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William Charles Hecker
William C. Hecker
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Eliza Hecker
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Born: 11 Jan 1838 at Prussia
Died: 28 NOV 1908 at Hooper, Dodge County, Nebraska
Buried: Hooper Cemetery; Hooper, Dodge County, Nebraska
Married Elizabeth Heller on 4 MAY 1870
Born: 15 NOV 1848 at Hessen, Darnstedt, Germany
Died: 23 MAR 1926 at Fremont, Dodge County, NE
Buried: Hooper Cemetery
Children:
Mary F., b. 28 APR 1872, d. 6 JUL 1960, bur. Hooper Cemetery; m. on 16 SEP 1896 to Chas. C. Cushman, b. 1870, d. 1956, bur. Hooper Cemetery.
August E. b. 12 FEB 1874, d. 14 SEP 1956, bur. Hooper Cemetery m. Gertrude Heine
William C. b. 21 JAN 1879, d. 9 MAR 1945, bur. Hooper Cemetery; m. Juliet K., b. 1886, d. 19 OCT 1935, bur Hooper Cemetery
Biography Album, Northeastern Nebraska, pub. 1893:
William C. Hecker, one of the pioneers of Dodge County, has been identified with its interests since 1858, as it was in the autumn of that year that he erected a cottonwood cabin 10 x 12 feet, in which he lived for five years. He was a single man at that time. He soon made substantial improvements upon this place. In addition to carrying on his farm, he also engaged in merchandising at Fontanelle, for it was near that place where he affected his first settlement. He remained in trade near that point for two years, and then moved to Hooper.
Mr. Hecker was born January 11, 1838, the son of William F. A. Hecker, both parents being natives of Prussia. Our subject came to America in 1852, landing at Quebec, Canada, from which place he went to Chicago, and there learned the tailor's trade, working at the business for about two years. The next four years he spent in Dubuque, Iowa, where he learned the baker's trade. From there he went to Nebraska.
Mr. Hecker was united in marriage May 4, 1870, to Elizabeth Heller, daughter of Matthew Heller, who was the father of eight children: Caroline, August, Susan, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, William and Casper.
Mr. and Mrs. Hecker are the parents of three children: Mary F., born April 28, 1872; August E., born February 12, 1874; William C., January 21, 1879.
In 1861 Mr. Hecker answered to his country's call by enlisting in Company C Second Iowa Cavalry, and served through and re-enlisted, remaining until the end of the Civil War. In August, 1865, he returned from the service to his old home at Fontanelle. In 1871 he embarked in trade at Hooper, but owing to sickness in his family and the great grasshopper plague he was obliged to give it up. The financial cloud has cleared away and he now owns considerable property, among which is the brick post-office building, two residences, a store building and a complete line of family groceries. He is postmaster of the place, the office being attended to by his daughter, Miss Mary.
Mr. Hecker, one of the van-guard of pioneers in the Elkhorn Valley, stands very high in the community in which he has lived so long. It has been his good fortune to watch the Star of Empire on its western course. He has viewed the wild plains of Nebraska when they were yet the home of the Indian; he has welcomed a generation of newcomers to the Elkhorn Valley; has worn the loyal blue to protect the flag of his country as only the brave and patriotic will. He has lived to see a great Territory come under the Sisterhood of States, which now ranks high among her sisters. Her domain is crossed and recrossed by a network of railways, over which the bounties of the soil are conveyed to other parts of the world. With all the hardships and early experiences of this pioneer, he may well count life a success, surrounded as he is today with the comforts of life and a highly esteemed citizen of one of the best portions of the Elkhorn Valley.
The following was clipped from the local paper:
'' W. C. Hecker, who has served three years as postmaster, is an old citizen of the town, and has been a respected and valuable citizen of Nebraska since 1858, locating at that time at Fontanelle on a homestead. In 1861 he answered to his country's call, enlisting in the Second Iowa, Company C, and served all through, re-enlisting as a veteran. Mr. Hecker escaped imprisonment, but the balls flew too thick to be able to dodge all of them, and during the battle of Fort Donelson he was wounded. In August, 1865, he came back to his favorite residing place and to his old Fontanelle home, for you know the ' best part of going away is the coming back again.' Six years later he came to Hooper and the store business, but owing to sickness in his family and the plague of grasshoppers was obliged to give it up. He now owns considerable property here, among which are a brick post-office building, 22 x 26, two residences, and a store building 24 x 36, with a complete stock of groceries. Here you will find full lines of choice family groceries, finely flavored teas, coffees, spices, all the varieties of sugar, canned goods, dried and fresh fruits of all kinds, those raised in this section and those raised in other States and countries, and anything else the heart of man could desire is to be found. He also keeps all the leading brands of tobacco – in fact, anything you can expect in a first-class exclusive grocery. His son August Hecker, a promising young man in his nineteenth year, has charge of the store and keeps things in good shape. He takes all kinds of country produce in exchange for goods, and by strict adherence to reliable business principles enjoys a large trade.
