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George
Zahler occupies a pleasant rural home in section 24, Reading township,
Butler county, Nebraska, which he secured under the homestead law in 1871, and
which he has tilled for twenty-seven years, making it a delight to the critical
eye, and a source of profit to his careful management. His early life was spent
in Germany, and he has brought to his work in Nebraska old world thoroughness
and the enthusiasm of youth, and a very large measure of success has crowned his
labors.
Mr. Zahler was born in Prussia in 1844, and when he had reached
the age of thirteen accompanied his mother to this country. His father had been
killed by a kicking horse when young George was only two and a half years old.
He was her only child, and the companionship between them was very close and
cordial. They made their home in Stephenson county, Illinois, where they lived
until 1871. Mr. Zahler desired to have a home and own a farm, and he felt he
could most successfully struggle for it in a new state. By this time he was
twenty-seven years old, and had a wife and three children. On their account as
well as his own, he struck out for the west and when he reached Butler county
had five dollars in his pocket. It was a small sum with which to undertake the
founding of a home and the winning of an independent fortune. Yet it was enough.
And his is the story of many thousands who faced the same obstacles, met the
same discouragements, and overcame them in the same bold and hardy spirit. He
built a sod house, and lived in it until he could earn money to put up something
better. When he had money he bought what the family absolutely needed, and when
he was without money he did not buy. His wife, Mary Lapp, was born in Ohio, and
is of German extraction. Her father, John Lapp, was a shoemaker, and, moving
west from Pennsylvania, spent some years in Ohio. And from that state he removed
to Illinois, where he kept a shoe shop at the house for many years. She was the
mother of eight children. Three of these, Elizabeth, John and Annie, were born
in Illinois, and five are natives of Nebraska, Grace, Charles, Alfred, Francis,
and Edward L. Mr. Zahler is a Democrat, and takes a strong interest in the
welfare of the public schools.
Golden
Wedding Anniversary
Observed by Mr. and Mrs. George Zahler of David
City
Mr. and Mrs. George Zahler, highly esteemed residents of Butler county
42 years and of David City five years, observed their golden wedding anniversary
today (Thursday), a company of relatives and old-time friends being entertained
by them at their home in observance of the anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Zahler
were married 50 years ago in Freeport, Ill. Mrs. Zahler's maiden name was Mary
Jane Lapp.
Eight years after their marriage in Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Zahler
came to Nebraska and Butler county, taking a homestead claim that year (1871) in
Reading township; three miles south-east of the present town of Rising City.
They made a fine farm of it and resided there 37 years and until 1908 when they
moved to David City.
They still own the old homestead. Their sons, Alfred
and Francis, live on it.
Mrs. Henry W. Helming, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Zahler, came from Landsford, North Dakota, to attend the golden wedding
observance. Mrs. Anna Hunt, a sister of Mrs. Zahler, came from her home near
Medina, North Dakota.
Mr. and Mrs. Zahler have eight children living. Five
of them live long distances from the parental home and could not be present at
the golden wedding observance, the three children in attendance being Alfred and
Francis Zahler, of Reading township, this county, and Mrs. Henry W. Helming, of
Landsford, North Dakota.
In attendance from Rising City were Mr. and Mrs.
Oscar Bauer, Mr. Edward Brakefield, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Jones, Mr and Mrs. Charles
Kuhl, Mr. and Mrs. William Lemley, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ohm, Mr. and Mrs. B.F.
Noddings, Mr. Peter Reinheimer, Mr. and Mrs. George Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Want.
Mr. and Mrs. R.E.Pillar and Mr. and Mrs. Reinhault Pillar were present
from Millerton and Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Pillar form Garrison.
David City
people who were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Zahler at their golden wedding observance
included Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Aerts, Mr. and Mrs. R.B.Coe, Judge and Mrs.
A.J.Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Flynn, Mayor and Mrs. L.S. Hastings, Mr. and Mrs.
Chris Hoker, Mr. John Hilger, Mr. and Mrs. John Litty, Judge and Mrs. Matt
Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Myer, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Miller, Mrs. Daniel
O'Keefe and family, Supt. and Mrs. F.A. Stech and Mrs. H.H. Smith.
