https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/17/504/Families-N_O.pdf 2bb51e52a33f0af35b9262c16c590140 PDF Text Text moved into their soddy on the homestead, April 1, 1908. The frame house was built approximately 1919 and is being torn down now. They occupied the homestead until they held a farm sale in 1950, having sold their farm to W.B. Weaver of Larned. Kansas in December 1949. Coleman then moved to Flagler, Colorado where they built a home and resided until their deaths. Coleman purchased the pool there in 1950 and operated it. Due to his son Troy's health, he gave up farming and went into the pool hall with his and later was owner, Mattie died April 16, 1969 and Coleman remained in the home, until health caused him to go to the hospital, and after a two months stay in the hospital and the Prairie View Nursing Home in Limon, he passed away July 6, L974. Both are buried in the Flagler Cemetery at Flagler, Colorado. Lena (Murphy) Patterson, Grace Elaine Murphy, Loren Arthur Murphy and Florence (Murphy-McCart) Gibbs are all deceased. Lionel resides at Safford, Arizona, (Betty) Arvetta Rose Randall atTalihina, Oklahoma, Loyd and Troy both at Flagler, Colorado, Dale at Goodland, Kaneas and Twila Gorton at Seibert, Colorado. by Twila Gorton MYRICK - JESSEN FAMILY F478 road that year, for this day was her birthday. In Castle Rock, Keith owned his own concrete contractor business and before their marriage, on May, 29, t970, Yvonne was working at Porter Memorial Hospital, in Englewood, CO., as a Licensed Practical Nurge. Now they were about to live their dren-s of becoming ranchers. A small herd of cattle was purchased from Len Beeson and then Brenda Jean was born on Feb. L2, L975. Nine months later the Myricks moved to the Walter Herndon place, one mile west. This was their place of residence until Sept., 1980, when they moved back onto their ovm property, "the old Husenetter place", residing in a mobile home. Robbie attended K-6 at Stratton Elemen- tary and 7th grade, (at the time of this writing), at Stratton Junior/Senior High. She is an accomplished flutiest and enjoys mar- ching and concert band, volleyball and baeketball. Her plans for the future are to be a "secretary/receptionist". Brenda attended K-5, (at the time of this writing), and she is already an accomplished clarinetist and is looking forward to sports in Junior/Senior High School. Her future plans are still in the making. by Yvonne Myrick Keith won second place,($lO), for'Iongest beard', In the spring of 1974, George 'Keith' Myrick and a friend, Charles Miller, left on a journey from Castle Rock, CO., to southeast of Stratton, CO., to make the "old Husenetter place" livable. During the week a blizzard hit, but they kept up the work and at the end of the week, Keith was able to return to Castle Rock, where his wife, Yvonne Carol (Jesgen) Myrick and daughter Robbie Cay, were waiting his arrival. April 24, 1974, was spent moving from Castle Rock to the ranch/farm of Stratton. Robbies first birthday was celebrated on the cattle and we were always afraid, but they never took after us. Our first teacher was Eva White. Later she married a man from south of Kanorado and continued to make her home in this new country. After a few years she died and was buried in the Kanorado Cemetery. When papa and mamawould go to town for the monthly supplies in the wagon, my sister and I would be left at home to look after things. We always kept our eyes peeled for tramps who sometimes roamed around the country, begging for eats. We were always afraid one would come but none ever did. One thing we always did when mama was gone was to get into her mincemeat jar and pick out all the nice large raisins and eat all we could andthen finish up with brown sugar, which we seldom had otherwise. The raisins in those days were so much larger than they are now, and were real good, especially seasoned by the mincemeat. The next time mama went to bake a pie she missed the raisins but didn't say anything and just smiled because she knew her little girls didn't take them to be mischievous. but had to do something to while away the long hours that they had to spend alone. NEALLY FAMILY NEALLY FAMILY Charles Neally andLizzie Paul of Ceresco, Nebraska, were married February 1, 1888, and soon started by train from Haigler, Nebraska, which at that time was the farthest west the railroad cnme. There they unloaded their belongings and loaded a wagon drawn by a pair of muleg that they had bought and One time when I was about ten years old and was going to look for eggs, I saw a man F47g drove across country to the land they had homesteaded in Kit Carson County, Colorado. Here they had to build their home. At first they just put up a shelter to cover them till they could build a house. They had a neighbor, Jim Knapp, come and dig them a well. It had to be dug by hand in those days. Colorado CentenniellBicentenniel Celebration Stratton, CO. August 1, 1976. Keith holding Brenda and Robbie standing in front of Yvonne Myrick. Waiting for coetume and beard judging. Robbie won first place, ($15), on costume and we were always coming across some of their Most of the homegteaders built houses of sod but the Neallys built a freme house. A little later Charlee'father and two sisters and their husbands came out and homesteaded. They just stayed here long enough to prove up on their homesteads. When they left they sold out to Charles. They soon got three or four milk cows and another horse so as to make a three horse team, as they put the horse with the mules. Then they were able to break some ground and do a little farming. Then they began to get stock cattle to run on the open range. The old McCrillis Ranch line fence was on their west and north and the riders rode the fence every day so they had no trouble with their cattle. The Neallys got their own land fenced in as soon as they could. There were lots of wild antelope on the prairies at that time. Many settlers killed them for meat. In due time two daughters were born to this family. In 1898, they moved over to his brother Harry's place, which was the E. % 356-43 where they lived for several years. When we were old enough we went to a school about a mile and a half west of us. Haidee and I nearly always walked. Knapps didn't have their land fenced like we did and F480 coming down over the hill. I didn't think anything about it as I thought it was a neighbor coming, so I went about my business. About this time he saw some men and all at once he turned and took offover the hill as fast as he could go and that was the last I saw of him. Then, when the next week'g Kansas City Star came out, there was an item about a women down in Kansas who was hunting for her husband who had left home. We often thought about