Douglas married Bursmeyer, Joscolyn [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Kouba, Philip Jordan
2. Kouba, Andrew Ross

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: Between 21 Mar and 31 Dec 1929, United Methodist Church, Blairstown, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Occupation: Electrical Engineer
• Religion: Baptist

Notes:

He served in the US Air Force from Aug 1951 to Aug 1955. His Service Number was 172 333 172. He was sent to Radar School at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. Then he was sent to a radar bomb scoring detachment at Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Kansas. There, in Kansas City, Kansas, he met his bride to be. Just when they got acquainted, he received orders to go to Korea for a year. When he got back he was sent to a bomb scoring unit in St. Louis for 3 months until he was discharged, and then they were married! A thought from a book on Virginia Unger's table: "Man is constantly adding to his knowledge of the world, but to do any good, it must be shared." My Mother recorded that he was baptized by the Rev. L. D. Stubbs in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Blairstown, Iowa in 1929.

Buried:
Body Donated to Science

Emil married Unger, Helen Grace Margaret on 14 Aug 1955 in First Baptist Church, Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA. Helen (daughter of Unger, Albert and Watkins, Agnes) was born on 24 May 1927 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA; died on 6 May 2023 in St Andrews Assisted Living of Bridgeton, Bridgeton, St Louis, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Housewife
• Religion: Baptist

Notes:

Helen worked after high school graduation for a number of firms: John Deere, Hartzfeld Jewelers and Lerner's Vogue. Then she worked 10 years for JR Lobaugh, Realtor. During this time she also attended junior college classes in Kansas City, Missouri. She wrote a ltter every day for a year to her future husband while he was overseas in Korea.

Helen Grace Margaret Unger Kouba was born in Kansas City, Kansas on May 24, 1927, and passed away on May 6, 2023 in Bridgeton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Agnes and Albert Unger, older brother, Bill, and husband, Emil R. Kouba.

Helen was baptized as a small child, and faithfully attended First Baptist of KCK. She wrote that she “learned to love the Lord Jesus and to accept Him as my Savior.”

After high school graduation in 1945, she went to work full-time to support her parents. She sent herself to community college at night. She worked for almost a decade at JR Lobaugh’s insurance agency, earning her broker’s license and managing the office. At church, she was involved in teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir, where a certain Air Force Airman had been invited to meet the girl next to her in the choir loft! Helen told her mom that she met a man who had the funniest name she’d ever heard; Emil Kouba! When he left for Korea, they wrote each other daily. They married on August 14, 1955, and moved to Manhattan, Kansas where they welcomed their first son, Kevin, days before graduation! They moved to St. Louis with Emerson Electric. In 1958 they settled into their new home in Florissant, and joined Florissant Presbyterian. They welcomed a second son, Douglas. Later they joined Ferguson Presbyterian, where Helen was ordained as a Deaconess, serving the sick and elderly.

Friends often came to visit Helen & Emil, and she worked tirelessly to welcome overnight company and frequent dinner guests. They welcomed a daughter, Carol.

The family joined Hazelwood Baptist in 1972, where Helen taught youth in Sunday School and helped at Vacation Bible School. She helped sick neighbors, delivered Meals on Wheels, and transported kids so often she said she needed a “chauffeur’s hat.”

After joining First Baptist Ferguson in 1978, Helen made housecalls for each child enrolled in their preschool Sunday School classes. Helen & Emil taught for over 25 years, including their five grandkids.
They took family vacations each summer, seeing almost every continental state. Helen & Emil went to Hawaii in 1980 to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and were in Alaska during 9/11. Emil counted their wedding anniversary each month on the 14th and they celebrated with hamburgers. They reached 771 months before Emil’s death in 2019.

She and Emil loved supporting their grandkids, Philip, Andrew, Katherine, Emily and Laura with popcorn parties, rides to lessons and AWANA, attending their concerts, plays, and sporting events.

