FAMILY STORIES

October 1923 -- Back Row: Emma Karloff, Carl Moller, Laura Moller, Paul Phelan, Helen Phelan, Henry Paulsen, Anna Paulsen, George Schulz, Lizzie Schulz; Front Row: John Karloff, Christian Nissen, Christina Nissen, Conrad Magnussen, Bertha Magnussen, William Nissen, Rosa Nissen.

They were married December 31, 1880 in Kankakee and came to Saunders County in 1883.

   Chris bought a farm 4½ miles northwest of Yutan. He farmed the land and also did mason work throughout the area. He was active in the community and was one of the founders of St. John's Lutheran Church. He was also one of the first board members of the Hollst Lawn Cemetery.

   Christina's mother, Elise Rower Prinz, lived in their home after the death of her husband, Claus, in 1891 until her death in 1916.

   Chris and family moved into Yutan and William Nissen continued to farm the land. Chris was 61 years old when the devastating tornado hit on Easter Sunday in 1913. His home and family were safe but 19 people were killed in the community of about 300.

   Chris and Christina had 8 children. The eldest, Elizabeth (Lizzie), was born in Kankakee, Illinois in 1882. The other children were born in Saunders County.

1. Lizzie married George W. Schulz: Laura (Herman) Moller, Oscar, Orlinda (Orvin) Karloff, Luther, and Lois (Lois expired in 1917).
2. Anna married Henry H. Paulsen: Caroline and Elaner (Thomas) Crabtree.
3. Emma married John F. Karloff: Lloyd, Irene (Louis) Bargmann, Iola (Ralph) Bargmann, Lester, and Evelyn (Don) Peterson.
4. F. William married Rosa Eggert: Verner, Duane, LaVona (Kenneth) Keiser.
5. Elsie -- died of spinal meningitis in 1899 -- 6½ years old.
6. Helen married Paul Phelan: Ruth (Jim) Jahimiak, Lorraine (Gary) Ringenberg.
7. Laura married Carl Moller: Robert and William.
8. Bertha married Conrad Magnussen: Kathleen (Eugene) Radcliffe, Margaret (Robert) Baldwin, and Gordon.

   Chris died at his home on October 27, 1925 at the age of 75 years, 6 months and 10 days. Christina continued to live in her home in Yutan. Her flowers brought beauty to the community and her window sills were filled with colorful blooms all winter. She loved to play pinochle and was dearly loved by her growing family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

   She, too, died in her home in Yutan on July 7, 1957. She was 96 years, 7 months and 27 days old. Submitted by Kathleen Magnusson Radcliffe

   Gustav A. Nitz was born in Lin, Germany December 25, 1859 and died December 29, 1922. Augusta Monteen, daughter of Karl and Karolene Monteen, was born November 26, 1872 in Germany and died September 26, 1973 at the age of 100 years, 9 months, and 29 days. She came to America when she was seventeen. Gus and Augusta were married at the County Courthouse in Wahoo. He homesteaded a farm north of Ashland. They were Charter Members of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Yutan.

Pete and Bessie Nitz

   On December 21, 1899, Gustav Nitz received his naturalization papers and became a citizen of the United States of America.

   They had six daughters and four sons.

   Ferdinand Pete Nitz, youngest son of Gustav and Augusta, was born November 28, 1907.

   On September 23, 1931, he married Bessie Mae Lohry. They lived on the homeplace where Pete was born for many years.

   They have one daughter, Ilene Loree. She is the wife of Dr. David L. Booth of Plattsmouth. They have five sons; Robert J., Daniel D., Thomas S., Bill Lee, and Jeffrey J.

   Pete was a great lover of nature and enjoyed working his land.

   Bessie graduated from Ashland High School in 1926. She attended Kearney State Teacher's College and taught school for several years. In November, 1964 they sold their farm to Glen Newsham and moved to Ashland. Pete was caretaker at the Ashland Cemetery for several years until his death January 6, 1979.

   Bessie Mae Lohry is the oldest daughter of Fred and Nellie Wilson Lohry.

   December 27, 1905 Fred and Nellie were married and had two daughters, Bessie Mae and Marie Ruth. They lived on a farm nine miles north of Ashland until the Mead Ordnance came to claim their land in 1941.