that man and wondered if it could have been him, but we never heard anything more about him and never heard if the woman ever found her husband, but.it gave us something to think about for a long time. We had very little sickness in our family, but some families suffered from smallpox and diphtheria. Doctors were so far away, so if anything went wrong we were doctored vrith home remedies and always got better. Our friends, the Reischs, had smallpox and we would take their mail and some food supplies to help them out. We were very careful and would circle around their place at a safe distance until we attracted the attention of the family. Then we left the things where they would find them and hurried on our way so as not to get the disease ourselves. I remember one time mema had to go to town to the dentist. She had 21 teeth pulled that day and then had to ride that long way home jolting in the lumber wagon. I sat on the floor of the wagon and rested my back between her knees. At first we didn't go to church as there was none around. After the Wallet Post Office and store were established and people went there for the mail, it becnme a meeting place for the people. Here a minist€r would come sometimes on Sunday, and we would have a �church service. Jim Knapp wan our close neighbor and friend. He dW nearly all the wells around the countryside by hand. He would be gone from home long periods at a time, but would get back whenever he got a chance and the family never knew when to expect him. One time he arived home late at night when all the children were in bed so they were not aware of it. The next morning early after they awakened one of them said: "Thete's a man in bed with mama." He had about two weeks growth of beard and the children did not recognize him at first. One time a big man hunt was on. Several horseback riders rode onto the place and said they were hunting for a man who had robbed the Zollinger home. Father left with the men. I only knew Jim Rhoades and Jim Barnett who were in the group. After much circling around, the man wag tracked down in the creek bed near the Wallet Store. Word was sent to Burlington for the sheriff to come aftpr him. It was later learned that this man who had robbed the Zollingers was a one time acquaintance of the Zollingers. He knew the Zollinger family when they had lived in Michigan. He had heard that the Zollingers had become wealthy after arriving in Colorado, so had decided he would come and get some of it. It must have been quite a disappointment to find how little they had, but he took what little cash they had. As he was armed the family wag afraid to refuse him. NEALLY FAMILY F481 Mr. Munter was at the Zollinger home at the time and as soon an he could get away he hunied to his home to see if his family had been molested. He told his wife and older children that night but when the younger ones started to school the nert morning he told them to tell the teacher to be on the lookout for the man as it was feared he might still be in the neighborhood. This robber had the Zollinger place well located in his mind by the way the wind was blowing and planned to get away as soon alt Sometimes we would have a new white dress for the occasion. I will never forget the free lemonade. It was in a big barrel on Main Street. As there were no paper cups then, they had a big tin cup fastened on a chain so it wouldn't get away, for the people to drink from. Sanitation was something we didn't think of then. Everyone could drink all they wanted until the barrel finally ran dry. On one of these occasions, when I was about six years old, was a day I'll never forget. I got separated from my parents. I knew they had planned to go to the races which were held just north of the railroad tracks, so that was where I headed in search of them. I was just a few feet from the track when a man on horseback rushed up in front of me and got me back just before a train went by. I finally made it to the races and was standing by the bleachers looking for them. All of a sudden I heard an awful crack and down went the bleachers. Many of the people had their legs hurt, but no other serious damage except to a baby that was in a buggy in the shade and it wae killed. Just the people who could afford the price of a ticket were seated. The ones that had been standing all felt that it was their lucky day. After the accident I finally found my parents. As time went by my father had increased his number of cattle and as they had all their land fenced they didn't have much trouble with them getting mixed with the range cattle, and they didn't have to herd them. They raised mostly white faces. They were nice looking cattle with nice long horns. They began to raige more feed crops, mostly millet so they always had plenty of feed when the weather was so bad they couldn't forage for themselves. The prairie fires in those days were very bad and would travel for twenty five miles at times. The men would have to plow furrows all night and if the wind changed sometimes the fire would jump the furrows. I, myself, remember one fire that came within twenty five feet of our barn before it could be stopped. Many hardships were there in those days but the ones who stayed put were the ones whopaid for their land and made comfortable homee for their families. His youngest daughter, Blanche - 1962. he had robbed them. But while he was tormenting the family the wind changed directions and he wasn't aware of it, so he lost hie way completely, thus enabling the neighbors to pick up this trail and capture him before he left the county. He didn't bother any other fanily. About the main recreation in those early days was for several families and neighbors to get together and go in lumber wagons to the Spring Valley Ranch and spend the day fishing. The Jim Knapp, WiI Reisch and Charles Neally families usually went together as they were close neighbors. Henry Goebel was the manager of the Spring Valley at that time and they always enjoyed visiting with him. On one of these fishing trips the men caught a large turtle, so when they got back to the Knapp home, Mrs. Knapp cooked the turtle and made turtle soup for all. The children didn't care much about it, but it was a change in the menu for the adults. The Fourth of July was always a big event in our lives, because we would go to Burlington where a big celebration would be held. NICHOLS, EUGENE AND DOROTIIY F4A2 existed. Dorothy was born in Arlington, Ks. Aug. 20, 1913 to John and Mary Teeter. Her father ran a hardware store. The family later moved to a farm and ranch near Ulysses, Ks. which he bought from his parents, Henry and Margaret Teeter. This ranch is still in the Teeter family with the fourth and fifth generations living there now. Gene and Dorothy