Immigration to America- Part 3

In previous posts I chronicled the Schlund families journey to a America and included passenger lists from the ship City of Glasgow. I have also found the family in the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists Index Cards from 1800-1906. 

U.S. V.A Pension Payment Cards- Max Schlund, Sr

Max Schlund, Sr's Pension payment cards and his index card.

Max Schlund's Hotel

In the short sketch of Max Schlund, Sr's life that I have previously posted, it briefly mentions the hotel that Max and Wilhelmina bought and sold in Valparaiso, Indiana. As the story goes between the time the Civil war ended and Max came to settle in Nebraska he and his wife tried their hand at hotel ownership. 

"Max bought a large expensive railroad hotel in Valparaiso Indiana but the work proved to be too much for them both so he sold it, but before it was paid for it burned to the ground and the insurance policy had lapsed. They lost everything they had in that fire."

I previously found a census record to corroborate the Schlund's living in Valparaiso. They are in the 1870 census. Line 28 of this page.

More recently I found a newspaper article that describes the event. It does not mention the great financial loss the Schlund's suffered, but it gives a good account of the fire that destroyed the building.

Max Schlund Sr.--Special Veterans Schedule

Here is another document I found pertaining to Max Schlund, Sr. It is a Special Veterans Schedule listing Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, etc. Max Schlund is listed as well as several other men from the St. Michael and Luce, Nebraska area.

This document also lists disabilities incurred, and lists "gun shot wound" for Max Schlund.

Max Schlund Sr. at Battle Mountain Sanitarium

On January 17, 1917 Max Schlund Sr was admitted to Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Battle Mountain Sanitarium was part of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. After the Civil War the Sanitarium was built to provide care was for Union Veterans. According to the National Park Services website, Battle Mountain was "the first and only National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers built solely as a short-term sanitarium for veterans with lung or respiratory problems, not as a long-term home.  Unlike the other National Home branches, veterans went to Battle Mountain Sanitarium for brief intensive treatment. Upon completion of their treatment, they were transferred to another National Home branch." http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/veterans_affairs/Battle_Mountain_Sanitarium.html The home was built in Hot Springs because it was believed that the waters had healing properties.

Max was discharged on July 3, 1919. I am curious if the Battle Mountain Sanitarium was a short term facility, why did Max stay there for over 2 years? Not surprising was the listing of Arteriosclerosis as one of his disabilities upon entering the home. The Schlund family has a long history of heart disease and many Schlunds passed away from heart attacks and other heart conditions. I am interested in learning more about the 2 1/2 years Max spent at Battle Mountain. I really find it interesting that he would be so ill that it required such an extended stay, yet he lived 15 more years after he left the facility. Maybe the spring water at Battle Mountain really was healing. I also wonder what life was like for his wife, Minnie, with Max gone to another state for 2 1/2 years? Unfortunately my grandma never talked about Max (her grandfather) going to South Dakota, since it was a few years before she was born, maybe she didn't know about it.

Here is Max's log from the Sanitarium.

Max Schlund's Nebraska Homestead (1878-1884)

The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, allowed any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government the chance to claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. The person making the claim was required to improve the plot by building a dwelling and cultivating the land. After 5 years on the land, the original filer was the owner of the property, free and clear, except for a small registration fee.

Max Schlund filed an application for Homestead in the state of Nebraska on August 26, 1878. One the same day he also submitted an affidavit swearing that he had served in the Civil War. He also received a receipt for paying a fee of $18 for the Homestead. He applied for 160 acres in Section 34, Town 12, Range 13. 

On October 1, 1878 Max Schlund began residing on the land that he had staked a claim on. Over the next five years he built a home and out buildings and made improvements to the land valued at $800. He also planted crops on the land. 

On August 16, 1883 a notice was printed in the Shelton Clipper, a newspaper in Buffalo County. It was the final proof notice for Max Schlunds homestead. On October 6, 1883 a final hearing was held to allow Max to present the final Homestead Proof. Two witnesses, Obed(iah) Riddle and Fred Urwiller, provided testimony. (Fred Urwiller is my second great grand father too. His daughter Merna Urwiller marries Max Schlund Sr, son Max.) Max also provides testimony as the claimant as well as a Final Affidavit required of Homestead claims swearing that he has resided on the land and that he has not abandoned it. On October 6, 1883 Max Schlund also made the final payment of $8. 

