Member Biographies
Maria Koppitz
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Maria Koppitz, daughter of John Wagner.
From the First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma 1886-1986 biography of the Koppitz Family
Morris Koppitz was born July 20, 1858 and came to this country from Germany when he was twelve years old. He came by ship and worked in a bakery in New York City, eventually settling in the Great Bend, Kansas area. He worked at a mill and as a policeman during this time.
He married Mary Wagner who was born December 19, 1869 in Saginaw, Michigan. Mary’s family came from Germany and moved from Saginaw to Ellinwood, Kansas in 1878. Mary’s parents, John Wagner, Sr. and Anna Reinhold were married June 13, 1866 in Saginaw, Michigan. Anna was born in Muhya, Germany, October 1, 1846. Anna was very tiny and frail but gave birth to eighteen children, however only twelve survived. John was born in September 5, 1834 in Germany. Anna’s family owned the Reinhold Brewery in Michigan. Anna died November 27, 1935 in her daughter Mary’s home. She was a devout Christian and read her German bible everyday. She spoke very little English but always hummed spiritual hymns as she worked. She was referred to as “Grosmutter” which is German for grandmother.
Mary’s brothers and sisters were: John Jr. who married Florence Crane; Margaretha (Maggie) married William Quast; Hannah married Frank Winters; Louie married Daisy Phoenix; William married Grace Sheddy; August married Lydia Schneider; Caroline married Herman Schroeder; Charlie M. married Frances A. Eggstein; Ida K. married Loyd F. White; Chris married Lena Schroeder and Theo married Anna Giesler. Several brothers and sisters did not survive. Ida was the youngest, born October 28, 1894 in Ellinwood, Kansas.
Mary and Morris came to Oklahoma when the government opened up the Indian land called the “Cherokee Strip”. Each family came in covered wagons and was given 160 acres of land to homestead. They built their own homes and barns and worked the land. Morris was a quiet man and walked with a limp having broken his leg in his later years. He was known for his “head cheese”. He bought one of the first Buick cars in the community and ended up parking it and walking home as it would not climb the big hill north of Alva. They also had the first carbide lights in the community. On May 21, 1899, William Quast, John Wagner, Chris and Theo met above the old Alva State Bank and organized and wrote the constitution for the First Zion Lutheran Church in Alva.
Morris and Mary lived in a big two story house with a large smoke house out back. A cement cistern under the house collected rain off the roof for drinking. In evenings they would play “pitch” with friends and family and listen to programs in German on the radio.
Mary and Morris had four children: John T., and Anna both born in Ellinwood, Kansas and Karl and August both born in Oklahoma.
August died at eighteen. Morris died January 20, 1941.
John T. married Beulah Ruth McMullen October 17, 1918 in Alva. They moved onto the homestead and there four children were born: Margaret Florence, Paul Norton, Morris Burr and John Newton who died at two years of age. John served in World War I. He was a farmer and had 18 horse teams to thrash the wheat and work the ground. Daisy was one of his favorite riding horses. Cows were milked and cream and eggs were sold in town. Beulah sold eggs to several restaurants and to Munson’s Hatchery. Milk and cream was kept cool in the wash house with running water. The land that is now occupied by the Alva Golf and Country Club was purchased from John. John died December 29, 1977 and Beulah moved to 706 Sherman to live with her sister Florence. Beulah died October 2, 1984. Both are buried in the Alva Municipal Cemetery.
Prepared by Burneta J. Venosdel, 1987.[2]
Emil and Henriett (Schwanke) Lieswald
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Emil Lieswald, son of Franz Lieswald, was born in Germany on 17 January 1869 and his wife Henrietta, daughter of Johann Schwanke, was born in Nebraska on 25 May 1874. They had three children: Emil, born in Nebraska on 20 November 1895; Gilbert, born in Nebraska on 26 February 1897; and Alice, born in Nebraska on 15 March 1898.
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of Julius A. Lieswald and Helena A. (Retke)
The biography of Julius August Lieswald and Helena “Lena” Augusta Louisa Retke family includes a reference to Emil as being the brother of Julius August Lieswald..
Julius August Lieswald and Helena “Lena” Augusta Louisa Retke were married December 23, 1903, at Snyder, Nebraska. Julius was born on September 7, 1879, near Fremont, Nebraska and was the son of Frank Lieswald (born March 17, 1843, Plugrat, Germany and died February 8, 1910, near Alva) and Louisa (Zander) Lieswald (born July 29, 1840, Plugrat, Germany and died April 11, 1917, near Alva.) He had one brother Emil Lieswald born September 17, 1869 Plugrat, Germany. Julius had 4 sons and 2 daughters and Emil had 4 daughters and 2 sons.