are graduates of Mos- cow High School. Gene attended Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Ks. one year and also began farming, breaking out a lot of sod and planting wheat. The first two crops made 28,000 bushels with a price of 33 to 18 cents a bushel. Dorothy took the Teacher's Examg, and taught in a country school 8 miles from her folks home in the next school district - salary $50.00 a month. These were years when folks were losing their property, etc. but life went on and love wins. We were maried Feb. 10, 1934; a family wedding at my grandparents in Ulysses, Ks., our favorite pastor performing the ceremony. Mother and Grandma fixed a big supper for' all present. Gene had rented an improved farm near Woods, Ks. After we painted and papered the house, we moved in the day my school was out. We thanked God for my bridal shower, our wedding presents, our parents' cast off furniture and the Montgomery Ward's catalog, also for the homemaking abilities our parents had taught us - we had a comfortable home. Selling our extra eggs and crenm kept us in food and whatever else we really needed. We were both raised in a large fanily and we loved children. Our four children are Richard (Dean), Karen Louise, Sharen Jean and John Henry. Dean married Dorothy Loutzenhiser of Flagler. They are farmers and ranchers near Walsh, Co. Their four children are Pamsls Sue (now Mrs. Max Smith) of Walsh; Patrica Ann (Mrs. Jim Haffner) of Walsh; Robin Jay (married Gina Wells) of Garden City, Ks.; Barbara Kay (Mrs. Gary Burson) of Walsh. Dean and Dorthy have seven grandchildren, making us gteat grandparents. Karen married Robert Best of Stinett, Tx. and have sons, Byron Dale of Emporia, Ks, Rodney Hale of Wichita, Ks. Karen lives in Walsh, Co. where she teaches in the Walsh High School. Sharen manied Raymond Miller of Denver. They now live near Two Buttes, Co. where they farm and ranch. Ray had a son Raymond Joseph Jr. who is married and lives in Loveland, Co. and a daughter Gail (Mrs. Wm. Barocsi) Long Beach, Ca. They made Ray and Sharen grandparents and us 3 more The Eugene (Gene) V. and Dorothy M. (Teeter) Nichols family (four children) came to Kit Carson County in Feb., 1950 from Meade, Ks. They settled on a farm and ranch great grandchildren. Their daughter Debra Jean married DeWayne Britton of Pritchett and now live in Lubbock where they attend college. Jenelle Louise is a junior in high rado, on Duck Creek. John Henry married Zerelda Eddy of Lamar. Their sons are Lance Anson, 8th they bought from the Fred Pages in 1948, located 8 miles northeast of Flagler, Colo- Gene was born in Texas County near Tyrone, Ok., July 3, 1909. His parents, Ralph and Bertha Nichols, had a homestead there. They moved to Moscow, Ks, to start their three older children in a good school. His parents ran a hardware store and sold machinery in Moscow. Gene's grandparents, Henry and Frances Fuller, lived on a farm, part homestead, near Liberal, Ks, before the railroad or Liberal school and Justin Ty is in 3rd grade in Springfield, Co. grade, Jason Roy, 6th, Michael Lane, 3rd, in the Arriba-Flagler Schools. The family farms and ranches on their place and our home place. The children of Gene and Dorothy all graduated from Flagler High School. Dean and John are graduates of CSU in Fort Collins. Karen is a graduate of PSU in Goodwell, OK. Sharen is a graduate of Parks �Life on the farm consisted of helping with the farm work, driving tractor, shocking wheat, shucking corn, milking, 4H, County Fairs, PTA,and walking to echool. In terribly bad weather, Claude took the children to gchool with a te'm and wagon, with bailg of straw in it. They always had homemade bread and summer Bausage sandwiches in their symp bucket for lunch. Tillie was a wonderful cook, baking a batch of bread weekly, and in earlier years twice a week, sharing her bread with family, friends, and neighbors. She made peppernuts at Christmas, grapenut ice cream, and peanut bars. They did their own butchering, canning the meat, and making summer sausage every winter. Ti[ie also did all the sewing for the family, making over clothes to fit the children. Claude and Tillie provided a happy home for their children. They loved to sing together as a family. The community could always hear Claude sing as he plowed the fields, or took a wagon load of wheat to town. "Work for the night is coming", was his favorite. He was also a story teller, enjoying this fellowship with friends. Claude was always plagued with hay fever, asthna, and decided to move the family to California in 1945. They moved to Redmond, Calif., where his sist€r Beeeie lived. Later they accepted an offer of a friend, Elmer Fasse, to lease his farm in Burlington, Colo. moving in 1948. This move accounted for the fanily separation. They moved to Burlington after a few years. They had 23 grandchildren. Claude died on Dec. 15, 1966 and Tillie Gene and Dorothy Nichol's 4fth wedding annivereary in their farm home, February L0,L974. Front row: died 14 years later July 23, 1980. Gene and Dorothy Nichole. Back row: John, Karen, Sharon and Dean. by Dorothy Penny Business College in Denver. The family has been very active in 4-H, Farm Bureau, Baptist Church and its organizations, school and community activities. Gene loves his horses and likes to plant and care for trees. Dorothy is a 50 year member of HD Clubs and likes to quilt, embroidery and sew. We moved to the outside edge of Flagler, July 1, 1982. We still have a cow-calf Nebraska on December 12, 1910. Her parents were Maggie K. and Frank H. Wilson. They manage. We have always owned some cowg and horses. We both have more time now for grandparents on her mother's side were Mary Rodaway from England & Jurgen F. Kramer Center and to shut-ins. We celebrated our 53rd Wedding Anniversary this year and have truly been blessed with a gpeat family. wagons to Nebraska City. Her grandparents on her father's side were Mr. and Mrs. Morris NOWAK, JIM AND RUTH F484 Ruth M. Wilson was born at Lexington, operation which the John Nichols' family lived on a farm north of Lexington. Her volunteer work and visits to the Senior from Germany. They traveled by oxen and F. Wilson from Scotland and lreland. Ruth started to school at the age of five. She went to a little country school and walked one mile each day to get there. At the age of ten she moved with her parents to Stratton, Colorado. They home- We look forward to their visits and our reunions. We are proud of their accomplishments. by Eugene Nichols steaded on a farm seven miles south of Stratton. The building where she attended church and Sunday school with her parents, NIDER - WOLTERS FAMILY F483 Claude Clarence Nider wag born to John and Eldora Harvey Nider, Feb. 15, 1893 near Fairbury, Neb. He attended the