An
elaborate dinner of four courses was served. The table decorations were
chrysanthemums, a large wedding cake with fifty lighted candles as centerpiece.
Among the presents received by Mr. and Mrs. Zahler as tokens of love and
esteem were $10 in gold, articles of cut glass, various articles of silverware,
a gold watch chain, a silk umbrella and two handsome rocking chairs.
Death
Of Mrs. George Zahler
She Had Been a Resident of Butler County Since 1871
Mrs. George
Zahler, one of Butler county's pioneer women, died at her home in David City
Wednesday evening, Feb 17, shortly after 8 o'clock, Mrs. Zahler's death was
from pneumonia. She was sick just a week, having contracted the disease a week
ago Wednesday.
Mrs. Zahler was in her 70th year. She was born April 1,
1845, in Ohio, and was of German descent. Her maiden name was Mary J. Lapp.
When a young girl her father, John Lapp, a shoemaker, moved his family from
Illinois where he kept a shoe shop in the house for many years.
In October
1863, Miss Lapp and Mr. George Zahler were united in marriage in Freeport,
Illinois. In 1871, eight years after their marriage, the Zahler family came
from Illinois to Nebraska and Butler county and took up their residence in a sod
house on a homestead in section 24, Reading township. Here for 39 years the
Zahler family resided. Mrs. Zahler with her energetic spirit and indomitable
will was of great assistance to her husband in meeting the same discouragements
and overcoming the same obstacles that were so familiar to the early day
homesteaders. Mr. and Mrs. Zahler bought a home in David City five years ago
and moved here shortly after the purchase was made. They have resided here ever
since.
Mrs. Zahler was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are
living. They are Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, of San Diego, Calif.; John F. Zahler,
Shawnee, Okla; Mrs. Anna Brown, of Omaha; Mrs. Grace Helming, of Lansford,
N.Dak; Charles Zahler, of San Diego, Calif; Alfred and Francis Zahler, of
Rising City; and Edward Zahler, of Portland, Ore. Mrs. Helming and Francis
Zahler are in San Diego, Calif, visiting. Mr. Zahler and two sisters also
survive Mrs. Zahler. One sister, Mrs. Lizzie Lawver, lives in Rising City; the
other sister, Mrs. Anna Hunt, lives near Medina, N.Dak. Mrs. Brown came from
Omaha Monday evening on account if the illness of her mother and Alfred Zahler
has been here from Rising City the past week. John F. Zahler of Shawnee, Okla.,
will arrive here this (Thursday) evening.
No definite arrangements for the
funeral services have been made as yet, but they probably will be held next
Tuesday. The body will be held until some of Mrs. Zahler's children arrive from
California. It is not known how many of them will come. Burial will be in the
Rising City cemetery
Obituary, probably from David City, Nebraska newspaper:
Obsequies
For Mrs. Zahler
Body of Mrs. George Zahler Was Laid to Rest Wednesday
The last
rites for Mrs. George Zahler, who died in her home in David City on February 17,
were held on Wednesday morning, February 24, at 10 o'clock in the Lutheran
church in Rising City by Rev. M.L. Melick, pastor of that church. The singers
were Mrs. Clinton Hillegass, Miss Mabel Miller, Edward Dechert and Fritz
Hoffman, with Mrs. O.A.Wickert as organist. The pallbearers were Edward
Brakefield, Jacob Helwig, George Moser and Peter Reinheimer, all old-time
friends of the Zahler family. Burial was in the Rising Sun cemetery.
The
body of Mrs. Zahler lay in state at the Zahler home Tuesday afternoon prior to
Christian Science services which were held at 3:30 o'clock at the Zahler
residence. The services were conducted by P.H. Rosebrook and Mrs. R.A.
Bennett. Mrs. Mary Maltby gave two vocal solos, "No Night There" and "Abide
With Me."
On Tuesday evening the remains were taken to Rising City and the
body lay in state there in the home of Mrs. A.J.Kaempfer.
