Casper Josva Prµtzmann

Notes:

Information about Casper is from Cai Mygind's book on families
from Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred, page 42. Casper married
Karen Svensdatter Norgaard in Klim Church in 1770. After his
mother's death in 1796 Casper became owner of Oddersb²l. In
1804 he transferred ownership of Oddersb²l and 'Little
Oddersb²l' to his son, Erich Zacharias Prµtzmann for 2000
rix-dollars. He and Karen had eight children.
Casper is listed as Casper Zachariesen, age 46 in the 1787
census and 60 in the 1801 census record for Thisted,
Hillserslev, Hjardemaal, Klitten, Odersb²l. He was a farmer
and occupant (presumably owner) of the farm Odersb²l. The
household in 1787 consisted of Casper, wife Karen, six
children, mother Margrethe Nielsdatter, and four servants. In
1801 Casper and Karen, four children, and four servants were in
the household.

Casper married Karen Svendsdatter Norgaard in 1770 in Klim, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. Karen (daughter of Svend Nielsen Klim and Anne Nielsdatter Kiib) was born in 1749 in Klim, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark; died in 1821 in Hjardemêal Klit, Hillerslev, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred, pages 43-44, gives information on Mariane. She was
born at Oddersb²l and baptized in Hjardemaal Church. She was
confirmed in 1794, and in 1800 became the second wife of Lars
Nielsen Djernes, a recent widower with five children. Her name
was given as Mariane Caspersdatter in the 1787 census when she
was 8 years old. She was listed as Mariane Prµtzmann in the
1801 census with Lars, his five children, and two servants, and
continued to be lilsted that way in census records until 1850.
Mariane and Lars had seven children. After her husband's death
in 1835, Mariane retained undivided possession of Djernesgaard
for many years. The 1840 census lists her at Djernisgaard, age
61, as a farmer's widow. Five of her children lived there at
that time, as well as her grandson, Lars Christian Caspersen,
Svend Jacobsen, a renter and carpenter, and Martha
Andersdatter, a maid. In 1845 three of the children lived with
her at Djernisgaard, along with her grandson and three
servants.
Finally she let her son Christen Kold become owner, while
she became a pensioner and lived with Christen and his wife.
She is listed as a 71 year old widow under her son's care in
the 1850 census. Her name is recorded as Mariane
Kaspersdatter. After Christen's untimely death in 1853,
Mariane lived with her daughter-in-law and her second husband.
She died at age 84.

Mariane married Lars Nielsen Djernes on 07 Dec 1800 in Thisted, Denmark. Lars (son of Niels Christian Pedersen Djernes and Karen Pedersdatter) was born on 05 Oct 1755 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark; died in 1835 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark; was buried in 1835 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The parish record says Casper was baptized 11 February 1802.
Nowitnesses are listed. Caspe r is not included in Cai
Mygind's book,probably because he did not live very long.

Notes:

The parish records list as witnesses at Casper's baptism his
uncle Erich Zacharias Prµtzman of Oddersb²l, Jens Rasmussen,
Margrethe Prµtzman, grandmother Karen Svendsdatter Norgard
(listed as Madame Casper Prµtzman of Oddersb²l) and uncle Lars
Christian from Koldkjargaard. Kasper, as his name was recorded
in the confirmations, was confirmed in 1818 when he was 15
years old. Cai Mygind's book, 'Some Families from the Two
Counties Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred in Northern Jutland',
1972, pages 45-47, says that Casper was unmarried in the 1834
census. He was living as tenant of Kjerup Parsonage in
T²mmerby with a housekeeper, Helene Pedersdatter, and two
farmhands. In December 1836, Casper and Helene were married in
T²mmerby Church. Twin boys were born in 1838, but by 1840 one
of them, Lars Christian, was living in Diernesgaard with his
grandmother, Marianne Prµtzmann. In the 1840 census Caspar
Josva Larsen, 37, was still a leaseholder (Forpagter) at the
Kjerup Parsonage with wife Helene, 27 and son Christian, 2.
The parish minister, Frederik Christian von Haven and his wife
and child also lived there, along with three maids and two male
servants.
By the time daughter Marie was baptized in 1842, Casper
was no longer tenant of the parsonage, but lived in Rotb²lgaard
with some family. He had bought the farm Madsb²l near the sea,
but was never able to move out there as he was seriously ill.
He spent his last days with his mother at Diernesgaard, and
died at age 39.