University of Nebraska. On January 14, L920, he married Mathilde Wolters, daughter of Henry and Johanna Wolters, born May 3, 1896. To them eight children were born; Maxine, Lucille, Arleen, Dorothy, Louis, Bette, Dale, and Marilyn. Claude was in farming all his life. He brothers and sisters was made of layers of sod with a dirt floor. Claude and Tillie Nider in 1950. worked for the AAA working out of Fairbury, Neb., to supplement his farming there. He had a stenm engine and separator, separating for the farmers in this community. When he would bring the rig home, he would start pulling the whistle, alerting the children for their run to meet him, to ride the rest of the way home. While harvesting, his wife Tillie and the children would run the farm and see that the chores were done. Ruth helped her father who was a carpenter as well as a farmer, make "Doby Blocks" to build their house. To made a doby block you plow a large circle ofsod leaving a ten foot circle in the center where you stand to lead horses around the circle to mix the doby. You keep putting straw and watcr in the mud until it is mixed up smooth like mud pies. Then you put it in a box 18-12 inches, smooth off the top,lift up the box very carefully and go to the next block. Leave the blocks dry a week and turn them over. After a few weeks they are ready to start building. You mix up �more mud to put them together with. Takes a lot of blocks and hard work. Ruth attended school with her three brothers and three sisters in a country school which was heated with a "pot belly stove". There were forty students and one teacher, who had all eight grades. The students all were required to help the teacher with cleaning the school, carrying out ashes and carrying in wood and coal. Classes staded at nine o'clock, at 10:30 we had a fifteen minute recess. Twelve o'clock to one was lunch time. School let out at four o'clock. We were taught reading, writing and arithmetic to the tune of a "hickory stick". Ruth got up early in the mornings along with the rest of the family. After breakfast, while mother packed school lunches, she would help carry in fuel and water for the day, feed chickens, calves and pigs, then walk two miles to school. As Ruth gtew older, she worked in the fields hoeing, plowing, shocking grain, putting up hay, pulling weeds, and shucking corn. Times were hard so when Ruth was thirteen ghe started working out in the summers. She saved her money for high school, and worked out in the summers while attending high school at Stratton. Sounds like a hard life but had wonderful parents, brothers and sisters and we had a very happy homelife. After graduating from high school in May 1929, Ruth went to work on a big ranch up on the Republican River about twenty-five miles northeast of Stratton. The hours were long and the work was hard, as washing, ironing, housecleaning and everything was done by hand. Day began at five in the morning and ended at ten p.m. The pay was $6.00 a week plus room and board or five cents an hour. On February 16th 1931 Ruth was united in marriage to James R. Nowak at Goodland, Kansas. They lived on a ranch north of Stratton where Mr. Nowak was employed. Wages were $45 per month and living quartere. Ruth and her husband had three sone munity activities. When Ray and Bob joined the Navy, she joined the Navy Mothers and is still a member. Besides being a homemaker and mother, Ruth worked as a waitress and bartender for thirty-two years. Ruth now lives with her son Bob at 1916 Miner. She has another son Ray and wife Jessica and grandsons Mike and Richard who live in Lakewood. So after seventy-four years and all my mileage you can see why I am walking with a cane but still get by on my own power. by Ruth M. Nowak NOWAK, MAX AND MARGARET F485 Passenger train Eight came steaming into Burlington on Thanksgiving morning of November, 1910. Coming, aboard that train, to their new home in Kit Carson County were Margaret Ann and five of the six Nowak children. Margaret's husband, Max, and the couple's oldest son, Archie, had come several load of hay to town to sell and was returning to his homestead. He agreed to take the Nowaks to their new home for one dollar. Margaret Ann and her daughter accepted this offer and were then taken to the depot to collect the children, suitcases, trunks, and boxes of canned and dried fruits and vegetables that they had been busily preparing at the old home in Seneca, Kansas, while Max and Archie were in Colorado building a two room house of adobe and sod. Taking a trail which angled northwestfrom Burlington, Mr. Mace and the Nowaks traveled out through the settlement to the long established ranches on the Republican River. It must have been rather warm for November since the children remember running along beside and behind the hayrack exploring the countryside as the group slowly journeyed to their new home. Max, the son of Bohemian immigrants, was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1863. As a young boy Max moved with his family to the Seneca, Kansas, area. It was here that he received his formal education and learned the trade of a stone mason, MargaretAnn McQuid was born in Seneca, Kansas, in 1865. She was mainly of Irish ancestry. Her grandparents had immigrated to Canada in the 1840's and had then monthe earlier to stake out a homestead in the Tuttle community about fifteen miles northwest of Bethune. Due to miscommunications, Margaret Ann and the five children got off the train in Burlington while Max was left waiting for them in Stratton. After some migrated to Nemeha County, Kansas, in anxious moments Margaret Ann surmised Then, because of a farm related injury, Max returned to doing construction work such as what had happened. Consequently she either sent a telegram to her husband or used the railroad telephone to call him. Margaret Ann was given instructions to try to find transportation to the homestead, so she and my mother, Katie, who was the oldest child, went to the various livery barns in town, leaving the younger children to guard the family belongings at the train depot. At one of the barns Margaret Ann and Katie met a man by the nnme of Frank Mace who lived near the river north of Bethune. Frank had brought a 1857. Max and Margaret Ann were married in St. Mary's Church located in St. Benedict, Kansas, on May 8, 1894. They spent the next sixteen years farming in the Seneca area. plastering, stone masonry, and building cisterns. Due to Max's asthma, in 1910, a doctor advised the Nowaks to move to Colorado. Max had a sister, Vic Pike, living in the Tuttle community, and there was land available to homestead in the area, so the decision to relocate in Kit Carson County was made. Soon after the change of residence another sister, Ma4r