Julius’ parents Frank and Louisa came to the Alva area in the 1889 and settled 4 1/2 miles south of Alva on the west side of the road. On February 11, 1904 Julius and “Lena” came to Alva and settled 3 miles south 1 mile east, and 3/4 mile south of Alva and this land is still in the family. In 1914, four years after his father’s death Julius and his family moved to the homeplace and built a 2 story home which has since been removed.
They had 6 children: Emmet Frank Ferdinand was born on January 19, 1903, near Snyder, Nebraska, he died at the age of 9 months and is buried in Nebraska; Alta Henrietta Augusta was born October 2, 1904, in the home; Mabel Wilehemina Lena was born on April 22, 1906, at the home; Earl Frank John was December 21, 1907 at home, he died on April 7, 1982, at Woodward, Oklahoma; Edgar John Gotlob was born May 14, 1909, at home and he died July 30, 1971, at Enid, Oklahoma; and Oscar Harold was born on July 26, 1917, at home.
Julius passed away on September 26, 1949 at the age of 70 years and Lena passed away on January 19, 1974 at Alva and both are buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery south-east of Alva.
Helena “Lena” Augusta Louisa Retke was born April 3, 1887 near Snyder, Neb. She was the daughter of Carl William Retke (born June 9, 1857, near Stuttgart, Germany and died October 6, 1928 in Nebraska) and Caroline Paulina Friedarieka (Schwanke) Retke (she was born on December 2, 1855, Stuttgart, Germany and she died on September 18, 1931, at Alva). Her parents were Johann Schwanke (born August 29, 1834, Plugrat, Germany and died June 9, 1917 near Alva) and Friedarieka Schwanke, (born November 4, 1844 near Plugrat, Germany, and died April 22, 1932, near Alva.)
A brief history of the children of Julius and Lena are as follows: Alta Henrietta, took care of her mother until her death. She worked in Alva for Mrs. John Doolin for many years.She is an active member of the Zion Lutheran Church and is a member of the Lutheran Ladies Aid, the Project Phillip, and the LWML of the Church. She makes her home in Alva.
Mabel married Reinhold Ernest Petermann on February 7, 1926, at the home of her parents. They made their home on a farm 1 mile south and 1/2 mile east and 1/4 mile south of Alva. They farmed until Reinhold died on April 2, 1941. The family stayed on the farm for 2 years before moving into Alva and settled at 132 Normal Street (which is now Oklahoma Blvd.) In 1958, Mabel moved to 414 Maple and made her home to be closer her mother and to her sister Alta. She worked for 40 years for Dr. John Simon. She is an active member of the Zion Lutheran Church and a member of the Project Phillip. She and Reinhold have 2 children: Carl born on October 23, 1931 and Gertrude born on December 21, 1938. Carl married Emma Jean Molz and they make their home at Woodward, Oklahoma. Carl works for Tri-K Equipment at Alva and Jean works for Oklahoma Natural Gas at Woodward and they have 3 children. Gertrude, born December 21, 1938, married Reese Bennett and they make their home in Aurora, Colorado and they also have 3 children. The names of the grandchildren are Robert Smith, Margaret (Smith) Michael Smith, Lisa (Vogt) David and Bryan Peterman. She also has 2 great-grandchildren, Jacob Lee, and Carey Allen.
Earl married Velma (Highfill) they farmed until they move to Fort Supply, Oklahoma to work in the hospital and after retirement they lived at Woodward, Oklahoma. They had 4 children; daughter Evelyn, born – December 2, 1931 she married Donald Lewis on October 1, 1950 and they have 2 children, Joyce Evelyn, born June 12, 1951, and Kathy Ann born May 17, 1955, son Donald born April 30, 1930, son Richard, born January 12, 1935 and son Emmett born February 16, 1939.
Edgar married Viola (Doman) on December 31, 1935, at Alva. They farmed until 1944 when they moved to Enid, Oklahoma where he went to work for the W.B. Johnston elevator and stayed there until he retired. They had 2 children Emil Edgar who passed away on December 25, 1983 at Enid and Leroy Allen born January 25, 1945, at Enid. Leroy makes his home at Enid and is the father of Tammi Michelle born August 18, 1971.
And Oscar Harold who married Hilda Peters and is in another story
All family members were confirmed into the Zion Lutheran Church in Alva.
