NIOBRARA 1889-1901
In 1889, the Wilcox brothers transferred Gustav Kositzky to Niobrara, NE. Gustav later purchased the business from them. He bought grain and sold lumber.
The four youngest Kositzky children were born in Niobrara. The author's father, Edwin Paul, was born on Jan 30, 1892. Waldemar William was born on June 20, 1894, Harold Wenzlaff on June 20, 1896 and James Clarence on June 30, 1900.
Anna Kositzky (Owen) wrote the following story. "Mother gave birth to eleven children. She did most of her own work. No matter how tired she was, the important parts of the children's training were never neglected. She strove unceasingly to teach us the difference between right and wrong. She taught us the principles of Christianity, to be honest, truthful and lead moral lives, to be forgiving and not to be wasteful.
"Mother had always lived in a German speaking community and neighborhood. After coming to Niobrara, she continued to work to improve her knowledge of the English language. As she did in Jamesville, she used the same text books we did in school. She studied the subjects necessary to enable her to speak and write the English language more proficiently. She usually did her studying
in the evening after her many household tasks were completed.
"Her progressive spirit again showed itself in Yankton during the years 1909-10 when she took violin instructions from a Yankton Conservatory teacher. With perseverance and diligence she progressed, so she could play the melody of the songs she loved. Mother was talented along literary and musical lines and she was also
very artistic.
"Mother did many pieces of handiwork, especially after the children were grown. The items were all beautifully done. She was not satisfied with anything she made unless it was perfect.
"Before a stroke in 1936 affected her hand and side, her hands were never idle. She crocheted several bedspreads, knit dozens upon dozens of socks, gloves and mittens. She crocheted and knit hundreds of yards of lace and countless doilies. She made many braided rugs and beautiful silk mats."
Grossmutter collected old silk stockings. She dyed the stockings in various colors, and cut them into strips. She then braided the strips and coiled them into table mats. Some mats were about eight inches in diameter and others were larger.
When the author was a little girl her grossmutter gave her a small crocheted doll buggy cover. Unfortunately, it was lost during the family's move to Winner. When the author was eight her grossmutter made her a crazy quilt for her dolly. Many other descendants of this talented woman have and cherish items made by her.
She intended to make a crocheted bed spread for each of her children. She told daughter-in-law, Katherine, that she was sorry but she was too tired to make any more spreads. Anna gave her bedspread to the author.
At one time Clarence worked for the air force and had access to surplus parachutes. Both the parachute and the parachute cords were made from silk. Grossmutter unraveled the cord and using this thread, she crocheted lace. She used the silk material to make small items such as doll dresses and handkerchiefs.
The Kositzky home in the town of Niobrara was a large two story frame house. A cistern, small washhouse, outhouse and barn were located nearby. Next to the house was the families large garden.
The cistern stored rain water and a shallow well provided a supplementary supply of water. In the Niobrara area, well water had a very high iron content so water in the cistern was preferred for laundry and household use. The water was pulled from the cistern and well by buckets and hand carried into the house.
In 1900, a flowing artesian well was dug in the area. The Niobrara Roller Mills was operated with power from this well but there was rust in this water too.
The family used wood and corn cobs to fuel the heating and cooking stoves. There was no electricity and no gasoline engines. Muscle power did the washing, turned the wringer, pushed the carpet sweeper and ground the coffee. On ironing day, sad irons were heated on the kitchen stove. The mother used a treadle operated sewing machine to make and patch clothing for her large family. Since there was no indoor plumbing, a large wash tub was carried into the kitchen and used for the Saturday night baths.
Gustav owned an acreage of hilly land near Niobrara. This land provided pasture for the work horses and milk cows. There were springs on the side of the hill and the family took advantage of this water and located a watermelon patch there.
The family garden provided fresh vegetables for the table. Surplus food was harvested, washed, prepared and preserved for later use. Cabbage was made into sauerkraut and stored in crocks in the cellar. Dozens of jars of tame and wild fruits were also preserved. Fresh apples were stored in barrels.
The family often shared their produce with friends and neighbors. One year the garden produced a bumper crop of pop corn. The boys left an armload of ear corn on each porch in town.
