FAMILY STORIES

Wahoo; and back to Ceresco where he is presently Elementary Principal for Ceresco and Valparaiso. Phyllis has been teaching in Ceresco in elementary school since 1961.

   Barbara graduated from UNL, married Lynn Russell Minch, lives in Lincoln, and is in fifth year of teaching Home Economics at Norris H.S. Firth. They have one daughter, Lindsay Rose, born March 23, 1981.

   Eric (Rick) attended UNL, and married Cindy Rae Walin of Greenwood, NE. They purchased 80 acres northeast of Ceresco and have two sons, Wade William (b. 7-18-80) and Ross Louis (b. 4-5-82). Eric was a State Champion wrestler in H.S. and represented the USA on a wrestling tour of Europe (undefeated) in 1975. Cindy works for the US Postal Dept. in Lincoln.

   Dorothy (Betsy) graduated from Peru College -- 4th generation -- married Michael Gerald Reed, lives in Peru ½ block from family homestead, and teaches in Hamburg, Iowa. They have one son, Drew Michael (b. 9-6-81).

   Tom graduated in 1982 from high school. He was State Wrestling medal winner all four years -- State Champion 1982. Now he attends Kearney State College and is on the varsity wrestling squad.

   At present three generations of the family are active in Nebraska Education; William Fulton Davenport -- Boone County Superintendent; Darrell and Phyllis at Ceresco; and Barbara at Norris HS.

   Over the years, Darrell and sons have operated and improved the farm and developed an extensive cattle (Rosenquist Charloais) and hog feeding operation.

   Stratton (Pop) and Eliza Rowell came to Saunders County, east of Swedeburg in 1885. Their ancestors settled in Connecticut. They had five children and two died in infancy. The older son, Charles Rowell, and wife Cora lived at Valparaiso. He was in the masonry work, both now deceased. Son, Graham Rowell, and wife, Cora, lived at Ceresco, both now deceased. Daughter, Sadie, married Emil Quick and they farmed near Ithaca, both now deceased.

Rowell Family

   Charles Rowell, also known as "Pop," had three children; Stratton Rowell who was a barber in Valparaiso and now lives in California; Arthur of Omaha, deceased daughter, Isabella, (Mrs. Guy Ludi) lived at Wahoo.

   Graham Rowell had three children; Carrie (Williamson) of Wahoo, later Mrs. Carl Ritzel who now resides at David City at the age of 92 years; Lillie (Mrs. John Gracey) and husband, farmers near Ceresco, now deceased; Hazel, Mrs. Frank Johnson of Ceresco, now deceased. Sadie and Emil Quick had seven children, Earl, a farmer and electrician of Ithaca (deceased); Roy, a farmer of Ceresco (deceased); Eloise and husband John Spech managed a poultry business in Ashland (deceased); Cecil, a farmer and electrician of Ceresco, retired and still living in Ceresco. Pauline and husband, Elmer Miller farm near Wann, NE.; Kenneth Quick is an employee of Natural Gas Co., Webster City, Iowa; his twin brother, Keith, operated a machine shop in Ceresco, later moving to Valentine still operating a machine shop there. Keith married Eunice Hughes who operated a beauty shop in Ceresco, and is now in the same business in Valentine, Nebraska. Submitted by Cecil Quick

   Josef Ruzicka and his family together with his three brothers, Vaclav, Bohumil and Alois came to America in late 1889-90. They were the sons of Jan and Anna (Jelinek) Ruzicka from Vilemov, Czechoslovakia, Cislo 47. Jan was born on April 7, 1826 and his wife, Anna from Caslav, on July 6, 1829. Josef Ruzicka bought an adjacent home Cislo or (No.) 49 near his parents. The Ruzicka family by European standards owned quite a bit of land but because times were difficult at that time, Josef decided to come to America. He was married to Anna Novotny from Caslav and they had 4 boys and 1 girl, Rose, 4 years old -- our mother. The Ruzicka boys' remaining brother, Jan, stayed in Vilemov on the family farm and home. Their two sisters, Marie, married Ota Leopold and Anna married Mr. Calta, and also remained in Europe. When the boys left from Europe, their names were carved on a wooden cupboard and the date of their departure. This memory can still be seen today as the Vilemov Ruzicka family has carefully preserved it for almost a hundred years.

Joseph Ruzicka Family (1900). Front Row, L. to R.: Mary (Shultz), Anna (Novotny), Anna (Sklenar) and Joseph; Back Row: Rose (Caha), Bohumil, Jerry and Stanley.