Helen survived breast cancer in 1994, a broken neck in 2016, and three strokes in 2018. She was an avid reader until Macular Degeneration dimmed most of her vision. Even into her 90’s, she loved keeping up with friends and family through Facebook.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Merchant
• Religion: Lutheran
• Baptism: 1887, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA; White School South

Notes:

He died of prostate cancer. He graduated from Epworth Seminary, Epworth, Iowa in 1901. Then he went to Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa with an projected graduation date of 1904. However, in 1903 his Dad offered to buy A. J. Schriver's General Store in Luzerne for him and his brother William if he would drop out of College to help run the store. He went to a banker in Cedar Rapids for advice as to what to do. He wanted to go on and study to be a doctor.The banker advised him to take his Dad's offer, so he did. His Cornell year book shows his picture as ex '04, the year he would have graduated. He was baptised in the White school south of Luzerne. The Congregational circuit rider preacher came to Luzerne from Vining once a month to hold services. He fell off the back of a horse drawn wagon when he was a baby. His parents found him playing in the snow when they came back looking for him. He and his wife were married in the Westinghouse home in Belle Plaine. Mrs. Westinghouse was his wife's sister. He and his brother William were merchants and ran the Kouba Bros. store in Luzerne for 45 years. (From 1903 until 1948.) The store was also a post office for Luzerne. They initiated the first telephone service for the town by connecting he store and the two homes so additional clerks could be called when a lot of customers arrived in the store at the same time. The service expanded to include the rest of the town who asked. Yearly cost for the local service was about $7.50, (in the 1950s) which paid for the services of a full-time operator. He is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Birth:
Family Farm

Emil married Rosburg, Laura Maria on 1 Jan 1908 in Belle Plaine, Benton, Iowa, USA. Laura (daughter of Rosburg, Wulf WILLIAM Frederich and Nieland, Maria Dorothea) was born on 24 Feb 1887 in Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA; died on 9 Oct 1971 in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA; was buried on 13 Oct 1971 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine, Benton, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Housewife
• Religion: Lutheran
• Baptism: 8 Apr 1887, St Paul Lutheran Church (destroyed), Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Confirmation: 31 May 1901, St Paul Lutheran Church (destroyed), Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA

Notes:

n my 25th birthday (Feb 24, 1912) Mother, Father, brothers and sisters gave me a surprise and came in the evening to our house on Main Street to celebrate my birthday.

Ester was married to Arthur Welterlen of Edgewood at the Harry Hartung home in Van Horne on Sept. 12, 1917. This was just before Arthur was called into service in World War I.

On New Year's Day 1928 we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. Marcella was 8 years old.

On Thursday, March 21, 1929 Emil Rosburg Kouba Jr. was born in Luzerne.

Aunt Rose and Uncle Chrles Van Deusen celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at their home in Van Horn on January 24, 1934. The next year on the same day we buried Uncle Charles.

We had many family gatherings at the folks house and among their children on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and special days.

Tow of Emil Kouba Sr's brothers died very young. Joseph was killed accidentally with a shotgun and Karl Paul died wit the measles. Five other infant children died and were buried in Bohemia before they emigrated.

Emil Kouba, our Dad was lost off a load of merchandise while moving from one farm South of Luzerne to another. He was about a year old and when they got to the new place, the man on the wagon noticed that he was missing, so they went back. They found him playing in the snow. He had fallen off the load and was not missed for awhile!

Peter Kouba (Dad's Dad) was a hotel operator in Velka Lhota, Moravia, which in now in CZECHSLOVAKIA. He and his wife, Frances Loyka came to America in 1870. H ewa 27 and she was 35 years old.

The following are some memories Leora Sauerteig had of my Mom, Laura Kouba . . . ERK

In later years when Mom was living in Luzerne by herself after Dad died, almost every week Leora would take her and Meta Buch, a faormer grade school classmate of hers, to Belle Plaine on grocery shopping expeditions. They would sit in the back seat and reminisce on the 4 mile journey there and back while Leora drove them like a chauffeur. Each of the would independently go through the store and then meet again back at Leora's car. One time though, Laura and Meta got back before leora did, so they got in what they though was her car. It turned out to belong to an older gentleman, who was quite surprised to find them there. You can imagine the snickers and giggles that erupted when they realized what they had done, and exited his car very much in a hurry!.

