Bezner Family Moves to Texas, 1895

BEZNER, VONNAHME, HEIRES

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 4/29/2007 at 14:35:02

I translated the following article from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published on Friday, 13 December 1895. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Mount Carmel
Last Monday Mr. Bezner in Maple River packed up his things and at around eight o’clock in the evening traveled from there to his new home in Texas. His family was still visiting the Vonnahme and Heires families, and they departed from Carroll on Wednesday, headed for the place where they will meet up again. Thus has another of the oldest landmarks again disappeared. Who in Carroll was not familiar with our Little Swabian [from the German region of Swabia] ? Jacob came to Kniest Township with the first German settlers in May 1868, and he married the then-Miss Rosa Dewald in 1871. The marriage is blessed with ten children, of whom the oldest son is 22 and the youngest child is about 3 years old, and the second-oldest child has preceded the parents into the better hereafter. Jacob was one of the founders of the local Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company, which was founded in March 1882, and of which he was secretary until he departed from here. And when one considers what it costs to insure with another company, the farmers here have saved at the very least ten to twelve thousand dollars during this time. Twelve years ago Jacob assisted in founding the branch association of the Catholic Mutual Life Insurance Company, which has already accomplished much good for the descendants of families. Jacob was a good, agreeable neighbor, and everyone is sad to lose him. He helped to build four churches here, two of which burned down. He had also survived a few storms. But let the storm rage, and after enduring the storm, he was always standing there straight upright. He was never overcome, but always went to work again with renewed courage. In Texas he has 465 acres of the finest land, nearly as large as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He raised his children very well, and they are very helpful, and so we know that Jacob will prosper. His oldest son, Albert, has been living on the farm for about three months already and has taken care of all the necessary fall work. Friend Jacob, we all wish you and your family the best of luck with all our hearts. Greet all our friends and acquaintances for us, and we say to you all a hearty farewell!