Tolstoy Family Biographies

Jonathan Hottman Family

The name "Hottman" is an indication of what probably was the occupation of our ancestors in Germany. In the German language, the word "hott" means oxen yoke, and since it was customary to take the name of one's occupation, it is safe to assume that these ancestors were makers of oxen yokes.

The ancestors of Jonathan and Friedericka Hottmann came from Wittenberg, Germany to Gluckstal, South Russia during the reign of Catherine, the Great, for she wanted the German people to colonize this area of Russia. She promised them land and a good living, and as long as she lived, the German people were permitted to use their mother language, keep their own customs and worship in their own faith which was Lutheran. These people lived in villages and went out each day to work their plot of land. The climate in this part of Russia, near Odessa, was very mild, hardly ever getting cold enough to freeze. They were able to raise fruit as well as grain.

But it became a land of limited opportunities as greed crept in among the rich; in no way could a poor person get to own land or make financial headway.

Thus it was that Jonathan Hottmann left Russia in 1889 to come to America, a land of freedom and opportunity. Friedericka Gutjahr, who a few years later became Mrs. Hottmann, came to America in 1893.

Jonathan Hottmann began his earthly pilgrimage July 2, 1866 at Gluckstal, South Russia. When he was three years old he lost his father; then later his mother married Joseph Gaub. At the age of nine his mother died, so he and his sister Christina (Werre) and a half-brother, Joseph Gaub were raised by his step-father. At the age of fifteen Jonathan was confirmed, then he went to Kleinbergdorf to learn the blacksmith trade and there he served as an apprentice.

In 1886 he was united in marriage to Christina Albrecht. They had four daughters, one of which died in infancy, and a second one died soon after they arrived in America in 1889. The other two daughters were born after they homesteaded in McPherson County near Hosmer. Christina (Trefz) was born Oct. 1890 and Rosina (Buechler) April of 1892.

Jonathan's wife, Christina died in 1893, and he was left with the two small children. In the same year he married Friedericka Gutjahr, who was the daughter of Christian and Margaret Nies Gutjahr. Friedericka had just a few weeks before came from Gluckstal where she was born May 16, 1874. She was next to the youngest of a family of thirteen.

While living in McPherson county, three sons, David, Jonathan, Jr. and John C. were born to Jonathan and Friedericka. In 1899 the family moved to the Springs Community in Potter County. Here Christian, Marie, Henry and Freda were born.

They farmed here until 1919 when they moved to Tolstoy, where they lived in retirement until their death, Jonathan in February of 1935 at the age of 68 and Mrs. Hottmann in July of 1957 at the age of 83.

Jonathan and Friedericka Hottmann were always grateful for having the privilege of living in this great land of freedoms, for the opportunities of owning land and choosing one's occupation. They were true pioneers; they built their own sod houses, farmed with oxen in those first years, walking many miles a day guiding a single plow to turn over the sod.

The Hottmanns, along with other pioneers, lived through many hardships. There was the drought, especially during the years of 1910, 1911 and 1912; prairie fires were an ever-present threat, twice destroying hay, grain or livestock; there were no luxuries, and the necessities were at best, scarce.

Now as to more specific information about the Hottmann children. Of the four born to Jonathan and Christina, only two lived to adulthood.

Christina was born in 1890, still lives in Tolstoy, active at 90 years. Her husband was Christ Trefz, deceased.

Rosina was born in 1892, deceased in 1948. Her husband was Christ Buechler, also deceased.

Jonathon Hottman Family Front row: Henry, father Jonathan, Freda, Mother Frediricka, and Mary. Back row: Christina, David, Christian, Jonothan, Rosina and John.

Seven children were born to Jonathan and Friedericka.

David was born in 1894, died in 1953 at the age of 59. His first wife was Martha Buechler, who died in 1933, then he married Mathilde Roesch.

Jonathan was born in 1895, died in 1978, at the age of 82. His wife was  Henrietta Buechler, still living.

John (or Johannes, the German form of the name) was born in 1897, died in 1976. His wife was Delilah Buechler, still living.

A parenthetical note. The three brothers above married three sisters.

Christian was born in 1899, died in 1918 at the age of 19. Marie was born in 1902, died in 1975. She was married to Norman Hosterman, still living.

Henry was born in 1905. He is married to Luella Liddle. He is a retired United Methodist pastor, living in Rapid City.

