Tolstoy Family Biographies

Emil Haar Family

Emil Haar was born to David and Christina Haar on March 5th, 1902 near Bowdle, S. D. He was married to Mathilda Weisenberger, better known as Tillie. She was the daughter of Valentine and Mathilda Weisenberger, born Feb. 14, 1906. Emil and Tillie both went to a country school. Many times school was not as important as the farm chores. After their marriage they moved to a farm eleven miles from Tolstoy, better known as the Gross farm. They were engaged in farming, milking cows, raising chickens, whatever it took to make a living. They went through many hardships but together they could climb the highest hill. They were blessed with three children while on the Gross farm. Four years later they moved to a farm near Java for two years. Here they were blessed with another child which passed away as an infant. In 1932 they moved to the Lout farm which they bought in 1934. It was nine miles from Tolstoy. Emil recalls how they would farm with horses pulling the plow, but that there was an advantage as the horses needed to rest during the noon hour, so everyone rested, it was a lot slower but they had time to visit the neighbors. Later they were farming with the tractor. Emil recalls some barren years, when he had to leave his wife and family and look for a job in North Dakota. He found a job with the thresher crew. His salary was $2.50 a day, not much for being so far from home. It was a year of drought in the Tolstoy area. Emil came back home after three weeks of hard labor, along with some fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and other garden vegetables which helped pull them through the hard times.

In later years the crops were much better in the area. Emil recalls when he had a model A Ford, and how the cream cans and eggs were loaded in the back of the car and brought to Tolstoy to sell. They bought their groceries for the week, gas for the car, the tithing was always put away for the pastor, sometimes shoes for the kids and sometimes there was money left. This was when a dollar was worth a dollar but was hard to get.

They moved to Aberdeen to semi retire in 1953 where Emil did part time work. They lived there for 6 years, could not adjust to the city life. They then moved to Tolstoy, purchased a home where they are presently living. They are enjoying it in Tolstoy, Emil says its a quiet town, Tillie says its friendly people and a peaceful atmosphere. It was well worth the move. They have been members of the Tolstoy Church of God for 33 years. Emil was a trustee of the church for many years, Tillie still very active in Ladies Auxiliary and church work. They have three children living. Ervin Haar who bought the Lout homestead. He married Lucille Hettich and is engaged in farming and ranching.

Rev. Milbert Haar who married Geraldine Stotz is presently pastoring a church in Clinton, Ill. Delores who married James Banik is living in Tolstoy. James is engaged in the elevator business. Back to Index

Albert was the oldest of eleven children born to Caroline and John Hauck, in Yankton county on a farm near Utica, S. D. He was born Oct. 20, 1894. He and his family lived in a clay, stone, and straw house. The roof was of straw and the floor clay. After a rain the straw roof dripped for days. You can imagine Albert's poor mother who had to contend with the clay floor. One bright spot there was no scrubbing or waxing in those days. In 1898 they built a new house which is still standing and being used. Albert attended a country school, but only in the winter and only a few years. Albert definitely could have been called a self-educated man. His solution to little formal schooling was a lot of reading.

Albert was drafted into the service in 1917 and served in the infantry during World War I. His company was all set for duties in France when the great flu epidemic of 1918 broke out and he was sent to work in the camp hospital as an orderly.

Following his discharge from the army he worked as a road maintenance man in Yankton county for about a year and a half. His father acquired ranch land 12 miles northeast of Tolstoy, so that was the start of his ranching operation in Edmunds County. He raised sheep and some cattle for the next 10 years.

In 1930 he started trucking which proved a more lucrative operation than farming. Although he still kept his ranch and had his pastures full of cattle for other stock raisers during the summer months.

His trucking operation grew until at one time he owned three trucks and logged over 1 1/2 million miles. On his 77th birthday Albert decided it was time to retire. He sold all his land and fleet of trucks and spent his remaining years traveling and living in his mobile home in Tolstoy.

Albert never married but he had a host of friends, young and old alike and he is missed by the entire community. He passed away on Oct. 27, 1979. Survivors to date are: sister Mrs. Homer (Annette) Stark, Yankton, S. D.; brothers Edward, Alfred, and Ervin all of Utica, S. D.

