Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

The last three weeks have been exciting days for some of the residents of Franklin County. Four baby boys have been born and all of them have deep set roots in our area. I have enjoyed tracing their lineage backwards.

Mark Donovan Thurston was born on January 25, 2000. He was born to Mark Thurston and Jeanne Rutt of Campbell. He has two sisters, Megan, 12 and Maddi, 9. Mark is the third great-grandson of Helfrich Rutt. Mark will have the privilege of growing up on the same farm that Helfrich homesteaded.

On February 3,2000 Zachery Jacob Frerichs entered this world, born to Lee and Rose Frerichs. The Frerichs family lives in Holdrege. Zack has one sister, Tiffany, and three brothers, William, Timothy and Anthony. Zachery is the third great-grandchild of Otto Grube, who lived east of Macon, and the third great-grandchild of Wert Frerichs who lived west of Macon.

Duane and I have not had a newborn grandchild for eleven years, so this baby boy born was an exciting time for us. On February 5, 2000 Chase Lane Donovan was born to Patrick and Wynette Donovan. Chase has a brother, Shane, and sister Megan. They live in Minneapolis, KS. I could fill this whole newspaper with the story of this child’s birth, but I will try to keep my many thoughts under control.

I just so happened to be visiting at their home when Chase was born at the hospital in Salina, KS. We had just gotten to sleep, when I heard Wynette’s call from the top of the stairs saying they were headed for the hospital. So out of bed I bounded to wake up Megan and go get Shane at a friend’s house. This was all taking place at midnight. We drove to Salina, just in time to see the Ultrasound show us the baby was a boy. The night got long, and Shane, Megan, and I slept in the visitor’s rooms for a few hours. Morning came and no baby had yet arrived. Soon, other family members arrived at the hospital’s waiting room. To make a long story short, the doctor summed it all up, when she returned to the birthing room and told Pat and Wynette there are gobs of people out there. I never left that door in the hour before Chase was born. I listened so close for any sign of this new life in our midst. I know there must be a head divot in that oak door. The nurse from down the hall said. “Get a glass and maybe you can hear.” Janelle, our daughter-in-law just happened to have one. Well, let me tell you, it didn’t work. Megan even tried it. I can’t tell you the excitement I felt-this is something perhaps only grandmothers know. I just couldn’t wait. I soon heard his first whimper then a loud cry that announced his arrival to this world. I loved him even before I saw him. It was as if time stood still, and seemed hours went by before that wide door opened for us all to see Chase laying in his dad’s arms. He is a big baby and so perfect. “It’s just a miracle.” Pastor Walker said later when he visited the family. Chase Lane Donovan is the third great-grandson of James Sharp who bought our farm in 1902, and the third great-grandson of William Dunn, who first homesteaded in Ash Grove community and later moved to Bloomington.

On February 8, 2000 Caleb Paul Hukill was born to Kevin and Tamra Hukill. Caleb has a brother, Charles and a sister, Emily. The Hukill family lived in Franklin. Baby Caleb is the third great-grandson of Rufus Douglass that lived northwest of Bloomington, and the third great-grandson of Henry Kahrs, who lived in the Ash Grove Area.

So the lineage goes on, generation after generation. Rufus Douglass, Henry Kahrs, Nicholas Rutt, Otto Grube, Wert Frerichs, James Sharp, and William Dunn worked and farmed Franklin County land at about the same time. I wonder if they knew each other? Did they think far enough into the future to ponder about their great grandchildren? If these old times’ arms could hold these three, I am sure they would be very proud of each of them and consider them to be truly a miracle. In my own way, I’d like to think maybe those old spirits have already met these tiny souls.

I’ve learned that there’s nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I’ve learned that when newly born grandchildren hold your little finger in his fist that you’re hooked for life. The Internet.

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

Return to For Another Day main page

Return to Franklin County NEGenWeb Main Page