Leap Year Day Birthday!!! Margaret Gordon Merrill born Feb. 29, 1852

Margaret Maria Gordon was born in Waynesburg, Green County, Pennsylvania, February 29, 1852, and died at Nelson, Nebraska, June 4, 1916.   In 1861 she moved with her parents (John Gordon and Hannah Shull Gordon) to Broadwell, Illinois, where she was married to Hiram H. Merrill Oct. 13 1870. They came to Nebraska in 1879 and located on a farm near Nora, where she made her home until after the death of her husband January 24, 1911.

Margaret Gordon Merrill is Grandma Vhelmae Rennick Troudt's grandmother.  Margaret's child, Lucretia Merrill, is Grandma Vhelmae's mother!

Too confusing?   It is for me so maybe this will help!!!

Margaret Gordon Merrill (our Leap Year Birthday Person) and Hiram Merrill had child-Lucretia Merrill, then

Lucretia Merrill Rennick and Ernest Rennick had child--Vhelmae Rennick

Vhelmae Rennick and William Troudt married and had Wesley, Ray, and OnaBeth!!!!  And we are all descendants of Vhelmae and William!!!

Sunday-Ray and Lorraine Dietrich Troudt Wedding Anniversary

They were married February 26 in Cody, Wyoming!   Congratulations!!!

Saturday -- Birthday-Morgan Holinka February 25 and Wedding day for

Patrick Gormally and Maggie Minnehan Gormally February 25, 1884.  These are Holinka ancestors!!!!!


Happy Birthday, Morgan!!!

Wednesday Weddings--Ed Troudt & Nora Porter and Wes Troudt & Viola Wehnes

Ed Troudt and Nora Porter married February 22, 1921 in Nelson, Nuckolls County, Nebraska.   Ed is William Troudt's brother.

Wesley Troudt and Viola Wehnes married February 18, 1944 in Mankato, Jewell County, Kansas.  Wes is William Troudt's oldest son.

Saturday Tidbits! Birthdays on Febuary 11 and SURNAME SATURDAY

Betty Lue Klugherz Schmelzer born on February 11; Betty Lue's mother, Hazel Rennick is Vhelmae Rennick Troudt's sister!

Johnathan D Dennis born on February 11; Johnathan's great, great grandfather is Johnny Troudt, William Troudt's older brother.

SURNAME SATURDAY:  Troudt
When Ernst and Catherina arrived in Russia from Germany in 1765, the Troudt name was spelled Traudt on the records.  The surname was spelled Traudt after they came to America but is now spelled Troudt.  It is a mystery to me when the name spelling was changed to Troudt!

Friday -- Ed Troudt's grandson, Brent Lee Jensen and married Cheryl Gillan

on February 17!   Congratulations!!

Brent's Grandfather is Ed Troudt, next older sibling to William Troudt.   

Newspaper article 11-29-1972 The Lincoln Star about Nelson Man Gives Up Trains for Steam Car.
THIS ARTICLE HAS A PICTURE OF ED TROUDT.
At a springly age 75, Ed Troudt has switched toys. He's gone from Kiddie-ride trains to a steam automobile.
His latest building project, the reworking of an old jet pump as the nucleus of his envisioned power plant is only in its first stage. But folks who know the old machinist are giving odds his car will have a full head of steam by spring.
"I'm making this my endeavor for the winter." said the soft-spoken Nelson native. "Mother scolds me for working when I don't have to, but I say a man's better off at this than sitting around all the time."
Ed's lifelong affair with steam became the real talk of the town about 15 years ago when he began operating a kiddie railroad in his yard. Thousands shared his glee before the owner sold to a South Dakota firm and tore up the outfit's 600 feet of track.
The train's steam locomotice had been the proudest handiwork from an unusual hobby-business. Eight other of his trains, mostly gasoline models are now hauling passengers in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Carolina, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado.
One of the $2500 gasoline units was recently given to the Child Evangelism Fellowship for its summer camp at Louisville. Another is carefully stored in Ed's garage for future parades and other appearances.
"I've hauled thousands of kids through the years." reflected the oldster. "Guess I gave too many free rides though to make any money at it."
Although this is his first attempt at a steam auto, the retired blacksmith-machinist is confident of success. He has serviced steamers of virtually every size and has been licensed to do precide code boiler work.
Plans for the vehicle call for a size capable of hauling five passengers. Ed has yet to locate a suitable chassis but has his eye on "a set of real sporty wire wheels."
A devout member of the Oak Community Church, Troudt has supplied that congregation's pulpit on several occasions as well as other in the area. His willingness to preach exemplifies the strong convictions he shares with all who enter his shop.
"I've always tried to put the Lord first.! he said. "even ahead of steam engines.""

