Andrew Henry Haller

  This History of the Paul Haller family, (Andrews father) was written by Matilda (Haller) Chvatal, Andrews sister.  

  My Father: 

     Paul Haller was born in Louisville, Ky, December 31, 1854.  He was the oldest child of a large family.  Many of his brothers and sisters died in infancy.  He had four sisters: Louise, Mayme, Emma and Frances and one brother Jacob.  Paul grew up in Louisville, Ky with his family.   He had very little  schooling, however he grew up to be a very important man in real estate and office work. He worked and had jobs in different places.  Was also a good singer. 

 My Mother:

     Katherine Agnes Stirtzel was born near Haubstadt, Indiana, August 30, 1855.  She grew up with her family on a small farm at St James, Ind. She had 3  brothers; Andrew, Adam and Martin and one sister Eva.  Her brother Martin died at the age of 21.  Katherine grew up around Haubstadt and Paul worked around there when he met a very sweet girl, Kate Stirtzel, as she was commonly called.   

     They were married Nov. 23, 1880 and on Oct. 17, 1882, a son was born, Adam Jacob.  Three years later a daughter blessed their home, Eva Marie, on July 4, 1884.  They continued to live in Haubstadt 3 more years, then our father Paul left Indiana in 1886 to seek adventures in the far West.  He traveled by foot and some by train with only .50 cents in his pocket.  His wife Kate and the 2 small children stayed there till he found land.  Kate took in washing to support her children.  

    My father, Paul, homesteaded 15 miles northwest of Atwood, Kansas.  With the help of his neighbors, they built a one room dugout.  Then he sent for his wife and 2 children and they arrived at their new home Sept 25, 1887.  It was very different, but they were happy to be together.  There was no water on the place so Mother had to haul water on a sled with one horse and her 2 small children from the nearsest neighbor's.  People were very kind and helpful.  Our father was away working so our Mother was alone most of the time.  

    Then on Aug. 11, 1888 another daughter was born, Katherine Barbara, which meant another mouth to feed.  There were no doctors those days, only midwives and they helped each other.

    Paul sold trees and worked in offices (Register of Deeds) which he was very good at.  He planted a beautiful orchard and when things were growing nicely a prairie fire destroyed it all, only leaving 3 apricot and 1 crab apple tree.  They grew and were beautiful for many years.  As the years rolled on, a son Andrew Henry Michael, was born Feb. 7, 1891.  This was a very dry and hard year.  The grasshopper invasion took everything even most of the grass.  We had a cow and a few chickens.  Times were very hard and food was scarce, then some men got together and dug a well in the canyon.   It was a blessing to have our own water for the family and stock, even if it had to be carried up hill. Things got a little better and a larger dugout was built.  Then there were three rooms divided by curtains.  On Oct. 13, 1893 another daughter was born, Frances Josephine. By now the older children were good help and took care of each other.  Sept. 27, 1896 Cora Anna was born.  By then they began to farm some of the land but most of it was pasture.  They had more cattle and horses.  On March 30 1900, I was born, Matilda Agnes.  (Known to many of you as Aunt Tillie)  Now there were 7 mouths to feed.  All of us children were healthy, some broken bones and colds.  The only way to travel was walk or go to town in a lumber wagon with the neighbors.  It took all day to make the trip.  Early in 1900 my mother's sister, Eva and small daughter Rosella, came to visit in Kansas, the first time in 16 years since they had seen each other.  My aunt said I was a cry baby (I guess I can't remember this) She returned home and had a very nice visit, her only visit to Kansas.  
Then in 1902 Mother's brother, Adam was killed instantly as he was hit by a train.  As money was scarce she couldn't even go back for his funeral.  As time went on Oct. 13, 1903 my sister Eva was married in the Immaculate Conception Church.  I was only 3 1/2 years old but can still remember a lot about her wedding.  It rained all day.  They lived in Atwood where he, (Martin Schmid) (Butch) ran a butcher shop.  

     Then in 1905 there was a good wheat crop.  Then Dad, Mother, Cora and I went back to Haubstadt to visit.  It was my Mother's first visit back to her old home.  It was 20 years since she left.  Our Aunt Eva's daughter, Katie Kuhn died, she was very young.  We also visited her brother Uncle Andrew and family & alot of friends.  Then we went by train to Louisville, Ky. to visit my Father's family, his mother was still living, she was very old.  Our only Grandma.  It was a real thrill to ride on the train and street cars.  We came home in January in 1906.  Our older brothers and sisters stayed home on the farm.  In Feb, my mother and I went to Ludell to my sister's house as she had a new baby girl, Katherine Marie (Toots).  We stayed there a few weeks then came home.  We still lived in the dugout for many years.  Then times got hard again, no crops but we all lived.  All of us children went to Enterprise school.  It was a mile and half to walk sometimes the snow was so deep and it was so cold we had to miss many days.  Then May 11, 1910 my brother Adam got married to Hester Rooney.  They had a big wedding and a dance on a large platform.  Oral Franklin and wife played the music,  I can remember this well, I was now 10 years old.  

