USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 52
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Bernard Henry Rottinghaus was born at Oldenburg, Germany, July 30, 1861, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Bunger) Rottinghaus, who were the parents of five children, as follows: Elizabeth Von Lemden, living in Germany ; Mrs. Dina Meyer, Germany ; Mrs. Lizzie Kempson, Germany; Bernard H., subject of this review; a daughter died in in- fancy. Henry Rottinghaus, the father, was born in 1823, farmed during
BERNARD H. ROTTINGHAUS AND FAMILY.
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his whole life, and died in 1881. Their mother was born in 1820, and died in 1900.
Mr. Rottinghaus received a good common school education in the Fatherland, and emigrated from his old home in 1883 in search of fortune in America. He settled in the St. Benedict neighborhood of Nemaha county, Kansas, and worked out for $15 per month for seven years. He saved his earnings, and in 1888, he bought a farm of 110 acres in Rich- mond township. He improved this tract and sold it in 1902, investing the proceeds in a farm in Illinois township, which he has since increased to the large total of 440 acres. Forty acres of his land lies in Mitchell township. Mr. Rottinghaus has one of the best improved farms in Nemaha county and is constantly making improvements of a substantial nature. He erected a ten room modern home of an attractive design in 1909 at a cost of $4,000, and has built a large granary and hay barn since coming into possession of the place. He keeps high grade stock, including Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses and Percheron draft animals. On both of his farms he has a five acre orchard in bearing.
Mr. Rottinghaus was married February 12, 1890, to Anna Stegemann, who has borne him eight children, as follows: Mary, wife of Joseph Lierz, a farmer in Nemaha county ; Henry, Joseph, Alvin, Anna, Frank, Emma and Dora, at home with their parents. Anna (Stegemann) Rottinghaus was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 14, 1864, and is a daughter of Herman and Agnes (Dickmann) Stegemann. She came from Germany to St. Benedict's in 1889. Mr.Rottinghaus usually votes the Democratic ticket, but finds little time for political matters and has no ambition for office holding. He and all members of his family are de- vout Catholics, and are members of St. Bede's Catholic Church at Kelly, Kans.
John G. Hulsing .- John G. Hulsing, late of St. Benedict's, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 24, 1852, and was a son of George and Kathrine (Mulring) Hulsing, natives of Germany, where they were tillers of the soil. Both emigrated from their native land to America when young, located in Cincinnati, met there and were married. To them were born five children, of whom John was the eld- est. The Hulsing family removed from Cincinnati to Dubuque county, Iowa. when John was a boy and he was there educated and reared to young manhood. After his marriage in 1875, he removed to Carroll county, Iowa, and farmed there until 1894, when he moved westward to Nemaha county, Kansas. He located in the town of St. Benedict's, and operated a general store in partnership with Clements Brocker for three years, then operated the store for three years on his own account, and then bought a farm of 160 acres on the outskirts of the town. He culti- vated his land assiduously, used good judgment, and prospered until he became the owner of 300 acres of good farm land. His demise occurred February 27, 1913.
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John G. Hulsing was married in 1875 to Mary Hoefler, and this union was blessed with the following children, namely: John, a farmer of Nemaha county, Kansas; Mrs. Kathrine Raker, living on a farm near Baileyville, Kans .; Anna, wife of Ed Koelzer, Nemaha county ; Mary, at home with her mother; Dena, wife of Frank Bergmann; Henry, a farmer of Richmond township; Lizzie, wife of W. Rettele, living near Seneca, Kans .; Mrs. Clara Hang, living with her mother; Mrs. Rosa Bergmann, residing near Baileyville, Kans. Mrs. Mary Hulsing was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 8, 1853, and is a daughter of Garrett J. and Clara (Schaefer) Hoefler, natives of Germany, who came to Ohio from their native. land when young. They were the parents of fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy. The Hoeflers also removed to Iowa where both of Mrs. Hulsing's parents died.
Mrs. Hulsing is the owner of a farm of 206 acres and is a loyal member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church.
Frank A. Olberding .- He of whom this chronicle treats, comes of sturdy German stock, the kind from which a large part of our successful citizens have sprung. It is a remarkable fact that among the misfits and never-do-wells very few Germans are found. Success seems to gravitate toward these thrifty people, perhaps because they are not spoiled by it. for no one ever saw a German family spoiled by too much prosperity. No matter how comfortably they are situated, they always retain their simple mode of life and refrain from all show of extravagance.
