33 - THE RIGHT STUFF

THE RIGHT STUFF

13 ⅝ x 18 ⅝ inches

(Dietrich Weitzenkamp’s wooden trunk from Germany)

Can you imagine at age 38 putting all the things most important to you into a small trunk and leaving home forever? This humble wooden trunk, plus $700, is all that Great-Grandfather Weitzenkamp brought with him when he emigrated in 1879 from Germany to America. Like many immigrants, he was probably a bit of a gambler, but he was also a man who possessed an enormous amount of faith. Dietrich put his fear of the unknown aside to follow his dream.

His success proved that he had, indeed, brought the right stuff with him; the Weitzenkamps followed his example as they multiplied in great numbers throughout the Nebraska countryside.