Chapter 1: The Pre Pre-natal Years

My sister, Esther Joann, was an only child, or so it seemed. She was born on an isolated farm a half dozen miles northwest of Corbin, Kansas in June, 1927. Our family doctor drove a horse and buggy and therefore couldn't or wouldn't travel at night. The day before my sister was born the doctor was notified, and she drove her buggy out from Corbin to spend the night. Yes, she drove her buggy. Joann arrived on schedule, healthy and happy. The doctor returned to Corbin to cook in her cafe. It seems that the Corbin community was too small to support the doctor, so she and her nurse also ran a cafe, and they lived in the back of the same building.

The 1920s and 30s were pretty tough times in southern Kansas, as they were in a large part of our country at that time. Grace Esther Theota Smith and Herman Niebaum were married on September 9, 1926. Dad was 24 and Mom was 20. Mom had 4 names and Dad had only two. Mom always said that was a good balance.

They wanted very much to farm, but had little with which to begin a farm life. So, at the time Joann was born, they were living with Mom's parents, Susan Martha and Joseph Grant Smith. Though tractors were in use then, the Smiths farmed with a team of horses. Herman always referred to his father-in-law as 'Dad Smith'. He said that Dad Smith couldn't drive his team straight to save his soul. Dad recalled that one day after planting all day with the team he asked, "Dad Smith, how are you ever going to cultivate those crooked rows?" Without missing a beat Granddad replied, "Why, I'll just use the same horses!" Dad loved sharing that story, and he always laughed the most in its telling. They moved to Corbin when Joann was 6 months old, and later to the farm on the Chickaskia River southwest of Corbin.

Herman and Grace were both born in different parts of Oklahoma Indian Territory in 1902 and 1906 respectively. Oklahoma didn't become a state until 1907. Dad was born on a farm southeast of Caldwell, Kansas, just south of the Oklahoma/Kansas border. Mom was born on a farm near Minco, Oklahoma. Both were born to 'farm' families, when farm meant both crops and animals. When Mom was 7 she and her family moved to southern Kansas in a covered wagon. Her mother tied a kewpie doll to a string and hung it from the top of the wagon for her to play with on the trip. She remembered that experience all her life.

Both of my Grandfathers, Louis Niebaum and Joseph Smith, made the 'run' into the Cherokee Strip when it opened for homesteading in 1893. Louis was about 25 and Joseph was about 30. Both staked claims for 160 acres. Granddad Niebaum couldn't farm his claim, since he had nothing to farm it with. He traded his claim for a wagon and a team of horses. Granddad Smith had even worse luck. He returned to Kansas for his family and someone removed his markers, claiming the land for their own. Granddad went to court to prove rightful ownership, and lost. He always believed that his lawyer had been paid off by the other parties, and never trusted a lawyer thereafter.

Great Grandfather Henry Niebaum has always held a lot of fascination for me, partly because he was the immigrant Niebaum. He was born near Hanover, Germany late in 1833. Dad repeated many times the story of his Grandfather Henry being sent off by his mother at age 16 to life in the new world with the clothes on his back and a $5 bill sewed inside his coat lining. That would have him entering the U.S. in about 1849 or 1850 and he entered through New Orleans. Although I have no evidence at all, I expect his German name was Heinrich, changed to Henry in the translation. There are Heinrich Niebaums still living the Hanover region of Germany. In the sparse written family records is the following information, presented very much as it was written:

Henry Niebaum

"Born in or near Hanover Germany came to this country as a young Lad about 16 yrs of age. Disembarking at New Orleans and boating up the Miss River. Spent some time in Cinn. Ohio working as a carpenter helper. Henry was born 1833 and with the records I have I would say anytime after the 17th of Nov. and the month of Dec. Earning money and sending back to Germany for his mother and two Brothers to make the voyage to this country. Which they did. We assume they are buried in or around Cinn. Do not have any idea of their names. I do know Henry went back to Cinn later in life to visit his relatives before his passing.
Thru the records we find Henry moved around some early in life here in this Country. Was inlisted in the Union Army at Aurora Ind. April 20 - 1861 for a period of 90 days. I really can't believe Henry was married during this time as his first born came Aug 22 - 1863. Tho maybe Herman isn't the first born as there is mention of a sixth child reading his obituary And some where along the line this information was passed on as the children wrote the obit.
The first three children were born in Switzerland Co Ind. Herman, Katherine, John.
I would rather think the Lady he married Margaret Meinken also an imigrant of Germany was located in this vicinity Switzerland Co Ind.
In the year 1868 Henry and Margaret and three children migrated west to Leavenworth County, Kansas. They are on the Census of 1870. Also Louis Niebaum the fourth child.
Henry and Margaret settled in the area of Neely Ks. And thru the info Ive received the place is still standing tho some remodeling has took place
Henry and Margaret had five living children
Herman Aug 22 - 1863 Switzerland Co Ind
Katherine March 25 - 1865 Switzerland Co Ind
John Fredrick Jan. 7 - 1867 Switzerland Co Ind
Louis Nov. 17 - 1868 Leavenworth Co Ks
William Sept 4 - 1871 Leavenworth Co Ks
Margaret Meinken Niebaum died 1876 Leavenworth Co Ks leaving Henry with a very young family. 41 yrs of age. There is no record of where she is buried tho we are sure she is buried in Fall Creek Cem Jarbalo Ks. The cemetary was not plotted until 1880 so they were buried side by side called potters field which is along the fence on the northside of the Cem. There is a large part of the Cem. consumed by Meinken's which joines potters field. I have reason to believe this as the Cemetary sexton John Meinken who was a nephew of Margret Meinken. He was close to 80 at the time and convince me of this.
Henry Niebaum remarried Nov 18 - 1880 Leavenworth - Kansas to Mary Jane Schenek previous marrage by name Vanpelt two son's Nelson Vanpelt - Everett Vanpelt.
Maiden name of Mary Jane Eminger
Henry 2nd wife is buried Hubbel Hill Cem Tonganoxie Ks. Died Jan 5 - 1910
The Leavenworth Co Historical Society Museum 334 Fifth Ave have a quilt on display which was made by Henry and Margaret Niebaum back in the 1860s

Tonganoxie Mirrow 30 June 1921
Henry Niebaum died at Caldwell Ks. 24 June and was brought here for burial.
The funeral services were held at the Friends church and were conducted by Rev. John Howard and Rev H.A. Cook
Burial services took place at the Fall Creek Cem. and were conducted by the masonic order of kwhich he was a member

Tonganoxie Mirrow 7 July 1921
Henry Niebaum was born in Germany 1833 and died at Caldwell Kansas 24 June 1921 age 88 years
His early life was spent in Ohio and Indiana. He came to America at the age of 16 years.
He came to Leavenworth Co Ks 1868 and has lived in this vicinity ever since
He was married to Margaret Meinken and after her death was married to Mrs Jane Schenck who died Jan 5 - 1910. There were 6 children 5 of whom are living. They are William of Tonganoxie, Louis of Caldwell Ks also Herman and John of Okla. Mrs. Katie White of Okla. All of whom were present at the funeral services at the Friends Church in Tonganoxie, Tuesday June 28th conducted by Rev. H.A. Cook.
He was raised a Lutheran and always adhered to that faith. He was a member of the masonic fraternity, which order had charge of the services at the Fall Creek Cemetary
He was a good citzen and a loving husband and father.
Peace to his memory
The last few years of his life were spent going from one offspring household to the next and his objective at the home was preparing fire wood for the winter heat and cooking
Henry Niebaum passed away at Aunt Kates house Katherine White his only daughter
My Great Aunt Ermina Worland full sister to my Grandmother Worland Niebaum - Louis Niebaum's wife
Born Feb 23 - 1862 Shelbyville Ind.
Died Dec 9 -1894 Tonganoxie Ks Leav. Co.
married Francis Marion Trackwell
Their 1st. born Hattie Mae Trackwell
Born June 13 - 1883 Jarbalo Ks.
Died Oct. 13 - 1963 Jarbalo Ks.
married July 4 - 1901 Leavenworth Ks to
John Fredrick Brune son of
Fredrick Brune
Katherine Meinkein
John was born Feb 1 - 1875 Shelbyville Ind.
Died May 13 - 1928 Leavenworth Ks
This Katherine Meinkein is a full sister to my Great Grandmother Margaret Meinken
Fredrick Brune
Katherine Meinkien are both buried Leavenworth Cem Leavenworth,
Kansas.
I find the name Meinken spelled three different ways."