Frank A. Olberding is a typical citizen of this type. Starting out in life under the severest disadvantages, he has labored long and hard and now rests easy in the security of the income which he spent hard years in achieving. Born in Oldenburg, Germany, October 17, 1866, he started life under a different civilization. His parents were John H. and Agnes (Kruse) Olberding, to whom were born four children: Anna, married to Mr. Kohake, now dead ; Henry, Clear Creek, Nemaha county, dead; Josephine, Clear Creek township, Nemaha county; Frank, of whom this sketch treats.
The father was born in Germany in 1821, and followed the occupa- tion of farming in his native land. In middle life he immigrated to America, and brought his family to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he bought land in Clear Creek township, and farmed until the time of his death in 1900. The mother of Frank Olberding, like her husband, was born in Germany, and died there in 1873, when about forty years of age.
Frank Olberding was brought to America when a young boy and grew up on the farm, attending at the same time the district school in Clear Creek township. After completing his education, he worked at various places as a farm hand, drawing $15 to $20 per month. At the age of twenty-seven, he had saved enough money to buy a farm and he acquired a half section of land in Richmond township, section eighteen. The farm was poorly improved when he took pos- session but he has introduced modern improvements on the place and
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has a well equipped farm. Besides farming, Mr. Olberding is a breeder of fine hogs and has a fine lot of Red Poland stock. He feeds one hun- dred hogs a year and makes a large profit out of his investment. He raises about II0 acres of corn yearly, which yields about forty bushels to the acre. In addition to his farming interests, he is a stockholder in the Seneca Farmers' Union and is counted among the influential and prominent farmers of this section of the state.
In 1894 he was married to Agnes Tangemain and to this union seven children were born: Edward, George, Lawrence, Veronica, Ben- edict, Agnes, Albert, all living at home. The mother of these children was born in Germany, September 12, 1875, but left there when only a year old. Her parents settled in Nemaha township, and both now live on their farm in Clear Creek township.
Mr. Olberding is an adherent to the Roman Catholic faith and be- longs to the Democratic party. In his residence in America, which dates from 1883, he has shown himself a good citizen and a fine neigh- bor He has completely assimilated the ideals of his adopted country, and is a credit to the Stars and Stripes. He has never sought political preferment, but has always taken a keen interest in governmental af- fairs. For the past two years Mr. Olberding has been driving a Stude- baker "Six" automobile for which he paid $1.300. He and his family get much enjoyment from the use of this fine machine and he finds it a convenience in his farming operations.
Jerome McQuaid .- Jerome McQuaid, a breeder of fine Poll-Aber- deen Angus cattle and other fancy stock, is one of the prosperous farm- ers and stockmen of Richmond township, Nemaha county. Mr. Mc- Quaid was born in Nemaha county, June 5, 1877, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Draney) McQuaid. The father was of Irish birth, hav- ing been born on the Emerald Isle in 1833. At the age of seventeen, Peter McQuaid left the land of the Shamrock and settled in the United States. He worked at various jobs for some time, and when the Civil War broke out he was employed by the government as a blacksmith during the years of that great struggle. When the last battle was over and the great industrial forces which supplied the army with equipment and kept it in fighting condition were disbanded, Peter McQuaid mi- grated to Nemaha county, Kansas. and opened a blacksmith shop in the old town of Farmington. Later he saw a good opening at Seneca, Kansas, and moved his shop to that place, where he had a fine trade. In 1873 he bought a farm near Turkey Creek in Nemaha county, and was very successful in this venture. He made numerous improvements and dealt heavily in live stock and at one time he owned 440 acres of land which he farmed until his death in 1895. Though coming from a strange land, he readily took on the American ways of thinking and became active in public affairs, taking an especially prominent part in the work of the Republican party in his district. He held the office of registrar of deeds in Nemaha county for one term and was a capable
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official. He professed the Roman Catholic faith. The mother of Jerome McQuaid was a Canadian, born in 1843, and now lives in Seneca. To Peter and Mrs. McQuaid were born ten children, seven of whom are living.