LeRoy, homesteaded nearby. Even though the homesteaders of that era and a daughter. In July 1934, Ruth, her husband and two small sons Richard and Raymond packed their things in a Model A Ford coupe and moved to Newburg, Oregon. We stayed in cabins along the road at night for $2.00 per night. You had to furnish your own bedding, cooking utensils, towels, etc. The cabins weren't very clean and some were full of bed buge. While in Oregon we lived in a house without heat, water or lights; had to carry water up the hill side from a spring; boiled hops and made yeast to make bread; had lots of good fruit and fish. Jobs were hard to find and it rained dl the time, eo after a year we returned to Stratton, Colo. and back to work on the same ranch. In September, 1936, we moved to Limon, Colo. and lived in a house north of Limon. The rattlesnakes were go bad that one of them hung itsef in the coil bed springs. So back to Stratton in January, 1937. The dust bowl was eo bad that on July 4, 1937, Ruth and her husband Ja-es and three emall sons again packed up and moved to ldaho Springs. Times were hard in Idaho Springs, as Janes was a mill man. While the children were growing up Ruth was active in schools, P.T.A., church and Sunday School, Cub Scouts and other com- Mar and Margaret Ann Nowak with grandchildren. L. to R.: Doris Meade Gulley, Leslie A. Davis, Stanley Davis. Russell Davis and Jackie Meade Smith. �settled on land that had been the range for the ranches (Pugh, Wood, Davis & Corliss) along the Republican River, the Nowak children reported that no animosity was ever ehown. In fact, they all soon beca-e a part of the Tuttle community. The children attended the Tuttle school which at that time was located near the present-day Harvey Wood ranch. The school also served as a community center for Sunday school, for of German descent and her father's people were Scotch-Irish, living at Harisonville, Mo, Some paternal ancestors came from Kentucky. Clara graduated from high school in 1931 at Birch Tree, Mo., and from the University of Kansas at Lawrence in 198b. She taught English and Latin and other subjects at various Kansas high schools. In 1942, she asked for a release from her contract to start working for the Air Force to help win WW II. In 1944 she transferred to Washington, D.C. and worked in the Pentagon until the summer of 1946. She saw Gen. Eisenhower ride triumphantly into the Pen- church on occasion, for dances, for Christmag programs, for literaries, and for other affairs. All of the Nowak children graduated from the Tuttle school. After finishing school all of these children worked at one time or another tagon Concourse after the Allies won the war. She decided to return home to Arkansas, for ranches or businesses in the Tuttle, Hermas, and Kirk areas. The children were Katie, Archie, Alice, Helen, Gilbert, and Jnmes. Katie married Rosser Davis, and they lived in the Tuttle area until 1942, when they moved to Burlington. Katie passed away in 1967. Archie, who left the Tuttle community as a young man, eventually settled in Oregon. It was there that he died in 1974. Alice became the wife of Vida Davis. The couple farmed in the Kirk area for many years and moved to Englewood upon retirement. This is where Alice etill resides. Helen exchanged marriage vows with Gilbert Meade. The Meades lived most of their adult lives in Kirk where Helen passed away in 1977. Gilbert Nowak lived and worked in the Stratton and Tuttle communities before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, Gilbert lived in Denver until his death in 1956. Jnmes worked on ranches in the Stratton area. He wed Ruth Wilson of Stratton, and in 1937, they moved to Idaho Springs where Jemes died in 1978. In 1937, Max and Margaret Ann moved from the Tuttle community to a Collins Hotel apartment in Stratton. Margaret Ann passed on in 1940, and Max died in 1945. They are both buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Stratton. where her parents had moved in 1g31. Clara's father worked as a Frisco depot operator for many years. Clara has one sister and no brothers. Clara then taught school at Swifton, Ark., and boarded in her sist€r's home 2 years. Then Clara taught in the Hulbert-West Memphis H.S. two years, in Arkansas. After her maniage in 1949, Clara had to help take the Senior class to Galveston and New Orleans in June. She made hotel Frank and Clara Nusser on wedding day, April 17, 1949 ley. Wanda taught kindergarten in the Catholic school at Floresville, Texas for 3 years. Then Wanda taught in a public school in San Antonio, Texas one year. Then she taught third grade at Concordia Lutheran Church School in San Antonio where she is still teaching in 1987. Wanda married Wil- by Russ Davis lia- P. Moody of San Antonio in June 1g82. Their son, Matthew Henry Moody, was born December 2, Lg8l. He will probably be very spoiled as both sets ofgrandparents will help NUSSER, FRANK H. AND CLARA I. spoil him. Sherry worked in Public Health at Myrtle Beach, S.C. She then received a grant to F486 The girls and their father Frank H. Nusser was born at Plevna, Reno County, Kansas on October 26, 1903. He graduated from Plevna High School in 1924. For several yeare he had farming interests with his mother and two sisters. Frank was one of eight children born to German parents, his mother having been born overseas and his father in the U.S.A. Frank was the youngest of five boys and three girls. Frank ceme out to Stratton in 1946 to farm on his brother Martin's two sections, one NE and one South of Stratton. Frank raised wheat by dry farming for 32 years. Frank married Clara lrene Bricken on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, in her sister's T\r'ine Shirley and Sherry, 3, with Wanda, 7, and mother reservations and rented a Greyhound bus for the trip. She didn't arrive in Stratton until June 17, 1949. Clara taught in the Blakeman country school that winter. She taught at Seibert one year but quit because the Nusser's first daughter was born October 19, 1952 Wanda Eileen Nusser. In 1956 on March -9 the Nussers beca-e the proud parents of twin daughters, Shirley Ann and Sherry Rose. Sherry was Valedictorian and Shirley was Salutatorian of their Senior class. Wanda and Sherry graduated from U.N.C. at Gree- home with her parents present, also her sister, her brother-in-law and their son Jan and daughter Kay as witnesses. Frank and Clara were married by the Methodist preacher of Swifton, Arkansas. Clara was born December 22,LSLB in Black Rock, Arkansas. Her mother's parents were attend the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where she received her Master's Degree. Then she worked about 18 months at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation of North Dakota, setting up the first