Another time Mom noticed that they were parked on Main street in front of a millinery shop and although she wanted to buy a new hat she was too tired to go in to buy it. Leora offered to go in and bring several out, along with a hand mirror. She found one she liked, so she sent Leora back in the shop with the mirror, the rest of the hats, and a check to pay for the one she selected. Leora said that was quite an unusual shopping spreee for her.

The following from History by Jim Thoma

On January 1, 1908 he (Emil) married Laura Maria Rosburg. Leora was the child of william Fredrich Rosburg and Mary Maria Nieland. The marriage took place at the home of Specer and Amelia (Rosburg) Westinghouse, in Belle Plaine, Iowa, near the Evangelical United Brethren Church. A wedding dinner followed at the Westinghouse home. Amelia was Laura's sister. Laura was born on February 24, 1887 in Luzerne, Iowa. When she was seven years old, her sister Rose was married in the family home. There was a dance in the Rosburg home following the wedding. During the dance, Laura fell against the hard coal stove and burned her arm. Laura attened the Luzerne Lutheran Parochial school and graduated from Belle Plaine High School. She was 5' 6" tall, weighed 175 pounds and had blue eyes. She was a strong person, taking over the family farms and running them with great skill after the death of her husband. She believed in hard work as attested to by one of the many poems that she wrote. "early to bed and early to rize, till you make enough money to do other - wise." She was an avid record and scrapbook keeper. Many of these scrapbooks contain poetry that she wrote throughout her life. She kept record books or journals for almost every day of her life. She kept her sense and mind up until the day of her death. In fact, she finished writing checks on her way to the hospital.

The following is a poem she told us Christmas 1961 - Emil Jr.

I'd like to read to you a poem written by my brother,
who has just graduated with high honors from the county jail.
and it reads as follows:

He stood at the bar of justice,
Sober, but with a jag
He chewed upon a toothpick,
While his lawyers chewed the rag.

They placed on his shoulders many a crime,
So many he back was bent.
For they say he robbed the cheese works,
And stole out every scent.

Silence! yelled the grey haired judge.
The court yelled silence too.
And everyone yelled silence,
Until silence filled the place.
Then somebody woke the jury up,
With a good hard slap on the face.

"is he guilty or not?", the judge he cried.
"Guilty!", the foreman said.
And the verdict was that he be hung
Three times, until he's dead.

"Oh mercy, Oh mercy!", the prisoner cried.
"See, I'm on my knees".
And a voice cried out, "Vouch, he is innocent!"
And in rolled a case of cheese.

So never run down limburger.
Just stop and consider please.
You may never know when you life may be saved.
By a poor little piece of cheese.

Notes:

Married:
Westinghouse Home in Belle Plaine, Iowa

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Baptist

Notes:

His SSN is 510-07-7078. His tombstone in the Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas is inscribed with the following: "Cook 69 Infantry 10 Div. WWI. Serial number 3794234. Virginia Unger, wife of their son, William relates that he told her that his dad joined the Navy when he got back from FRANCE and was a 'seal' working on the foundation of the Statue of Liberty. He was subjected to poison gas during World War I. One of his jobs when he got back was working in the Oristes flour mill in Kansas City, Kansas. The combination of poison gas and flour mill dust casued him to develop a very serious case of lung congestion. He did a lot of coughing , which weakened his heart so he couldn't work. He finally did with an anuerism of the aorta,

He worked at the Standard Milling Co. Feb 1916 to March 1944. Then he worked at North American Aviation March 7 1944 to Feb 26, 1945

Albert married Watkins, Agnes on 14 Jan 1922 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA. Agnes (daughter of Watkins, James Thomas and Cordell, Mary Jane) was born on 29 Aug 1904 in Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA; died on 19 Oct 1987 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA; was buried on 21 Oct 1987 in Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Baptist

Notes:

SSN is 515-18-9437. She was born in Denver, Colorado, came from Colorado back to Oklahoma in a covered wagon and then to Kansas City, Kansas. She was a very warm hearted lady. At Christmas time she would bake a basketful of cookies to take to local orphanages. It is no wonder they called her 'the cookie lady'! In later years she sold greeting cards and novelty items to augment her meager social security and veterans benefit.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Hotel Operator/Farmer
• Departure: 1869, Radlice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic

Notes:

PETER KOUBA FAMILY COMES TO AMERICA
BY T. F. KOUBA

Peter Kouba, wife and three children, came to the promised land, the United States of America, by sailing vessel in 1869. Two girls were the oldest children, while Frank, the youngest, born November 25, 1868, became father of my sister, Helen, and me. Two additional children, William and Emil were born in Iowa.

The sailing trip from Europe to America was difficult beyond comprehension, and almost proved fatal. Storms, frequent and overpowering required the masts to be lowered to keep the boat from overturning and sinking, and then the boat road the wild waves and precious distance was lost. Able bodies (many were seasick) drew water from the boat with pails to keep it afloat. Prayers were truly from the heart!

Neither grandfather Peter, nor his brother John, who came later, had farmed. Peter Kouba's had an Inn where meals, beer, and lodging were available. John apparently assisted a large landowner to protect his timber and wildlife as poaching and illegal timber-cutting were common. Game in Austria-Hungary apparently was owned by the landowner, not the state.

Grandfather, farming for the first time, was totally helpless, as was brother John. It appears the Peter Kouba family came from Moravia, Austria Hungary, province of Talice, village of Radlice. That portion of Europe in now CZECHSLOVAKIA.

The land grandfather purchased, apparently sight-unseen, was forty acres on an unimproved road a few miles from Blairstown and Luzerne, Iowa, geographically location NWSW, Section 28, T.82N.R.11W.

Father Frank grew up enjoying farming and fortunately so, as grandfather apparently could not adjust. Dad, over the years, achieved extraordinary farming success. He was a talented accordion player and called dances, and played at many. Square dancing apparently was the farmers' principal recreation.

In 1897, Father married the most wonderful girl living, Emma Melsha, daughter of another Czech-American family several miles away.

Father realized to get farm produce more efficiently to Luzerne and Blairstown markets, one must live on a better road. He bought land and a farmstead along a better road about a mile North from his parents's farm.

Grandfather Peter died apparently of cancer in 1909 at Luzerne, where he and wife Frances were living. Grandmother died there in 1916.

My Father and Mother were kind, proficient, hard-working farmers. Mother not only did the cooking and other work inside the home, but many times worked in the fields along Father. In a few years they acquired an adjoing "40" ad so it went concentrating on raising quality corn, beef-cattle, and hogs. Then they hired a year-round farm hand who lived with them.

Father grew blue-ribbon quality corn and other small grain which he displayed at county and state fairs and won scores of prizes. His winnings brought commercial seed company representatives to his door. Oftentimes they purchased at double market price the entire corn crop of several thousand bushels, picked out the seed ears and left the remainder for him to use, without cost, for livestock feed. In cooking, Mother also excelled, winning more prizes, (12 of them), than Father with grain and occasionally joklingly reminded him that such a thing could happen.

Mother never refused a hungry person who came to the door for food, including homeless or unemployed men. They were given a nourishing meal which they ate sitting on the front porch. More than one offered to chop wood at the woodpile or perform other menial tasks for payment, but was refused. Father gave grain to covered-wagon gypsies who begged for grain for their tired horses. Women did the begging, carried grain in gunny sacks to the several wagons, which seemed already filled. . .with kids!

Mother died of continuing heart attachks; deeply felt by her few relatives alive, and her many friends, on October 19, 1935 at 60 years. Our dear father, Frank, died from malignant cancer at Helen's home where he was living on March 5, 1944 at age 75.

