Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:
Charles R. Reibley, 7 South 51 West
Charles claimed a quarter in section 26, 7S 51W in 1891.
In 1900 Harlan County, Nebraska, Charles, born Nov 1860 in Missouri, is married ten years to Kate Aug 1873 Nebraska. Ida May 1893 and Agnes Dec 1899 were born in Nebraska.
Catherine might be the Katherine Herold in 1880 Lee County, Iowa,
age 6, with Christ Herold 34 born in Prussia and Christine 24.
Mary 8, Catherine 6, Christina 3, and Wilhelmina 2 were born in Iowa.
In 1920 Harlan County, Nebraska, Charles is farming, widowed,
59 born in Missouri, daughters Ida. C. 26, Agnes E. 20, and Ethel M. 14 all born in Nebraska.
Charles R. Reibley, born Nov 20, 1860 to Robert Reibley and Christina Schmidt, married
Daisy O. Kresser in Salt Lake County on March 2, 1923. Daisy was born August 18, 1877 to Ed. E. Teter and Anna Willoughby.
In 1927 Salt Lake City, Charles - no occupation - is at 1374 S. 3rd West, with Daisy who works at Geo S. Heermance Scenic Company.
Daisy Ora (Teter) Kresser 1877-1928 is buried in Salt Lake City # 161656.
One stone has her husband Joseph F. Kresser and her name Daisy O. Reibley.
In 1940 Harlan County, Charles is widowed, living with married
daughter Ida Martin 46 and her husband Marvin 49.
Agnes 49 and Ethel 34 Reibley are also with them, both nurses.
Charles 1860-1940 is buried in Orleans # 86558704.
On the same marker are Robert Reibley 1819-1901,
John Reibley 1866-1893,
Mary C. Reibley 1873-1916.
1974 "Two Harlan County sisters have forgotten age and refuse to
quit the farm chores that men their age have forsaken.
Sisters Agnes and Ethel Reibley, aged 75 and 69, put up the Wood,
milk the cows, patch the barn roof and drive the tractor.
Born into a family with no sons, the sisters were raised capable
of any task asked of a male farmhand. Even now there is one thing
they can't do-they can't guit. "For two arthritics it's getting
to be almost too much, but how, we do hate to admit it," said Agnes.
"Yet we know if we just sat down to nothing we'd both soon be in
wheel chairs. It's better to wear out than rust out," A decade ago,
they sold off all but two and a half acres of the 240 acre farm
started in 1872 by their homesteading grandfather, Robert Reibley.
Globe-Hopping Agnes, as compact as a garden tractor but geared several speeds faster, has spent her entire life here after being bom in her grandfather's log house. In decided contrast, younger sis Ethel did considerable globe- hopping during a ISVz-year career as an Army nurse. She served in both World War n and the Korean conflict, seeing overseas duty in England, Korea 'and Japan. Graduating 44 years ago from Bryan Memorial School of Nursing, she still holds two part-time jobs in addition to her acreage choring.
Located three miles northwest of Orleans along U.S. 136, the acreage boasts an attractive modern home which was built -- yes, the sisters helped -- in 1958. A larger place just across the pasture, now vacant, was erected about the turn of the century by their father. In 1963-64, following the death of another sister and her husband who had shared the place, the sisters farmed the entire 240 acres alone.
On the staff at Fritzer Memorial Hospital at Oxford, where she once was head nurse, she also trains geriatrics aides at the town's nursing home. She claims past hitches at the Alma and Holdrege hospitals as well. "I've had to let up in my nursing, but only for financial reasons," she said. "I like work, both nursing and farming, but if I'd make too much in wages it would affect my Social Security." Anyway, the economy is no great problem for a pair who own livestock, a man-size garden and three tractors ("Not many farmers have more tractors than they do acres"). Three freezers are fairly crammed with food, including scads of Green Acres specialty strawberries. Femininity also breaks forth in the sewing which Ethel turns to for relaxation "whenever I can find the .time." Since both ladies play the organ, they alternate at entertaining themselves musically. Every head of livestock is named -- and cared for like a pet. The three tractors, all in good running order, are left hooked to the desired equipment to avoid heavy changing. Old fashioned? Such a suggestion-raises the hackles on ordinarily pleasant Agnes especially. She points out that they've owned an electric milker since 1942, that their buzz saw is only five years old and that their wood- burning kitchen range is one of Monarch's latest models. "No electric oven can brown a roast as tasty as one one that's been cooked by a wood fire all morning,"
They reside in a modern house, which they helped build in 1958. At one time, they farmed the entire 240 acres, performing every duty "except tor trucking our cattle to market and harvesting our milo." Agnes has spent her entire life in Harlan County. But Ethel did considerable globetrotting during a 15-year career as an Army nurse. She still does some nursing. Every head of livestock on the acreage is named-and cared for as a pet. Three tractors are in good running order and left hooked to the needed equipment to avoid heavy changing. Are they old fashioned? Agnes says "no" with authority. They've owned an electric milker since 1942, their buzz saw is only five years old and their wood burning kitchen range is one of the latest models. "No electric oven can brown a roast as tasty as one that's been cooked by a wood fire all morning," she said. "Besides, this stove has a light and electric clock built in. There's nothing old fashioned about that."
Ethel Marie Reibley 1905-1985 "Captain, U.S. Army, WWII" # 86568554.
Agnes Reibley, born Dec 1, 1899, died January 1, 1986.
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