I'm not certain who wrote the history above or when, but I believe it was written by my cousin, LeRoy Niebaum. He has confirmed that those seem to be his words, but didn't recall having written them out that way.

A few years ago when my sister and Dad were visiting us in Lawrence, we decided to try to find Great Grandfather Henry Niebaum's gravesite. I'm told that the small flat gravestone has only the initials H.N. We had only a general idea where the cemetary was located. As we drove west out of Tonganoxie Dad identifed the farm area where the Henry Niebaum farm had been located. After a few miles we drove north on a gravel road according to directions we had been given in Tonganoxie. We found the only cemetary in the area (Eagle Cemetary) and searched with no success for a stone with H.N. We did find gravestones with the Worland name. Dad said, "Well my mother's maiden name was Worland", but he couldn't recall their first names. After some pondering and discussion with Dad, I said, "I have a feeling these folks were of some importance to us." Whereupon, Joann took a picture of the gravestones. Later we verified that these indeed were the gravesites of Grandmother Niebaum's parents, our Great Grandparents. We also discovered that we had been in the wrong cemetary and never did locate the right one for Henry Niebaum.

According to Kansas Historical Society cemetary records there are Niebaums buried in the Hubble Hill (just west of Tongonoxie) and Eagle (Sec. 18, Township 10, Range 21, northwest of Tongonoxie) cemetaries in Leavenworth County. Henry is the only known Niebaum in Fall Creek Cemetary (Sec. 32, Township 9, Range 21, straight north of Tongonoxie and northwest of Jarbalo).

The only Niebaum recorded in Eagle Cemetary is Rebecca Niebaum 1870-1895. She was the first wife of John Fredrick Niebaum.

Tombstone records for Hubble Hill Cemetary show:
Herman Niebaum 1863-1933
Curney Niebaum (wife) 1875-1929

William Niebaum 1871-1941
Viola Niebaum (wife) 1877-1972

Henry's son, Herman, is the source of my Dad's name.

John F. Niebaum moved to California and Joann remembers him visiting the family in Caldwell when she was 9 or 10. He settled in Turlock, CA and is buried somewhere near there.

Grandpa Louis is buried east and south of Caldwell at Springcreek Cemetary in Grant County, Oklahoma.

Dad (Herman) is buried beside Mom in Corzine Cemetary east and north of Caldwell and southeast of Corbin.
Descendants of Henry (Heinrich) Niebaum of Germany

Henry Niebaum 1833-1921
Margaret Meinken ? -1876

Herman Niebaum 1863-1933
Curney (Roberts) Niebaum (wife) 1875-1929

Tom Niebaum
Sam Niebaum
Ben Niebaum
Cora (Niebaum) Abernathy

Katherine (Niebaum) White 1865-
Jack White (husband)

George White
Alva White
Clarence White
Jim White
Ida White
Grace White
May White
Mag. White
Marie White

John Fredrick Niebaum 1867-
Rebecca Niebaum (1st. wife) 1870-1895
Ida Niebaum (2nd. wife)

Herman Niebaum ("Little Herman")
Willie Niebaum
Pauline Niebaum
Alice Niebaum
William C. Niebaum 1871-1941
Viola Niebaum (wife) 1877-1972

Mabel Niebaum
Stella Niebaum
Gladys Niebaum
Alta Niebaum
Helen Niebaum

Louis Napoleon Niebaum 1868-1943
Aneliza (Worland) Niebaum (wife) 1874-1958

Robert Henry Niebaum 1898-1911
Otto Niebaum 1899-1974
Mabel Rowan (wife)

LeRoy Niebaum 1922-
Virginia Niebaum (wife)

Michael 1947-
Marceil 1948-
Myron 1956- (twin)
Merlin 1956- (twin)
Norman Niebaum 1930-?
Jody Rae 1951-
William T. 1955-
LuAnn 1957-
Leonard Niebaum 1927-
James 1952-
Edward 1953-
David 1956-1978
Marion Niebaum 1925-?
Madeline Niebaum 1934- (Schoeller)
Ron J. 1955-
Tim F. 1958-
Karen Sue 1960-

