CEDAR COUNTY, NEBRASKA - JOSEPHINE HEIMES HAS 75TH BIRTHDAY
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CEDAR COUNTY NEWS  MARCH 7, 1929

PIONEER RESIDENT HAS 75TH BIRTHDAY

MRS. JOSEPHINE HEIMES WAS A FIRST BRIDE IN OLD BOW VALLEY CHURCH

Mrs. Josephine Heimes, who was the first girl to be married in the old 
Bow Valley Church observed her 75th birthday Friday.  Mrs. Heimes, who 
has seen the county develop and who has had first hand experiences in 
this change, spent her birthday quietly, going to church in the early 
morning, and reading in the afternoon.

Not only has Mrs. Heimes been among the first of the women to make a 
home in Cedar county, but she has also had the experiences of being a 
business girl in the days when it was a great adventure in the unknown 
for women to work other than in their parents' home.

Born in Westphalia, Germany, Mrs. Heimes, then Miss Josephine Fehling, 
was left an orphan at the age of 12, her mother dying at that time. Her 
father had been dead for several years. The youngest in the family, 
sisters and brother cared for her several years, and then she learned to 
make her own living, thus asserting an independence which partly has 
brought about the acceptance of women in business at the present time.

When she was about 19, she came to America with her friends, from
Westphalia and for two years lived in Detroit, later accompanying the 
same group to Cedar county, where she lived with an older sister, the 
late Mrs. Louisa Arens.

While at the home of her sister, Miss Fehling met Anton Heimes, and 
later became his bride, the wedding just 54 years ago, being the first to 
take place in the old Bow Valley Church.  Rev. Father Doxachrer, pastor 
at St. Helena, came to the Bow Valley church for the occasion. Mrs. John 
Tigges was bridesmaid, and Wm. Arens best man.

The young couple began farming on his homestead, still called the old 
home place, and farmed by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heimes. It is on Hiway 15, 
about one and half miles from the turn west to Fordyce.  For his bride, 
Mr. Heimes had built a log house, which was considered a sign of 
prosperity at that time.  Before his marriage, he had lived in what was 
called a dugout, and which was the first home of many pioneers in northern 
Cedar county. It was in this dug-out Mr. Heimes used to recall that he 
and Peter Tielke lost a day.  They had found protection against a blizzard 
that raged for three or four days, three days they thought, altho others 
in the county insisted the storm lasted four days.

To the original homestead Mr. and Mrs. Heimes add neighboring tracts 
of land, and better buildings. What their oldest daughter, now Mrs. Joseph 
Bange of Hartington  made her first community, they erected the first of 
the frame buildings to be erected along the Hiway between Fordyce and 
Hartington.

Seventeen years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Heimes moved to Hartington, buying 
the residence just south of the hospital. There they lived until five 
years ago, when Mr. Heimes passed away.  Since his death, Mrs. Heimes has 
made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Bange.  During the last two winters she 
has suffered from attacks of the flu, but on her birthday she was strong 
enough to attend church. She spends most of her time reading, which is her 
greatest pleasure.

Mrs. Heimes has six children, Mrs. Joseph Bange of Hartington, Anton
Heimes and Mrs. Henry Lange of near St. Helena, Will Heimes east of 
Hartington, Mrs. Frances Burbach near Hartington, and Frank on the old home 
place, she has 49 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.