My precious sister, Helen, was born in 1899 at the farm homestead where I came along in 1902. From the beginning I was horribly sick for two years, requiring day and night care. Medical research years later recognized allergies and mine apparently was feathers. As baby, I as others in that era, slept in soft, warm featherbed and with down filled pillows. The sicker I became, the more love and feathers were piled around. After the doctor confided that one certain baby would have a short life, folks hired a photographer who came and while baby, weakly standing in nightshirt, and alone, took my picture. But the subject was out of focus. Sister Helen, about four years old, who wanted to stand with her sick brother, but was refused by the photographer, stood several steps back and come out in sharp focus.

My sister, always fortunately, was one of those never sick individuals. We came into a close friendship which has never weakened. She graduated in music from Coe College, became a strikingly successful high school music teacher, and strangely, began at Blairstown where she graduated, before she finished at Coe. Other schools where she taught included grade and high schools at Belle Plaine, Madrid, and St Charles, Iowa. Many persons came to her for private lessons.

In 1925 Helen married Milo Kopecky in the prestigious "Little Brown Church in the Vale", continued teaching music as time permitted and later on worked full-time at Collins Radio, which contributed notably to the World War II effort. Milo's untimely death of a heart attack occurred a few years ago, and is buried in Cedar Memorial Cemetery at Cedar Rapids where Helen expects to be buried also.

Ted in 1926 graduated in forestry at Iowa State College, (now University), where he participated in athletics and band. He became forester for the State of Wisconsin Land Economic Inventory, where in 1929 at a University dance he was introduced to a beautiful and distinctly talented girl taking graduate work in English Literature from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After her graduation in 1930, we were married in the Congregation Church at Madison, Wisconsin, During her school career she was awarded memberships in three honorary sororities; Kappa Delta Pi, Kappa Sigma Iota, and Pi Lambda Theta. And at this writing, after several strokes, darling Marie is in the Madison Convalescent Center in which we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary on August 3, 1990 to the tune of a fine orchestra, among many balloons, enjoying a large cake, and which fed all other patients, nurses, and aides. Maries' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Love are buried in Wildwood Cemetery, Salem, South Dakota. Marie and I will be buried at Forest Hill where we have an inscribed small marble gravestone.

Father and Mother, the Frank Koubas are buried on the hilltop in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Blairstown, Iowa as are grandparents Peter Kouba's and uncle Will Kouba.

Neither sister Helen and Milo have children, nor Marie and I, thus no continuing generations of the Peter and Frank Kouba's lineage will follow. Thus ends a resume of the Peter Kouba family which immigrated to the promised land, the magnificent United States of America in 1869.

Ted Kouba July 1, 1991

There were five children who died in Radlice and are buried there.

Birth:
House 7

Died:
Family Home

Peter married Lojka, Frances on 19 Sep 1852 in Radlice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Frances (daughter of Lojka, Joseph and Nováková, Sarah Veronica) was born on 3 Oct 1835 in Radlice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic; died on 24 Mar 1916 in Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA; was buried in Mar 1916 in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Blairstown, Benton, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Housewife

Notes:

Emil Kouba has year of birth as 1836.

Birth:
House 28

Died:
Residence

Notes:

Married:
House 7

Other Events and Attributes:

• _MDCL: Brown hair, grey eyes, florid complexion
• Military: Civil War; Company B, 13th Iowa Infantry
• Physical Description: 5 ft. 5 in.
• Occupation: Wagon Maker/Blacksmith

Notes:

In 1863 the German authorities listed William as "escaped" when they filled their reports. This lends credence to the family story that the Rosburgs left Germany to evade conscription into the German military.

ROSBURG, WM., proprietor of wagon shop, Luzerne; was born in Germany in 1836 came to Davenport this State, in 1856 remained there ON year, then went to Clayton County, in which county he married Miss Mary Nieland in 1854; they moved to this town in the year 1868, since which time he has been engaged in his present business at this place, Luzerne.
The above from the 1878 Biographical History of Benton County, Iowa.

