August 21, 2010
I looked out my kitchen window
and I saw coming up the road,
an old man in an electric chair
straying not to far from home.
He comes this way most everyday
after making rounds about the town,
to share the news he's gathered -
he starts spreading it around.
He doesn't always get his stories straight
and he never stays too long.
He just lets you know what he thinks he heard
and then he travels on.
He's always in his overalls
with a dirty ole cap upon his head,
and occasionally he'll be wearing
the jelly from his bread.
Sometimes he brings along advice of
to him what just looks wrong.
Sometimes he's just been thinking
or has a job for you to do,
or he tells you 'bout his aches and pains
and complains of his age too.
Perhaps something compells him
to share a story now and then
of something he once did
or places that he's been.
Tears will well up in his eyes
if he speaks about his kids.
Of all the things the years have given him
he hasn't much to show
'cept for the son's and daughter's,
that's one thing that he know's.
Cause, they'll throw their arms around him,
to them he's not so bad,
and he knows they really love him
every time they call him "Dad".
by Susan Holmes
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
More Family Arrive from Germany
In 1923, Adolpfine (a neice of Louise Blum) and her husband, Paul Sick along with their children, Willie, Kurt, and Werner, arrived from Germany. Andrew guaranteed them a place to stay and food to eat until they could become established in business.
While staying with them on the homestead at South Bend, Grandma Louise fell while going to the chicken house to pick up eggs. Adolfine took over the household while grandma recovered, cooking for everyone, cleaning, gathering eggs, and milking the cows. She thought it was an awful lot of work.
They soon moved to Omaha where Paul started a nursery of flowers and vegtables.
While staying with them on the homestead at South Bend, Grandma Louise fell while going to the chicken house to pick up eggs. Adolfine took over the household while grandma recovered, cooking for everyone, cleaning, gathering eggs, and milking the cows. She thought it was an awful lot of work.
They soon moved to Omaha where Paul started a nursery of flowers and vegtables.
Adolphine was born to Karl Adolf Mossinger (born 1850 died 1989) son of George Karl Mossinger and Caroline Jenne of Koendringen, Baden, Germany, Febuary 20, 1886 in Germany. She died in Omaha, Nebraska on February 17, 1989 just short of her 103rd birthday.
Ida Blum, daughter of Andrew
Ida Blum Thieman
As stated in an earlier post Ida Blum was born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 22, 1882, and spent her early years in South Dakota. Now on the homestead in Nebraska Ida meets Herman Thieman.
Herman visited Ida Blum often and everyone made fun of that older man courting that young girl. Herman and Ida Thieman were married June 15, 1905 at Trinity Lutheran church in rural Murdock, Nebraska. Herman died November 25, 1930. Herman and Ida had four children.
Marvin Sutton
Marvin Sutton was born July 17, 1897 in Philadelphia, Pensylvania to Clarence Sutton and Alice Curtiss, who lived at 250 west 37th St., New York, New York. His mother took him to the children's aid society on October 27, 1903 and he was taken to the orphan train soon after that. We think that he arrived at South Bend, Nebraska on the Burlington Railroad, the date we are not sure of. He was adopted by Herman and Ida Thieman. 
Carrie Thieman
Carrie (Thieman) Reinke was Born June 8, 1906. 
Elda Thieman
Elda (Thieman) Duerr was born January 31, 1908 (and will soon celebrate her 102 birthday in Louisville, Nebraska).
Margaret (Thieman) Stewart was born June 4, 1918.
William Blum
William Blum, son of Andrew, attended Klondyke school for seven and a half years, which was located one and one half miles west of South Bend, Nebraska. He finished the eighth grade at District #57 school which was located one mile west of the Platte River Exit on west bound interstate 80. He stayed at the Judge Worthman house which was one fourth mile east of the school on the south side of the road. It was a two story white stone mansion. He attended high school at Louisville, Nebraska, in 1913 for three and one half years. His bother Albert rented the Gakemeier farm three miles south and west of Louisville on the south side of the road. The original house still stands and is being used. Albert rented this farm from 1910 to December of 1917. William graduated from high school and attended the York Business College. He graduated after seven months attendance at this school. His education here was financed by Andrew and Louis Blum with eggs and cream from the farm. He stayed at a boarding house which cost $2.50 a week. A piece of pie at this time cost .05 cents.