Wednesday Things: Happy Birthday, Karon Troudt Long born February 15

Happy Birthday, Karon!!!!

Also born on February 15:  Marlys Troudt Jensen (Troudt family)

and Orvin Gordon Merrill (Rennick family)



Tuesday Happenings!!! Jill Suzette Davis Holinka born February 14 !!!

Happy Birthday, Jill!!!

Wordless Wednesday -- OnaBeth, the Snow Skier

Tuesday Tidbits - Important Family Happenings on February 7

Family happenings on February 7:
William (Billy) Troudt and Vhelmae Laurine Troudt were married 7 Feb 1922 in Nelson, Nebraska.  William is the youngest child of George Troudt's 22 children and one of the four children born in America in Nelson, Nebraska after George and Maggie arrived in Nelson, Nebraska on 29 Feb. 1892. 

Anna Maria (Emma) Troudt was born in Norka, Russia on 7 Feb 1866 to Johann George Traudt and Anna Magdalena Deines. Anna Maria married Hindrich Schlitt and had 3 children. She passed away on 1 Mar 1949 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA.  Emma came to America before her Father, George Troudt, and her stepmother, Maggie Dienes Troudt.  She was able to work and get money so the remainder of the George Troudt family could come to America and also settle in Nelson, Nebraska.

Frank Holinka and Betty Barnes (Dave Holinka's Parents and BJ Troudt Holinka's in-laws) were married
7 Feb 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Amaneunsis Monday -- Ed Troudt's family history interview in the 1970's

Thanks again to Curtis Jensen, grandson of Ed Troudt for this amazing audio!!

Transcription of audio recording of Ed Troudt’s family history interview conducted by Leslie & Leone Troudt. Also interviewing is Yvonne Troudt Knehans. Circa 1970's


"Ed: I’ll begin with them coming over. A little baby that they were carrying when they settled in this home in Nelson here. He became sick and the doctor said it was because of over exposure. Just a bad case of pneumonia and the little fella died. His name was Johnny and then when the
next baby was born, that was our brother John, Leslie’s dad.

Leslie: They named him John, too, didn’t they?

Ed: And they called him Johnny. Then I’ll go ahead and tell you of the over-exposure. On the ship, I think this is interesting for young people to know this, on the floor that our folks were on there were some little folks that were very sick, no clothing. And our father said, "Mother, I’m gonna go around over our floor and see if I can’t get a little clothing for those children." And he didn’t get a stitch of clothes. And Mother had two changes for this baby. Two diapers. And Dad says, "What’ll we do Mother? We got two changes. Couldn’t we give them one? Mother says, "Yes, Dad, we’ll give them one." They came over with one change for that little baby. Well you know how he’d have to be dressed part of the time. Then when they got off of the train here in Nelson, some of this between the ship and the train is not just exactly to be repeated, But when they got off the train in Nelson, there was an old fella that lived there told me with his own mouth, he’d seen our folks get off of the train and he said "I thought they was the strangest people I ever saw."
And I’ll bring this in also, the most treasured possession they had in Russia was Mother’s spinning wheel and she would not entrust anyone with it. She carried that spinning wheel and when they got off that train in Nelson, she had the spinning wheel on one arm and the baby on the other.

Leone: Now, what kind of a boat did they come over in? A cattle boat, wasn’t it?

Ed: That I’m unable to say.

Leone: I think mother had told us it was a cattle boat.

Ed: I’m unable to say. It could be. It could be. A Stock boat.

Les: I understood it was but then...

Leone: Well, I think Leslie’s mother had told me this. Now we were discussing...Was George and Alice married over in Russia before they came over. George and Alice.

Ed: They were. They were.

Leone: And then was the other sister married when she came over.

Ed: Lizzie, sister Lizzie, was married over there.

Leone & Les: To Con Henry, to Uncle Con.

Leone: Now those four came over first?

Ed: They, They, no our folks were the means of them getting over here.