Herman Niebaum 1902-1991
Grace (Smith) Niebaum (wife) 1906-1977

Joann (Niebaum) Nulik 1927-
Kenneth Nulik (husband) 1926-

Vicki Nulik 1948- (Morrison)
Sheryl Nulik 1950- (Nichol)
Shelley Nulik 1953- (Coffee)

Jerome Niebaum 1939-
Judy (Johnson) Niebaum (wife) 1940-

Richard Niebaum 1963-
Jerri Jeane Niebaum 1966- (Clark)

Lynn Niebaum 1907-1989
Lucille Niebaum(wife) 1912-1988

Donald Niebaum
Kimberly Lynn 1956-
Michael Harlen 1957-
Lisa Dawn 1958-
Mark (adopted)

Barbara Niebaum 1939-1946
William Niebaum
Angela (adopted)
Jonathan (adopted)
Dates of some known ancestors

year year approx.
born died age
n.a. John Worland (Six Greats Grandfather)- England 1701
1685 John Worland (Five Greats Grandfather) 1754 69
1720 John Worland (Great Great Great Great Grandfather) 1790 70
1774 Thomas Worland (Great Great Great Grandfather) 1850 76
1780 Verlinda Hardy (Great Great Great Grandmother) 1858 78
1800 John Middleton Worland (Great Great Grandfather) 1859 59
n.a. Catherine Gough (Great Great Grandmother) n.a.
1830 Robert Worland (Great Grandfather) 1900 70
1836 Angelina Van Pelt (Great Grandmother) 1914 78
1833 Henry Niebaum (Great Grandfather) - Germany 1921 88
1837 Margaret Meinken (Great Grandmother) 1876 39
1868 Louis Napoleon Bernhart Niebaum (Grandfather) 1943 75
1874 Aneliza Worland (Grandmother) 1958 84
1902 Herman Niebaum (father) 1991 89

n.a. Isaac Smith (Great Great Great Great Grandfather) n.a.
n.a. Elizabeth Adams (Great Great Great Great Grandmother) n.a.
1756 Isaac Adams Smith (Great Great Great Grandfather) 1822 66
1767 Sarah Wixon (Great Great Great Grandmother) 1812 45
1792 Isaac Adams Smith, Jr. (Great Great Grandfather) n.a.
1797 Lydia Wright (Great Great Grandmother) 1884 87
1819 Benjamin Franklin Smith (Great Grandfather) 1908 89
1822 Weltha Ann Dana (Great Grandmother) 1892 70
1863 Joseph Grant Smith (Grandfather) 1934 71
1865 Susan Martha Pope (Grandmother) 1954 89
1906 Grace Esther Theota Smith (mother) 1977 71

1926 Grace & Herman Niebaum - married September 9
1927 Esther Joann Niebaum - born June 19
1939 Me - September 11
Timeline for some of the events of my life
1939 Born - Caldwell, Kansas
1940 First walked at 8 months
1941 Baptized - Presbyterian Church - Caldwell
1942 Moved to Wichita
1943 Grandfather Niebaum died - family moved to Corbin
1944
1945 1st. grade - Gwen (Williams) Rice
1946 2nd. - Teacher, Ruby K. Martin, Joann & Kenneth married
1947 3rd.
1948 4th. - first radio of my own, Vicki Lee Nulik born
1949 5th.- Teacher, Oraleen (Merritt) Urban
1950 6th.- Sheryl Lyn Nulik born
1951 7th.- Corbin bank closed
1952 8th.- First major job - bought my first TV.
1953 9th.- started high school, Shelley Ann Nulik born
1954 10th.- Sophomore Vice Pres. - started track
1955 11th. - Junior Pres. - football
1956 12th. - First date with Judy, Feb. 4, 1956
1957 H.S. graduation - started KU
1958 KU Soph.
1959 KU Jr.
1960 KU Sr. - took first computer course - student teaching Lawrence Central Jr. Hi.
1961 KU graduation - wedding June 11 - started teaching Leavenworth Jr. High
1962 Judy's KU graduation - moved to Leavenworth
1963 Richard Dean born on Jan. 8 - bought first home - started Northwestern Univ.
1964 2nd. summer at Northwestern - 2nd. computer course
1965 Northwestern U. graduation - moved to Wichita - taught at Campus High
1966 Jerri Jeane born on Jan. 5 - moved to Omaha - taught at U. of Omaha
1967 Summer school at U. of Oklahoma
1968 Moved to Ames, Ia - Instructor/grad. student at Iowa St. U. - Ricky in school
1969
1970
1971 Jerri J. in Kindergarten
1972
1973 Ph.D. - new home in Squaw Valley, Ia.
1974
1975
1976
1977 Mom died
1978 Polly Arthritis
1979
1980 Indonesia
1981 Moved to Lawrence, Ks - Director, Academic Computing Services I very nearly never came to be. One evening when Joann was about 3 years old, Mom & Dad were returning to Corbin from Caldwell. Car trouble forced them to stop on the shoulderof the road. Dad was trying to fix the engine while Joann was asleep on Mom's lap in the front seat. Two old drunks approaching in a car from the rear hit their car full force, driving Dad through the windshield. The passenger seat broke backwards as Mom & Joann were showered with broken glass and gasoline from a punctured tank. Mom always said that having gasoline in her ear was one of the most painful things she ever experienced. Joann has confirmed that and still remembers that pain, though she was only 3. Dad was unconscious for more than a day and there was some thought that he might never recover. He did! Mom recalled that she combed glass from her hair for days.