   Fred was the son of Frank and Augusta Ziegenbein Lohry.

   Frank Lohry, his father, was born in Canton Luzern, Switzerland, November 22, 1841 and died December 27, 1916. He came to America as a very small lad and later married Augusta Ziegenbein from Germany. He homesteaded the land north of Ashland and spent his entire life at that location.

   In 1918, Frank, the youngest son, served in World War I and spent most of the time overseas from 1917 to October 10, 1919.

   Nellie Wilson Lohry was the daughter of Andrew and Lucinda Wilson.

   William Wilson, father of Andrew, was of Scotch and Irish descent. He was born in Virginia, March 24, 1831.

   In 1866, Andrew, then a widower, with two small sons, Joe and Will, met Lucinda Waggoner and they were married in the late summer. Desiring to go farther west, they united with the Church of Christ. In the spring, with two small sons, horses and covered wagon, they began the long journey across the prairie. They crossed the Missouri River at Plattsmouth.

   They homesteaded nine miles north of Ashland. He gave land for a little village and named it Wann. They had four girls and two boys plus two foster sons. Joe, the oldest, helped find a trail leading to Yellowstone National Park.

   The land on which Wann is located became the home of Andrew and Lucinda until his death.

   May good luck and prosperity be yours in the new centennial year beginning January 1, 1983. Submitted by Mrs. Pete Nitz

   My husband, Dale, has lived on the farm south of Ithaca all his life, except for four years of service in World War II. I, Margaret, was one of six children born to Charley and Rachel Boydston Norris near Plainview, Nebraska. My parents were born on farms near Ceresco. I attended country school and graduated from Plainview High School. During the war years I worked at Elastic Stop Nut and later at Elgin Watch Company.

   Dale and I were married in 1948 so I came to the farm as a bride almost 35 years ago. We have a daughter, Sharon Frame of Kansas, and two sons. Marvin, with his wife, Betty, lives on a farm near Ithaca. Keith is residing here on the farm which is known as Cloverdale. We have two granddaughters, Christy and Rose Frame. Our farm has been in the Noerenberg family since 1882.

   Dale's great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich Noerenberg and their two sons, William and Albert, came on a large ocean steamer from Germany in 1882. The cost was $85 apiece. The trip lasted fifteen days. They came to keep their sons from military service. The boys were 15 and 17 years old. In 1884, the mother died after an illness of eight weeks. Six weeks later, the father and sons were putting up hay. A cloud came up and there was a streak of lightning. The father was killed by this one bolt. Besides the loss of both parents, there were the funeral bills to pay. The boys were then almost 17 and 19. Good neighbors, the F.C. Hankes and Pobloths, advised them to keep farming, and they did.

   Albert was married a few years later to Bertha Schiefelbein. He became a minister. Their children were Ben, Greta, and Esther. Albert died soon after he started preaching.

   William married Augusta Treptow in 1890. The wedding trip was from her parents' home at Ithaca to his home at Cloverdale, in a new jump seat buggy, a gift of her parents. His house was 14 x 16 x 10 ft high. August (Dale's father), Emma, Fred, and Jess were born there. Later, he went into the ministry after much thought and prayer. Five more

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children, Hugo, Meta, Olga, Dorothy, and Wilma, joined the family.

   In 1911, August came back to Ithaca to farm. His sister kept house for him during the summer until he married Clara Scheuneman in 1917. A new house was built during the first year of their marriage. A portion of the old house still stands. Four children were born to them: Dale, Ellan, Grace, and Stanley. They all attended District 52 and Mead High School. All are regular attendants at the Evangelical churches at Ithaca.

   Dale went into the service in 1941 and served two years in the U.S. and two years in New Guinea and the Philippines. He returned home in November, 1945 and farmed with his father until we were married. Our children also attended District 52. The Church, now Ithaca United Methodist, was, and is, our church home. Submitted by Margaret Noerenberg

   Frank (Pretzel) Noha is a retired carpenter, living in Wahoo. He was born to John and Francis (Jonas) Noha on April 23, 1911 on a farm near Colon, Nebraska.

