Continuation of tree (4th child of Louis Pitre/Ann Dunn); all known surname descendants:
7 Jean Baptiste Pitre b: 6 December 1842 St. Anicet, Valleyfield, Quebec; d: 22 October 1918 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
+Jane Crosier b: 26 September 1845 Oswego Co., NY; m: 6 September 1865 Worthington, Dubuque, IA; d: 8 January 1941 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
8 Phoebe Maria Peets b: 17 July 1866 Worthington, Dubuque, IA; d: 11 October 1937 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
+James Joseph Bliss b: 19 February 1859 LaPorte Co., Indiana; m: 10 February 1887 Oakdale, Antelope, NE [Nathan P./Aberillah Haines]; d: 10 April 1942 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
8 George Edward Peets b: 19 January 1868 Spencer, Clay, IA; d: 9 August 1947 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
+Catherine A. Wetzel b: 14 December 1866 Aldorf, Germany; m: 27 December 1887 Oakdale, Antelope, NE [John Henry/Magdaline Ott]; d: 20 July 1968 Tilden, Madison, NE
8 Ada Emeline Peets b: 20 December 1869 Spencer, Clay, IA; d: 6 December 1948 Tilden, Madison, NE
+Jacob Henry Wetzel b: 22 February 1860 Germany; m: 12 January 1886 Oakdale, Antelope, NE [--- Wetzel/Magdalena ---]; d: 2 October 1894 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
*2nd Husband of Ada Peets:
+Charles H. Duncan b: 11 September 1969; m: 1897; d: 16 March 1923
8 Lulu Mae Peets b: 3 May 1872 Clay Co., Iowa; d: 5 March 1965 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
+Joseph Prevo b: 16 November 1867 Doliver Co., Iowa; m: 21 July 1890 Oakdale, Antelope, NE; d: 23 September 1937 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
8 Louis William Peets b: 7 May 1874 Clay Co., Iowa; d: 10 May 1914 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
+Ada Shurts b: 17 October 1878 Belle Plaine, Benton, Iowa; m: 21 November 1896 Oakdale, Antelope, Nebraska [John Walker/Martha Ann Wilson]; d: 20 July 1940 Eureka, Humboldt, CA
8 Catherine Peets b: 15 March 1876 Clay Co., Iowa; d: 16 September 1943 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
+Otto G. Retzlaff b: 23 August 1869 West Point, NE; m: 21 January 1900 Oakdale, Antelope, NE; d: 1 June 1936 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
8 Nellie Mae Peets b: 10 August 1882 Oakdale, Antelope, NE; d: 13 March 1966 Eureka, Humboldt, CA
+George Herbert Haines b: 12 July 1877 Kansas; m: 29 November 1899 Neligh, Antelope, NE [Ben/Mary Dempsey]; d: 24 December 1933 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
*2nd Husband of Nellie Peets:
+-- Manken m: Bef. 16 January 1941
*3rd Husband of Nellie Peets:
+Oscar William Gallimore b: 5 March 1886 Golconda, IL; m: Bet. 1941-August 1947 [William Henry/Elizabeth Gowan]; d: 30 September 1951 Arcata, Humboldt, CA
8 Cora B. Peets b: 27 September 1884 Oakdale, Antelope, NE; d: 31 October 1962 Union, Humboldt, CA
+Sylvain Eugene Cohee b: 8 August 1879 Cooper, Monona, IA; m: 27 November 1901 Oakdale, Antelope, NE [Alonzo Benjamin/Theresa Chapman]; d: 26 March 1950 Union, Humboldt, CA
8 James Edward Peets b: 16 December 1886 Oakdale, Antelope, NE; d: 6 October 1941 Alameda, CA
+Grace Clara Webb b: January 1889 Nebraska; m: 27 September 1908 Oakdale, Antelope, NE [Milton Levi/Emma Martindale]; d: 1966 Oakdale, Antelope, NE
*2nd Wife of James Edward Peets:
+Clare A. Bettendorf b: 5 February 1893 Fairfield, Jefferson, IA; m: 6 July 1910 [Henry/Margaret A. Dwyer]; d: 23 February 1980 Eureka, Humboldt, CA
Notes for Jean Baptiste Pitre:
Census
- 1870 North Fork, Delaware, Iowa: John Peets 26, wife
Jane 23, and their 3 children Phebe 3, Edward 2, & Ada 6 months, living with his
parents Lewis Peets 51 (farmer) & Nancy 56. Siblings Peter 23 & Fanny 18,
as well as a probable relation Julius Lacomb 11.