Every fall the father purchased at least one hog. These animals provided fresh pork and home cured bacon and hams. The cured meat was also stored in the cellar. The fat trimmed from the carcass was rendered and the lard stored in crocks.
A wide variety of wild fruit grew along the hills and valleys of the Niobrara River. This fruit was free for the picking. The Kositzky family members gathered these fruits as they ripened. Some of the wild fruits were eaten fresh and some were cooked and made into jellies, jams and preserves.
When the choke cherries were ripe, the Kositzky boys went into the canyons to pick clusters of unripened wild grapes. These green grapes were cooked with the ripe choke cherries. Sugar was added to the strained juice to make jelly. Before commercial pectins such as Sure Jell were available, the pectin in the green grapes aided in making a firm, instead of a runny, jelly.
The family owned two horses and two cows. The horses pulled the wagons used for hauling in the lumber yard business. They also were hitched to the plow and hitched to the buggy when the family needed
transportation.
The cows were hand milked twice a day. Oleomargarine was unheard of. Lard was used as a cooking fat and the family churned butter to use as a spread on bread. Some of the milk was left standing in pans overnight. The cream was skimmed from the top and then hand churned to make butter.
The stoves which heated the house and cooked the food were fueled with wood and corn cobs. There was no electricity and no gasoline engines. Kerosene lamps furnished the light. Muscle power did the washing, turned the wringer, pushed the carpet sweeper and ground the
coffee. Ironing was done with sad irons heated on the top of the kitchen stove. The sewing machine was operated with a foot treadle. Water was pumped and carried from the well and cistern--there was no indoor plumbing and the toilet was outdoors. Well water was pulled bucket by bucket from shallow wells.
Niobrara was a frontier town on the edge of the Ponca Reservation. Indians were frequent visitors to the town. The following story is found in the (NIOBRARA CENTENNIAL----look this up ) and also in Writings of Josephine Wenzlaff Kositzky.
"A history of Niobrara would not be complete without a word of SUSNKASKA or WHITE DOG, the Indian Beggar. He would ask for food and a nickel to buy beer. If he was given food which he didn't like, he would promptly throw it away. He liked coffee and buttered bread but he licked off the butter first. Water was scarce on the reservation. On one occasion when he was given a drink, he poured the water remaining in the dipper back into the well.
People would often see him sitting beside the road, waiting for a ride in someone's wagon. He was usually successful in catching a ride."
There is a prose description about this man written in German in Josephine's book and also a picture of him.
Josephine wrote about driving to the reservation with friends to observe an Indian Pow-Wow, given in honor of visiting Omaha Indians. She described the tom-tom beat of the drums, and the painted faces. The dancing continued until morning. She also mentioned that the Indians did not like having pale-face visitors at their dances.
James Clarence wrote the following stories. He was only two when the family moved from Niobrara.
"There were many Indians around Niobrara in these days. In my mind I can still see them with their light spring wagons, ponies and dogs,-- always dogs. The men had their hair in two braids and wore black hats and moccasins.
"They carried pouches containing long-stemmed pipes and a mixture of Bull Durham and kinnikinic, the dried bark of the red willow. They would come to town and form a circle sitting on their heels while they smoked and talked in low tones. Well known to us was old White Dog who was a regular caller at our kitchen door.
"I also remember when some gray-haired Mormons came to town. They were there to erect a monument in memory of those of their group who had died and were buried nearby years before. During their original stay, an island was created in the Niobrara River. They used muscle power, both human and animal, to created a stream flow with enough force to power a mill they had built."
"During the war year of 1918, the Niobrara Roller Mills closed ---in March it closed, in April it burned to the ground. --- By October, after a site had been purchased, the mills were again in operation making flour. The site for the mill consisted of the corner lots across the street from the C@NW railroad depot on the south side of Elm Street. The corner is a land mark in Niobrara
History having been occupied in early years by the Wilcox Lumber Co., later operated by Gus Kositzky." (NIOBRARA CENTENNIAL pg?)
When the Kositzky family were living in Niobrara there was no railroad through the town. Grain purchased by Gustav Kositzky was sacked by hand and hauled by horse drawn wagon to the bank of the Missouri River. The sacks of grain were loaded onto a ferry and then ferried across the river to Running Water, SD. Lumber and other building supplies were also transported by the ferry and horse. If there were any automobiles in the state of Nebraska, they didn't come through Niobrara.