“The post-office has three hundred and sixty call boxes, fifty lock boxes, and is a money order office. When the government inspector was here last he said the office had increased twenty per cent, since it had been under his management. Miss Mary, a daughter of Uncle Sam's boy, is deputy postmistress, and does the greater part of the office work, and we found her a very agreeable and accommodating young lady, and would consider her a fine illustration of the ability of our fairer sex. The time is fast approaching when woman will stand on an equal footing with man all over the world— not as in some countries a slave, and in others a mere plaything whose only thought is that her whims and caprices are humored."
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The Hooper Sentinel December 3, 1908
Civil War Veteran Answers Roll Call
William Charles Hecker died at his home in this city at six o'clock, Saturday evening, Nov. 28, 1908, after an extended illness, death being attributed to stomach trouble. A little over a year ago he submitted to an operation for the trouble and received temporary benefit but it again returned and for the past month he has been on a rapid decline.
He was a devoted husband and father and was appreciated as a man of worth: honesty and confidence in his fellowman were ever to the forefront of his daily life and it was these manifestations that made him a dear friend to all who knew him best. He was a firm believer in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He was a man of much patriotism and did his full share toward reclaiming this great country of ours.
Deceased was born January 11, 1838, at Prussia, Germany, and came to this country in 1852, spending eight weeks time on the water in coming over. On arriving in Chicago he commenced to learn the tailoring business and remained in that city about one year. He then went to Dubuque, Iowa, and learned the bakery business. After remaining there five years he came to Nebraska and settled at Fontanelle where he engaged in farming. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted as a volunteer in Co. C of the Second Iowa Infantry on Dec. 2, 1861, and served three years, being discharged Dec. 22, 1863. He re-enlisted at Palaski, Tenn. and served until July 12, 1865, at which time he was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, on account of expiration of term of service. In the spring of 1870 he engaged in the general merchandise business at Fontanelle, and on May 4, 1871, he was united in marriage to Eliza Heller. They moved to Hooper in the spring of 1874 and engaged in the restaurant business on the site where their present residence now stands, but on account of poor health in the family he retired from this business for a period of three years, after which he again engaged in the business in the building now occupied by the Sanders grocery store, but later turned the business into an exclusive grocery and confectionery store, which he conducted until October 8, 1902, when he disposed of the business.
He also served the public as postmaster during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison. Deceased is survived by the ever faithful wife, one daughter, Mrs. C. C. Cushman, and two sons, August E. and William A. all of this city. Funeral services were held Monday at one o'clock from the German Lutheran church and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. E. Walter.
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The Hooper Sentinel March 25, 1926
Mrs. Eliza Hecker, Pioneer Resident Called
The tolling of the church bells on Tuesday afternoon heralded the death of one of Hooper's finest pioneer women, Mrs. Eliza Hecker, whose death occurred at 2 p. m., March 23, 1926 after an illness of many weeks due primarily to infirmities resulting from her age.
Mrs. Hecker had been at the home of her daughter, Mr. C. C. Cushman, since last fall when it was deemed unwise for her to live alone any longer. During the past couple of months her life had hung in the balance many times. But at last the day arrived when the grim Reaper took his toll and gathered home the ripened sheaf. Miss Eliza Heller was born in Hessen, Darnstedt, Germany, Nov. 15, 1848. She came to this country with her parents when she was eight years old. They lived in New Jersey for a time and then moved to near Watertown, Wis. In 1864 the family came to Nebraska and to Dodge County where her father homesteaded on Logan Creek.
She was married to Wm Hecker, May 4, 1871. They lived at Fontanelle where Mr. Hecker conducted a general store until 1874 when they removed to our city. About that time, Mrs. Hecker suffered from a long siege of typhoid fever. After she had regained her health they started Hooper's first restaurant. Later they had a general merchandise store which they conducted for many years.
Mr. Hecker died Nov. 28, 1908.