Final Homestead Proof: 19 February 1878, Sioux City, Iowa - Winslow Abbey & Geo. W. Davis swear to have known John Peets for 6 years, that he is head of a family consisting of his wife and 6 children, citizen of the U.S., inhabitant of the northeast 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of section 30 in township 96 of range 37. Made settlement on or about 29 May 1872, built a house 14 x 16 1/2 frame, two floors, one door, two windows, has lived in the house from about 29 May 1872 to present time (29 May 1877 - at which he was obliged to leave on account of the devastation of the grasshoppers). He has cultivated about 40 acres, built a stable, granary, corncrib, dug a well & put in a pump, planted about 3/4 acre of trees and 80 rods of hedge.
- 1880: moving from Iowa to Nebraska
- 1885 Twin Grove, Antelope, Nebraska: John Peets 42 farmer, wife Jane 40, Phebe 19, George E. 17 laborer (has the mumps), Ada 15, Lulu 13, William 11, Catherine 9, Nellie 3, Cora B. 10 months.
Final Homestead Proof: Oakdale Journal (Oakdale,
NE), Friday, 14 October 1887: John Peets has filed notice at the
Neligh Land Office to make final proof on 18 November 1887, for Lots 3, 4, 5 and
SE N W 1/4 Sec. 6-23-5 W.
- 1900 Oakdale, Antelope, NE: John Peets 56 (coal heaver/RR), wife
of 33 years Jane 53 (9 of 11 children still living), James E. 13.
- 1910 Oakdale, Antelope, NE: John Peets 67 (odd jobs/laborer), wife of
44 years Jane 64, and a lodger.
- 1920 Oakdale, Antelope, NE: Widow Jane Peets 74,
living with son James Peets 33 (day laborer), wife Clara 26, Tevina 7, James T.
4.
- 1930 Grant, Antelope, NE: Widow Jane Peets 84, living with
married daughter Lulu M. 59 & her husband Joseph Prevo 62 (farmer). Also there are her granddaughter Nina R. 18 & husband Joe L. Telgren
19 (farmer).
- 1940 Grant, Antelope, NE: H.E. Martens 47 farm operator/farm, wife Rosa 42, widowed mother-in-law Mrs. Joe Prevo 67, widowed grandmother Jane Peets 94.
Obituary: The Oakdale Sentinel (NE), Friday, 25 October 1918: John Peets was born in St Lawrence County, New York, December 6, 1841 and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joe Prevo, south of Oakdale, Tuesday, October 22, 1918, aged 76 years, 10 months and 16 days. Mr. Peets had been in poor health for several years and a week previous to his death was stricken with apoplexy. The end was not unexpected and he passed away surrounded by his children. The deceased moved to Delaware County, Iowa when 22 years of age and a year later was married to Jane Crosier. To this union eleven children were born, two dying in infancy and one son, L. W died four years ago. The family moved to Nebraska in the spring of 1880 and located in St Clair Valley. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Peets moved to Oakdale and this place has since been their home. The deceased is survived by his wife, one sister, Mrs. Peter Prevo, and the following children, Mrs. James Bliss, Mrs. Charles Duncan, George E. Peets, Mrs. Joe Prevo, Mrs. O. G. Retzlaff, Mrs. George H. Haines, James Peets of Oakdale, and Mrs. Gean Cohee of Lincoln. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon and interment was made in the Oakdale Cemetery.