On June 10, 1884 the Grand Island Nebraska Land Office received a letter from the war department acknowledging Max's service in the war. After just over 6 years from his original claim, his Homestead was finally approved on September 11, 1884. The homestead was patented on October 15, 1884. Max Schlund and his heirs finally owned the land that had given them a second chance, the land they had come to Nebraska for, and had resided on for the last six years. 

On April 4, 1890, Timber-Culture certificate number 433 granted 160 acres of land to Max. The Timber-Culture was to encourage the growth of timber on the Western Prairies. 

The entire packet of Max Schlunds Homestead documents are posted below. The application, receipts, affidavits, even Max's discharge papers and a copy of his naturalization. They can be clicked to make bigger, however if you would like the large file size to expand to read easier click the contact me button above and email me. I will be happy to email them to you. 

 

 

Life on the Nebraska Prairie (Max Schlund Sr)

This story was composed from notes and letters written by Josie Schlund Campbell (Max Schlund Sr, Fidel Schlund). It was included in the Huey-Haase papers that were compiled in the 1950's.

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MAXIMILION SCHLUND AND HIS FAMILY

Maximilian Schlund was born May 21,1844 making him the next to the youngest son of Fidel and Josepha Schlund. Karl the youngest son died when only 4 years old in 1852. Max came to the United States with his parents and other living members of the family except Anna who was married and stayed in Immenstadt, in 1852.

They settled in Newark New Jersey at first and Fidel had a dairy farm and a herd of Ayrshire cattle and sold milk and cream in Newark. Later they moved to Oak Park, Waukegon and Chicago Ill.

While in Newark they went to the Catholic Church as they had belonged to the Catholic Church in Immenstadt, Bavaria. Once when sending their children to church to get ready for confirmation,, the Irish Catholic children stoned them on the way home from church. Then the priest came to see them and demanded a lot of money from Fidel and told him what to do. Fidel resented this and told the priest that he had come to America to enjoy freedom and that the priest could not tell him what he had to do and with that they left the Catholic Church and joined the Lutheran Church. The descendants now belong to the Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregational Universalist, Unitarian and Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons).

When Max was not quite 18 years old he enlisted in the Civil War and he served along with his father, Fidel Sr. and brothers Joseph, Alois, Fidel Jr., and Anton. Max was in the Battle of Gettysburg and he hid behind tombstones for protection. He was never captured but some of his pals were and had some terrible experiences. He did not want to be an officer so he walked and carried a gun. He was a quartermaster for a time. He was with Joseph on Sherman's memorable march to Atlanta and the sea. He was injured in the knee which bothered him in his later years.

After the war he came back home to Oak Park and learned the leather trade and harness making, which was in great demand at that time. He went back to college and and studied law but never practiced. Later he became a justice of the peace and all his efforts were to settle cases out of court.

On October 20,1864 he married Wilhelmina Sothman, a beautiful blond girl who had come from Immenstadt and whose father was a prosperous and well to do resident of lmmenstadt. She had been working for a wealthy Lewis family in Oak Park and took care of their only child. She learned English there and worked for another family in Oak Park.

Max bought a large expensive railroad hotel in Valparaiso Indiana but the work proved to be too much for them both so he sold it, but before it was paid for it burned to the ground and the insurance policy had lapsed. They lost everything they had in that fire.

