| Notes |
- _P_CCINFO 2-14330
From THE LEIGH (NE.) WORLD, March 22, 1946 -
Plenty of people live to be 75 years of age but to live all but two months of that time in the same locality is something else again. However, this has been the experience of our townsman, Baltz Heitz, and he assures us it has been a most interesting experience.
Born in New Glarus, Wisconsin, Mr. Heitz was less than two months old when his parents came west to Nebraska reaching Columbus in May, 1871. There were no buildings north of the railroad in Columbus at that time as it was several years before the town of Leigh was even heard o
Mr. Heitzs father, Melchior Heitz, brought his little family which consisted of his wife and two sons, Henry and Baltz, into Colfax county and they settled on a homestead three miles east of Leigh, the place known today as the Charlie Church farm. It was while the family lived there that Baltz and Henry attended Macedonia school, the early building being located on the land which today is owned by Fred Hockemeier. Mr. Heitz recall that some of his early-day teachers were Lizzie Davis, Melvin Dunlap and Emma Babcock.
In a few years the elder Heitz sold his homestead to Henry Guidinger and in turn, bought the place where Richard Jirovec lives today. Lumber for the house was hauled from Humphrey and is part of the house occupied by the Jirovec family today. In later years Frank Fritton built an addition to the house.
The Heitz family lived on this farm for 16 years and Baltz attended school at Leigh in a building which stood on lots east of the present home of Theodore Bahns. He remembers the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when many lives were lost. He made his way home be following the railroad track. He had a mile to cover and the going was extremely difficult-even for a lad of 17 years. He fought his way along the tracks until he reached the railroad cut which was near the Heitz farm. Leaving the cut he struggled over the bank and, fortunately, reached the farm buildings. An experience he will never forget.
The village of Leigh was steadily growing in those years and few people here today are as familiar with every stage of that growth as is Mr. Heitz. When he was 16 years old he helped Elmer Miller haul lumber for the first hotel which was being built by the latters father, Steven Miller. The hotel building is now occupied by the Trofholz Feed store and the Owls club.
Oxen were used to break the sod in those early years and Mr. Heitz said his father bought his first yoke of oxen from George Henggler, on Shell Creek for $110. Only a few of the early-day settlers had horses. The oxen were used because they could forage around for feed.
In the late 80s the senior Heitz bought the Chase ranch of 560 acres, three miles north and one mile east of Leigh. There were good years and bad years. Drought years were the hard ones. In one of those lean years Mr. Heitz was caught with 150 head of cattle to feed.
After the death of the senior Heitz in 1901, the responsibility of caring for the ranch fell on the shoulders of the two boys, Henry and Baltz. They decided to sell-the land was purchased by Carl Staab. Henry Heitz went to Missouri. He died in 1939. Baltz Heitz purchased the farm near Leigh which has remained his home for over forty-four years. His mother lived with him and died in 1913. Baltz Heitz and Helena Rudersdorf were married at Heun by Rev. Zak in 1904. Down through the years Pulsey Heitz fed cattle on a large scale. Rarely were there less than 1000 head of cattle on feed at the Heitz farm and many carloads of fat cattle have been shipped to Omaha markets from the Heitz feedyards.
Of Swiss descent, something of that rugged country from which his forebears came, must have been embodied in the physical make-up of Mr. Heitz, for at seventy-five years, he is keen and active, attending to farm work and business and taking interest in events of that day. He has a jovial disposition, a wide acquaintance and hosts of friends. Three of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Heitz were with him, on his 75th birthday. They were Mrs. Mildred Kafka, Mrs. Delores Wurdeman and the only son Conrad, who with his family, still lives on the home place. The other daughters are Miss Rosebud, R.N., Columbus; Mrs. Loretta Coverdale, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Mrs. Katherine Liefer, Omaha. One daughter Gertrude, died in 1933. With the exception of Gertrude all of the Heitz children are graduates of Leigh high school. Mrs. Heitz died in 1934. There are nine grandchildren.
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From THE LEIGH (NE.) WORLD, March 21, 1947 -
Children and grandchildren and friends gathered at the home of Mrs. Mildred Kafka, to pay honor to her father, Baltz Heitz, on his 76th birthday. Gifts were presented. A decorated birthday cake, baked by Mrs. Edwin Wurdeman, featured the refreshments. Bingo and pinochle furnished entertainment. [ColfaxDeutschlandPlatte.FBK.FTW]
From THE LEIGH (NE.) WORLD, March 22, 1946 -
Plenty of people live to be 75 years of age but to live all but two months of that time in the same locality is something else again. However, this has been the experience of our townsman, Baltz Heitz, and he assures us it has been a most interesting experience.
