Rebecca Johnson
Bohling/Norvell Farm, Pioneer Award, 100 years
Born in Germany in 1854, Dietrich Friederich Bohling left his homeland in 1871, at age 17, to explore opportunity in the United States. Dietrich first lived in Iowa, followed the western migration to California, and eventually settled in Nemaha County with his bride, Anna Gebers, in 1881.
Dietrich was a respected community member and successful businessman. He acquired many acres of farmland, and each of his seven children had an opportunity to purchase a farm from their father’s estate.
The honored farm was originally purchased by the oldest son, known as August. August bought the land in 1914 from William A Kinghorn and wife. August fell into hard times and his father, Dietrich, eventually purchased the 80 acres in 1925.
Dietrich’s youngest daughter, Augusta, and her husband, Roy Norvell purchased the farm from her father’s estate in 1928. Augusta Roy, and son LaVerne lived on the farm for a short time when LaVerne was young. One of LaVerne’s early memories was a scolding he received from his mother for walking to his Aunt Pearl’s house for cookies, a short distance down the road, without telling his mother.
Augusta sold the farm to her son, LaVerne Norvell, in 1970. LaVerne, and wife Helen, farmed the tillable acres and ran a cow/calf operation on the pastureland. They also enjoyed many years hunting deer on the property during deer season. Sharon Norvell Bogle, and her husband Dean, became owners of the farm in 2018 upon the passing of Helen.
The farm celebrates 112 years of ownership across five generations, beginning in 1914 with August Bohling’s purchase and continuing with his father, Dietrich Bohling, Augusta Bohling Norvell, LaVerne and Helen Norvell, and now Sharon Norvell Bogle and children, Dena Bogle Stevenson and Delyn Bogle.
Stevenson Family, Heritage Award, 150 years
The Stevenson family has a long history in Nebraska. John Sullivan Stevenson enlisted in the Union Army at 15 and served three years. He then worked as teamster between St. Joseph and Santa Fe, N.M.
He married Rachel Swartz in 1868 and farmed for two years in Highland, Kan. The Swartz family had been living near Brownville since 1855. John and Rachel returned to Nebraska around 1870 and were joined by John’s mother, Elizabeth Kennedy Stevenson, who established a boarding house and the Stevenson and Cross General Store in Brownville.
John purchased 40 acres of land near Bracken from Jacob Adams in 1873.
He purchased additional land near Bracken in 1882, 1886, 1888 and 1898.
Upon his death, John passed the farm to Rachel and his children--William T. Stevenson, Ina Pearl, Otto and the son of deceased son David, John Sullivan Stevenson. Upon Rachel’s death, Rachel’s portion of the Stevenson farm passed to the children.
Eventually through death, all land was passed to William T. Stevenson and his wife Hattie Holcomb Stevenson. Upon William T.’s death, the farm was divided amongst his five living children, third generation: William T. Jr., John H., Dorothy, Marjorie and Mary--each owning 20 percent. Since this time the land has been owned by the heirs of William T. Stevenson.
Upon the death of this generation, the farm was passed to the fourth generation: Tom Stevenson (Alyceann)--son of William T.; and David Stevenson, Paul (Mary) Stevenson, John A. Stevenson and Carl Stevenson--sons of John H.
Through inheritance and sales, the current owners are John A., Carl, and the daughters of Tom-- Jennifer (Gary) True and Jessica (George) Kontogiannis, fifth generation.
The land was farmed by Stevensons from 1873 by John S., William T. Sr., William T. Jr., and then John A. Stevenson until 2013. Since 2014, the land has been cash rented to Arlen and Ryan Aufenkamp.
The Stevensons intend to pass the land to future generations of Stevensons, some of whom attended the presentation.
Wager-Adams Homestead, Heritage Award, 150 years
George and Lorissa Cooper Wager homesteaded the Wager farm, which is 2 ½ miles west and ½ mile south of Brock, Feb. 25, 1876.
The Wagers came to Nebraska from Illinois in a covered wagon with a team of oxen. Their son, Fred, was 6 ½ years old and their daughter, Mary Ann, was 2 ½ years old. Their first house was very primitive with no windows. Around 1889, a large new house was built on the homestead.
George and his son, Fred, raised and fed sheep. At times, there were 400 sheep on the farm.
George passed away in 1935, and the following year, the farm was transferred to Mary Ann Wager Adams. Soon after, William O and Mary Ann’s son, William R. and his new bride, Luella Kohrs Adams, moved to the homestead and farmed the land for his mother. They acquired the deed in 1958 by inheriting part of the homestead and purchasing the remainder from a family member after Mary Ann’s death.
The farm has been home to a wide variety of livestock over the years. In addition to sheep, the farm supported a sizeable herd of Registered Polled Hereford cattle, Duroc hogs, chickens, ducks, geese, a team of Belgian work horses, and a couple of dairy cows to keep the family in milk and butter.
Crops on the farm included corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, milo and soybeans.
In addition to the livestock, William and Luella Adams had a large garden, along with a strawberry bed; a potato patch; and an orchard with peach, plum and apple trees.
In 1976, 100 years after George and Lorissa Wager homesteaded the land, the Pioneer Farm Award was presented to William and Luella Adams. That same year, William and Luella received the Soil and Water Conservation Award.
The farm is currently owned by Mary Adams Teten Trust, Donna Adams Reimers and Corinne Adams Robinson, great-granddaughters of George and Lorissa Wager. It is farmed by Tim Teten and Tom Teten, great-great grandsons of the Wagers. Tom Teten lives on the homestead.