In order to get a fresh start he found that as an old soldier he could get a 160 acre homestead land and another 160 acres for a tree claim so he went to Shelton Nebraska which was on the Union Pacific Railroad about 14 miles south of the homestead. He and two other pals from Chicago built a story and a half frame house in which they lived for years and which still stands. He then went back and moved cattle, horses,
hogs, chickens and the necessary farming equipment, in a freight car. Mr. Sothman, his wife's father, being alone at the time, went along with Max riding in the box car with the furniture. Wilhelmina, Max's wife, and four children stayed with Uncle Crysant and Uncle Joseph in Oak Park until they were settled. Uncle Joseph took their trunk and baggage to the railroad station in a wheelbarrow and put them on a passenger train and they arrived in Shelton Nebraska. Max drove to town in his wagon, the 14 miles to Shelton; rested and watered the horses at Max Schman's parent's home at noon and then took the family on home to the homestead but were taken in and given a good meal by Mrs Sam. Chandler, a good Samaritan living only a couple of blocks away to the north.

The land was all prairie and the tall waving grass was plowed under, trees planted and wells dug. The old oak bucket hung in the well close to the house. Bathing was done mostly in Cherry Creek and the water for washing was carried to the house up a steep bank about a block away from the house. Bass and bull heads were plentiful and wild fowl lived in the creek. Wild geese, ducks, prairie chicken, quail, and rabbits were plentiful and as the boys were good shots they had plenty of game to eat. There were some Indian scares but they were not bothered much with the Indians.

Max and the neighbors used to haul their hogs to Grand Island about 25 miles away and would walk most of the way to spare their horses. Wilhelmina raised turkeys which she sent to Grand Island and used the money to buy clothing for the children. They did not know much about weather predicting but they soon learned the Indian signs, birds swarming and feeding and leaving in a rush, hogs carrying grass to their nest, cattle turning up their noses and sniffing the air, hogs, cattle, and horses dancing in circles, kicking up their heels and running and jumping, red sunsets, good sun-dogs in the west, red east in the morning prepare for something gray, and other signs.

Max bought some red cedar posts and built a good barbed wire fence around the 60 acre pasture southwest of the house. He also had the first post office and helped to build the first sod school house half a mile from home. He hauled lumber and helped to build the first Lutheran Church one and a quarter miles from home. He built the first Presbyterian Church at Sodum, later called Sodtown (in Cherry Creek Township) and turned the post office over to Sodtown.

Sodtown, a cluster of hastily erected, crudely fashioned sod buildings at the crossroads of four section corners in Cherry Creek Township, became the first thriving settlement in the northeast corner of Buffalo County. It was a promising site for a new town in the late 1870's. Max Schlund Sr was one of the first settlers of Sodtown, NE and one of its early postmasters.

Fuel was often a problem in those days and they had to burn com cobs and corn stalks at times when the snow was deep. Good comforters and feather beds kept them warm. He went to Wood River over the hard packed snow to get supplies. He learned to fight fires with wet sacks and back fires. The fires were very dangerous. The railroad four miles to the north often set fires to the heavy grass and the flames would jump the creek and burn lots of feed. Hay was hauled and stacked in long stacks usually in August, with hay racks.

The family all rode horses and loved to ride. Many of the family still live in the neighborhood, in Ravenna, Cairo, etc. Others have gone to Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.

Max Schlund, his wife Wilhelmina "Winne", and their eight children as adults.
 I made this collage, the original family picture was provided by an Ondrak cousin
(a descendant of Matilda "Martha or Mattie" Schlund, pictured above).

U.S. Appointments of U.S. Postmasters 1832-1971
Max Schlund (2nd from bottom) listed as Postmaster
of Cherry Creek Township Feb. 17, 1779  

Max Schlund, Sr (1844-1932)

       

   

      

       Maximillion Schlund was born on May 21, 1844, in Bavaria, Germany, his parents were Fidel and JosephaSchlund. Max Schlund left Germany, arriving in America on March 22, 1853, at the age of 8. He served in the Civil War in the 82nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He married Wilhemina "Minnie" Sothman on October 20, 1869, in Chicago, Illinois. They moved to Valparaiso  Indiana and owned a hotel. The hotel was more than they could manage so they decided to sell. While waiting for the hotel to sell it burned down. The insurance had expired. They were left with nothing. Max had heard that war veterans could homestead land in Nebraska so he moved his family there. Max and Minnie had eight children in 17 years. He died on August 24, 1932, in Cairo, Nebraska, at the age of 88, and was buried there.

