George William Ludwig Hesse (1850 - 1913)

Born 17 May 1850 in Castrop, Germany

Husband of Lena (Vossick) Hesse — married 5 May 1872 in Lütgendortmund, Dortmund, Westphalia, Prussia, Germany

Descendants

Died 10 Sep 1913 at age 63 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States

Biography

From East Yuma County Historical Society Book - Page 153:
George and Lina Hesse - George Hesse was born in Germany in the early 1800's. He did not grow up in luxury for his mother was a widow with a family to rear alone. At an early age he began work in a coal mine, later becoming the man who set off the dynamite explosions. This paid well; so, after he and Lena Fossick were married, they bought a large, brick house One room was a garden room with trees, shrubs, plants and little birds flying around. He paid by installments, making sure of a receipt each time. When it was time to hand over the deed, the owner refused, saying, "The receipts don't show what the money was paid for". It was taken to court but the verdict was in favor of the owner. Grandpa decided to find another country; so he came to America. He Immediately found a job in the Missouri coal mines; so he sent for his family. When he heard of homesteads in Colorado, he loaded a freight car with furniture, wagon, horses, and cows and with his son Fred came West. The car was left on the siding near Robb. They took a load to the homestead and left it while they drove to Wray for lumber for the house. When they passed the Groves Ranch, Mr. Groves came out and invited them in to breakfast. Fred always said that was the best meal he ever ate. Grandma, with Emma and William came on the train and waited near the track for Grandpa and Dad. Mrs. John Speirs saw them and took them to her house to wait. Grandma cooked their meals in the stove on the open prairie until a shelter was built. After the house and barn were built, Grandpa started his garden. He used a forked stick to locate water, where they set the windmill, which brought up a good supply of water for the house, garden and stock tanks. He planted mulberry trees along the land to the road. Mulberries are not so tasty as some fruits, but many neighbors picked them to add to their winter fruit. Grandma had learned midwifery in Germany; so she was frequently called upon to bring the babies into the world. While her children took their naps, she wept for the loved ones in Germany that she would never see again, but when they awoke, it was to fun and games and learning. On the homestead August, Henry, Charles, and Dora were born. Aunt Dora learned to play the organ, Dad played the fiddle and dances were a frequent entertainment in the neighborhood. Life on the prairie wasn't easy, but with a large family to depend on, it was not bleak. The pioneers made this country a good place to live, bringing out the best in it with their talent and determination and to all of them we say "Thank You". By Frieda Hesse Stults

Name

Name: George William Ludwig /HESSE/^[1]

‘George William Ludwig Hesse’ according to burial record for son, Wm. Henry George Hesse.

Burial

Burial:

Date: 11 SEP 1913

Place: Grandview Cemetery, Wray, Yuma Co., Colorado

Note: gravestone photo^[2]

Obituary

OBITUARY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 1913 WRAY GAZETTE
George Hesse was born in Germany on May 17, 1850. In 1872 he was married and to this union there was born in a the native land, six children. All but one died before the parents came to America. This one is their son, Fritz of Wray. Mr. and Mrs. Hesse came to America in 1882 and lived for five years in Missouri. In 1887, the family came to Yuma County and have made their home on what is well known as the Hesse farm west of Wray. Besides their oldest son Fritz, there are six grown children, born in America. They are: Mrs. Emma Grier of Elsinore, California; William Hesse of Fort Morgan; August, Henry and Charles Hesse of this county and Mrs. Dora Wheeler, also of this County. Aside from Eight months spent in California last winter, Mr. and Mrs. Hesse have lived continuously in Yuma County for 26 years. The deceased had always been considered among our best German-Americans. He had all the attributes of a straightforward, honest, industrious citizen. His home life was ideal and he and his good wife were privileged to see a family of seven children grown to manhood and womanhood and respected in their communities. Mr. Hesse was a faithful member of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Hesse died in a hospital in Omaha on Tuesday, September 16, 1913.

Residence

Residence:

Date: 10 SEP 1913

Place: Wray, Yuma Co., Colorado

George, Lina and one son(?) moved to Rennick, Mo. in 1882

Moved to Wray, Colo. in 1887

Census Notes

1900 - COLORADO - YUMA COUNTY - PRECINCT WRAY 2 '
PAGE 7 A ED 208 137-
Hesse, George Head WM May 1850 50 Married 28 yrs B: Germany as were parents Year Immigration to US 1887'
Number of years in the US 13 Naturalization Farmer cant read or write owned land owned free '
Lena Wife WF May 1850 50 M 28 12 children 7 alive B: Germany as were parents Can read but not write '
Fritz Son WM Mar 1867 33 B: Germany Farm Laborer '
Emma Daughter WF May 1882 18 S B: Germany '
William Son WM June 1885 14 S B: Missouri '
August Son WM May 1888 10 S B: Colorado '
Henry Son WM Oct 1889 10 S B: Colorado '
Charley Son WM April 1892 8 S B: Colorado '
Dora Daughter WF Mar 1894 6 Son B: Colorado'
'
1910 - COLORADO - YUMA COUNTY - ECKLEY PRECINCT NO 3 PAGE 20 442- Hesse, George Head MW 60 Married 1 for 38 yrs B: German as were Parents Farmer '
Lena Wife FW 60 M1 38 yrs 12 Children 7 Alive B: Germany as were Parents '
Henry J. Son 19 S B: Colorado Laborer '
Charles Son MW 18 S B: Colorado Laborer '
Dora E Daughter FW 16 S B: Colorado '
George Son MW 10 Single B: Colorado'
1920 - Lena Alive listed under herself

Research Notes

Research Notes: Now Castrop-Rauxel, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Family Search Germany Marriages 1700-1900
Groom's name: Wilhelm Grorge Hesse
Groom's birth date: 17 May 1850
Bride's name: Lina Hellmann
Bride's birth date: 25 May 1850
Marriage date: 05 May 1872
Residence: Lutgendortmund, Westfalen, Preussen
Marriage place: Evangelisch, Lutgendortmund, Westfalen, Prussia
Groom's father's name: Johann Christian Hesse
Mother of bride's name: Lina Hellmann
Batch number: M97369-4
Date range: 1870 - 1874
Record group: Germany-VR
Film number: 958889
Collection: Germany Marriages 1700-1900

Memorial card

Marriage

Husband: George William Ludwig Hesse

Wife: Lena Vossick

Marriage:

Date: 5 MAY 1872

Place: Lutgendortmund, Westfalen, Prussia

Note: Evangelisch^[3]

Child: Frederick Henry Hesse

Child: Emma Hesse

Child: William Henry George Hesse

Child: August William Hesse

Child: Henry John Hesse

Child: Charles C. Hesse

Child: Dorothy E. Hesse

Child: George Hesse

Sources

• Source: S61 Text: Cemetery Record for William Henry George Hesse, Cemetery Office, 12th St. & F Ave., LaGrande, OR
• Source: S62 Type: Cemetery Place: Wray, Yuma Co., CO URL: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~langolier/grandview_co.html Media: Gravestone Photo Submitter: courtesy Corinna Castor

1. ↑ Source: #S61
2. ↑ Source: #S62
3. ↑ Source: #S1601

Acknowledgments