   Josef Ruzicka (1850-1936), our grandfather, left Vilemov on November 27, 1889 for America to see if living here was suitable for his family. Upon arrival in Nebraska he stayed with his brother-in-law, James Novotny, who had emigrated much earlier and settled near Weston, Nebraska. James Novotny married his cousin Anna Novotny in America. James Novotny purchased 2 tracks of 80 acres almost side by side. The other 80 acres also had an empty house which Josef and his family and Vaclav Ruzicka lived in after leaving the Novotnys. Later, Josef and his family also lived on the Vondra and Ludvik farm before buying 120 acres about 3 miles west of Weston.

   Vaclav secured some land near Weston and later married Frances Caha, daughter of Josef Caha. They later lived near Touhy, Nebraska. They had no children.

   Alois Ruzicka stayed in Omaha, Nebraska. He married and had a girl named Emma. Alois died at an early age and his wife married Mr. Bali. The daughter, Emma, married Mr. James Pecha who later shot himself. The daughter, Emma, about 87, is living in Omaha. There were 4 or 5 other children born to the second marriage of Mrs. Ruzicka.

   Bohumil Ruzicka spent some time in Omaha, Wahoo and later at Bee, Nebraska where he owned a butcher shop. He married Anna Milacek. To this union were born two children, Lillian and Bohumil. Lillian married Fred Kubalek and they had two children, Richard and Marilyn. Bohumil met an early tragic death at the age of 28 when he was kicked in the head by a bucking horse and never regained consciousness.

   Josef Ruzicka sent for his wife two years later. She came with 4 boys, Josef, Jaroslav, Stanislav, Bohumil and one daughter, Ruzena, (Rose) our mother who was 4 years old at that time. She tells us that all she remembers is water, water, water. Mrs. Ruzicka had a very strenuous journey whereby she and the children were very sick and exhausted. Since they came later with other relatives already established here they did not live in a dugout as so many Czechs did that came earlier. Two other daughters, Mary and Anna, were born to them near Weston.

   The oldest son, Josef, Jr., died the first year in America at the age of 12, and is buried in the Houfek family lot on the first Czech cemetery near Prague. Josef, Jr., and his father traveled with horses to the neighbors at a great distance to help harvest. However, not being accustomed to the changeable Nebraska weather and not being prepared for the sudden drop in temperatures in the afternoon, Joe developed pneumonia. Unable to obtain medical aid because of a big blizzard and lack of doctors, the illness proved fatal. He was mourned very deeply by the whole family.

   Jaroslav, the next oldest (1880-1950) married Mary Pallas (1886-1943) and resided seven miles west of Weston. There are five children: Alice Vrana (Thomas), Gustav (1911-1978), Jerry, Jr. (1915-1918), Marie Christensen (Ernest), Clara Veskerna (Frank). Alice has four children: Frederick (Kathleen Petersen), Ruth Lind (Robert), Benjamin (Andrea Georgi), and Mary Ann Lewis (Edward). Marie's children are: Lucille Rawson (Keith), Wayne (Louise Grant) and Fay Lessner (Robert). Clara's children are: Pauline Deakins (Jack), Daniel, Lyle (who was killed in a tractor accident at age four) and Adrian.

   Stanley (1883-1965) married Anna Shultz who was born in 1898. There are four children: Martha Fortik (Joseph), Laddie (1919-1935), Emil (1924-1941) and Georgia Pestal (Raymond). Martha has one son, La Verne. Georgia has one son Daniel. Both Laddie and Emil died in their teens.

   Bohumil (1885-1908) met with tragedy at age 22 having been shot by a friend across the table accidentally as they were examining their guns. It seemed destined that both Bohumil Ruzicka's met with early tragedy in this new country.

   Rose (1887-1968) married Frank Caha (1875-1955) and had five children: Stanley (Lucile Olson), Joseph (Ann Kuncl), Ruby, Martha Pecena (Raymond) and Evelyn.

   Mary was born in November 26, 1891 near Weston, Nebraska and married John Shultz (1889-1956), and resided near Bruno, Nebraska. John's sister is Anna (born 1898) who married Stanley Ruzicka. Two sets of brother and sister married each other and had a double wedding. John and Mary Shultz have two sons, Joseph, who lives at home and Albin. Albin married Gladys Nadrchal, and there are four children: Cheryl Strickler (Ronald), Gaylen (Judy Mundil), Kenneth and Denise.

