"THE COWARDS NEVER STARTED
                              THE WEAK DIED ON THE WAY
                              ONLY THE STRONG ARRIVED
                              THEY WERE THE PIONEERS..."

 
                                                       by Debbie Clark
                                                         July 26-30, 2002

         
         Here is the log cabin that my pioneer ancestors -- my great-great-great grandparents --
         John and Dorathea Fehlhafer --  built in the area of Gresham, Nebraska.   They
         were immigrants from Germany who traveled to Nebraska in a covered wagon and
         homesteaded there.  Their first home was a dugout.  Later they built this log cabin,
         which they lived in until they died.

   
     To the left, my cousin Ewald and my great aunt Erna examining a homestead stone found
     leaning against our ancestors' log cabin.  (Note: The site that the log cabin is on today is not
     the orginal site our ancestors built it on as it was moved at one point from one farm to
     another, though it is still in the same area.)  As you can see, it is in such shambles, it would
     be quite a challenging job to to restore it.  In the picture to the right is my
     cousin Ewald again. (The origin of the bell in the foreground of the pic is unknown.)

    
    The house to the left was built by the only son -- my great-great-grandpa -- of the
    aforementioned ancestors who had built the log cabin.  The house is still lived in to this date
    (though I don't personally know by who).  The picture to the right is where my great-grandpa
    at one time had his shop on his farm.  Posing in front of it is my cousin Ewald (one of his
    grandsons), my mother (one of his granddaughters), and me (his great-granddaughter).

      
    This is me with my great-aunt Esther.  Her husband was one of the great-grandsons of the
    ancestors who built and lived in the log cabin pictured again in the photo on the right..

   
    Many of the country roads in the area my ancestors lived and farmed are still dirt and gravel.
    To the right, daughters Michelle and Melissa posing in front of a cornfield.

   
     These pictures are of my daughter Michelle participating in the pie eating contest during the
     Q-125 Utica days -- the 125th anniversary of Utica, Nebraska (July 26-28, 2002).
     (The guy in the flag shirt was the winner of that particular round.)  The tractors in the
     background were there because they were also having a tractor show that day as part of the
     festivities.  More tractors below:..

  
      On the left -- tractor show in downtown Utica.  On the right, my  daughter Michelle --
      styling in front of a cornfield again.

   
     On the left, Michelle and Melissa relaxing on the farm of Cousin Eddie.  On the right,
     Melissa and me, standing in front of a train at Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska.

    
    Michelle and Melissa getting ready to ride horses on Cousin Eddie's farm.
    To the right, Michelle riding a horse.

                 
                  Michelle and Melissa riding off into the sunset -- no wait, they are riding
                  in from the sunset...
 

                                                              Home