The blizzard of 1888 came very unexpectedly while the children were at
school. Louis, the older brother who was no longer attending school, was sent to
get his younger brothers and sisters. He followed the fence south when he went to
get them. Louis and his brothers and sisters followed the Loseke creek to find their
way home, holding hands so they wouldn’t get lost. In 1894 there was drought and
there were grasshoppers. This left them without much food or money. In 1895 they
had a good year with a bumper crop so they were able to survive in this fickle land
one more year.
Survival had to be the driving force of the pioneers. A. Johann worked on
building the Platte River Bridge to provide for his big family. As he worked on the
bridge he slipped and fell on a scaffold brace, injuring a kidney. He was never in
good health following that fall and died on Aug. 13, 1902.
A. Johann was a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church. He served as
elder for 31 years and served on the building committee when the first frame
church was built in 1877 for $1,200. He saw that his family worshipped there regu-
larly and had his children baptized and sent to the German school at Christ Lu-
theran at the appropriate age.
Christ Lutheran Church—Columbus, Nebraska
new—built in 1920/21
old—built in 1877
Anna Catherine continued to live in the farmhouse on the homestead land
and later, in another frame house built nearby for her, Bertha, and Minna. Her son,
Otto, and his new wife Minna continued living in the first frame house. When the
eldest daughter, Ida (Mrs. Fritz Otte), died in childbirth in 1908 she left 8 children.
Two of the boys, Ernst and Adolf Otte, (and many other children at various times)
stayed with grandma (Anna Catherine) so they could attend the German School and
confirmation instruction. Adolf Otte used to have many nightmares after his mother
passed away, but Grandma Anna would always comfort him and calm him down.
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