Unknown: Katie was the one that came first, wasn’t she? Who was the first one who came?

Ed: A half-sister, Emma. Should I give you how our folks were able to get over here?

Leone: Yes.

Ed: We had----our father married and had two children, Chris and Emma. Half brothers. I don’t think Leslie even seen either of them.

Leslie: No, I never but I heard them talk about them.

Ed: And there were some folks coming over and they had enough money that another one could come. And they wanted to know if our half sister, Emma, wanted to come with them. Of course, this money wasn’t give to her, she had to pay it back. The same as they did the other. And she talked with the folks and what they thought might be possible. She could get over here and be the means of getting her folks to America. So she came over here, and seemed like a number of those people settled in the Nelson vicinity. She came to Nelson, and she worked for a man that had a dry good store and his name was William Voight.

Leslie: Billy Voight.

Ed: Billy Voight. And Billy Voight with his own mouth, told me this. And mother also. This Emma was working for them and what the figure was she was getting a week was very little and it would take a $1000 to get our folks over from Russia and she was gonna try to earn that. Well, she had this debt to pay that she owed. It took a long time to pay that. She wanted the folks to come over. She went to Mr. Voight, and she said, "Mr. Voight," she says, "I’d love to get my folks over here--that’s why I’m here. Would you loan me $1000 to get my folks over." And she says, "If they get over, my Daddy will pay you. And if they don’t get over, I’ll work till my dying day to pay you." And he said (Ed:I can hardly keep from crying) he said, um, he let her have that $1000, not a scratch of paper. And our folks came over. And when they hit Nelson, they had 25 cents left. And Dad says, "Mother, we should have stayed there. How will we ever pay off the $1000?" He got a job in the brickyard. He helped make many of the bricks that are in the buildings in Nelson. Helped build some of the buildings, the courthouse. And Mother took in washings. And just in no time they paid off this $1000. This I’m going to include-------while she was taking in washings, there was a kid, his name was Guy Miner, and in his adult age when he’d come to visit us, this is what he would talk about. This kid would, (our boys went to get these washings in a little wagon) he wouldn’t bother the dirty clothes, but after our Mother had washed them, he’d upset their wagon and dump those clothes in the dirt. And it made Mother so angry and those boys (there were two of them and either one of them were stronger than this kid) but they was afraid of them. So one day they started with the washing and he was down the road a little ways and, Mother, she had her wash stick and it was a hickory broom stick at that time and she hollered, "Guy, don’t you do that!" He stood there and she said to the boys, " Go on"(they was afraid) and she says "Now you go on and if he tries to do anything you catch him and hold him." So they went and he upset the wagon and they grabbed him (either one of them could have held him) and they held him and Mother went down there and she beat this kid with that hickory wash stick and he was in bed three days after that!! And that cured him from upsetting those clothes. And in his later years whenever he’d visit us, he would talk to we boys about this and he said, "That’s the best lesson I ever got in my life." Now that is what correction does to a kid. Don’t you see? And I’ve included that just to show you some of the hardships that they underwent and .....

Leone: Now, when did Alice and Con[Collin?]Henry come? At the same time?

Ed: After our folks paid their debt and acquired enough money to send and get them to come over. That’s the way it was.

Leslie: Was it just Chris and Emma in the first marriage, Uncle Ed? Just the two?

Ed: That’s right. Yes.

Leslie: I thought there was more than that?

Ed: No. That’s my half-brother and sister.

Leslie: Should have that written down. What the matter with me?We got things going. You’re in the limelight, you’re going to be on tape, here. See. We appreciate this. I remembered a lot of this from when I’ve heard, you know, George Jacoby and Uncle Collin and you guys talk. But heck I don’t remember it. I had a awful time remembering all their names. I don’t think I’ve got them all yet!!

Leone: Okay, that’s Chris and Emma

Leslie: Name them in order for age, Uncle Ed. That’s what I’d like to know.---------------

Ed: Now, those that came over was Katie, Louise

Leone: Now these were the ones with your folks.

Ed: That came with the folks: Katie, Louise, Brother Henry, Brother Adam, Brother George, and Brother Cooney, then came this Johnny that she was carrying as a baby.

Leslie: Then Dad was born then next to Uncle Cooney, then wouldn’t it be?

Ed: This one that died, they called him Johnny and he followed Uncle Cooney. And these children were each about two years apart. Then between Cooney and brother John, that’s Leslie’s daddy, there’s four years because this one died in there. Yes.