Albert Blum
Albert Blum not being married in 1910, had his sister Louise cooking for him. His sister, Marie also joined them later. There were four brothers and sisters living on the Gakemeier farm . Just north of them on the east side of the creek, their Aunt Minnie (Louise's sister) and her husband George Huber, and his brother Eugene Messenger lived. The kids would get together for dances every weekend. William and Albert looked so much alike they were always being mistaken for each other. George Charles, and Eugene often stayed with Andrew. Andrew would have to reprimand Eugene many times as he would always harness the horses the wrong way.
In 1917 as Albert was discing the ground in preparation to plant a crop, the horses became frightened and ran away. Two horses had to be destroyed. Andrew and Louise were concerned for his safety and wanted him to farm closer to home. In 1918 Albert went to Spokane, Washington with his brother Ernest, and learned to head wheat. Four horses were used with the machine in front of the the horses. A canvas conveyor piled the wheat.
Ernest Blum
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Andrew Move the Family to Nebraska
In 1899 Andrew received a letter from Minnie Huber telling about a beautiful parcel of land located near South Bend, Nebraska. Andrew traveled by train to Louisville, Nebraska where Minnie and her husband, John George, met him at the depot. The next day Andrew accompanied them by horse and buggy to look at the tract of land located two miles west and one half mile south of South Bend. When Andrew inspected the land it looked so much like his home in Baden near the Black Forest, that he became homesick, even after all the years in America. The eighty acres had a creek named Pawnee Creek, after the Pawnee Indian tribe. The Pawnees had many campsites along the creek. This creek flowed through the center of this property with crystal clear waters. There was a high rock hill along the creek. The earth above the rock hill was the same texture as that in Germany where the grapes were grown in Emmendingen, Kondringen. The rich ground had an abundance of prairie grasses on it.
Andrew immediately went back to South Dakota and sold the 160 acres he had homesteaded, and the timber claim, all for a small sum of money. This decision was made mostly because of all the years of drought, grasshoppers, locusts, and prairie fires that were often started by lightning. His wife, Louise, protested as she did not want to leave her many friends and family and start all over again.
The eighty acres of ground at South Bend was owned by Joe Sweeney. The purchase price for this ground was $3,000.00. Joe Sweeney was related to John George Huber. Joe had a daughter, Molly, who was married to August Newman. Their children were John and Dottie. The Sweeney family went to California from South Bend, but they were unable to take their two large dogs with them. The dogs remained in the care of the Blum family until they were sent for.
The 13 acres of ground above the rock hill was planted to grapes and pasture. The grapes thrived and produced many barrels of wine. The grape rows were four feet apart and they used one horse and a plow to keep the weeds under control between the rows of grapes, and a hoe was used around the vines. Each year as the plow was used, the Indian arrow heads would be plowed to the surface. An Indian camp had been situated on the high hill.
A stone house was erected east of the Pawnee Creek. Stones dug out of the rock hill were used for the house, and a cave was dug under the south side of the house to provide a cool place for the many kegs of wine. The kegs were stacked two or three deep in clusters of six or nine to a cluster. Other buildings included a large barn to accomodate horses on one side and the milk cows on the other, with a ladder to go to the hay loft. Also a very unique building, which I doubt will ever be seen again anywhere, was a long building. A corn crib was on the west side. The corn was picked by hand, and stored in this area. On the east side there were enclosed grain bins, for wheat and oats. The structure was built on pilaster posts, at least 12 feet high, so wagon's could be driven underneath to load grain and take it to the elevator in the winter. This structure was built by a rock wall. Andrew used large rocks from the rock hill to build the wall at least 20 feet high. It was enclosed with a floor above the wall and to the side of the corn crib and grain bins, to allow unloading of grain in the bins and crib area. A chicken house was erected along the same rock wall, with a building above and to the north side, which contained space for the storage of corn cobs, fire wood for the cook stove and heating stove, and storage area for goods and materials needed for the farm operation.