Casper married Helene Pedersdatter on 16 Dec 1836 in Tømmerby, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. Helene (daughter of Peder Thomassen and Karen Andersdatter) was born on 19 Dec 1813 in Arup, Vr. Han, Thisted, Denmark; died on 21 Feb 1878 in Kjaret, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anne Cathrine is not listed in Cai Mygind's book. Witnesses
listedin the parish records fo r his birth are Jens Koldborg,
Jens Thomasen andhis wife, uncle Lars Christian, and grandpare
nts Madame Preetzman andCasper Preetzman of Oddersbol.

Notes:

Lild parish records state that Jens' baptism was confirmed
31August. Witnesses listed in th e birth record are S.
Preetzman fromOddersbol, uncle Lars Christian from Koldkjargard
and oth ers. He wasconfirmed in 1823 (FHL MF 0053228, page
99). Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and
Hillerslev Herred,page 44, says Jens wa s born at the family
farm, Djernesgaard. He was adealer in wool for many years, and
later be came a small-holder at Glaede.

Jens married on 14 Jun 1861 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Parish records say Christian's baptism was confirmed 6 June.
Witnesses include uncle Lars Christian of Koldkjargard,
Zacharias Prµtzman of Oddersb²l, C--- Jensdatter and others.
Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred, page 44, says Christian was born at the family farm,
Diernesgaard, and inherited it. Lild Parish records of
Christen's death confirm that he was born at Diernes, Lild
Parish, and was a farmer.
Kold Larsen, 44 is listed in the 1850 census for Thisted,
Vester Han, Lild, Kjµret, Djµrnµs as a farmer and head of
family. His wife and year-old daughter are also listed, as is
his 71 year old widowed mother, who strangely is listed as
Mariane Kaspersdatter, in his care. There were also three
servants in the household.

Christian married on 21 Aug 1847 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This entry is very difficult to read in the parish record. This
child is not recorded in Cai Mygind's book. The baptism was
confirmed 8 July. Two Preetzmans are included in the
witnesses. Several witnesses are the same as for some of the
other children of Lars and Mariane.

Notes:

Parish records say Svend's baptism was confirmed 1
December.Witnesses included garndfather Ca sper Preetzman of
Lild, ZachariasPreetzman and others. Svend was confirmed in
1827 (FHL MF 0 053228, page100). Cai Mygind's book on families
from Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred,page 44, says Svend w as
born at the family farm, Djernesgaard, and laterhad a farm of
his own at Lund. Svend and Mette Gregersdatter's marriage
record was signed by CasperLarsen Diernes.

Svend married on 27 Oct 1838 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Although the Lild Parish Register records Lars' birth, I found
no listing of witnesses for his baptism. His confirmation was
recorded on 18 April 1830 (FHL MF 0053228, page 101). Cai
Mygind, in his book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred, says Lars was born at Diernesgêard. At his baptism,
Lars was held by Ingeborg Pedersdatter from Oddersb²l;
witnesses were Miss Lund of Kaerup parsonage, Jens Thomassen,
farmer from T²mmerby, Jens Christen Christensen of Rotb²lgêard
and Thomas Larsen Lund from Norklit.
Two years after Lars' brother Casper died, Lars married
Casper's widow, Helene Pedersdatter, with whom he had four
children. Lars was listed as Lars Diµrnis, 31, farmer in the
1845 census at Madsb²ll. Helene's children, Christian Diµrnis,
7 and Marie Diµrnis, 4 were listed, along with servants Lars
Nielsen and Johanne Pedersdatter. In the 1850 census Lars was
still a farmer at Madsb²ll, age 38, but Lars Chr Larsen, 12 was
there instead of twin brother Christian (see notes under Helene
Pedersdatter for others in the household).
Cai Mygind says the marriage was not happy. Lars had
become a wreckmaster, but did not look after wreckage or the
property which Helene had brought to the marriage. He and the
schoolmaster often drank and gambled together at the inn, and
Lars lost most of the family fortune. Lars became known as
Lars Madsb²l after the farm his brother Casper had purchased,
and on which the family lived. In about 1865 Helene separated
from Lars, and Madsb²l was sold. Lars bought a little house
out in the sandhills where he lived 'a somewhat seedy life.'
He sometimes lived with his daughter Mariane, who had married a
farmer in ¢sl²s, and sometimes with his other daughter, Caspara
Nielsen Dommerby in Hjardemêal Klit. He died in Caspara's home
in 1891.