   Anna (1895-1975) was born near Weston, Nebraska and married Adolf Sklenar (1893-1974), who was born at Jablonov, Czechoslovakia. They resided on a farm near Davey, Nebraska. There are two sons. Milton married Elaine Kvetensky, daughter of Reverend Kvetensky. Amos married Evelyn Basel and has three children, Jane Schrieber (Everett), Steven (Jean Stanosheck) and Marcia Ranney (Timothy).

   Of the Ruzicka descendants in America, the following have recently been back to visit the land of their ancestors, Evelyn Caha, Martha Caha Pecena, Lumir Caha family, Jerry Joe Caha, Mrs. Lillian Kubalek, and her son Richard and wife Pauline who was born in the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia. Jerry Joe Caha, fourth generation, and who is studying the Czech language at the University of Nebraska, visited last in 1981.

   The Ruzicka counterpart in Vilemov, Czechoslovakia, still live at the original house. This year Mrs. Anna Novotny's relatives -- Ann Novotny Healy and Wilfred Novotny Robinson, originally from Valparaiso, are planning a trip to Czechoslovakia this summer.

   Ray's father, Bohumil (Carl) Ruzicka, was a lifetime resident of Colon. Ray's mother, Agnes Kracl, came from Moravia, Czechoslovakia with her family to South Dakota in 1907. In 1914 they moved to Nebraska. Bohmuil and Agnes were married and raised 6 sons and 3 daughters on a farm east of Colon.

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   My father, William Dwyer, also was a lifetime resident of Colon. My mother, Helena Scott, came from Brechin, Ontario, Canada. They raised 1 son and 2 daughters.

   Ray and I were married in 1946 in Colon at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. We live in the house where I was born and raised. Ray attended grade school at Dist. 55 and I, at Dist. 65. We have 2 daughters: Sharron, born in 1948, and Dianna, born in 1950. Ray has been a farmer near Colon all his life.

   We were active with our girls in 4-H. They did much showing with their horses, sheep, and calves.

   We like to spend our free time camping. Each winter we would go to Arizona for 2 weeks. We now spend about 5 months there. We built a new home in 1979.

   Ray soon will be retiring. We plan to spend more time traveling. Until then we enjoy having our 4 granddaughters, Carrie, Candie, Caylie, Heather, and 1 grandson, Adam, around us. They all are such a joy and keep us young at heart. Submitted by Mrs. Ray (Phyllis) Ruzicka.

   Michael D. Ryan, who was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1839, came to America when a young man. He worked as a railroad section hand in Saunders Co., Nebraska and also in Dodge Co., Nebraska, where he became a Section Foreman.

   He married Johanna O'Donnell, who was born in Ireland in 1844. They lived in the section house, provided by the Railroad in Nickerson, Nebraska. Mrs. Ryan cooked for the men who worked on the section and also did their laundry.

   The family returned to Colon, Saunders Co. to farm and on May 2, 1870 received a Patent from the United States of America to the Southwest quarter of Section 28, Township 16 North of Range 7 east in Saunders County, Nebraska containing 160 acres.

   On Oct. 15, 1880 Mr. Ryan, for the sum of $750 purchased the East half of the Southeast quarter of Section 29, Township 16 North of Range Seven East containing 80 acres.

   On April 22, 1890 Mr. Ryan purchased Lots 7, 8, 9 in Block 109 Co. Add to City of Wahoo at which time the family moved from the farm to Wahoo.

   Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan were the parents of eleven children, 10 girls and 1 boy. Four of their children died during the diphtheria epidemic in 1889 and 1890. The remaining children were: twin daughters, Mary Ellen, married to Tom McDonald, Leshara, Nebr. and Ellen Mary (Nellie) married to Jerry Dailey, Colon, Nebr.; Nora, married to Oscar Hanson, Wahoo, Nebr.; Margaret, married to Ernest Hanson, Wahoo, Nebr.; Sarah, married to Henry K. Staats, Cedar Bluffs, Nebr.; Josephine, married to James Kearney, Wahoo, Nebr.; and Elizabeth (Bessie), married to Peter Fischer, Tekamah, Nebr.

   Mrs. Ryan died in 1902 and Mr. Ryan in 1906.

   The Indians used to camp along the creek and would come to the house for food. Mrs. Ryan baked a lot of bread for her family and they thought the Indians could smell the bread baking as one Indian always came and tapped on the window and pointed to the bread. She always gave them a loaf of bread and whatever else they pointed to.