While they lived in Niobrara, the family attended the Presbyterian Church. Clarence was baptized by the Rev. William who was a Home Missionary among STANDING BEAR's people. Father Gustav was an elder in the church and was also treasurer of the school board for many years. Anna said her father believed in tithing, was a reader, and had a horror of debt. He had a keen sense of humor as well as a sharp business insight. He firmly believed that the
consequences would always be serious when expenditures were greater than income.
In October of 1900, Gustav legally changed his name from Gustav Koschitzky to Gustav Kositzky. He never used his complete name Karl Reinhold Gustav. He was known to his friends and customers as Gus.
Many years later Gustav's sons, Ralph and Clarence,
changed their last names to COE as did Ralph's son, Herbert, and Gus's son, Robert. Clarence said that his father would never address a letter using the name Coe. Their mother, Josephine, had to pen in THAT NAME.
Several sad events occurred during the twelve years Gustav and Josephine lived in Niobrara. Johann Christian Wenzlaff, the beloved father of Josephine died in Yankton of complications following an operation for a strangulated hernia. He was sixty-seven years old and died on Sept. 22, 1894. His grandson, Edwin Paul, the author's father was two years old. He never really knew his grandfather.
A year later the family experienced another loss in the death of Josephine's sister Emilie DEDLOW. She died on Nov.4, 1895 of typhoid fever. She left a husband and a four year old son, Rudolph Paul Dedlow.
Emilie did not come to America when the rest of the Wenzlaff family did. She and her husband, Charles Kiener, left Russia in 1876. They traveled by way of Switzerland to visit Charles brother, who lived there.
Charles became seriously ill and died in Switzerland. In early 1877 Emilie continued her trip alone. Her father met her in New York and accompanied her back to Yankton, Dakota Territory.
Emilie married Rudolph Dedlow and they had a son, Rudolph Paul. Her son was only four years old when his mother died. He was raised by his aunt, Lena MAX of Yankton.
While the family was living in Niobrara Gustav's nephew, Gottleib (Herman?) KOSCHITZKE, visited the family. For some reason, never divulged to the grandchildren, Josephine did not welcome him into her home. Gustav fixed a cot in the lumber yard where he
stayed for a few days. He moved on and later settled in the Redfield, SD area. A son, Paul, his wife and little daughter, Gertrude, later immigrated to the United States from Germany. Gertrude married --- MONFORE and there were other children.
Following are translations and summaries of several
poems Josephine wrote after the family moved to Niobrara.
The first, translated by her daughter, Anna, reflects
Josephine's religious philosophy.
WHAT I HEAR IN THE STORM AND THE RUSHING OF THE WIND
Much can I hear, but little do I see
In this hissing wind and blinding storm.
Roaring wind, agitator of the storm,
Whence came you? Whither will you go?
Clearly I hear the wind as it suddenly
Bursts into a gale,
And hear the ancient dwellers unseen
Begin an ageless, weird, sad tune.
Starting with a soft, sweet cadence
Enlivened by a wilder call,
Swelling into piercing shrieks
Long sustained on one high note--
Then no more to be distinguished.
Soon a louder, deeper roaring
Drowning out the fiendish shrieking
Coming toward me with the power
Of waves breaking on the shore.
Can my shelter long protect me?
Can the walls and roof withstand this?
Now the strongest fortress quivers.
Earth's might trembles in the conflict
With the fearful powers of hell.
Where is light for such a night?
I hear a panting, painful moaning
Mingled with a dreadful groaning.
Poor mortal! Am I to be offered
To the elements, a sacrifice?
Will I again the sun behold
After storm and night of horror?
The strong ones too, are oft laid low,
But the strongest will be victor.
Though this suspense continues long--
Sometime t'will cease. Be not dismayed.
Victory! Now I plainly hear
A howl of rage at every door.
Spent the fury of the tempest.
Daylight dawns. A different note sounds
In the tree tops. Softer whispers
As in past days. Sometimes louder,
Lofty and majestic, saying:
The Father's care is o're you
Your trust in God is not in vain.
Tender reeds will not be broken
Flickering lights will not extinguish.
Trust Him in the storms of life.