A natural spring appeared south and east of the chicken house, a little higher on the hill. The water appeared to be coming out of the ground from the roots of a red oak tree. A cistern type hole was dug about ten feet deep near the spring on the lower side. This was enclosed and a dumb waiter was installed, with a rope and pulley with shelves attached to the rope. The butter, eggs, cream, milk, and other foods were kept on these shelves as it was cool in the summer and never froze in the winter. The cool spring water flowed through this structure, with the use of a wooden trough, a pipe was used to continue the water into the chicken house. The trough was constructed through this building, and a pipe was installed to exit the water from this building to a tank for the cattle and hogs, and continued out to the pond. The natural springs always kept clear fresh water in this small pond. In the winter time when the pond froze over, Albert, Martin, and Marvin Sutton, and the Snyder sisters would ice skate on the pond. One of the girls name was Hazel. They lived one mile west of Pawnee Creek. Many winter nights the Blum family and friends would ice skate on the pond by the light of the moon.
During the year of 1904, Louise's mother, Caroline, put a large granite pan of potato's on the stove to cook. It was the type of pan that was small on the bottom and big around on the top. It did not set well on the stove, which burned corn cobs and wood. The burner lid would be removed so the pan could be placed directly on the burning cobs, and wood. Caroline went to check to see if they were done and the kettle tipped over and the boiling water poured out onto her legs. The skin from the burns did not heal and someone suggested that they use a lamb manure poltice. The Talbotts had lambs, so they got some manure from them and tried it. This treatment did not help and soon after that she had a stroke. It was some time later that she passed away on May 30 1905 and was buried on June 6, 1905 at the Trinity Lutheran Church north of Murdock, Nebraska. There is a large headstone upon her burial place engraved in German.
My grandmother, Marie, took her grandmother's passing especially hard. They were very close, and were bed mates. Ida Blum postphoned her wedding from June 1st to June 15th for her grandmothers funeral, and Ernest was home for a few day as he was attending taxidermy school in Omaha. Ernest told of his granmother Caroline being so dilirious from the pain that she tried to climb the walls.
Martin Blum was born March 8, 1905 at South Bend and was almost 3 months old when his grandmother died.
Andrew immediately went back to South Dakota and sold the 160 acres he had homesteaded, and the timber claim, all for a small sum of money. This decision was made mostly because of all the years of drought, grasshoppers, locusts, and prairie fires that were often started by lightning. His wife, Louise, protested as she did not want to leave her many friends and family and start all over again.
The eighty acres of ground at South Bend was owned by Joe Sweeney. The purchase price for this ground was $3,000.00. Joe Sweeney was related to John George Huber. Joe had a daughter, Molly, who was married to August Newman. Their children were John and Dottie. The Sweeney family went to California from South Bend, but they were unable to take their two large dogs with them. The dogs remained in the care of the Blum family until they were sent for.
The 13 acres of ground above the rock hill was planted to grapes and pasture. The grapes thrived and produced many barrels of wine. The grape rows were four feet apart and they used one horse and a plow to keep the weeds under control between the rows of grapes, and a hoe was used around the vines. Each year as the plow was used, the Indian arrow heads would be plowed to the surface. An Indian camp had been situated on the high hill.
