Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jansen
They farmed in Audubon County for two years and then on farms in Iowa Township. In 1935, they moved to an acreage on the southwest edge of Aspinwall. In 1953, they moved to Aspinwall, where in 1957 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Henry and Anna were the parents of five children. Emma Steffen (deceased), Harry Jansen of rural Manning, Augusta Georgius (deceased), Hilda Vinke of rural Westside, and Alvin Jansen of Aspinwall. They had 17 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, four step great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren.
Henry passed away January 30, 1967, and Anna passed away November 12, 1969. They both are buried at Iowa Township Cemetery.
ODDS AND ENDS
ASPINWALL NEWS: Arrived at the residence of Hans Frensen
on the 16th, a fine baby boy of 12 pounds avoirdupois weight. Hans says he is a
young Democrat and will run for President of the United States 48 years from
now. Grover Cleveland Frensen is the name he has been endowed with.
Manning Monitor, September, 1884
ODDS AND ENDS
My sister Margaret and I were the two selected to help
pick corn after we moved to the farm in 1900; our older brothers and sister had
already gone out on their own, and our younger brother was too young to help.
Dad always got us up at 4 a.m. and made us go out to the fields, and then we
sat at the end of the row until it got light enough to see to work.
Emma (Boyens) Wiese, Manilla Manor
WILLIAM AND LILLIAN JENSEN
William Jurgen Jensen was born July 1, 1867 at LeClaire, Iowa, near the home where Buffalo Bill lived. For
a time he rode with Buffalo Bill as a cowboy.
Finally he landed in Crawford County. There he met and married Lillian Brus who grew up north of Aspinwall, at a place known as the Payne Section. She was born in 1873.
After their marriage they farmed in Crawford and Carroll Counties for a number of years. They then moved to Bloomfield, Nebraska, where they farmed for some time.
In 1917 they moved back to Iowa and located in Aspinwall where they purchased a home and combined dance and pool hall from John Brus. Here they had dances every other Sunday and you could stop in for lunch any time. They also showed silent movies. Their son William (Bill) enjoyed operating the movie machine.
In 1924 they sold their home and business to Pete Siem. A year later they again moved to Nebraska where they lived until 1938, when Mr. Jensen passed away. Mrs. Jensen lived until 1949.
They had eight children: Anna (Mrs. John Lafrentz), Adele (Mrs. Harry Kruetzfeldt), Clara (Mrs. Vertus Lamp), Ella (Mrs. Otto Lamprecht), William married to Minnie Westphalen Taylor, Lillian (Mrs. Louie Wegner), Gladys (Mrs. Leo Dalton), and Hubert married to Grace Mielk. There are 25 grandchildren.
There are four generations all named William Jensen: William Jurgen Jensen I, William John Frederich Jensen II, William Rae Jensen III, and William Todd Jensen IV. William III died July 4, 1982 in California.
William and Lillian Jensen's son Bill and a granddaughter Florence (Mrs. Lester Karsten) still live in Manning. Anna lives in Bloomfield, Nebraska; Gladys lives near Wausa, Nebraska; and Hubert settled in Clinton.
Page 235
JEFF AND SHIRLEY JOENS
Jeffery Lynn Joens, son of Clifford W. and Lois K. Jahn Joens, was born
November 13, 1957, at the Manning General Hospital. He attended school at
Manilla, where he graduated in 1976.
Jeff was united in marriage with Shirley Marie Kloewer September 3, 1977, at the Sacred Heart Church in Manilla. She is the daughter of Michael J. Kloewer of Manilla and Catherine A. Kloewer of Harlan. Shirley was born at Fort Carson, Colorado and attended school at Manilla, where she graduated in 1975.
Jeff and Shirley moved on Norma Lamaack's farm in 1977, which is located two miles west and 3/4 mile north of Aspinwall.
Shirley started working for the Manilla Grain Terminal as a secretary in 1975 and is presently employed there. Jeff worked two years for the Manilla Fertilizer Company and one year farming with Alan Lorenzen. He started working for Aspinwall Co-op in February of 1980, where he is presently employed.
PETER AND LOUISE JONES
Peter Jones was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and came to the Westside
area in 1868. There he met and married Louise Hagedorn, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Hagedorn, also residents of the Westside area. They moved to a farm
near Aspinwall in 1885. The children attended the Aspinwall Schools. In 1896
they moved to Virgil, South Dakota. They farmed there until 1913 when they
moved to Chinook, Montana. In 1923 they retired to Long Beach, California,
where they passed away. Burial was in the Sunny Side Mausoleum.
Their children were George, John, Albert, Anna, Laura, Frieda and Elfie. Son George married Ella Kruse, a Manning resident. George owned an electric shop in Manning. A son Elmer was born to them. They also moved to Long Beach, California.
Peter had brothers Matthias, Franz and Dethlef. His sisters were Mrs. William (Margaretha) Puck and Mrs. E.J. (Kathryn) Puck. They all remained residents of this area.
Louise had a sister, Mrs. Ben (Ida) Wiese, and brothers Paul, William, Charlie and Louie.
HENRY KAI
Seven daughters were born to Henry and Siena Kai. All were born on the 240 acre
farm in Crawford County, purchased in 1883. They were Mrs. William (Amelia)
Walter; Mrs. Hans (Lizzie) Lamaack; Mrs. Claus (Emma) Thomssen; Mrs. Siefred
(Amanda) Wenzel; Mrs. George (Ida) Pfoltner; Mrs. Richard
(Anna) Schacht; and Mrs. Ed (Hattie) Hageman. All are deceased.
Siena Jensen was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in 1857, and came to the United States in 1872. She worked as a maid until she married Henry Kai in 1880. Henry Kai also had emigrated from Deutschland to this country.
In Germany, hard times prevailed; it was impossible to start with nothing or even find jobs. On approaching this wonderful land, the welcoming statue in New York harbor seemed to say, "Welcome. Everything is possible here." And so they found it.
In 1910 Henry and Siena, with daughter Henrietta (Hattie), retired to Aspinwall. They eventually bought the home at 121 Second Street in Manning, near the Zion Lutheran Church. Grandma Kai was a devout and faithful member of the church, attending regularly the German services by Rev. Johann M. Ansorge.
Thirty grandchildren were born into the Kai family. Ten are now deceased. Survivors are: Edna (Lamaack) Meggers, Aspinwall; Harry Lamaack, Botna; Anna (Lamaack) Saunders, California; Alva (Schacht) Fuss, Manning; Donna (Schacht) Mahnke, Manilla; Virgene (Schacht) Kunz, Templeton; Merle Thomssen, Manilla; Estella (Thomssen) Schrum, Manilla; Henry Wenzel, Vail; Emma (Wenzel) Saunders, Walnut; Joan (Hageman) Schrader, Clark, South Dakota; Phyllis (Pfoltner) Callender, Manning; Lorene (Pfoltner) Pfannkuch, Manning; Harold Pfoltner, Lincoln, Nebraska; Malinda (Walter) Vinke, Manning; Arlene (Walter) Elwell, Charter Oak; Mamie (Walter) Steiner, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Cecil (Walter) Sievertsen, Harlan; Louis Walter, Council Bluffs; and Ivan Walter, Worthington, Minnesota.
The Kai farm was sold to Charles McCone, Manilla, in 1943. In 1969 it was resold to Donald Hinners, Manning.
ODDS AND ENDS
Last Saturday a few of Mrs. William Ranniger's immediate
friends met at her home to celebrate her 30th birthday. Mrs. Ranniger is a twin
sister of Mrs. Fred Miller of Manning.
Aspinwall News of Manning Monitor December 17, 1897
Page 236
DENNY KASPARBAUER
Denny Kasparbauer, youngest of eight children of Frank and Helen Steffes Kasparbauer, was born June
13, 1953 near Templeton. He graduated from Sacred Heart Grade School,
Templeton, and Carroll Kuemper High School.
After graduating he began farming, and in 1974 he moved with his parents to a farm one mile west and 1/2 north of Aspinwall.
June 14, 1975 he married Karen Schmitz, daughter of Alver and Julianne (Masching) Schmitz of Carroll. Karen, the second oldest of seven children, was born March 22, 1954 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1962 she moved with her parents to Carroll where she attended St. Lawrence Grade School and graduated from Kuemper High School. She is a graduate of Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Des Moines, and is presently an R.N., working part-time at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison.
Denny and Karen own a farm in section 9, Iowa Township, one mile west and 1 1/2 miles north of Aspinwall. Denny farms 380 acres, raises hogs in his farrow-to-finish operation, stock cows, and fat cattle. They have two daughters, Beth Christine, born March 17, 1977, and Amy Jean, born August 19, 1979. They belong to Sacred Heart Church, Manilla, and are involved in the Holy Name Society, the Altar and Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters of America, Marriage Encounter, and help with the Manilla Catholic Youth Organization. They also belong to the Aspinwall Community Club, where Denny has been a board member since 1980 and was president of the Club in 1981 and 1982.
They also enjoy camping, fishing and boating.
Page 237
FRANK AND HELEN KASPARBAUER
Frank Xavier Kasparbauer is the oldest son of Paul
John and Catherine Hacker Kasparbauer, who were
married in 1910. Helen Steffes is the daughter of Henry and Katie (Rupiper)
Steffes. Frank and Helen were married November 25, 1935, living near Templeton.
They have eight children: Sister Jean Kasparbauer,
F.S.P.A.; Janice, married to Harold Wilkins, with children Debra, LeRoy,
Theresa, and Mary; Norbert, married to Mary Ann Vogl, with children Kevin,
Roger and Steven; Frances, married to Marvin Norton, with children Kristine,
Cynthia, Rebecca, Scott, and Susanna; Lois, married to Dennis Schechinger, with
children Lori, Linda, and Darren; Rita, married to Hubert Bradley, with
children John, Jeffrey, James, Jennifer, and Jason; Leo, married to Joleen
Kerkhoff, with children Gena, Brenda, and Greg; and
Dennis, married to Karen Schmitz, with children Beth and Amy.
After Frank and Helen were married, Frank went to his father's farm 1/2 mile away to do chores, etc., every day. The winter of 1935-1936 was very cold with much snow. The snow got higher than the fences so Frank walked to do the chores in temperatures that were 30 degrees below zero. February, 1936, had no days above zero. The following summer there were no crops because of a severe drought. But future years of farming proved to be more profitable.
In addition to farming, Frank served as trustee for Eden Township for 20 years. He also served on the United States Selective Service System Board No. 14 from 1967 to 1974 and was chairman of that board for six years. Frank is a member of the Knights of Columbus No. 1972. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and the National Farmers Organization.
Helen was a member of the C.D.A. (Catholic Daughters of America) and the Guild of Sacred Heart Parish, Templeton.
Frank and Helen supplied most of the water for the town of Templeton from 1940 until the Rural Water Association was hooked up to Templeton. They supplied the water free except for a small fee for using the driveway to get to the two pumps until 1973.
They then sold the farm and moved to their present farm, one mile west and 1/2 mile north of Aspinwall. This farm, the former Henry and Dora Guth farm, had been purchased in 1969. Since living there they have built a pond to supply water for the house and livestock and have stocked it with fish. They have put up two silos and a large machine shed, put some terraces in and did extensive landscaping of the ground. Their son Dennis and daughter-in-law Karen own and live on a farm one mile north. They do the farming on both places.
Frank and Helen are retired now but still live on the farm. Since living near Aspinwall they belong to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manilla, the Holy Name Society and Altar-Rosary Society. Frank and Helen belong to the Golden Opportunity Club and are secretary-treasurer for the club. Frank is on the Area XII Crawford County Advisory Committee on Aging and is a voting delegate for Crawford County.
HISTORY OF THE FARM
Frank and Helen Kasparbauer's farm was formerly owned by the Guth family.
The United States gave the land to the State of Iowa, Act of Congress dated March 3, 1845. Section 16 in every township was for schools.
Mina Guth and husband, Henry Guth, bought the farm December 10, 1874, for $2,500. They borrowed money and paid 10% interest. Henry Guth died June 27, 1886. Mina Guth died June 24, 1890. All the land they had was 320 acres and it was appraised for $10,400; 120 acres of the estate was sold for $30 per acre to pay shares to the daughters and all but one son, Henry. Henry and his wife Dora kept the rest of the farm.
Henry Guth died September 10, 1910. Dora Guth sold some railroad ground and bought 65 more acres to this farm. Dora Guth died October 19, 1968. When her estate was sold, the farm was bought by Frank and Helen Kasparbauer for $100,000.
ODDS AND ENDS
I remember Grandma Otto and Mrs. Will and her lovely flowers.
Dorothy Kusel
ODDS AND ENDS
I remember watching my grandfather, John Ehrichs Sr., opening the top of his
little iron stove, taking a wisp of wrapped cornstalks (of which there were
many) and lighting his pipe.
Dorothy Kusel
Page 238
GUSTAV AND MARIA KOESTER
Gustav Reimer Koester was born February 6, 1871 in Lunden,
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, son of Jurgen and Maria
Kahl Koester. Maria Carstensen was born March 14, 1879 in Flensburg,
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, daughter of Matthias and Maria Petersen Carstensen.
They were married December 1, 1897 at the home of her parents and established a
home two miles north of Aspinwall. They lived there all their married life.
They had eight children. Louis (deceased) married Leona Ranniger (deceased); they moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota, and had three children, Leroy, Lloyd (deceased) and Leone. Ida married Edwin Wunder (deceased), and they had a son Willys; she lives in Manning. Herman (deceased) married Mary Kampen; they lived in Manning. Hilda married Louie Meyer; they have three sons, Merlin, Melvin and Robert, and live in Grants Pass, Oregon. Julius (deceased) married Eunice Lamp; they had one son, Eugene, and lived in Laramie, Wyoming. Henry lives semi-retired in Manning, and is a driver for the Manning Senior Citizen "Red Bus." Amanda married Herman Lamp and she lives in Manning; Herman died February 27, 1982. Harry married Louise Lamp; they have one son, Dale, and live in Altoona, where Harry owns a shoe repair shop. Maria passed away October 15, 1946, at her home on the farm where she had lived since childhood. Gustav, son, Henry, and daughter, Ida, moved to Manning March 1, 1948. Gustav lived there until his death March 2, 1960, at the age of 89 years.
Jake had bought the pony for his son Harry, who could not handle him. Louie Koester, Ida's brother, was older than Harry so they decided maybe he could handle the pony easier.
The picture was taken on the north end of the lawn at the Koester farm 1 1/2 miles north of Aspinwall.
ODDS AND ENDS
When I was a small child, Jack Brus would visit us often on Sunday mornings and
tell me ''they were going to pave the streets of Aspinwall with 'doughnuts.'''
Dorothy Kusel
Page 239
HARRY AND LOUISE KOESTER
Harry, youngest of the family of eight children of Gus and Mary Carstensen
Koester, was born April 8, 1916, at the farm home two miles north of Aspinwall.
During his youth he attended Iowa Township No. 2 school
and later assisted with the farming for his parents until his marriage to
Louise Lamp, daughter of Marvin and Rosa Kuhl Lamp, January 21, 1939.
Louise resided within one mile of Aspinwall for many years, having lived with her parents at the farm later purchased by the Joe Brandt, Sr. family. While there she graduated from eighth grade from Aspinwall Independent District in 1928. Her family then moved to the Sinow farm, later purchased by the Lamp family.
After marriage Harry and Louise farmed the land purchased by Harry Lacy (now owned by William Wanninger, Sr.) and the Georgius farm now owned by Melvin Renze; Louise thus resided at all four corners at the first cross road west of Aspinwall.
After Marvin and Rosa Lamp retired to Manning in 1948, Harry and Louise continued to farm the Lamp farm 1/2 mile west of Aspinwall on Highway 141.
During the ensuing years, the Koester farm became well-known throughout the state and middle west for the American Saddlebred Palomino horses which were raised and trained there. The high-stepping parade stallions became a popular attraction at many local and regional activities connected with Homecoming Days, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and other celebrations and shows held during the 50's and 60's.
Son Dale, who was born on March 24, 1943, assisted with showing and training the horses until he became a licensed barber in 1962.
After the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lamp, the farm was sold to Herbert Witt. Harry and Louise then farmed near Manning until for health reasons Harry discontinued farming. He then attended Community College at Des Moines to study shoe repair. He operated a shoe repair business in a building near his home in south Manning until 1978, when he opened a similar business at Altoona, where it continues at this time.
Louise received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Drake University and continued as an elementary teacher for 35 years, having taught at Iowa Township No. 2, Aspinwall Independent, Manning Community Schools, and Arcadia-Vail Parochial Schools until retirement to Altoona in 1978.
Dale and his wife Shirley, son Tim and daughter Tammy are currently residents of Des Moines, where he holds a position of regional sales manager for Great Plains Manufacturing Company of Salina, Kansas.
ODDS AND ENDS
I remember Mrs. Winkelman, her black garments that she constantly wore, and the
yoke with which she carried her buckets of water. Virgene
Schacht and I often visited her.
Dorothy Kusel
ODDS AND ENDS
I remember my daily visits to the store to see Uncle Frank and Bill Hansen, who
were always there.
Dorothy Kusel
ODDS AND ENDS
I remember the bell ringing for a fire. My father was Civil Defense Chief
during World War II and I sat in the jail with him the night of the black-out
test; later we rang the bell for the ''all clear.''
Dorothy Ehrichs Kusel