   Nellie told one story of how the mother and the ten girls saw Indians approaching their place one day. The mother got the ten girls in the house, sat them down and told them that when the Indians arrived, they were not to try to stop them from taking anything. Nellie had a very small rag doll (her only possession) which she tried to hide under her dress, but one Indian saw it and took it along with the food and they then departed. Submitted by Ruth Dailey

   My parents, Frank and Mary (Hakel) Meduna came to Saunders County from Czechoslovakia. They settled near Weston where I was born on March 4, 1894. I attended a county school there.

Mrs. George Sabatka -- Standing, L to R: Georgianne, Edward, Ernest, Eleanor; Seated: Margaret and Gabriela Sabatka.

   On April 30, 1919, I married George Sabatka. He was born May 25, 1892 to Anton F. and Mary (Krafka) Sabatka near Ceresco. He attended school in the country but since he was the oldest of 12 children, he had to help his parents a great deal.

   When we were married we moved to a farm near Swedeburg where our five children were born. Edward still lives on the same farm. He married Celestine Krumel. Margaret of Malmo, married Bernard Chvatal. Georgianne of Wahoo is married to Stanley Bouc. Eleanor of Colon is married to Edwin Swartz, and Ernest's wife was Joan Docekal. There are 22 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

   George passed away July 2, 1959, and, after that, I moved to Wahoo where I still reside. Submitted by Mrs. Gabriela Sabatka

   Ronald Sabatka, son of Anton A. and Lillian Sabatka, was born on March 9, 1938, in the Wahoo Hospital -- Wahoo, Nebraska.

   He received his elementary education in a one-room school, Dist. 99, and attended Wahoo High School and Valparaiso High from which he graduated in 1955. In the fall of 1955, he attended Luther Junior College at Wahoo from which he graduated with an Associate Arts Degree. In the fall of 1957, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska Agriculture College, where he was affiliated with Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. In the spring of 1959, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science and a minor in Agronomy.

   He served eight years in the USNR while in college and immediately following. On September 6, 1961, he married Rose Marie Lapour of Wahoo. They made their home on a farm 2 miles south and ½ mile west of Weston.

   Ron and Rose Marie had two children. Randal Francis, born April 1964, passed away at infancy and Ryan Lee, born December 17, 1971.

   Ron and Rose Marie were engaged in a livestock and farming operation. Rose Marie was active in 4-H work, Pork Producers, extension club, and church work. Ron is active in 4-H, Director of Lower Platte North N.R.D., Director and Past President of Saunders Co. Feeders, Saunders County Pork Producers, and Director of Saunders County Agricultural Society, as well as church and school activities.

   Rose Marie passed away quite suddenly on Jan. 14, 1981, leaving a great loss in our home.

   Ron and Ryan continue to reside south of Weston, Ryan is active in 4-H, attends St. John's school where he is presently in the 5th grade.

   Peter Sams, born in Austria in 1833, and his wife, born in Austria in 1831, first lived in Wisconsin, coming to America in 1855. Joseph A. and Lenore, son and daughter, were born in Wisconsin. The family came to Saunders County in 1871 and bought a farm east of Colon. They lived in a small dwelling until 1881 at which time a larger home and other buildings were built.

Edna May Hoevet Klumpp

   Their daughter, Lenore, married Steven Jones. Her daughter, Ruth Sons, lives in Longmont, Colorado. Son Howard lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Charles passed away several years ago.

   Joseph Sams married Eva Bahm in 1910. Her parents, Fritz Bahm and wife, came from Germany and had eleven children. Joseph and Eva had two daughters. The younger, Eva Briggs of Beatrice, has 2 sons, Alan Joe of Lincoln, and Rob R. of Wymore. The older daughter is Edna May Hoevet Klumpp.

   Edna's first husband died in 1969. She remarried in 1972. Her second husband passed away in 1980. She presently lives in Beatrice. The Hoevets had 2 sons. Robert E. and his family live in Onawa, Iowa. William H. and his family reside in Omaha. Edna May was born in the farm home built in 1881.

   Her father, Joseph Sams, built a large square house in the northeast corner of Colon in about 1913 or 1914 where Eva was born. This house still stands in the same place as it was built. It was a "Sears Roebuck" house; all materials were shipped from the mail order house.

   Joseph had the first car in Saunders County, a 1904 Oldsmobile. It had a steering stick instead of a steering wheel. I'm told by several that whenever Dad came to town, folks gathered around, hoping for a ride.