Lars married Helene Pedersdatter on 03 Aug 1844 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. Helene (daughter of Peder Thomassen and Karen Andersdatter) was born on 19 Dec 1813 in Arup, Vr. Han, Thisted, Denmark; died on 21 Feb 1878 in Kjaret, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred,page 44, says Karoline wa s born at the family farm,
Djernesgaard. Lildparish records give her home baptism date a
s 4 October 1817, and herchurch baptism date as 16 November
1817.

Caroline married on 07 Oct 1844 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and HIllerslev
Herred, page 44, says Ane Marie was born at the family farm,
Djernesgaard. Lild Parish records give her home baptism date
as 28 July 1820 and her church baptism date as 8 October 1820.
Witnesses included Mariane Nyoboc (?) from Kjarup, Ingeborg
Pedersdatter from ¢ddersb²l, and Lars Christian (?)Nielsen.

Ane married on 06 Mar 1852 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Information on Lars comes from Cai Mygind's book, 'Some
Families From the two Counties Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred
in Northern Jutland,' pages 52 and 53. He was born a twin (his
brother was Christian Peter Caspersen) on the tenant farm of
Kjerup parsonage. The brothers were separated at an early age,
and Lars was brought up to about age 12 by his grandmother,
Mariane Prµtzman, at Diernesgaard. The 1840 census for
Djernisgaard shows Lars, age 2, listed as Mariane's foster son
(Plejes²n). The 1845 census lists him as her foster son and
the son of her son.
He returned at some time after 1845 to his mother and her
second husband, Lars Larsen Diernis, helping on the farm. He
left for Lild at age 17, becoming a farmhand at the inn. The
Lild Parish Register, FHL MF 0053228, pages 85 and 86, shows
that Lars was confirmed April 8, 1852 at the T²mmerby Church
with his twin brother, Christian Peter Caspersen. The
confirmation record lists his residence that year at age 14 as
Madsb²l in Hjardemaal Parish.
Lars was drafted in 1860, according to an undated document
written by his son, Casper L. Djernes of Clearbrook, Minnesota.
In 1861 he came home for two months, but was called back in
1862. He was sent to Slesvig, probably along the southern
border, to fight in the 1864 war against Prussia and Austria.
He was taken prisoner during the battle at Dybboel, one of over
3,000 prisoners. He spent two months in a prison camp at
Rendsborg, returning to northern Jutland on foot with a friend
after his release. Lars' military record, Record #51, Thisted
Amt, Vesterhanherred, 1864, Rigsarkivet-Kobenhavn M
Folkarkivet--12707, says that Lars was in the 9th Battalion,
3rd Company, service number 236. When Lars returned, he found
that his stepfather had lost the farm and money in gambling and
drinking. In 1865 Lars moved with his mother and half-brother
to Glaede and then Kaeret in Lild parish. He continued to live
with his mother even after his marriage to Maren Andersdatter
in 1868. A child, Helene, was born in 1869, but Maren died in
1870.
Lars married Mariane Olesen in 1876; they had 12 children.
Lars made his living fishing in an open boat, and also had a
small plot of land with sheep and cows. Lars' death date is
given as 1920 in the Mygind book, but Viola May Djernes Carter
says (1996) that it was 1925, since he nearly celebrated a
Golden Wedding anniversary with his second wife. In 1996 Gudrin
Kaspersen, wife of Gunner Kaspersen, a grandson of Lars' twin
brother, Christian Peder Kaspersen, sent a clipping from a 1923
local newspaper in Denmark, apparently near T²mmerby. She
translated the article as follows: 'Twins 85 Years Old--It is
very seldom that twins reach so high an age as the brothers
ex-farmer at Tommerby Christian Kaspersen and small-holder Lars
Christian Kaspersen at Kaeret who on Sunday 25 March will be 85
years old. Both are of good health and mind, really two fine
stout men who have worked hard throughout their lives never
giving up, and now they can look back on along life's good
work. Both brothers have had many children, and it is worth
mentioning that Lars Christian Kaspersen has 8 children in
America, one of whom volunteered as an American soldier in
World War I. Lars Christian Kaspersen himself is a veteran
from the war in 1864 between Denmark and Prussia. The two old
twins are the eldest of six still living brothers and sister.
The others are not young either and their ages counted together
reach the high number of 470.'

