Leo Ernest Noecker

Leo Ernest Noecker, sr. was born in Western Prussia in 1836. He came to Canada with his parents in 1843, when he was 7 years old. In 1868, Leo was married in Canada to Mrs. Amelia Kuehn Rebscher, a widow with two small children; a son, Charles Rebscher, and a daughter who married Allie Armison, and, unfortunately, passed away in childbirth at a young age.

Charles Rebscher homesteaded south of Eckelson, and raised his family in that location. He passed away several years ago.

Leo and Amelia homesteaded in Potter Township, Barnes County, Dakota Territory, in 1879, on what is now the Earl Noecker farm home, one mile south of Sanborn, North Dakota. Leo and Amelia had eight children;

  1. Ferdinand,

  2. Alvin,

  3. Leona (Mrs. Charles Luessen of Valley City),

  4. Ottillie (Mrs. Charles Knight of Austin, Texas),

  5. Tillie (Mrs. William Anderson of Courtney),

  6. Florence (killed in a Northern Pacific train accident in 1913),

  7. Leo Ernest, Jr., and

  8. William Isaac.

Leo, Sr., became one of the most active farmers in the community development as well as one of the most outstanding farmers in Western Barnes County. He helped his sons acquire land and they all became outstanding farmers of Western Barnes County. In fact, very little Noecker land has ever been sold and today this area has sizeable land held by the Noecker descendents. Leo, Sr., left his mark permanently on Western Barnes County.

Amelia Noecker died in 1915, and Leo, Sr., died in 1916. They are buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Sanborn, North Dakota.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 176