b. May 21, 1844 Bavaria, Germany 

d. AUG 24, 1932 Cairo, Buffalo, Nebraska

m. Wilhemina "Minnie" Sothman 

      b. Sep 15, 1847 Kellinghausen, Holstein, Bavaria, Germany 

      d. JUN 25, 1938 Cairo, Buffalo, Nebraska

Married on Oct 20, 1869 Chicago, Cook, Illinois

  

      A. Emelia "Millie" Josephine Schlund 

           b. 21 Jul 1870 Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana

           d. 26 Feb 1956 Canon City, Fremont, Colorado, United States

           m. William Ludwig Thaete  

                b. 25 Jun 1871 Claremont, Steele, Minnesota

                d. 1938 Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado

           Married on 2 Sep 1891 Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska 

                   1) Max W Thaete b. abt 1893 Nebraska

                        m. Lillian Thaete b. abt 1893 Colorado

     

                                    a. Madelyn Thaete

                                    b. Maximilion G. Thaete b. abt 1916 Nebraska d. 20 Feb 1989 Denver, Colorado

              

                   2) Mina Katherina Alvina Thaete 

                       b. 3 Jan 1897 Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, USA 

                       d. 3 Dec 1979 Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, USA

                       m. Merrill Ezra Funk b. 25 Mar 1896 Sanford, Colorado d. 12 May 1960

                       Married on 2 Jul 1925 Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado

                                    a. Herman Ezra Funk b. 23 Jul 1933 d. 20 Apr 2008 Mesa, Arizona

   

                  3) William "Willis" W Thaete b. abt 1900 Colorado

    

                  4) Joseph Edward Thaete b. abt 1902 Colorado

                  5) Victor Alvinest Thaete b. _____ d. 29 Nov 1943

                  6) Marie W Thaete b. abt 1895 Kansas

  

B. Albert Theodor Schlund 

     b. June 7, 1872 Indiana 

     d. 15 Jun 1952

     m. Carrie Triggs m. 1897 b. abt 1880 Nebraska

    

                  1) Evelyn M Schlund 

                       b. Sep 1899 Nebraska 

                       d. 4 May 1994 Bassett, Rock, Nebraska

                       m. William Fetherston b. abt 1884 New York d. 1943

      

                                    a. Thomas E Fetherston b. abt 1934 Nebraska

                                    b. Emily Lou Fetherston b. 18 May 1939 Nebraska d. 5 Apr 2003 Bassett, NE

                   2) Alberta Amelia Schlund 

                        b. 14 May 1901 Nebraska 

                        d. Dec 1973 Harrison, Arkansas

                        m. Leon Alvin "Babe" Luther b. 12 Sep 1900 Mason City, NE d. 25 Dec 1972 Broken Bow, NE

                  

                                     a. Phyllise Luther b. abt 1931 Kansas

    

                   3) Viola C Schlund b. abt 1904 Nebraska

  C. Alvina "Winnie" Schlund 

       b. 25 Aug 1874 Indiana 

       d. Oct 1968 Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska

       (no spouse)

  D. William Fredrich Schlund 

       b. June 6, 1877 Illinois 

       d. 6 Jun 1944

       m. Gertrude Trego b. abt 1884 Illinois d. 9 Dec 1944 Jackson, Oregon

                    1) Lyle Trego Schlund 

                         b. 13 Jun 1905 Colorado 

                         d. 17 Feb 1990

                         m. Helen Merle Killip b. March 5, 1907 Nebraska d. 6 Oct 1994 Seattle, Washington

         

                                       a. Helen B Schlund b. abt 1929 Nebraska

                                       b. Gladys Kay Schlund b. 16 July 1930 Nebraska d. 20 April 1998

                                            m. Claiton A Christopherson

                                       c. Venla Winnette Schlund b. abt 1933 Nebraska

                                            m. Dewey Douglas Roth

                                       d. Metra Ruth Schlund b. abt 1939 Nebraska d. 13 Apr 2006 Bothell, WA

                                           m. Allen Frank b. 24 October 1936 d. 1 March 1998

    

