William F Haafke

HAAFKE VOGEL BRCHAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/26/2010 at 20:54:30

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

William F Haafke
By Walter J and MaryAnn Haafke

William F Haafke, son of Edwars and Henrietta Vogel Haafke, was born Janaury 21, 1878, in Sioux City, Iowa. He moved with his family to a farm in Floyd Township in 1879. He attended Elliot Creek School, near what is now the town of Bronson, through eighth grade. He finished his education at National Business School and Morningside College in Sioux City.

Will and others in his family was member of the newly formed congregation of the Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church. Close friendships were formed with other young people of this rural community. A good team of horses and a buggy with the girls were a favority Sunday recreation. Friendly buggy races between Will and Dave Law were witnessed by many on these Sunday afternoon.

One of these close friendships resulted in a marriage between Will and Hattie Elliott. She was the daughter of Alexander T and Hattie Elliott, early setters in the area. It is not known when this marriage took place.

In 1901, the railroad established the town of Bronson just northeast of where the Elliott Creek Church stood. When the town band was formed, Will, along with brothers, Herman and John, joined the group. Will play the cornet.

In 1906, Will homesteaded on a quarter section near Wall, South Dakota. He later moved to Rapid City and entered into the mercantile business, operating a variety store for many years on St Joseph Street, Rapid City’s main street. At about the same time he built a large two-story brick house at 925 11th Street.

Will enjoyed the Black Hills for hunting and fishing. He especially like fishing for trout in Spearfish Canyon.

In 1912, Will was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 47th districk of Pennington County.

In November of that same year, 1912, his wife, Hattie, died. She is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.

In 1913, while still a State Representative, he became President of the Owanka State Bank, Owanka, South Dakota.

On June 17, 1914, at Lead, South Dakota, Will married Anna C Brchan of Kimball, South Dakota. She was a country school teacher and they met when she was in Rapid City attending a teacher’s institute. They were active members of the Presbyterian Church were Anna was a Sunday School Superintendent and Will was organist and choir director.

Will was a member of the Deadwood Masons and Consistory and in later years a Sioux City Shriner.

On July 30, 1915, Anna and Will’s first child, William Frederick, Junior, was born at their home in Rapids City.

In 1916, Will was elected to the South Dakota Senate representating the 40th District of Pennington County.

The arrival of more children highlighted the next few years. After William, Jr, Anita Katherine was born January 12, 1917. On July 27, 1919, twin boys were born, Walter John and Wayne Henry. Wayne died six weeks later and is buried in Rapid City. Their last child, James Lauren, was born Janaury 8, 1923.

Yearly, Will would return to Woodbury County, Iowa, to attend to the business of the three farms he owned around Bronson. After his trip to Iowa in 1925, he returned to find his partner in the Owanka Bank had made some clandestine land sales, took the money and disappeared. To satisfy these debts, Will had to sell the Iowa farms.

In 1926, Will’s youngest brother, James, died after being injured in a farm accident. Will disposed of his home and business in Rapid City and arranged with his family in Iowa to purchase James’ farm. The family moved to bronson by train and Chalmers car in March, 1926.

Will knew the basics of farming and involved his children in 4H, church and community affairs.

In the fall, Will, with his brothers, John and Herman and the local minister, would travel to northern Minnesota to fish for walleyes and muskies.

In the next few years, Will worked too hard and never walked when he could run. He seemed determined to make up his losses in the shortest time possible. But, in March of 1930, he developed spinal meningitis and died. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.

William Frederick Haafke was a talented man and much beloved by his wife and four children.

Anna, at fifty-two years of age, was faced with raising a young family in the hard tiems of the 1930’s. William, Jr ‘Billy’ was almost fifteen years old, Walter ‘Buddy’ was almost eleven, Anita was thirteen, and James, called Lauren, was only siven. With the help of hired hands and what the boys could do, Anna paid the mortgage on the farm in the next few years.

During the next few years the three older children, William, Anita and Walter, all graduated from Bronson High School. The boys continued the farm operation and Anita attended Morningside College and graduated in 1938.

Lauren developed a heart condition, probably due to rheumatic fever. In December of 1939, he developed pneumonia and with other complications, he died on December 31st, just a week short of his seventeenth birthday. He was buried with his father in Graceland Cemetery.

In 1940, Anna suffered a severe heart attack. She recovered but she was very careful not to overdo her activities and to watch her diet in years to come.

In 1941, Bill married Frances Bartels of Dakota City, Nebraska. They lived nearby and Bill continued to farm with his mother.

After Pearl Harbor, Bud was drafted and left for the Army in May, 1942. Later that year, Anna turned the farm over to Bill and Frances and she and Anita moved to Long Beach, California, where they remained for the duration of the war.

On April 23, 1943, Anna’s first grandchild, William Frederick Haafke was born. He was the son of Wiliam Frederick Haafke, Jr and Frances Bartels Haafke.

In August of 1945, the war ended and Bud returned from India and on November 3, 1945, he married MaryAnn Oertel of Bronson.

In 1947, Bill and Frances decided to move to Dakota City, Nebraska. In March, Bud and MaryAnn moved onto the home farm and Anna came to live with them. On March 14, 1947, Anna’s second grandchildren, Helen Kathleen Haafke were born. She was the duaghter of Walter ‘Bud’ and MaryAnn Haafke. Anna continued to live with Bud and MaryAnn, welcoming another granddaughter, Kristine Anita Haafke, born to Bud and MaryAnn on May 23, 1949.
In the spring of 1950, Anna suffered a stroke form which she never fully recovered. She lived with Anita in Sioux City for the next few years.

On May 11, 1952, Anna’s second grandson, and fourth grandchild, John Wayne Haafke was born. He was the son of Walter ‘Bud’ and Mary Ann Haafke.

On March 4, 1953, after being ill for several months, Anna Carolyn Brchan Haafke died. She is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa, with Will and Lauren.

Two more granddaughters were born after Anna’s death: Jane Ann Haafke, June 17, 1958 and Edyanne Haafke, January 22, 1965, daughters of Walter and MaryAnn Haafke.

After her mother’s death, Anita moved to the west coast. She has lived in Oregon and taught school there for many many years.

On May 11, 1978, William Frederick Haafke died.

Walter John Haafke and MaryAnn Oertel Haafke still live on the home farm which in January 1987, will have bee in the Haafke family 100 years.
WCGS note: Son, John Wayne Haafke, purchased the farm from his parents and now live on the farm. Walter ‘Bud’ and MaryAnn moved up by Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Walter died August 16, 2009.