1. WESLEY⁷ HARNSBERGER (JACOB⁶, CONRAD⁵, STEPHEN⁴, JOHN³, JACOB², HANS JACOB¹ HERRENSPERGER) was born January 31, 1808 in Ohio, and died March 11, 1896 in Ashland, NB, USA. He married JANE ALLEY 1836 in Indiana, daughter of HOSEA ALLEY and ABIGAIL HALSEY.

Notes for WESLEY HARNSBERGER:

Wesley Harnsberger, father of the late William A. Harnsberger, became one of the early settlers of Clinton County, Indiana, obtaining government land and making a farm. In 1851 he moved with his family to Indianola, Iowa, and subsequently, in 1866, the year prior to the admission of Nebraska to the Union, settled in Cass County, where he did his part in advancing the civic and industrial development of that section. He resided in Cass County until his death on March 11, 1896. His wife died in Iowa April 25, 1863. They were the parents of six children, Abigail C., Ruth M., Mary M., William A., Sarah Frances and Jacob H.

Wesley Harnsberger

Wesley Harnsberger [father-in-law of Thomas Thompson] died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John McCaig, March 11, 1896 [Ashland, Nebraska]. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1808; was married in 1836 to Jane Alley. There were eight children born to them, six of whom are now living: Mrs. Maine and Mrs. Reddish living in Iowa, Mrs. Thompson in Colo., J. H. in Arkansas, Mrs. McCaig and W. A. in Ashland.

He in early life became a member of the M. E. Church and lived and died a consitant Christian. He came to Nebraska in 1866 and was one of the first settlers on the prairies of western Cass Co. It was his request that Rev. C. P. Hackney conduct the funeral services at the house and that the Rev. Isaac Stone offer a prayer at the grave. This was done and he was laid by the side of two of his grandchildren in the cemetery ten miles south of Ashland near his old home.

[His body was later moved to the Elmwood, Nebr. cemetery.]

Written by William A Harnsberger -- son of Wesley In the spring of 1866 I came to Nebraska, crossing the "Old Muddy (Missouri) River" on a ferry at Plattsmouth . . . There was great activity among the freighters, as 1866 was the last year of active freighting for the Missouri River. Freight was brought up the river on side-wheelers and stern-wheelers, which also brought Mormon emigrants, Wyoming, a landing some miles above Nebraska City was the Mormon outfitting point, and from there the wagon trains started on the long trek to Salt Lake City. Leavenworth and Nebraska City were the chief outfitting points for Government and independant freighters. There were big trains and little trains, 20 to 60 wagons to a train; and four to six yoke of oxen, or four to six mules, made a wagon team. I hired out to a freighting outfit to drive cattle. Our outfit consisted of two trains under one wagon boss. To give the uninitiated an idea of the immense amount of freight handled, our train had to lie at Nebraska City fo r two weeks, waiting our turn, before we could load. In those days none of us had ever heard of an eight hour day; it was from daylight to dark, and a part of the night, if it happened you were on night herd. At that time practically all of the country, especially west of Salt Creek, was short grass country. After you got back from the fringe of settlement along the Missouri River there was game - a few elk, deer, large bands of antelope and immense herds of buffalo; in fact buffalo could be found in Nebraska until well into the seventies.

The following spring my father (Wesley Harnsberger), my youngest sister (Sarah Frances), my brother Jacob Harrison and I undertook to open up a farm 30 miles west from Plattsmouth. The first winter on the homestead was 1867/68. We were about four miles southwest of the Mullen Ranch ( a place built in the days of freighting), and there was a homestead about the same distance to the south. These places we could see, and it was some comfort to my sister to be able to see these houses, even if they were so far away. We had another neighbour about 2 1/2 miles away, but this house we could not see, so we didn't seem to count it. The monotony was relieved a little, as there was some travel that fall (1867) from the River to the New State Capital that had been located at Lincoln, which was 22 miles to the southwest of us, and this road was near our house.

