John F. Lenger, Niobrara, Early
Knox Resident Passes Away Saturday
John F. Lenger was born in Tabor, Bohemia, April 12, 1848 and died at the home of his brother, Frank H. in Niobrara, Nebr., March 29, 1941. Death resulted from a paralytic stroke.
Professor Lenger, as he was known, enlisted for military service at the age of 14 years in Vienna, Austria, serving in the capacity of an army musician for seven years. He received his honorable discharge in 1869 returning to Tabor, Bohemia, his birthplace, where he visited relatives until his departure for America to join his parents, brother and sisters, who had gone five years previously. He landed in New York City only to enter the musical circles of a new world.
Lured by the desire of seeing people from his own country in a new land, he journeyed west as far as Chicago, where he became intimately acquainted with the editor of "American" National Bohemian newspaper and through him again engaged in musical work.
After staying in Chicago just a few months, he joined his parents in Yankton, S.D., where they had established a home with other pioneer homesteaders in Yankton county.
On September 5, 1873, he was married to Mary Pisek of Yankton. Together they made Yankton their home for six years, where he was engaged in business and directional band work.
During this time he also joined the company that took part in the Black Hills Bold Rush of 1876. In 1879 they moved to Niobrara, Nebraska, then the Old Town, where in 1881 they experienced the terrors of the Missouri River flood and with many others sought refuge on higher grounds, after helping to organize what is now the present town of Niobrara.
For many years he conducted a business in Niobrara, then the county seat of Knox County and organized musical organizations and bands in northeast Nebraska and in South Dakota, one of which, The Santee Sioux Indian Band was the only 100 percent Indian band in the United States, winning honors by being invited to attend and by their participation in the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. They also had the distinction of traveling to Washington, D.C. and playing for President Harrison on the Capital grounds.
After residing in Niobrara for 29 years, he and his wife enjoyed a period of travel along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, wintering in Florida and Texas, then returning to Nebraska and in Winnetoon, Nebr. operating a hotel until his wife's death in 1927.
He then enjoyed a trip to the land of his birth, where he visited friends and for two years meandered among the scenes of his childhood.
He returned to Niobrara and made it his home for the remainder of his life, devoting his time to music as long as his health permitted.
John F. Lenger was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. and A.F. & A.M. and Z.C.B.J. and Rebekah Lodges and a member of other fraternal organizations. He received the 50 year jewel from both the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders, honors held by very few.
He is survived by his brother, Frank H. of Niobrara, together with many nieces, nephews and friends.
Many are they, who can credit their knowledge of music to a man to whom the love of music was predominant throughout his entire life. Note; John's musical instruments are at the National Music Museum at the University of SD,Vermillion. His passing marks another pioneer gone from the ranks here to join the ranks up there. Burial was made in L'Eau Qui Court Cemtery at Niobrara, Nebr.
...The Creighton News 3 April 1941
Knox Resident Passes Away Saturday
John F. Lenger was born in Tabor, Bohemia, April 12, 1848 and died at the home of his brother, Frank H. in Niobrara, Nebr., March 29, 1941. Death resulted from a paralytic stroke.
Professor Lenger, as he was known, enlisted for military service at the age of 14 years in Vienna, Austria, serving in the capacity of an army musician for seven years. He received his honorable discharge in 1869 returning to Tabor, Bohemia, his birthplace, where he visited relatives until his departure for America to join his parents, brother and sisters, who had gone five years previously. He landed in New York City only to enter the musical circles of a new world.
Lured by the desire of seeing people from his own country in a new land, he journeyed west as far as Chicago, where he became intimately acquainted with the editor of "American" National Bohemian newspaper and through him again engaged in musical work.
After staying in Chicago just a few months, he joined his parents in Yankton, S.D., where they had established a home with other pioneer homesteaders in Yankton county.
On September 5, 1873, he was married to Mary Pisek of Yankton. Together they made Yankton their home for six years, where he was engaged in business and directional band work.
During this time he also joined the company that took part in the Black Hills Bold Rush of 1876. In 1879 they moved to Niobrara, Nebraska, then the Old Town, where in 1881 they experienced the terrors of the Missouri River flood and with many others sought refuge on higher grounds, after helping to organize what is now the present town of Niobrara.
For many years he conducted a business in Niobrara, then the county seat of Knox County and organized musical organizations and bands in northeast Nebraska and in South Dakota, one of which, The Santee Sioux Indian Band was the only 100 percent Indian band in the United States, winning honors by being invited to attend and by their participation in the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. They also had the distinction of traveling to Washington, D.C. and playing for President Harrison on the Capital grounds.
After residing in Niobrara for 29 years, he and his wife enjoyed a period of travel along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, wintering in Florida and Texas, then returning to Nebraska and in Winnetoon, Nebr. operating a hotel until his wife's death in 1927.
He then enjoyed a trip to the land of his birth, where he visited friends and for two years meandered among the scenes of his childhood.
He returned to Niobrara and made it his home for the remainder of his life, devoting his time to music as long as his health permitted.
John F. Lenger was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. and A.F. & A.M. and Z.C.B.J. and Rebekah Lodges and a member of other fraternal organizations. He received the 50 year jewel from both the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders, honors held by very few.
He is survived by his brother, Frank H. of Niobrara, together with many nieces, nephews and friends.
Many are they, who can credit their knowledge of music to a man to whom the love of music was predominant throughout his entire life. Note; John's musical instruments are at the National Music Museum at the University of SD,Vermillion. His passing marks another pioneer gone from the ranks here to join the ranks up there. Burial was made in L'Eau Qui Court Cemtery at Niobrara, Nebr.