Lars married on 16 Mar 1876 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lars married on 06 Nov 1868 in Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Christian was the twin brother of Lars Christian Caspersen, was
born at Kaerup. According to Cai Mygind's book, witnesses at
his baptism included Miss Hude, the vicar's sister-in-law, Ane
Marie Larsdatter from Diernesgard, freeholder Lars Chr. Nielsen
from Koldkjaergard, Christian Pedersen from Bjerget and
bachelor Lars Larsen Djernes. Shortly after his mother married
for the second time, Christian, about six or seven years old,
became the foster-child of his cousin, Lars Christensen
(Fuglsang), innkeeper at Bjeret, and wife Mariane Pedersdatter
Rotbol. They were good foster-parents. The Lild Parish
Register, FHL MF 0053228, pages 85 and 86, show that Christian
and his twin brother Lars were confirmed at T²mmerby Church on
the same day, April 8, 1852, at the age of 14. Christian's
residence was listed as Bjerget. In 1854, according to Cai
Mygind, at about 16 years of age, Christian left for Thisted to
be apprenticed to a shopkeeper, as his foster father thought
there was no future in farming for him. After his
apprenticeship, he got a job with merchant Tomas Dige at Oslos.
Dige sent him to Thorup Strand to administer a branch shop
there, including small craft trade with Norway. Sometime
later, Christian went to Arup and opened a shop of his own. He
met and married Ane Marie Jepsen in Arup, and their first child
was born there. Around 1878 Christian's foster father sent for
him to take over Nedergard, a farm at Tommerby which Lars
Fuglsang had purchased. Christian moved his family there, also
taking in sister Marie' s child Karoline Thomsen. Christian
opened a general store at one end of the farmhouse and worked
the farm at the same time with the help of a farmhand and a
maid. Christian was too free with credit, and eventually gave
up the store, working the farm himself. Christian and Ane
joined the growing Grundtvigian movement of free communities in
Hanherred, and in 1881 Christian founded a free school in
T²mmerby. During World War I, he delegated the farm to his son
Kristian, and Christian and Ane moved into a little apartment
where their store had once been. After Ane died in 1923,
Christian moved with daughter Kathrine across the street into
an old thatched house called Gammel Tuenhus. He died there in
1928 at the age of 90.

Christian married in 1877 in Arup, Vr. Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Parish records say Marie was baptized at home 30 January 1842,
and in the church 26 June 1842 . Witnesses were Mariane
Jensdatter from Koldkjaer, Karen Jensdatter from Bjerget, and
farmers Anders Rotb²l from Kaerup, Jens Jensen from Rotb²l, and
Svend Diernes from Lund. The following information comes from
Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred, pages 58-60: Marie was born in Rotb²lgard just seven
months before her father died. Her mother remarried when she
was two years old, and Marie grew up with four half siblings on
the farm Madsb²l in Hjardemêal Klit. She is said to have been a
beauty, but 'a bit improvident.' Marie left home early to earn
a living, and by 1861 at age 19 she was a maid with Christen
Kvolsgêard at Bjerget. In 1868 she lived at Haverslev, but the
year after returned to Lild to become a maid with her late aunt
Karoline's husband, Christen Jensen Vabesgêard at the farm
Myrupgard. In 1871 she was at home with her mother and brother
at Karet and had a daughter by farmhand Niels Christian
Thomsen, who acknowledged paternity. In 1878 she had another
daughter, the father of whom was said to be farmhand Anders
Jensen from the farm Norgêard at Vust. It is said Marie and
Anders were not allowed to marry. Marie went home to Lild with
her baby, placing her older daughter with Marie's brother
Christian Caspersen and family in Nedergard at T²mmerby. The
1890 census shows her back in Myrupgard, now owned by her
cousin, Kasper Christensen Djernes Vabesgêard. Family tradition
says Marie's older daughter Karoline refused a suitor, who then
turned to Marie. In any case, Marie married widower Niels
Christian Nielsen, called Christian Sondermolle, a man 17 years
her junior, in 1895. They apparently lived happily in Lund
until Marie's death.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sophie married in 1895. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cai Mygind's book says Caspara was the first child of Helene
Pedersdatter and Lars Larsen Djernis. Witnesses at her baptism
were Svend Djernes's wife from Lund, farmers Jens Djernes from
Rotb²l, Kasper Oddersb²l and Kold Djernes from Djernes and
schoolmaster Pedersen. She was born at Madsb²l. She was sent
from home to make a living while still young, and when she was
married at age 18 in Lild Church she was a maid with uncle
Christen Jensen Vabesgêard in Myrupgêard. Her husband was Lars
Christian Nielsen, known as Lars Dommerby, the name of his
mother's second husband. The family farmed in Hjardemêal Klit,
but husband Lars died in1899. Caspara, known as Sara, was a
widow for 30 years and was known as Aunt Sara to the whole
family. She and Lars had six children, three of whom emigrated
to the United States.
Caspara's marriage record in the Lild Parish Register
gives her age as 22. In addition, it states she was vaccinated
August 14, 1851at Willemoes. It refers to her as the daughter
of Helene Pedersdatter of Kjaeret, and makes no mention of
father Lars Larsen Djernes.

