Kit Carson County, Colorado

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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

Ben and Amelia (Schroeder) Degering , 6 South 46 West


Jane Morton wrote "We came to Frontier County in October 1883 and stayed the first night at the Billy Nolan place on Deere Creek. My husband, John Morton, his brother and mother, myself and two little boys – George and Lonnie, comprised our party. In the night, the sound of a cowbell awakened us. Mr Nolan was soon moving, and cursing and swearing. He frightened me so that I was always afraid of him in later years. Next morning the mail carrier and Jennie Degering, sister of Harrison Degering drove into the yard with a team and spring wagon. Ann Nolan announced that she was going with them to North Platte, nearly ninety miles. There was more swearing, but Ann departed on a pleasure trip. (I remember Ann Nolan as a beautiful girl, who rode any horse with admirable grace.)"

Harrison A. Degering married Maggie M. Mills in Frontier County, NEbraska on December 25, 1883.

Henry Degering married Mrs. Julia N. Majewska in Frontier County October 23, 1899.

In 1900 Frontier County, Nebraska, Charles Schroeder born 1856 in Germany, married 15 years to Mary B. March 1865 Germany, have Anna January 1896, Elizabeth Nov 1890, Amelia May 1893, and Walter Dec 1891.

Benjamin Degering is in Frontier County in 1900, too born April 1892, with parents harrison 50 adn Maggie 33, Louise 13, Harry 12, Emma 9, and Lavina seven months.
Still in Frontier County in 1910, Ben is 18, with Harrison A. Degering 60 born in Pennsylvania, married 27 years to Maggie 44 born in Kansas. Anne is 20, Ben 18, Levina 10, and VIola 8, all kids born in Nebraska.

Ben Degering married Amelia "Schroader" in Frontier County August 12, 1914.

Harrison Degering 1850-1935 is buried in Frontier County, # 61073198.

Ben's youngest sister Helyn Viola (Degering) Laier, per one tree is buried in Frontier COunty # 61363102, 1900-1974.
A modern marker in Stowe Cemetery, Frontier County has his sister Martha May Degering 1886-1887 # 13193224.
Another sister Louise (Degering)(Stombaugh) Volkman 1885-1978 is buried in Curtis Cemetery, Frontier County # o61247113.


Ben had proved up 310 acres in 18, 7S 46W in 1920. Harry E. Degering had proved up two quarters in sections 7 and , 7S 46W in 1915.

Mary Degering, formerly Mary Lohr, widow of Henry Lohr, proved up two quarters in sections 20 and 29, 7S 45W in 1915.
In 1920 Kit Carson County, Benjamin Degering is 27, Amelia 26, Dwaine A. 2,a nd Gladys M. 1.
They're on the same page as Henry G. Lempp 32 and Emma M. 29, both born in Nebraska.

In 1930 Benton County, Arkansas, Ben H. is 37, Amelia 34, with Duane 13 born in Nebraska, Gladys 11 and Opal 6 born in COlorado.

In 1940 they're in Kit Carson County, Ben 47, Amelia 46, and Opal 16. They said they were in Orange County, California in 1935. Next household is Duane 23 married to Carmelita 16, both born in Colorado. But Dennis Arthur Degering SSDI says he was born November 4, 1940 in Stratton to Duane A. Degering and Florence C. Webster, dying Nov 3, 1999. He's buried in Yuma # 48944598, with Janis Leona Degering 1938-2002.

June 1956 Kirk items in the Yuma Pioneer
November 1964 Yuma, Colorado

In 1965 Duane and Janice went to Mahaska, Kansas to help his parents move to Boulder, Colorado.

Amelia (Schroder) Degering 1893-1969 is buried in Stratton, Colorado # 75355407, with Ben H. Degering 1892-1966 # 75355426. So is Ben H. Degering 1892-1966 # 75355426.

1965 Yuma

Gladys M. Degering, born about 1919, married Norval D. Matheson, born about 1901, in Los Angeles on January 22, 1961.
She's buried in Whittier California 1919-2009 # 116644201.

Opal is buried in Stratton # 88030180, with Joseph 1921-2012.

Duane Alvin Degering is buried in Golden # 46605657.

Longtime Kit Carson County residentt Opal F (Degering) Brachtenbach, passed away February 20,2006 at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington. She was 82 years old. Opal was born on August 27,1923, on the family farm north of Stratton, Colorado to Benjamin and Amelia (Schroeder Degering. She was the youngest of three children.
She attended country school, until the family moved to Avoca, Arkansas in the 193's. The family then moved to Orange, California. They returned to live north of Stratton.
Opal met, and later married Joe Brachtenbach on January 26,1942. They lived in several places north of Stratton, moving to town a short time, before purchasing the home place. In 1992, they moved off the family farm to Burlington. Together they raised six children; Barbara, LeRoy, Gary, LaDonna, Janell and Shirley.
Opal enjoyed her time as a homemaker, and was a constant help with all the farming and ranching. Joe and Opal would work hard all week, so on weekends, they could travel the country side antiquing. She had a wealth of knowledge about so many of the collectables. She passed this knowledge on to her children and each of them have a passion for their own collections. Joe and Opal met countless others who shared their antiquing interests. You could ask her where they purchased some item, and Opal would not tell you how much it cost , but who they purchased it from and where they lived. She had two hobbies that she enjoyed after her children were raised, stain-glass and bowling.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Duane. She is survived by her husband Joe, and her children Barbara Eisenbart, and her husband Tom of Goodland, and their children John Eisenbart, Debbie Stegman and Sandra Walker, Leroy and Susie Brachtenbach of Stratton and his sons Zane Brachtenbach and Eric Brachtenbach, Gary Brachtenbach and his wife Cynthia of Stratton, and their children Clayton Brachtenbach and Lindsey Brachtenbach and LaDonna Anderson of Fruitland, Florida, and her children Jimmy Anderson, Bobby Anderson and Crystal Anderson; Janell Wood and her husband Brian of Ordway, and their sons Michael Wood and Matthew Wood; Shirley Jamagin and her husband Kevin of Seibert, and their sons David Jamagin and Ryan Jamagin; and her sister Gladys Mathison of Rosemead, California and a sister-in-law Carmileta Degering. Opal is also survived by eighteen great grandchildren and a host of relatives.
Funeral services were held on Friday, February 24, 2006 at 2:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington, with Pastor Bob Strauch officiating. Burial followed in the Claremont Cemetery in Stratton.

Yuma Colorado, March 17, 1966

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