Leone: Alright then, the oldest one ....?
Leslie: Then it would be Uncle Ed and then Uncle Bill....Where does Aunt Maggie come in?

Ed: She came in following brother John.

Leslie: Oh, and then you?

Ed: Yes

Leslie: And then Uncle Bill.

Ed: Yes, that’s right.

Leone: Okay now, where ... The oldest was Chris and Emma and then who was the next born in the family? Alice or ....

Ed: Chris and Emma are the half brother and sister....then daddy married our mama which was a sister to the first wife. We, after this half brother and sister Emma, we are all of the same blood.
Very closely half brother and sister.

Leslie: You couldn’t be any closer to them.

Leone: Okay now, then who is the first one up there then?

Ed: Sister Katie is the first one that was born. She’s the oldest one that was born.......

Leone: Katie, now that’s the one living in Wyoming. She’s the oldest?

Ed: Louise

Leone: That’s the next?

Ed: Then brother Henry. Then Brother George..no wait, brother Henry, then brother Adam.

Leone: Alright, wait a minute. Where’s Alice and Lizzie come in?

Ed: Alice and Lizzie were born from the second wife but they were born over there.. They were married over there.

Leone: Yea, but they’re older than a....

Ed: They are older than Katie.

Leone: Katie and Hank...

Ed: Yes

Leone: That’s what I was gonna say. Now, which one is the oldest?

Ed: Uh, I can’t say, I believe, that Alice is the oldest of the two.

Leone: Then Lizzie, that’s the one that married Adam Cole. That is the one married Con{Collin?] Henry....then who married.....

Family History Conversation interrupted.- On the tape..........................

Leone: What all did Grandpa Troudt do? They lived right there in that little house north of Fritz Wehrman’s but then where else did they live. Didn’t they live out on the farm out northwest of town?

Ed: Yes, 6 to 8 years, something like that. Then they moved down in the southeast part of Nelson and that’s where he died. He died right there north of where you lived.

Leone: Did he always stay with the bricklaying or what?

Ed: Oh, well, he was on.....he went to farming you know. And then Father failed in health.
After he moved he moved to the farm, and that’s why they moved back to town.

Unknown: And you were ten years old, weren’t you....when he died?

Ed: Probably about ten years old when we moved back to town.

Unknown: I thought you were nine when he died, if I remember right. But maybe I....

Ed: I may be wrong there as to age. Yvonne reminded us that I was nine when he died and I believe that’s so.

Yvonne: I know you told us kids that several times.

Ed: And brother Billy was six - he was the youngest.

Yvonne: What took him, what did he, was it his heart or what failed him?

Ed: It just seemed as though it was just a plum run-down condition and the doctor said that it was just from over-exposure and all his work over there in Russia. He would freight over there and it would get as cold as 40 below zero in Russia with not very much clothing on and his condition when he died was all the results of that extreme cold on his system and the different exposures.

Leone: Now, did they come, now it was my understanding, I guess Les’ mother, we talked an awful lot about this, did they live in that country that was between Germany and Russia called Prussia? Is that where they come from? Or was it the real Russia?

Ed: They told us that they came from Norga, (Norka,) Russia. That’s about all the information I can give you. Where it was located, I cannot say. And at least where they located in Russia
was a territory of land that was opened for settlement and it became overpopulated and those people were very much oppressed and our people were included in that.

Leone: Now, how many brothers do you know, how many brothers and sisters your mom and dad had?

Ed: All I know is the relatives that came to this country and they were mothers relatives. I know of no close relatives of the father that came over here. Mother had two brothers.

Ed: (This part of the conversation is fragmented.)
Mostly punky welders. There was some fellow that was running a repair shop. And the tests and stuff -- I would say to myself, " How can you repair for people?" I would say it to myself, you know.... and this seeing these welders, I understand welding you know what I mean, I formed this opinion of doctors. If it’s that way in the welding field, it is that way in the doctors field. Then if we’re operated on, and the good doctor does the work, fine and well, but if one of them punks that outnumber the good doctors a mile, that’s where your reaction comes and it’s just there and I verified it by this other that I know what I’m talking about don’t you see?
(Much more conversation not family history related and not transcribed).
　
Ed: Finally got to where we scratched together 10 to 15 cents to buy a little rubber ball and when we made a ball with that rubber ball in the middle we thought we was -- it was Sunday. And we wrap that with string out of socks, sew it with cord string. And our bat we would go to the timber, sometime we’d start out to get a ball bat, we’d go early in the morning and when we come to the creek we’d see a tree that we’d say Boy, that’ll make a dandy bat. And we would hunt all day and may in the evening we’d come back and cut that tree down.

