Hartington Herald, NE, Thursday, June 7, 1923
MRS MARY BETZ DEAD, AGE 97
Venerable Pioneer Had Lived in Cedar County Over 70 Years
Funeral Held at St. Helena Wednesday
The Journey to America Required Over Two Months On Sailing Vessel, Suffering Many Hardships.
She Came to America In 1850.
Mrs. Mary Becker Betz, believed to have resided in Cedar county longer than any other resident and to be the second oldest person in the county, died Monday evening, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Hausmann, near St. Helena.
Mrs. Betz was born in Metning, Germany on September 15, 1826 and would have been 97 years old this fall. She came to America in 1850 on a sailing vessel which took 64 days to make the trip across the ocean, the navigators of those days lacking the aid of scientific precision of present day
instruments so that the vessel was not directed in the proper course. To add to the dangers a submerged iceberg was struck, but luckily no lives were lost.
Miss Becker settled first in Clayton county, Iowa, where she met and was married to Anton Betz in 1853, the young couple setting up house keeping on the Iowa prairies in a clay hut. The next year they built a log house and were considered well-to-do. A year later they emigrated to Cedar county and a short time later erected a brick house which still stands a few miles south of St Helena on the farm now owned by Henry Wuebben, and in which in those days was regarded as evidence of great wealth.
Mrs. Betz was a commanding figure during the early days in the county, her cheerful disposition and many acts of charity supplying much courage to the early pioneers not so fortunately situated. Mr. Betz died about 40 years ago, since which time Mrs. Betz made her home with her children, Mrs. Geo. Hausmann, Mrs. Will Hirsch, of Norfolk, Mrs. August Foerster, Hartington and John Betz, of St. Helena.
The funeral was held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning from the St. Helena Catholic church, Rev. C. Stratmann conducting the service which was attended by many longtime friends of the family from over the county. Burial was made in St. Helena.
MRS MARY BETZ DEAD, AGE 97
Venerable Pioneer Had Lived in Cedar County Over 70 Years
Funeral Held at St. Helena Wednesday
The Journey to America Required Over Two Months On Sailing Vessel, Suffering Many Hardships.
She Came to America In 1850.
Mrs. Mary Becker Betz, believed to have resided in Cedar county longer than any other resident and to be the second oldest person in the county, died Monday evening, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Hausmann, near St. Helena.
Mrs. Betz was born in Metning, Germany on September 15, 1826 and would have been 97 years old this fall. She came to America in 1850 on a sailing vessel which took 64 days to make the trip across the ocean, the navigators of those days lacking the aid of scientific precision of present day
instruments so that the vessel was not directed in the proper course. To add to the dangers a submerged iceberg was struck, but luckily no lives were lost.
Miss Becker settled first in Clayton county, Iowa, where she met and was married to Anton Betz in 1853, the young couple setting up house keeping on the Iowa prairies in a clay hut. The next year they built a log house and were considered well-to-do. A year later they emigrated to Cedar county and a short time later erected a brick house which still stands a few miles south of St Helena on the farm now owned by Henry Wuebben, and in which in those days was regarded as evidence of great wealth.
Mrs. Betz was a commanding figure during the early days in the county, her cheerful disposition and many acts of charity supplying much courage to the early pioneers not so fortunately situated. Mr. Betz died about 40 years ago, since which time Mrs. Betz made her home with her children, Mrs. Geo. Hausmann, Mrs. Will Hirsch, of Norfolk, Mrs. August Foerster, Hartington and John Betz, of St. Helena.
The funeral was held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning from the St. Helena Catholic church, Rev. C. Stratmann conducting the service which was attended by many longtime friends of the family from over the county. Burial was made in St. Helena.
Hartington Herald, NE, Thursday, June 7, 1923
MRS MARY BETZ DEAD, AGE 97
Venerable Pioneer Had Lived in Cedar County Over 70 Years
Funeral Held at St. Helena Wednesday
The Journey to America Required Over Two Months On Sailing Vessel, Suffering Many Hardships.
She Came to America In 1850.
Mrs. Mary Becker Betz, believed to have resided in Cedar county longer than any other resident and to be the second oldest person in the county, died Monday evening, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Hausmann, near St. Helena.
Mrs. Betz was born in Metning, Germany on September 15, 1826 and would have been 97 years old this fall. She came to America in 1850 on a sailing vessel which took 64 days to make the trip across the ocean, the navigators of those days lacking the aid of scientific precision of present day
instruments so that the vessel was not directed in the proper course. To add to the dangers a submerged iceberg was struck, but luckily no lives were lost.
Miss Becker settled first in Clayton county, Iowa, where she met and was married to Anton Betz in 1853, the young couple setting up house keeping on the Iowa prairies in a clay hut. The next year they built a log house and were considered well-to-do. A year later they emigrated to Cedar county and a short time later erected a brick house which still stands a few miles south of St Helena on the farm now owned by Henry Wuebben, and in which in those days was regarded as evidence of great wealth.
Mrs. Betz was a commanding figure during the early days in the county, her cheerful disposition and many acts of charity supplying much courage to the early pioneers not so fortunately situated. Mr. Betz died about 40 years ago, since which time Mrs. Betz made her home with her children, Mrs. Geo. Hausmann, Mrs. Will Hirsch, of Norfolk, Mrs. August Foerster, Hartington and John Betz, of St. Helena.
The funeral was held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning from the St. Helena Catholic church, Rev. C. Stratmann conducting the service which was attended by many longtime friends of the family from over the county. Burial was made in St. Helena.
MRS MARY BETZ DEAD, AGE 97
Venerable Pioneer Had Lived in Cedar County Over 70 Years
Funeral Held at St. Helena Wednesday
The Journey to America Required Over Two Months On Sailing Vessel, Suffering Many Hardships.
She Came to America In 1850.
Mrs. Mary Becker Betz, believed to have resided in Cedar county longer than any other resident and to be the second oldest person in the county, died Monday evening, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Hausmann, near St. Helena.
Mrs. Betz was born in Metning, Germany on September 15, 1826 and would have been 97 years old this fall. She came to America in 1850 on a sailing vessel which took 64 days to make the trip across the ocean, the navigators of those days lacking the aid of scientific precision of present day
instruments so that the vessel was not directed in the proper course. To add to the dangers a submerged iceberg was struck, but luckily no lives were lost.
Miss Becker settled first in Clayton county, Iowa, where she met and was married to Anton Betz in 1853, the young couple setting up house keeping on the Iowa prairies in a clay hut. The next year they built a log house and were considered well-to-do. A year later they emigrated to Cedar county and a short time later erected a brick house which still stands a few miles south of St Helena on the farm now owned by Henry Wuebben, and in which in those days was regarded as evidence of great wealth.
Mrs. Betz was a commanding figure during the early days in the county, her cheerful disposition and many acts of charity supplying much courage to the early pioneers not so fortunately situated. Mr. Betz died about 40 years ago, since which time Mrs. Betz made her home with her children, Mrs. Geo. Hausmann, Mrs. Will Hirsch, of Norfolk, Mrs. August Foerster, Hartington and John Betz, of St. Helena.
The funeral was held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning from the St. Helena Catholic church, Rev. C. Stratmann conducting the service which was attended by many longtime friends of the family from over the county. Burial was made in St. Helena.