A stone house was erected east of the Pawnee Creek. Stones dug out of the rock hill were used for the house, and a cave was dug under the south side of the house to provide a cool place for the many kegs of wine. The kegs were stacked two or three deep in clusters of six or nine to a cluster. Other buildings included a large barn to accomodate horses on one side and the milk cows on the other, with a ladder to go to the hay loft. Also a very unique building, which I doubt will ever be seen again anywhere, was a long building. A corn crib was on the west side. The corn was picked by hand, and stored in this area. On the east side there were enclosed grain bins, for wheat and oats. The structure was built on pilaster posts, at least 12 feet high, so wagon's could be driven underneath to load grain and take it to the elevator in the winter. This structure was built by a rock wall. Andrew used large rocks from the rock hill to build the wall at least 20 feet high. It was enclosed with a floor above the wall and to the side of the corn crib and grain bins, to allow unloading of grain in the bins and crib area. A chicken house was erected along the same rock wall, with a building above and to the north side, which contained space for the storage of corn cobs, fire wood for the cook stove and heating stove, and storage area for goods and materials needed for the farm operation.
A natural spring appeared south and east of the chicken house, a little higher on the hill. The water appeared to be coming out of the ground from the roots of a red oak tree. A cistern type hole was dug about ten feet deep near the spring on the lower side. This was enclosed and a dumb waiter was installed, with a rope and pulley with shelves attached to the rope. The butter, eggs, cream, milk, and other foods were kept on these shelves as it was cool in the summer and never froze in the winter. The cool spring water flowed through this structure, with the use of a wooden trough, a pipe was used to continue the water into the chicken house. The trough was constructed through this building, and a pipe was installed to exit the water from this building to a tank for the cattle and hogs, and continued out to the pond. The natural springs always kept clear fresh water in this small pond. In the winter time when the pond froze over, Albert, Martin, and Marvin Sutton, and the Snyder sisters would ice skate on the pond. One of the girls name was Hazel. They lived one mile west of Pawnee Creek. Many winter nights the Blum family and friends would ice skate on the pond by the light of the moon.
Oak tree on Homestead 1917
Oak Tree in 1995
The stone house had a spiral staircase leading from the second floor to a tower. This room had look out windws, one to the north and one to the south. In later years and additon was constructed on the south side of the house. Directly north of the stone house Louise planted her garden. On the north of the garden and to the east, was another rocky area about 30 feet higher than the rest of the ground. Ths land proved to be highly productive for pear, peach, apple, and cherry trees, Also grown in this location were raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and gooseberry bushes. Andrew had name tags printed with read: Andrew Blum Fruitgrower. While walking through the pasture there were gooseberry bushes everywhere. It didn't make any difference what kind of berry you wanted, they grew profusely along every road. This included, chokecherry, elderberry and wild plums.
Louise Blum in Cabbage Garden
On July 15, 1900, Andrew Blum Jr., was born. In 1901 the family living at the South Bend homestead were Andrew and Louise, Louise's mother, Caroline "Jenne" Moessinger, seventy nine years old, the seven Blum childre, Ida 19, Ernest, 17, Albert 13, Louise 9, Marie 6, William 3, and Andrew 1. Andrew Jr,, was not born exactly normal. He was small in stature and mentally impaired. My dad, Cecil Pierce, tells me what he remembers of him was that as children they would chase him and tease him. He liked to keep all of his things neatly organized, and they would mess up his things and make him mad. Great Grandmother always wondered if she had sinned in some way that God would punish her through her child.
Andrew Junior and Andrew Senior
During the year of 1904, Louise's mother, Caroline, put a large granite pan of potato's on the stove to cook. It was the type of pan that was small on the bottom and big around on the top. It did not set well on the stove, which burned corn cobs and wood. The burner lid would be removed so the pan could be placed directly on the burning cobs, and wood. Caroline went to check to see if they were done and the kettle tipped over and the boiling water poured out onto her legs. The skin from the burns did not heal and someone suggested that they use a lamb manure poltice. The Talbotts had lambs, so they got some manure from them and tried it. This treatment did not help and soon after that she had a stroke. It was some time later that she passed away on May 30 1905 and was buried on June 6, 1905 at the Trinity Lutheran Church north of Murdock, Nebraska. There is a large headstone upon her burial place engraved in German.