Jerome McQuaid attended the district school and mastered the "three R's" with no more difficulty than the average small boy finds. He was a live boy in every sense of the word and enjoyed the farm and its attendant delights despite the irksome chores which it is the lot of all boys on the farm to perform. When he attained the age of twenty-one years, he rented land from his mother and in 1900 he bought a farm of 160 acres near the old home place. On this place he built a substantial house and barn and made numerous other improvements. He farmed the place until 1907, when he sold it and bought 333 acres of fine land in Richmond township, in sections 22 and 23, which were formerly owned by B. F. Hart. This farm is well improved and he has a fine barn and corn crib, the latter of his own construction as are other minor improvements around the place. Mr. McQuaid has 140 acres of his farm in corn, which yields fifty bushels to the acre. He also has sixty acres in alfalfa. Mr. McQuaid devotes considerable atten- tion to his live stock, which is of excellent breed, including Polled Aberdeen Angus cattle. All graded stock on his place is of a high quality.
February 1, 1897, he was united in marriage with Ida Haug, who was born December 28, 1880, and is a daughter of August and Kath- rine (Selbach) Haug, natives of Germany. Mrs. Ida McQuaid was born in Nemaha county where her parents came as early settlers in the pioneer days. To this happy union, nine children were born: Cora, Sylvester, Oliver, Angela, Surilla, Marcella, Hylda, Carmelita, and a baby girl, Eveline, all living at home. Mr. McQuaid is a Republican and takes an interest in the political affairs of his community. He is an adherent of the Catholic church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
John J. Smith, farmer, Adams township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in Nemaha county, November 4, 1872. He is a son of Thomas and Ellen (O'Connell) Smith, natives of Ireland. Thomas Smith was born in Ireland, in 1840, and was reared in his native village. At the age of seventeen years, he started working for himself and worked in his native land until 1861 and then came to America. He located at Leavenworth and was employed by the United States Government as teamster for seven years. In 1868 he came to Nemaha county and home- steaded 160 acres of land, upon which he resided for a period of thirty years. He then retired to a comfortable home in Axtell, Kans., where he died in 1904. He and his wife, Ellen, were good Catholics, and were the parents of ten children, as follows: Mary (Sister Olivia) and Sarah (Sister Helen), Sisters of Charity in the Catholic church; Mrs. Nellie Kegan, of Baileyville, Kans., who is the mother of two children; Katie (Sister Rosaleta) in the Catholic Church; Edward, a farmer near Ax-
JOHN J. SMITH.
MRS. JOHN J. SMITH.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
tell, Kans., and father of five children; John J., subject of this review ; Thomas, a farmer living at Sargent, Mo., and father of seven children ; Rev. Father Patrick Smith, a priest located at Blaine, Kans .; Delia (Sister Donata), a sister of the Catholic church; Mrs. Rose Waters, Topeka, Kans., mother of one child. The mother of these children was born in Ireland in 1844, and started working when ten years old. When sixteen years of age she came to America and worked as a domestic at Leavenworth until her marriage in 1868. She died in St. Francis' Hos- pital at Topeka, Kans., September 10, 1915.
John J. Smith was reared on his father's farm and received a district school education. He worked for his father on the home place until twenty-two years of age and then began life for himself. He first rented eighty acres of land in Clear Creek township for one year, and then rented another eighty acres and farmed it for one year. He then took charge of 160 acres of land for a year, and then rented 160 acres within three miles of Summerfield, Kans., which he cultivated for two years, after which he returned to Clear Creek township and farmed 160 acres for two years, and after farming another 190 acres for one year, he made his first land investment in 160 acres south of Seneca, which he owned for three years. He then sold out, and after a year's residence in Seneca, he bought 170 acres west of Seneca. One year later he sold this farm, and in 1909 bought his present home place of 157.25 acres in Adams township.
Mr. Smith was married April 23, 1894, to Jane Aziere, who bore him the following children: John P. and Lawrence H., at home with their father. The mother of these children was born in Nemaha county, May 1, 1876, and died in 1910. She was a daughter of Charles and Mary (Gaume) Aziere, natives of France. Charles Aziere was born in France in 1848, and was one of the early pioneers of Nemaha county, dying here in 1902. His wife, Mary, was born in France in 1846, and died in 1915. They were devout Catholics.