Mrs. Hecker was the mother of three children, Mrs. Mamie Cushman and August of Hooper, and Will of Omaha. She is also survived by two brothers, William A. and August E. Heller of Hooper, two sisters, Mrs. Aug. Kusel of Watertown, Wisc., Mrs. E. Fleischauer of Hooper, and by five grandchildren. Funeral services will be held this afternoon, at two o'clock from the Cushman home and immediately following from the Grace Lutheran church of which the deceased was a charter member. Rev. R. W. Livers will have charge of the services.
Mrs. Hecker was a woman of fine character and, many excellent qualities. She was a devout Christian, a true pioneer, and an exemplary mother. In her passing our community loses one, who during her long life earned the respect and esteem of all with whom she came in contact. A good woman has gone to her reward to be with the Master who she ever loved and followed.
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The Hooper Sentinel March 29, 1945
Sudden Death of W. A. Hecker
A. E. Hecker received the shocking news Sunday evening that his brother, W. A. Hecker, had been found dead in his Omaha home at 2840 So. 34 th St., where he had lived alone since his wife's death ten years ago. The discovery was made when neighbors called the police to investigate when they had failed to see him about the premises as was his custom to do. Death apparently resulted from a heart attack which came upon him as he sat in a chair; seemingly just after returning home, since his hat and coat were nearby. Neighbors had last seen him on Friday.
William A. Hecker, son of Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Hecker, former pioneer residents of this community, was born Jan. 21, 1879, at Hooper and was therefore 66 years of age at the time of his death last weekend.
He grew to manhood here, working as a youth in his father's store and graduating from high school in 1896 and later attending Midland College at Atkinson, Kans., for a couple of years. On June 11, 1913, he was united in marriage to Juliet Frost of West Point, she preceded him in death Oct. 19, 1935. The couple had no children and so the only close surviving relatives are his Hooper brother, August E. Hecker, and a sister, Mrs. C. C. Cushman of Fremont,
three nieces and two nephews.
From 1906 until 1919 Mr. Hecker was employed first as a bookkeeper and later as an assistant cashier at the First National Bank, coming to Hooper from a position in a bank at Uehling. He served as village clerk for a number of years, was a member of the old Hooper Silver Cornet band, the baseball team and local fraternalorders. On leaving Hooper in 1919 he took up employment with the Woodman of the World Insurance company in Omaha which position he held until his retirement on pension a little over a year ago.
Funeral rites were held yesterday afternoon from the Grace Lutheran church, the church with which he was affiliated while a resident of Hooper, with Rev. Paul de Freese as the officiating clergyman. Interment was made beside the remains of his wife in the Hooper cemetery. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Wollmer & Warne.
Music for the services was by Coletta Ott and Lois Stigile with Shirley Roth as organist. Serving as pallbearers were H. T. Ring, R. Stroh, Dr. J. S. Zellers, W. E. Sanders. J. L. Alperstedt and Edw. Dau.
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The Hooper Sentinel July 14, 1960
Mrs. Cushman Is Laid To Rest Here Saturday
Funeral services were Saturday for Mrs. Mary Susanna Cushman, 88, of 230 N. D Street, Fremont. She died Wednesday night at a Fremont Nursing home where she had been since June 25th.
The Rev. G. Van Boening officiated at the service at Redeemer Lutheran West Church.
Music for the service was by Mrs. Willis Bopp, soloist. She was accompanied by Mrs. J. B. Schiessler, organist.
Pallbearers were Herman Lallman, John Urban, John Shaffer, Irwin Osterloh, Ray Edelmaier and Herbert Meier. Interment was in the Hooper Cemetery, where graveside services were conducted by Friendship Chapter 122, O.E.S. of Hooper.
Taking part were Mr. and Mrs. George Boschuldt and Mmes Herman Lallman, Morris Payne, Melvin Ruwe, William Hargens, Clarence R. Otteman and Willis Reed.
Mary Hecker was born April 28, 1872 at Fontanelle, and moved to Hooper with her parents, William and Elisa Hecker, when she was two years old. She was educated in the Hooper School system and worked in the Post Office as her father's assistant from 1889 to 1893.
On September 16, 1896 she was married to Charles C. Cushman at Hooper and with their family of three children lived here until 1930 when they moved to Omaha. In 1943 they moved to Fremont where they had lived since.
A member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church and a past matron of the Eastern Star at Hooper, Mrs. Cushman was also a member of the Gavel Club, and Daughters of Union Veterans in Fremont. She was the first Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star at Hooper. She was made a Life Member of the Missionary Society, now the United Lutheran Church Women.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Louis (Bernice) Bayer of Millbae, Calif.; and a son Wilbur Carl; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband on July 2,1956, and a son, Charles Chelsea Jr. on June 24, 1960.
Source: Ruth Moss, Washington County Genealogical Society
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