Oliver Edward Ekberg, Ollie to most folks, was born July 10, 1869 near Galesburg, Illinois to John S. and Julia (Nelson) Ekberg. Both had been born in Sweden, immigrated in 1853 and were married in 1867. In 1879 Ollie moved with his parents to a homestead near Holdredge, Nebraska. As an infant he was baptized into the Swedish Lutheran Church. He had two sisters, Nettie Kronquest and Rosalind Kronquest, and three brothers, Fred, Harry, and Arthur.
Ollie married Bessie Jinings at Holdredge, March 28, 1894. In 1901 Ollie brought his family to Beecher Island in Yuma County, Colorado. He came ahead of the family two weeks with two brothers, Harry and Fred and a brother-in-law, Nelson Kronquest, by freight train with 400 cattle, a dog "Karlow," a work horse, and two saddle mares. The dog ran away and was rescued by Blaine Churchill, the livery barn owner. He never ran away after the family arrived -- Bessie with Gracie, John, and Glen. They lived first in a dugout while they built a sod house with a frame house next to it. Caleb and Gladys (Klie) were born at Beecher Island. Then, Ollie bought a relinquishment about a mile southeast and built another sod house. Julia (Hesselius) was born here.
Some of the Ekberg neighbors were Knudsons (on Albert Richer's place), the Batemans (Harry Ekbergs), Charles Reeck (Southwest of Beecher on a little creek), Nesters (across Arickaree south of Strangways). After the Batemans left, N. B. and Myrtle Peters lived there. Later John and Lora May bought it and raised eight children there: Fay, Nina, Velma, Ross, Lela, Louis, Clarence, and Helen. John Ekberg married Velma May.
The Ekbergs used to feed the Beecher Island survivors when they came for the reunions. They would tell so many hair-raising tales that the children were afraid to go to bed at night.
The children of Oliver E. and Bessie Elberg include:
1. Grace married Howard Chase.
2. John married Velma May.
3. Glen married Angie Klie.
4. Caleb married Norma Cassens.
5. Gladys married Wilmot Klie.
6. Julia married Eric Hesselius.
Ollie was a good citizen and good neighbor. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. After the 1935 flood washed the Arickaree bridge away, he kept a team near the road to help people get across the river. He served on the school board for years and took care of the Beecher Island grounds as long as he was able.
Bessie was friendly and helpful. She was instrumental in starting the Beecher Island Sunday School and was one of the first 4-H leaders in Yuma County. She also kept the post office while they lived in Beecher Island.
Ollie married Bessie Jinings at Holdredge, March 28, 1894. In 1901 Ollie brought his family to Beecher Island in Yuma County, Colorado. He came ahead of the family two weeks with two brothers, Harry and Fred and a brother-in-law, Nelson Kronquest, by freight train with 400 cattle, a dog "Karlow," a work horse, and two saddle mares. The dog ran away and was rescued by Blaine Churchill, the livery barn owner. He never ran away after the family arrived -- Bessie with Gracie, John, and Glen. They lived first in a dugout while they built a sod house with a frame house next to it. Caleb and Gladys (Klie) were born at Beecher Island. Then, Ollie bought a relinquishment about a mile southeast and built another sod house. Julia (Hesselius) was born here.
Some of the Ekberg neighbors were Knudsons (on Albert Richer's place), the Batemans (Harry Ekbergs), Charles Reeck (Southwest of Beecher on a little creek), Nesters (across Arickaree south of Strangways). After the Batemans left, N. B. and Myrtle Peters lived there. Later John and Lora May bought it and raised eight children there: Fay, Nina, Velma, Ross, Lela, Louis, Clarence, and Helen. John Ekberg married Velma May.
The Ekbergs used to feed the Beecher Island survivors when they came for the reunions. They would tell so many hair-raising tales that the children were afraid to go to bed at night.
The children of Oliver E. and Bessie Elberg include:
1. Grace married Howard Chase.
2. John married Velma May.
3. Glen married Angie Klie.
4. Caleb married Norma Cassens.
5. Gladys married Wilmot Klie.
6. Julia married Eric Hesselius.
Ollie was a good citizen and good neighbor. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. After the 1935 flood washed the Arickaree bridge away, he kept a team near the road to help people get across the river. He served on the school board for years and took care of the Beecher Island grounds as long as he was able.
Bessie was friendly and helpful. She was instrumental in starting the Beecher Island Sunday School and was one of the first 4-H leaders in Yuma County. She also kept the post office while they lived in Beecher Island.
