The following is an account of my great-great grandparents, Charles and Hannah Grothe Hegert and the family they started.
Charles Hegert was born January 10, 1835 in Bingen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He left Germany in 1857 for America. We know that he was the first of his family to come to the United States. He left behind his father, three brothers and four sisters. He sent money back to his family in Germany and they all eventually joined him in Amboy.
Hannah Grothe was listed on the 1870 Census as being from Pennsylvania, however her death certificate notes her birthplace as Kentucky, which is incorrect. It did list her ancestry as German. There are records in Oakland of other Grothe's, however I am not sure if they are related to Hannah.
Charles became a Naturalized U.S. Citizen on July 17, 1868. He married Hannah Grothe on March 3, 1861 in Dixon, Lee County, IL. "Carl", as he was called, was 26 years old when he married. Hannah was 15.
After marrying, they settled in the township of Amboy, IL. In 1872 it was noted on the plat of Amboy Township that he was the owner of 80 acres of land. The land is located on the North West side of Amboy, just west of the Illinois Central railroad line. The plat page is: T.P. No. 20 N. Range No. 10 E. of 4th P.M. Square number 6, lower right 80 acres. The same acreage is noted on the 1900 plat as being held by a Mrs. Thomas Hegert.
While living in Amboy, Charles and Hannah had seven children. Their first child, Harriet was born on July 22, 1863. Next, came Sarah Ann on February 4, 1865. Harriet and Sarah would marry Hulbert brothers. Carl, Carl and Hannah's first son, was born on February 28, 1867. The family bible lists no child by this name, but does list a Frank. The 1870 Census lists a child the same age as "Frank". I propose that his name was "Carl Frank" after his father, and was called Frank. He was later found to be called "Carly". The 1910 Census lists him as Carl F. Hegert, Jr.. Frederick was born on February 10, 1870. He only lived about 4 months.
The census of that year listed Carl's occupation as "Miller". Their third daughter, Ida Mae was born September 4, 1871. Next came our great-grandfather, Rudolph Frederick, who was born January 15, 1874. The last child born in Amboy was William H.. He was born on November 26, 1877.
In 1881 the family moved to Oakland, Burt County, NE. He purchased an 80 acre farm 1 mile east of the town. Carl and Hannah had moved 6 children to Oakland and 3 years later increased by two. The twins Florence and Frances were born on December 14, 1884.
On June 30 1892, Carl sailed from New York bound for Germany aboard the steamship Bismark of the Hamburg-American Packet. The ship reached Hamburg on July 18. He left Hamburg to visit his family and later returned. His voyage back to New York was on the steamship, Normannia. The ship left on August 26. Just a few days into the voyage Carl took ill and died of cholera on August 30, 1892. He was buried at sea. Carl was 57 years old.
The news of Carl's death reached Hannah in Amboy. She and the twins were visiting family in Amboy. They were to have met Carl there.
After Carl's death, the responsibility of running the farm fell to Hannah and her son Rudy. Sarah's husband, Charles Hulbert was named executor along with Hannah. Carly, the eldest son, was not listed as an executor. He was living in Amboy, IL on Stroble Avenue. His occupation was insurance agent.
In his will, Carl left the sum of $1000.00 to each of his children, including Carly. The will was written in 1892, so it would appear that Carly was in good standing with his father. Carl's livestock, farm implements and household possessions were valued at $1389.00. He had outstanding loans owed to him in the sum of $14,438.19. Most of the loans were to the Hulbert brothers, his sons-in-law. He also owned the 80 acres east of town. His will provided that the acreage not be sold until Hannah's death or upon her remarrying. The Carl Hegert's seemed to have been living quite comfortably.
In 1895, Hannah, Rudy, William and the twins moved to town. Rudy went to work in the mercantile business. It was to be the beginning of a long career.
Karen Marie Hansen, Rudy's future wife, was born on October 22, 1872. A newspaper article noted that "Marie C. Hansen was a 16 year old visitor to nearby Bancroft". She had come to the United States in 1891 to join members of her family who were already here. Her brother Andrew is mentioned. Rudy courted her and they were married in Chicago, IL on January 3, 1900, In the home of her sister. On one of their children's marriage affidavits, in the Cedar County Courthouse, Karen Marie is listed as Marie Catherine Hansen. There were several newspaper accounts of Rudy and Marie. The first was in the Oakland Republican Newspaper, 1898, and read, "Marie Hansen of Blair was visiting friends." The second was in the January 4, 1900 issue and read, "Rudolph Hegert of this city and Miss Marie Hansen of Chicago, were married in Chicago yesterday afternoon. Mr. H's friends in this city enjoyed a treat at his expense." In the next issue, on January 11, 1900, it says, "Rudolph Hegert and his new wife arrived from Chicago Friday evening. They will occupy the residence on Thomas Avenue two doors south of Harding residence."
Rudy's religion was Lutheran. Oakland, NE had a large Lutheran German community.
Rudy and Marie's first child, Evelyn was born on January 3, 1901 and Byron Charles followed on January 28, 1903. The February, 1903 issue of the Oakland paper, said that Evelyn had been ill for several weeks, but was doing better.
The "Hulbert Addition" was underway on the north edge of town. Hannah and her youngest daughters built a home in the addition. When we visited Oakland in the summer of 1996, the home was in the process of being moved. It had stood in the same spot for nearly a century. Rudy built a home right next to his mother. He moved Marie, Evelyn and 2 month old Byron into their beautiful home. On December 16, 1909, Rudy and Marie's third child Raymond was born.
In March of 1912, Rudy moved his family to Hartington, NE. Rudy was 38 years old. Mr. Lubeley of Lubeley Plumbing, was looking to retire and his son, John, and Rudy offered to buy him out. Rudy and John became partners in Lubeley & Hegert Hardware. Rudy eventually bought out John Lubeley, and Hegert's Hardware was born.
On July 19, 1924, Hannah died. She had been living with her youngest daughter, Frances. Her cause of death was listed as Cerebral Apoplexy. She was buried in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, NE. Hannah and Carl share one headstone. It states: Carl Hegert, Buried at sea 1835-1892 and Hannah, his wife, 1846-1924.
Rudy and Marie had three children. Byron was his oldest son. During his high school days he was a star on the football team. He graduated Hartington High School in 1921 and went to Nebraskan Wesleyan for two years. He then returned to Hartington and assisted Rudy in the running of the hardware store. On January 1, 1926 he was taken in as a full partner and the store was renamed Hegert & Son. On July 5, 1926, Byron married his high school sweetheart, Miss Marie Lorge of Randolph, NE. It seems they eloped to Omaha, NE to be married. Marie was Catholic and Byron was Lutheran. Byron later converted to the Catholic faith. Marie graduated from Randolph High School in 1921 and was a public school teacher. She also worked at a bank in Belden. Byron and Marie settled in Hartington and Byron worked with his father at the hardware store.
Byron and Marie had two sons. Their first son, James Lorge, was born on August 12, 1927. Their second son, Thomas Frederick, was born on September 30, 1928. Jim and Tom were quite a handful. It seems one afternoon, when there mother was away playing bridge, Jim and Tom decided it was a great time to play cowboys and indians. They proceeded to run around the front porch in their birthday suits. They were still playing their game when Marie's friends dropped her back home. I can just hear Grandma Marie scolding them.
They eventually learned when to behave and when they could get away with a few shenanigans. I am sure all who knew them when, could recall a story or two.
Tom graduated from Hartington High School in 1946. He played the trombone and was on the football and basketball teams. Tom went onto college in Vermillion, SD to study medicine and Jim went into the Navy. (This is where the fraternity stories begin. Dad hasn't shared them with me, but I have seen some very interesting pictures.)
Tom married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Anne Haberer, on November 15, 1947. It seems they eloped to Papillion, NE. Patty will have to tell that story.
They had both grown up in Cedar County, Tom in the city and Patty on a farm. Patty attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School and graduated in 1946. She boarded in town. Upon graduation, Patty taught school. Tom and Patty would have 11 children. One child, Byron Charles would die at the age of 2. The other 10 children.... you're the ones reading this...
Tom went onto the University of Nebraska, Omaha to complete his medical degree. He was then given two choices for his internship, Detroit, MI and Orlando, FL. Tom and Patty decided to give Orlando a try. Byron owned a home there and it would provide a place for the growing family to live. After realizing that Orlando meant no snow... they decided to stay. Tom opened a General Practice with Dr. Keith Hanson. He then moved into his own office building with Dr. Ed O'Neal. He was the Orange County Medical Examiner from 1955 until his retirement in 1995. He specialized in Forensic Pathology. And the rest is history as they say.
Jim went to Hartington High School. After graduation in 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy. He then went to the University of South Dakota where he earned degrees in business and art.
Jim married Mary Jo Seiler on August 17, 1951 in Hartington. Mary Jo had grown up in Custer, South Dakota. Mary Jo studied music. Jim also served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Following his return from the Army he worked at Hegert & Sons Hardware. Jim and Mary Jo had 3 daughters Kris, Karen and Konnie.
Jim and Mary Jo moved to West Palm Beach, FL where Jim was in commercial art and advertising. In 1966 he returned to the University of SD and earned his law degree. He was a member of the state bar in Florida and SD. He worked with the public defender's office in West Palm and then went into private practice.
In 1977, Jim and Mary Jo moved back to South Dakota and were the managers of the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park until 1988.
Rudy and Marie's second son, Raymond married Mary Roskoph on Sep 23, 1933. They had one son Raymond Frederick, Jr. who married and had five sons and one daughter.
Evelyn was Rudy and Marie's only daughter. Evelyn married Elmer McGee and had three sons.
On June 30, 1943, Karen Marie Hegert died at the age of 71. She was buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, NE.
Rudy retired in 1948 and purchased a home in Orlando, Florida. In 1949, he met and married a retired school teacher named Carrie Kelly. She died in 1964. Rudy lived in Orlando, FL and Arkansas with his son Raymond. In 1966, he went into Mildon Manor nursing home in Lincoln, NE. He died July 30, 1969. Rudy was 95 years old. He is buried at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, next to Karen Marie.
GREAT GRANDPA RUDY'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS
There are several comments and observations I would like to make. First I would like to account for Rudy's brothers and sisters later lives.
Harriet also known as Hattie married Harvey Hulbert. They had 4 daughters and 2 sons. This would be Grandpa Byron's generation. The family names are Hulbert, Peterson, Hoagland, Schroeder and Parks. Grandpa Tom's generation's names are Hulbert, Wellman, Morrow, Hoagland, and Sleeter. They lived in Nebraska, Colorado and California.
Sarah married Charles Hulbert. They had 3 daughters and 1 son. Byron's generation: Hulbert, Hopkins, Jackson, and Brown. Tom's generation: Hopkins, Haeffelin, and Bibb. They lived in Colorado, Illinois and Nebraska.
Carl F. married Elizabeth Gregory and had 2 daughters. Helen married Lloyd Johnson and Elizabeth married Richard Stanley.
Ida Mae married Morris Meyers. They had 2 daughters and 1 son. Byron's generation: Meyers, Smith and Mooberry. Ida lived in Nebraska and Florida.
Rudolph married Karen Marie Hansen. They had 1 daughter and 2 sons. McGee is the only name added here for Byron and Tom's generations. Make note that there were eleven male Hegert's produced here.
William H. married Mabel E. Nelson and had 1 daughter. Byron's generation: Schuyler. They lived in Iowa.
Frances married Louis Ticnor. They had 1 daughter. Byron's cousin Gretchen Fisher lives in Dallas.
Florence married Leonard Russell. They had 1 daughter. Byron's cousin Maxine Sorrenson lives in Casper, Wyoming.
As you can see, there are many, many names on our family tree besides Hegert. We have bunches of cousins. If I bring it down to my generation we would have to add more names. In our family alone there are 6 married females with children. It goes on and on ....
THE OTHER HEGERT'S - DO WE CONNECT?
The next bit of information to pass along is purely an observation by me. In doing research on the Hegert's in Illinois, Mom and I came across many unfamiliar Hegert's. In Amboy, IL where Carl and Hannah lived, there are 10 Hegert's buried. These 10 were born between 1837 and 1899. Since recently acquiring the articles from the Lee County Genealogy Society, I now know that they are all related to us, including Marye Hegert, who still resides in Amboy. She even looks like Evelyn Hegert McGee, grandpa Byron's sister. There may be other cousins there, since we knoe that there were four sisters Hegert who came to the US sporting married names, two of which are Balje and Hulen.
There are also Hegert's listed in the Censuses that are found as early as the 1700's in Pennsylvania. Fantz Hernicus Hegert lived in PA. Henry Hegert was married in Maryland around 1850 and Gothleib lived in Ohio in 1880. I am almost positive that these are not related.
There was an Elizabeth Hegert married around 1800 and an Anna Hegert living in California in 1870. John Hegert lived in Pennsylvania in 1820. Then there was Phillip, Rose and Norbert. Who are all of these Hegert's??
I have talked to a William Hegert living in Michigan who is a bachelor of 80 some odd years. He had a brother in California. Neither had any children. There is no connection as far back as either of us go.
Back to Hegert Information