| Notes |
- _P_CCINFO 2-14330
From THE PAST AND THE PRESENT, PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, Volume II-
Gerhard Loseke, a retired farmer living in Columbus, was born in Oldenburg Germany, May 6, 1852, his parents being John H. and Anna M. (Grotelueschen) Loseke, who were also natives of Oldenburg. Both have now passed away, the father having died March 18, 1891, at the age of eighty-one years and three months, while the mother's death occurred August 8, 1879, when she had reached the age of sixty-nine years and twenty-two days. The father worked as a farm hand in Germany and devoted three years of his early manhood to military service. In 1858 he brought his family to the new world and after landing in the east traveled by rail to Iowa City and thence across the country to Platte county, Nebraska. He settled on a stream that is now called Loseke creek, in Bismark township, being one of the first settlers of that district. All around him was the unbroken prairie. Indians were still to be seen in the neighborhood and there were a few buffaloes and much wild game. Railroads, however, had not yet been built in this section of the state. He settled on government land and built a dugout, the family beginning life in America in that crude pioneer home. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and after he had resided in the county for some time a house of worship for that denomination was erected on land which he owned. His political allegiance was given the democratic party. In his family were three sons and a daughter, Henry, Herman, Anna and Gerhard, and it was at the home of the last named that the parents passed away. The mother's brother, Henry Lueschen (the name being Grotelueschen in Germany) built one of the first log cabins in Columbus in 1856.
Gerhard Loseke was a little lad of but six summers when brought by his father to the United States. He attended the district schools in Bismark township, in district No. 2, which was one of the first schools established in the township, the schoolhouse being built of logs. The methods of instruction, too, were somewhat primitive, but there were also many lessons to be learned in the school of experience, as he assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm. Being the youngest son, he remained at home and assisted in the work of the farm. At the age of seventeen years he began farming for himself with ox teams, and his parents lived with him until they were called to their final rest.
As his financial resources increased as the result of industry and economy Gerhard Loseke kept adding to his farm, making purchases of land at from four to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. In this manner he acquired over one thousand acres in the county, being numbered among the most extensive landowners. He has since given all of his children good farms, retaining only one hundred and twenty acres for himself. He concentrated his efforts upon the development and cultivation of his fields and to his farms added many modern improvements so that all became valuable properties. In addition to tilling the fields he engaged extensively in stock-raising and whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion, for industry and determination enabled him to overcome all of the difficulties and obstacles in his path. He raised high grade Hereford cattle and always topped the market. He was one of the first in the county to begin shipping stock and his success in that undertaking constituted an example that others profitably followed. When a boy he used to see many Indians, the redskins far outnumbering the "palefaces" in his locality. There were few of the comforts and none of the luxuries of life to be enjoyed and existence on the Nebraska prairies at that time meant earnest, persistent labor in order to gain a living. Mr. Loseke continued to make his home by the side of the creek which was named in honor of his family until 1913, when he retired from active business and took up his abode in Columbus. He started out empty handed, but by hard work won a gratifying measure of success.
On the 11th of July, 1873, Mr. Loseke was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Mueller, who was born in Hanover, Germany, May 2, 1855, and died June 2, 1893. Her father, Henry Mueller, came to Platte county in pioneer times and took up a homestead in Bismark township, remaining upon his farm until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Loseke were born eight children: E. Wilhelmina, is the wife of Charles Wurdeman, an architect of Columbus, and has three children. Emeline Josephine is the wife of Adolph Frese, of Bismark township, by whom she has six children. Edward Gustave, who was born December 23, 1881, and is engaged in farming and the raising of Hereford cattle on the home place, married Emma Luers and has three children. George E. was born February 17, 1884, and married Lillie Korte, who died February 25, 1909, leaving a daughter, Violet. Edwin Gerhard, who was born May 4, 1886, and follows farming, married Alma Huntemann and has three children. Emma Eliza is the wife of William Luckey, a farmer. and has two children. Emil Gottfried, a farmer by occupation, was born January 21, 1891, and married Anna Mueller, by whom he has one child. Ernst Walter, who was born March 19, 1893, and after attending the Lincoln School of Agriculture began farming, married Martha Arnold. All are now residents of Bismark township. In 1913 Mr. Loseke was again married, his second union being with Miss Emma Hanstadt.
In his political views Mr. Loseke is a republican and while never an active party worker has always been a progressive citizen and is a broad-minded, intelligent man. His activity has been a source of public benefit as well as of individual success, for his efforts demonstrate what can be accomplished by the utilization of the natural resources of the county. He is one of the honored pioneer settlers and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present, for. he has lived in the county through fifty-seven years, during which a marvelous change has occurred, for the wild prairie, dotted with millions of flowers in June and covered in winter by a dazzling, unbroken sheet of snow, has been converted into rich and productive fields, in the midst of which stand substantial farmhouses, while here and there towns and villages have sprung up and all of the evidences of modern civilization are to be found on every hand.