Prepared by Alta Liewald and Mabel Petermann, 1987.[2]
Herman and Klara (Janke) Meier
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Herman Meier, son of Johann Meier, was born in Iowa on 29 October 1877 and his wife Klara, daughter of August Janke, was born in South Dakota on 26 February 1879. They had 2 children: Klara, born in Oklahoma on 17 October 1902; and Ella Gertrud, born in Oklahoma on 21 December 1903.
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of Herman Meier
The Rev. Herman Meier accepted the call and was installed as the Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, September 9, 1901. The first church was a frame building where the present church now stands on the corner of Third and Maple Sts. The lots were purchased for $50. from J. Bauers. The cost of the building was $655. and it was dedicated December 30, 1900.
Rev. Herman Meier was married to Klara Yankee. In 1904 a parsonage was built and he then said, “We now have a home”. They were the parents of several children while in Alva.
During the Christmas holidays of 1914 he preached his farewell sermon in Alva and with his family moved to Lockport, N.Y. There he served until he retired. After the death of his wife Klara he fre-quently visited Alva spending several days with old acquaintances and members of the church. From here he would go to Roswell, N.M. and Amarillo, Texas to visit with two of his daughters living there. His last visit to Alva was in the 1960s.
Prepared by Ella (Kletke) Engelken, 1987.[2]
Friedrich Henry and Helene (Kletke) Meyer
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Friedrich H Meyer, son of Casper Meier, was born in Germany on 29 September 1857 and his wife Helen, daughter of Gottlieb Kletke, was born in Germany on 28 March 1866. They had five children: Arthur, born in Kansas on 23 December 1892; Walter, born in Oklahoma on 3 September 1894; Martin, born in Oklahoma on 2 February 1896; Carl, born in Oklahoma on 30 November 1899; and Ernst, born in Oklahoma on 13 April, 1902.
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of Friedrich Henry Meyer
Fredrick Henry Meyer, oldest son of Casper Heinrich Meyer and Florintine Louisa, was born September 29, 1856, in Konighousen, Kreises Lubbecke, Germany.
Early in 1868 Fredrick Meyer with his father, mother and brothers came to America. After settling and living in Nebraska for 16 years, the family decided to homestead in Kansas. They homesteaded 5 miles West and 1/2 mile South of Phillipsburg, Kansas. Fredrick attended college and Seminary at Waverly and Dubuque, Iowa, preparing for the ministry, but due to severe illness was forced to quit.
March 6, 1892 Fredrick married Magdalena Helena Kletke. Helena was born March 28, 1866, near Konigsberg, Germany to Gottlieb and Emilee (Mau) Klaedtke. She came to America as a young lady.
In 1893 Helena and Frederick made the Run at the opening of the strip m Oklahoma and successfully staked a claim at Bliss in Kay County and lived there 7 years. During these years 4 sons were born — Arthur, Walter, Martin and Karl. The young family relocated on a farm 2 miles East of Alva in 1901. On this farm was a small building in which the family lived until a new home was built. Here a son, Ernest, and a daughter, Agnes, was born. This home was a large two story home which is still standing and being lived in on the farm.
When Frederick’s and Helena’s boys were old enough to do some of the farming Fredrick became interested in establishing a business in Alva. His first was a grocery store, later he had interest in a real estate firm. Then he ran the Farmers Elevator Company and last the Plano Harvesting Company.
In the fall of 1917 Arthur was called to serve his country in World War I. Arthur died in Adion in the Argonne Forest of Europe November 11, 1918, shortly before the Armistice was signed at the age of 25 years. The Meyer-Shield American Legion Post of Alva was named in part for Arthur Meyer.
in 1925 Fredrick and Helen retired to live in Alva, making their home at 803 Third Street. Their youngest son, Ernest, married Elsie Meyer and took over the farming operation. They had one daughter, Elaine, who married William C. Diacon and they have two sons, Glenn and Stanley. Ernest passed away December 26, 1975, and Elsie resides at 660 Skyline Drive, Alva, Oklahoma.
Walter had studied for the ministry and was ordained as Pastor of the Lutheran Church. He married Anna Koppitz. They had four children – Karl, Arthur, Esther and Walter Jr. Walter passed away March 2, 1974, and Anna resides in Lawrence, Kansas.
Martin married Emma Dubben. They had three children — Elmer, Gertrude and Norma. Elmer married Leola White and they have 2 children, Dennis and Jeannine. Gertrude married Beryl Moore. She had one daughter, Judy. Norma married Verlyn Chance and they have 2 daughters, Vernette and Sherry. Martin passed away October 22, 1968, and Emma resides in Rogers, Arkansas.
