Daniel Van Brocklin

  General Notes:

Daniel Van Brocklin was born May 20, 1840 at Ancastern Upper Canada. Daniel lived in Canada and Illinois when a child. He worked as a sailor on the Great Lakes for a time. At the age of 23 he enlisted in the 27th Wisconsin serving three years in the Civil War. Daniel trained as a medical aide. He mustered out August 29, 1865 as Corporal and Sergeant of Co. K.

After the marriage of Daniel and Elizabeth they came to Nebraska in 1868, living in Saunders County for ten years. Two of Daniel and Elizabeth children died near Cedar Bluffs from scarlet fever. Then Daniel and Elizabeth moved to Knox County July 1878, taking a homestead on the Verdigre Creek. The land was located six miles southwest of Verdigre. The homestead was later owned by Elmer Kotrous southwest of Verdigre, NE.

The first home of Daniel and Elizabeth was the usual dug-out construction in the side of a hill. The pioneer couple and their four small sons endured the hardships of the times, namely grasshoppers, prairie fires, hunger and Indian invasions. The grasshopper plague completely ruined their crops - trees and even harness for the horses were eaten. A scourge of army worms infested corn and oat fields. Through the years their way of living improved, and their home was blessed with other children until they counted six sons and three daughters. Retiring to a new home in Creighton, NE, in the early 1900's they operated a large orchard having numerous apple, cherry, and plum trees of many varieties. Here Daniel died Dec. 18, 1909 and is buried at Creighton, NE. Elizabeth continued to live in her home until her health failed and she moved back to the old homestead where she spent the last years of her life with the family of her son Frederick.

Elizabeth was born Nov. 11, 1845 in Baden Germany. She came to America in 1857 at the age of 12. Her family locating at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She died Aug 30, 1934 and is buried at the Creighton St. Ludger cemetery. Daniel and Elizabeth are buried near Daniel's son William Van Brocklin and first wife Sarah Frances Hodges Van Brocklin and second wife Effie Stubben Van Brocklin.

William Van Brocklin is the Father of Margaret (Peggy), Louise, Wilma and Elizabeth (Beth) Van Brocklin.

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Following written by Mother Wilma Frances Van Brocklin Sukup, daughter of William and Sarah Hodges Van Brocklin in July 1986 for Verdigre Centennial Book
Daniel and Eliabeth Van Brocklin and their four small sons homesteaded a quarter section of land located six miles southwest of Verdigre in 1878. Elmer Kotrous family reside on the farm today (1986).

Daniel Van Brocklin was born in Ancaster, Upper Canada on May 20, 1840. The parents were Garrett and Anne (Mercer) Van Brocklin who rerturned to Wisconsin in 1846 with children Isaih, Heremiah, Ezekial, Roxilany, Daniel and Hosea.

Daniel worked as a sailor on Lake Michigan until the Civil War broke out. He enlisted on February 16, 1863 in the 27th Wisconsin and served three years. Trained as a medical aide he mustered out of army August 29, 1865. Daniel lived at Manitowoc, Wisconsin where he married Elizabeth Krause.on December 25, 1866. Two years later the young couple came west and moved to Saunders County settling near Cedar Bluffs, NE. Two of their children died here from scarlet fever. Ten years later Daniel and Elizabeth came to Knox County in 1878 with their four sons Victor, Henry, Clark and Frank.
The couple took a homestead new the Verdigre Creek and the first home was a dugout near the creek.
Buildings were added as needed, a farmstead being buiolt up on hill west of the creek. Elizabeth's father Alexander Krause from Saunders County would send food in barrels with travelers to this new home. Apples, potatoes and meat were welcomed as well as clothing and blankets.
Daniel and Elizabeth recalled some of the hardships pioneers endurewd. Prairie fires were top of the list - they learned to plow a fire guard around the buildings. Later these were planted to trees. The grasshoppers plague completely ruined their crops...trees and even harness for horses were eaten. A scourge of army worms infected corn and oat fields.
Five children were added to the family - Florence (Blair), William, Elizabeth (VonTersch), Frederick and Flora (Hartlieb).

The children attended school at Hilderville which was just down the creek to the south from the homestead. A store and postoffice were there also.

In 1901, Daniel and Elizabeth moved to a farm on the creek which was later called the Micek Place. Daniel's son Frank and Mary (Jackson) moving to the homestead. In 1904, Daniel and Elizabeth had a farm sale which netted him $1900.00, far different from sales conducted later.
Daniel and Elizabeth with the four younger children moved to Creighton where their house they built still stans on Redick Avenue. Mrs. Edward Beckman resides there at this time (1986).
Daniel planted a large orchard - apples, cherries, plums as well as berries.
All his life the medical training from the service served him in visiting the sick and helping their families He was usually called when a death occured in the area.

Daniel Van Brocklin died Decemberr 8, 1909 at the age of 69 years. Elizabeth (Kraus) Van Brocklin died August 30, 1934 at the age of 89 years. Both are buried at St. Ludger Catholic Cemetery in Creighton, NE.

John T. Van Brocklin as a grandson of Daniel and Elizabeth Van Brocklin and living on the farm his father Frederick and Laura (Schula) lived.. (1986) John is married to Dorothy (Brady) Van Brocklin and their children are: John Joseph; James Frederick; Joel David, Marie Agnes, Ann Catherine, Patricia, Garret Lee; and Christine.

A granddaughter of Daniel and Elizabeth an Brocklin is Wilma Frances (Van Brocklin) Sukup. She is married to John A. Sukup. John and Wilma lived on Henry and Minnie Van Brocklin farm for part of their lives. They retired and now live in Creighton, NE. Children are Raymond Henry, Daniel Clay, Julia Frances and David William. John and Wilma celebrated their golden wedding anniversary June 24, 1986.

Written by Wilma F Sukup July 1986 for Verdigre Centennial Book.

Daniel married Elizabeth Krause Van Brocklin, daughter of Alexander Krause and Elizabeth Kopf Krause, on 25 Dec 1866 in Manitowoc, WI. (Elizabeth Krause Van Brocklin was born on 11 Nov 1845 in Baden, Germany, died on 30 Aug 1934 in Verdigre, NE and was buried in Creighton, NE.)