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August J. Heller

Birth	:	6 Mar 1845 Germany
Death	:	3 Feb 1937 Hooper, Dodge County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Foster Cemetery, Foster, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate	:	-38.6584961, 146.1906258
Plot	:	Section 4, Lot 313, Grave 2
Description	:	August J. Heller Pioneer Story The Hooper Sentinel Sept. 20, 1934 August Heller, one of our pioneer citizens, crossed the Atlantic ocean in a sailing vessel. It seems so long ago that that method of transportation was used that we can hardly believe that we still have in our midst those who traveled the high seas in this manner. It was in 1858 that he came over from his native country, Germany. Born March 6, 1845, he was thirteen years old when he came over with the family to share in the great adventure. He was old enough to have... Read More	August J. Heller Pioneer Story The Hooper Sentinel Sept. 20, 1934 August Heller, one of our pioneer citizens, crossed the Atlantic ocean in a sailing vessel. It seems so long ago that that method of transportation was used that we can hardly believe that we still have in our midst those who traveled the high seas in this manner. It was in 1858 that he came over from his native country, Germany. Born March 6, 1845, he was thirteen years old when he came over with the family to share in the great adventure. He was old enough to have vivid impressions of his experiences and he was curious enough to be very observing. The vessel they sailed on was a large three masted ship. It took them seven and a half weeks to cross the briny deep. While many were sea sick he escaped that distress and the ship company did not profit much by this boy's undisturbed ravenous appetite. There were seven children besides the father and mother in the family. One child had died in Germany. Mr. Heller, being but thirteen was not quite old enough to be confirmed. The required age was fourteen. Because of the uncertainties in the new land it was planned to confirm him but because of the death of the pastor of their church this was not carried out. One night the ship was storm tossed to such an extent that the passengers were considerably disturbed. A storm at sea is always a more or less exciting experience to those who have never been in a boat upon the deep. Two deaths occurred while they were on the ocean. One was a child and the other a man with whom they were acquainted, who had come from their community. As was the custom of the sea they were buried by night. He did not witness the ceremony. His father, Mathias Heller, became well acquainted with the captain of their vessel and learned that the voyage they were making was it's third trip to America. They had made the first trip in twenty one days. The second time they encountered such adverse winds and so many storms that it was thirteen weeks before they reached their destination. The Hellers left Germany on Wednesday, the 28th day of April and landed in the United States on the second day of July. They planned to go to Minnesota. While waiting with relatives in New Jersey they learned that there was so much hazel brush and so many rocks on the soil where they had expected to settle that they changed their plans. Ambrose Heller, a brother of Mr. Heller's father, living at Watertown, Wisconsin, wrote so enthusiastically about their country and had so strongly urged them to come, they accepted his invitation. For six years the vicinity of Watertown, Wisconsin was their home. Ask Mr. Heller what it means to clear up a timber claim in order to have tillable ground. Though he was but a lad of thirteen he had to do his share of the work. His axe was some what smaller, suited to his size. They would start early in morning, as soon as it was daylight and work until dusk. A part of his duty was to keep the axes sharp, provide a supply of axe handles which they made out of the native lumber, and see that everything was in good working order. The days were long, the work was hard but it gave those pioneers a physique in keeping with their rugged surroundings. That Wisconsin pilgrimage that crossed the Mississippi River on a ferry, journeyed along the prairie trails of northern Iowa, crossed the Missouri River on a ferry into the territory of Nebraska became an outstanding factor in the early settlement of the Logan and Elkhorn valleys north and east of us. There were eleven wagons in the caravan. They were drawn by oxen. These settlers brought their implements, their stock their household goods with them. It required five weeks to make the trip. They left Wisconsin May l9, 1864 and arrived here June 26. It was the best move they had made. The land was easier to cultivate. This section of the state soon became a center of prosperous civilization. In that Wisconsin colony were August Heller, Martin Luther, Ed Fleishhauer and the Panning, Fred Wolf Sr., John Uehling, Sr., Oswald Uehling and Conrad Schram families. When they arrived Fremont was but a mere village with sod and log houses. Logan Mill owned and operated by Asa and Frank Briggs was where they had their grain ground or made into flour. Calhoun, Tekamah and West Point were some of their trading places. Mr. Heller did not want for work, for besides breaking up the sod on their own place he did the same for Martin Luther and Ed Fleishhauer. He learned to swing the cradle, their method for cutting grain in his day. The first threshing machine in the neighborhood was run by Chris Henneman and Chas. Eisley. They had a wide scope of territory in which to work. That was possible then for those pioneers knew how to stack grain so it would withstand the wind and shed the rain. The threshing season sometimes extended far into the winter. Stacking was an art and those who became expert at it prided themselves upon their work. This is another lost art in the agricultural realm. Mr. Heller knew how to stack hay and because he did it so well he was in constant demand throughout the entire season. His reputation became known to Bernard and Rogers, first Fremont bankers. They employed him for this special work on their farms. At first he received $30 a week. One week when he was asked to do a clean up job for Mr. Rogers he received $35. Mr. Rogers was so pleased with what he had done and the manner in which he did it that he gave him an extra $5. This personal contact with Mr. Rogers proved of great value to Mr. Heller later. The Banker observed the young man and noting his habits, his frugality, his honesty and dependability he did not hesitate to loan him money or extend him credit whenever he wished it for the promotion of his farming. August Heller married Rosena Bayer May 20, 1875. Seven children were born to them, five boys and two girls all of whom are living. Mrs. Heller died Feb. 28, 1923. Mr. Heller will be ninety next March. Not many of that original Wisconsin colony are left. He is very active and is a most interesting person to engage in conversation. If you want to get first hand information about the pioneer life here before there was a Hooper have him relate some of his experiences. Nebraska did not became a state until the third year after they settled here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Obituary - August J. Heller The Hooper Sentinel Feb. 4, 1937 AUG. J. HELLER ENTERS LONG SLEEP The tolling of the Zion Lutheran church bell yesterday morning was the first indication to Hooper residents that another of our pioneer citizens had been called to the great beyond when inquiry revealed that August J. Heller, Hooper's oldest citizen since the death of Casper Moeller last fall, had passed away at 8:30 Wednesday, February 3, 1937. Mr. Heller would have been 92 years old next month, and for his great age he was hale and hearty, having gone to the polls and climbed the city hall stairs only last fall to cast his vote at the general election. Although troubled with asthma and not feeling well for the past few days, Mr. Heller had not been down sick any time prior to his death, and had gone to bed on Tuesday evening apparently in about his usual health. But at 8:30 a. m. the call came and he slipped quietly away into that last sleep that knows no awakening. August J. Heller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Heller, was born in Germany March 6, 1845, and he crossed the ocean with other members of his family in a sailing vessel to come to America at the age of 13 years. The family came to Watertown, Wisconsin, where relatives had settled, on the 2nd of July after a two months sea voyage. For six years they farmed near Watertown, where they had taken a timber claim, but when young August was about 20 years of age, the Mathias Heller family joined a caravan of a dozen wagons and took the overland trail from Wisconsin to Nebraska where they established settlements in the Logan and Elkhorn valleys in Dodge county. Five weeks were spent in this hazardous journey but the settlers felt well rewarded in the fertile, more easily cultivated lands where homes were now built in the summer of 1864, over 70 years ago when Fremont was but a small village. So the life of August J. Heller is a story of the life and growth to a prosperous civilization of this community. Mr. Heller was united in marriage to Rosena Bayer on May 20, 1875, the faithful helpmate who preceded him in death on February 28, 1923. Seven children were born to this union, five sons and two daughters, all of who survive to mourn the death of their venerable pioneer father. They are: Henry, Tilden: Albert, Castleford, Idaho: Louis, Twin Falls, Idaho: Theodore, Boise, Idaho: Mrs. Louise Betzer, Pomona, Calif.: Julius and Mrs. Carl T. Wagner, Hooper. Eighteen grandchildren and seven Great-grandchildren also survive. Mr. Heller was the last member of his own family all of who preceded him in death. Funeral services under the direction of Wollmer & Warne, will be held from Zion Lutheran church, of which the deceased was a member of long years standing, on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 from the home and at 2 o'clock from the church. Rev. A. S. Pannbacker will be the officiating clergman and interment will be in the Hooper cemetery. Note - A photo copy of the original newspaper obituary was also sent to me on March 23, 1992 by Lorene Lane.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is August J. Heller's memorial?
August J. Heller's memorial is located at: Foster Cemetery, Foster, South Gippsland Shire, Australia.
When did August J. Heller death?
August J. Heller death on 3 Feb 1937 in Hooper, Dodge County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the August J. Heller's memorial?
Latitude: -38.6584961
Longitude: 146.1906258