Those going from
David City to Rising City to attend the funeral services were George Zahler,
husband of Mrs. Zahler, and Alfred and Francis Zahler; Mrs. Anna Brown and
daughter, Olive, and son, Clyde, of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. H.W.Helming of Lansford,
N.Dak; John F. Zahler of Shawnee, Okla; John Helser of Palmer; Mrs. Lizzie
Lawver, whose home is in Rising City, but who had been in the Zahler home during
Mrs. Zahler's illness and since her death; Mr. and Mrs C.G.Hoker and C.H. Allen.
Alfred, Francis and John Zahler, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Helming are Zahler
children. Mr. Helser is a cousin of Mrs. Zahler and had lived with the Zahler
family for over twenty years. Mrs. Brown had been in David City since Monday,
February 15, John Zahler came last Thursday evening, Clyde and Miss Olive Brown
and John Helser came Monday evening and Francis Zahler and Mr. and Mrs. Helming,
who were visiting in San Diego, Calif., arrived Monday evening.
Three Zahler
children, Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder and Charles Zahler, of San Diego, Calif., and
Edward Zahler, of Portland, Ore., were unable to come.
The many beautiful
floral offerings sent to the Zahler home after the death of Mrs. Zahler were
tokens of sympathy from friends of the Zahler family and were emblematic of the
high esteem and respect with which Mrs. Zahler was regarded.
Obituary , probably from David City, Nebraska newspaper:
Funeral of Aged Couple The Same Day
It is not often that a couple
who have lived to a ripe old age are called home so close together as Mr. and
Mrs. George Zahler of this city. Mrs. Zahler passed away January 13 and her
husband George Zahler died on January 16.
George Zahler was born in Germany,
August 1, 1844. He died at his home in David City, Nebraska, January 16, 1927,
at the age of 88 years. Mr. Zahler had been ailing for about a year, part of
the time being confined to his home.
He came to America with his mother when
but 9 years old and settled at Freeport, (Stephenson Co.) Illinois. he was
married to Mary Jane Lapp in 1863 at Lena, (Stephenson Co.,) Illinois, where
they made their home until 1871 when they moved to Nebraska and settled on a
homestead three miles southeast of where Rising City now is. In 1909 he moved
to David City where he has resided ever since.
On February 7, 1915, his wife
passed away. He leaves four sons and three daughters to mourn his death. Mrs.
Elizabeth Snyder, Charles, Francis, and Edward of San Diego, California, Mrs.
Theresa Helming of Lansford, North Dakota, and Alfred who lives on the old
homestead,. There are 14 grand children and one great grand child.
George
Zahler was one on the pioneers of Butler County and was a man well liked. He
had a wide circle of acquaintances and many friends.
He was again married to
Hanner Augusta Cowan on May 24, 1916, at David City, where they both lived until
their death.
Hanner Augusta Cowan, Mrs George Zahler was born in Durand,
Illinois, January 29, 1852 and died at her home in David City, Nebraska, January
13 1927 after a lingering illness, at the age of 74 years.
She was married
to Wm. A. Morel, June 30, 1881. He died in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1913. She was
again married, May 24, 1916 to Geo. Zahler. She leaves one brother, O. D. Cowan
of Stration, Nebraska to mourn her death.
Funeral services for both were held
from the Congregational church Wednesday, January 19, 1927, at 11 o'clock. Rev.
Kraemer pastor, conducting them. The remains of Mr. Zahler were laid away in
the Rising Sun cemetery and those of Mrs. Zahler in the Shelby
cemetery.
Pall bearers for Mr. Zahler were C. G. Hoker, Henry Wandt, Frank
Birkel, P. Vanderheiden, H. Ficke and Frank Hinze. For Mrs.Zahler, R. W.
Zeilinger, W. C. Buchts, John Owen, A. V. Thomas, Frank Osterhout and Roy
Becker.
Mr and Mrs Zahler were among our most respected citizens. Good
neighbors, always kind and considerate of others. They had passed through the
hardships of early settlers in Nebraska but had lived to see the result of their
work bloom into the garden spot of the world, and passed away knowing they had
done their part and had been called home.
People's Banner News Paper, David City Nebraska, Thursday, Jan 20
1927
Transcribed
and Contributed
by: Paula
Zahler/Christine
Walters
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