, working as a coal miner. (In the 1880 Nebraska Census, George's address was listed as Veda, Ne.). By 1886, George had 160 acres; in March he married Minnie Meyers. They moved into a two-room house. Times were still hard. Two children died in infancy and Mary died at the age of two in the diphtheria epidemic. In 1891, he built a larger house. The surviving children were Pearl, (Mrs. Wm. F. Breyer), Sam, Lewis, William, Frank, John, and Violet (Mrs. Leroy Pearson).

   George was the son of Samuel and Mary Haldeman, who came to this country from Switzerland to avoid religious persecution, and for the greater opportunities this country offered.

   George lived on the farm until September 25, 1915, when he died suddenly. Services were held at the Pleasant Hill Methodist church with the Rev. Jos. Throckmorton. Pallbearers were his neighbors, Frank Basel, George Wollen, John Smith, Wm. Breyer, Henry Nash and A.P. Anderson. He was born in New York State, but as a young child, the family moved to Scranton. His father was a molder who had his own shop where the younger brothers worked.

   Minnie moved to Ceresco with the three younger children, and Lewis and his wife, Anna, farmed the home place. The farm remained in the Haldeman family for 86 years as Lewis purchased it in 1943. It was sold by his heirs in 1972.

   My father was William George Haldeman (1898-1964), who married Gladys Charling, (1904), daughter of Carl and Myrtle Auten Charling of Ithaca. My parents farmed in the Ithaca area, where three sons were born, Harold (1922), Rolland

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