...The Creighton News 3 April 1941
John F. Lenger, Niobrara, Early
Knox Resident Passes Away Saturday
John F. Lenger was born in Tabor, Bohemia, April 12, 1848 and died at the home of his brother, Frank H. in Niobrara, Nebr., March 29, 1941. Death resulted from a paralytic stroke.
Professor Lenger, as he was known, enlisted for military service at the age of 14 years in Vienna, Austria, serving in the capacity of an army musician for seven years. He received his honorable discharge in 1869 returning to Tabor, Bohemia, his birthplace, where he visited relatives until his departure for America to join his parents, brother and sisters, who had gone five years previously. He landed in New York City only to enter the musical circles of a new world.
Lured by the desire of seeing people from his own country in a new land, he journeyed west as far as Chicago, where he became intimately acquainted with the editor of "American" National Bohemian newspaper and through him again engaged in musical work.
After staying in Chicago just a few months, he joined his parents in Yankton, S.D., where they had established a home with other pioneer homesteaders in Yankton county.
On September 5, 1873, he was married to Mary Pisek of Yankton. Together they made Yankton their home for six years, where he was engaged in business and directional band work.
During this time he also joined the company that took part in the Black Hills Bold Rush of 1876. In 1879 they moved to Niobrara, Nebraska, then the Old Town, where in 1881 they experienced the terrors of the Missouri River flood and with many others sought refuge on higher grounds, after helping to organize what is now the present town of Niobrara.
For many years he conducted a business in Niobrara, then the county seat of Knox County and organized musical organizations and bands in northeast Nebraska and in South Dakota, one of which, The Santee Sioux Indian Band was the only 100 percent Indian band in the United States, winning honors by being invited to attend and by their participation in the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. They also had the distinction of traveling to Washington, D.C. and playing for President Harrison on the Capital grounds.
After residing in Niobrara for 29 years, he and his wife enjoyed a period of travel along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, wintering in Florida and Texas, then returning to Nebraska and in Winnetoon, Nebr. operating a hotel until his wife's death in 1927.
He then enjoyed a trip to the land of his birth, where he visited friends and for two years meandered among the scenes of his childhood.
He returned to Niobrara and made it his home for the remainder of his life, devoting his time to music as long as his health permitted.
John F. Lenger was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. and A.F. & A.M. and Z.C.B.J. and Rebekah Lodges and a member of other fraternal organizations. He received the 50 year jewel from both the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders, honors held by very few.
He is survived by his brother, Frank H. of Niobrara, together with many nieces, nephews and friends.
Many are they, who can credit their knowledge of music to a man to whom the love of music was predominant throughout his entire life. Note; John's musical instruments are at the National Music Museum at the University of SD,Vermillion. His passing marks another pioneer gone from the ranks here to join the ranks up there. Burial was made in L'Eau Qui Court Cemtery at Niobrara, Nebr.
...The Creighton News 3 April 1941
Knox Resident Passes Away Saturday
John F. Lenger was born in Tabor, Bohemia, April 12, 1848 and died at the home of his brother, Frank H. in Niobrara, Nebr., March 29, 1941. Death resulted from a paralytic stroke.
Professor Lenger, as he was known, enlisted for military service at the age of 14 years in Vienna, Austria, serving in the capacity of an army musician for seven years. He received his honorable discharge in 1869 returning to Tabor, Bohemia, his birthplace, where he visited relatives until his departure for America to join his parents, brother and sisters, who had gone five years previously. He landed in New York City only to enter the musical circles of a new world.
Lured by the desire of seeing people from his own country in a new land, he journeyed west as far as Chicago, where he became intimately acquainted with the editor of "American" National Bohemian newspaper and through him again engaged in musical work.
After staying in Chicago just a few months, he joined his parents in Yankton, S.D., where they had established a home with other pioneer homesteaders in Yankton county.
On September 5, 1873, he was married to Mary Pisek of Yankton. Together they made Yankton their home for six years, where he was engaged in business and directional band work.
During this time he also joined the company that took part in the Black Hills Bold Rush of 1876. In 1879 they moved to Niobrara, Nebraska, then the Old Town, where in 1881 they experienced the terrors of the Missouri River flood and with many others sought refuge on higher grounds, after helping to organize what is now the present town of Niobrara.
For many years he conducted a business in Niobrara, then the county seat of Knox County and organized musical organizations and bands in northeast Nebraska and in South Dakota, one of which, The Santee Sioux Indian Band was the only 100 percent Indian band in the United States, winning honors by being invited to attend and by their participation in the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. They also had the distinction of traveling to Washington, D.C. and playing for President Harrison on the Capital grounds.
After residing in Niobrara for 29 years, he and his wife enjoyed a period of travel along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, wintering in Florida and Texas, then returning to Nebraska and in Winnetoon, Nebr. operating a hotel until his wife's death in 1927.
He then enjoyed a trip to the land of his birth, where he visited friends and for two years meandered among the scenes of his childhood.
He returned to Niobrara and made it his home for the remainder of his life, devoting his time to music as long as his health permitted.
John F. Lenger was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. and A.F. & A.M. and Z.C.B.J. and Rebekah Lodges and a member of other fraternal organizations. He received the 50 year jewel from both the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders, honors held by very few.
He is survived by his brother, Frank H. of Niobrara, together with many nieces, nephews and friends.
Many are they, who can credit their knowledge of music to a man to whom the love of music was predominant throughout his entire life. Note; John's musical instruments are at the National Music Museum at the University of SD,Vermillion. His passing marks another pioneer gone from the ranks here to join the ranks up there. Burial was made in L'Eau Qui Court Cemtery at Niobrara, Nebr.
...The Creighton News 3 April 1941
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