Sunday's Obituary - Ellen Osborne Pecht

These newspaper articles demonstrate that multiple sources often need to be checked to verify information. A person cannot die in two different places.

Mrs. Albert B. Pecht

Ellen Osborne Pecht, early day resident of Kansas died at her home in Hot Springs, S.D., March 23, 1933. Mr. and Mrs. Pecht and their family made their home for many years following their marriage, at Hardy, Neb., leaving there in 1907.

Source: Belleville Telescope, Belleville KS; April 6, 1933

Mrs. Eva Holmes received word Sunday of the death of her sister, Mrs. Ellen Pecht of Hot Springs, Wyo. Mrs. Pecht has been poorly for some time, and passed away Saturday. Her son, Jess left Sunday to return the body to Hardy for burial.

Source: Belleville Telescope, Belleville, Kansas, March 30, 1933

Albert Blair Pecht
Ellen Osborne Pecht
Rosemound Cemetery
Republic County, Kansas
south of Hardy, Nebraska

Relationship to me: wife of great grand uncle

Sunday's Obituary - Ida Ann Laymon-Weir

Mrs. Ida Ann Layman-Weir, who died Nov. 9, 1921 at her home in White Rock township, brief mention of which was made in last week's issue, was born in Grundy county, Illinois, and came to Kansas in 1879, with her parents, locating in White Rock township, Republic county, Kansas, where she lived at the time of her death at the age of 54 years and 3 months. She was married Jan. 10, 1892 to Chas. C. Weir, and they were blessed with two children, Roy Weir, at home, and Mrs. Ethyl E. Thomas of Union Valley, Republic county, Kansas. Her father and mother, John and Eliza Laymon, living at Hardy, Nebr., also survive her as does also one sister, Mrs. Clara R. Pecht, of Hardy, Nebr., and four brothers, Geo. W. Layman, of Hardy, Nebr., T. S. Laymon, of Fairfield, Nebr., and Frank and Herbert Laymon, of Sheridan, Wyoming. Three grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends also mourn the death of a noble woman in the death of Mrs. Weir. Elder W. P. Jewett of Courtland, conducted the funeral, which as under the direction of A. Haskett, of Courtland. A mixed quartette of singers, made up of old neighbors of the deceased, Messrs. Myres and Curtis and Mrs. Myers and Mrs. Osborne, sang impressive hymns and she was buried in the Mount Pleasant cemetery.

Source: Belleville Telescope and Belleville Freeman, Belleville, Kansas, November 24, 1921, page 8.

Note: The family name is spelled Laymon; the spelling of Layman as published in the newspaper is retained from the original article.

Relationship to me: great grand aunt; sister of my great grandmother, Clara Rosella Laymon Pecht

Wordless Wednesday - Jens Petersen's funeral

Members of the Petersen family gather at the funeral of Jens Petersen in Hardy, Nebraska in August 1948. Jens was my great grandfather.

Sunday's Obituary - Buniece Beal Brown

The intense heat is believed to have been a contributing cause of the death of Mrs. Buniece Beal Brown, age 45, at the home of her mother, Mrs. Cora Beal, Monday afternoon.  Mrs. Brown had suffered from other ailments, however.

She was found dead in her bed at 6 p.m.   Doctor Florea, who was called, said death probably came at 3 p.m.

A private memorial service was held Wednesday morning in the chapel at Evergreen Cemetery, where burial was made.  The following obituary was read at the service by Rev. C. O. Olson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Buniece Beal Bown was born in Superior, Nebr., May 19, 1889.  She was educated in the Superior schools and grew to womanhood in this community.  She was a graduate of a school in San Diego, Calif., having majored in domestic science and interior decorating. She taught school in the rural district near Superior, also Nelson, Nebr., and San Francisco, Calif.

She was married in 1912.  While living in Twin Falls, Idaho she united with the Christian Church.

Her departure was sudden and unexpected on Monday, July 16.

Besides her Mother, Mrs. Cora Beal, she leaves two brothers, Mitchell and Wendell Beal both of Superior, Nebr.  Her father preceded her in death several years ago.

Her parents came to Superior in the pioneer days.  They lived here and succeeded in establishing themselves financially as well as in the confidence of the people.

Source: Superior Express, Superior, Nebraska  July 19, 1934

Source FindAGrave
photographer: Marilyn Keim

Buniece is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Superior, Nebraska. She was my first cousin, twice removed. Her mother, Cora Pecht Beal, was the sister of my great grandfather, Leroy Pearl Pecht. Buniece had been married to Henry Orin Brown.

