The Atkinson Graphic
Atkinson, Holt County, Nebraska
April, 1960

ATKINSON - March winds were sweeping the prairies of the west and the call of the prairie wolf sounded a note of loneliness to those spending their first months in the new land with foreign surroundings.

These were the conditions when 6-year-old Frances came with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Antone [and Josephine (ROUSE)] TASLER, to settle in Green Valley, 12 miles southwest of Atkinson [Nebraska] in March, 1884.

From the comfort of her room at the Good Samaritan Center, Frances looks back over the years and smiles, "those were the good old days, - togetherness meant just that, we worked together, neighbor helped neighbor - that is the tie that binds a community together, and the pioneer settlers lived it."

A smile burst upon her face and her eyes lit up, then a slight sigh and the glow dimmed as she recalled. "Life has not been all laughter, sorrow has come, I am not alone, I have my two daughters and a son Charles, but my 11 brothers and sisters are all gone. My father lost his life in a runaway in [August 22] 1894.

"During the early years, butter making was common. Folks churned and the butter was shipped out to eastern markets.

"Gathering up the butter was a community chore, she recalls, and it was father's turn to make the rounds and take it to Atkinson. As he was unloading at the depot, the horses became frightened and started to run. He grabbed for the lines and in so doing became entangled in the front wheels of the wagon and was dragged to death. He was born [January 16, 1832] in Austria and served for over eight years in the Austrian army." At the time of his death they lived 5 miles southwest of Atkinson where they located in 1893 after leaving the homestead in Green Valley.

Some 84 years of Mrs. DOBIAS' life were spent in the Green Valley community. She trampled the green grasses in her bare feet and herded cattle for her parents in her youth, a companion, the late Polly DAVIS, often kept her company. To break the monotony of the slowly passing hours Frances carried along her basket of crochet thread and when the cattle were grazing peacefully she sat down on the green carpeted grass and stitched away. She did some fancy work using No. 40 sewing thread.

Frances was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, April 8, 1877. She welcomed her 93rd birthday Wednesday [April 8, 1960] surrounded by many friends and relatives at the Center. Birthday remembrances started early with cards and well wishes pouring in.

Her humble soddie in Green Valley was kept comfortably warm in winter when the unique hay burner was stuffed full. Frances often shared the chore. A pile of hay was neatly piled near by or perhaps the chore called for a trip to the haystack to fill the drum. A long-handled poker was used to feed the hay to the fire box.

The oldtime neigbors are all gone from Green Valley, Mrs. DOBIAS was the last to leave. She moved to Atkinson in 1948 following the death of her husband in February [20] of that year. She came to make her home at the Atkinson Good Samaritan Center three years ago.

Her hair has turned to silver, her eyes are dimmed with the passing of time, but her sense of humor has not dulled nor has her values of life faded. The Golden Rule has been her guide in life.

She received her eduction in a quaint little sod schoolhouse in the valley. She often walked the distance through deep snow to get there.

The country dances - they were the greatest, Frances recalls. "How differently we danced in those days, the square dances with Fred STOLTE doing the calling Do-Ce-Do and sing 'em like thunder. The 'Home Sweet Home' waltz meant it was time to break up and start the trip home."

The date is forgotten but Frances recalls a day an eclipse darkened the sun. She and a brother were herding the cattle at the time and they rounded them up and put them in the corral. It lasted only briefly.

John DOBIAS was a neighbor boy who lived with his parents about 2 miles distant. A courtship began and on Feb. 4, 1896, Frances and John were married. They made their home with his parents and there on this homestead, reared their family of four boys and two girls. Three sons died in infancy. One son, Charles, and the two daughters, Mrs. Charley (Ella) MLINAR and Mrs Mary RATLIFF, all live in the Atkinson community. There are 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

NOTE: Frances (TASLER) DOBIAS died at the age of 97 years on August 22, 1974, Atkinson, Nebraska, and was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Atkinson.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2012