By Bruce D Messersmith
Frank Ellis Messersmith, F.E, came to Antioch, Nebraska from Coffeeville, Kansas for a job as Superintendent of the Antioch school system about 1914. He bought a relinquished homestead south of Antioch and rode horseback to and from school unless the weather got too rough so he would stay in town. He married Luva Roberts, whom he had met in college.
About 1917 or 18 the Antioch alkali boom went bust and F.E. got a job in Alliance as a teacher and a coach. His girls’ basketball teams at Alliance Highschool qualified for State Tournament in 1918 and 1919.
FE and Luva lost their first son, John, in childbirth then were successful with Robert, Frank Junior, Ken, Betty, Eileen, Lee and Rex. FE bought the ranch 16 miles north of Antioch in about 1920 and paid it off in 1926 by careful management of his income from selling coyote hides and selling of horses, pigs and sheep. He was allowed to borrow against that to acquire small neighboring places as people gave up and moved out.
FE read an article about the Grand Champion Hereford Bull at Chicago one year and decided that was the kind of cattle they should raise. His first Hereford bull came to Antioch on a train then rode, in a crate, in the back of a wagon the 16 miles north to the ranch. Partnering with his three eldest sons he created FE Messersmith and Sons Herefords and they worked together until several years after FE’s death.
FE paid off this first ranch in 1926. After World War 2, he started selling the ranch in pieces to his sons. Robert got the middle place, Frank Junior kept the home place, Ken got the north place, Lee got some toward the middle and southeast and Rex got an equal share in the middle which he sold to Ken. Frank Junior’s son Bruce managed to buy a few acres from Uncle Robert and cousin Steve when the county road was put in cutting that parcel off from their range. Lee sold his land to Steve, Bruce, and Frank Jr. On his death Jr. left this home section to Bruce.
The family was always involved with the National Stockgrowers Association. FE. was one of the creators of the National Junior Stockgrowers Association and also the Nebraska Junior Stockgrowers Association. Frank Junior and brothers were also involved with the development of the Nebraska Beef Cattle Improvement Association and sent many bulls to NBCIA Bull Tests over the years. Frank Junior, and brothers, were also the first breeders, of over 150 registered head, to enter the entire herd, with 10 years records, into the American Hereford Association Total Performance Record, a digital record of birthweights, calving ease, milk production, weaning weights and other desired traits.
Judy, Bruce and Gerald are proud of their family’s accomplishments but acknowledge that they are just the place holders. We are thankful to have been a part of the legacy started by our Grandfather and Grandmother, Frank Ellis and Luva Roberts Messersmith over 100 years ago.