MISC: Jean Baptiste Pitre's baptism is listed in the St. Anicet, Quebec Parish Registers as 1 March 1843, with a birthdate of 6 December 1842. It is also listed in the Hogansburg, NY registers. Likely possibility he was born in Brasher, St. Lawrence, NY.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Saturday, 13 August 1887: St. Clair - Johnny Peets has sold his threshing machine to Henry Wetzel. Johnny will run a machine for Padden & Co., of Oakdale.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Saturday, 30 August 1890: John Peets was found in the weeds south of his barn last Saturday evening with wounds about the head from which blood flowed quite freely, and unconscious. Whether the unconsciousness was the result of loss of blood, or the concussion of blows or fall, or filled to the brim with rot gut whisky, we are unable to say. Quite likely whisky was the cause of it all.
- Oakdale Journal (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 10 October 1890: Last Thursday evening, a lively little spree was had by one John Peets. He loaded himself to the muzzle and went home and commenced abusing his family. Shortly, one of the little girls ran to the neighbor crying that their Pa was killing their mother. The neighbors ran to the scene, soon as possible, but Peets probably mistrusted, and everything was on the brink of quietness. As it was getting late the neighbors soon went home. They had been gone but a short time when he took a notion he would finish up his abusiveness, but did not last long, as he was immediately arrested and put in the cooler. What the preliminary hearing was, we have not yet ascertained.
- The Oakdale Guard (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 24 June 1892: John Peets will run his circular swing free tomorrow. Now is your chance.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Saturday, 30 December 1893: Relatives of Mr. and Mrs. John Peets, who have been visiting them for some time, started Tuesday for their home in New York state.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Saturday, 15 December 1894: John Peets has moved his family into the residence known as the Parker property north of the depot, that he recently traded his barn for with B. F. Admire.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Saturday, 17 April 1897: Miss Cora Peets is very sick with typhoid pneumonia.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 10 March 1905: Jas. Bliss and Will Peets departed for Boyd county, Monday, to look up some land.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 20 October 1905: Mrs. George Haines and children came down from Boyd county Monday to visit with the former's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Peets, and other relatives and friends.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 11 October 1907: Mrs. John Peets returned Tuesday from a visit with her daughters in Pennington county, S.D. As an indication of the wonderful productiveness of the soil she brought with her seventeen potatoes that weighed thirty-nine pounds.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 8 May 1908: St. Clair Happenings - Ed. Peets and family, Jas. Bliss and family, Mrs. John Peets and Miss Maggie Wetzel visited at the home of Joe Prevo, last Sunday.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 3 September 1909: Mrs. John Peets left Tuesday evening for Wall, S.D., to visit her daughter.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 1 October 1909: John Peets returned Monday from an absence of eight weeks in a haying camp on the Beaver.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 16 June 1911: Mrs. John Peets went to Wall, S.D., last week for an extended visit with relatives.
- The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 22 May 1914: Card of Thanks - We thank our friends and neighbors for assistance at the time of our recent bereavement. Especial thanks are extended to the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs and Workmen for floral tributes. Signed: Mrs. Ada Peets and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Peets and family.
- The Neligh Leader (Neligh, NE), Friday, 11 June 1915: (Extract of report of Storms/Tornado) Hits near Oakdale - Saturday's storm played havoc also in the vicinity of Oakdale. It did not strike the town but much farm property was destroyed and several persons injured. Mrs. Prevo, who was driving a team of horses during the storm, was badly injured when the twister picked up the team and buggy and tossed it into a nearby field. On the G. E. Peets place, three miles south of town, the home was badly wrecked and barns and sheds demolished. Half a mile east of the Peets place the tornado attacked the Hunter farmn, where the barn was badly wrecked and hog houses and an automobile garage demolished.