Sunday's Obituary - John Laymon and Eliza Olmstead Laymon

John and Eliza Laymon grave
Hardy Cemetery, Hardy
Nuckolls County, Nebraska

John Laymon and Eliza Olmstead Laymon were my great great grandparents

John J. Layman

Death has again entered our midst, and has taken another one of our dear old soldiers, who fought in the Civil War for our freedom. It is so true that Death loves a shining mark, and this time he laid his icy finger mark upon Uncle John Layman, as he was called by his friends and old comrades. Thus another home is broken and an aged companion left to mourn the loss of one who for sixty-one years has toild and labored by her side to make their home a resting place, that they might enjoy in their last days.

John J. Layman was born July 4, 1831, and died May 19, 1922. He is survived by his aged companion, Eliza Layman, one daughter, Mrs. Clara Pecht, of Hardy, Nebr. four sons, Tilson Layman, of Verona, Neb., Geo. W. Layman, of Republic, Kans.,  Herbert and Frank Layman of Sheridan, Wyo., fourteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren, two daughters, Ida Weir and Martha Layman, having departed this life before their father - Republic City News

Source: Belleville Telescope, Belleville, Kansas, June 1, 1922

Eliza Anne Layman

(By the Telescope's Big Bend Correspondent)

Mrs. Anne Layman was born Sept 10, 1841, and peacefully went to sleep at the home of her son, George W. Layman at Hardy, Neb., Aug 7, 1930, at the age of 88 years, 10 months and 27 days. Her maiden name was Olmstead and her father was a Christian minister. She was married to John Layman, Oct. 3, 1886 in Grundy county, Ill. They came from Illinois to this county in 1876 and settled in White Rock township, Republic county where they lived for many years, later moving to Hardy, Nebr. Her husband was a veteran of the Civil War and passed away near Hardy May 19, 1922 at the age of 83 years, 10 months and 10 days.

To this union seven children were born, three having preceeded her in death; Tilson Layman, Ida A. Wier, and Martha Jane Layman. The children left to mourn her loss are George W. Layman of Hardy, Neb., Mrs. Clara Pecht of Holmesville, Neb., Frank E. Layman of Sheridan Wyo. At the time of her husband's death, Mrs. Layman's eye sight was getting dim and the past few years have been spent with the loss of physical sight, but in spite of this affliction her spiritual sight never wavered.

Source: Belleville Telescope, Belleville, KS, August 14, 1930

Note: Name is spelled Layman throughout articles, instead of Laymon

Surname Saturday - LeRoy and Clara Pecht

My great grandparents were LeRoy Pearl Pecht and Clara Rosella Laymon Pecht.

LeRoy Pearl Pecht and Clara Rosella Laymon
On Their Wedding Day

LeRoy Pearl Pecht

Obituaries


Leroy Pecht

Leroy Pecht was born on a farm near Hardy, Neb., April 28, 1879, and departed this life at Holmesville, Monday morning, August 8, 1932, at the age of 53 years, 3 months and 11 days. he was baptized as a child in the Lutheran church, grew to manhood in and around Hardy and attended the Hardy public schools.

On April 11, 1900, he was united in marriage to Clara Laymon, who had remained a faithful companion until death called her loved one away. To this union were born six children, Ruby, Clyde, Cecile and Mildred, two having passed away in infancy.

For the last 16 years Mr. Pecht was engaged in the elevator business at Hardy, Neb., until two years ago when he, with his family moved to Holmesville, Neb., where he became manager of the Farmers' elevator at that place. He had been in poor health for the past several years and for the past three weeks had been bedfast.

He was a member of the Odd fellows at the time of his death, having always done all he could for that organization. He was a kind and loving husband and father, a friend to everyone. Anything he could do to serve another was his policy.

He leaves to mourn his passing, beside his lifetime companion, the four children, Ruby Petersen of Lincoln, Neb., Cecile Viers of Great Bend, Kas., Clyde and Mildred at the home address, one grandson, Kenneth Petersen, two sisters, Mrs. Cora Beal of Superior, Neb., and Mrs. Lotta Kiler of Dodge City, Kas., one brother, Sherman of Sandusky, New York, other relatives and host of friends.

Funeral services were held at Holmesville at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and further services were held from the Lutheran church at Hardy on Wednesday at 1 p.m. The body was laid to rest at Hardy, services being in charge of the Odd Fellows.