Freda was born in 1909. She is married to K. Oliver Brekke, also a retired United Methodist pastor, living in Huron.

Note: The above "History" was compiled from various records, from information related to me by my mother, and from what I remember. Back to Index

John Dufloth Sr. and Louisa (Stotz) Dufloth were both born in 1841, in Glucksthal, South Russia. They were married in 1864. To this family nine children were born, Rose 1865, John 1870, Kathrine 1871, Louise 1873, Christ 1874, Jake 1878, Philip 1879, Henry 1883, and Gottlieb 1886.

Although John and Louisa were born in Russia, they were of German descent. In the early days, Russia had acquired vast territories from Turkey and other countries. Due to serfdom and government regulations which drastically restricted the mobility of the Russian people, colonists were sought abroad. The encouragement of this migration brought thousands of Germans seeking land to homestead in this then free nation. These Germans had at all times tended to form themselves into German colonies, either in the city or in the country districts.

The Dufloth family along with many other families had migrated from Germany to Russia and formed their colony of Glucksthal. It was when Czar Alexander III began forcing everyone to speak Russian and taking away their freedom to worship and another war about to erupt; that many families from this German colony of Glucksthal decided to migrate to the United States of America. This is the reason, you will notice, that many pioneer families who homesteaded in the Tolstoy area came from Glucksthal, South Russia.

The house of the Dufloth family in Russia was a one story long rectangular building made of flat stones with a thatched roof of bamboo reeds tied together in bundles. The bees used to make honey in the hollow reeds and the boys would climb up and try to steal the honey when their father wasn't around. On one corner of the roof was a stork's nest, and the bird came back every year to the same spot and made a new nest.

The boys would often tell a story about their sister Louise. The Russians would come around with grapes to trade for wheat. The children were warned to never talk or trade with them. Apparently they weakened once in a while because one day Louisa said, "Father, we didn't eat any grapes today".

When leaving Russia, the Dufloth family accompanying the Christ Stotz family, traveled by train to Borman, Germany and then by boat to the United States.

They traveled westward and arrived here, in this community, on March 20, 1889.

John took three homesteads, a quarter of land on each. Two boys built homes or shacks to make them legal homesteads. The land directly east of Tolstoy was the home place. The first house they built was a sod house. Later a mud house of hand made clay bricks formed in a wooden mold was erected. They coated the outside with mud plaster. The house was warm in winter and cool in summer. A big oven was built outside, like they had in Russia. The boys coming home from school could smell the bread baking a mile down the road.

All the children married. Rose married Christ Stotz, John married Margaretta Kercher, Katherine married Gottlieb Blumhardt, Louise married Adoph Reinecke, Christ married Christina Dufloth, Jake married Caroline Knodel, Phil married Kathleen Oliver, Henry married Dena Hanson, Gottlieb married Caroline Schnieder.

All have passed away except Mrs. Jake Dufloth, Bowdle nursing home and Mrs. Gottlieb Dufloth, Rapid City, S. D. Father John Dufloth passed away Oct. 15, 1904 and Mother Louisa passed away July 18, 1929. Back to Index

Mr. and Mrs. Jake Hauck came from Russia and settled at Menno, S. D. To this union five children were born: Edward, Henry, Pete, Lydia, and Martha.

After Henry married Caroline Koch, they moved to Gregory county and homesteaded. This is where Harry was born in 1906. Henry sold the homestead and moved back to Menno. Edna (Roesch) and Ray were born here. In 1916, the family moved to Tolstoy. They moved because they only had one quarter of land and could not acquire more. Henry traded one quarter of land for three quarters plus some cash.

When they arrived at Tolstoy, they had to stay at the local hotel for ten days. The house that they had bought was full of bed bugs. There was a big job ahead of them. They had to tear out all of the walls and fumigate.

On Nov. 13, 1928, Harry married Mary Roesch. The first years of their married life they lived on the Ed Wolff's farm. In 1934, they moved into Tolstoy due to the drought conditions. At this time Harry operated the local Pub and Confectionery. This same year, Henry built a new home in Tolstoy with the money he received from selling his straw stacks.

In 1936, Harry moved out to the farm where his son Jerry and family live now. In 1962 Harry moved back into town and is presently living in his father's house.

