SANDER families

Over 100 years ago the Sander family immigrated from Germany to the United States, eventually making their home in Etterick, WI.

The Sander family history begins with the birth of Henry Sander, who was born in the Hanover Province of Germany, on September 7, 1866.

He and his parents, Heinrich and Margaretha Sander, made the long journey across the ocean, when he was seven or eight years old and docked in New York, NY, in May of
1875.

His parents made their home in Ettrick, WI, until their deaths and then Henry moved to Omaha, NE, where he made his home and farmed.

Henry began school in Germany and then attended classes in Wisconsin when he and his family came to the United States.

On April 17, 1889, Henry and Katherine (Kock), were united in Springfield, NE.

Katherine was born in Germany on May 11, 1863. She received her schooling in Germany before coming to America. As a young lady, was the only one in her family to travel to
the United States.

Henry's curiosity was peaked when he received a pamphlet concerning the opening by The Gas Belt Land Co., 214 First National Bank Building, Omaha, NE. (Elaine Mahanke,
granddaughter of Henry, still retains this in her possession).

The pamphlet started with 'It Is A Good Bet.' "You want a Rosebud Homestead? Will it pay you to try for one? We think it will. Your chance to win a farm which will be
worth $2,500.00 to $5,000.00 is as good as the next person. It will cost you $25.00 to go to Bonesteel and back if you go with our organization. This will pay everything, vis.,;
railroad fare, hotel and board, making out papers, maps plats and everything necessary to complete registration.

For only $5.00 we enter into contract to furnish you with full information for your guidance, and get you the cheapest possible railroad rates and hotel accommodations.

We will save you money. We absolutely eliminate the chance of your missing a good thing through ignorance or mistake. Call the office for free maps.

Come and see us or call up over the phone 2086. For convenience of working people our office will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. If you can't call, write - enclosing $5.00
- and we send you contract and further information by return mail.

Delay means loss. Get posted and get busy. There will be about 49,999 candidates besides yourself. Our organization and knowledge will save you money and increase your
chances for success. Five dollars invested now may easily win a home worth $5,000.00."
Inside gave all the requirements that had to be met in order to have your name submitted in the drawings for 160 acres on the Rosebud Reservation.

The Gas Belt Land Company, proclaimed in this statement on the back cover of the pamphlet, "A Good Record - During the past three years we have handled 300,000
acres of South Dakota land.

We number our customers by the thousands.

Our field is not limited to any particular locality in the state.

It is a state of varied interests and vast resources, and prices are graded accordingly to the state of development of each particular community."

The drawing for homesteads was held in Bonesteel in the summer of 1904. Henry was notified on July 28, 1904, that he had drawn No. 401 in the Rosebud drawing. He
was to be in Bonesteel on August 12, 1904 and make the homestead entry or his rights under the drawing would be deemed abandoned.

Henry and his wife arrived in Gregory County, otherwise known as the Rosebud Country, on November 4, 1904, from Omaha, NE. They loaded their household goods, a few
cows, team of mules, team of horses and some machinery on an 'Emigrant car' and traveled to Fairfax by railroad, which at that time was the end of the line.

After they arrived, they unloaded possessions and hauled everything by team and wagon.
They arrived at their homestead (Section 13 in east Carlock Township No. 95, Range No. 72), located nine and half miles south of Burke on Highway 47, on November 4, 1904.
At first, there was no comfort of having a roof over their head, as they lived in a tent for the first several weeks until a house could be built.

A house and barn were constructed by Christmas of 1904.

There were a couple of inconveniences, such as the closest post office was located in Jamison, NE, which was approximately four miles. The couple also had to haul water from
Jamison, NE, until a well could be dug.

There were very few neighbors the first winter, as they were the first settlers in the rural neighborhood. Most of the homesteaders seeking a new life didn't arrive until
spring of 1905.

There were no trees, no fences, and in places, grass had been burned off the summer or fall before, due to a prairie fire that plagued the area. Livestock had to be watched so
they did not stray too far, as there were no fences at that point in history.

For the first few years some of the neighbors were bachelors and Katherine baked bread for some of them. Henry would help neighbors break prairie, as well as
preparing his own for planting.

The first year was very wet, too wet at times to even break sod. Stories were told of the huge mosquitos that made life miserable for man and beast.