- Neligh Leader (Neligh, NE), Tuesday, 21 September 1915: Oakdale Sentinel - About sixty-five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Peets on last Saturday to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the wedding day of this well known couple. Had all of the family been present it is estimated that eighty persons would have taken part in the festivities. Mr. Peets emigrated from New York to Delaware county, Iowa, March 20, 1861, where he met Miss Jane Crosier and September 6, 1865 this couple was married at Worthington, Dubuque county, Iowa. In the latter part of 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Peets emigrated to Nebraska, coming directly to Oakdale, which was then the end of the railroad, and arrived in one of the hard blizzards experienced in the early days. For several years Mr. and Mrs. Peets farmed on the place known as the Morris Murphy farm, after which they removed to Oakdale where they have resided the greater part of the time of their residence in this county. They have a circle of friends who join the Sentinel in wishing them health and happiness in the declining years of their lives.
Notes for Jane Crosier:
Obituary: The Oakdale Sentinel (NE), Thursday, 16 January 1941: Jane Crosier Peets: Jane Crosier was born September 26, 1845, in Oswego County, New York, and passed away at Oakdale, Nebraska, the morning of January 8, 1941, at the age of 95 years, 3 months and 13 days. At the age of five years she moved with her parents to Pennsylvania by boat, a journey which took seven days. When ten years of age they came to Iowa by covered wagon. At twenty she was married to John Peets at Worthington, Iowa. Mr. Peets preceded her in death in 1918. To this union were born 11 children, 4 preceding her in death, two in infancy, William Peets and Mrs Phoebe Bliss in 1937. Those surviving are George Peets, Mrs. Lulu Prevo, Mrs Ada Duncan and Mrs. Kitty Retzlaff all of Oakdale, Jim Peets, Mrs. Cora Cohee and Mrs. Nellie Mankin of Arcadia, California; also 33 grandchildren, 89 great grandchildren and 20 great great grandchildren. She also leaves one half-brother William Crosier, and 4 half-sisters, Effie Crosier, Ellen Crosier, Julia Crosier and Mrs. Della Stansbery, all of Oakdale. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Friday afternoon conducted by Rev. R. E. Daughhetee. Burial was made in the Oakdale cemetery.
MISC: The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE),
Thursday, 29 September 1938: Mrs. Jane (Crosier) Peets,
who came to Nebraska from Iowa with her husband in 1880, celebrated her
ninety-third birthday anniversary Monday. Mrs. Peets is the mother of 11
children, 7 of whom are living. She has 33 grandchildren, 85
great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Grandma Peets, as
she is affectionately known,
received many cards and letters
and other remembrances. Mrs. Steve Prevo baked her a large
birthday cake but best of all was a visit from her daughter, Mrs. J. C.
Mankin, of Arcata, Calif., who arrived Sunday to spend a couple of weeks
here. Other visitors Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Haines and
children of Norfolk, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Michaelson, Mrs. G. E. Peets, Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Martens and Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Kinnan and Evelyn.
Grandma Peets has been confined to her bed the past 9 weeks. She was born
in Oswego county, New York state, on Sept. 26, 1845. At the age of 5 years
she moved with her parents by boat to Pennsylvania, the trip taking 7 days.
When she was 10 years old the family came by covered wagon to Iowa. She
was married at the age of 20 to John Peets at Worthington, Ia. They farmed
in Iowa for 15 years then moved to St. Clair valley in Nebraska in 1880 where
they homesteaded the place now owned by Dan and John Murphy. In 1888 they
moved to Oakdale where they made their home until the death of Mr. Peets in
1918. Since that time she has made her home with her children, residing
the past 15 years with her daughter, Mrs. Lulu Prevo.