   Frank has five brothers: Louis (Shorty), Wahoo; Emil (deceased); Joe, Wahoo; Edward (Runt), Lincoln; and twin brother, John (Chunky), deceased; one sister, Rose Rezac of Wahoo.

   He married Rose Lukas on February 6, 1939 at the St. Wenceslaus Church in Wahoo. They have three children: James (Jim), Kathleen (Kae), and Sharon.

   Jim is married to Ramona (Divis). Jim has four sons: Michael, Timothy, Dustin and Nathan. He is employed by Wahoo Livestock. Kathleen (Kae) married John Sanderson in April, 1968. They have four children: Stacie, Jill, Dawn and Brian. They live on a farm near Colon where John is engaged in farming with his father and brother. Sharon is married to Rodney Warriner. She has three children: Jeffrey, Douglas and Karrie Anne. They reside in Wahoo. Rod works as a heavy equipment operator for Roloff Construction. Sharon is a certified care staff member at the Saunders County Care Home in Wahoo.

   Frank's grandparents, Frank and Frantiska (Simodynes) Noha, emigrated to the United States in 1874 from Kouty, Moravia with their two sons, Frank and John, along with four other families. John, Frank's father, was three years old. The reason for their leaving their homeland was to seek religious freedom.

   Before leaving Moravia, the five families erected a memorial cross in a field near Kouty. The cross was inscribed with their names and also the words "Pochvalen Bud Pan Jezis Kristus" (Praise be Jesus Christ.)

   Frank's grandparents, along with several other families from Moravia, organized a mission which later would become St. Wenceslaus Church in Wahoo. The first church was built in 1878.

   Frank hopes his ancestors' spirit and determination will be a lasting tradition for future generations. By Kae Sanderson

   Joseph C. Noha was born on a farm near Colon, Nebraska to John and Frances Jones Noha on October 18, 1906. He had one sister, Rose Rezac, and five brothers, Louis G., Emil, John, Frank, and Ed. Emil and John died within three months of each other in 1980.

   Joe farmed near Wahoo all of his adult life until he retired to Wahoo in 1974. He served as secretary of Dist. 27 for twelve years, as Stocking Precinct treasurer for many years, and on the school redistricting board for around twenty years.

   Joe and Theresa Bouc, daughter of Frank and Josephine Bartek Bouc, were married in 1938. They are the parents of one son, Tom, born Dec. 11, 1952. The Nohas are members of St. Wenceslaus Church.

   Mrs. Noha served on the Senior Citizens board for 2 terms, and is a member of St. Ludmilla's Guild, Altar Society, and Rosary Makers Club.

Joseph, Theresa and Tom Noha

   Tom graduated from Wahoo High School, Gateway Electronics, and Southeast Community College at Milford. Tom served in the U.S. Army for 2 years, one of which was spent in Korea. Tom is now a machinist at Hellstar of Wahoo.

   John Noonan, son of John P. Noonan and Elizabeth McPhillips, was born in Columbus, Nebraska in Platte County on February 1, 1928. He came to Saunders County in 1947 and left to serve his country in 1950. Upon returning in October of 1952, he started to work at the Mead Ordnance Plant where he was employed for two years.

   Bernice Maly, daughter of Henry Maly and Bessie Musil, was born January 9, 1934 in the family homestead which was located between Weston and Touhy.

   Bernice and John were married on September 26, 1955. To this union were born eight children. The children all attended country schools in the Colon area until their seventh grade when each started at St. Wenceslaus in Wahoo. Then they all attended Neumann High School where they were active in drama, football, volleyball, band and other school and religious activities.

   The children are as follows: Marialyce, wife of Sgt. David Bentley, stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska; S. Sgt. Julie Noonan, stationed at Osan AFB, Korea; E Kathy Noonan, living and working in Denver, Colorado; SRA John P. Noonan III, stationed at Lowery AFB, Colorado; Anne, Charles Jeanne, and Jim, all living at home.

   The Noonans have farmed in the Colon area since 1954. In 1965, they purchased the John Keifer farm. In 1969, they built a new home, moving in Jan. 1, 1970.