He protects you through the tempest
He will help you always. Praise Him.
Anna summarized the following poem written May l, 1900.
This was a short time before Clarence, the youngest child
was born.
HOPE
"She has a firm belief that beyond the grave there is a
place of rest in the heaven above. She feels
misunderstood, hated, forsaken and a stranger in her
community. Her heart is heavy and full of pain. The very
best that the world could offer, would not be an
inducement to keep her here.
"She is so sad and discouraged, tired of living. If it is
God's will, she asks that He take her out of the world.
God's elect must suffer. She prays that these trials may
prepare her for eternity. When she has reached the
peaceful haven, she will say to those who scorned her, "I
forgive you. May God grant you peace!"
Anna summarized the following poems, written in
October of 1900.
MY LITTLE CHILD CLARENCE
Clarence, the youngest was now four months old.
While a fall storm is raging outside and he is peacefully
sleeping, she expresses the hope that he will live a
Christian life.
In life's conflict and strife, she would gladly avert
pain, danger and sorrow from her dear one's path. He has
brought much comfort and joy into this tumultuous life of
hers.
Between these two poems she has drawn the tiny hand of
Clarence and also the little shoe of Harold when each was
four months old. The poem which follows was written on
March 20, 1898.
The Bear and Baby Harold
Harold, the two year old baby had apparently not wanted to
go to bed and go to sleep. The older children must have
told him that a big bear would come to get him. In fear
Harold crept under the bed. She tells the bear to go away
or he will get a beating with the whip. She reassures
Harold that he is a good baby and will not be punished.
In 19 the Kositzky Lumber Yard in Niobrara was sold. A
North Dakota ranch was acquired as part of the sale price.
The house in which the family was living was also sold.
While they finished preparations for the move to North
Dakota, the family moved into a smaller house. This house
was called the Douglas house.
Josephine wrote the following poem about James
Clarence titled "His First May".
HIS FIRST MAY
The Douglas yard was filled with trees and flowering
bushes. Out in the yard, blossoms cover the apple trees.
The sun's rays are warm and friendly. Nearby the meadow
lark's jubilant song can be heard. The countryside near
and farm resembles a dream in fairyland. Through the open
door, with a joyous cry, the little child advances toward
the pink and white blossoms. To him all things are new
and lovely in this, his very first May.
While the second oldest Kositzky son, Gustav, was in college he became interested in photography. He took many photographs of the family and events in Niobrara. A number of photos were taken of the parade celebrating the thirty years of the Bohemian settlement in Niobrara.
Josephine wrote a poem about this celebration titled "A
Gala Day in Niobrara." Following is a summary of thetranslation of this poems.
"Many people are coming into town today to celebrate
the thirtieth anniversary of the Bohemian settlement.
Young and old, with wife and child, they come in wagons,
with horses trotting, or on horseback with horses loping.
It looks like another fourth of July.
"They come to see the parade and to hear the music.
They come to dance, to drink and to enjoy themselves.
They come to watch the races and the ball game. They come
to greet old friends and to settle old scores with their
foes."
Anna Kositzky lived with her family during many of the years they were in Niobrara. Following graduation from High School in Yankton, she received her "normal training" at Yankton College. She taught in Niobrara for four years. During one of these years she was Edwin Paul's third grade teacher. The younger Kositzky boys considered
their sister Anna to be a second mother. Throughout their lives they were devoted to their older sister.
The impoundment of Missouri River water in Lake Lewis and Clark resulted in raising the water level in the old town of Niobrara. The town was once again moved, this time to the top of a hill above the old town site. This new location was once the pasture of Gustav Kositzky.
The dedication of the new town was held in July of 1977. The author, her husband, Clifford Klein, Uncle Bill Kositzky, his wife Astrid, Cora Kuhlman and her children Kathy and Blair, and Ralph and Sue Nollkamper attended the dedication ceremonies.
The old house was still standing but in disrepair. The current inhabitants were preparing to move. We visited the city library and examined a plaque dedicated to Gustav Kositzky. The story the author's father, Edwin, told about the watermelon patch on the side of a hill, had always puzzled her. We visited with several residents of the new town. They told us that many homes had problems
with water seeping into basements. There were many springs on the hill necessitating the installation of sump pumps.