Harry and Mary have two sons, Don and Jerry. Back to Index

Christian Jacober was born Feb. 7, 1856. Rosina Brazel Jacober was born Oct. 13, 1860 in the village of Glucksthal, South Russia. They were both baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran church. They were married Oct. 12, 1880 in the same church by Pastor Schrenk. Mr. Jacober served in the Russian army as an interpreter for 4 years.

They immigrated to the United States with other families in May 1899 from Russia to South Dakota. Christian and his wife Rosina with their children had their hearts filled with hope in the promises of the new land. There came many hardships and trying times, and the never ending homesick feeling for the loved ones left in Russia. Especially on Sunday mornings they had to miss the church services and Sunday school.

On May 1889 Mr. Jacober took up claim in the northwest part of Faulk county where they built a sod house. The home was constructed of alternate packing sod and straw bricks. They lived in that house for six years. In October, 1905 Mr. Jacober bought 156 acres of farm land adjacent to his claim from his good Norwegian neighbors Ditler Larson. The farm included a 3 room frame house, a well producing good water with a hand pump. Located a quarter mile from the house. A much appreciated grove of trees, the only trees around the area were on this farm. The Larson family moved to another state, and some time later Mr. Larson returned and sold the rest of his land to Mr. Jacober. Things began to improve, the two boys grew up and they were a great help. They decided to purchase a threshing rig, with their father's help. Christ the oldest son was the separator man. Jake was only 17 years old so his uncle Jacob Jacober took him to the town of Faulkton where he had to get a permit to operate the steam engine. He had to get up at 5 o'clock a.m. to take the lantern and walk out in the fields, take the ashes out of the engine, and fire it up for the day. They did all the threshing in the community and other areas. There were no cook cars at that time. Whoever they threshed for had to feed a crew of 10-12 men. They were a jolly bunch of men. At breakfast one morning the pancakes happened to be tough. One man put a pancake in his pocket took it out to the field and nailed it on the separator. It hung there while they moved from place to place.

Christ was drafted and served during the World War I. He did combat duty in France and Belgium and was discharged in May 1918. Jake had a notice to appear in Faulkton to sign for army duty. But the following day, Armistice was declared. In 1919 the Jacobers moved to Tolstoy. After living in town for eleven days Mr. Jacober passed away at the age of 63 years. Mrs. Jacober died in 1935 at the age of 75. There were seven children. Rosina (Mrs. John Opp, deceased), Christ, a carpenter, married and is living in Lodi, Calif., Jake of Gardena, Calif. was a tiler. His wife Mary passed away in March of 1981. Two sisters Freda and Bertha living in Tolstoy. Freda assisted Bertha as a telephone operator for many years. Freda was also the city assessor for three years. She also served as Treasurer of the school board and town board. Back to Index

In 1913, a four year old girl sat at mother's feet completely unaware of the fact that her future was already being planned for her. The place was a small village in Germany and the little girl was Anni Holtorf. Thousands of miles away in the state of South Dakota, the little German girl's future "in- laws" were first setting foot on the land they would call their own. The migration of the Johannson family to Tolstoy had begun. John Sheelhause, husband of Dora nee Johannsen and Henry Jacobs, husband of Sophie nee Johannsen came to build their new homes and begin farming the great prairie. John, who had been stricken with arthritis, had been told South Dakota weather would be better for his health.

Also, the prospect of cheap land was just what he was looking for, so he convinced his brother-in-law to come too. They left their German immigrant wives in Iowa until one of the houses was readied for them. The farm sites were built on each man's own land but were close enough that they could visit each other easily, an important factor in the days of "grass-fed" horsepower.

After setting up housekeeping on the prairie, the two German sisters began writing many letters to their brother in Germany. Ten years passed until their brother's eldest son, Henry, decided to come to the land of opportunity. Times were hard in Germany and young Henry wanted to find his fortune. Henry came to South Dakota and stayed with his aunts, working where he could. A few years later he rented a farm near Seneca hoping to set up a good life for his future wife, Ella. Of course, Henry missed his family and after many letters from his son and sisters, Heinrich Johannsen decided it was time to try his luck in America. In 1926, Heinrich, his wife Anna, and his son Herman came to South Dakota. They stayed with Henry until they could build a home and a year later Henry brought Ella to the States and they married.

