Bals, Balz & Baltz
The History of the Family of Henry & Elizabeth Bals of Nebraska
From information compiled and edited by Gene Bals ©2004
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The History of the Family of Henry & Elizabeth Bals of Nebraska From information compiled and edited by Gene Bals ©2004
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OVERVIEW SITE MAP BALS NAME ANCESTORS FAMILY RICKERT HENRY & ELIZABETH IN
NEBRASKA Ferdinand SCHMERLECKE LUSEBRINK LOWER-SAXON
BAUERNHAUSES SOURCES
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Primary Sources A great debt of gratitude is owed to Franz Josef Bals of Lusebrink Farm, Westphalia, Germany. Without his openness in welcoming me, unannounced, to the family in Germany and sharing so much information in a short period of time, this effort of assembling a family history would never have come to this stage. The family genealogy he provided is on record at the Nebraska State Historical Society under the title: Bloodlines of the Bals Farm - Lusebrink of Schmerlecke. It is reproduced, with added translation, on this webpage under "Ancestors of Henry Anton Bals". This family record was assembled by his father, Franz Bals, from church records. Any discrepancies or errors in translation are strictly the responsibility of the author of this webpage. A book entitled 1150 Jahre Schmerlecke 833 - 1983 was brought from Germany by John and Marlene Bals. The story of the farm "Bals - Lusebrink" on this website on the page "History of Lusebrink Farm" is a translation from the chapter in that book. Chapters dealing with the history of the Village of Schmerlecke, the description of the Lower Saxon Bauernhauses, the conditions of farmers of the village through history, and much more, have only been partially translated. This book is a valuable resource for understanding the history of the family Bals. Secondary Sources Burcow, George Ellis. The Saxon House: A Cultural Index in European Ethnography. Moscow: University Press of Idaho, 1979. A valuable research document on the Lower-Saxon Barn-Houses. These were the "Houses of our Ancestors". Henry and Ferdinand were born and grew to adulthood in a Lower Saxon Barn-House. Elizabeth and Lena were born in this style of house as well, and Lena lost her leg in the thresher built into the loft of one of these barn-houses. These barn-houses were very regional in that one master builder would be responsible for the building of every house in a village, or the immediate surrounding farms. (hofs) and all were nearly identical. The Barn-House of Lusebrink burned in the late 1890's, shortly after Henry immigrated to America Heitkemper, Paul. Geschichte des Kirchspiels Horn. (History of the Church District of Horn-Millinghausen). :Lippstadt: Druck C. Jos, Laumanns, 1962. This is a history of the churches of the region surrounding Lusebrink Farm. The book contains photographs and descriptions of the chapel adjacent to the farmyard of Lusebrink Farm, constructed in 1696-97, and restored by Franz Bals in 1954. Also, photos and description of the chapel in the village of Schmerlecke and the church at Horn. It also includes much local history. Only short passages of this book have been translated to date.
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This website was created by Gene Bals on September 13, 2004. |