program of Public Health and Nutrition in the reservation. Sherry applied for a release from national Public Health so that she could work as a nutritionist for the state of Texas at Lubbock where she is still stationed in January 1987. Shirley Nusser attended Valparaiso University in Indiana for one year, then worked and took classes in Greeley. Later she worked in Colorado Springs. Shirley joined the Air Force in January 1983, taking training at Lackland A.F. Base, later at Keesler A.F. Base at Biloxi, Miss. She then transferred to Whiteman A.F. Base in Missouri where she is still stationed in 1987. Clara Nusser is the elder child born to James A. and Rosa W. Moser Bricken. The other child, Edythe Elizabeth, wag born on October 19, 1919. Edythe attended one summer at a college in Memphis,Tenn., one year at the University of Kansas at Lawrence �and one year at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she met and married Dudley Bullard of Swifton, Ark. They had one other son, Sjon, after Clara was married in Edythe's home. Dudley taught for many years at Swifton where he finally retired. As principal, he depended on his wife for any substitut€ teaching. When Clara taught there, she once had George Kell of the Detroit Tigers as her subgtitute. by Frank Nugser ORMSBEE - DAVIS FAMILY F487 Vi (Davis) Ormsbee in the 1920's. Hap with baby daughter Donna in front ofthe Busy Corner Drug Store. Notice the old Montuzuma Hotel in reflection in the window. the terrible red streak was just the coke syrup from the rim ofthe barrel. In those days coke had to be mixed from a syrup at the soda fountain. For most of Hap's life, he worked in law enforcement. He was a warm, friendly man - salty and outspoken, an unfailing champion of people, causes and principles he believed in. As a very young man, he served as undersheriff in the county. In the late 1930's Hap as in the first class of cadets to originate the Colorado State Patrol - then called "The Colorado Courtesy Patrol." In those days you went where the job was, so Hap was stationed in various cities around the state while Vi stayed in Burlington and taught school. Their summers were spent with their daughters, Donna and Bonnie, wherever Hap was stationed at the time. It was in the winter of 1938 that Hap rode a motorcycle for over ten hours through a severe snow storm to reach Bur- E.G. "Hap" Ormsbee in the 1920's. " . . it came to me that those old hardbitten patriots (Jefferson, Adams, Franklin laid the very foundations upon which our houses, schools, churches, yes, even our government stands today. If there is a crack or crumble in any of those old foundations, I'm sure with the little patience and time' those cracks will be reinforced and covered over and be just as strong and sturdy as they were the day Betsy Ross cut up a pair of somebody's old red drawers and sewed the first stitches in Old Glory . . So, I'm sure that if you will take along your patience and education and blend in a great big hunk of integrity, well, I know you will make it okay." This quote was taken from a speech given by Earl G. "Hap" Ormsbee to the graduating high school seniors. The precepts he was impressing upon those young folks "Patience, Education, and a Big Hunk of Integrity" were concepts that he and his wife "Vi" lived and worked with throughout their lives. Hap's parents, George and Mae (Luther) Ormsbee, moved from Smith County, Kansas to a ranch south of Burlington and, later, into town. Vi's Great-Grandfather, John Glass, lington. You see, the inoculation for di- Hap Ormsbee in 1962 when he was Sherriff of Kit Carson County. and Grandparents, E.G. Davis Sr. and Leah, came to Colorado from Wales by way of Macon County, Missouri. They settled on a ranch near the Republican River in 1887. Vi's father, Griff, grew up there. Hap and Violet May Davis were married on August 2L, L928, in Arriba. For several years after their marriage, Hap operated the Busy Corner Drug Store in Burlington. It was located on the corner of 14th and Senter streets where Standish Drug later stood and Marion Shoe Store now stands. The day his baby daughter, Donna, rode her kiddy-car down the basement steps and landed in a "Coke" barrel will never be forgotten. When Hap rushed down the steps and grabbed her up, he found a terrible steak of red running across her stomach. When Donna and Hap reached the daylight it was discovered that phtheria had just been invented and many had not taken advantage of its benefit. His youngest daughter, Bonnie, along with others in the county had contracted the disease. After he resigned from the Patrol, he was with the Division of Internal Security of the Federal Government until World War II ended. After the war, the family returned to Burlington. For awhile Hap owned a liquor store and Vi taught in the elementary school. As Sheriff of Kit Carson County, he especially tried to guide young people in the right direction for he knew the future ofour county and nation would depend on them. The proof of his ability is that he was one of the few Democratic candidates ever to be elected in Kit Carson County. Vi's grandfather Davis was a member of the first set of Kit Carson County officers and served as County Commissioner. Her father later served as sheriff as well as being a business man. Vi also believed in "Patience, Education and a a Big Hunk of Integrity". She taught school for many years. Her initial �position was teaching Reading in grades 3-8 in Stratton. She taught two years in a rural school where one of the duties listed in her contract wag to keep the etudent'e horses tied in the barn. One of her early salaries was for tional Tech School at Goodland, KS. in 1979, and graduated with a Kansas license in Cosmetology. Afterwards she returned to Omaha and worked as telephone operator at Teem Telephone Co. for a few months; also worked at Dellen Laboratories as Vetcrinary Technician. In 1981 she moved back to Denver, CO. and worked as hairdresger for one year at Michael of the Carlyle. After mariage Dennis andJean made their home in Burlington, CO. and both work at Orth's Dept. Store. He works as Aest. Manager (Buyer of men's wear), and she is also Asst. Manager (Buyer of ladies apparel and Clerk). Their son, Sterling David, was born August 12, 1986. Dennis enjoys sailing, goose and duck hunting, and yardwork. Jean enjoys sailing, English and West€rn horse riding, sewing, teaching dogs obedience, and training and judging show dogs. $800 a year. After Hap and Vi raised their two daughters, she went back to college and earned her M.A. in Adminietration and Supervision of the Elementary school. She did additional work in Special Education at the graduate level. Vi wae the first president of the Burlington Education Aesociation. She was a member