   As to this writer's history, our family moved to Lincoln in 1918 and built a home in north Lincoln. Both my sister and I attended Lincoln schools and graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan. I taught school twenty-three and one-half years. I taught at Wahoo North Ward under Minnie Manners, principal, in 1934-36. I majored in music and English, and taught private lessons in piano, organ, and voice.

   I'm retired but still direct the Community Choir in Wymore, Nebraska. I write a weekly column for the Wymore Arbor State. My latest project is a book of poetry. I had a book of poems published. Some poems refer to the old home place near Colon, and to Saunders County.

My dad
had the first car
up Saunders County way.
He steered it down the road
with a steering stick
Instead of a wheel.

My dad
once said
"wish I had a dime
for ev'ry cussin'
I got from folks
who said,

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'you scare our horses
with that damn contraption;
those horseless carriages
will never last,
so they said."

Well, dear Dad --
We're still a drivin' 'em --
down here,
and have been
for almost 80 years now.


Copyright, 1982 -- Used with permission Edna May
Hoevet Clumpp

   Clarence Chester Sanders was born to Nova and Louisa Sanders on Jan. 30, 1912. Clarence was only about 6 years old when his mother died of pneumonia. As the years would pass, he would be called on to hone his hunting and fishing skills to help feed the family (skills which have lasted his lifetime and have gained him a measure of local renown as a hunter, trapper, and fisherman).

Clarence C. and Doris E. Sanders

   Clarence attended grade school at Dist. #5, located only one-half mile south of the homestead. Clarence graduated from the eighth grade on May 22, 1925. The health of his father and the demands of the family were deciding factors in Clarence's ending his formal education at that time.

   Between ages 14 and 19 (1926-1931), Clarence helped his father on the homestead during the growing season, and worked for the Safeway stores during the winter. Clarence worked for Safeway at Wahoo, David City, and Superior (where his oldest brother, Otto, managed the store). During his employ with Safeway, Clarence would suffer a heat stroke, caused by moving beef into a cooler from the day's heat of the early 30's. The side effects of this unfortunate mishap, would plague him the rest of his days.

   Clarence left Safeway to take up independent trucking from around 1931 through Jan., 1936. He bought the first 2-ton Dodge with refrigeration west of the Mississippi. Trips between Denver, Ashland, and Chicago kept him busy. Then, on his 24th birthday, Jan. 30, 1936, while hauling a load of oysters, the truck left the icy road and overturned, ending the trucking career of Clarence.

   The next couple of years saw him back farming with his father. In the spring of 1937, 20-year-old Dora E. Buchholz, daughter of John and Amanda Buchholz of Palmyra (born Mar. 28, 1917), came to the house of Nova Sanders to help with housework and to cook during the summer. It would only take five months for Clarence to realize that his life would be better if this young woman stayed. Thus, on Dec. 6, 1937, in Belleville, Kansas, Clarence married Dora Buchholz. They would have three children: Ronald, Donna, and Jody Sanders. From his marriage in 1937 until 1971, Clarence would make his living by farming and winter trapping.

   In the spring of 1942, Nova (Clarence's father) died and the Sanders Homestead passed to his children. Clarence, in his effort to retain the original homestead, entered into an agreement to buy the homestead, an agreement which was to prove to be too demanding.

   On August 21, 1946, the first child was born at the "old" St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, Ronald Lee Sanders. On Oct. 18, 1950, the first daughter was born, Donna Rae Sanders.

   The wet years of the early 1950's spelled crop failures for them and their financial problems grew. On Sept. 12, 1956, a second daughter was born, Jody Ann Sanders. In 1957, for the first time in its 94-history, the Sanders Homestead (1863-1957) passed out of the ownership of the Sanders family.

   Clarence and his family moved to a farm 2½ miles west of Memphis and farmed there until the fall of 1971, when Clarence retired from active farming and moved into Memphis itself. Dora, all of this time, served as loving mother and helping wife.

   From that time on to the present, they have operated "The Corner Store" on the edge of Memphis State Recreation Area. Clarence and his love of the outdoors continues, as he buys furs in the winter as an authorized Nebraska Fur Buyer under the name of "Sanders Fur Company." (For Sanders generations 4 and 5, in Saunders County, see: Ronald Lee Sanders.)

   Harrison Sanders was one of five brothers who came early to homestead in Saunders County, Nebraska. He arrived in 1867 to settle on S-25, T-13, R-9. His brothers, Billy and Jacob, had arrived in the fall of 1863, Michael in 1865, and Dick in 1870.