Anytime I ever heard that story from the family it was always told as "two old drunks". Both were blamed equally, and the causes were implicitly attributed to both age and level of insobriety.

When Joann was 3 the family moved in with Grandma & Grandpa Niebaum in Caldwell. Times were really tough then. Joann says she was 7 before she ever had a bed of her own. She remembers awful dust storms in the 30's. Mom used to describe hanging wet dish towels in the windows to keeps the dust from coming into the house.

Mom played piano for dances with Dad's younger brother, Lynn, and a family friend, Elias Whitten. We called him 'Whit', and he was a lifelong fishing partner of Dad's. Lynn played banjo, guitar, and fiddle, while Whit played fiddle. Joann says that she recalls going to those dances and falling asleep on the pile of coats of the guests at the dance hall. Whenever Dad & Mom spoke of those times it was always with a great amount of pleasure and pride. Dad would brag about how good Mom was. She would talk of the great times they had. Dad had a special bond with his brother, Lynn, and often inadvertently called me Lynn throughout my life.

Mom was a happy person and looked on the good side of most everything. She had a great sense of humor, and was well liked by all who knew her. She also enjoyed pampering her only son. Nearly every night she would fix hot chocolate in a glass for me to drink in bed, and often would fix breakfast for me to eat in bed. Joann says I "drank from a glass at 4 months because I wouldn't adjust to a bottle". But, I'm ahead of my story and haven't even been born yet.

Mother's Day, 1934, also could have been disastrous for me. The family was preparing for a picnic in Caldwell. Dad & his brother-in-law were riding with Granddad Smith two miles north of Corbin. A fast-moving car hit them broadside on Granddad's side, throwing him from the car. He died enroute to the hospital.
Dad and his brother-in-law, Horatio Hardin were not seriously injured. Shoate (Horatio) Hardin was married to Mom's sister, Edith, at that time. I don't recall ever seeing his name written, so the spelling is my best guess. Shoate and Edith had a daughter, Bonnie, about my sister's age, and they were good friends. Grandmother Smith was unable to continue with the farm, and gave it up to her youngest daughter, Finace, and husband, Ralph Watts. From then on Grandma Smith stayed for a few months at a time with each of her children for most of the rest of her life until her death in 1954 at age 89. At the time of her sudden death she was planning to remarry a friend from her youth.

One of life's great regrets is missed opportunity to review the history of one's ancestors with those who are best able to relate it. That wisdom comes only with age and by then, the chance has passed. As a child I spent many hours with my Grandmother Smith, but never asked the many questions I now have. How I would love to question my grandfathers about their 'run' into the Strip in 1893. Or, to hear Granddad Smith tell of his time as a cowboy in Colorado when his family lived in a tent near Trinidad. Or, once again hear Grandmother Smith tell about walking to school clacking two bones together to scare away the wolves and coyotes.
Unrecorded memories pass to oblivion. Unrealized dreams are left to new dreamers.

You may choose to move on to:
Chapter 2 Birth (mine)
or else go back to the Table of Contents.

Or you may choose to go back to Hawkshof.