Karl Oscar Boerner, born November 5, 1878, in Saxony, Germany, came to Texas at the age of 15. Married in 1904 to Hulda Mary Zahn, who mourns his departure. Survivors: one son, Albin Boerner, Wharton, and one daughter, Louise, Mrs. Geo. Wessels, Houston. Also 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Lena Lange, who lives in Germany. Mr. Boerner lived here the past 60 years and was a charter member of the congregation. On August 24, he suffered a severe stroke and the Lord called him home on the same day. Age: 77 years, 9 months, 19 days. Christian burial, August 26, 1956. Text: James 4, 14.
The following is from the 1932 edition of the ACCO Press. (short version)
Oscar’s uncle and aunt, who emigrated to Central Texas inspired him to move to Texas. They offered to let him live with them and be paid for work if he could earn his passageway. When he was 15, he emigrated to Texas. At the end of the first year, his uncle paid him a total of $60.00. By end of the second year, he moved to Wharton for more pay. He worked for a farmer who provided him board and 50¢ per day.
For the next 4 years he sent some money home and spent a little on himself, but saved most of it. When he reached the age of 20, he felt it time to buy a farm of his own. A pair of mules was the first thing he wanted to get. He purchased the best he could find, but unfortunately they drowned as he tried to cross a swollen creek (Skull Creek ironically) on his return home. He borrowed money from the farmer he worked for and bought another pair of mules. With them he planted a crop of rice in El Campo. Although he had a good growing season and harvest, the market had dropped to $1.50 sack. This barely gave him enough money to repay the loan. He decided to rent 45 acres in Wharton, at $2.00 per acre, growing cotton. In spite of careful efforts, he could only produce 1 bale. The $35.00 he received was not even enough to pay for his board of $5.00 per month. That winter he hauled rice to retire the debt of $90.00 he owed for rent.
He remained persistent and moved to a 78-acre tract of Colorado river bottomland the following year. 45 acres was cleared and improved. Here he married and settled for the next 14 years. In 1909 a storm destroyed all but 500 pounds of his seed cotton crop. In 1913, flood waters killed over half his livestock and ruined his potato crop. In 1915, his barn burned with over 12 tons of hay, his potato crop, a year’s supply of feed, and 3 bales of cotton.
He sold the river farm in 1917 and moved to a 172-acre plot of land. At his new farm, he suffered 3 crop failures in a row. On 75 acres of cotton, he harvested only 3 bales in 1919, 9 in 1920, and just 2 in 1921. A storm struck in 1932. On the 75 acres where he normally would gather 30-40 bales, he was only able to harvest 265 pounds of cotton. His corn was flattened and rotted in the rain that fell the following 2 weeks. The barn roof had blown off resulting in the loss of his stored feed.
In spite of the bad luck, he remained optimistic because he was free of debt and had money in the bank. He had accomplished this with a few wise business decisions. Instead of purchasing seed for Irish potatoes each year, he would store his seed from the previous spring. He also changed his Jersey dairy herd for Red Poles because he could get more profit from the calves. In addition, he made a profit by increasing his chicken flock to 300 White Leghorns. He would also rotate his crops, planting a legume, such as alfalfa, clover or soy bean and turning it under green for fertilizer or let the livestock graze it off. With the help of his son Albin, they maintain a Pecan orchard. Ultimately his frugal spending and farm management helped him to succeed.
The following is from the 1932 edition of the ACCO Press. (short version)
Oscar’s uncle and aunt, who emigrated to Central Texas inspired him to move to Texas. They offered to let him live with them and be paid for work if he could earn his passageway. When he was 15, he emigrated to Texas. At the end of the first year, his uncle paid him a total of $60.00. By end of the second year, he moved to Wharton for more pay. He worked for a farmer who provided him board and 50¢ per day.