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Rosine Bayer Heller

(1854 - 1923)

Siblings

Susanna Heller Fleishhauer

(1843 - 1927)

Eliza Margaret Urnstina Heller Hecker

(1848 - 1926)

Maria Margaretha Heller Buetow

(1854 - 1919)

William Frederick August Heller

(1858 - 1934)

Children

Julius J. C. Heller

(1878 - 1940)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Foster Cemetery
Foster, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.6584961, 146.1906258

2. Toora Cemetery
Toora, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.6702650, 146.2836720

3. Meeniyan Cemetery
Meeniyan, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.5782080, 146.0204130

4. Yanakie Station Cemetery
Yanakie, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.8599510, 146.2427020

5. Welshpool Cemetery
Welshpool, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.7000008, 146.4666595

6. Mirboo North Cemetery
South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.4030220, 146.1725580

7. Tarwin Lower Cemetery
Tarwin Lower, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.6710420, 145.8624400

8. Leongatha Cemetery
Leongatha, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.4831187, 145.9380932

9. Boolarra Cemetery
Boolarra, Latrobe City, Australia
Coordinate: -38.3941880, 146.2667690

10. Walkerville Cemetery
South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.8563610, 145.9096350

11. Allambee East Cemetery
Allambee South, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.3594710, 146.0860860

12. Korumburra Cemetery
Korumburra, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.4303000, 145.8482100

13. Coal Creek Community Park and Museum
Korumburra, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.4438019, 145.8312988

14. Childers and Thorpdale Cemetery
Thorpdale, Baw Baw Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.3060020, 146.1422990

15. Outtrim Cemetery
Outtrim, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.5122130, 145.7768440

16. Inverloch Cemetery
Inverloch, Bass Coast Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.6273780, 145.7185850

17. Alberton Cemetery
Alberton, Wellington Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.6355300, 146.6719000

18. Narracan
Narracan East, Baw Baw Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.2797411, 146.2459113

19. Hazelwood Cemetery
Hazelwood, Latrobe City, Australia
Coordinate: -38.2788020, 146.3767700

20. Yarram New Cemetery
Yarram, Wellington Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.5431230, 146.7024550

21. Greenmount Cemetery
Yarram, Wellington Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.5770867, 146.7212760

22. Saint Mary's Anglican Church
Trafalgar, Baw Baw Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.2112176, 146.1548115

23. Poowong Cemetery
Poowong, South Gippsland Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.3461002, 145.7615830

24. Trafalgar Cemetery
Trafalgar, Baw Baw Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -38.1998610, 146.1964090