Looking back, I believe we all enjoyed the frontier life, breaking up the prairie sod and getting it under cultivation, putting out groves and hedges. The lack of timber induced a great many to put out Osage hedges. The newness and wildness of the country in the early days appealed to me. The Indians did a lot of mischief after the spring of '66, which was the time I came to the country. One incident is worthy of note: It was the last Nebraska battle of the Sioux and Pawnee war, On August 5 1873, the Pawnees broke camp early one morning and started their last days hunt before returning to their home. In their part there were around 300 warriors, 400 women and children, 1200 ponies and a thousand dogs. They had had succesful hunts and their ponies were loaded with dried buffalo and robes. When they were scattered out for the hunt, more than a mile in length, a very large body of Sioux, who had been watching them, attached them. The Pawnees lost in killed, 156, together with most of thier ponies and was thei r last tribal hunt in the Republican Valley. Two or three things I am proud of; one is that I was born and reared on a farm; I have had a part in the opening up and developing of the great State of Nebraska, coming to it while it was still a territory, and when it was 'short grass country' . . . I have lived now 56 years in Nebraska, and in all those years, I have had many troubles - more than half of which never happened.

Children of WESLEY HARNSBERGER and JANE ALLEY are:

2. ABIGAIL C. (KATE)⁸ HARNSBERGER (WESLEY⁷, JACOB⁶, CONRAD⁵, STEPHEN⁴, JOHN³, JACOB², HANS JACOB¹ HERRENSPERGER) was born March 17, 1840 in Indiana, and died April 22, 1922 in Warren County, Iowa. She married MYRON MAIN December 25, 1858, son of LODRICK MAIN.

Children of ABIGAIL HARNSBERGER and MYRON MAIN are:

3. RUTH MALINDA⁸ HARNSBERGER (WESLEY⁷, JACOB⁶, CONRAD⁵, STEPHEN⁴, JOHN³, JACOB², HANS JACOB¹ HERRENSPERGER) was born July 11, 1842 in Clinton Co, Indiana, and died April 14, 1900 in Grand Junction, CO, USA. She married THOMAS THOMPSON Abt. 1863, son of JOHN THOMPSON and ??.

Notes for RUTH MALINDA HARNSBERGER:

Ruth M. (Harnsberger) Thompson

Grand Junction Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

April 14, 1900

Death of Mrs. Thompson

Mrs. Rose M. Thompson [Ruth Malinda], wife of Thomas Thompson, died this morning at the residence of the family on Pitkin Avenue.

Mrs. Thompson has been a great sufferer for many years. She has been confined to her home for the past three years and has only been able to move around the house. The deceased was fifty-nine years of age and leaves a husband and a family of several children to mourn her loss.

The remains will be shipped to Farnam, Nebraska, her old home.

Undertaker Gourley prepared the body for shipment.

Gothenburg Times, Gothenburg, Nebraska

April 21, 1900

A telegram was received Saturday conveying the sad intelligence that Mrs. Thos. Thompson had died at her home in Grand Junction, Colo., Monday and that the remains would be sent here for interment. Mrs. Thompson had many friends at this place, having resided here several years ago. Two of her children, Mrs. E. T. Buss and J. W. Thompson, still reside here. Besides these two, she leaves three other children and a husband to mourn her death. It is not known when the remains will arrive, as the trains in Colorado have been snow bound the past week. Mr. Harnsberger, Mrs. Thompson's brother, arrived from Ashland Tuesday evening and will remain until after the burial.

Obituary

Thomas Thompson

The Independent Era, North Platte, Nebraska

16 Jan 1902

A paragraph under the column heading "Farnam Fancies":

The remains of Thomas Thompson, a pioneer resident of this precinct, came in last Monday from Grand Junction, Colorado, and were interred in the family lot in Farnam.

Children of RUTH HARNSBERGER and THOMAS THOMPSON are:

4. MARY MELVINA⁸ HARNSBERGER (WESLEY⁷, JACOB⁶, CONRAD⁵, STEPHEN⁴, JOHN³, JACOB², HANS JACOB¹ HERRENSPERGER) was born 1843 in Clinton Co, Indiana. She married WILLIAM MILLS REDDISH 1864.

Children of MARY HARNSBERGER and WILLIAM REDDISH are:

5. WILLIAM ALBERT⁸ HARNSBERGER (WESLEY⁷, JACOB⁶, CONRAD⁵, STEPHEN⁴, JOHN³, JACOB², HANS JACOB¹ HERRENSPERGER) was born July 15, 1848 in Clinton Co, Indiana, and died April 03, 1926. He married JOSEPHINE E. WIGGENHORN September 04, 1884, daughter of ERNEST WIGGENHORN and AUGUSTA NIEMEYER.