Karl married Freda Hartwig. They have 2 sons — Harold and Karl. Harold married Goldie Lohmann and have 2 daughters – LaDonna and LaVina. Karl married Donna Tidwell. He had one son, Kurt. Karl passed away October 17, 1961 and Freda resides at 731 College Ave., Alva, Oklahoma.
Agnes married Herbert Petermann. They had 3 children, Helen Louise, Herbert Jr. and Norma Jean. Helen Louise married Kenneth Thiesing and are the parent of 2 sons, Kevin and Kelly. Herbert Jr. married Joyce Newell and he has 3 children, Herbert Allen, Cheryl and Debra. Norma Jean is married to W.E. “Bill” Lowe, Jr. and have four children, Marcia, Gary, Randy and Denice. Agnes passed away March 4, 1973, and Herbert resides at 803 Third St., Alva. Ok.
Fredrick passed away April 3, 1929, and Helena died March 27, 1948. Fredrick, Helena and all six of their children were lifetime members of the Lutheran Church and all are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery southeast of Alva.
Prepared by Elaine Diacon and Helen Thiesing, 1987.[2]
George and Christina (Goeringer) Meixner
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
George Meixner, son of George Meixner, was born in Ohio on 29 June 1898 and his wife Christina, daughter of Johann Goeringer, was born in Russia on 14 September 1880.
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of John Henry and Maria Christina (Goeringer) Hort
The biography of John Henry and Maria Christina (Goeringer) Hort family notes that Christina (Goeringer) Meixner is a sister of Maria Christina (Goeringer) Hort.
John Henry Hort was born on September 20,1872 near Lauwe, Russia, he was considered a German-Russian. He married Maria Christina Goeringer on January 21, 1894 at Lauwe, Russia. She was born on May 23;1872 also at Lauwe, Russia.
They came to America through Ellis Island at New York in 1904, then on to Alva, Oklahoma by train. Maria’s sister Christina (Goeringer) Meixner and her husband had settled in Alva and had the first bakery here and her brother Peter Goeringer had also settled here. They were John Henry and Maria’s sponsors into America.
They settled in town where John worked at various jobs and in 1906 they moved to Colorado so that he could work in the sugar beet factory, they returned in 1908. After returning to Alva John worked on the Rock Island Railroad until 1918, when they rented a farm 10 miles southeast of Alva and lived there for a few years. After living there for a few years they rented another farm 1 1/z miles east of what is now Highway 64 and lived there for 18 years. They retired in 1945 and moved to Alva due to John’s ill health. Maria passed away on September 20, 1947 and John passed away on October 13, 1964 and both are buried in the Alva Lutheran Cemetery southeast of Alva. They were active in the Zion Lutheran Church where Maria was in the Ladies Aid Society.
There were 9 children born to this union: John Peter born on September 18, 1894 at Lauwe, Russia, he married Mary Elizabeth Goeringer on December 28, 1915. They lived in Cherokee, Oklahoma where he was employed as a Chef. In 1940 they moved to Alva where he was again employed as a chef in several restaurants. They had 3 children, 2 sons and 1 daughter: Margie (Webber) deceased; Carl, and Jack. Both sons served in World War II. Carl is a minister in Minnesota and Jack works for Boeing Company in Wichita, Kansas. He passed away on August 31, 1983 and is buried in the Alva Lutheran Cemetery:
Maria born on August 24, 1896, Lauwe; she died at the age of 14 years in September of 1910 and is buried in the Alva Lutheran Cemetery; 2 little girls were born consecutively in Lauwe and both died in infancy and are buried there;
Christina Marie was born April 8, 1902, at Lauwe, and she married Paul Joseph Honer;
Henry John was born October 30, 1905, at Sugar City, Colorado, he married Vera Warnick on May 18, 1928. He attended Northwestern and taught at Alva from 1931-1939. He was in 2 major wars: World War II and the Korean War. They had 3 children, 1 son and 2 daughters; John Henry III, followed his father’s footsteps and is now a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. Marillyn (Vernon) is a nurse at Mid-West City, Oklahoma; and Evelyn (Lescenski) is also a nurse and her husband is a doctor and they reside near Oxford, Maryland.
Henry John retired and made his home at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with the rank of Full Colonel of the 45th Division. He passed away May 11, 1971 and is buried at Oklahoma City. He taught at Manchester and Alva High School where he was football coach from 1938 to 1940 when he enlisted in the Army.
