Land that later became the Woltemath family farm west of Elk Creek was originally sold by the U. S. Government during the Homestead Act on June 22, 1867 to Smiley Irvin. The second piece of ground was sold to Patrick Lane on July 17, 1868 by the U.S. Government. The land was sold to Christian Woltemath on October 14, 1868 and has been in the Woltemath family for the past 157 years.
Christian donated the ground for St. Peter’s Lutheran Church just south of the Pawnee County line on Highway 50. The rest of the ground was transferred to son, John C. and Caroline (Beethe) Woltemath on May 23, 1881. On February 15, 1896 it was transferred to son John Henry “J.H.” and Louise (Ulrich) Woltemath. Their son, August Woltemath and wife Sylvia took possession on February 28, 1930. They lived on the farm until selling it to his brother William “Bill” and wife Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Beckman) in 1939.
On March 23, 1959 the ground was sold to their oldest son, Laverne and wife Eileen and the couple farmed there and raised five children, Annette, Lorain, Roger, Carol, and Lori.