Obituaries for the children:
Phoebe Maria Peets: The Oakdale Sentinel (NE), October 1937: PHOEBE MARIA PEETS BLISS: Phoebe Marie Peets was born at Worthington, Iowa, July 17, 1866, and departed this life at the family home in Oakdale, Nebraska, October 11, 1937, at the age of seventy-one years, two months and twenty-five days. She came to Nebraska with her parents at the age of fourteen years and located in Antelope County where she resided continuously. She was married to James Bliss February 10, 1887. Nine children came to bless this home, three preceding her in death, one daughter, Felicia Bomar, and two sons, Johnnie and Roy. After her marriage they moved on his father's homestead. They lived on this farm in St. Clair Valley for nearly fifty years, moving to Oakdale last November where she had since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary February 10, 1937. She leaves to mourn her departure her husband and six children, William of Arcata, California, Harry of Neligh, Nebraska, Mrs. Henry Nelsen of Winside, Nebraska, Mrs. Jas. Kinnan, Mrs. Albert Michaelson, and Dellis, all of Oakdale, her aged mother, Mrs. Jane Peets, five sisters, two brothers, twenty grandchildren, one great grandchild and a host of other relatives, friends.
Tombstone Inscriptions, Oakdale Cemetery, Oakdale: BLISS / James J. / 1859 - 1942 / Phobe M. / 1866 - 1937
George Edward Peets: The Oakdale Sentinel (NE), Thursday, 14 August 1947 - George Edward PEETS: G. E. Peets, 79, long time resident of Oakdale and community, died at his home here Saturday morning. He had been in ill health for some time but his illness took a critical turn last Wednesday night. Funeral services were held in the Methodist church Monday afternoon with Rev. H. G. Langley and Rev. Dawson J. Park in charge. Internment was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. The Oakdale Odd Fellows Lodge conducted brief services at the grave. George Edward Peets was born near Spencer, Clay county, Iowa, January 19, 1868, and passed away at his home in Oakdale, Nebraska, August 9, 1947, at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and twenty-one days. At the age of twelve years he came with his parents to Oakdale and settled on a timber claim in St. Clair Valley, where he grew to manhood. On December 27, 1887, he was married to Catherine Wetzel. To this union two children were born, a daughter, Cornelia Peets, and a son Charles Peets. The deceased converted and joined the Methodist church in 1938 and had been a faithful member. A week ago Sunday Mr. Peets attended church. All during his illness he attended whenever possible. He had taken an active part in not only his church but in his community. He had been an active member of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 113 for the past forty-four years. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Catherine, daughter Cornelia who is Mrs. Fred Kraft of Sioux City, Iowa, son Charles E. Peets of Oakdale; four grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Ida Duncan and Mrs. Lulu Prevo of Oakdale, and Mrs. Nellie Gillmore and Mrs. Cora Cohee of Arcata, California; also nieces and nephews and a host of friends. His father, mother, three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.
Tombstone Inscription: PEETS / George E. / 1868 - 1947 / Husband / Catherine A. / 1866 - 1968 / Wife
Ada Emeline Peets: The Oakdale Sentinel (NE), Thursday, 6 December 1948: Ada Emaline Peets Duncan: Funeral services for Mrs. Ada Duncan, 78, pioneer resident of this community, will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon (Thursday) at the Methodist church here. Rev. Albert R. Murdoch, pastor of the Evangelical United Brethren church, will have charge of the services and burial will be made in the Oakdale Cemetery. Mrs. Duncan suffered a stroke Friday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Dellis Bliss. She was taken to the hospital at Tilden that same day and passed away Monday. Ada Emiline Peets, daughter of John Peets and Jane Peets, was born on December 20, 1869, at Spencer, Clay County, Iowa, and passed away at the Tilden hospital December 6, 1948, at the age of seventy-eight years, eleven months and sixteen days. At the age of eleven years she came with her parents to Nebraska where they settled on a timber claim eight miles south of Oakdale, and it was here that she grew to womanhood. On January 12, 1886, she was united in marriage to Jacob Wetzel in Oakdale and they made their home on a farm south of Oakdale. To this union were born four daughters. Her husband passed away in the year 1894. In the year of 1897 she was married to Charles Duncan, who passed away March 16, 1923. Five children were born to this union, one son and four daughters. Also preceding her in death was her son and one daughter, three brothers and two sisters. She leaves to mourn her death her seven daughters, Mrs. Roy Thien, Aberdeen, WA., Mrs. Maggie Crown, Wall, SD., Mrs. Chester Obershaw, Mrs. Pearl Packer, Mrs. George Schwarting, Mrs. Dellis Bliss and Mrs. Joe Telgren all of Oakdale, sisters Mrs. Gene Cohee and Mrs. Bill Gallimore, Arcata, Ca., Mrs. Lulu Prevo, Oakdale; twenty-six grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; and a host of friends.