Anna Christina was born January 24, 1908 at Alva, she married Bill Holding on May 20, 1943. They made their home at Cherokee, Oklahoma where he was employed and she taught school and worked for the State Welfare Department. They retired at Woodward, Oklahoma;
Laura Clara was born October 6, 1910, at Alva, she married Carl Wheaton on May 11, 1928. She taught school at Ingersol, Greenleaf and was a cook in the Anthony, Kansas hospital. She later married Dean Frazer on September 21, 1968. Dean was employed on the Santa Fe Railroad and is now retired and they make their home at Manchester, Oklahoma. She did not have any children.
Herman Imanuel was born January 10, 1913, at Alva and he married Ida LuEtta Rogers on February 17, 1934. He attended the Alva Lutheran School and graduated from the 8th grade there as did all his brothers and sisters. They had 3 children, 2 sons and 1 daughter. His son Guy Henry was a doctor and is now deceased; his daughter Mary Lou (Mrs.Kenneth Mullbery) lives at Laverne, Oklahoma where she teaches in the Laverne Elementary School. Their other son is Larry. Herman taught at Greenleaf, Oakwood, Vici, and Hooker, Oklahoma and is now retired and lives at Laverne, Oklahoma.
Prepared by Christina (Hort) Honer, 1987.[2]
August and Louise (Meyer) Petermann
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
August Petermann, son of Carl Petermann was born in Germany 17 April, 1867 and his wife Louise, daughter of Johann Meyer, was born in Indiana on 13 February 1870. They had four children: Carrie, born in Kansas on 2 August 1895; Eddie, born in Kansas on 16 June 1898; Reinhold, born in Kansas on 11 February 1900; and Herbert, born in Oklahoma on 12 November 1901
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of August Petermann
August Petermann was born April 17, 1866, in Stuchow, Pommern, Germany, to Carl and Hannah (Kruchow) Petermann. At the age of 24 he came to the United States with his parents, two brothers, Carl and Emil, and a sister, Anna. They established a home in Holyrood, Kansas.
August and Louisa Anna Marie (Meyer) were married at Holyrood, Kansas, March 29, 1894. Their first seven years of married life were spent on a farm near Holyrood, Kansas. In 1901 they moved to Woods County where they purchased a farm 11/2 miles South of Alva, which is now the Alva Municipal Airport.
August and Louisa were the parents of six children; Carrie, Edward, Reinhold, Herbert, Olga and Leora.
August and Louisa retired in July 1928, and resided at 208 Barnes in Alva. August passed away March 10, 1952 at the age of 85. Louisa passed away December 18, 1957, at the age of 87. The Petermanns were charter members and very active in Zion Lutheran Church, Alva, Oklahoma.
Carrie married Fred Breford. They had a son, Fred Jr., and he passed away when he was seven days old. Fred Sr. died December 4, 1944. Carrie lived at 713 Second Street, Alva, and passed away February 10, 1982.
Edward married Ethel Hartwig. They have three children, Margaret, Donald and Esther. Margaret married Marvin Goll. They have three children, Wayne, Dean and Marcene. Donald married Roberta Trice and they have two adopted daughters, Kristi and Misti. Esther married Vernon McIver and has two children, Tamra and Douglas. Ed passed away June 18, 1975.
Reinhold married Mabel Lieswald. They have two children, Carl and Gertrude. Carl married Jean Molz and they have three children, Lisa, David and Bryan. Gertrude married Reece Bennett and has three children, Robert, Margaret and Michael. Reinhold passed away April 2, 1941 and Mabel resides at 414 Maple Street, Alva.
Herbert married Anges Meyer. They have three children, Helen Louise, Herbert Jr., and Norma Jean.
Helen Louise married Kenneth Thiesing and they have two sons, Kevin and Kelly. Herbert Jr. married Joyce Newell and have three children, Herbert Allen, Cheryl and Debra. Norma Jean married W.E. “Bill” Lowe, Jr. and they have four children, Marcia, Gary, Randy and Denice. Agnes passed away March 4, 1973.
Olga died at the age of 17 months.
Leora married Everett Haltom. They have four children, Marva, Darlene, Joy and Dennis. Marva married Bob Wallis and they have two children, Carolyn and Bradley. Darlene married Dale Dyer and they have two daughters, Angela and Crystal. Joy married David Hadsell and they have two daughters, Sabrina and Shannon. Dennis married Joy Thorne and they have one daughter, Hannah. Leora and Everett live at Hopeton, Oklahoma.