Mr. Smith's second marriage took place May 30, 1911, with Eliza- beth, daughter of Fred and Augustina (Tanking) Guenther. Fred Guenther, her father, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1856, and worked in his native country until his immigration to America in 1886. For five years he followed farming near Seneca, Kans., and was then employed in a packing house in Kansas City, Kans., for six years. For six years following he lived in Seneca; then farmed eighty acres in Adams township for seven years. He then came to Gilman township, Nemaha county, and rented 160 acres of land, in 1913. Augustina Guenther was born in Kansas, January 13, 1873, and she and Fred Guenther were married in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Guenther have had a family of four children, as follows: John and Herman, deceased ; Eliza- abeth, wife of John J. Smith, and Vincent. Mrs. Smith was born August 2 1893, and was reared in Seneca, Kans. She was educated in the com- mon schools and worked as a domestic until her marriage in 19II. Two
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children have been born of this marriage: Rosalita Helen, born Novem- ber 30, 1912; Sylvester Frederick, born May 5, 1916.
Mr. Smith and his family are members of the Catholic church and he is affiliated with C. M. B. A., the Knights of Columbus and the St. Joseph Society. He is allied with the Democratic party and is at present a member of the school board. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Altar Society of the Catholic church.
George Stallbaumer .- Among the farmers and stockmen of Rich- mond township who have made good at the business must be mentioned George Stallbaumer. He was born November 24. 1877. in Nemaha county: To his parents, John M. and Mary H. (Van Brook) Stall- baumer, were born cight children as follows: Charles H., deceased ; Rosina, wife of Thomas Carpenter, deceased; John, living near Kelly, Kans .; Albertina, wife of Henry Welp, of Oregon; Ida, now Mrs. James Carlin, living near Frankfort, Kans .; Louisa, deceased, wife of P. J. Rettele; Edward, Marion township; George, of whom this sketch is written.
John M. Stallbaumer, father of George Stallbaumer, was born in Germany, May 17, 1835. When a young man he left the fatherland and came to America and located immediately in Nemaha county, Kansas. . He died August 24, 1881, and was laid to rest in the St. Benedict's ceme- tery. His wife was born in Holland, August 16, 1844, and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, with her mother and settled near St. Benedict's, Kans. The long trip exhausted their resources and in the western com- munity there was little means of earning a livelihood for one in the mother's situation. They attempted to learn the English language, but it was a slow task and their funds speedily grew smaller. Finally they were in want and not even food was to be had. So the child went out on the prairie one hot day in search of food. The intense heat made her faint and she was overcome from exhaustion and hunger and but for the protection of an umbrella, she might have fallen prostrated by the heat of the hot sun and died. She was found by neighbors and given food, and since that time has managed to keep the wolf from the door. She has lived in Seneca for the past sixteen years.
George Stallbaumer was reared on the farm and during his early years worked hard for his father. After spending his youth in the con- ventional way of the country boy. George decided that he wanted to be a farmer on his own account and at the age of twenty-four rented land from his mother to the extent of 115 acres. In 1900 he was married to Elizabeth Engelken, and to them eight children were born: Philomena, Cornelia. Alfred. Cyril, Hubert. Raymond, Adrian, and Cletus.
Mrs. Stallbaumer is a daughter of Herman and Anna (Schulte) Engelken, of Nemaha county. She was born October 13, 1881. in Dor- chester. Allamakee county, Iowa.
Mr. Stallbaumer is a Democrat, having voted the ticket of that party for conscientious reasons for many years. He professes the faith
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of the Catholic church and is known about the community for his de- vont and upright life.
Henry Harpenau .- Among the industrious farmers of Richmond township must be named Henry Harpenan, who for years has farmed with conspicuous success on his land in Nemaha county. He can be taken as a type of the German people, industrious, thrifty, alert for new opportunities, ambitious, and a self-respecting, upright citizen. They are a credit to any community and regardless of any opinions some may hold about hyphenated citizenship, a country peopled with men like Henry Harpenau and his German fellow-citizens is not in danger of decay. It is rather on the verge of a new day and of a new era of pro- gress.
Henry Harpenau was born October 30, 1851. in Oldenburg, Ger- many. His parents, Henry and Mary (Trimpe) Harpenan, had one other child, Mrs. Pete Koch, of Marion township, Nemaha county.
The father was born in 1823. He spent his early life in Germany until 1871, when he came to Richmond township, Nemaha county, where he bought 120 acres of land in section 18. He farmed this successfully and later added to his holdings, and led a prosperous life as a farmer until his death in 1892. The mother of Henry died in Germany.