My grandmother, Marie, took her grandmother's passing especially hard. They were very close, and were bed mates. Ida Blum postphoned her wedding from June 1st to June 15th for her grandmothers funeral, and Ernest was home for a few day as he was attending taxidermy school in Omaha. Ernest told of his granmother Caroline being so dilirious from the pain that she tried to climb the walls.
Martin Blum was born March 8, 1905 at South Bend and was almost 3 months old when his grandmother died.
Monday, November 16, 2009
From the Graphic Pen of William Blum 1898-1996
My father (Andrew) and mother's sister, Caroline (William Blum's wife) went into town to replenish the family larder, as things were not so conviently handy, as we have it now, and in their absence, it was such a beautiful day, my mother decided to get straw for bedding for the live stock, and chickens. She harnessed the horses, hitched them to the hay rack and drove them to the straw stack. Soon after arriving there, she felt the urgence to get back to the sod house, for the impending birth made itself felt.
So, she had the concious concern, would Andrew and Caroline get back in time. (Caroline was the area midwife and delivered many babies on the plains.).
I was two years old when, after nineteen years of very strenuous living, ekeing out an existence on a South Dakota homestead, they were lured to South Bend, Nebraska to a land of plenty of water. A natural spring which seemed to originate from the roots of a red oak tree. Pawnee Creek flowed through the middle of the eighty acre tract of land, which had trees and orchards and was a productive land.
My folks were always strapped for funds, as my father made snap decisions, which were not always productive, and mother had to fill in the gaps. He was always hale and hearty with friends and hired men, to cook for , but was also helpful to provide.
We do not realize the aches and pains our parent suffer until we experience them ourselves. Mother was so plagued with headaches, I remember her using the horse radish leaves to tie around her head, and the agony she had with her gall bladder. After her operation in January of 1928, she died February 2 of pneumonia. She was recognized as a friend of the old people to releive them of their suffering.
I was baptized in the Lutheran Church in White Lake, South Dakota on the tenth day of April 1898. I was confirmed March 31, 1912. Psalms 37:5 was the Bible passage. Commit thy way unto the Lord: trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
We were always guided and warned of temptation under mother's watchful eye. This quotation: God knew he couldn't be everywhere, so he put his little children in a loving mother's care. Mother was alway more thorough in exercising attention.
William Blum
William Blum with my daughter Chrisinthia Alcorn
1993
William Blum and Myself with his son Herbert Blum and wife Una Jean
Family Reunion 1993
William Blum was the last of the Andrew Blum Children to leave us in 1996.
William Blum
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
More Blums Come to America
In 1886 and 1887 Andrew worked as a carpenter and lived at 2501 Center Street, Omaha.
Again Andrew sent money to Germany for the sister of his wife Louise, and William's wife Caroline, (this is where things get confusing, as the two of the Blum brothers married two of the Moessinger sisters, and another brother married a Carolina Messinger (not a relative to Louise and Caroline!!), Wilhelmina (known affectionately as Minnie) , her husband, John Geroge Huber, and their children, George (Wilhelmina's son born 1870 before she was married to John), and Anna (born 1882). With them this time was the mother of Louise, Caroline, and Wihelmina, CAROLINE 'JENNE' MOESSINGER (pronounced 'maysinger"), born August 16, 1822.
It had been almost seven years since Caroline had seen her mother. Can you imagine the anticipation she must have felt, waiting for the arrival of her mother and sister? And Louise also, having came to America as a young single girl, now married with two children of her own. The first time for Caroline (mother) to meet with her new grandchildren. Yet leaving behind a home in the turmoils of war, not knowing for sure if her husband was dead or alive, and would some day be joining her here in this new land. Yet to be reunited with the majority of her children must have been a God send compared to the place she had left behind. I wonder what she thought when she reached that little homestead shack in South Dakota, on the big wide prarie so sparcely inhabited?