Lula Mae Peets: Neligh News and Leader (NE), 11 March 1965: Lulu Mae Peets Prevo: Funeral services for Mrs. Lulu Prevo were held Sunday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the Oakdale Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Middleton officiating. Burial was in the Oakdale Cemetery with great grandsons, Arden and Paul Telgren, Cecil Fields, Keith Brink, Kerry and Jack Miller serving as pallbearers. Mrs Lulu Mae Prevo, daughter of John and Jane Peets was born May 3, 1872 in Clay County, Iowa and died Friday, March 5, 1965 at the age of 92 years, 10 months and 2 days. In 1880 she came to Antelope County with her parents, a brother and three sisters in a covered wagon. They settled on a timber claim in the St Clair Valley. On July 21, 1880 she was married to Joseph Prevo. They lived at Oakdale one year then moved to a farm south of Oakdale. After her husband’s death in 1937 she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Rosa Martens, later moving to town to reside with her other daughter, Mrs. Maude Kinnan. Mrs Prevo was baptized and confirmed in the United Brethren Church south of Oakdale and was a member of the Star Ladies Aid for 40 years. Survivors include her daughters, Mrs. Maude Kinnan, and Mrs. Rosa Martens, one sister, Mrs. Nell Gallimore of Arcata, California, six grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and nine great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, one son, five sisters and four brothers.
MISC: Neligh News (Neligh, NE), Thursday,
1 May 1952: 80th Birthday Observed by Mrs. Lulu Prevo - Hold
everything! We must honor one of Antelope county's pioneers on this, her
80th birthday week - so the flight to Greenland will be detained until next
week. Her name is Mrs. Lulu Prevo. She is a small, pleasant
faced lady, with bright blue eyes that are not covered by glasses (except when
she reads a lot). She is rounding out the 80th milestone of her life, May
3. She has lived south of Oakdale for 71 years. She was the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. John Peets, and was born in Clay county, Iowa. Some
of her earliest recollections are of riding in oxen drawn vehicles. Eleven
were faithful workers unless they came across a slough. Then the journey
would end while the oxen took a long drink. After that they wanted to rest
and she said her father would have quite a time getting the critters on the move
again. Those were the days of hand tied shocks of grain and horse power
threshing machines. Her father raised fields of cane and made sorghum.
Taffy-pulls were happy events for the Peets children (eleven in number).
All cakes and cookies were made of sorghum. Only on Thanksgiving and
Christmas was white sugar used in the home. Mrs. Prevo remembers gathering
large pans of wild strawberries and Hazel nuts. Grasshoppers moved in on
the grain fields, just before harvest, taking everything. The pests were
piled two feet thick, just outside the door. Hard times followed in Iowa
and in 1881 the family arrived in Antelope county by covered wagon. Mr.
Peets paid $25 and a team of horses for 160 acres of land (15 acres in timber
claim). There were no laid out roads. You just angled across the
prairie. All settlers were alert to prairie fires. Many farms were
not occupied, the owners not living here or had left. The farmer would cut
several swaths around the hay field - then the hay crop belonged to him that
year. Wheat fields were sown broadcast. Mrs. Prevo tells of living
in two sod houses. There was a loft room over the downstairs room.