Henry Harpenau came to Nemaha county, Kansas, when a very young man. He attended the common schools of his native land before coming to America. When his father brought him and his younger sis- ter to America, they settled on prairie land in Nemaha county and Henry was put to work breaking up the land while his sister kept house for her father and brother. He worked for his father until the time of his marriage in 1884. when he rented part of the farm and worked it himself. Upon the death of his father several years later, he inherited 408 acres of land which had belonged to the elder Harpenan. Henry has always been a hard working man and has taken great pride in keep- ing his farm in good condition, having made very extensive improve- ments since taking over the land. He has always kept graded stock on the farm and is always eager to show his stock to visitors who find that it compares very favorably with those of the best farms in the state.
In 1884 he was married to Lizzie Oenbring and to this union these eight children were born: Henry, living in California; Mary, Frank, Anna, Joseph, living at home; Kathrinc, a sister at a convent in Atchi- son, Kansas; Joehanna and Louis, living at home.
Mrs. Harpenau was born March 8, 1861, in Germany, and left there in 1883, with her parents, who settled in St. Benedict's, Kans., where they engaged in farming.
Mr. Harpenau is affiliated with the Democratic party and is a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church. He is of a retiring disposition and has no political ambitions. He is industrious and an upright citizen of his community.
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Peter H. Reed .- Three things which have been accomplished by Peter H. Reed, of Reilly township, entitle him to honorable mention in the annals of his home county. First, he has the distinction of having been one of the youngest soldiers in the great Civil war; second, he has risen from practical poverty in his youth and early manhood to have be- come one of the large land owners and wealthy citizens of Nemaha county ; third, he has reared one of the large families of this county, and has seen each of his children take a substantial place in his respective community. Even if he had accomplished no more than the third of these things, his place in history would have been assured. From rail splitter to large landed proprietor could be made the title of an inter- esting story. Peter H. Reed is a Kentuckian by birth, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Hostetter) Reed, natives of the Blue Grass State.
George W. Reed, his father, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, April 10, 1824, and was reared on his parents' farm. He was a well educated man and taught school in his native State for several years. He immigrated to Kansas with his family in 1887 and located in Jack- son county, Kansas. He bought a small place of four and one-half acres adjoining the town of Soldier, and lived thereon for eighteen years, dying there on February 15, 1898. He filled the office of trustee of his township for two terms and had also served as sheriff of his home county in Kentucky for several years. He was a member of the Christian church, and was secretary of the Masonic lodge of Soldier, Kans.
His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Kentucky, January 29, 1826, and died November II, 1876. George W. and Elizabeth Reed were the parents of the following children : Nancy Ellen, born July 2, 1843, and died September II, 1871; William W., born July 26, 1846, and was a Union soldier, died February 28, 1867; Peter H., the subject of this re- view ; Dr. Thomas M. Reed, born December 15, 1851, and died May 29, 1875 ; Dr. Salmon S., born May 20. 1854, and died October 18, 1912, was a physician at Soldier, Kans .; Mary Elizabeth, born December 29, 1856, and died April 1, 1875; Mrs. Emma E. Cocherell, living in Jackson county, born December 17, 1859; John L., born August 2, 1862, and died December 26, 1863.
Peter H. Reed was born in Gallatin county, Kentucky, March 26, 1849, and was reared on a Kentucky farm. When but fifteen years of age (1864) he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-fifth Kentucky infantry, and served until the close of the war. After his war service expired he remained at home and took care of his brothers and sisters as assistant to his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then rented some land, purchased an axe and split rails and cut fence posts for a living. At the time of his marriage, in 1869, he was possessed of but $42 in cash. Since that time his fortunes have steadily risen, especially since his advent into Kansas in 1872, living first at Valley Falls, Jefferson county. He settled in Nemaha county in the fall of 1873. The first
PETER H. REED.
MRS. SARAH E. REED.
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taxes which Mr. Reed paid in 1873 amounted to but $5.03. Since that time his tax payments have gone upward until now they amount to hundreds of dollars. Mr. Reed has increased his acreage from the first modest beginning to the large total of five hundred and sixty acres in Reilly township, Nemaha county, and 360 acres in Butler county, Kan- sas. He is a fancier of Polled Angus cattle and maintains a herd of ninety-one head, nine of which are thoroughbred stock. He has planted twenty-five acres of alfalfa on his farm, which is well improved and highly productive.
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