June 11, 1886, Eliza Blum was born at White Lake, South Dakota. On August 14, 1886, she was baptized and those attending the baptism, and signing the certificate, were her uncles, William and Gustav Blum. Also, her aunts, Caroline and Wilhelmina. This joyous event was held at the Lutheran Church at White Lake, South Dakota. The Blum's were devout Lutherans, and their childern were raised in the faith.
Andrew and Louise traveled to Omaha and spent the winter there while Andrew worked at one of the breweries, returning in the spring for the planting season. On September 22, 1888, Albert Blum was born at White, Lake. March 29, 1889, Eliza Blum died from dyptheria, or small pox, at the age of three.
In 1892 Andrew and Louise went back to Omaha where they lived at 2nd and Woolworth St. On May 4, 1892 Louise Blum was born here. Andrew was working for Gate City Malt Company as a maltster. Andrew's brother William joined him and also worked their as a laborer.
You can see from the sea sawing back and forth between Omaha and White Lake, that the family had to work hard to stay afloat in the sparce times. In 1895 Andrew and Louise returned to South Dakota for the planting season. This is where my grandmother, Marie, was born in White Lake, on April 5, 1995..
Again Andrew sent money to Germany for the sister of his wife Louise, and William's wife Caroline, (this is where things get confusing, as the two of the Blum brothers married two of the Moessinger sisters, and another brother married a Carolina Messinger (not a relative to Louise and Caroline!!), Wilhelmina (known affectionately as Minnie) , her husband, John Geroge Huber, and their children, George (Wilhelmina's son born 1870 before she was married to John), and Anna (born 1882). With them this time was the mother of Louise, Caroline, and Wihelmina, CAROLINE 'JENNE' MOESSINGER (pronounced 'maysinger"), born August 16, 1822.
Wilhelmina Moessinger Huber
The Moessinger Sisters
Louise Blum, Wilhelmina Huber, Caroline Blum
about 1914
June 11, 1886, Eliza Blum was born at White Lake, South Dakota. On August 14, 1886, she was baptized and those attending the baptism, and signing the certificate, were her uncles, William and Gustav Blum. Also, her aunts, Caroline and Wilhelmina. This joyous event was held at the Lutheran Church at White Lake, South Dakota. The Blum's were devout Lutherans, and their childern were raised in the faith.
Andrew and Louise traveled to Omaha and spent the winter there while Andrew worked at one of the breweries, returning in the spring for the planting season. On September 22, 1888, Albert Blum was born at White, Lake. March 29, 1889, Eliza Blum died from dyptheria, or small pox, at the age of three.
In 1892 Andrew and Louise went back to Omaha where they lived at 2nd and Woolworth St. On May 4, 1892 Louise Blum was born here. Andrew was working for Gate City Malt Company as a maltster. Andrew's brother William joined him and also worked their as a laborer.
You can see from the sea sawing back and forth between Omaha and White Lake, that the family had to work hard to stay afloat in the sparce times. In 1895 Andrew and Louise returned to South Dakota for the planting season. This is where my grandmother, Marie, was born in White Lake, on April 5, 1995..
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Blums Go to South Dakota
White Lake South Dakota
Gustav Blum Family
about 1892
Gustav Blum Family
The winters were rough on the plains in the 1880's. Andrew and Louise returned to Omaha, Nebraska many winters where Andrew would work in the breweries as a maltster.
Their second child, Ernest Blum was born in Omaha, on March 1, 1884. The family was boarded at the European Hotel, and Andrew was a maltster at the Metz Brewing Company.
In 1885, Andrew once again sent money to Germany for his brother Martin Blum, to come to America. Andrew procured work for Martin at the Storz Brewing Company and in 1886 Martin became a successful brewmaster at the plant.
Martin and Carrie Blum
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