They had three windows and were very warm; plastered with clay and papered with
newspapers. Everybody was in the same boat, no keeping "up with the
Joneses" then. The children toughed it through, going barefoot in the
summer to save their shoes. As a teenager the girl worked at housekeeping
for 25 cents a week. Mrs. Prevo said, "I don't think children could live
now on corn mush and corn bread. It was a rough way of living but I think
I am better for it." Recreation activities for the young folks were
spell-downs, lyceums, square dances and winter sleigh rides. The Peets'
home became very well known to people in the neighborhood, for her father was a
good singer and he loved to sing. Families would come in and he would
entertain them all night by singing, never repeating the same song, all the
words by memory. Mrs. Prevo attended St. Clair and Mt. Ayr schools.
Four generations of her family have attended school in Mt. Ayr (Dist. 109).
In 1890 Lulu Peets and Joe Prevo were married by the Justice of Peace,
Mr. Derry, at Cedar Creek. Mr. Prevo had lived near the Peets in Iowa.
Here is a story of Mrs. Prevo's worst predicament: She and her niece,
Edith Bliss Michaelson, hitched ponies to a buggy and drove to Oakdale.
The heat was oppressive and people were saying there would be a cyclone.
They hurried home - a black cloud was approaching. While on Hunter hill it
started to rain. Mrs. Prevo turned the horses toward the fence.
Edith fell to the ground. She was not harmed but the team, buggy and
driver were carried up over the fence and they came down in a field. When
a neighbor came to her assistance he asked Mrs. Prevo if she realized she had
gone through a tornado? She said, "All I knew was that I was in terrible
pain, that my hair was all over my face, pins all gone, groceries, too - the
horses completely tangled by debris which had to be cut away from them.
Dr. Nelson was called. He took me home where I was laid up a long time
with several broken ribs." She tells of great losses from hail.
During time of drought, the family moved to Randolph where there was plenty of
feed, staying there a year and a half. This lady has made two extensive
trips to Canada and 11 years ago she spent a winter in California. Her two
sisters, Nell Haines Gallmore and Cora Cohee live in Arcadia, Calif.
Mr. Prevo owned the first automobile south of Oakdale in 1913. The "Crow"
was a closed car, with high windshields, gears on the outer running board, etc.
There were many opinions made about the first cars. Some people asserted
that the "infernal machine" would frighten horses to death and endanger the
lives of men, women and children. Mrs. Prevo did not like the car at
first. Her mother lived with her for 30 years. The last three years
she was an invalid. Mr. Prevo died September 23, 1937. The son,
Steven, is also deceased. There is much tragedy behind Mrs. Prevo but this
story has a happy ending - for Mrs. Prevo is strong and healthy and is a great
help to her daughter, Mrs. Ferd Kinnan, with whom she lives. She is
an old hand at baking bread, having been doing it for 65 years and she still
makes bread every week. She enjoys working. She loves flowers, her
choice being gladioli. She crochets rag rugs, a hobby which she developed
since her 75th birthday. Her two daughters are Mrs. Rosa Martens and
Mrs. Maud Kinnan, both of Oakdale. There are 7 grandchildren, 18
great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild who is Paula Ray Telgren,
nearly 6-months-old. A great-grandson, Arden Telgren, is in service
in Tokyo. Mrs. Prevo also enjoys a circle of 48 relatives living near her.
Five generation pictures are not uncommon with Mrs. Prevo, for she has taken
part in two. It took real men and women to carry on during the hardships
of the early days. Mrs. Prevo has lived through varying times and she has
taken it all as frontier women are prone to do and come up smiling. She
loves Nebraska dearly. Happy Birthday, and may you have many more.