Their main crops were corn, oats and hay. Hereford cattle were the first to be raised by the family, but in later years, Angus cattle were the choice along with dairy cows, as
well as, hogs.
There were a few prairie fires that year, but luckily none came close to the Sander homestead. Everyone would take careful precautions plowing a fireguard around their places
as soon as possible.

The first families or bachelors, were living on almost every quarter of land, but some left the country before proving up, and some left soon after.

In a few years, one or two families, per section, was common and in twenty years or so most of the claim shanties were gone. Now it is almost impossible to find a spot where
some of these buildings once existed.

Carlock was quite a little town in the early days. It had stores, a bank, lumberyard, hotel, saloon and a jail. It was the voting headquarters for Carlock Township, which at
the time also included the Lone Star Township.

Perhaps one of the first to operate a threshing machine was Lou Kibby. He had a horsepower machine, though later he did use a steam engine. Henry and Joe Meek owned and
operated a steam-threshing outfit. They threshed for many of the homesteaders, traveling as far as Nebraska. Threshing lasted quite late into the fall, as some of the grain was
stacked. There was also the danger that sparks from the engine could burn a whole crop.
Joe Meek resided on the place where the Oscar Allum family now lives. The Meek family eventually moved to Missouri.

On November 25, 1908, receipt number 145933 from the Department of Interior showed that Henry had made final payment of $120.00 after proving up the land. The total cost
was seventy-five cents per acre for 160 acres.

The couple became the parents to one daughter, Jessie, born on March 10, 1912.

There was a great deal of visiting amongst the neighbors in the early days. The ladies of the community organized a 'Sewing Circle' on February 11, 1914. The group was
quite active for many years. The ladies did crocheting, knitting, tatting and other needlework. No doubt many learned to do some of the crafts at the meetings.

The meetings were held every Wednesday until the first of May and then every two weeks, as was stated in the minutes of the first meeting. Taken from those minutes is a list of
the first members: Mrs. Henry Sander, Mrs. Otto Clausen, Vera Klug (Bauld), Mrs. Joe Meek, Mrs. Chas. Swartz, Mrs. Wm. Staack, Emma Kummerfeldt, Mrs. Wm. Mitchell, Mrs. Tom
Slaby, Olga Staack (Duerfeldt), Mrs. Pete Fedde, Mrs. Henry Hamann, Margaret Allbright, Mrs. Wm. Klug, Mrs. Claus Sieh, Mrs. Frank Welfl, Mrs. J.C. Pistulka, Mrs. E.M. Martin, Anna
Hamann (Gardner), Mrs. I.F. Allum, Mrs. Chas. Staack, Mrs. Sherm Cooley and Mrs. I.E. McCumber.

Elaine has in her possession a postcard that was made from a picture of the sewing club, sent to Emma Kummerfeldt, that was postmarked from Jamison, NE, in August
of 1914. It read, "Dear Miss Kummerfeldt, Would you please tell me the name of the cloth that you ordered to make the pillows in cross-stitch in the rose design? I would be very
grateful to you if you would send me the name. Very Truly, Burnas Thayer."

Henry was an active member in the local Farmer's Union. He attended several state conventions and attended a national convention in Lincoln, NE. Henry was also an early
stockholder in the Burke State Bank.

Jessie attended grade school, grades first through third, at the Allum School, located east and north of the farm. She then attended Neuharth School #52 Lone Star
Township from fourth grade until eighth grade.

Sometime between 1915 and 1916, a corn crib-granary was constructed, which is still located on the farm and still in use.

In 1916, the first phone to be installed was a farmer's line. Wood provided the heat for warmth and cooking purposes.

In 1917, a new barn was built by C. Haugen, which still stands proudly after all these years, and continues to serve its purpose.

The first vehicles owned by Sanders were a 1916 Model T and a 1918 Model T Truck.
The first electricity that was enjoyed by the family was provided by a thirty-two volt generator in 1918, that was located in the barn, which provided electricity for both the barn
and house.

In 1920, plans were drawn for a new house, which consisted of five bedrooms and a room that was to be used as a bathroom.

Henry wanted the house to be big enough for the next generation and in time, the house would need running water and a bathroom.

He journeyed to Omaha, NE, and ordered the lumber from the H.F. Cady Lumber Co. to build the new house.

Elaine has the list of the lumber from the company that they purchased. The estimate at the time to build the house was estimated at $2,788.00.