                     2) Harry Vaughn Schlund 

                          b. 17 Mar 1909 Colorado 

                          d. 23 Dec 1989

                          m. Helen Gertrude Swan May b. 4 May 1911 Nebraska d. 1 Jun 1980 Los Angeles

      

                                       a. Ronald Harry Schlund b. Feb 2 1930 Nebraska d. 19 Jun 1989 Orange

    

                       3) Winifred Schlund 

                            b. abt 1913 Nebraska 

                            d. 22 Jun 1964 Jackson, Oregon

                            m. Arthur Clarence Uridel b. abt 1906 d. 13 Sep 1961 Jackson, Oregon

      

                                        a. Thelma Vincent Uridel

                                        b. Kathy Gertrude Uridel

                        4) Shirley Lou Schlund 

                             b. abt 1921 Nebraska 

                             d. 29 September 2011 Medford, Jackson, Oregon

                             m. Jack Elwin White b. 7 Apr 1920 d. 14 Jun 2003 Jacksonville, Jackson, Oregon

      

                                           a. Pamela Colleen White

                                           b. Mark William White

                                           c. Shelly Lou White

                                           d. Jacklyn Lou White

  E. Josepha "Josie" Victoria Schlund 

      b. Nov 1880 Nebraska 

      d. 21 Aug 1962 Kearney, Nebraska, United States

      m. Frank Campbell b. abt 1883 Nebraska

    

                   1) Harry Willis Campbell b. September 9, 1905 d. October 10, 1905

                   2) Frankie A Campbell b. abt 1907 Nebraska d. abt 2000 Golden CO

                        m. Frank A. Tracy b. 23 Apr 1905 Nebraska d. 10 Aug 1994 Golden, Jefferson, CO

                   3) Floyd M Campbell b. 26 Jul 1910 Nebraska d. Feb 1977 Oxnard, Ventura, California

                       m. Willa May Yancy b. 22 Jan 1913 Texas d. 27 Jul 1987 Ventura

    

                   4) Willamine Sarah Campbell b. 28 Jul 1912 Nebraska d. 15 Feb 1993 Glenwood, Iowa

                       m. Gerald Budd b. abt 1910 Nebraska d. 1963

                                    a. Gary Budd b. abt 1935 Nebraska d. abt 2004 Kenosha WI

    

                   5) Gerald Roy Campbell b. abt 1915 Nebraska d. Dec 1981 Ravenna, Nebraska

                       m. Maria L. Kuticka b. abt 1919 Nebraska d. 1979

  

F. Harry F Schlund 

     b. Jul 1882 Nebraska 

     d. 16 Apr 1954

     m. Carrie Maude Kemptar b. abt 1885 Nebraska d. 1964

    

                   1) Charles Max Schlund b. 23 December 1904 Nebraska d. 30 March 1953

                       m. Elva Corrine Rathman b. 29 Oct 1906 Nebraska d. 6 Jan 1997 Cairo, Nebraska

                                    

                                        a. Robert Charles Schlund b. 9 Apr 1930 Nebraska d. 5 Sep 2002 

                                        b. Roger N Schlund b. 5 Feb 1933 Nebraska d. 5 Oct 2004 Sargent, NE

                    2) Everette Schlund 

                         b. 22 Mar 1907 Nebraska 

                         d. Nov 1968 Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA

                         m. Leona Schlund b. abt 1906 Wyoming

      

                    3) Alyce Schlund 

                         b. abt 1913 Nebraska

                         m. Fred Lantz

    

                    4) Harry Karl Schlund 

                         b. 27 Sep 1916 Nebraska 

                         d. Jan 1979

                         m. Anita Kennedy b. 2 Jul 1917 Nebraska d. Feb 1984 Cairo, Hall, Nebraska, USA

      

                                     a. Dennis Schlund b. 24 Nov 1940 d. 1998

    

                     5) Elmer "Benny" Pershing Schlund 

                          b. abt 1919 Nebraska 

                          d. Dec 07 1941 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

  

                     6) Betty Rose Schlund 

                          b. 21 Oct  1923 Nebraska 

                          d. 27 Oct 1923 Cairo, Buffalo, Nebraska

    