Prepared by Leora Haltom and Helen Thiesing, 1987.[2]
William and Margaretha (Wagner) Quast
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Wilhelm Quast, son of Carl Quast, was born in Germany on 23 February 1856 and his wife Margaretha, daughter of John Wagner, was born in Michigan on 31 March 1867. The had four children: Clara, born in Kansas on 21 February 1849; Wilhelm, born in Kansas on 1 June 1896; Hilda, born in Oklahoma on 18 December 1899; and Ludwig, born in Oklahoma on 1 June, 1902..
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of William Quast
William Quast was born in Altanfliez, Germany, on Feb. 23, 1856. At the age of thirteen, he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Germany. At the age of fourteen William came to America with his parents, Carl and Louise Quast and his brothers and sisters and settled in Wisconsin. A short time later they moved to Ellinwood, Ks. where William learned the trade of shoemaking. There he met Margaretha Wagner. She had moved there with her parents, John and Anna Pheinbolt Wagner, from Saginaw, Michigan where she was born on March 31, 1867. William and Margaretha (Maggie) were married November 3, 1887 in Ellinwood. There they had two children, Clara and William. In 1897 they moved to the Oklahoma Territory where William leased a 160 acres of school land 2 miles west and 21/4 south of Capron. He then built a four room house 1 2′ by 24′. Here William and Maggie had five more children: Edward John Christin who lived only seven days and was buried at Ellinwood, Hulda, Louie, Anna and Edward (Doc).
On May 21, 1899 William Quast and some other men including his father-in-law John Wagner and two brothers-in-law Chris and Theodore Wagner met above the old Alva State Bank and organized and wrote a constitution for the first Zion Lutheran Church in Alva. By 1911 they had built and dedicated the new church at the corner of Second and Maple. Sometimes when the pastor was unable to be there William would read the sermon in German. His greatest ambitions were for his church and his family. He never laid a hand on his children when he corrected them, but the tone in which he spoke commanded the respect his children gave him.
In 1910 William purchased the land that he had improved from the State of Oklahoma for the sum of $5,000. At this time life was rough and people made very little money, payments were hard to meet and planting crops was even harder. Other farmers were selling their land for almost nothing. At one time he could buy 160 acres for just $25, but it was enough work to break the sod on one one-quarter section of land.
In time William prospered. In 1913 he wanted to move to Colorado but Maggie said she was not leaving her home because she had several brothers and sisters that lived close by, so they stayed and added four rooms onto the house and built a new barn. Friends and relatives had to depend on one another more at this time. When a new baby was born in the community, Maggie Quast would go and stay with the mother and new baby for a few days. The children attended High Springs School, a four mile walk for the children everyday. They often carried lard and bread sandwiches to eat for dinner.
At this time William bought 240 acres of land two miles south of the homestead quarter. Everyday he walked there to pump water for his cattle. He enjoyed playing the accordion when the hard work was done. When grandfather passed away the body stayed at the home until the day of the funeral at the church. He was embalmed in one of the bedrooms which is now the kitchen of Mrs. John White (Nelda).
Ruby Fae Mohs, daughter of Frank and Anna Mohs, was from Hutchinson, Kansas. At the age of twenty-five she came to Capron with her brother George. They managed the Capron Telephone system. There she met Louie Quast. Her brother George Mohs was dating Louie’s sister Anna Quast. George and Anna decided to get married June 26, 1927 at Lipscomb, Texas but Ruby Fae would have lost her job as telephone operator so Louie and she decided to get married the day before George and Anna. They were married June 25, 1927 in Liscomb. The judge at Lipscomb was a little surprised to have a Quast-Mohs wedding two days in a row. They made their home at the old Quast farm, and later bought the farm from the other heirs after Grandmother Quast passed away. On a snowy day in December a daughter, Nelda, was born. That day Louie shot a wild goose and was cooking it on a little topsy wood stove, but in all the excitement of the new baby, he over cooked the goose. This stove is still sitting in Nelda’s living room. This was during the depression so the parents did not have much money so Louie sold five hogs to pay for the doctor bill. Since the mother stayed home to give birth, the doctor stayed at the house most of the day.
Louie, besides farming and milking twelve cows by hand, also worked in Alva helping construct quite a few homes in the west part. He recalled that Alva once had a brick plant, and his father said there used to be cotton and peanuts harvested in this wheat district. At one time a thirty acre fruit orchard flourished near the Quast farm.
In 1934 an aunt and uncle from Tulsa had a two year old boy that died. They were taking him to Hooker, Oklahoma for burial and stopped here to stay overnight. They brought the casket into the house and put it in the living room. The next day they went on to Hooker for the funeral.
