Herman Henrich Dunklau was born May 11, 1839 in Germany. He was a coachman by trade. He immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Arlington, Neb. There he married Marie Wrich.

    Johann Heinrich Dunklau was born June 12, 1884 and a sister, Anna Fredrichs Christine followed on Nov. 26, 1885. Mother Marie died just two years later in 1887.
    In 1888 father and son moved by wagon to Wayne, bringing livestock.  They came to Wayne because they had heard the water was better.  John later told of sleeping over night in barns along the way and having rats chew on his ears.  Anna was left in Arlington with friends until they could care for her.
    Herman homesteaded a farm 6.5 miles north and three miles west of Wayne (NW 1/4 of Section 10, Township 27, Range 3).  In 1904 Herman purchased a quarter section across the road (SW 1/4 of Section 9, Township 27, Range 3) for the price of $6,480 or $0.50 an acre.  This is the famr that has remained in the Dunklau family.
    John and his wife, Mina, were married in 1913 and moved into the original two room, two story house.  In 1915 they built on the kitchen with used lumber.  In 1920 they built around the existing structure to make the present square, two-story house.
    John and Mina raised seven children in the house - Ruby, Edward, Lloyd, Marvin, Kenneth, Alden and Wilma.  After Mina's death, the land was divided between her children's families.
    Alden Dunklau later married Darleen Roberts in 1948. They lived on the farm until Alden's death in 1976.  they had four children - Kathleen, Louann, Michael and Randy.  In 1983 Darleen bought the remaining shares on the farm from the other fmaily members to have the quarter section complete again.

The children of John and Mina Dunklau included, front row, Wilma and Alden. Middle row, Ed, Ruby and Lloyd. Back row, Kenneth and Marvin. 

    Mike and his wife, Kim (Chase), lived on the farm for seven years from 1978 until 1985.  All three of their children, Ryan, Leah, Alissa, were born there.
    Randy Dunklau and his wife, Shari, have lived on the farm since 1986, raising their four children, Jesse, Samatha, Jorge and Joseph. they also had two neices, Lisa and sandra, live with them for many years.
    The Dunklau home has hosted many gatherings and parties over the years and still remains a beautiful home and farm today.