                      7) Millard F. Schlund 

                          b. 5 June 1925 Nebraska 

                          d. 20 November 1974 Merna, Nebraska

                          m. Margaret Smith

  G. Maximillion Emil Schlund Jr 

       b. September 22, 1885 Buffalo County, Nebraska 

       d. June 16, 1947 Cairo, Hall, Nebraska

       m. Merna Myrtle Urwiller m. abt 1915 Nebraska  b. August 19, 1899 Nebraska d. April 27, 1978 

    

            1) Glenn F Schlund 

                 b. abt 1916 Nebraska

                 m. Iona Wilson

                           a. Kenneth Schlund

                                     a1. Brian Wayne Schlund b. July 2, 1965 d. July 29, 1965

                           b. Glenn Schlund

            2) Edward C Schlund

                 b. abt 1920 Nebraska 

                 d. 1 Nov 2001 Ravenna, Buffalo, Nebraska

                 m. Hazel Wolbing b. 30 Aug 1922 d. Oct 1974

                               

                            a. Joan Schlund

                                m. Cronn

                                      a1. Jennifer Cronn

           3) Living

                b. 1921 Nebraska

                m. Elmer W Stienike b. January 8, 1919 Nebraska d. October 28, 2011 Grand Island, NE

    

                            a. Elmer Stienike

            4) Keith K Schlund 

                 b. abt 1927 Nebraska 

                 d. 3 Jan 1990 Ravenna, Buffalo, Nebraska, USA

                 m. Donna Schlund m. March 16, 1949

            5) Maxine Leru Schlund 

                 b. Feb. 18, 1932 Nebraska

                 d. May 20, 1934 Nebraska, USA

             6) Lorna R Schlund 

                  b. abt 1937 Nebraska 

                  d. 21 Jun 2006 Sweet, Gem, Idaho

                  m. Clarence David Link m. 6 Jul 1957 Ada, ID b. 5 Feb 1926 d. 17 Jul 2006 Sweet, Idaho

  

   H. Matilda "Martha" Schlund  

        b. 14 July 1887 Nebraska 

        d. 12 December 1952

        m. Charles Schultz d. before 1920

        m. John Mose Ondrak b. 29 April 1894 Nebraska d. 13 February 1976

     

       [Children of Matilda "Martha" Schlund and Charles Schultz]

     

            1) Harold Schlund 

                b. 20 May 1908 Nebraska 

                d. Feb 1967

                m. Margaret Veeder b. 22 Jun 1909 d. 20 May 1993 Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska

      

            2) Mildred Schultz 

                b. abt 1917 Nebraska

                m. Floyd Fisher

     

            3) Gertude Schultz 

                 b. abt 1919 Nebraska

                 m. Lawrence Meyer

    

       [Children of Matilda "Martha" Schlund and John Mose Ondrak]

     

             4) Donald "Don" B Ondrak 

                  b. 9 Sep 1923 Nebraska 

                  d. 1 Mar 1988 Phillips, Hamilton, Nebraska, USA

                  m. Betty Jane Johnson b. 17 Aug 1924 d. 22 Feb 2007 Aurora, Hamilton, Nebraska

   

             5) Dale J Ondrak 

                  b. 17 November 1925 Nebraska 

                  d. 30 March 2005 Hazard, Sherman, Nebraska

                  m. Melba Carlson

              6) Alice F Ondrak 

                  b. abt 1928 Nebraska

                  m. Harold Dethlef

      

Additional information about Max Schlund, Sr

82nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company B

1880 Census- Gardner, Buffalo, Nebraska

1885 Census Nebraska- Cherry Crick Town, Buffalo, Nebraska

1890 Veterans Schedule- Gardner and Cherry Creek, Buffalo, Nebraska

1900 Census- Cherry Creek, Buffalo, Nebraska

1910 Census- Cherry Creek, Buffalo, Nebraska

1920 Census- Mayfield, Hall, Nebraska

1930 Census- Cairo, Hall, Nebraska

Index card

Pension Card

Pension Card