Nelda married John White and lived in Alva where he worked at a local lumber yard and then a refrigeration service for sixteen years, but when the Louie Quasts retired they moved to the farm and John took over the farming operation. Nobody had lived in the old house for about ten years. Part of the house was used to store grain. After a year of work it was made livable again. While others are searching for antiques I, Nelda, have one in this old farm house here in Woods County. This old house has a lot of memories. It served as a funeral parlor, the birthplace of several babies and a place of several weddings and first night honeymooners. In our back yard is the well that my grandfather dug by hand. My mother and grandmother drew water from the well with an oaken bucket. Water in this community was very hard and was not fit for drinking, but our well had soft water. Most neighbors had cisterns. I remember when the cisterns would go dry and neighbors for miles around would come and draw water from our well. Now that same old well has an electric pump which supplies water for our modern conveniences. When I get in an air conditioned tractor and work in the same fields my grandfather and father did I think how hard and long they tilled the fields in the heat and dust with horses and mules. As I sit on the front porch and look at the same sky and land my grandparents and parents looked at, I pray to God and thank Him that my Grandfather came to the United States one hundred and five years ago.
William wanted his youngest son to become a minister and sent him to Winfield, Kansas. When Edward came to the end of his studies, he decided he really wanted to become a dentist. He started to dental school. Then suddenly William Karl Quast passed from this life on November 21, 1923 on the farm he had purchased for his family. He left farmland to all three of his sons.
Margaretha lived for five years on the farm and then moved to Alva with her daughter, Clara Frieze. Six months later on July 4, 1929 she departed this life.
The children banded together to keep the finances and help needed by the younger brother Edward so he might become a dentist. He graduated and set up his dental office in Alva being known as Dr. E. C. Quast. Of the six children of William and Maggie Quast, only two are living at present time. They are Anna Quast Mohs and William Quast.
William Quast and wife Hildred Leatherman have one son William Ensor. Mr. and Mrs. Quast live two miles south of the home place. Mr. and Mrs. George Mohs (Anna Quast) reside in Capron.
Mrs. Clara Freize died December 26, 1968. She had one son Berton and he and his wife Zella Irwin reside in Amarillo, Texas with their two sons and daughter-in-laws, Eddie Bert and Charla Freize, and Rex and Penny Freize.
Dr. Edward Quast married Louise Shropshire. Doc died September 14, 1968. Louise died Augustt 18, 1974.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kunzman (Hulda Quast) lived on a farm one and one half miles east of the Quast home place. Hulda was killed in a car wreck September 18, 1964 and Walt died May 11,1966. They had three daughters; Stella, Nadine and Xenia. Mr. and Mrs. Pete Arebalo (Stella) live in Capron. They have two sons, one daughter-in-law and one granddaughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Arebalo and Auroa of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Steven Earl of the home. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Keitel (Nadine) live in Alva. They have one daughter Georgianna and a son Bruce. Mrs. and Mrs. Jim Gallaugher (Xenia) live in Medicine Lodge, Ks. They have one son W. J. Mr. and Mrs. Louie Quast (Fae Mohs) lived on the home place. Fae died July 6, 1968. Louie was killed in a car wreck Sep. 14, 1969. They had one daughter Nelda. Mr. and Mrs. John White (Nelda) of Capron had one son J. L. He and his wife Karleen Riggenbach live in Taloga, Ok. Their daughter and her husband Mr. and Mrs. Louis Talbott (Cindy) and daughter Amber live in Alva.
Prepared by Mrs. John White and Nadine Kunzman Keitel, 1976.[1]
Herman Ritter
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Herman Ritter, son of Wilhelm Ritter, born in Germany on 1 March 1869. He has three children: Emma born in Oklahoma; Albert, born in Oklahoma on 14 October 1902; and Maria. born in Oklahoma on 15 May 1904 and died 28 May 1904.
Note: According to the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva death and burial records, Herman’s daughter Maria Lima died at age 14 days on 28 May 1904 and was buried on 29 May 1904. Survivors are listed as Herman, Lina, Emma and Albert Ritter. Apparently Hermann’s wife, Lina, was not a member of Zion.
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of Herman Ritter
Herman Ritter came from Germany as a young man to make his home at Jack-son, Mn. Later he ventured to Calmer, La., where he met Ellenora Drall, a beautifu
l young girl. They were married in her hometown in 1900 and came to Alva by train to start a new life. They settled on the Ritter farm four miles southeast of Alva, after building a two room home.
Every 160 acre farm had a home with a couple or a family which made it nice for all, especially when they came here as strangers. When help was needed it was exchanged freely. The Ritters were charter members of the Zion Lutheran Church and were both laid to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery.