He was preceded in death by his parents Johann and Caroline (Schempp) Hauck, three sisters, Laura Scherschlight, Bertha Learing, Alice Van Drul, and three brothers Richard, Gustave, and Robert. Back to Index

Carl Hawkinson and Elsie Nold were married on Sept. 7, 1921. It was a double wedding with Gilbert Dale and Luella Nold. Following the wedding Carl and Elsie lived on his father's farm.

When Carl returned after serving time in the Army he rented his father's farm. His father and his sister, Annie, took over the Gorman Store and post office. Eleven years later Carl moved on the farm vacated by Leo Nold when he decided to ranch across the Missouri river. The Leo Nold farm was located in Faulk County west of Onaka. When Leo's boys reached school age Leo decided to move back on his farm so Carl and Elsie rented a farm south of Onaka. Later when Gilbert and Luella Dale moved to Minnesota, Carl purchased the Dale farm.

Six children were born to Carl and Elsie: Howard, Robert, Pearl, Larry, Jerry, and Oleatha. Elsie recalls the year Jerry was born when they lived south of Onaka, he arrived when the grasshoppers were so thick one had to tie a cloth over the pail when they carried drinking water from the well.

Carl passed away in the fall of 1957. Howard who had been trucking for Leo Nold came home and helped his mother take care of the farm. After Larry was discharged from the service he and his wife Virginia took over the home farm.

Elsie operated the cafe in Tolstoy for sometime. Later, while working in Kansas she met and married Frank Hixon. Upon returning they lived in Tolstoy a couple of years before moving to the Ben Anne apartments in Gettysburg. Frank passed away in 1978. Elsie still resides at the Ben Anne apartments and has plenty of time to reminisce. But like the poem says: If it weren't for the bad times we wouldn't appreciate the good times.

Members of the family are: Howard and wife Belva Titze and four children of Gettysburg; Robert (deceased at 13 during his first year of high school); Pearl and her three children living in Missouri (husband Kenneth Armstrong, deceased); Larry and wife Virginia Schmidt and 5 sons of Hoven; Jerry and wife Lauris and 3 sons of Gettysburg; Oleatha has four daughters of Gettysburg (husband Bob Goeke, deceased). Back to Index

Martin Heiser was born May 7, 1880, in Russia. He came to the United States at the age of 16. He settled in the Bowdle and Hoven area. Louisa Wolff came from Russia at the age of two years. Martin married Louisa, daughter of Gottlieb Wolffin 1904. Mr. Heiser became an American citizen in 1933. He was a section foreman for the M & St. L. Railroad in various places in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

Tolstoy was a busy town during the railroad days. Tolstoy was the only town between Akaska to Watertown where the train was filled with coal. The coal was shoveled by hand every morning. This was Mr. Heiser and George Keszler's job. It was shoveled into huge buckets which moved on rollers. A large water tank stood beside the railroad track which was for the train. Bob Steele was depot agent for many years while Mr. Heiser worked here.

Mr. Heiser moved to Conde in 1939, when the railroad was discontinued in Tolstoy. Mr. Heiser retired at an early age due to ill health. They returned to Tolstoy where they bought a home. Mr. and Mrs. Heiser were the parents of eight children. They are: John of Watertown, Lena (Roesch, deceased), Edward of Aberdeen, Albert of Sun City, Ariz., Martha (Bieber, deceased), Edna Banik of Tolstoy, Emma Banik of Spokane, Wash., Delores Geist of Tolstoy.

Mr. Heiser passed away in the year of 1962. Mrs. Heiser at the present is making her home at the Oahe Manor at Gettysburg. Back to Index

Michael and Katherina Hettich migrated from Russia in 1900, because of the impending war and the political problems. They had 5 boys and 1 girl. Of these 6 children, 2 boys were still at home, David and Jacob. These boys came to the United States with them. The Hettichs came by train from New York to Eureka, S. D. They lived with a family of friends for a few months. From there they moved to Tolstoy where some of their relatives were living. At first they lived in an old shed north east of Tolstoy until they were able to build a sod house and a stone barn. The blocks of sod were made of clay, straw and manure. The roof of the house was wood and the floor was dirt. Mr. and Mrs. Hettich lived in the sod house until they retired in 1917 when they moved into Tolstoy.