Louis William Peets: The Oakdale Sentinel (Oakdale, NE), Friday, 15 May 1914: William Peets Dead - The community was inexpressibly shocked Monday forenoon when news of the sudden death of L. W. Peets, at his home southeast of Oakdale, was made known by telephone messages. He was at work in the field when stricken and death came without warning. Less than half an hour previous he had been attending to some duties at the house. Upon returning to his work he was seen to fall and was dead when his wife and son reached him. A physician was summoned and pronounced death due to heart failure. Mr. Peets had not been feeling well for some time and it was known that his heart was affected. Louis William Peets was born in Clay County, Iowa, May 7, 1874. In 1880 he came to Nebraska with his parents and this community has since been his home. He was married on November 21, 1896, to Miss Ada Shurts and to them were born two children, Elsie May and William McKinley. Besides his wife and children the deceased is survived by his parents, two brothers and six sisters, all of whom reside in or about Oakdale. Conscientious in his every act, scrupulously honest, devoted to his home and family, a true friend, he created for himself a large place in the community, and his untimely death is sincerely mourned by every one who knew him. He was a valued member of the I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W. lodges. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the U. B. church, conducted by Rev. J. P. Blakeley. Interment was made in the Oakdale cemetery and the Odd Fellows burial service was read at the grave. The attendance of friends and neighbors was large.
Catherine Peets: The Oakdale Sentinel (NE), Thursday, 23 September 1943: KATHERINE PEETS RETZLAFF: Mrs. Retzlaff died at her home here last Thursday after a lingering illness. Katherine (Katie) Peets, daughter of John Peets and Jane Peets, was born in Clay county, Iowa, on March 15, 1876, and died at her home in Oakdale, Nebraska, on September 16, 1943, aged sixty-seven years, six months and one day. She moved with her parents to Antelope county, Nebraska, in 1880, and settled near Oakdale where she spent the remainder of her life. She was married to Otto Retzlaff in 1893 and to this union five children were born. Her husband and two children preceded her in death. She was a member of the United Brethren Church for a number of years. She was a kind and loving mother. She leaves to mourn her passing three children, Fred Retzlaff, Portland, Oregon, Mrs. Fannie Storey, Omaha, NE, Mrs. Hattie Eymann, Oakdale; 15 grandchildren; sisters Mrs. Cora Cohee and Mrs. Nell Gallamore of Arcata, Ca., Mrs. Lulu Prevo and Mrs. Ada Duncan, Oakdale; and brother Ed Peets of Oakdale.
Nellie Mae Peets: Eureka Humboldt Standard
(Eureka, CA), Tuesday, 15 March 1966: Gallimore, Nellie Mae
- March 13, 1966 - Mother of Elsie Hashberger of Eureka, Juanita (Sue)
Lewis of Arcata, Ervil Haines of Eureka, Earl Hanes of Nor
Fork, Neb., G. Edwin Hanes of Coeur d'Alene, Ida. She is survived
by 13 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and
numerous nephews and nieces. Member of the Arcata Congregation of Jehovah
Witness. A native of Oakdale, Neb. Age 83. Services will be
held at Paul's Funeral Chapel, Wednesday, March 16, at 1:30 p.m. with Mr. Elton
Henry officiating. Pallbearers: Glynne Knutson, Lyle Halcomb, Bernard
Lylle, Samuel Griffith, Emil Benbrook, James Laniz. Interment at Sunset
Memorial Park.
Tombstone Inscription, Oakdale Cemetery, Oakdale, NE: George
/ July 12, 1872 / Dec. 24, 1933 / Father
Cora B. Peets: Tombstone Inscription, Greenwood Cemetery, Arcata: Cora B. Cohee / 1884 - 1982 // Sylvian E. Cohee / 1861 - 1950
Back one generation to parents of Jean Baptiste Pitre
Items in RED have been verified against parish register entries.
- New York birth/marriage/death items in RED have come from newspaper obituaries, some marriage announcements, and occasional birth announcements.
Last updated: 10 February 2022.