Source:  Beatrice Daily Sun, Beatrice, Nebraska, August 11, 1932

Clara Rosella Laymon Pecht

Mrs. Clara Pecht

Clara Rosella Laymon was born in Cole City, Grundy county, Ill., October 2, 1876, and departed this life at a local hospital in Beatrice, Neb., Monday evening, Oct. 20, 1941, at the age of 65 years and 18 days.

On April 11, 1900, she was united in marriage to Leroy Pecht at Nelson, Neb., who preceded her in death in 1932. To this union were born six children, Ruby, Clyde, Cecile and Mildred, two having passed away in infancy.

In the fall of 1929 Mrs. Pecht, with her family, moved to Beatrice, where she had since resided. She had been in failing health and the past two weeks had been bedfast.

She became a member of the Lutheran church at Hardy in 1916 and retained her membership in the church until death. She loved her church and truly lived the Christian way. Her sweet, calm disposition meant much to everyone with whom she came in contact. She always saw the good in everyone, and was an inspiration to all. She truly exemplified real motherhood, never complaining, and shedding goodness and love everywhere she went. she needs no special monument for her ifluence will be remembered by her many friends and relatives.

She leaves to mourn her going the four children, Ruby Petersen and Clyde Pecht of Lincoln; Cecile Viers of Superior, and Mildren Mittan of Beatrice; five grandchildren, three brothers, other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held at Beatrice at 9:30 Thursday with further services from the Lutheran church at Hardy. The body was laid to rest in Rosemound cemetery.

Source: Beatrice Daily Sun, Beatrice, Nebraska, October 28, 1941

Burial at Rose Mound Cemetery, Republic County, Kansas

LeRoy and Clara Pecht gravestone
Rose Mound Cemetery
Republic County, Kansas

Wordless Wednesday - Hardy Nebraska Grade 2 - 1913

Hardy, Nebraska Grade 2, 1913

Ruby Luella Pecht
Back Row, Fourth from Left
My Grandmother

Surname Saturday - Olmstead

The Olmstead Family

This week's choice for a surname to feature was fairly easy since today's research on Ancestry.com has resulted in dozens of new additions to my family tree. This is especially enlightening since up until a few weeks ago, I had been researching the family using the spelling Almstead until I discovered  the "Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America" - a book compiled by Henry King Olmsted in 1912. This resource came to me through a Google books search.

It was in this book that I found my great-great grandmother, Eliza Ann Olmstead and her husband, John Laymon. From this reference, I discovered her parents, Eben Andrews Olmstead, who was born in 1812 and Anne Archibald, who was born in 1817.

Many of the Olmstead family settled in Illinois and thanks to the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900, I found even more Olmstead marriages - and confirmation of the information in the Henry King Olmsted book. If you have any ancestors who lived in Illinois during this time frame, I highly recommend the marriage search on that site.

According to Ancestry.com, the majority of Olmstead families in the United States in 1940 lived in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, with some in Indiana and Illinois, which would have been my line of Olmsteads. By 1880, the name concentration was heaviest in New York and Michigan and still a large number in Illinois and many having moved further west to Iowa. By 1920, there were Olmsteads in all of the states except Wyoming and Nevada.

While this newly discovered family line offers a wealth of new information, I'm looking forward to tracing the lineage of my great great great grandparents, Eben Omstead and Anne Archibald, back another generation, as well as documenting their descendants as close to present day as I can. It's always exciting to find those new branches of the family tree.

The headstone of John Laymon and Eliza Ann Olmstead is located in Hardy Cemetery, Hardy, Nuckolls county, Nebraska.


The Olmstead Name in History

Memorial Day 2010 - Honoring Those Who Served

On this Memorial Day, 2010, I pay tribute to Jess Carl Petersen, my father's uncle, who served in the U.S. Navy in World War II.

Uncle Jess is buried at Soldier's Circle at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Jess was born in Hardy, Nebraska on November 14, 1915 and died much too soon at age 45 on September 12, 1961.

 Jess Carl Petersen
1915 - 1961

Surname Saturday - Pecht - Peight

My father’s mother’s family name was Pecht. In our family, it was always pronounced so that it rhymed with Faith (Paith). I’ve come across other lines of the family where it was pronounced Peck, and even others who pronounce it as Peck with the T on the end. Going back to my third great-grandfather, the name was spelled Peight. Some lines of the family retained that spelling, where my line changed it to Pecht.

The name Peight originates in Germany. Ancestry.com shows four people with the name Peight emigrating from Germany in November 1882. I haven’t connected our family to any of these immigrants yet.