In the spring of 1909 Magdelina Gaub came to the United States with her married sister, Mrs. Carolina Lassle and her family. Her married brother, Joseph Gaub was already in the United States. Joseph's wife, Christina Hettich, was Jacob Hettich's sister. Jacob and Magdelina's marriage had already been arranged in Russia before Magdelina came. In June 1909 they were married. Her parents were never able to come to the States.

The summer they were married, Jacob and Magdelina built a wood house next to the sod house. There they had two children, Fred and Magdelina. One daughter, Christina, died at 11 days of age.

Jacob and Magdelina lived on this farm until 1943 when they sold it and retired. At this time they moved into Tolstoy and both lived there until the time of their deaths. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in June 1959 in the Tolstoy Lutheran Church. In July 1960, Mrs. Hettich passed away at home. Mr. Hettich passed away in December 1963 while spending the winter with his daughter in Washington.

Fred Hettich, son of Jacob and Magdelina, lived in Tolstoy until he was 14. Then he went to business college in Aberdeen for 9 months. He started working and moved to Bismarck, N. D. He continues to live there with his wife, Edna Eisenbesz, and their two sons.

Jacob and Magdelina's daughter, Magdelina, lived in Tolstoy until October 1930 when she married Fred Voegele from Longlake, S. D. They continued to live around Tolstoy until 1943. Three of their four children were born around Tolstoy. Mrs.

Voegele and her family moved to Washington in 1951. They continue to make their home there. Back to Index

John Hettich was born July 7, 1863 in Russia. He married Rosina Bieber who was born June 26, 1862. They came to America around the turn of the century and homesteaded northeast of Tolstoy. They farmed there all their lives. Rosina passed away in 1918. John continued to live at the farm with his son Christ and family until his death in 1931.

John and Rosina had eight children. Jacob was the oldest son - his children were: Matt, Helen, Emma, Jake Jr., Fred, Walter, Joe, Larry, Mildred, Lillian, Bernice, Loretta, Albian, and LaRoy. Matt Hettich married Kate Bieber their children were: Harry, Leona, and Morris; Christ Hettich married Annetta Perman.

Christ continued farming even after he moved into town in Jan. of 1951 until his death August 8, 1958. Anna at the age of 81 still lives in Tolstoy. Christ and Anna had seven children. The first three, Leo, Irene, and Lurena died in infancy. James passed away at the age of 17 in a drowning accident. Lucille (Mrs. Ervin Haar), Harlin, and Lloyd all farm near Tolstoy.

John Hettich Jr. passed away at the age of 24. Elizabeth Hettich married Carl Weber to this union eight children were born: Fred, Bruno, Otto, Frank, Herbie, Josephine, Tillie, and Ericka.

Rose Hettich married Jake Buechler. Their children were: Augusta, Rosina, Ella, Adolph, Joe, Bill, and Harry.

Caroline Hettich married Philip Mees. Their children were Harold, Milton, Carl, Evelyn, Lucille, Caroline, Elizabeth, and Alice.

Mary Hettich married Fred Herman, their children were LaVera, Eldon, LaVerne, Barney, Fred, and Dorothy. Back to Index

Peter M. Hoven was born March 12, 1882 at Odell, Illinois. In the same year he moved to Hoven with his parents, Peter M. (Sr.) and Rosanna Hoven, where he grew to manhood. Frances K. Hoven was born July 12, 1884 at Caslova, Czechoslovakia. She came to the Chicago area as an infant with her parents, Joseph and Kathrine Baloun, and three years later to the Dakota Territory where her family homesteaded in Hyde County.

Peter and Frances were married on Feb. 5, 1908. After their marriage, they lived in Lebanon where Peter operated the livery stable. In 1911 they homesteaded near Tolstoy and lived until 1946 when they retired and moved to Gettysburg. To this union were born three children Melvin living in Los Altos,  Calif.; Beatrice and Emerson in Denver, Colo.

