family. He had also found medical relief there, when he and Clara visited there in 1961.

We are prone to forget people, but the influence Adolph Koester brought into our community for more than 40 years, channeling its course, will long be felt, even by the people who will follow but did not know him personally.

—CHAS. C. ZIMMERMAN
for a Friend.

John F. Tiedgen was born in Holstein, Germany in 1834 and left Germany when he was twenty years old because of forced military training. He sailed to the United States, working on the boat for his fare to the new world. Mr. Tiedgen landed at New Orleans and then sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo.

He hauled freight out of St. Louis for several years before moving to Corning, Mo., where he started farming. This is where he met his future wife, Mrs. Margretha Gunkle Harding, who had been widowed the previous year. She had had two children by her first husband: Lizzie Harding Bussey and John H. Harding. Mr. Tiedgen and Mrs. Harding were married in 1864. Three children were born to them while they were living in Missouri: Lena Tiedgen Warnoka, William Tiedgen, and Carrie Tiedgen Hale.

In 1868 Mr. Tiedgen came to Madison County, Nebraska, to take up a claim (south west quarter section 12-Highland precinct) and homesteaded there. He acquired the southwest quarter by planting trees, which is now the farm home of Clarence Bierman. The next year, 1869, he returned to Missouri to bring his family and belongings to Madison County. Among his belongings were 100 head of cattle and 8 or 10 horses. Herman Hogrefe drove 4 head of horses on a wagon, Henry Tomhagen and Henry Woste helped drive the cattle. John Lucht also came with Mr. Tiedgen as an employee. They all reached Battle Creek in April of 1869.

Herman Hogrefe and Henry Tomhagen, who later became brothers-in-law of Mr. Tiedgen, also homesteaded at this time. Mr. Hogrefe married Ida Gunkle and Mr. Tomhagen married Lena Gunkle who was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Tiedgen.

Later in 1869, L. D. Barnes, Patrick O'Neill and John Ahrens settled in this same vicinity.

Mr. Tiedgen's home was framed in Missouri, was shipped to Columbus by freight and hauled overland in wagons to his homestead where it was erected.

The Tiedgen's holdings at one time totaled 2200 acres of land so he came to Madison County as a rich man. The Tiedgen home was noted for its hospitality. He was referred to as a man

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