When the materials arrived they had shipped two wrong windows, which were to be 20 x 28. They asked that Henry try and sell the 20 x 23 windows in the area, instead of
sending them back for a total of $3.75 each.

Mr. H.H. Benter was the builder and the family moved into the new house in June of 1921. This has been home to the family since that time. The original house that was built
was eventually sold and moved off the homestead site.

When the house was completed, the generator was moved from the barn to the house. REA was installed in 1951.

Eventually, a 1926 Model T Sedan was purchased from Fred Gaskill in Burke and a 1929 Model A from Chambers Motor in Gregory for a mere $800.00.

In 1930, Jessie then attended the South Dakota State University School of Agriculture Vocational High School and College equivalent at Brookings. After taking a year off from her
classes to help on the farm, she graduated in 1935.

All the farming was completed with horses until Bert and Jessie purchased a 1945 Farmall on metal wheels from Blake Implement in Jamison, NE, then a 1942 John Deere B
and later a 1948 John Deere A.

After the new home was constructed, a wood and coal furnace was used. Twenty-seven years later in 1948 running water was installed in the house.

Over the years several other buildings have been added. The original chicken house has since been torn down and a new one built, as well as, a two-car garage.

Jessie married Bert Sangster on November 28, 1939. To this union, two children were born. Daughter Elaine entered the world on May 13, 1940 and was joined by her brother,
Robert, on June 10, 1941. Henry passed away on October 1, 1939. Katherine made her home with the Sangster's until she passed away in August of 1956.

After homesteading the original 160 acres, Henry then purchased an additional 80 acres. Henry and Bert also rented additional pasture and farm land.

Elaine and Robert attended the Neuharth School #52 Lone Star Township from the first grade through the eighth grade. While they attended school, Jessie served for many years
on the Neuharth School Board. In 1966, the school was closed and the children were bussed to Burke, as the district had entered the consolidation program with the Burke
Independent District #114.

Elaine and Robert rode horses to and from school in the fall and early spring. The Fedde children did a lot with them, since they lived close. The Rangs lived south of them and also
participated in getting together with the family.

Shortly after the closure of the Neuharth school, it was sold to Howard Martin and is now used as a granary.

Once a week the family went to town to purchase groceries, visit with citizens in the area and some times attend movies for entertainment. Movies at that time cost a dime.

The two biggest celebrations in the area were attended by the family, as well as, everyone in the surrounding area. Memorial Day was spent at the celebration hosted in Burke
and the Fourth of July was spent in Gregory.

Both children then attended Gregory High School, Elaine graduated in 1958, and Robert in 1959.
After completing school, Elaine moved to Omaha, NE, where she worked for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

Robert worked road construction and eventually rented the family operation for a period of time before he purchased a farm south of Herrick.

Elaine met her husband, Glen Mahanke, in Omaha, NE. The couple wed on April 23, 1960.
Glen and Elaine purchased the family homestead in March of 1989. The land is rented out at the present time.

The couple has two children, Yolanda (Tim) Williams, born on January 21, 1961; and Lora Ann (Dale) Gernstein, born on November 23, 1963. Both daughters make their home in
Omaha, NE, with their families. Elaine has two grandsons, Tristen and Kyle Bruner.

Glen was employed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, as a finish carpenter. Both Elaine and Glen retired from their professions on March 31, 1996. Glen passed away on October 16, 1996. Elaine moved back to Burke in 2000 to be closer to her family instead of making the long drive from Omaha, NE.

Robert married Claudia (Daughtery) on September 5, 1965. They have two daughters, Cheryl (Dan) Baxa, and Brenda. They have three granddaughters, Dana, Chelsa and Mandy
Baxa.

Robert and Claudia still reside on the farm south of Herrick. The land is rented by Dan and Cheryl. Robert is employed by Opperman Sand and Gravel, Inc., of Gregory. Claudia is
the manager of Pump N' Stuff in Burke.

Bert died on September 6, 1975, and Jessie continued to maintain the farm and still resides at the homestead at the age of 93, in the house built in 1921.

Henry and Katherine's granddaughter, Elaine, still retains ownership of the family homestead.

"Who knows what is in the future for the next twenty-five years or even the next year, but my plans are to maintain the homestead as long as I'm able. At such time, I hope maybe
a great grandchild or even a great-great grandchild of Henry and Katherine would be interested in making the homestead their home," stated Elaine.