Caspara married on 17 Oct 1868 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Most of the information about Casper comes from Cai Mygind's
book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred, Denmark,
pages 65-66. Casper was born at Madsb²l. His descendants give
his name as Casper Josuprets-Mand Larsen Djernes Madsball.
Birth and death dates were provided by Joann Reetz at the 1996
Djernes Family Reunion. Witnesses to Casper's baptism were Ane
Pedersdatter from ¢sl²s parsonage, Kasper Koldkjaer from Lild,
Lars Klit and Christen Blode from Klit. Casper went to ¢sl²s as
a farmhand with Jens Chr. Madsen, but left for the United
States in 1871. He worked first in Illinois, and later went to
Nebraska, where he met and married Gurine O. Quamme in 1880 in
Hamilton County. In 1893 the family left Nebraska where Casper
had been farming, and went to Minnesota. They settled south of
Tyler, where they had a farm . The family later moved into
Tyler and started a restaurant, which Casper ran until he
retired. He died in Tyler. He was known as Casper Larsen in
the United States.
The Danish Emigration Archives Copenhagen Police Records
show that Kasper Josva Larsen, age 23, farmer (Landman) from
Lild, Thisted, actually emigrated in 1873, registering March
31, 1873. His destination was Chicago, Illinois, Contract
Number 1065M. Traveling to the same place on the same day were
Lars Larsen, 22, farmer from T²mmerby, Thisted and S²ren Chr.
Lukasen, 17, farmer from T²mmerby. Casper was apparently the
first member of the Djernes family to immigrate to the United
States.

Casper married Gurine O. Quamme on 30 Jun 1880 in Hamilton, Nebraska, United States. Gurine was born on 03 Feb 1859 in Lardal, Norway; died on 27 Jun 1918 in Tyler, Lincoln, Minnesota, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mariane's confirmation record in the Lild Parish Register gives
her birth date as 14 February 1853 at Hjardemêal Klit, with
baptism 17 February 1853. As for her brother Erik, there was
another baptism 19 October 1866 by Pastor Ulrich of Hundstrup.
Confirmation was in theT²mmerby Church14 April 1867, at which
time her residence was given as Kjaeret, along with her mother.
She was vaccinated 7 February 1861.
Cai Mygind's book says Mariane was born at Madsb²l.
Witnesses at Mariane's baptism included famer Kold Djernis's
wife from Glaede and farmer Lars Klit. Mariane left home young
to make a living, and by 1870 she was in Vabesgêard at Lund
where she was a maid in the home of some relatives, Ann
Margrethe Larsdatter and her two sons, Jens Jensen and Niels
Chr. Vabesgêard. In 1881 she married farmer Peder Jensen at
¢sl²s. The young couple took over the family farm called
Hojgêard, where they raised their nine children.