[ColfaxDeutschlandPlatte.FBK.FTW]
From THE PAST AND THE PRESENT, PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, Volume II-
Gerhard Loseke, a retired farmer living in Columbus, was born in Oldenburg Germany, May 6, 1852, his parents being John H. and Anna M. (Grotelueschen) Loseke, who were also natives of Oldenburg. Both have now passed away, the father having died March 18, 1891, at the age of eighty-one years and three months, while the mother's death occurred August 8, 1879, when she had reached the age of sixty-nine years and twenty-two days. The father worked as a farm hand in Germany and devoted three years of his early manhood to military service. In 1858 he brought his family to the new world and after landing in the east traveled by rail to Iowa City and thence across the country to Platte county, Nebraska. He settled on a stream that is now called Loseke creek, in Bismark township, being one of the first settlers of that district. All around him was the unbroken prairie. Indians were still to be seen in the neighborhood and there were a few buffaloes and much wild game. Railroads, however, had not yet been built in this section of the state. He settled on government land and built a dugout, the family beginning life in America in that crude pioneer home. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and after he had resided in the county for some time a house of worship for that denomination was erected on land which he owned. His political allegiance was given the democratic party. In his family were three sons and a daughter, Henry, Herman, Anna and Gerhard, and it was at the home of the last named that the parents passed away. The mother's brother, Henry Lueschen (the name being Grotelueschen in Germany) built one of the first log cabins in Columbus in 1856.
Gerhard Loseke was a little lad of but six summers when brought by his father to the United States. He attended the district schools in Bismark township, in district No. 2, which was one of the first schools established in the township, the schoolhouse being built of logs. The methods of instruction, too, were somewhat primitive, but there were also many lessons to be learned in the school of experience, as he assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm. Being the youngest son, he remained at home and assisted in the work of the farm. At the age of seventeen years he began farming for himself with ox teams, and his parents lived with him until they were called to their final rest.
As his financial resources increased as the result of industry and economy Gerhard Loseke kept adding to his farm, making purchases of land at from four to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. In this manner he acquired over one thousand acres in the county, being numbered among the most extensive landowners. He has since given all of his children good farms, retaining only one hundred and twenty acres for himself. He concentrated his efforts upon the development and cultivation of his fields and to his farms added many modern improvements so that all became valuable properties. In addition to tilling the fields he engaged extensively in stock-raising and whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion, for industry and determination enabled him to overcome all of the difficulties and obstacles in his path. He raised high grade Hereford cattle and always topped the market. He was one of the first in the county to begin shipping stock and his success in that undertaking constituted an example that others profitably followed. When a boy he used to see many Indians, the redskins far outnumbering the "palefaces" in his locality. There were few of the comforts and none of the luxuries of life to be enjoyed and existence on the Nebraska prairies at that time meant earnest, persistent labor in order to gain a living. Mr. Loseke continued to make his home by the side of the creek which was named in honor of his family until 1913, when he retired from active business and took up his abode in Columbus. He started out empty handed, but by hard work won a gratifying measure of success.
On the 11th of July, 1873, Mr. Loseke was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Mueller, who was born in Hanover, Germany, May 2, 1855, and died June 2, 1893. Her father, Henry Mueller, came to Platte county in pioneer times and took up a homestead in Bismark township, remaining upon his farm until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Loseke were born eight children: E. Wilhelmina, is the wife of Charles Wurdeman, an architect of Columbus, and has three children. Emeline Josephine is the wife of Adolph Frese, of Bismark township, by whom she has six children. Edward Gustave, who was born December 23, 1881, and is engaged in farming and the raising of Hereford cattle on the home place, married Emma Luers and has three children. George E. was born February 17, 1884, and married Lillie Korte, who died February 25, 1909, leaving a daughter, Violet. Edwin Gerhard, who was born May 4, 1886, and follows farming, married Alma Huntemann and has three children. Emma Eliza is the wife of William Luckey, a farmer. and has two children. Emil Gottfried, a farmer by occupation, was born January 21, 1891, and married Anna Mueller, by whom he has one child. Ernst Walter, who was born March 19, 1893, and after attending the Lincoln School of Agriculture began farming, married Martha Arnold. All are now residents of Bismark township. In 1913 Mr. Loseke was again married, his second union being with Miss Emma Hanstadt.
In his political views Mr. Loseke is a republican and while never an active party worker has always been a progressive citizen and is a broad-minded, intelligent man. His activity has been a source of public benefit as well as of individual success, for his efforts demonstrate what can be accomplished by the utilization of the natural resources of the county. He is one of the honored pioneer settlers and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present, for. he has lived in the county through fifty-seven years, during which a marvelous change has occurred, for the wild prairie, dotted with millions of flowers in June and covered in winter by a dazzling, unbroken sheet of snow, has been converted into rich and productive fields, in the midst of which stand substantial farmhouses, while here and there towns and villages have sprung up and all of the evidences of modern civilization are to be found on every hand.
Original individual @I04671@ (@MS_WURDEMANNGM.GED1@) merged with @I2389@ (@MS_WURDEMANLEGACYG0@)
@NF1614@
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1852 - 1932 (80 years)