Notes for WILLIAM ALBERT HARNSBERGER:

Nebraska the Land and the People: Volume 3

page 143

William A. Harnsberger married, September 4, 1884, Miss Josephine E. Wiggenhorn, who was born in Wisconsin, daughter of Ernest A. and Augusta (Niemeyer) Wiggenhorn. Her parents came from Germany in 1848, and from Wisconsin they moved to Nebraska, participating in the pioneer settlement of this state. Mr. and Mrs. Harnsberger had four children. The oldest, Augusta Ernestine, is the wife of Frank Arthur Jones, secretary and treasurer of the Imperial Sash and Door Company of Omaha, and they have two children: Margaret Ernestine, born March 15, 1916, and Agnes Josephine, born October 8, 1917. Mrs. Jones is a graduate of Kemper Hall, Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones were both graduated from the University of Nebraska in the class of 1909. Emma Frances, second daughter of the late Mr. Harnsberger, is the wife of George Herbert Tregear. They live near London, England. [p.143] Mr. Tregear is a prominent official in the labor department of the British government. They have a son, George Herbert Benjamin, born January 27, 1926. Mrs. Tregear is a graduate of Kemper Hall, Kenosha, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Nebraska. William Ernest Harnsberger, a vice president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Ashland, was one of the Nebraska boys represented in service during the World war. He entered the First Officers Training Camp at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, was commissioned a second lieutenant and was overseas with the Three Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment of Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Forces. He is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of Nebraska. He married, in 1924, Miss Mary Louise Bryan, daughter of Hon. Charles W. Bryan, then governor of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Harnsberger have one son, William Ernest II, born May 11, 1926. Carl Wesley Harnsberger, the youngest of the family, was born October 3, 1896. He attended the University of Nebraska, was in the United States Navy during the World war, and was formerly assistant cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank. He is now president of the Harnsberger Insurance Company. He married Lillian Lucille Coppersmith, of Chicago, Illinois, and they have two sons: Carl Wesley, Jr., born December 9, 1919; and Richard Stephen, born December 14, 1921.

Nebraska the Land and the People: Volume 3

William A. Harnsberger was about three years of age when the family moved to Iowa, and grew up on a pioneer farm in Warren County, obtaining the advantages of the common schools of the period. Later he continued his studies in the public schools of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, being about eighteen years of age when the family moved to this state. He was identified with his father's farm in Cass County until 1874, in which year he established his home in Saunders County and engaged in ranching and other business in the vicinity of Ashland. He became identified with the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Ashland in 1895, and retained the post of vice president until his death, though he had otherwise retired from business.

Nebraska the Land and the People: Volume 3

During the winter of 1925-26 Mr. Harnsberger spent several months in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas. He returned home the latter part of March, but passed away suddenly and peacefully the day before Easter, April 3. He was laid to rest in Ashland Cemetery and as a mark of the respect in which he was held the banks and business places of the city were closed during the hour of his funeral.

Nebraska the Land and the People: Volume 3

William A. Harnsbergerwas one of the sterling and honored pioneer citizens of Ashland, Saunders County, and made his home in that section of the state for more than half a century. Life brought to him many substantial rewards, not alone in a material sense, but also in the respect of his fellow men.

He was born in Clinton County, Indiana, July 15, 1848, and was a direct descendant of Adam Harnsberger, who came from Switzerland to America in 1714 and was one of the early settlers at Germanus, Virginia. His son Stephen was one of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe who accompanied Governor Spottswood into the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 1716, the overland journey having been made through Swift Run Gap, above Elston, Rockingham County, Virginia. Stephen Harnsberger was twice married, and became the father of seven sons and several daughters. His son Conrad, born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1756, was a patriot soldier in the War of the Revolution, serving as a private in Captain Thomas Buck's Company of the Eighth Virginia Regiment, in the command of General Muhlenburg. Conrad Harnsberger later was a soldier and officer in the War of 1812, holding the rank of colonel. He died of yellow fever at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1814. He married, in 1778, Anna Barbara Miller, who was born at Elki ns, Virginia, in 1756, granddaughter of Adam Miller (originally Muhller), who was the first white settler in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This family in its various branches became widely scattered, some of them going south to Georgia, some remaining in Virginia, and others moving out to Ohio and still farther west.

Children of WILLIAM HARNSBERGER and JOSEPHINE WIGGENHORN are:

6. SARAH FRANCES⁸ HARNSBERGER (WESLEY⁷, JACOB⁶, CONRAD⁵, STEPHEN⁴, JOHN³, JACOB², HANS JACOB¹ HERRENSPERGER) was born 1852 in Indiana. She married JOHN MCQAIG.

Children of SARAH HARNSBERGER and JOHN MCQAIG are: