What's Your Heritage? 3/1/2015 As a lifelong Nebraskan, there are certain aspects of living here that make me proud to call myself a Nebraskan. Growing up in this fine state, I was able to enjoy quiet evenings riding my bike all over Osmond (population 750) with my friends, a Husker football game every Saturday in the fall, the occasional winter blizzard and the subsequent sledding that would follow, and spending time on both of my grandparents' farms helping feed cattle, vaccinating pigs, throwing bails of hay, or just going for a ride in the tractor. However, it wasn't until recently I became aware of how deep my roots are planted in Nebraska. My sister, Melanie Olson, has been working on a genealogy project tracing the roots of our ancestors on each side of the family. I had known that my Grandpa Bloomquist's farm has been in the family since 1899 just south of the small, but tough, town of Magnet in Northeast Nebraska. What I didn't realize, is that I am a decedent of homesteaders who helped build Nebraska. The recently uncovered passage, which was written by my Great Great Grandfather, outlines the hardships the early settlers faced when homesteading here on the plains. "They had a great many heartbreaking and backbreaking times in their first years here, as they had very little to work with and few conveniences...But schoolhouses were built and churches were established through all the hardships, and these staunch men and women worked and lived and died, helping to settle this beautiful state of Nebraska and we should all be proud to be descendants of such sturdy pioneers."--S.M. (Mack) Switzer, c. 1900 Reading this passage not only makes me proud of Mack and his family, who took a chance moving from Pennsylvania to homestead on land that was unknown and unseen, but also of the countless other families who toiled on 160 acres of free government land. Today, March 1, Nebraska's Statehood Day, take a moment to reflect upon our ancestors who not only wanted better for themselves, but a better life for their descendants.. The Palmer Family Homestead--Gandy, NE c. 1892
2 Comments
Charles lorenz. (Charlie)
3/2/2015 04:18:38 am
I am sure you don't know me. But my mother is Evelyn Koch lorenz. She was the first grandchild of the Koch cousins. I don't much of the history of bloomquist I kinda thought there were some family in Lyons nebr The Koch history is really nice to know. I also see your the principal in Milford. A classmate of mine is Darlene Carritt her husband maybe still teaches in Milford
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Jeanne Rosacker Crumly
3/2/2015 10:04:07 am
I am sitting here reading with my Aunt Elinor. Interesting and quite true.
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Leave a Reply.Brandon MowinkelMilford Jr/Sr High Principal Archives
May 2023
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