For the next 4 years he sent some money home and spent a little on himself, but saved most of it. When he reached the age of 20, he felt it time to buy a farm of his own. A pair of mules was the first thing he wanted to get. He purchased the best he could find, but unfortunately they drowned as he tried to cross a swollen creek (Skull Creek ironically) on his return home. He borrowed money from the farmer he worked for and bought another pair of mules. With them he planted a crop of rice in El Campo. Although he had a good growing season and harvest, the market had dropped to $1.50 sack. This barely gave him enough money to repay the loan. He decided to rent 45 acres in Wharton, at $2.00 per acre, growing cotton. In spite of careful efforts, he could only produce 1 bale. The $35.00 he received was not even enough to pay for his board of $5.00 per month. That winter he hauled rice to retire the debt of $90.00 he owed for rent.
He remained persistent and moved to a 78-acre tract of Colorado river bottomland the following year. 45 acres was cleared and improved. Here he married and settled for the next 14 years. In 1909 a storm destroyed all but 500 pounds of his seed cotton crop. In 1913, flood waters killed over half his livestock and ruined his potato crop. In 1915, his barn burned with over 12 tons of hay, his potato crop, a year’s supply of feed, and 3 bales of cotton.
He sold the river farm in 1917 and moved to a 172-acre plot of land. At his new farm, he suffered 3 crop failures in a row. On 75 acres of cotton, he harvested only 3 bales in 1919, 9 in 1920, and just 2 in 1921. A storm struck in 1932. On the 75 acres where he normally would gather 30-40 bales, he was only able to harvest 265 pounds of cotton. His corn was flattened and rotted in the rain that fell the following 2 weeks. The barn roof had blown off resulting in the loss of his stored feed.
In spite of the bad luck, he remained optimistic because he was free of debt and had money in the bank. He had accomplished this with a few wise business decisions. Instead of purchasing seed for Irish potatoes each year, he would store his seed from the previous spring. He also changed his Jersey dairy herd for Red Poles because he could get more profit from the calves. In addition, he made a profit by increasing his chicken flock to 300 White Leghorns. He would also rotate his crops, planting a legume, such as alfalfa, clover or soy bean and turning it under green for fertilizer or let the livestock graze it off. With the help of his son Albin, they maintain a Pecan orchard. Ultimately his frugal spending and farm management helped him to succeed.
Karl Oscar Boerner, born November 5, 1878, in Saxony, Germany, came to Texas at the age of 15. Married in 1904 to Hulda Mary Zahn, who mourns his departure. Survivors: one son, Albin Boerner, Wharton, and one daughter, Louise, Mrs. Geo. Wessels, Houston. Also 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Lena Lange, who lives in Germany. Mr. Boerner lived here the past 60 years and was a charter member of the congregation. On August 24, he suffered a severe stroke and the Lord called him home on the same day. Age: 77 years, 9 months, 19 days. Christian burial, August 26, 1956. Text: James 4, 14.
The following is from the 1932 edition of the ACCO Press. (short version)
Oscar’s uncle and aunt, who emigrated to Central Texas inspired him to move to Texas. They offered to let him live with them and be paid for work if he could earn his passageway. When he was 15, he emigrated to Texas. At the end of the first year, his uncle paid him a total of $60.00. By end of the second year, he moved to Wharton for more pay. He worked for a farmer who provided him board and 50¢ per day.
For the next 4 years he sent some money home and spent a little on himself, but saved most of it. When he reached the age of 20, he felt it time to buy a farm of his own. A pair of mules was the first thing he wanted to get. He purchased the best he could find, but unfortunately they drowned as he tried to cross a swollen creek (Skull Creek ironically) on his return home. He borrowed money from the farmer he worked for and bought another pair of mules. With them he planted a crop of rice in El Campo. Although he had a good growing season and harvest, the market had dropped to $1.50 sack. This barely gave him enough money to repay the loan. He decided to rent 45 acres in Wharton, at $2.00 per acre, growing cotton. In spite of careful efforts, he could only produce 1 bale. The $35.00 he received was not even enough to pay for his board of $5.00 per month. That winter he hauled rice to retire the debt of $90.00 he owed for rent.