William Fredrich Rosburg came to the United States when he was 19 and his brother Henry 17. An older brother, Chris, was already living in Davenport, Iowa. William worked in a logging camp at Chippawa, Wisconsin, then at Davenport, Iowa as a wagon maker - a trade he learned in Germany. On October 31, 1863, he married Maria Nieland of Mecklenburg, Germany at Clermont, Iowa, Rev. Skofield officiating. Maria came over in a sail boat when she was but seven years of age. It took 14 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During the passage the passengers dipped water from the ocean and would occasinally lose a pail in the rough seas. The captain complained about this, so Maria's brother, Henry, tied a rope around his waist to keep from loosing the pail and was washed overboard and drowned. William was drafted at Giard, Iowa in the fall of 1864, where he had established a wagon makers shop. He served in Com. B 13th Iowa Infantry under German Sherman. H served to the end of the war and told the story that when he was discharged he was so lousy that he bought civilian clothes and threw his uniform into the Mississippi River. Shortly after he returned from the army their little daughter Emma Wilhelmina died and was buried at Giard in 1865 at the age of 14 months. Her tombstone is still standing at Giard, and Grandma Rosburg after forty years was able to see it. They moved from Giard to Blairstown and then to Luzerne, Iowa, Benton County, in 1870, where he operated a wagon shop until 1900.

The shop was torn down then and the material used to build a new home. They celebrated their gold anniversary in 1913 with all the children home for the occasion. He had always hoped to be hauled to the cemetery in an automobile hearse, but due to rain, he was taken by a team to the Lutheran cemetery near Luzerne

The above written by Jim Welterlen

William and Maria Rosburg, also raised an orphan girl, whose parents died of dipthereia and left four children who were divided at the grave. Her name was Liesetta Blumke who later married August Grimm of Rutland Iowa.

Wilhelm Rosburg was a lover of Schiller's poems and many of his daughters are named after characters in these poems.

The above written by ?

The story has always been told to me how William went kicking and screaming into the Union Army during the Civil War. He was with Sherman on his burning of Atlanta and subsequent march to the sea. Above you have heard Jim Welterlen mentioned the throwing of his army clothes into the Mississippi river. From this you get the impression that his army career was anything, but happy. But, one of his fondest recollections in later years was his helping to burn Atlanta. William became a well respected German leader of his community. When WWI broke out the Germans of the midwest had no desire to send their sons off to fight their uncles and cousins. And so it turned out that the German community of Luzerne came to see William Rosburg. They told him that all he had to do was to say the word and they would not send their sons off to fight in Germany. His response was "I fought for my country once and I would do it again.". That ended the discussion. Quite a turn around for someone who went kicking and screaming into the Union Army.

The above written by James F. THoma

Came to America on 01 Jun 1857 aboard the ship Weser along with his brother Henry.
The above from Fritz Rosburg

A COLLECTION OF MEMORIES FROM "OUR FAMILY HISTORY"
by Laura Maria Rosburg Kouba

My Dad, Wilhelm Fredrich Rosburg, came to America in 1855 when he was 19 years old, with the 17 year old brother, Henry. They had an older brother, Christian, who had come over earlier and lived in Davenport, Iowa. They worked in Davenport awile and then moved to Clayton County, Iowa. Later at Clairemont, Fayette County he met and was married to Maria Nieland on Ocotber 21, 1863 by the Rev. Stockfield.

My Mom, Maria Dorothea Nieland was 7 in 1854 when she came to America with her parents. She said that when the family came to the United States that Grapdpa Nieland's brother went overboard from the ship. The Captain of the ship said that if another person lost a pail while dipping water, he 'halfto' pay. So he tied the rope around himself and it tokk him with it! They never saw anthing of him after that. It took them 14 weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Mary had very little schooling after coming to the United States. She worked for a Lutheran minister's family when she was a little older.

My Dad was drafter into the Union Army on October 5, 1864 (28 years old). He was a member of COmpany B, 13th Regiment of Iowa and was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky on July 21, 1865. He served under General Sherman on the march from Atlanta to the sea! He had just started building a wagon maker shop in Girard, Clayton County, Iowa, when two men came to serve papers on him that he had been drafter to serve in the Civil War.