Born in New Glarus, Wisconsin, Mr. Heitz was less than two months old when his parents came west to Nebraska reaching Columbus in May, 1871. There were no buildings north of the railroad in Columbus at that time as it was several years before the town of Leigh was even heard o
Mr. Heitzs father, Melchior Heitz, brought his little family which consisted of his wife and two sons, Henry and Baltz, into Colfax county and they settled on a homestead three miles east of Leigh, the place known today as the Charlie Church farm. It was while the family lived there that Baltz and Henry attended Macedonia school, the early building being located on the land which today is owned by Fred Hockemeier. Mr. Heitz recall that some of his early-day teachers were Lizzie Davis, Melvin Dunlap and Emma Babcock.
In a few years the elder Heitz sold his homestead to Henry Guidinger and in turn, bought the place where Richard Jirovec lives today. Lumber for the house was hauled from Humphrey and is part of the house occupied by the Jirovec family today. In later years Frank Fritton built an addition to the house.
The Heitz family lived on this farm for 16 years and Baltz attended school at Leigh in a building which stood on lots east of the present home of Theodore Bahns. He remembers the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when many lives were lost. He made his way home be following the railroad track. He had a mile to cover and the going was extremely difficult-even for a lad of 17 years. He fought his way along the tracks until he reached the railroad cut which was near the Heitz farm. Leaving the cut he struggled over the bank and, fortunately, reached the farm buildings. An experience he will never forget.
The village of Leigh was steadily growing in those years and few people here today are as familiar with every stage of that growth as is Mr. Heitz. When he was 16 years old he helped Elmer Miller haul lumber for the first hotel which was being built by the latters father, Steven Miller. The hotel building is now occupied by the Trofholz Feed store and the Owls club.
Oxen were used to break the sod in those early years and Mr. Heitz said his father bought his first yoke of oxen from George Henggler, on Shell Creek for $110. Only a few of the early-day settlers had horses. The oxen were used because they could forage around for feed.
In the late 80s the senior Heitz bought the Chase ranch of 560 acres, three miles north and one mile east of Leigh. There were good years and bad years. Drought years were the hard ones. In one of those lean years Mr. Heitz was caught with 150 head of cattle to feed.
After the death of the senior Heitz in 1901, the responsibility of caring for the ranch fell on the shoulders of the two boys, Henry and Baltz. They decided to sell-the land was purchased by Carl Staab. Henry Heitz went to Missouri. He died in 1939. Baltz Heitz purchased the farm near Leigh which has remained his home for over forty-four years. His mother lived with him and died in 1913. Baltz Heitz and Helena Rudersdorf were married at Heun by Rev. Zak in 1904. Down through the years Pulsey Heitz fed cattle on a large scale. Rarely were there less than 1000 head of cattle on feed at the Heitz farm and many carloads of fat cattle have been shipped to Omaha markets from the Heitz feedyards.
Of Swiss descent, something of that rugged country from which his forebears came, must have been embodied in the physical make-up of Mr. Heitz, for at seventy-five years, he is keen and active, attending to farm work and business and taking interest in events of that day. He has a jovial disposition, a wide acquaintance and hosts of friends. Three of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Heitz were with him, on his 75th birthday. They were Mrs. Mildred Kafka, Mrs. Delores Wurdeman and the only son Conrad, who with his family, still lives on the home place. The other daughters are Miss Rosebud, R.N., Columbus; Mrs. Loretta Coverdale, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Mrs. Katherine Liefer, Omaha. One daughter Gertrude, died in 1933. With the exception of Gertrude all of the Heitz children are graduates of Leigh high school. Mrs. Heitz died in 1934. There are nine grandchildren.
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From THE LEIGH (NE.) WORLD, March 21, 1947 -
Children and grandchildren and friends gathered at the home of Mrs. Mildred Kafka, to pay honor to her father, Baltz Heitz, on his 76th birthday. Gifts were presented. A decorated birthday cake, baked by Mrs. Edwin Wurdeman, featured the refreshments. Bingo and pinochle furnished entertainment.
Original individual @I03527@ (@MS_WURDEMANNGM.GED1@) merged with @I1662@ (@MS_WURDEMANLEGACYG0@)
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Abt 1871 - UNKNOWN