During all these years young Anni Holtorf was living on her parents farm. She had grown up and fallen in love with young Herman Johannsen, but about the time they were thinking of marriage, the young Johannsen left for the States. Anni remembers that in those days money was short and it took Herman eight years of saving before he could afford to go back to Germany and marry her. She says though, that waiting that long wasn't all bad. She fondly remembers her wedding being such a celebration that the bride and groom, after partying all night, went out and milked the cows because all the guests were still celebrating. She said, "We wanted to go to bed, but there just wasn't any bed to go to! The beds were full of guests who had come from miles away to our wedding."

It was November of 1934, that Annie Johannsen first set foot on American soil. Something has to be said of a lady who not only waited for her man for eight years, but was willing to leave her family for a life with him. Anni's dream of prosperity in America were very short lived as she walked right into the misery of the dirty thirties. Anni talks often of the drought and remembers the locusts. She tells of them being so bad they would hang on the steel fence posts, one on top of the other as much as five inches deep. Anni remembers her father-in-law refusing to let the hoppers have everything. They had chewed all the wheat off just below the heads. Heinrich, trudged out to the field with a gunny sack determined to pick each head up by hand. Hours later he finally gave up, coming home with only a bit of the precious crop in the sack.

Climate was probably the hardest adjustment for Anni. She was used to mild winters in Germany and of course missed the trees and flowers. In Germany the cows were milked right out in the pasture. In South Dakota, she says some days you were lucky to find the barn through the snow, let alone the pasture!

The best thing about coming to America according to Anni was the coffee. She remembers her mouth actually watering just from the smell of it on those cold winter mornings. Anna Johannsen would always have a hot pot of coffee waiting for young Anni after she had the milking done. Anni would put her frost bitten feet on the wood stove and enjoy the unique taste of American coffee.

Being direct immigrants of Germany only caused a few hardships as Anni remembers it. Speaking no English was a big problem for them and Heinrich was not too anxious to let them learn. Herman and Anni's two sons, Karl and Hans, started grade school knowing very few English words. Their grandfather never did speak English and would not respond to anyone who spoke it in his home.

What was interesting though, was that he always managed to know exactly what was said when English speaking folks were around.

The Johannsens were registered aliens and when World War II began they had to go to Gettysburg with their most prized possession, a large long distance radio. The radio wires had to be cut off so that they could not receive any direct broadcasts from the homeland.

After the war, when times began to get better, Herman and Anni started to add some Germany charm to their home. They planted many trees, lilacs, and flowers. Each day they carried water by bucket to nurture tiny trees and plants.

Herman and Anni and their two sons shared the same house with the elder Johannsens. They all lived, worked, and played together until Heinrich and Anna passed away. Anni remembers a few bad times, but says there were lots of good times too. She remembers the men going skunk hunting to make extra money and the many cozy nights of her and Anna sitting and patching, or doing needle work by kerosene lamps. She says too that there was always a babysitter when she worked in the field, and Anni did her share, first with horses and later on a tractor. Her great pride was her milk cows and she kept milking them even after her husband's death in 1968.

Anni's eldest son lives in Benton Harbor, Mich. with his wife Charlotte. They have two children, Jim and Thekla. Hans is principal of a parochial grade school there. Her second son Karl lives on the family farm with his wife Connie and their four children; Corey, Curt, Eric, and Memory. Anni now lives in Tolstoy, but at 72 years young, she can be seen frequently traveling out to the farm to help in any way she can. When asked if she regrets coming to America she happily replies, "No, Ich always bin happy here!" Back to Index

John F. Johnson married Sarah M. Beach in Iowa. They lived there for several years before taking an emigrant car and moving to South Dakota. Soon after arriving they took out a land claim. Alvah and Ruth had joined the family by then. Their farm is where Sylvester Simon's live today. To this family were born eight children. Alvah married Florence Bonlding one son; Alvah later married Anne Sanathlskie three children; Mary married William Nafus six children; Martha married Floyd Becker 3 sons; Grace married Clarence Stephans 2 children, Clarence was killed in a car-truck accident. Later on she married George Abelein; Lewis married Milda Lubenhoe one son; Sarah married Joe Wickert three sons; and Loren married Junya Munyon four children.

John lived on the same farm until retiring when he moved to Gettysburg. He passed away at Pierre. Sarah spent her last years alone until she was unable to live alone. She then made her home with Martha and Grace. Only the four youngest children are still living. Back to Index

William Keller, born June 12, 1837 and Barbara Ellen Lower, born Oct. 6, 1836 were married March 13, 1862. Their home was first established in Pennsylvania, but shortly migrated to Findlay, Ohio. It was here that their five children were born. Curtis Keller was born May 7, 1864. The family later moved to Coldwater, Mich.