After the war, Grandpa and Grandma Nieland came to Benton County in a covered wagon. They bought and settled on a farm 2 miles North and 1 1/2 mile East of Luzerne, Iowa.

The oldest child of William and Mary Rosburg, Emma Wilhemine Lisetta, was born August 14, 1864 and died October 1865.

Mother was 40 years old when I was born on February 24, 1887. Mother was 47 years old when esther Augusta was born on July 17, 1894. I was baptized April 8, 1887 (6 weeks old) at the St Paul Lutheran Church in Luzerne by Rev. Philip Studt. His son, Martin, married my sister (Mary) Mayme.

Emil Sr. was baptized in 1887 when he was 10 years old at the "White School" South of Luzerne. Services were held there each Sunday by a travelling 'circuit rider' minister who served several churches.

My Dad's brother, Christian had a general store in Keystone, Iowa. He moved his house from Luzerne to Keystone. (About 6 miles!) In Luzerne, it was located on the lot we built our stucco house. Later both brothers moved West. Christian to the state of Washington where he founded the town of Rosburg. Henry moved to Seattle, King County, Washington, where he raised his family.

William Rosburg had a wagon maker shop in Luzerne from 1870 to 1900 when he retired (at age 64).

On December 12, 1911, William Rosburg, his 10 children, their spouses and grandchildren celebrated his 75th birthday, all coming home for the event. Chas. Rosburg and Wwife, Ella, from Iowa Falls, Iowa. Wm. F. Rosburg, wife and children from Elkton, South Dakota. The rest of the families were from in and around Luzerne. He just had the house wired for electricity so he had all the lights on from cellar to garret. A big day for all.

They also raised a girl, Lisetta Blumke. Her parents both died a few weeks apart of pneumonia. Mother said that they divided the children at the grave of her Mother. (Uncle Martin folks took one also.) Others took one or two. Lisetta married August Grimm and lived and died at Rutland, Iowa.

On October 31, 1913, William and Mary Rosburg celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at their home in Luzerne, which they rebuilt in 1900. They had lived there 45 of the 50 years. All the children, son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws and most of the grandchildren were home for the big day. The children presented the Father with a gold-headed cane and the Mother with a gold wedding ring plus a set of Haviland china dishes. They started out in Clayton County, then in Blairstown for a short time, then moved North of Luzerne. In 1868 they finally came to Luzerne where they lived until Mother passed away on July 7, 1927

October 1913
LUZERNE COUPLE CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM ROSBURG MARRIED FIFTY YEARS AGO
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HELP THEM CELEBRATE THE HAPPY EVENT

One of the most interesting events taking place in Luzerne for many days was the golden wedding celebration of Mr. and Mrs. William Rosburg, which took place at their home last Friday.
Rev. G. Schroeder, of the Lutheran church, the pastor of this worthy couple, honored the occasion by a short talk which was given in words most appropriate to the event.
Mr. and Mrs. William Rosburg were married fifty years October 31, 1913. About forty-two years of this time they lived in Luzerne, Iowa. Mr. Rosburg is about 77 years old. He was born in Holstein, Germany, and came to this country when about 19 years of age. Mr.s Rosburg is 66 years old and was born in Mechlenburg, Germany, as the oldes daughter of Henry Nieland, who came to this country with his family when Mrs. Rosburg was 7 years old.
They were married in Clayton County, Iowa, and removed to Benton county, Iowa, after a few years, living in Blairstown a short time, then north of Luzerne and in the fall of 1868 moved to luzerne where Mr. Rosburg worked at his trade, that of a wagon maker, until the spring of 1900