Mariane married in Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Erik's confirmation record, 8 May 1870 in the Lild Church,
states he was born at Hjardemêal Klit 17 August 1855, and
baptized 20 August. There was apparently another baptism 10
November 1866 by a Pastor Ulrich of Hundstrup. Erik was
vaccinated 2 July 1861. Information on Erik comes from Cai
Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred,
Denmark, pages 69-70. Erik was born at Madsb²l. He was
baptized in Hjardemêal Church; among the witnesses were farmers
Kasper Koldkjaer, Lars Klit, Jens Tidemannsen, Peder Ellidsb²l
and Kasper ¢ddersb²l. In 1870 he was still at home in Lild
with his mother and half-brother Lars Christian Caspersen, but
left for Osl²s a few months later to become a farmhand. In 1871
Erik emigrated to the United States with his brother Casper.
They spent four years working on a farm in Elgin, Illinois,
then went to Nebraska in a covered wagon. They worked on a farm
near Cordova for three years. On October 12, 1877, Erik came
to Hamilton County, Nebraska, where he had heard he could buy
railroad land cheaply. He purchased 80 acres near Marquette,
and began to cultivate it. In 1880 he married Maren Rasmussen,
with whom he had five children. The Djernes farm became a
center for nieces and nephews who emigrated from Denmark to
work for board and lodging while learning to read and write
English.
The Danish Emigration Archives Copenhagen Police Records
show that Erik Zacharias Pretman Larsen, age 18, servant
(Tyende), from ¢sl²s, Thisted, actually emigrated May 18, 1874
bound for Chicago, Illinois. His Contract Number was 1323M.
So it appears that in fact he emigrated more than a year after
his brother Casper.
The 1893 Plat Book, South Platte Precinct, shows Sakarius
Larson with 360 acres of land. His final nauralization papers
in the Hamilton County Courthouse, Aurora, Nebraska, are dated
February 9, 1888. They state that his initial intent was filed
May 27, 1880 in District Court, Saline County, Nebraska. Erik
was known as Zacharias Larsen in America. His grandchild,
Vera, who, with her twin Vivian, stayed on the farm during the
first year of high school , wrote about her grandfather, 'He
would never tell us a thing. I guess the ending of his
father's career and home was so bitter and sad that he did not
want us to know anything about it . Grandfather lived a very
stern and disciplined life. Mercenary to the point of
sometimes making life uncomfortable for the family. But he was
a very good Christian man and known as an honest good neighbor
by all. Every night he read in his Bible, and he loved to tell
us stories of Jesus. I was so proud how he overcame his unhappy
experiences with his father losing his land by prospering
himself and still be a good Christian man.'
A 1936 history of Hamilton County, Nebraska by Gunnerson
gives a different view of Zacharias: 'And their was Zacharias
Larson....It made little difference where Zach was, he was
always the life of the party. When he and Mary, his wife, came
to retire from the farm and moved in to Marquette, he kept one
horse to furnish transportation back and forth to the farm as
the urge dictated. When this old horse was installed in the
home in the city he refused to stay stalled. From pure
lonesomeness he just about tore the barn down the first night.
Zach had handled worse problems than this one and he didn't let
this trouble him long. He installed mrrors in the barn, both
fore and aft, and as soon as Old Dobbin saw himself surrounded
by other of his kind, all the trouble was over. It was not
long after this that the motor industry came out with rear
vision mirrors in their cars. Whether they stole his idea or
he collected royalty on it, I never learned.' Zacharias and
wife Maren had five children, only two of whom survived to
adulthood.
Zach's obituary appeared in the Aurora News, Aurora,
Nebraska, July 14, 1933:
"Burial Rites for Marquette Pioneer
Erik Zakarias Pritsman Larsen Djernes was born in Thy
Denmark, August 17, 1885 [obviously an error]. He emigrated to
this country in 1871 and came to Barington, Illinois
[Barrington, Illinois is just north of Chicago in Cook and Lake
counties]. In 1874 he drove to Nebraska in a covered wagon and
stayed at Friend [Saline county] Nebraska. In 1879 he moved to
Hamilton county and bought a farm. In 1882 he was united in
marriage to Maren Rasmussen. To this union was born 5 children
and 3 boys and 2 girls. Two girls and one boy died in infancy.
This wife preceded hm in death February 17, 1907. In the
spring of 1917 he retired from the home farm and bought a house
in Marquette where he has lived until he passed away.
On July 5th he suffered a stroke and passed away July 7th
at the age of 77 years and 20 days. He was baptized and
confirmed in the faith of the Lutheran church in Denmark.
After coming to Hamilton county he joined the Lutheran church
at Kronberg and was a faithful member.
Those left to mourn his death are his two children, Lars
Larsen on the home farm, Karen Line Larsen of Marquette, three
grand children and a host of friends. The funeral service was
held on Sunday at 2:00 P.M. from the home and then from the
Kronberg church and the mortal remains were layed to rest at
the family burial place."

Erik married in 1880 in Hamilton, Nebraska, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]