CARL BAASCH is among the number who came to Hall County in an early, and in
his farming operations met with the success that enables him to spend the
evening of life in honorable retirement.
Mr. Baasch was born in the village of Kiel, Holstein, Germany, May 27,
1841, and was a son of George and Anna (Krambeck) Baasch, both natives of
the same province in which their son was born. The father was wagon maker
by trade and died in that country about 1858. The mother came to the United
States in 1860 and lived to be nearly one hundred years of age and passed
away at Davenport, Iowa.
Carl was reared in his native land and was a young man of twenty-three when
he came to the United States in 1864. He spent two years at Davenport,
Iowa, and in 1866 came to Hall County, Nebraska. In recalling that trip
brings to mind that there were no railroads in Nebraska then and the
journey was made by stage. Martin Schimmer, another pioneer of this county,
was a passenger on that trip, and often twelve men rode in the stage at one
time. On reaching Hall County Mr. Baasch found employment at whatever would
provide him a living and worked fourteen months for the pioneer firm of
Koenig and Wiebe. For eight months he was employed in railroad construction
work and helped build the line to the Black Hills.
It was soon after he came here that Hall County was visited by the
memorable grasshopper plague. Mr. Baasch like many others was not very
favorably impressed with the prospects of making this a permanent home. But
times grew better and Mr. Baasch took up the occupation of farming, bought
land and conducted his affairs in such a manner that success attended his
efforts, and he is considered one of the well-to-do men of his community.
April 11, 1875, Mr. Baasch was married to Miss Wiebke Minnie Hansen, a
native of Germany, a daughter on one of the early settlers of the county,
her parents settling here in 1874. The father of Mrs. Baasch died in 1916,
but the mother is still living and has reached the age of nearly eight-nine.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baasch have been born six children, all of whom are married
and reside in this county. Ernest, married Emma Thode, who is decease and
the present wife is Katie Bockmann. Henry married Bertha Luth, who is now
deceased. Gustave married Hermina Wragge. John married Clara Heesch. Anna
married Emil Wagner. Martha is the wife of Henry Knuth.
History of Hall County
by Buechler, Barr, & Stough (Published 1920)
Transcribed by Larry Coates
