MR. AND MRS. WENZL DIEZ, SR.
Theresia Bretschneider was born February 4, 1840. Wenzl Diez was
born February 25, 1840. Both were born in Saazer Kris, Bohemia, a
province belonging to Austria. They were married July 1, 1862.
They came to this country in November, 1871, landing in New York
City. The German steamship “Maine” had among its passengers: Wenzl
Diez, age 31, Theresia, wife, age 31; daughters Maria 8, Theresia,
6, son Wenzl, 4; brother Wenzl Bretschneider, 25; his wife Pauline,
30; Grandpa Diez, and Aunt Franciska (Muma) Bachman, 45.
On their migration west, they were detained in Chicago because of
the fire.
The following spring Grandpa came to Knox County and took up the
homestead where he lived the rest of his life. This area became
known as Dukeville.
The children and spouses were Maria (B. Y. High); Theresia (E. L.
Pischel); Wenzl (Matilda May); Frank (Nina Kimball); Joseph (Bertha
Barta); Carl (Mary Rodgers) and Antonia (Ray Wright)
In 1874 it was rumored that the Sioux Indians were about to do
battle with the Poncas. The settlers panicked and left their homes.
They hurried to Niobrara. Grandpa Diez was a tailor and was working
at Fort Randall at the time. Grandma Diez carried Joseph who was
three days old. Aunt Franciska (Muma) carried Frank, who was two
years old. They, with Wenzl, 7, Theresia, 9, and Marie, 11, waded
the Schindler, Verdigris, Bingham, and Sturgis Creeks on their trek
to Niobrara. When they returned home, they found that the Sioux had
taken everything they could use.
The morning of January 12, 1888, was mild and sunny. Starting at
noon, the temperature dropped from thawing to 30 degrees below zero
in twelve hours. The blizzard lasted twelve hours. In 1894 there was
a complete drought. Prairie fires and grasshoppers were other
hazards.
Grandpa Diez died March 19, 1908. Grandma Diez died July 5, 1923.
They lived through all of the hardships and vicissitudes of their
pioneer life.
The descendants of Theresia and Wenzl Diez admire and respect the
perseverance of their ancestors. The hardships they endured are
unbelievable to us in 1987.
-Submitted by Gladys Diez Higbee
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