He remained persistent and moved to a 78-acre tract of Colorado river bottomland the following year. 45 acres was cleared and improved. Here he married and settled for the next 14 years. In 1909 a storm destroyed all but 500 pounds of his seed cotton crop. In 1913, flood waters killed over half his livestock and ruined his potato crop. In 1915, his barn burned with over 12 tons of hay, his potato crop, a year’s supply of feed, and 3 bales of cotton.
He sold the river farm in 1917 and moved to a 172-acre plot of land. At his new farm, he suffered 3 crop failures in a row. On 75 acres of cotton, he harvested only 3 bales in 1919, 9 in 1920, and just 2 in 1921. A storm struck in 1932. On the 75 acres where he normally would gather 30-40 bales, he was only able to harvest 265 pounds of cotton. His corn was flattened and rotted in the rain that fell the following 2 weeks. The barn roof had blown off resulting in the loss of his stored feed.
In spite of the bad luck, he remained optimistic because he was free of debt and had money in the bank. He had accomplished this with a few wise business decisions. Instead of purchasing seed for Irish potatoes each year, he would store his seed from the previous spring. He also changed his Jersey dairy herd for Red Poles because he could get more profit from the calves. In addition, he made a profit by increasing his chicken flock to 300 White Leghorns. He would also rotate his crops, planting a legume, such as alfalfa, clover or soy bean and turning it under green for fertilizer or let the livestock graze it off. With the help of his son Albin, they maintain a Pecan orchard. Ultimately his frugal spending and farm management helped him to succeed.
The following is from the 1932 edition of the ACCO Press. (short version)
Oscar’s uncle and aunt, who emigrated to Central Texas inspired him to move to Texas. They offered to let him live with them and be paid for work if he could earn his passageway. When he was 15, he emigrated to Texas. At the end of the first year, his uncle paid him a total of $60.00. By end of the second year, he moved to Wharton for more pay. He worked for a farmer who provided him board and 50¢ per day.
For the next 4 years he sent some money home and spent a little on himself, but saved most of it. When he reached the age of 20, he felt it time to buy a farm of his own. A pair of mules was the first thing he wanted to get. He purchased the best he could find, but unfortunately they drowned as he tried to cross a swollen creek (Skull Creek ironically) on his return home. He borrowed money from the farmer he worked for and bought another pair of mules. With them he planted a crop of rice in El Campo. Although he had a good growing season and harvest, the market had dropped to $1.50 sack. This barely gave him enough money to repay the loan. He decided to rent 45 acres in Wharton, at $2.00 per acre, growing cotton. In spite of careful efforts, he could only produce 1 bale. The $35.00 he received was not even enough to pay for his board of $5.00 per month. That winter he hauled rice to retire the debt of $90.00 he owed for rent.
He remained persistent and moved to a 78-acre tract of Colorado river bottomland the following year. 45 acres was cleared and improved. Here he married and settled for the next 14 years. In 1909 a storm destroyed all but 500 pounds of his seed cotton crop. In 1913, flood waters killed over half his livestock and ruined his potato crop. In 1915, his barn burned with over 12 tons of hay, his potato crop, a year’s supply of feed, and 3 bales of cotton.
He sold the river farm in 1917 and moved to a 172-acre plot of land. At his new farm, he suffered 3 crop failures in a row. On 75 acres of cotton, he harvested only 3 bales in 1919, 9 in 1920, and just 2 in 1921. A storm struck in 1932. On the 75 acres where he normally would gather 30-40 bales, he was only able to harvest 265 pounds of cotton. His corn was flattened and rotted in the rain that fell the following 2 weeks. The barn roof had blown off resulting in the loss of his stored feed.
In spite of the bad luck, he remained optimistic because he was free of debt and had money in the bank. He had accomplished this with a few wise business decisions. Instead of purchasing seed for Irish potatoes each year, he would store his seed from the previous spring. He also changed his Jersey dairy herd for Red Poles because he could get more profit from the calves. In addition, he made a profit by increasing his chicken flock to 300 White Leghorns. He would also rotate his crops, planting a legume, such as alfalfa, clover or soy bean and turning it under green for fertilizer or let the livestock graze it off. With the help of his son Albin, they maintain a Pecan orchard. Ultimately his frugal spending and farm management helped him to succeed.
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