Harrison Sanders and wife Emmeline

   Harrison was born 31 December 1840 in Madison County, Ohio, the youngest of 10 children born to Adam and Hannah (Laup) Sanders. When he was 16, he moved with his folks to Lucas County, Iowa. In Clark County, Iowa, twenty-year-old Harry met and married fourteen-year-old Emmeline Fenton who was born 6 November 1846 in Iowa. They had a son, Charles A., born 19 March 1863 and who died on 19 September 1866 in Lucas County, Iowa. Their daughter, Anna J., was born 23 November 1867 in Iowa, just before they moved to Nebraska. She died in 1873 and is buried in the Ashland Cemetery.

   Harry and Emmeline had joined the Methodist Church when they first came to Saunders County and were active in all the infant society's endeavors. Harry was a farmer during his lifetime and continued that pursuit when he and Emmeline moved to Monte Vista, Colorado in 1892. Emmeline died 18 February 1903 there, and Harry took her body back to Ashland for burial alongside their young daughter, Anna.

   Harry was married for a second time to Martha Katherine Montgomery at Monte Vista. They had no children. In May of 1916, Harry was advised by his physicians to go to a lower altitude for his health. He and Martha moved to Canon City, Colorado. He contracted typhoid fever there, and after an illness of two weeks, died on 10 August. He was 75y 7m and 9d old. A stepson took the body back to Ashland and the funeral services were conducted from the Methodist Church on Sunday morning. He was laid to rest alongside his first wife, Emmeline, and young daughter, Anna J., according to the rites of the International Order of Odd Fellows. Their graves are marked by a large brown stone. He was survived by his second wife who remained in Canon City, and a sister, Eliza Jane Lamkin, of Denver, Colorado. He left no children. By Mary Anders

   Jacob M. Sanders was one of five brothers who came early to homestead in Saunders County, Nebraska Territory. He and his brother, Billy, came to the present-day precinct of Clear Creek in the fall of 1863. Jacob homesteaded 160 acres on S-25, T-12, R-9, north of Ashland. This spot was then only a stopping place on the "Great American Desert" and was known as Saline Ford. It was on Salt River, where the only known rock-bottomed ford lay to furnish crossing for freight caravans. Jacob was among the first settlers of the community and he was the first probate judge elected in Saunders County, serving the years 1868 and 1869. The three other brothers who came later were Michael, 1865, Harry, 1867, and Dick, 1870.

   Jacob was born 6 October 1834 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to Adam and Hannah (Laup) Sanders and moved with his family as an infant to Madison County, Ohio. He was married on 21 October 1858 at Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa to Siche M. Robinson, born 29 March 1840 at Zanesville, Ohio. Jacob served as a private in the 34th Iowa Regiment of U.S. Infantry volunteers from 14 August 1862 until his discharge on account of disability on 27 May 1863. He had a chronic ulcer of the right leg and was bothered by rheumatism. He saw no active service. Their little daughter, Leota Josephine, died of scarlet fever on 26 December 1862, aged 14 months, and was buried in the Friends Cemetery near Smyrna, Lucas county, Iowa.

   Jacob and Siche had two more children. Cora was born in 1865 in Saunders County where she spent her entire life. She married Tom Owen there, and had children, Howard, Maude, and Floyd. She died in 1925. Merritt was born 1869 and was twice-married, with a child by each wife, Maple and Darrel. Merritt died at Silver Creek, Nebraska in 1931.

   Jacob was a farmer and prospered from his agriculture pursuits in Saunders county the rest of his life. He and Siche moved into the town of Ashland in 1893 where he was a member of the Bob McCook post of the Grant Army of the Republic.

   Jacob caught a slight cold on a Saturday and it rapidly turned into pneumonia. He died the following Friday on 8 March 1900, aged 68y 6m 2d and was buried in the Ashland cemetery. His obituary read in part, "he was a good citizen and a man of genial pleasant bearing. He will be missed from our community where he had been a familiar figure for many years."

   Siche M., Jacob's wife, lived with her daughter, Cora, until her own death on 2 July 1920. She was buried beside Jacob. Mary Anders

   Jonathan Gebhart "Dick" Sanders was one of five brothers who came early to Saunders County. He arrived in 1870 and bought land on S-4, T-13, R-9, in Clear Creek precinct. His brothers, Billy and Jacob, had arrived in the fall of 1863, Michael Henry in 1865, and Harrison in 1867.

   Dick was born 27 April 1833 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the fourth of twelve children born to Adam and Hannah (Laup) Sanders. The other children in order of birth were: a baby girl, Jon,

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