Curtis always said that he was Pennsylvania Dutch. When Curtis had finished high school, like many others of his age, he left Michigan and came to area which is now Brown County. This was about 1880. While in this area he worked for the Cole family in the Hufton community and other places in the area.

Life appeared a little on the tame side; so Curtis, with his saddle horse, headed for the Black Hills. He worked his way gradually westward, but when he came to the Missouri River a problem of getting across presented itself. He gauged the strength of his pony, tied his few belongings to the saddle, climbed aboard and started across. His weight proved too much, so sliding off the rear, he hung on to the horses tail, and together they made it across.

Then, in the Black Hills, and looking a distance from Crystal Cave across a deep gully, he could see another cave, now called the Jack Knife Cave. This cave was located on a very steep side of a hill. Thinking that he might be first to explore it, he took a long rope, secured it to a tree, and let himself down the face of the incline to the cave. Here he found that someone else had beaten him to it. Being the third one there, He carved his name, along with the other two who had preceded him, and went on his way.

Not overly enthusiastic about the Black Hills or the gold-mining in the Lead and Deadwood areas, he returned to the Brown County area. After spending a few months in the area he drifted westward to Potter county where he took up a homestead in the S. W. 1/4 of Section 35 Logan township. At this time, people coming to Dakota Territory, and later South Dakota, if they wanted a quarter section of land had to build a claim shack. This he made of sod with wood for frames, doors, and roof supports. He also planted some trees to help establish his claim. Curt's homestead certificate Number 5112 of United States to Curtis L. Keller signed by Grover Cleveland, President of the United States on Oct. 13, 1893.

Magdelena Nold, daughter of Florian Nold and Maria Yoos (whose ancestors were from Switzerland), was born to them Oct. 11, 1867. Her place of birth was Troy, Sauk County, Wisc. Eventually she came westward to find her brothers and sisters who had settled in Potter county. Her family had located mainly in Fairview Township, but being one of the younger members of the family she decided to put a claim in Logan Township which was on the S. E. 1/4 of section 35 in Logan Township. This was rather close to Curt's homestead.

Curtis Keller and Magdelena (better known as Lena) Nold were married March 21, 1894 at the Penrod home at Springs, S. D. (The only evidence today of the once Springs, S. D. is a cemetery). Their permanent home was then established on her homestead quarter and Curtis bought another quarter which had been homesteaded by Lena's sister Elizabeth. This quarter was located just across the line into Fairview Township. The land bought at that time was signed by then President Theodore Roosevelt.

Four children were born to this union: Ervin Lester Keller, born Dec. 30, 1895; Clifford Morton Keller, Oct. 5, 1897; Arthur Ward Keller, Oct. 6, 1900, and Ada Ellen Keller, Nov. 2, 1904. All were born at home.

Curtis never wanted for something to do. Besides farming, he raised livestock, helped in putting in the first telephone lines, and later drilled many wells in and around the county. This trade was later followed by his son, Clifford. His son, Arthur, took over the home place several years before his father's death.

Curtis Keller died Jan. 2, 1948 and Lena Keller died July 7, 1951. Their son Clifford died Jan. 16, 1963 and son Ervin died May 1, 1972.

Many hardships were endured, as all early settlers can attest, but they seemed to ably survive and prosper. The children enjoyed good health and were able to help when needed. Clothing was often made from the flour or sugar sacks which were dyed, then cut and assembled. Arthur says he can remember his mother telling how his father would put two large wooden barrels on a stone boat and go about two and a half miles west to get water which was found in the lower sections of land. Coming home with the water, he often spilled some of it, which his mother sorely missing the water, would make light of the incident even if it made much more work for her. Lena always seemed to find a way with things and enjoyed playing her organ and playing for her church.

Arthur Keller married Gyda Buflod June 14, 1933 and they had three children: Lloyd A. Keller, Edith J. Keller, and Agnes M. Keller. Lloyd took over the home farm in 1961 which makes the third generation on the place. Edith married and her family live fairly close to the Keller farm. Agnes married and presently resides in Bozeman Montana. Back to Index

Ferdinand Knecht, wife Katherine, and family sailed on the same ship friary Russia and arrived in the same area of South Dakota at about the same time as the Jacob Bitzer family. Like the Bitzers, they left Germany, went to Russia, left Russia, and came to the United States all for the same reason for an opportunity to own land. My mother, Lydia, was one of seven Knecht children. They were Theodore, Emanuel, Lydia, John, Frank, Molly, and Adolph. They lived in a tent until Grandpa could get a sod house completed. One time Grandmother Knecht laid sod blocks for someone else for pay while Lydia looked after baby John. The wages for one day was a kerosene lamp with an iron foot. At that time such a lamp probably sold for about twenty-five cents.

