Donat Seger Family to Atkinson

From: Homestead Fever by Marie Kramer, published by Marie Kramer 1993.
Told by Joe Ziska's daughter, Mary Ziska Krysl.

The Leopold *{see note} Seger family also came in 1880 and settled south of the Elkhorn River five miles west of Atkinson. They had first lived in Chicago where they operated a brewery which burned in the Great Chicago Fire* {see note}. Journeying to Omaha, they built another brewery. When this business also burned (they suspected a rival of arson) they decided to respond.

The family traveled by train to the end of the railroad at West Point and proceeded from there in wagons. After many days, they came to a lone store located near the Elkhorn River, and Leopold sent young Paul to ask the way to Atkinson.

"Sonny, you're here!" responded the storekeeper.

Since the family had lived in Chicago and Omaha, it had not occurred to them that a townsite at the far reaches of the frontier might consist of a single building.

Atkinson did not begin to develop until the railroad came through the following year-1881-after which it mushroomed.

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{NOTES from K.Davis:}
This should read Donat Seger family not Leopold Seger family.

It is family legend that there was a fire at a family owned brewery in Chicago. Also, that after relocating to Omaha they owned another brewery that burned under suspicious circumstances. The legend was that competitors caused the fires and that after the fire in Omaha Donat decided to go to Atkinson and claim a homestead.

There is evidence that Henry John Seger was born 31 Aug 1871 in Long Grove, Lake Co, Illinois. Max Joseph Seger also seems to have been born in Lake Grove, Lake Co on 16 Aug 1873. The Great Chicago Fire was in October 1871, therefore it would seem that the family had left Chicago sometime before the Great Fire.

The Donat Seger Family - from "The Stuart Centennial"

Donatus Seger Family
Stuart Centennial, A One Hundred Year History of Stuart, Nebraska (1884-1984)
This publication and others about the Stuart Nebraska area and people are available for purchase from:The Stuart White Horse Museum

page 333 and 334
On Sept 26,1828, Donatus Seger was born in Friesenheim (Baden) Germany. He married Margaret Sontag (born 1830) of Luxemburg.

They left their homeland to come to America in 1851 settling in Chicago, Illinois. There Donatus and Margaret lived for 28 years. They had 6 children; Leopold (Oct 31,1856), Jennie (1865), Donatus (1867), Paul (May 21, 1869) and John H (Aug 1871). The last child Max, (1873) was born in Long Grove, Ill.

Leopold Seger was born in Chicago, the eldest son of Donatus and Margaret. In 1878 Leopold made a westward trek by covered wagon over the plains of Iowa and Nebraska with his parents, four brothers and one sister. They stopped in Omaha, Nebraska, where they worked in a meat market.

However, in just two years, the Seger family again traveled further west, looking for a place called Atkinson, Nebraska, where land was available for homesteading. Their well used covered wagon was drawn by a team of oxen with one cow being prodded along behind the wagon.

On April 1,1880 they came at last to a few buildings standing grey against the horizon. One son, Paul, was sent to inquire the whereabouts of Atkinson. To their surprise, they had finally arrived at their destination. The long, dusty trip over, the Segers homesteaded about 5 miles west and 1 mile north of the small Atkinson settlement. In just 2 years, 1882, this small town beginning was to become incorporated as a township.

Working hard to prove their homesteader’s deed, the Segers fought to tame the Nebraska soil. Some of the boys even helped friends on neighboring farms.

Margaret Sontag Seger died on Oct 28,1894, and was buried in the Atkinson Cemetery. Donatus then made his home with his son, Donatus, and wife, Josephine. He died Oct 27,1909, and was buried in the St Joseph Catholic Cem, Atkinson, Nebraska. Of him it was said, “He was a man who united sound sense with strong convictions, and a candid, outspoken temper, eminently fitted to mould the rude elements of pioneer society into form and consistency, and aid in raising a high standard of citizenship in our young and growing state.”

Continued:

1. John Leopold Seger - from "The Stuart Centennial"


2. The John "Jack" Seger Family - from "The Stuart Centennial"


3. The William James Seger Family - from "The Stuart Centennial"


4. The Max J Seger Family - from "The Stuart Centennial"

Donat Seger Home - Atkinson Nebraska

Then
and Now
click on photos to view full size and print
Photos courtesy of Paul Seger, Atkinson NE
This is the home of Donat Seger and Margaret Sontag Seger located at Atkinson Nebraska. After Donat's death their son John lived in the home until he passed away.

E-Mail dated 5 Jul 2005 from Paul Seger: I think the house was built by Donat. As I recall he died in this home. My dad said that he built the house across the street from my grandfather Paul P Seger. His son was named John. He may have inherited the house. It is still there. As I told you I once owned the house about ten years ago. That is about as much as I know about the house. Paul

Donat Seger - Census Reports

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1860-Federal Census
Illinois, Cook Co, Chicago 9th Ward
Enumerated 31 July 1860
Dwelling #787 Family #992
▪ Donl Segar, age 31, Laborer RE value 1000, Personal value 200, born Baden
▪ Margt Segar, age 27, female, born Luxumbourg
▪ Leopold Segar, age 3, male, born ILL
▪ Joseph Segar, age 3/2., male, born ILL

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1870-Federal Census, Illinois, Cook Co, Chicago 19 Ward
Siegel, Donalt, age 41, male, white, works in /brewery, real estate value 5000, born ILL (note: errors in spelling)
▪ Siegel, Margaret, age 40, female, white, keeps house, born ILL
▪ Siegel, Leopold, age 13, male, white, at school, born ILL
▪ Siegel, Johanna, age 5, female, white, at school, born ILL
▪ Siegel, Donat, age 3, male, white, born ILL
▪ Siegel, Joseph, age 15, male, white, worker in Brewery, born Germany (note: nephew)
▪ Siegel, Paul, age 1, male, white, born Germany

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1880-Federal Census, Nebraska, Holt Co, Atkinson
Roll 750 pg 492D
▪ Donett Sigar, self, married, male, white, age 52, born Germany, farmer, father born Germany, mother born Germany
▪ Margret Sigar, wife, married, female, age 52, born Germany, farmer, father born Germany, mother born Germany
▪ Jennie Sigar, dau, single, female, white, age 15, born Illinois, farmer, father born Germany, mother born Germany
▪ Donett Sigar, son, single, male, white, age 11, born Illinois, farmer, father born Germany, mother born Germany
▪ John Sigar, son, single, male, white, age 8, born Illinois, father born Germany, mother born Germany
▪ Max Sigar, son, single, male, white, age 7, born Illinois, father born Germany, mother born Germany

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1900-Federal Census, Nebraska, Holt Co, Atkinson
▪ Donat listed with Donat, Jr.