Oliver Edward Ekberg, Ollie to most folks, was born July 10, 1869 near Galesburg, Illinois to John S. and Julia (Nelson) Ekberg. Both had been born in Sweden, immigrated in 1853 and were married in 1867. In 1879 Ollie moved with his parents to a homestead near Holdredge, Nebraska. As an infant he was baptized into the Swedish Lutheran Church. He had two sisters, Nettie Kronquest and Rosalind Kronquest, and three brothers, Fred, Harry, and Arthur.
Ollie married Bessie Jinings at Holdredge, March 28, 1894. In 1901 Ollie brought his family to Beecher Island in Yuma County, Colorado. He came ahead of the family two weeks with two brothers, Harry and Fred and a brother-in-law, Nelson Kronquest, by freight train with 400 cattle, a dog "Karlow," a work horse, and two saddle mares. The dog ran away and was rescued by Blaine Churchill, the livery barn owner. He never ran away after the family arrived -- Bessie with Gracie, John, and Glen. They lived first in a dugout while they built a sod house with a frame house next to it. Caleb and Gladys (Klie) were born at Beecher Island. Then, Ollie bought a relinquishment about a mile southeast and built another sod house. Julia (Hesselius) was born here.
Some of the Ekberg neighbors were Knudsons (on Albert Richer's place), the Batemans (Harry Ekbergs), Charles Reeck (Southwest of Beecher on a little creek), Nesters (across Arickaree south of Strangways). After the Batemans left, N. B. and Myrtle Peters lived there. Later John and Lora May bought it and raised eight children there: Fay, Nina, Velma, Ross, Lela, Louis, Clarence, and Helen. John Ekberg married Velma May.
The Ekbergs used to feed the Beecher Island survivors when they came for the reunions. They would tell so many hair-raising tales that the children were afraid to go to bed at night.
The children of Oliver E. and Bessie Elberg include:
1. Grace married Howard Chase.
2. John married Velma May.
3. Glen married Angie Klie.
4. Caleb married Norma Cassens.
5. Gladys married Wilmot Klie.
6. Julia married Eric Hesselius.
Ollie was a good citizen and good neighbor. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. After the 1935 flood washed the Arickaree bridge away, he kept a team near the road to help people get across the river. He served on the school board for years and took care of the Beecher Island grounds as long as he was able.
Bessie was friendly and helpful. She was instrumental in starting the Beecher Island Sunday School and was one of the first 4-H leaders in Yuma County. She also kept the post office while they lived in Beecher Island.
Ollie married Bessie Jinings at Holdredge, March 28, 1894. In 1901 Ollie brought his family to Beecher Island in Yuma County, Colorado. He came ahead of the family two weeks with two brothers, Harry and Fred and a brother-in-law, Nelson Kronquest, by freight train with 400 cattle, a dog "Karlow," a work horse, and two saddle mares. The dog ran away and was rescued by Blaine Churchill, the livery barn owner. He never ran away after the family arrived -- Bessie with Gracie, John, and Glen. They lived first in a dugout while they built a sod house with a frame house next to it. Caleb and Gladys (Klie) were born at Beecher Island. Then, Ollie bought a relinquishment about a mile southeast and built another sod house. Julia (Hesselius) was born here.
Some of the Ekberg neighbors were Knudsons (on Albert Richer's place), the Batemans (Harry Ekbergs), Charles Reeck (Southwest of Beecher on a little creek), Nesters (across Arickaree south of Strangways). After the Batemans left, N. B. and Myrtle Peters lived there. Later John and Lora May bought it and raised eight children there: Fay, Nina, Velma, Ross, Lela, Louis, Clarence, and Helen. John Ekberg married Velma May.
The Ekbergs used to feed the Beecher Island survivors when they came for the reunions. They would tell so many hair-raising tales that the children were afraid to go to bed at night.
The children of Oliver E. and Bessie Elberg include:
1. Grace married Howard Chase.
2. John married Velma May.
3. Glen married Angie Klie.
4. Caleb married Norma Cassens.
5. Gladys married Wilmot Klie.
6. Julia married Eric Hesselius.
Ollie was a good citizen and good neighbor. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. After the 1935 flood washed the Arickaree bridge away, he kept a team near the road to help people get across the river. He served on the school board for years and took care of the Beecher Island grounds as long as he was able.
Bessie was friendly and helpful. She was instrumental in starting the Beecher Island Sunday School and was one of the first 4-H leaders in Yuma County. She also kept the post office while they lived in Beecher Island.
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