Narrative on Casper Hoegemeyer

Casper Hoegemeyer, Sr. was 20 years old when he came to America in 1869. He journeyed west by railroad as far as Council Bluffs, Iowa. From here he came by boat to Washington County. For a year or so he was employed as a farm hand near Arlington.

On June 20, 1870, Casper Hoegemeyer bought, at a public auction from the State of Nebraska, an unimproved quarter section of school land located in Section 36 of Cuming Township, Dodge County Nebraska. His bid for this land was $1200. He paid $124 cash (10%) and for the balance gave a note for the sum of $1,116. He received clear title to this land on January 21, 1880. Albinus Vance, then Governor of the State of Nebraska personally signed this deed.

In 1871 he took up a homestead in the Logan Valley 3½ miles north of what is now Hooper, Nebraska. The papers for this homestead were registered in the land office at Norfolk, Nebraska. On June 13, 1876 he received full title to this 80 acres. This document was prepared by U. S. Secretary of State C. C. Cone and contained the signature of President U. S. Grant.

Anna Mary, Nee Stork, Hoegemeyer was born in Oettinghausen, Germany. She came to this country in 1854 with her parents, brothers and sisters when she was seven years old. The family first located at Quincy, Illinois. Three years later, in 1857, they came to Fontenelle, Nebraska, locating east of Buttermilk Creek. In 1860 they moved on a homestead 4 miles north of Arlington, Nebraska.

On July 11, 1873 she was united in marriage to Casper Hoegemeyer. She and her husband then came to live together at the Logan Homestead. Here they lived the remaining required number of years. They then moved their frame house to the upland quarter section located about 1 mile west from the homestead. For a long time afterward one could still see the hole in the ground on the old homestead where once the frame house stood.

The Logan Valley at that time produced an abundance of grass. We were told that their oxen got away at noon and that they could-not find them that afternoon because of the tall grass. In the evening when the working day was over, the oxen came out by themselves.

Mother often spoke of the hazards that they endured during those early years: the cold winters, severe snowstorms and the danger of prairie fires. They often had to fight fire with fire in order to save what they had. At one time a settler working in the valley had difficulty plowing the high grass under. He started a fire to burn some of it down. Later on in the day, without warning, a strong wind came from the north. The fire became uncontrollable and soon the whole valley was on fire. Flames leaped across the valley 30 to 40 feet high. Much damage resulted from this fire and feelings became quite bitter toward the man who had started it.

The Logan Valley did not only produce an excessive amount of tall grass but also the creek was filled with an abundance of fish. It was said that it wasn't anything unusual to see a large amount of fish swimming in the clear water.

The sloughs and small lakes when filled with water were an ideal place for the wild ducks and geese to congregate at times. The Logan Valley in early years was truly a hunter's paradise.

At times, also, high waters flooded the valley. The exceptional numerous bends in the creek channel slowed the water down making it difficult for the water to get away. People on the west side of the valley were then isolated from their trading place at Logan Mills. Mother related that at one time their flour supply gave out and that they had to live a whole week on potatoes before they could get flour again.

It was no doubt a happy day when the required 5 years time on the homestead was over and they could move their house and belongings to their quarter section 1-mile west.

Here on this unimproved piece of land they developed their farm home. Through good management, faith and the Lord's blessings, they became successful as farmers.

Buried: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery near Hooper

During their married life, they were blessed with eight children.