     Then Feb. 6, 1911, my sister Katie got married to Edward Rooney.  They only had a small wedding in Ludell at my sister Eva's house.  In 1911-1912 it was a very hard winter with alot of snow.  There wasn't much food & no food for cattle.  We lost many cattle and calves which was very heart breaking.  Now there were only four at home with my mother. Dad still worked in town.  

     My brother Andrew and I were real buddies, we set traps together and were so happy to catch a skunk or coyote.  Furs were a fair price, he would sell his furs and buy us clothes and shoes.  In 1913 things were some better, us four milked cows and done field work of every kind.   My sister's worked out when ever anyone needed help.  

      In Aug. 1914 our Uncle Andrew (mother's brother) his niece Maggie Singer and great niece Thelma Singer; she was only 5 years old, came to visit.  It was their first visit to Kansas.  They stayed a month then went back.  We had a real nice visit.  We also had a mission at our Church that was very good.  Then in 1915 we had good crops and began building a new house up on the hill.  We were all so gald to get out of that dugout.  The new house only had 4 rooms but we all worked together.  We bought all new furniture on monthly payments, so really had to save.  My brother (Andrew) bought a new spring wagon and we were happy we didn't have to ride in the old lumber wagon.  We all prayed alot and went to church together.  The church was 2 1/2 miles,  many days we walked.  Thats what makes life worth living.  Now we planted a big garden & had so many beautiful flowers.  Many people came out from town to eat watermelons.  My father was great for company.  Us four kids had a good time together also alot of hard work.

      We got a new Edison Phonograph with a lot of records.  They cost .50 cents a piece.  We all loved music and singing which we still do.  There were always a lot of kids came so we always had fun.  As time went on, some of us always worked out.  Then in 1917 Andrew bought his first car, a Grant, it wasn't very good so he traded it for a Ford.  He also broke his collar bone that fall.  (motorcycle accident) Us girls had to haul in all the food and shuck corn, but we didn't mind, now we had a car.  That was a thrill of our life, to drive the car. We had to get my father every Sat. night & take him back to work (he worked in the Court House, Register of Deeds Office) in Atwood, Sunday, so it called for alot of driving, gas was 10 cents a gallon.  Then in Sep. 1917 my mother and dad went back to visit her brother, Uncle Andrew who was real sick.  They stayed awhile & we were also building a new barn on the farm. We had a lot of men to cook for.  We always made a lot of pumpkin pies.  Had a good crop of pumpkins & melons that year.  On Dec 5 1917 my Uncle Andrew died, so Adam & I west back to Indiana for his funeral.  It was so cold and a lot of snow there.  I was now 17, there were alot of soldiers on the train.  It was the beginning of first World War,  so I had alot of fun.  We came home.  Then in 1918 we got a new player piano from Sears on payment plans.  It cost $800.00 which was alot of money them days.  That was the time of our lives, we would sing & dance till early hours.  We had alot of friends and their friends too.  So we all had a good time.

       In 1919 alot of our friends went to war.  It was also the year of the flu epidemic & was very bad.  It took lives of many people.  Finally the war was over & the boys came home.  In 1920 we all took the silly notion to get married. Frances to Louie Steinke, Apr 12, the biggest blizzard of the year.  Not many came to her wedding so we had a reception a week later.  Some people came with children that had the measles and I never had them so I took sick 10 days later and nearlty died. ha!  

Then on June 22, Cora got married to Charles Orten, the month of roses.  We had a big rain so many couldfn't come.  

     Sep 14, I, Matilda got married to Frank Chvatal, a lovely sunny day.  We had so many beautiful flowers that year.  That left our Mother alone with our brother, Andrew.  Frank Chvatal & Andrew ran a thrashing machine together for many years.  I went home alot to help Mother.  Our worst sadness came when our Mother died on Thanksgiving morning Nov 14, 1927.  One day later than their 47th wedding anniversarty.  Our family was grief stricken to loose such a wonderful Mother.  As life must go on, my brother, Andrew, stayed on the farm alone til my Dad retired.  We always visited alot together.  Our home was our meeting place where many firiends gathered to have a good time.

    On Oct 9, 1934 my father died real sudden with a heart attack.  This again filled our hearts with grief.  Andrew lived alone till Oct 12, 1937 when he got mrried to Gladys Johnson.  They live on the place we always called our happy home.  We still enjoy visiting together & talk of the fun & good old days gone by .  This is the end of my story .................The Way It All Began

                                written by Mrs. Frank Chvatal

                                    September 25, 1974.  

And now beneath life's crushing load 

Our forms are bending low

We toil along the climbing ways

With painful steps and slow

Look now for glad & golden hours

Come swiftly on the wings

To rest beside the weary road

And hear the Angels sing.