Written by Margaret Seger Langer
Donatus Seger, Baden, Germany and Margaret (Sontag) Seger from Luxemburg immigrated to America and lived for some years at Chicago, Illinois.
Paul Seger was the third son of Donatus and Margaret Seger. He was born on May 21, 1869 at Chicago. Other members of the family were Leopold, Donatus, John, Max and one sister, Jennie (Mrs. John Bauman).
When Paul was 9 year old he moved with his family to Omaha. Two years later the family came west in a covered wagon drawn by an ox team. They had one cow which the boys took turns prodding along behind the wagon.
They were looking for a place called Atkinson where land was available for homesteading. On April 1, 1880 they arrived at a cluster of three buildings standing on the prairie. They stopped in front of one of the buildings and Paul went in to ask the way to Atkinson. “You are in Atkinson right now, sonny”, said the storekeeper, who was Frank Bitney, on whose land the original town of Atkinson was established. At that time the nearest railroad point was at Neligh and supplies had to be hauled from there.
It was important to be near water so the family homesteaded on a place along the Elkhorn River, about five miles west and a mile north of the settlement. The place is now owned by Edward Kramer.
Paul grew up on this place and as more settlers moved in, he helped on other farm as a hired hand.
Whenever new settlers arrived, the ones who were already established were eager to become acquainted with the new comers and to find out where they came from. It is an interesting fact to note that a covered wagon camped one night along the river near the Seger home. Mr. Seger and the boys went over to get acquainted. It happened to be the John Christ family from Darlington, Wisconsin, whose daughter Katherine, later became Mrs. Paul Seger.
The Christ family homesteaded about ten miles north of Atkinson. John and Margaret (Becker) Christ had only one child, Katherine. They moved later to a hay claim about ten miles northwest of Atkinson where Mr. Christ passed away in 1896.
Both families being members of staunch Catholic faith they were among the founders and supporters of St. Joseph's Parish in Atkinson.
Paul Seger and Katherine Christ were married at St. Joseph's Church on May 24, 1897 by Rev. E. A. Klemenz, and lived on the Christ hay claim for several years.
Paul then purchased a farmstead about five miles northwest of Atkinson. The house was moved from its original place to the new farm. Mrs. Christ lived with the Paul Seger family until her death in 1918.
Grandmother (Margaret Seger) passed away in 1894, and Grandfather (Donatus Seger) made his home with his son, Donatus, and wife Josephine. He passed away in October 1909.
In 1909, Paul Seger and Donatus Seger purchased a farm implement business in Atkinson, owned by J. J. Stilson. In 1910 they established the first Ford car agency west of Norfork. The business, known as Seger Brothers, was located on the south side of the street but later they erected the building on the north side which is now the Miller Theatre building, where they operated for some 25 years. Paul retired from business in 1941.
The family lived in a house just northeast of the Chicago, Northwestern depot till 1917 when they built the large house one block north of St. Joseph's Church. This was the family home until after the death of Mrs. Seger when it was sold.
Mr. and Mrs. Seger, like the rest of the sturdy pioneers of this community, believed that you could accomplish most anything by honesty and hard work. And that is the standard by which they lived. They observed their 59th wedding anniversary in 1956.
Paul Seger passed away on July 14, 1956 at the age of 87 years. He was preceded in death by all the members of his family. Katherine Seger passed away on June 23, 1962 at the age of 91 years.
Eight children were born in to this family:
Margaret (Mr. and Mrs Joseph Langer, Denver, Colo.)
Daughter Joanne (Mr. and Mrs. Gayle Hector, Denver, Colo.)
Children: Jeff, Gayla and Brad
Son Donald (Mr. and Mrs. (Annabel Doran) Donald Langer,
Arvada, Colo.)
Children: Jeanette, Cheryl and Joseph
Mary (Mr. and Mrs. Ray White, Atkinson)
Daughter Gayle (Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tushla,
Correctionville, IA)
Children: Tim and Tom
Gertrude (Mr. and Mrs. Judd Bond, Atknison)
Joseph (Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Seger, Atkinson)
Daughter Joan (Mr. and Mrs. James Harm, Seattle, Wash)
Children: Jim, David, Paul and Dean
Leo (Mr. and Mrs. (Pat Bigelow) Leo Seger, Atkinson), Leo passed away in July 1962, Pat passed away in April 1964
Daughter Patricia (Mr. and Mrs. Ed Callahan, Omaha, Nebr)
Children: Patrick, Michael, Catherine, Mary,
Colleen and Danny
Son Paul (Mr. and Mrs. (Karen Kaup) Paul Seger, Atkinson)
Children: Sharon, Patty, Leo, Michelle, Sandra, Peggy,
Tammy and Matthew
Daughter Margaret (Mr. and Mrs. Gary Burkholder,
Omaha, Nebr)
Children: Jennifer and Paul
Daughter Mary (Mr. and Mrs. Orlan Braun, Atkinson)
Children: Lori and Brian
Catherine (Mr. and Mrs Harry Bose, Sheldon, Iowa)
Son Richard (Dr. and Mrs. (Marlyn Schaecker) Richard Bose,
Estherville, Iowa)
Children: Ricky, Terry, Kathy, Lisa, Michell
Daughter Karen (Mr. and Mrs. Mike Schaaf, Algona, Iowa)
Children: Lori, Ricky, Julie and Brian
Agnes (Mrs. Gus Leininger, Atkinson) Mr. Leininger passed away in August 1964
Son Charles
Daughter DeeAnn
Edward, passed away in Nov 1948, Atkinson
Frederick Seger, a nephew (son of Max Seger), joined this family at the age of three weeks, after the death of his mother. Fred has always been a treasured member of this family and remained with Mr. and Mrs. Seger until their deaths. He now resides at Atkinson.
at Atkinson Nebraska
Fiftieth Anniversary
Photos courtesy of Paul Seger, Atkinson NE
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