Their children were Emma, Albert, Tillie, Walter, Adelia and Martha. The Ritter family moved to Cotton County in southern Oklahoma, but returned to Alva. The children attended school at Triumph, east of Alva. Mother Ritter made most of the clothing for the family. When she needed a pattern she would take a newspaper and cut one. In the winter geese were dressed and packed in barrels to be shipped. In the springtime the children would herd the cattle along the roadside for extra feed. In order to be closer to the Lutheran school they bought and moved to the present Ritter farm, now owned by Walter and family.
Emma married Oscar Dubben and set-tled on a farm southeast of Alva. They had one son Harold (now deceased) who married Verna Rauh. They were blessed with two children, Cheryl and Mark.
Albert married Amelia Rohling. They have 3 children, Orville, Dorothy, and Dale.
Tillie married Otto Wiebener and lived on a farm south of Alva. Their two sons both live south of Alva, also. Verlin married Betty Hill and they have a son Ricky, and a daughter Robin; and Don who married June Weaver. Their children are Kay, Jack and Joy.
Walter’s wife is Anna Mae Graff; their sons are Max and Irvin. Irvin married Kay Johnson and they have two children, Tanya and Jill. Adelia is married to Norman Schaefer, a farmer. They live in Alva. They have one’ daughter, Jeanette, who is married to Vernie Hackney. Her daughter is Sharon (Hellman) Brandt.
Martha, the youngest, married Ralph Cornelius, a teacher and principal. They have one son Gary of Plattsburg, N.Y. who married Agness Hilderbrandt. They have a daughter, Evelyn.
Prepared by Amelia (Rohling) Ritter, 1976.[1]
Wilhelm and Elisabeth (Goldbeck) Reek
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Wilhelm Reek, son of Christoph Reek, was born in Germany on 13 May 1868 and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of F. Goldbeck, was born in Germany on 20 June 1878. They have two children: Mima, born in Kansas on 13 September 1897; and Irene, born in Oklahoma on 18 May, 1903.
Martin and Emma (Hacker) Rauh
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Martin Rauh, son of John Rauh, was born in Missouri on 20 September 1879. and his wife Emma, daughter of Hacker, was born in Missouri on 18 July 1880. They have one child: Harry who was born in Oklahoma on 23 October 1902.
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of Martin Rauh
Martin John Rauh son of John Rauh, Jr. and Mary (Lang) Rauh was born Sept. 20, 1879 in Perry County, Mo. He married Emma Hacker, daughter of John and Emma (Hornberger) Hacker (born on July 18, 1880 in Perry County) in October 1901 and moved to Alva, Ok. the November following their marriage. They took up residence in the Pribble Hotel (which was located on the site of the present Alva Public Library) where Mr. Rauh’s first employment was with the Meixner Bakery. Wages were 10 cents a day and the next day a loaf of bread. Their first child Harry A. was born on this location right off the square. They purchased a farm southeast of Alva where Alfred, Ernest and Edna Rauh Schuessler were later born.
Mr. and Mrs. Rauh were engaged in farming and later years in custom threshing. He had the dealership for Massey Harris and the Wallis tractors. They lived on this farm and near his brothers until the early 1940s when they moved to Cherokee. They remained active in farming on a smaller scale until he passed away in July, 1959. Mrs. Rauh passed away in April 1977.
Their family all were farmers in the Woods County area. Harry married Ida Popp of Perryville, Mo, and their children are Verna (Mrs. Harold Dubben), whose children are Cheryl and Mark; Dorothy (Mrs. Joe Lansdown) whose children are Dorothy Jo Taylor and William.
Alfred married Clara Resler of Cherokee. They have two daughters, Betty (Mrs. Rich-ard Dotter) whose children are Steve, Alan and Lance, and Bonnie (Mrs. Leonard Camp) whose children are Gary and Mike.
Ernest married Helen Neidens of Follett, Texas. They had two daughters: Evelyn (Mrs. J.E. Gum), whose children are Debbie and Mary; and Mildred (Mrs. Fred Newman) whose son is Steve.
Edna married Walter Schuessler of Altenburg, Missouri and their family consists of Harvey Schuessler, who married Shirley Kramer. Their children are Keith, Brenda, and Scott; and Ruby (Mrs. Don Hughes) whose children are Rejeana and Jeanette.
Prepared by Verna (Rauh) Dubben, 1987.[2]
Notes
- Cherokee Strip Volunteer League. “Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County”, 1976.
- Seekers of Oklahoma Heritage Association. “The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986″ Curtis Media Corporation, Dallas, Texas, 1987.