Gagnebien, Haas, Beck, Miller, Hatfield, and the list goes on. When Haas members began to arrive through Ellis Island, they went straight to the "Beck Home" in Nickerson, Kansas and then branched out into the surrounding area, mainly Abbyville, Huntsville and Plevna. Homesteading was active at the time and Nickerson was pretty well taken, causing them to branch further out in Reno, County. I have a family album that shows the Haas family cutting cottonwoods on the Arkansas River. My branch of the family did not come here until 1884. As I recall my grandfather was 6 or 9 years old when he went through Ellis Island.
I can still recall with fondness my Uncle Goll, Uncle Coon, Aunt Lizzie and my dear sweet Aunt Lena. For some reason I thought my grandfather came to America in 1900, but it was actually 1884. He was 12 years old at that time. He married my grandma I 1900. His father would be my great grandfather, Johann Jakob Haas. Great granfather actually fathered 16 children by two women. I come from a long line of weavers. tailors, vine dressers, bakers, and of course, farmers. But all this is irrelevant to this post.
It must have been about 1970 or so that Dorothy and Ernie moved into a farmhouse outside of Plevna. I know Little Ernie was just talking good. I went to visit fairly regularly, but usually when Ernie was at work. Little Ernie was always a special little boy to me although I had a nest full of my own. He called me Aunt Do Do, since he could not pronounce Lou Lou. " I love you, Aunt Do Do." Once he came running out of the bedroom to announce "Aunt Do Do, there is a hop grasser in my bedroom!"
Ernie had fenced off a portion of the yard and made that a pig pen. I do not remember where he worked at the time, seems like he worked for Morton Salt. Could be wrong. The important part was that he was gone all day and Dorothy was pregnant. One weekend he decided to build a new sty for the pigs so he got his lumber and drill. Please know, that lumber and drill should never be used in a sentence with the name, "Ernie". In typical fashion he held the 2 x4 up with one hand and drilled through it into his other hand.
They had a station wagon at the time so Ernie laid down in the back, kids were some where and Dorothy began the flying 20 mile trip to the hospital in Hutch. Ernie would call out every few minutes, " I am still alive. Drive carefully so you don't wreck. Hurry!" Dorothy told me that was her most harrowing trip in her life. They sold the pigs soon thereafter and moved into town. Think they moved out on Duffy Road at that time.
For many years we had a Haas family reunion at the school gymnasium. Everyone brought a dish and we just kind of caught up on each other. They tore down the school where I had attended my freshman year, but left the gym intact. Hinshaws Dry Goods store burned. I went through there once many years ago and the Smith house was a trailer park of sorts, meaning there were several mobile homes on the lot. The Congregationalist Church was still there as was Grandma Haas's house. The bank was still there. I have got to take a day and go there next time I head East. Course I remember when I stopped at Grandma's old house and got covered in ticks! Do not want anymore of those.
Towns were built 7 miles apart back then because the trains needed a water stop. Kansas is full of those little towns, or the remains of them. Some of them survived, but many did not. I love to look at my family book and try to envision what life was like back then. Grandpa Haas married Josie Miller in 1900. Uncle Gol married Aunt Helen who was Josie's sister, so I have double cousins out there in Southeast Kansas.
My family is so diverse and far flung that one time I met a boy at a dance and came home to tell mother how great he was. Her response was "Forget it! He is your cousin." End of that romance and I do not even remember his name, so that is that.
I think I will plan a trip back home and go touch base with the old places in Plevna. Aunt Lena is gone. As far as I know the house where grandma lived is still standing. Maybe I could find one of the Hinshaw twins! Dean and forgot the other one. Dean was dark complected with dark hair and thin. The other one was fair skinned with freckles and reddish blonde hair and a little on the heavier side. I have forgotten my friends names! Janet something. Charlene Smith. Damn! A complete blank! Maybe I will forget that trip.
Sure wish my momma was here. She would remember.
I can still recall with fondness my Uncle Goll, Uncle Coon, Aunt Lizzie and my dear sweet Aunt Lena. For some reason I thought my grandfather came to America in 1900, but it was actually 1884. He was 12 years old at that time. He married my grandma I 1900. His father would be my great grandfather, Johann Jakob Haas. Great granfather actually fathered 16 children by two women. I come from a long line of weavers. tailors, vine dressers, bakers, and of course, farmers. But all this is irrelevant to this post.
It must have been about 1970 or so that Dorothy and Ernie moved into a farmhouse outside of Plevna. I know Little Ernie was just talking good. I went to visit fairly regularly, but usually when Ernie was at work. Little Ernie was always a special little boy to me although I had a nest full of my own. He called me Aunt Do Do, since he could not pronounce Lou Lou. " I love you, Aunt Do Do." Once he came running out of the bedroom to announce "Aunt Do Do, there is a hop grasser in my bedroom!"
Ernie had fenced off a portion of the yard and made that a pig pen. I do not remember where he worked at the time, seems like he worked for Morton Salt. Could be wrong. The important part was that he was gone all day and Dorothy was pregnant. One weekend he decided to build a new sty for the pigs so he got his lumber and drill. Please know, that lumber and drill should never be used in a sentence with the name, "Ernie". In typical fashion he held the 2 x4 up with one hand and drilled through it into his other hand.
They had a station wagon at the time so Ernie laid down in the back, kids were some where and Dorothy began the flying 20 mile trip to the hospital in Hutch. Ernie would call out every few minutes, " I am still alive. Drive carefully so you don't wreck. Hurry!" Dorothy told me that was her most harrowing trip in her life. They sold the pigs soon thereafter and moved into town. Think they moved out on Duffy Road at that time.
For many years we had a Haas family reunion at the school gymnasium. Everyone brought a dish and we just kind of caught up on each other. They tore down the school where I had attended my freshman year, but left the gym intact. Hinshaws Dry Goods store burned. I went through there once many years ago and the Smith house was a trailer park of sorts, meaning there were several mobile homes on the lot. The Congregationalist Church was still there as was Grandma Haas's house. The bank was still there. I have got to take a day and go there next time I head East. Course I remember when I stopped at Grandma's old house and got covered in ticks! Do not want anymore of those.
Towns were built 7 miles apart back then because the trains needed a water stop. Kansas is full of those little towns, or the remains of them. Some of them survived, but many did not. I love to look at my family book and try to envision what life was like back then. Grandpa Haas married Josie Miller in 1900. Uncle Gol married Aunt Helen who was Josie's sister, so I have double cousins out there in Southeast Kansas.
My family is so diverse and far flung that one time I met a boy at a dance and came home to tell mother how great he was. Her response was "Forget it! He is your cousin." End of that romance and I do not even remember his name, so that is that.
I think I will plan a trip back home and go touch base with the old places in Plevna. Aunt Lena is gone. As far as I know the house where grandma lived is still standing. Maybe I could find one of the Hinshaw twins! Dean and forgot the other one. Dean was dark complected with dark hair and thin. The other one was fair skinned with freckles and reddish blonde hair and a little on the heavier side. I have forgotten my friends names! Janet something. Charlene Smith. Damn! A complete blank! Maybe I will forget that trip.
Sure wish my momma was here. She would remember.