The sod house Ferdinand built is still standing. It is 3 miles west and 1 mile south of the old Bitzer home. He later built a frame house near by, but the sod house was kept up for hired farm hands or to shelter people who had no place to go. In 1968 it was still livable for farm hands to camp in. He built shelters for animals out of mud and rock. They were still used for sheep sheds as late as 1912 or 1913.

Grandpa Knecht walked to Ipswich, 25-30 miles away to get whatever supplies the family had to have. One trip he made in late fall when there was already snow on the ground. He took with him the oldest son, a home-made sled like youngsters used in coasting down hill in that area, and an ox to pull the little sled. On the way home one of those blinding, freezing blizzards developed. They thought they were about six miles from home. Night had overtaken them and Grandpa thought they would have to kill the ox so they could crawl inside the carcass to stay alive until morning. Suddenly he smelled smoke that could be coming from a chimney. He turned in that direction and in a little while, found his own home. He had not realized they were so near.

Grandmother Knecht spoke of the trip by covered wagon from New York to South Dakota a's being harder than all the days abroad ship on the way from Russia. The journey across the sea was not very pleasant, however, because Grandmother was sick, she could not take care of the baby, who had smallpox. Lydia had to care for the sick child. They wrapped his little hands with pads made from diapers hoping to keep him from scratching the itching scabs from his face. But the padded hands rubbed more of them off than he could have scratched off with bare hands. Under Lydia's care he recovered, but as an adult, this handsome man's face was covered with pock marks.

When they set out for South Dakota, they did not know how far it was nor the many hardships that lay between them and their destination. But, all the trials by sea and land did not seem too high a price for freedom. Back to Index

John Lassle, son of John and Rosina Roesch Lassle, was born July 28, 1867 at Glucksthal, South Russia and married Rosina Bieber, born Sept. 18,1871, daughter of Saloman and Rosina Kranzler Bieber.

Although they were detained for many weeks in Hamburg, Germany by Mr. Lassle's illness, they arrived in New York, Dec. 3, 1905. They had a family of John, David, Theresa, Jacob, and Gottlieb, when they arrived in America, later adding Fred, Lydia, Helen, and Anna, and Rose.

Immediately upon arriving, they moved to Roscoe to live with John's uncle, Fred Roesch and his family. In March of 1906, the John Lassle family moved to a farm north of Bowdle and lived there until 1912, then they moved into the sod house on a farm north of Tolstoy. They lived there until they retired to Bowdle in 1937, leaving a son, Fred, to work the farm. In 1947 a house was moved onto the farm to replace the sod shanty.

Many times the Lassles mortgaged some of their best horses to purchase other horses and cattle. Although times were hard the family prospered. Four cropless years due to hail, tornadoes, grasshoppers, and drought were forgotten when in 1915 there was a bumper crop.

When women won the right to vote, Mrs. Lassle and her daughter registered. The language barrier was a problem as the children learned English in school. As with all farm children of that time the older ones only got to go to school for a few weeks in winter. The five youngest all finished the 8th grade. As both parents enjoyed reading, the children were encouraged to read many times over what books, magazines, and newspapers were available.

Life was mostly work, but Sundays were spent resting and visiting with friends and relatives. The family attended a Lutheran church held in a schoolhouse northeast of Tolstoy. Later Mr. Lassle helped build the St. James Lutheran Church in Tolstoy. Their youngest son Fred and his wife are still members of this church. Their youngest daughter, Rosina, was confirmed in the last German confirmation class in this church.

John married Martha Bradner; David, a WWI veteran, married Rosina Unrich; Theresa married John Nies; Gottlieb married Katherine Huber; (all deceased); Jacob married Clara Brekke (deceased); Fred married Martha Dutt; Lydia married Bill Russell (deceased); Helen married Jacob Biffert (deceased); Anna (deceased) married Art Holzworth; Rose married James Landon.

John Lassle passed away July 13, 1941 and Rosina followed July 1, 1960. Back to Index