Ed: (More conversation not transcribed.)"

Sport Center Saturday - Billy, the Boxer

                                      "Billy" William Troudt on the right with unknown person

This postcard was sent to his older brother, Ed Troudt.  I do not know where this picture was taken or when the postcard was mailed.  If anyone has information about this wonderful piece of Troudt history, please let me know!!!  Thanks to Curtis Jensen, Ed Troudt's grandson, for this postcard!

Family Recipe Friday -- Apfel Kuchen aka Apple Bread

From the collection of German-Russian Recipes Cookbook published by American Historical Society of Germans from Russia:

Apfel Kuchen
apples
2 cups flour                                                    
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup butter for topping

Sif together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.  Add beaten eggs, milk and melted butter.  Spread in greased baking pan and cover with sliced apples.  Cover with mixture of brown sugar, butter, raisens and nutmeg.  Bake at 375 degrees about 35 minutes.  Serve warm with cream.    (from Mrs. John Blum)

Thursday Treasures -- Diary of Laura Ladell Merrill

DIARY OF LAURA LADELL MERRILL

Laura is a sister of Lucretia Lue Merrill Rennick,

Lucretia is Vhelmae Rennick Troudt  and Hazel Rennick Klugherz Mother.

Copied by Laura’s  grandson, Robert E. Hedgcock, Colonel US Army Retired, 15 Feb. 97.  Thanks to him!!

“Laura Ladell Merrill, daughter of Hiram Henry Merrill and Margaret Maria Gordon, made a trip by covered wagon with her family when she was a child.  Shortly before she died she wrote down what she remembered about her trip from Illinois to Nebraska in 1880 as follows:

In 1880 my family was living in Broadwell, Illinois.  The family consisted of a sick father, Mother and three girls -- Ladell - 8, Lucretia - 6, and Burnice - less than a year old.

The climate was damp and Father was always sick with the ague.  After six years of suffering our family doctor, Dr. Perry, recommended a change of climate.  Mother, being a courageous woman, was willing to undertake anything for his relief.  Early in the spring he became worse and Dr. Perry came one morning and to our surprise said you must leave this climate as soon as you can get away.  So Mother never thought but what we would go by train, but where?

A few years before this, a bachelor and his mother had gone to Nelson, Nebraska, so that seemed our only hope.  We had a letter from them that Mother had saved and there was their address, so Mother wrote them. An answer came back by return mail inviting us to come and live with them until we could build a house.  Mother showed the letter to Dr. Perry and he said you couldn’t find a healthier climate, but how are you going to get there, but you let me figure that out, and he did.

The next morning he came to the house bright and early and announced his decision and this is what it was:  You must go by covered wagon!  This looked like a big undertaking but Mother was equal to anything.  She told the neighbors about our new adventure and all were anxious to help.  So preparations began.

One man brought a wagon and fixed the bows and covered them with a water proof covering, another brought three gentle horses, two white and one roan.

Father could finance all this but was not able to direct it, but with neighbors such as these, everything was put in order.

Those men made a table and a cupboard that swung under the wagon with four small chairs that swung to the side.  We had a small oil stove with an oven and Mother often made biscuits for breakfast.  She baked loaves of bread twice every week for then on [we] couldn’t buy breads.

All was hustle and bustle in the home, for all the furniture had to be sold and clothing for five had to be put in order.  We had to take plenty of bedding for Father was always cold. We took two feather beds for he slept on one with another over him.

At last the day came to leave friends and neighbors.  I remember so well that morning.  Father, who weighed 93 pounds, was too exhausted to drive, so Mother drove the horses beside taking the responsibility of caring for three children and a sick husband as well as preparing three meals each day.  The horses had to be unhitched from the wagon every night, the harness taken off, the horses fed and then turned out to graze awhile.  Now it was time to prepare the evening meal and put the baby to bed.  Father had to go to bed while it was still light or as soon as he had finished supper.

