Jeneveve Lingner

Pioneer of the West Dies at Gretna

Special Dispatch to the World-Herald
Gretna, Neb., Oct. 3 - A remarkable woman died in Gretna Friday morning, September 20. Her name was Mrs. Jeneveve Lingner. She was one of the early pioneers of Sarpy county and of the west.

Mrs. Lingner came from the Balanji family, her parents being French, and was born at Fort Yellowstone, Mont., November 24, 1842. In 1851 her parents came to Sarpy county in the then Nebraska territory, settling in the vicinity of Bellevue. They remained there for a time, but during that time she became intimately acquainted with Peter A. Sarpy and other noted early day pioneers of Eastern Nebraska. Moving from Bellevue they went to what is now Knox county, but at that time known as Lenqui Court county, inhabited solely by Indians. She became familiar with the different tribes, mainly Sioux, Crows, Winnebagos, etc. Miss Balanji had many dealings with these tribes, but was never molested, the Indians holding her in great esteem.

In October 1861, she was married to George Lingner and in 1864 they removed to Sarpy county, settling in Plattford precinct in the west end of the county and finally buying a farm south of Gretna, where they lived until Mr. Lingner’s death in 1900. After his death, she and the family moved to Gretna, her last days being passed in peace and comfort.

Five stalwart sons and three daughters are left. The sons are all like their father, strict democrats. Mrs. Lingner was buried in a cemetery in Plattford precinct. She was at Council Bluffs when the Mormons crossed the river on the way to Utah, and in all the stirring events of the early days she was a witness, if not an active participant.

The funeral was attended by a large number of old settlers of the county. Her name will always be connected with the early history of Nebraska.

From the Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated October 13, 1907