Peter died on Jan. 4, 1970 and Frances on Jan. 20, 1975. Back to Index

Eugene Heck, a young man from Germany, met and married Frieda Wolff of Tolstoy on June 27, 1916. Eugene was a cousin of the Reverend Eugene Schoenleber. After the wedding they moved to Idaho but returned to Tolstoy in the fall of 1918 with daughters Ruth 1 1/2 and (Ida) Esther 4 months old. Walter, Verona and Virginia were all born in Tolstoy. After trying various jobs, Eugene started a Shoe and Harness Repair Shop, which he continued to run until the family moved to Gettysburg in the fall of 1931. His advertising slogan was: "We mend the rips and patch the holes, build up your heels and save your soles."

Frieda Heck died in February 1937 in Gettysburg and Eugene died in January 1970 in Neosho, Mo.

Ruth Heck Johnson, widowed, lives in Mitchell, S. D. works for an Insurance Company and has three daughters and three granddaughters.

Esther Heck Wammen, widowed, lives in Sturgis, S. D. Dorothy lives with her since her car accident Nov. 3, 1980. She suffered a broken neck and is a quadriplegic, but they are determined and have faith she will walk again.

Walter, the only one who left South Dakota is married with 4 daughters and one son; three granddaughters and two grandsons. He lives in Auburn, Wash. and now has his own shoe shop and enjoys it.

Verona Heck Vroman and husband Bill ranch near Buffalo, S. D. Their daughter lives in Arizona, and their two sons ranch with them. They have 4 grandsons.

Virginia Heck Malde and husband Gene farm at Plankinton, S. D. with their two sons, engaged in their farming operation.

They all still enjoy coming back to Tolstoy visiting cousins Dave Baniks and Ben Geists and friends. Back to Index

George Helm spent 1930-1933 serving in the U. S. Cavalry. In October of 1933 he married Lydia Perman at Lowry. They lived there a short time, then moved to the Christ Hettick farm six and one half miles southeast of Tolstoy.

In the fall of 1938 the family moved to the Pete Litzen farm while Pete was in Edgemont assisting his sister-in-law run a service station. 1938 found the Helm's moving into Tolstoy occupying the Heiser house. By March of 1941 they had purchased the store from Fred Huber and were residing in the back of the store.

In 1943 George and Lydia moved their family into the Wolff estate house which they had bought from John H. Stotz.

In 1942 George also became the manager of the Farmers Cream Station. He added the buying of chickens, hides and furs as a private sideline.

They sold the store to Ben Geist in 1945 but in 1949 repurchased it. George continued to be involved in this enterprise until 1966 when he disposed of all remaining interest in the establishment.

George and Lydia raised their family in Tolstoy - their first child Sherry, died in infancy; Virgel, born in Lowry, is married to Marion Vreugdenhil and lives in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Larry, born while they lived on the Hettick farm, married Kathleen Dutt and has returned to be a farmer on the John C. Dutt farm; Jake and Joel were both born in Tolstoy. Jake married Alice Merkel and lives in Grand Blanc, Mich., Joel resides with Lydia and George in Mobridge. Back to Index

John M. Hettich was born in Russia and later immigrated to America. He came to the Potter County area in 1902. John M. Hettich married Rose Trefz on Dec. 23, 1902. They farmed in the Tolstoy area. In 1911 they moved to Parmlee, S. D. and farmed there. John was a neighbor to Congressman Ben Reifel's parents. The two families became good friends. John's children, Emma, Edward and Lydia, went to school with Congressman Ben Reifel. After living at Parmlee about ten years they moved back to Tolstoy.

To John and Rose Hettich were born twelve children as follows: Emma (Mrs. Charlie Reis) deceased, Edward, married to Lydia Bieber, now living in Washington; Lydia, (Mrs. Jake Lippert) living at Ipswich; Eva, deceased; Bertha, deceased; Katherine, (Mrs. Emil Keszler) living at Hoven; Fred living at Tolstoy; Marie (Mrs. Adolph Forkle) living at Aberdeen; Johnny living at Tolstoy; Reuben married to Viola Kreuger, living at Rapid City; Martha, (Mrs. Ed Chesney) living at San Jose, Calif.; Rose, (Mrs. Gillis Arbach) living at Morgen Hill, Calif.