Children Present.
All the children, as well as all the sons-in law and daughters-in-law were present at the celebration of golden wedding of the aged couple. The children are as follows: Chas. Rosburg, farmer, Eldora, Iowa; Martha Peterman, wife of H. C. Peterman, farmer, Luzerne, Iowa; Rosa Van Deusen, whife of Chas. Van Deusen, president and manager of Farmers Co-op County, Van Horne, Ia; Amelia Westinghouse, wife of Spencer Westinghouse, engineer, C.and N. W., Belle Plaine, Iowa; W. F. Rosburg, farmer, South Dakota; Mary A. Studt, wife of Geo. Studt, farmer, Luzerne, Iowa; Amanda Kouba, wife of Wm. Kouba, merchant and postmaster, Luzerne, Ia.; Laura Kouba, wife of Emil Kouba, merchant, Luzerne, Ia; Miss Esther Rosburg, teacher, Luzerne school who lives at home. There are also nineteen grandchildren.
During the afternoon members of the family rendered a program consisting of numbers on the piano and violin and in the evening games and converstation made the hours pass all too quickly.
Mr. Rosburg is a veteran of the civil war and was a member of Co. B. 13th Iowa Infantry, and saw gallant service during the war. For forty-five years he has been a member of the Lutheran church.
The house was decorated in yellow and white and a huge wedding cake, on which were the years, 1869 and 1913, adorned the dining room table. Beautiful yellow chrysanthemums were the flower decoration.
Children Give Presents
The children presented their father with a gold headed cane, and their mother with a gold ring and a set of gilt-edge Haviland china dishes, and numerous other presents, amonth them being a gold wreath framed in a gold frame, presented by the oldest son.
A family dinner was served at 12 o'clock noon, the parents and their children being seated at one table.
The guests besides the children and grandchildren wer eL. P. Nieland, brother of Mrs. Rosburg, his wife and children; Mrs. Matilda Stuckenbruck, sister of Mrs. Rosburg, from Sioux county, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. August Grimm from Humbolt county, Iowa. Mrs. Grimm made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Rosburg for six years.

Iowa Death and Burial Records lists parents as Henry Rosburg, Grapengeter

Wulf married Nieland, Maria Dorothea on 31 Oct 1863 in Clermont, Fayette, Iowa, USA. Maria (daughter of Nieland, Heinrich Christoph and Lemmermann, Maria Dorothea Elisabeth) was born on 4 Oct 1847 in Neu Gülze, Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; died on 7 Jul 1927 in Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA; was buried on 10 Jul 1927 in Lutheran Cemetery, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Nickname: Mary
• Occupation: Housewife
• Departure: 1 Sep 1854, Hamburg, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
• Residence: 1856, Read Township, Clayton, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1860, Grand Meadow, Clayton, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1870, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Baptism: 10 Apr 1870, St Paul Lutheran Church (destroyed), Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1880, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1900, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1910, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1920, Luzerne, Benton, Iowa, USA

Notes:

Came to the USA when she was 7 years old. It took 14 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During the passage the passengers dipped water form the ocean and would occasionally lose a pail in the rough seas. The captain complained about this, so Maria’s brother Henry tied a rope around his waist to keep from loosing the pail and was washed overboard and drowned. She is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery per JF Thoma.

Abraham married Wise, FannieAllentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, USA. Fannie was born about 1871 in Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, USA; died about 1901. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She played a medium sized harp while sitting on a chair without a back. She died when Albert Unger was 8 years old. Albert then went to live with his sister, Helen. Albert named his daughter for his sister.

Notes:

Not sure of his exact birthday.

James married Cordell, Mary Jane. Mary (daughter of Cordell, Frederick and Cordell, Mrs Margaret) was born on 25 Feb 1880 in Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina, USA; died on 7 Nov 1953 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA; was buried on 10 Nov 1953 in Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Information from 9 Sep 1947 letter from Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Washington DC.

The following information, including spelling of name, relationship, age, etc. is and EXACT COPY of the census record as reported by the census taker on the original schedule.

Census of 1880, taken as of June 1 Asheville, County __Bumcombe, State __ North Carolina.

Name Relationship Age Place of Birth Citizenship

Cardell, Frederick - Marget * - Mary J. *
3/12 North Carolina

*relationship not reported to the Census Bureau

bew J. C. Capt. Director.

Died:
2615 Washington Street