   They belong to St. Joseph's Church in Colon, where John has served as trustee and Bernice has served as president of the Altar Sodality. John and Bernice belong to the Colon Post 265 American Legion, where John has served as commander and Bernice as president, also serving and working to keep the post alive. All of the girls have belonged and been active in the Junior Auxiliary. John is active in the VFW Post 4502 of Wahoo where once again he served as a commander. He also served as quartermaster of the District 7 VFW for 20 years. John has served on the Reorganization Board of Saunders County for 8 years, and also on the Watershed Board for 8 years.

   Family activities include hunting, fishing, roller skating swimming and family vacations.

   Besides farming, John has worked at Valmont Industries, Valley for 10 years. Bernice works at the Saunders County Assessor's Office for 8 years.

   Howard, only son, was born December 24, 1920, to Elmer and Gail Schoultz Norris and is the grandson of Frank and Emma Ide Norris who settled on the family farm two miles north, one and three-fourths miles east of Ceresco, Richland Precinct, Saunders County, Nebraska in 1880.

The Howard Norris Family

   Lois Walter, eldest of three daughters (Lois), Shirley (Mrs. Alfred) Murphy, Newark, California, and Rose Mary (Mrs. Delmar) Watermeier, Lincoln; and two sons, Edward and William of Lincoln, was born July 22, 1922 to Howard and Alice Murphy Walter, and married September 3, 1913. They farmed southeast of Ceresco in School District 121 until retirement in Ceresco.

   Howard Norris and Lois Walter were married at Shelby, Nebraska on February 15, 1939. From 1939-1966 they had nine children: Raymond, owner, National Steel, Hayward, California; Mary Ann, IBM operator, Fleming Foods; Walter, Maintenance Head, Lincoln Steel; Connie, dental assistant; John, served in National Guard and is a lab technician at Goodyear Rubber Plant; Don, served in the navy and is owner of Norris Automotive, Emerald with brother Gregory, a mechanic, who served in the army; Gerald, maintenance mechanic State Department of Roads; Christine, high school, home with Lois; two foster daughters, Kim Shonka Heath R.N., Denver and Kari Shonka Schleis, journalism student, UNO.

   Howard and Lois' children's marriages and grandchildren are: Raymond -- Janice Bulling: Mary Ann Bales, Elaine, Shane, and Dwain; Walter -- Barbara Nelson, Bradley; Connie -- Fred Gustin, Chad and Michelle; John -- Jacque Pearson, Ann, Jeff and Amy; Donald -- Carla Bulling, Ryan, Rebecca and Randy; Gregory -- Cathy Meyers, Jason; and Gerald -- Mary Vlcan. There is one great-granddaughter, Sherri Lynn Bales.

   Howard and Lois raised blue ribbon winning Guernsey cattle, and farmed, and ran an apiary. After seven years, Howard worked as a fabricator and certified welder for Lincoln Steel until his decease, October 11, 1979. Lois has been a nurse's aid at Haven House in Wahoo since 1973.

   Howard's mother passed away November 24, 1937. His father, Elmer, continued to farm. He later married Mrs. Mary Elias, August 29, 1952.

   Elmer had four brothers and four sisters. All are deceased except Harold, Plainview and Lillian Boydston, New Underwood, South Dakota. Three Norris brothers married Schoultz sisters. Bessie Schoultz Norris, Ceresco, who married Walter, is the only survivor.

   Howard, his father Elmer, and grandfather Frank served on the school board at District 100, Richland Precinct.

   Lois' paternal grandparents, William and Ardella Siegrist Walter, had seven children: Howard, Lois's father, deceased; Leone, Mrs. Jesse Russell, Ashland; Mary, Mrs. Norman Rocker, Cameo Island, Oregon; twins, Gayle (deceased) and Agatha Marvin Quick, Ceresco; twins, Donald (deceased) and Doris, Mrs. Howard Christensen, Chicago.

   William Walter's parents, Jacob and Mary Brown Walter, settled on a farm at the corner of Highway 77 and Ashland Road in the 1880's. William's wife, Ardella, had a millinery shop in Wahoo before their marriage. She was of Swiss descent.

   Lois' maternal grandparents, William and Winnifred Fitzpatrick Murphy, whose parents came from Ireland, settled near Davey, Lancaster County in the middle 1800's. They had four children: Grace, Margaret and Harry, all deceased, and Alice (Mrs.

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