Mr. and Mrs. Hettich lived on various farms in the Tolstoy- Onaka area. John passed away April 13, 1965 and Rose passed away Jan. 9, 1972. Back to Index

John Adam Hosterman was born May 8, 1872 in Center County, Pennsylvania. Died Dec. 16, 1958 at the Parkston, S. D. hospital.

Catherine Alice Orndorf Hosterman was born in Woodward, Pennsylvania Jan. 8, 1872. Died June 18, 1945 at their home in Scotland, S. D.

John and Catherine were married Feb. 12, 1893 in Aaronsburg, Ps. In 1911 they came West and settled on a farm 2 1/2 miles south of Menno, S. D. In 1919 they moved to Scotland where Mr. Hosterman semi-retired. They were the parents of 11 children all of whom were born in Pennsylvania except the youngest son, Randall, who was born in South Dakota. Randall passed away in Scotland June 20, 1981. His wife Joyce survives him and a daughter Betty (Mrs. Gorden Davis) of Wessington, S. D.

Norman Hosterman, the oldest son and his brother, Lee, came to Tolstoy, S. D. in March 1920. Lee had just been married to Helen Hagge of Menno and his sister Ruth Hosterman was married at the same time to Joe Biorseth also of Menno. Both couples then came to Tolstoy to live on farms northeast of Tolstoy. Lee and Helen returned to Menno in 1922 where Lee was a blacksmith until 1941 when, with their 2 children, Grace and Donald, they moved to California.

Ruth and Joe Biorseth lived on their farm 2 1/2 miles from Norman's until Ruth passed away prematurely on May 7, 1938. They had a daughter, Doris, then 15 years old and a son, Elwin, age 9. In 1941 Joe left the farm and moved to Bremerton, Wash., where daughter, Doris, still resides. Joe passed away Aug. 28, 1979 age 81. Son, Elwin and wife live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

After Lee's left, Norman married Marie Hottmann and they continued living on this farm until 1936 when they with their 1 son and 3 daughters moved to Clementson, Minn. Marie died Mar. 6, 1975. Norman still lives on his Clementson farm and raises a big garden every year and sells his vegetables, strawberries, and such in International Falls, Minn. He is now 85 years old. Two daughters with their families live in International Falls; one daughter, now widowed lives a mile from Norman and the son, Gerald, lives in Tucson, Ariz.

Now John B. Hosterman and wife moved to this same farm and lived there until 1939 when they moved to the Gettysburg, S. D. area where John bought a place close to the river and started to raise and sell watermelons. He also raised vegetables to sell.

Next Lowell O. Hosterman who had been living with the Joe Biorseth's moved on to this same farm. The 26th of June 1942 Lowell left for Menno, S. D. to get married. He married Edith M. Schenk who had taught school in Scotland, S. D. for the past 12 years. She was a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. They were married in Hartington, Neb. June 29, 1942. They then began their married life on this same farm by Tolstoy. Lowell grain farmed only.

Edith had never lived on a farm so this was a new life for her, but she very soon felt like a native thanks to their wonderful neighbors, the Binders, Voegele's and Holwegers who immediately took her in and made her feel like family and were so grand to her and Lowell and they are still the grandest friends anyone could ever have.

The very first Sunday in the community Mrs. "Doe" Schuler called Edith and invited them to their house for a lovely dinner. They had not even met until that Sunday. Everyone was so friendly. And Bertha Jacober, the local telephone operator, called Edith every day and they became close friends - Edith spent many hours with Bertha in the telephone office and there she very soon got acquainted with all the local people.

In 1943 Lowell and Edith bought that farm from Mr. Serr of Napoleon, N. D. They twice remodeled and modernized the house on that farm. Eventually then they decided to build a house in the city of Tolstoy and in October 1974 they moved into their large new home in town.

In 1981 Lowell rented out their land and they are now retired. Lowell has a green thumb and enjoys seeing things grow so every spring he still puts out a huge garden and enjoys giving his friends fresh vegetables. Trapping is the highlight of Lowell's winter time enjoyment. Back to Index