of the Burlington Women's club and Garden Club, and served on the Burlington Public Library Board. Vi was a charter member of the local chapter of the Association for Children with Learning disabilitiee and served on the stat€ advisory board after she retired from teaching. Even though her chapter was at least a three hour drive each way, she never missed the monthly board meetings. One month she beco-e ill enroute home and finished the trip from Limon in an embulance. Even after urging from the state president to stay home and regain her strength, she was back again for the next meeting, "rearin'to go". Her only by Dennis Orth Dennis and Jean Orth, Jan. 15, 1983 ORTH, HELMUTH AND FRANCES comment was, "Listen young man, these meetings are important and you can't talk me out of being here. Besides I have a lot of fun." "Patience, Education, and a Big Hunk of Integrity". Yes, Hap and Vi were the children of their pioneer forebears. If the pioneers of the future can live by these precepts, and not fall victim to the, "Why not? Everyone elee does." trap - "Well, I know you will make it (LAMPE) F489 okay." Hap died on July 13, 1963, from a stroke. Vi died June 23, 1975, from heart failure. They have four grandchildren: Robbie Fearon is a teacher, Mike Vance is a farmer, Shelley Laudenschlager ig an attorney and Wade Laudenschlager is a pharmacist. Their three great-grandchildren are: Kacy Fealon, Annie Vance and Griff Vance. by Bonnie R. Laudenschlager ORTH, DENNIS AND JEAN Sterling David Orth, t year old F488 Dennis Deloy Orth was born in St. Francis, KS, on March 10, 1949, to Helmuth and Frances (Lampe) Orth. He has one sister, JoEllen (Mrs. Tim Beattie). Dennis attended elementary school in St. Francis until fifth grade, then moved to Burlington, CO. with his family, and graduated from Burlington High School in 1967. He attended Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, CO., for two years, graduated in 1969, with an L.A. degree in General Education, then continued his schooling at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO., graduated in 1972, with a B.A. degree in Education. In 1973 he and a friend traveled four months, January to April, in Europe through Greece, Turkey, Austria, Germany, Holland, France, England, and Belgium. For three years, 1973-76, he worked for his father at Orth's Dept. Store in Burlington. In 1977, Dennis, a cousin, and friend traveled for three months, January to March, in South America through Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Jnmaica, and Bahamas. After the trip, he worked again at Orth's Dept. Store. In 1979 he went to Baha, Mexico, and sailed with his sister, JoEllen, and Tim Beattie for three weeks along the coast on Tim's 44 ft. boat. Dennis manied Jean Yvonne Heider on Januar5r 15, 1983, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington. She was born Septem- ber 16, 1951, to Lou and Vera Heider, in Omaha, NE. She attended St. Paul's Lutheran School, grades 3-8, and North High School in Omaha, graduated in 1969. After graduation Jean attended the University of Neb. School of Technical Agriculture for two years at Curtis, NE. and received a certification in Veterinary Technology. She moved to Denver, CO. and worked for three years at the Golden Animal Hospital in Golden, CO. also worked at the Westminster Veterinary Clinic four years, L974-78, before moving to Burlington, CO. in 1978, and worked at the Burlington Industrial Bank for eight months. She attended the Northwest Kansas Voca- Helmuth and Frances Orth Oct. 23, 1984. Helmuth Karl Orth was born July 4,L922, son of Karl and Elizabeth (Heinie) Orth on a farm southwest of St. Francis, KS. He was the fourth child with three brothers: Richard, Oscar and Herbert, and two sisters: Alinda (Mrs. Ted Burr) and Waunita, all of whom are deceased. Helmuth was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church northwest of St. Francis. He attended the Walker countrv school and graduated from the St. Francii High School in L942. He farmed with his father and brother-in-law, Ted Burr, until he was called to serve his country for eighteen months, 1946-47. Most of that time was spent in Germany. When he returned, he farmed again. On April 4, 1948, he married Frances Lampe at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. �Francie. Frances Emma La-pe was born December 16, 1923, to Henry and Lydia (Walz) Lampe on a farm twelve miles west and two south of St. Francis. She was the fourth child with two eisters: Ella (Mrs. Bus Johnson) and Nina (Mrs. Harold Raile), and two brothers: Leland and Harvey. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, fourteen miles southwest of St. Francis. She attended parochial school here, also Pleasant Hill and East Gurney schools, graduated in 1937. Later she earned her High School diploma by correspondence. Frances went to Denver, CO. after gradua- tion and worked for Montgomery Ward and Co. in the Mail Order transferring office. She later worked at Stapleton Airport as a Roto- Bin-Clerk, where they modified B-29 airplanes during the war. Her brother, Leland, was in the service and when Harvey was called to serve his country, she went back home to help her parents with the farmwork. After marriage, Hehnuth and Frances built a new home and lived at 521 S. Scott in St. Francis. They have two children: Dennis Deloy, born March 10, 1949; and JoEllen Sue, born November 2, L95L. Helmuth worked as a Laboratory Technician for the Bureau of Reclnmation from 1948 to 1951, while Bonny Dam, Hale, CO, was being built. It was completed in 1951. He then worked for P.M.A. until 1953, when he and Frances decided to go into business for themselves. They built and operated the Dairy King and two and one-half years later built the A.