BERNHARD GUS KASNER

 

 

     Bernhard Gus Kasner, b October 8, 1905 in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas - a son of Albert Rudolph and Lena M. (Pieper) Kasner. On October 8, 1927 in Rosebud, Bernhard Gus (called Bennie) was married to Alma Emma Kosel, b February 15, 1910 in Cyclone, Texas, d July 2, 1984 in Rosebud and buried in the Pieper Family Plot in the Barclay Cemetery - a daughter of Edward Alex and Leopoldine (Eichler Kotsch) Kosel. They married at Salem Lutheran Church at Terry's Chapel.

     Bennie was baptized October 28, 1905 by Reverend William Mueller - a Lutheran pastor from Giddings, Texas, and was later confirmed by Reverend William Flachmeier at Terry's Chapel Lutheran Church. He attended Kasner School for four years, and Sneed-Kasner school for six years, through the ninth grade. He then stayed at and helped his parents with farming. .

     In 1928, Bennie and Alma united with the Salem Lutheran Church, where he served as treasurer for nine years (1937-1946), and again for six years (1952-1958).

     Alma Emma Kosel was struck by polio in 1917, and remained in bed one year, and on crutches an additional two years. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith at an early age by Reverend Flachmeier, and confirmed in 1924 at Terry's Chapel Church in the Lutheran faith by Reverend Julius Bosshard.

     After their marriage, Bennie and Alma rented land from his parents from 1928 to 1929, and then moved in 1930 to their own farm of 115 acres which he inherited from his parents. They farmed forty acres themselves - renting out the rest for a third of grain and a fourth of cotton. In 1929, they had made seven bales of cotton (500 pounds each), which brought about thirty-five cents to thirty-nine cents. Corn then sold for one dollar and a half per bushel. In 1930 (after the beginning of the Great Depression), they made ten bales of cotton which sold for five cents a pound, and received rent from twelve bales (about $60). Corn then sold for twenty cents a bushel- delivered to Rosebud. Their taxes on the farm were $156 per year.

     In 1936, Bennie and Alma worked all their land themselves, hiring hands who worked "on the halves" and others who just did "day labor." Bennie also worked as a carpenter and painter in his spare time, but by 1942, he worked full-time for Bruce Campbell Lumber Company. In the Fall of 1950, they built a on Linden Street in Rosebud, and he continued to work as a contractor - painting, papering, and finishing sheetrock. They sold their farm in 1976 to Raymond Moeller, and now own two rent houses.

     Bernhard Bus and Alma Emma (Kosel) Kasner had three children:

     Dorothy Lee Lena Kasner, b September 12, 1928 on the Ida Kasner Farm - attended Sneed-Kasner School and graduated from Rosebud High School' in 1946. Dorothy attended and graduated from Nixon Clay Commercial College in Austin, and worked for : the State Health Department in Austin until 1948, when she moved back to Rosebud and worked for Rosebud Independent School District until 1960 - moving to Dallas, Texas where she was employed by the Highland Park Independent School District - retiring as office manager there in 1980. Dorothy was part owner of EAS Keypunch Services, Inc., and worked for the firm until the business was sold in 1982. She continues to reside in Dallas, Texas.

     Gladys Irene Kasner, b September 7, 1930 in Rosebud, Texas - married March 17, 1951 in Dallas, Texas to Charles Henry Reed, b July 15, 1925 in Corsicana, Texas - a son of Henry Clyde and Ora Agnes (Henderson) Reed. Gladys attended Sneed-Kasner School for nine years, and graduated from Rosebud High School in 1948 as Class Valedictorian. She attended Draughon's Business School in Dallas, and then worked there five years. Charles received a degree from Southern Methodist University, and retired in 1980 after thirty years with ACCO Feeds. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; has worked with the Boy Scouts of America for nineteen years, and received the Silver Beaver Award in 1967. Charles is presently employed at Hillcrest Hospital, and Gladys is with the Personnel Department at Sears, and enjoys oil painting. They had two children: Charlene K. Reed, b February 8, 1954, graduated from the University of Oklahoma, served two and one-half years with the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, and is currently an officer with the Oklahoma City Police Department - is not married; and Ben Henry Reed, b June 15, 1957 - was active in the Boy Scouts, earning the honor of Eagle Scout - married July 13, 1974 to Laura K. Persall, b September 6, 1956 - and have Casey Shannon Reed, b July 9, 1983 in Oklahoma, where Ben works for Chain Landscaping and Laura works for Tinker Air Force Base.

     Edna Mae Kathy Kasner, b October 2, 1933 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - married December 5, 1958 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to John Henry Blake, b May 5, 1933 in Teaneck, New Jersey - a son of Henry A. and Elizabeth (Ertl) Blake. Edna weighed approximately three pounds at birth, and became known by the hospital staff as a "miracle baby" because she survived - an unusual occurrence in that period of time. She attended Sneed-Kasner School, and graduated as Class Salutatorian from Rosebud High School in 1951. She attended Draughon's Business College in Dallas, and worked six years in the office of the vice president and building manager of Mercantile National Bank there - moving to Fort Lauderdale in 1958. John Henry Blake attended Rutgers University, graduating with a BBA degree in 1955, and has persued a career in accounting, data processing, and investments. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War for a two-year period. He calls his wife, Edna Mae, by the name of "Kathy," as do their friends. In 1961, they moved to Dallas, and continue to reside there.  They have no children.

 

 

 

 

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page."Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 262 column 2 and page 263 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission