Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Frank August Plageman and Emma Louise (Gadeke) Plageman , Pleasant Valley

Charles W.  and Grace Plageman ,  Eckley

Arthur Wiebold ,  Eckley

FRANK

Frank Plageman cash-claimed a quarter in 10, 4N 47W in 1890.

In 1885 Polk County, Nebraska, A. Gadeke is 55 farming, wife Frederek 49, Emma 20,   O.A. 28, Sophia 13,   Wm. 15, and Gusta 8.  Only Gusta was born in Nebraska, the rest in Germany.

Frank August Plageman, born May 20, 1861, at Keil, Wisconsin, came to Platte County, Nebraska  in 1871 with his parents, Frederick and Augusta Schulz Plageman, one month before his tenth birthday.  Frank had four brothers and five sisters:  William, Fred, Theodore, and Albert; Louise, Mrs. Fred Meedle of Gruetli; Augusta, Mrs. Herman Leith; Bertha; Mary, Mrs. William Rodehorst; and Lena, Mrs. Henry Seipp.

     Mr. F. A. Plageman spent his early childhood at Keil, Wisconsin, later living in Yuma County, Colorado, in Polk County, and in Columbus.  He was graduated from the Fullerton schools and attended Wesleyan University.

     Frank A. Plageman was married to Miss Amelia Krause, daughter of Frederick and Sylvia Fritche Kraus.  Frederick Kraus was born in Germany, December 24, 1842, and died in May, 1887, in Columbus.  He was a carpenter and cabinet maker.  Mrs. Kraus was born September 5, 1842, in Germany and died in June, 1900, in Columbus.

     Amelia Kraus Plageman had four brothers:  William, Fred, Carl and Ernest; and two sisters, Mrs. John Abegglen, deceased; and Mrs. Henry Martens.

     Mr. and Mrs. Plageman had nine children:  Carl; Clara; Minnie, Mrs. Fred Seipp; Albert; Emma; Edna, Mrs. Don Castle; Erna; Louise, Mrs. G.B. Young; and Della, Mrs. Ben Johnson.

     Besides farming, Frank Plageman has devoted much time toward the social and civic betterment of his community.  He served for thirty-six years on the District 11 School Board in Polk County, was director of the Polk County Farm Bureau for twenty years, a director on the Polk County Fair Board for seven years, and was president, and vice-president of the Farmers Business Association at Duncan, Nebraska, for twenty-two years.  He served as judge and clerk of the Island Election Board in Polk County for thirty-six years, and is a Republican.  His hobbies are swimming and hunting.

     Mr. Plageman is a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Polk County , Nebraska
  A lot of water has passed under the old wagon bridge that finally connected The Island to Duncan in the 1870's and a chipper gentleman who was an Islander himself for 67 years, had a whale of a time in recalling a lot of true life stories.
 
   He is Frank A. Plageman, 2404 21st Street, who today is 96 years young and looks forward to reaching the century mark.
 
   When this reporter called and informed Farmer Frank that a picture taker would be along shortly, he allowed that perhaps he had better get on his Sunday suit.  In short order, with no help from Mrs. Plageman, he reappeared in white shirt, necktie and suit.  Rog Hill snapped a few shots, shook hands all around and then the elder citizen settled down to reminisce a bit.
 
     Soldiers and Grasshoppers
   
 
   Mr. Plageman noted that his parents, Frederich and Augusta Plageman, immigrated from Germany to Milwaukee in 1850 and that he was born in Manitowoc county, Wis., near Sheboygan, May 20, 1861.
 
   He recalls vividly how, as a child, he watched the hundreds of discharged Union soldiers walking by their home after the close of the Civil War.
 
   "My father used to tell me that I should have been a soldier in the war myself because of the interest I took in them, but I was only six then," he said.
 
   In 1870, Frederick Plageman preempted 160 acres of land on The Island, south of the Platte river, south of Duncan and three miles west.
 
   Father Plageman was a true pioneer.  He had arranged to have lumber for his house shipped from Wisconsin to Duncan, but built a sod house first to quarter his family while the wood house was erected.
 
   But grasshoppers of the 1870's -"So thick in the sky on a bright summer day that you could not even see the sun"- ate the Plageman family out.  Frank wasn't sure how it all happened, but his father finally managed to homestead on 80 on The Island, moved his frame house a short distance, and settled his family on what is known as the old Plageman place.  One of Frank's sons, Albert, occupies the farm now.
 
     Pioneer Visions
 
   Like his father, Frank was looking forward.  He married Miss Emma Gadeke in 1887, and as a wedding trip, he took his bride to Yuma, Colo., where he had filed homestead rights on a 160 acre tract.  The couple stayed on the farm long enough to improve it and secure ownership, then returned to The Island.  Mr. Plageman owned the Colorado farm, however, for 29 years.
 
   Three children were born to this union, Carl, Maxwell, Neb.; Clara, Columbus; and Mrs. Fred Seipp (Minnie), Portland, Ore.  His wife passed away in 1885 and the following year he married Miss Amelia Krause of Columbus.  The late Rev. Herman Miessler, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran church, officiated.  The couple had six children:  Albert, on the home place; Mrs. Don Castle (Edna), Gross Pointe, Mich., Miss Erna, Corvallis, Ore., Mrs. Glenn Young (Louise), Inglewood, Calif., Mrs. Ben Johnson (Della), Grants Pass, Ore., and Emma, deceased.
 
     Sugar Cured Tobacco
 
   Some time in the 1870's, Mr. Plageman recalled, Platte and Polk counties finally got around to build a bridge to reach The Island.  When the structure was about finished, a river flood washed out several spans and for many months, the family had to travel all the way via the Platte bridge south of Columbus to reach the county seat.  The bridge eventually was rebuilt and Duncan trading resumed.
 
   Frederich Plageman liked his tobacco, Frank recalled, and preferred his own.  There were a number of Polish families on The Island, who also raised tobacco.  A friendly argument went on for years as to whether the broad leaf, or curly variety, was the best.
 
   "Father stayed with the broad leaf, and we children had to help in the planting and curing," Frank said.  His father's secret process in the curing included a sprinkling of brown sugar between the leaves, and he leaves were watched carefully so that they would finally turn light brown and gradually dry out.
 
     Cattle and Cars
 
   Mr. Plageman observed that he had gone through a lot of drouths and depressions, but thought the 1890's was the worst.  In 1894, he said, cattle prices were down to rock bottom:  Two-year old steers sold for $13 a head, cows, $11, and a heifer with  calf, $7.  Reason was that no one wanted cattle because there was nothing to feed the animals.  The only market to sell livestock, even at those prices, was in Columbus.
 
   Mr. Plageman could not recall when he started driving a car but it was a good many years ago.
 
   Oddly enough, his last vehicle was a Hupmobile, when he bought in 1928.  It was an orphan car already, as the factory had gone out of production, but Frank drove it until he reached the age of 92, when he finally decided he was getting a bit too old to be driving, and sold the machine to a collector of old cars in Schuyler.
 
   Mr. Plageman had four brothers and five sisters, all deceased.  Mr. and Mrs. Plageman retired from The Island to Columbus in 1937.  They have seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
 
   During his long life on The Island, Mr. Plageman gave freely of his time to his community.
 
   He was a director and moderator of school district 11, Polk county for 36 years, and a member of the county Republican central committee for the same period.  Church services had been held for many years prior at intervals in the school house, but finally in 1898, he and a few other pioneers, succeeded in erecting St. John's Lutheran church on The Island.  Mr. Plageman was a director of the Polk County Farm Bureau for 19 years, and a director of the Farmers Business Association of Duncan for 22 years, 13 of which was as president.
 
  Frank August Plageman 1861-1959 is buried in Columbus "Son of Frederick & Augusta (Schulz) Plageman" # 19672864
So is Emma Louise Plageman 1898-1945 # 19672847
Funeral rites will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church for Miss Clara Plageman, 82, long- time resident of Columbus. A family prayer service at 1:45 p.m. will also be held at church. The Rev. B.F. Meschke will  officiate, with  burial in Columbus Cemetery. Her body lies in state at Gass-Haney Funeral Home until noon Friday, then at church from 1 to 'Miss Plageman, who resided at Heritage House, died Tuesday evening in Behlen Community Hospital.  She was born Jan. 17, 1891 in Polk County to the late Frank and Emma Gaedeke Plageman.  In Columbus, she was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid. Surviving are two brothers, Albert of Columbus and Carl of Maxwell; four sisters, Mrs. Louise Young of Van Nuys, Calif., Mrs. Delia Johnson of Westminster, ยท Calif., Mrs. Minnie Seipp of Portland, Ore. and Mrs. Edna Castle of Grosse Point, Mich. Two sisters preceded her in death.
  Amelia M. (Krause) Plageman # 19672860 "Daughter of Frederick & Sylvia (Fritche) Krause"
March 20, 1895

 

In 1900 Polk County, Frank, 39 and Amelia 29, have been married four years.  She's had two children, both living.  They are Albert April 1897 and Emma Sept 1898.  Emma's kids - Carl F. July 1888, Clara S. January 1891, and Minnie Nov 1892.

July 17, 1901

Carl 1888-1974 is buried in Columbus  # 19001534 - with Clara R. (Bienz) Plageman 1880-1976.

1918

" Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Plagemann announce the marriage of their daughter, Minnie Augusta, to Mr. Fred Seipp, of Portland, Ore., Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at The Island Lutheran church.  Rev. Herman Meissler, of Columbus, administered the vows.  They were attended by Albert Plagemann, brother of the bride, and Miss Margaret Seipp, sister of the groom.  Miss Martha Plagemann, cousin of the bride, played the wedding march and Misses Adele and Olga, Eugene and Elmer Meissler, from the Lutheran church choir in Columbus, of which Miss Minnie has been a member for the past four years, sang several numbers at the church and later at the home.  The bride was prettily attired in her traveling suit and carried a bouquet of bride's roses.  Invitations were issued to nearly seventy-five relatives and friends.  After the ceremony the bridal party repaired to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Plagemann where a four-course dinner was served at 5 o'clock.  Mr. and Mrs. Seipp will be at home after April 1 at Portland, Ore."

August 12, 1935 - Columbus, Nebraska
"The wedding  of Miss Della Marie Plageman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Plageman, who reside 15 miles southwest of Columbus, and Benjamin Johnson, of Columbus, son of Mrs. Eric M. Johnson, of Monroe, took place at seven o'clock Monday evening at the Lutheran church southwest of Columbus, near the Plageman home.  Rev. A. H. Guettler, pastor of the Immanual Lutheran church of Columbus, read the marriage lines for the double ring service.  They were unattended.
 
   Preceding the wedding, Miss Bernice Hanssen sang "O! Promise Me," with her sister, Miss Eileen Hanssen, as accompaniest, Mrs. Edward Fickle then played "The Bridal March," from Wagner's Lohengrin.
 
   The bride wore a lovely dress of pink embroidered organdy made with fitted lines and the long instep length flared skirt.  The neckline was trimmed with flounces of the same material, which were draped over the shoulders.  She carried a bouquet of roses, sweetpeas and forget-me-nots.
 
   After the wedding, a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, and about 35 relatives and friends were present.  The rooms were prettily decorated with bouquets of gladioli, and candles lighted the serving table.  At the home the Misses Hanssen sang a vocal duet "I Love You Truly."
 
   They left during the hours of the reception for a honeymoon trip to Denver and Estes Park, Colo., where they will spend about 10 days.  Upon their return they will make their home at Duncan.
 
   Mrs. Johnson graduated from Kramer high school in the class of 1928, and since then has been employed at various places in Columbus as stenographer and office clerk.  For the last two and a half years, she has been employed in the offices of the Nebraska Continental Telephone company.  Mr. Johnson is employed as salesman for the Gottberg Auto company."
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Ben and Adele owned and worked in a cafe in Columbus, NE., near the railroad prior to 1939. Prior to this time, Ben worked for an auto dealer, also in Columbus, NE. They sold the cafe prior to daughter, Elaine's birth. After Ben and Adele moved to Troutdale, Oregon, poss. abt 1944 or 1945, Ben worked as a welder on ships at the navy shipyards, probably around Portland, OR. A short time later, they moved to Corvallis, OR., and Ben became a traveling salesman. He would travel throughout the State of Oregon, being gone for a week at a time. He then got a job with the Ford Garage in Corvallis, and later in Grants Pass, Or. He later worked as a carpenter, building new homes, and later worked as a millwright. They moved to southern California and worked in a dry cleaning establishment. He was truly a jack of all trades.

 

 

CHARLES

In 1870 Dodge County, Wisconsin, Henry Plagemann and Augusta are 29, with Dorotha 3, Agnes 2, and Julius 1.

Dora Plageman is a house keeper for Ferdinand and Emilia Voight in 1880 Dodge County.

In 1880 Dodge County, Wisconsin, Henry Plagemann is 39, Augusta 39, with Agnes 13, Julius 12, Bernard 10, Fred 6, and William 3.

1899 Norfolk, Nebraska "Wm. Wiebold, Stanton's rustling implement dealer, had business in Norfolk today."

In 1900 Stanton County Nebraska, Henry born Nov 1840 and Augusta March 1841 , both born in Germany, have Jouilous April 1869 and William C. Nov 1876, both Wisconsin.

In 1910 Stanton County, Nebraska, Charles Wm. Plageman is 33, Grace R. 27, Leonard B. 4, and Doris A. 3

Also in 1910 Stanton County, Henry and Augusta, both 69, have Fred W. 35.

Henry 1841-1916 is buried in Stanton # 122718250.  So is Augusta 1841-1915  # 122718274

Charles proved up 320 acres in 11, 12, and 13, 2N 46W in 1914, witnesses Frank Forsythe, Charles Yenter, Leo Yenter, Fred Plageman, all of Eckley, Colorado.

1915 Hayseed Items, Yuma County "Art Weibold went to his old home in Nebraska to be operated on for appendicitis."

In 1916 Arthur Wiebold proved up 320 acres in 11, 12, and 13.  He must be the Arthur Wiebold, born in Stanton County, Nebraska to William Wiebold and Dora Plageman, who married Adele Rose Roerig in Marion Iowa May 31, 1919.  The marriage record said he was born in 1897 at "Cesnarr" Iowa to Wiliam Wiebold and Dora "Pigeman".

June 12, 1919 Williamsburg "Arthur Wiebold and Miss Adele Roerig were married in Marion.  The announcement of the union was the occasion of a delightful surprise to the many friends of the young couple.  The bride is a native of Iowa and past year and a half was the efficient nurse in charge at the Marengo... where her skill and womanly bearing won her many ...  The groom is a native of Hilton township and has resided in this county for practically all his life.  He is connected with the Marengo Telephone Company and his reliability and industrious habits mark him as a ... success is already..."

He registered in Iowa, was there in 1910 and 1920 census.

January 29, 1948 Williamsburg, Iowa:   Mrs. Arthur Wiebold, 51, of Clinton died there at 4 p.m. Friday in Mercy hospital where she had been a patient for two weeks. Funeral services were held Monday morning in Sacred Heart Church, Clinton, with Rev. Nicholas Meinhardt reading the requiem mass. Burial was in St. Mary's cemetery, Adella Roerig was born Jan. 24, 1897 at Le Mars, Iowa. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Roerig. She was a graduate of the school of nursing at St. Francis hospital, Kewanee, Ill. During World War I she was a head nurse at the Mineral Springs hospital at Marengo. She was married to Arthur Wiebold on May 31, 1919. They made their home in Williamsburg where Mr. Wiebold was manager of the local telephone company. Mrs. Wiebold was a member of the Foresters, Court 443, a charter member of the Daughters of Isabella, Circle 3 ,of the Altar and Rosary Society of Sacred Heart church and of the Sacred Heart school P.T.A. She is survived by her husband, four children, Donald W., Lualis M., Harold F., and Barbara Jeanne, all of Clinton; six sisters, Mrs. E. M. Salentini, Mrs. J. I. Meis and Mrs. George Kilker, all of Le Mars; Mrs. R, W. Childress of Williamsburg, Miss Anna Roerig of St. Paul, Minn.; and Mrs. C. A. Blakeslee of Leavenworth, Kansas; two brothers, Frank J. of Thompson, Mo,, and Matt Roerig of Le Mars. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant daughter.

  Arthur Wiebold 1891-1973 is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Clinton, County, Iowa.

Don Wiebold, 90, passed away Friday, December 31, 2010 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held 2pm Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at Westminster Presbyterian Church where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery. Don served in the US Navy during WWII. He was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for 37 years, retiring in 1978. Don was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club for 30 years and a Shriner for 60 years, holding leadership positions in both organizations. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Don is survived by his wife of 56 years, Doris, his sisters, Barb Davis and Lualis Foster, both of Clinton; brother, Harold Wiebold of Phoenix, four nieces and many friends. - 

1914

Charles registered with an Eckley address, born November 25, 1876, farming, relative Mrs. Grace Plageman of Eckley.

Fred William Plageman registered with an Eckley address, born June 22, 1874, farming by himself, nearest relative Dora M. Wiebold of Conroy, Iowa.

1917

1919 Eckley "Ves Townsend is putting up his rye this week on the Plageman place."

1919

In 1920 Eckley precinct, Charlie Plegeman is 42, Grace 37, with Leonard 15, Doris 13, both Nebraska, Neva 6, Colorado, and brother Fred 44, Wisconsin.

Fred W. Plageman proved up on two quarters in 18, 2N 45W in 1917, witnesses Charles W. Plageman, William Hamilton, Frank Forsythe, and Edward Weeks, all of Eckley.

In 1940 Pierce, Colorado, Charles - no occupation - is 63, born in Wisconsin, Grace 57 Nebraska, and Neva 26, Colorado.

November 7, 1955 Greeley "Mrs. Marion Brooks of San Diego, Calif., is visiting here this week with her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Plageman, and with her mother-in-law, Mrs. Daisy Pearson. She was called home recently by the illness and death of her mother, Mrs. Charles Plageman of Fort Morgan." 

Fred is buried in Eaton, Colorado 1874-1939  # 101425068

April 20, 1939 Greeley 

Charles W. 1876-1967 is buried in Fort Morgan #75917864, with Grace R. 1882-1955.

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Doris A. Plageman married Earnest R. Waters November 12, 1927, recorded in Denver.

Leonard Plageman married Helen Yates Wilson June 11, 1938, recorded in Weld County.

Leonard is an electrician in 1940 Eaton, with Helen 29, born in Colorado. She was in Scottsbluff Neraska in 1935.

Leonard Ben Plageman died 10/23/1987, buried in Sunset.

Helen Yates (Wilson) Plageman;s obituary was in the April 27, 2006 newspaper.

Neva Charline Brooks, born April 17, 1913 in Colorado, died January 20, 1996 in Orange County, mother Hanff, father Plageman.

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