I’ve traced my Peight family line to my third great-grandfather, George Peight, of Altoona, Pennsylvania. Some scandal surrounds this ancestor, as I’ve discovered newspaper articles stating that he killed his teenage daughter and then committed suicide. It’s a family tragedy that somehow was sanitized through the years since a family history written about forty or fifty years ago states that the daughter drowned while swimming and the father drowned while trying to save her. Somehow, I can’t imagine anyone swimming in Altoona, Pennsylvania in February! The two newspaper articles I’ve discovered about the murder-suicide were from outside the state of Pennsylvania, so one of the tasks on my to-do list is to find news accounts in the Altoona area newspapers.

Soon after this tragic event, my great-great grandfather, John Crispin Pecht and his mother (George’s widow), Rachel, moved west and the family name for my line has been spelled Pecht since that time. Some of John’s siblings who remained in Pennsylvania retained the Peight spelling.

In the 1920 census, the majority of Peights in the United States were still in Pennsylvania; however there were also some in Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Colorado. Some of my line lived in Wyoming for a while.

The Pecht name had wider distribution in the United States in the 1920 census, with families using that spelling residing in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, California, Montana and Washington. At that time, the frequency of the Pecht name in the census was highest in Nebraska, Pennsylvania and New York. My ancestors settled in the area of Nuckolls County, Nebraska and just across the border in Republic County, Kansas.

The majority of Pecht immigrants also originated in Germany. As with the Peight spelling, these immigrants departed from Bremen, Germany and Antwerp, Belgium. Some left from Southampton, England; France; and the Netherlands, but Germany was the country of origin for the Pecht immigrants.

In 1880, most of the Pechts in the United States were farmers, while others were miners and laborers. Several of the men in my Pecht families were carpenters.

Today, the Pecht name can be found throughout the United States. Many of the descendants of my great-great grandfather moved west, with many of them in the western coastal states. It’s not that common a name and with so few immigrants named Peight or Pecht, I have little doubt that most of us around today are probably related somehow. It’s an interesting thought to ponder (and research!).

Nuckolls County Nebraska genealogy resources

The Superior Public Library in Superior, Nebraska has a variety of genealogy resources available for public use. The library's card catalog may be searched online.

The library's web site states they do not check out their genealogy materials, but they will do look-ups. A microfilm reader is available and copies are $.35.

Other resources of interest to genealogists:

Superior

Superior has had a number of town newspapers. At different times these newspapers were in print, some during the same time, Superior Sun, Superior Daily Journal, Superior Weekly Journal and the Superior Express. The Superior Express was started in January 1900 and is still in print today. The library has microfilm of these newspapers from Feb 28, 1888 to present.

Nebraska

• Nuckolls Country Cemetery Records thru 2003.
• Nuckolls County Marriages Book 1, index.
• 1870-1910 Nebraska Census records for Nuckolls and Thayer counties.
• Federal Census 1880-1930 for Nuckolls and Thayer counties.
• Early Superior school index.
• Nuckolls County Obituaries.

Kansas

Superior is only 2 miles off the Kansas border so the library also has a few records from Kansas:

• 1870-1920 Kansas Census for Jewell, Jefferson, Kearny counties.
• Index to Jewell County Marriage records from June 1871 - August 1927.
• Jewell County Cemetery Records.
• Some Jewell County Birth Records

 Family Records

 These are family records in book form. These can be found in the card catalog under "genealogy" or "family name".

Library Hours

1:30 - 5:30 PM
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Monday - Friday

10:00 AM to Noon
1:30 - 5:30 PM
Saturday

Closed Sunday

Phone: (402)879-4200

superiorlibrary@hotmail.com

Food for Thought - recipes from the relatives

I was cleaning out some old recipe books a couple years ago, planning to recyle some of them to a charity. Thank goodness my father looked through them because he discovered that one that was slated for donation was a 1950 cookbook compilation from the American Legion Auxiliary in Hardy, Nebraska, where much of our family resided for several decades. As I looked through it, not only did I find familiar names, but photographs of several family members who contributed recipes for the publication. I'm going to have to try this cake recipe some day! It sounds good!

John Crispin Pecht and Amanda Melvina Stover

Valentine's Day seems like a good time to recognize the wedding of my great-great grandparents, John Crispin Pecht and Amanda Melvina Stover. They were married in Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois on September 6, 1859.

From Illinois, they moved their family to the area of Republic and Jewell counties in Kansas, across the state line from Hardy, in Nuckolls County, Nebraska.