David Blesh (1840-1919) was one of eight children of Johannes Blesch and Elizabeth Marolf who were born in Switzerland, married there and came to America. The four oldest children were born in Switzerland and the others in America. Five others died in infancy.
David is the only one that came to Antelope County. He was born on February 14 at Loch Haven, Pennsylvania and died January 30, 1919. He married Barbara S Englert, born September 30, 1843, at Loch Haven and died on October 16, 1917 at Oakdale. Both buried in Oakdale Cemetery. Barbara ran a furniture store a number of years in Oakdale. David is thought to have been an undertaker. The couple had six children: Albert Jacob, Laurene,Cyrus, William Edgar and Albert married Katherine Burns at Nebraska City. Their children were: Laurene, b: 12/1900-d: 10/26/1964; married with two sons (twins): David b: 5/1904-d: 6/1970; Barbara b: 5/1904, married with two sons, Jerry and Tom; Roy Arthur. B: 8/1907-d:1958; Cecil: b:8/4/1909, married Sol Francis, two sons; Ethel: b: 3/1911, married Morinelli, no children; Harriet b: 3/1913, lived two days; Valley b: 3/1915-d: 1930's.
Laurene born 7/15/1868 at Loch Haven, died 2/24/1924 at Tilden; married Albert Edwards at Tilden. Two children 1: Grace born 12/5/1894 married John Everett Kreidler, two sons, Howard Everett born 11/16/1920, married LaVerne Fields on 12/28/1942, two children, Jerry and Linda; Willard Edward born 9/5/1924 married March 10, 1945 to Jessie Blanche Bell; two children, Bruce Edward and Kay Leigh: 2. Eunice married March 16, 1920 to Ralph E Crook, three children, Mariam, Marjorie and Jacob.
Cyrus Blesh, born August 25, 1872 and died April 18, 1929, married Lulu M Hickman: No children.
William Edgar Blesh, born June 17, 1874 and died April 21, 1939.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007