The roots of the William R Launt family, who homesteaded in Antelope County in the late 1870’s are in Ireland and Germany. William Rutger Launt was the son of an immigrant who came to the United States in the 1840’s. The elder Launt settled first in Vermont where he married. They migrated to western New York state to make their home. William Rutger was born at Almond, New York on March 16, 1849. He grew up there and came to follow the blacksmith trade. William married Margaret Geneva McGinty. The McGinty family had come to the United States from Ireland. Cornelius and Eliza Jane McGinty sought their fortune in New York and settled at Livonia. Margaret was born on June 20,1849. Two of William and Margaret’s children were born there, Ola on December 20, 1872 and William Edward on October 31, 1876. The family came to Nebraska in the late 1870’s and homesteaded near Petersburg, Nebraska. They moved to Oakdale in 1884 where William opened a blacksmith shop. Two more children were born, Mabel and Helen. Margaret McGinty Launt died at Oakdale on March 12, 1914. William married her sister, Anna McGinty as his second wife. They lived in Oakdale for several years and then moved back to Livonia, New York. William died there on January 7, 1928. Anna died on May 29, 1953. Ola Launt graduated from Oakdale High School in 1891. She married Giles Sullivan but died in childbirth on April 26, 1894. Mabel Launt married Sam J Neis and made their home in Neligh where he served as county treasurer. Mabel died in 1965. They had no children. Helen married Henry Hanson at Fremont, Nebraska. He worked for the Chicago and North Western Railroad. They had no children. William E Launt the only son of William and Margaret married Cassie Thompson at Oakdale. They farmed for a number of years and then moved into town. They were the parents of seven children. Cassie was born at Warren’s Mills, Wisconsin on March 4, 1877 and came to Nebraska with her parents, James and Alice Wilcox Thompson. They settled in western Nebraska near Long Pine. Cassie came to Oakdale to near her older sister, Mary who had married Chris Schuhardt of Elgin. William E Launt died on September 7, 1961 and Cassie on October 26, 1967. Their children are: William Richard Launt, January 5, 1898, married to Thelma Peterson, four children: Norma Julianne, Thelma Suzanne, Thomas David and Christopher James. William B Launt died on April 17, 1982. Gladys Launt, May 26, 1899, married William McKnight, their children: Joyce, Bud, Harlan, Maxine, Lois and Billy. Zona Launt, November 20, 1900, died in 1924, married Walter Inglesbe, two children, Wayne and Darlene. Harvey Launt, October 29, 1901, married Viola Inglesbe, two daughters, Belva and Mavis. Joseph Paul Launt, May 1, 1907, married Genevieve Patrick, son, Gary. Murl Launt, December 2, 1913, married Lloyd Levos.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in Aug 2007