The towns were far apart and neighbors were miles apart.  There were no good roads and when we came to the end of the road we would start across the prairie making our own road.

The horses were tired when night came and ready to rest.  Often they would lie down and lie so still you would think they were dead.

On a clear, moonlit night it’s surprising to find a big, friendly tree standing alone on the prairie.  Often we would find other children to play with.  Sometimes the men would get in our wagon and talk to Father.  The next morning we would all start out together, all headed for a different place, and sometimes we would travel together for two or three days.  Some were going to Western Nebraska, others to Kansas, and others didn’t know where they were going, but all were sure of finding land and a home.  There were plenty of homesteads to be had in Western Nebraska and Colorado.

After we crossed Illinois and got away from that damp climate we came to the dry, invigorating climate of Iowa and Father was able to sit up a short while each day.  He finally announced he was feeling better, so Mother wrote Dr. Perry telling of Father’s improvement.

When we reached Iowa we came into the storm area. How we dreaded those hail storms, for the ground would be covered with hail the size of marbles and often larger.   The horses seemed to know when such a storm was coming.  We could get inside the wagon but the horses had to take some.  Their bodies were covered with welts, and [they would] try to get away and sometimes they did and then [we had] to try and catch them in the middle of a dark night with only a lantern.  A high wind always accompanied such storms.

The hail would strip the corn fields, for July and August corn was at its best.  There was no place to drive in, for barns were all small and, in case of a storm, were full of their own livestock.

One night we noticed this black cloud in the southwest and hurried to the nearest farm house where we hoped we could find shelter for the horses.  It was about nine o’clock when Mother knocked on the farm house door and told the farmer what we wanted.  He told us to drive into the shed but said, remember, no light.  Now you can imagine what a task it was to unharness and feed the horses, feed five people, make a sick man comfortable for the night, feed the baby and everything depended on Mother.  Her hair turned perfectly white when she was twenty-eight years old.  But with all her responsibility she had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed a good clean joke.

We left Broadwell, not far from Lincoln, Illinois, about the middle of July and after six weeks of traveling in that covered wagon we reached the home of Abe Chenoweth and his mother. They were splendid people and made us feel very much at home. 

After reaching Nebraska we lived with the Chenoweths one year or [so] until Father was strong enough to supervise building a home.    Our first was a dugout built in the side of the bank.  It was a one room affair nicely boarded up and divided with curtains around the beds.  We children were happy, for Mother made us so.  Father was improving and Mother was a good seamstress, so the neighbors had plenty of sewing to be done.  She had the only sewing machine in the County.  She also quilted quilts for the neighbors on the frames Father made.

Pork chops were three pounds for 25 cents and the butcher gave the liver away.   Father bought a cow and I learned to milk.  Next was some young pigs which we raised until they were grown hogs.  This gave us meat for the next winter.

Beef was a luxury but Mother Chenoweth would often send us a chicken for our Sunday dinner. One spring she gave us several dozen little chickens, so that was the beginning of our flock.

Mother’s mother, Mrs. John Gordon was very thrifty and there was never anything wasted.  She taught her six daughters and four sons to be the same.  Mother wanted to make bread but had no yeast, so she wrote her mother about it.  [She told Mother how and] She went to the woods and gathered hops so Mother made her own yeast and enough for the neighbors.  She used to make a flour sack full at a time, and I can see that sack hanging behind the kitchen stove to dry.

After a few years we bought 80 acres of land out on the prairie near Nora, Nebraska and built a three-room house and to us that was wonderful to have real partitions and doors.  We paid 85 cents an acre for the land, then a few years later we bought another 80 acres for $2.50 per acre.  Father was improving fast, the climate was wonderful and everybody was in high spirits.

We had bored a well and it wasn’t deep enough for we were getting a new windmill and by now the farm was well-stocked with horses, cows and hogs so Father had the well sunk to from 88 to 135 feet and that gave us a good supply of water.”

Notes: Laura Ladell Merrill’s sick father was Hiram Henry Merrill and her mother was Margaret Maria Gordon.  Laura went by the name Della Merrill Hedgcock after she married George Grant Hedgcock 29 June 1892 in Nora Nebraska.

Shortly after their arrival in Nebraska it was determined that Hiram Henry Merrill had Malaria.  It was treated and he rapidly recovered.

Wordless Wednesday--Ray and OnaBeth Troudt roofing ca 1940s