&W. Rootbeer, leasing it out. In the Spring of 1959, they sold both establishments and moved to Burlington, CO. In August they opened Orth's Skogmo Store, now Orth's Dept. Store, which they still own and operate. Their son Dennis, and wife Jean, are in the business with them. Dennis married Jean Yvonne Heider of Omaha, NE. They have one child, Sterling David, born August 12, 1986. JoEllen maried Timothy Beattie of Aukland, New Zealand. Helmuth and Frances both like, to play bridge, and enjoy fishing and golfing. Frances was the "Lucky Ace" to get the first "Holein-One" on Burlington's new golf course, July 31, 1973. No one will beat that! They both enjoy traveling, and have traveled the U.S. from East to West, North to South, including Hawaii, nine foreign countries and islands, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Africa, Canari Islands, Bahama Islands, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. They have been to some beautiful places, but still like the Good Old U.S.A. by Frances Orth OSTROWSKI, JOSEF AND FRANCES F490 1909 Homeetead Days ofJosefand Frances Ostrowski and family in Kit Carson County, Flagler, Colorado. Josef Ostrowski and Frances (Groffin) Ostrowski were born and raised in Jarnova, Poland. Josef learned the plumbing trade in Jarnova. Theycnme toBoston, Mass. in 1887, then on to the southern states to find work. They worked in the cotton fields picking cotton in Miesissippi, Alabo-a and Texas for several years. Later the family moved to St. Paul Minnesota where Josef worked with a plumber, digging trenches and laying pipe. He came to Flagler, Colorado in 1909 and took a homestead 1872 miles northwest of Flagler in Kit Carson County. His wife Frances and their two youngest sons, Vincent, age l0 years old and John, aged 12 years old made the trip to Colorado July 4, 1910 to their new home. Joeef worked in Denver during the winter months to buy a team of horses and two cows, also what machinery he needed to farm with. Josef and Frances lived on the farm until Frances passed away in 1935. Josef passed away in 1941. Vincent, the youngest son, spent his early years helping his father improve and farm the land. His father suffered a stroke while working in Denver in he early days, which left his arm paralyzed. Vincent married a neighbor girl, Cecilia Andrewjeski, on November 3, 1931. They bought the home place and raised their 5 children there. They have retired now and their sons Robert and Js-es have taken over the farm. by Cecilia Ostrowski Lorraine manied George A. Simon, son of George R. and Ruth Simon of Seibert on November 17, 1946. They moved from Flagler in 1955. Marian lived with D.V. Rowden fanily and graduated from Flagler High School. She died of leukemia in 1951. Fred and Agnes farmed with her father for five years before they bought what was to become Otteman's Cash Store in 1950. The brick building on Main Street in Flagler was built in about 1911 and has housed not only a store but the Flagler News, the Flagler Post Office, and later the First National Bank of Flagler. The building had apartments upstairs that many young couples started out in. The apartments are now closed and the bank has moved into their own building. The USDA Soil Conservation Service now is housed in the building. Fred continued to develop the locker and meat business by building the slaughter house in South Flagler in 1963. All four of their children, Gail, Carl, Marla and Mark, became familiar with the business, helping in all phases. Daughters, Gail and Marla, became school teachers and son, Carl,. graduated with a degree in Business Admin- istration and is the Business Manager at LaJunta Medical Center in Lalunta, Colorado. After Fred closed out the grocery business OTTEMAN FAMILY F491 Frederick A. Otteman and Lillian Rathert were married in Colorado Springs, May 19, 1921. Mr. Otteman was an immigrant from in 1978 and concentrated on the meat business, son Mark graduated from Colorado State University and joined his father in the family business becoming the third generation Otteman to become a Flagler businessman. When Fred died of cancer in 1980, Mark bought the family business and continues to Germany and his wife was born and raised in Kansas. They moved to Flagler soon after their marriage. They owned farmland in both Lincoln County and Kit Carson County. This land was rented out for farming. Mr. Otteman became a Flagler businessman when he opened a bakery with a partner by the nnme of Mr. Werner. Mr. Otteman had suffered a sunstroke at an earlier age and became a familiar sight walking downtown from the family home on Main Street carrying his black umbrella. The fanily was very active in Zion Lutheran Church in Flagler. Mrs. Otteman was a renowned cook and baker and during the 30's when the bakery closed, she maintained her family by baking in her home. operate it. Agnes worked as Public Health Nurse for Kit Carson County for thirteen years before she accepted the new position in 1979 with Centennial Mental Health Center to provide Elizabeth died in infancy. Daughters, The horse was so was the rider. It was 5fi) miles from -Peru, Nebraska to They were parents of four children. Mary Lorraine and Marian, not only helped their mother in the kitchen but delivered the baked goods to homes in Flagler. Son, Fred, also helped his mother in the kitchen. During the 30's Mr. Otteman bought seed wheat for his renters to plant back when they failed to raise enough for seed. The mother died in 1941, leaving a young family. The father died in 1943, leaving the youngest, Marian, still in high school. Lorraine and Fred had graduated from Flagler High School by that time. Lorraine entered St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in Denver. Fred (algo Frederick A. Otteman) joined the Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Colohan as an Electrician's Mate. After the end of the war, Fred married Agnes Huntzinger, daughter of Sidney V. and Gerda Huntzinger on December 2, 1945. Fred's wife, Agnes, and sister, Lorraine, both graduated from St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. the geriatrics nursing for the Center for Region V, a position she still holds in 1986. by Agnes Otteman PAGE, FRED AND AGNES F4S2 jagged Flagler, Colorado, and Fred Page with all his property tied behind the saddle had followed the trail by the Rock Island Railroad to Rice's place in Flagler. There he had applied for a homestead, was to bring his bride - a school teacher also from Nebraska Agnes Black - and on that Blank - Page and that bleak prairie, write the story of their family. They would shove three homestead shacks together, plaster the out- side and build a house and a home for themselveg and the five children of their marriage - Betty, Margaret, Avis, Agnes and Don. But if the prairie and the structure of their house was bleak, their home was fun, warm, cultured and varied. Fred had been a semi-orphan, living with anyone who had work to do in exchange for board and room. He was immensely proud of his wife and family and constantly reminded them how lucky he felt to have them. Far � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Families of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief biographies of the founding families of Kit Carson County Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Families- N&O Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Description An account of the resource Briefs histories of founding families of Kit Carson County whose names start with "N" and "O." As told in the book, History of Kit Carson County Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Subject The topic of the resource History Kit Carson County Biography Genealogy Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a>