The Enders

The Enders

Anna Ender's Family

By Doug Boilesen, 2018

My mother's mom was Anna ("Annie") Ellen Ender.

The Enders homesteaded in Howard County, Nebraska in 1872 and their first winter was said by my mom to have been spent in a dugout (which was literally a cave in the side of a hill) with a blanket for a door. My great grandfather had re-enlisted in 1871 for five years in the army and was often away, leaving my great-grandmother and two small children to fend for themselves.

They spent the winter of 1874 at Fort Hartsuff and then returned to their homestead in the summer of 1875. The process of home building saw improvements through the years as my great-aunt Margaret was born in 1878 in the dugout/cave, Mary was born in a sodhouse in 1880; my great-aunt Tay in a log cabin in 1882; and my grandmother "Annie" in a framed house in 1884.

Anna was the youngest sibling and had three brothers and three sisters.

Christian sold 80 acres, April 17, 1885, The Phonograph

If one didn't pick up their mail your name would be posted in the local newspaper with the warning that it would be sent to the dead letter office in thirty days. The above notification included Christian Ender to pick up his mail. The Phonograph, January 24, 1890,

Jury duty for Chris Ender, The Phonograph, March 21, 1890,

Sarah Ender on the 1890 Honor Role, April 4, 1890, The Phonograph

The Ender sisters ca. 1894 - Top left Anna, Sarah (Tay); Bottom row Mary and Margaret (Maggie)

This 3" x 2.5" cardboard card on the back in pencil is written "Belongs to Anna Ender"

Photos unconfirmed but believe Maggie on top left, Anna in other photo on top and on the far right perhaps with a friend to her left. Bottom row middle is Mary with perhaps her brother on her right.

DANNEVIRKE GOSSIP. Maggie Ender to teach school, The St. Paul Press, Dec17, 1897

Margaret's ("Maggie's") obituary in 1956 wrote that "She attended a State Normal School at Fremont and then taught eight years. Her pay was as little as $18 a month, and she often had 46 pupils in a rural school. Some were older than she and many spoke no English. She was always interested in education and was especially proud that all six of her daughters taught school."

Debate: Chris Ender for Affirmative; Song, Anna Ender & Co; Music, Sarah Ender; Three minutes speech, Chris Ender.

COTESFIELD ITEMS. Literary Program, January 6, 1899 The St. Paul Phonograph

The Ender sisters and brothers circa 1905 from left to right: Sarah (Tay), Anna (Annie), David, Mary, Chris and Margaret (Maggie). Not pictured is William.

Parents Bertha and Christian are in the front row.

Annie's brother John died on December 26, 1891.

The Ender's lost a small child on June 2, 1894.

Dance at the new barn of Chris Ender, ELBA ECHOES. The Howard County Herald, September 29, 1897

Bertha and Christian Ender family with spouses circa 1905

Anna Ender Vogt (backrow, fourth from the left married Frank Vogt (second from the left) in 1900 and became Anna Ender Vogt. Frank died in 1914. Anna married Manley Barr in 1923 and became Anna Ender Vogt Barr.

Andrew Loy Olson (far right 2nd row) married Margaret Ender (next to him on far right, second row) on March 18, 1903 at Elba, Nebraska.

Mary Ann Olson Stallings, granddaughter of Margaret Ender remembers that her mom always said "Grandpa Ender was meticulous and the grandkids were never allowed in his shop. All the tools were lined up perfectly and nothing was ever out of place. Notice his shoes in this picture. They are shined and David and Chris shoes are not shined."