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Jacob Hasart Sr. came to Colorado from Russia in 1889 and had settled on a farm south west of Idalia before moving to Kansas in 1903. Jake, John and Lena were born in Idalia. Jake was born on December 21, 1897 and attended school in Kansas and then worked with a threshing crew that traveled with the harvest across Kansas in the summer. In 1917 Jacob Christian Hasart Jr. came to Colorado to help his brother who had been working for J.P. Evans and was farming 7 miles north and 4 miles east of Stratton. Jake's dad, Jacob Hasart Sr. was still living in Fall River, Kansas but had purchased several quarters of land from the Fisher brothers who wanted to, move back to Nebraska. Because John and Jack were facing induction to serve in World War I, their parents moved back to Colorado. Jake farmed and lived with his parents as John had purchased land from J.P. Evans just east of the home place and started his own home. Before his marriage Jake had acquired 2 quarters of land and rented the remain' ing farm ground. Jacob and Annette (Nettie) Adolf were married on April 27, 1927 at Immanuels Lutheran Church north of Bethune, Colorado. Nettie Adolf was born on December 21, 1907 in Michaelsfeldt, Bessarabia, Russia. She came to this country in 1908 as a baby with her parents. They established a homestead north of Bethune where she grew up and attended school at Prairie View and the German school at the church. She was the next to the last child of 11 children born to William and Margaret Adolf. She grew up learning how to work outside milking the cows as well as helping with the household chores. She also worked in other households caring for the children and helping cook when illness struck. She and Jake made their first home in the small adobe house on the home place. She brought 1 cow, a bed, and some bedding with her to start their new household. Nettie soon began to take part with the farm work by helping bring in the milk cows and helping with the milking and other chores. Jakes mother never milked and the cattle were afraid of her so it took awhile before the cows settled down and let her milk them. That fall of 1927 they raised a good corn crop and Jake and Nettie worked side by side picking corn starting a pattern of sharing the farm work for as long as they lived on the farm. Dry land crops of corn, barley, wheat, and cattle and horse feed were raised. Jake raised work horses running about 75 head of horses and only 25 or more head of cattle during the 1920's and 30's until tractor power took over the farming work. He also bought and traded yearling horses matching up teams and training them every winter. This was difficult physical work which took lots of patience. Bus Guy came in the winters to help him break the horses to work as teams. There were lots of run-a-ways and lots of wagons destroyed in the process. Jake always attended the sales and bought young calves over the years. Later their cattle herd grew and replaced the horses. Jake and Nettie purchased the home place soon after they were married and moved into the frame house after Jake's parents moved to Burlington in 1928. That year on April 5, their first boy Jerald was born and died 6 days later from a difficult birth. On November 10, 1929 their second son Jimmie Lee was born and on January 24, 1932 their daughter, Virginia was born. Jake and Nettie worked together bundling the children up and taking them to the field with them as they picked corn and shocked the feed. They always milked several cows and sold the cream and raised chickens, setting eggs under the old hens which wasn't easy, raising 100 or so chicks for fresh meat in the summer and had eggs to sell providing money to purchase their groceries anq clothes. Later the chicks were purchasect from the hatchery. In 1931 Nettie hatched 200 turkey poults from eggs set under the hens. She ended up with 75 turkeys that she sold for 10o a pound. This wasn't an easy job as turkeys are "born to die" making them difficult to raise. The "bad years" of the 30's came along with the drought and the financial collapse of the nation causing a very stringent lifestyle. They managed to stay on the farm and live even though it was difficult to raise feed for the horses and cattle. Cows were herded in the road ditches and thistles were harvested for food. The dust storms and grasshoppers came and went leaving little behind but bare ground. The dust that came into the house was a source of constant irritation as you had to hang wet sheets over the windows and beds so one could breathe and live. Cooking was done on a cast iron stove using corn cobs as fuel. Most living was done in the kitchen until propane was available to the farm and they could heat the house with it. They purchased a Servel gas refrigerator in 1938 and it was such a help and joy to have. Nettie washed by hand and used a gas powered washing machine carrying the water over to the wash house. They didn't have running water into the house until 1942 and a bathroom was built in 1943. Electricity came in 1947 and that was the best thing that happened for farm families. This farm was located along the route where people from the Settlement traveled to Stratton and back. This farm was used as a watering stop for the horses. It seems as if they were always short of water. At first a cistern was dug by the corral to help maintain more water supply but if the wind didn't blow or the cattle and horses came in to drink the water was soon gone. This was a constant Droblem for years. Household needs came iast, it seemed. Their first tractor was purchased in 1936 and Jake taught Nettie how to run it so she could help pull thi-binder and the combine in those years. The winter of 1942 Jake had an infected throat putting him in the hospital for two weeks in Burlington and was sent to Denver. An abscess formed in the throat and this broke as they were waiting to get on the train to go to Denver. They made the trip and the Dr. treated him and sent him home. Jake always said he had a barley beard caught in his throat causing the problem. That winter the snow and cold was bad. The windmill quit and needed fixing so Jim and Marvin Schaal had to haul water from the neighbors in barrels with the horses. In the late 30's Jake and Nettie purchased more land and in 1941 they purchased 5 quarters of land from the Federal Land Bank. Their son Jim became ill in 1943. He had developed osteonyelitis and was very ill until 1945 when he recovered. Virginia was married to Lowell Corliss in November 6, 1949 and on June 6, 1954 Jim married Marlyn Magee. At this time Jake and Nettie moved to Burlington, Colorado fulfilling a dream of Netties to live in town. She had always wanted to work in a restaurant so she soon found employment in town working until 1960. Jake came out to help with the farm work until his health declined. They were able to spend several winter months each year in Phoenix, Arizona until the middle 1970's when Jake had a heart attack. Jake passed away on April 25, 1976. Nettie has remained in the home and celebrated her 80th birthday on December 21, 1987. She is active in her womens group in church and enjoys her home demonstration club. She fills her time by crocheting and making many craft projects with the Senior Citizens group. She has made many beautiful quilts that she has given to her children. Jake and Nettie were members of Immanuels Lutheran Church north of Bethune until they moved to Burlington at which time they transferred their membership to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Jake served on the church board of Immanuels serving as secretary and president for many years. He also served on the board of directors of the Stratton Equity Co-op and after moving to Burlington he served on the board of the Equity Co-operative Exchange. |