USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 57
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December 18, 1901, Mr. Korber was married to Theresa Bohm, a daughter of John and Bertha (Poppe) Bohm, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. Korber was born June 23, 1880, in Nemaha county, Kansas, though she was reared on a Nebraska farm. Her mother is living in Pawnee county, Nebraska, but her father was killed in an ac- cident in which he fell from a wagon, July 5, 1913. To Mr. and Mrs. Korber, these five children were born: John, Alvin, Paul, Leon, and Leona, all of whom are living with their parents.
Mr. Korber is a man of individuality and independence of thought, and very naturally would be expected to be an independent voter, which he is. He has never held public office, though he is keenly inter- ested in political affairs, and keeps up with the times, as far as public matters are concerned. Mr. and Mrs. Korber profess the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which they are communicants.
Emil Hecht is a native Kansan and was born on the farm which he now occupies, March 13, 1888. His father, William Hecht, was born in Will county, Illinois, March 1, 1857, and his parents, Henry and Miss (Berance) Hecht, were natives of Germany. William Hecht came with his father and mother to Kansas in 1871 and settled in Nemaha county where he lived until his retirement to a home at Dubois, Neb. The mother was born June 9, 1863, in Will county, Illinois, and was a daugh- ter of Henry and Miss (Heideman) Most, who were natives of Ger-
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many. They came to America and settled, about 1879, in Nemaha county, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Hecht were the parents of three children: Mrs. Lillie Bredemeier, of Nemaha township; Emil, of whom this article is written, and Edwin, now deceased.
Emil Hecht was reared on his father's farm and attended school in district No. 8. He has always remained with his father and mother on the farm and has been a steady and industrious worker. He is now renting 200 acres of land from his father from which he is making a comfortable income.
He was married to Rosa Siske, November 3, 1915. She was born January 12, 1893, in Pawnee county, Nebraska, and is the daughter of Ferdinald and Sophia (Boehmer) Siske. The father was born in Ger- many in 1863, and is now living in Pawnee county, Nebraska. Her mother was born in Pawnee county, Nebraska, in 1868. Eight children were born to them, all of whom are living at this time.
Emil Hecht is a Republican and professes the faith of the Evangeli- cal Lutheran church. He is one of the best known farmers and stock- men of Nehama township and is known for his personal integrity and general good character. He is a valuable member of his community and is always ready to give his support to any worthy cause.
Bernard Rottinghaus .- We are living in the age of specialists. Not only in the learned sciences and manufactures is it essential that a man be a specialist in his particular line, but of late years, the progres- sive and ambitious farmer is likewise branching out in particular lines, other than the routine of general farming. Bernard Rottinghaus, whose name heads this review, is one of the successful specialists in the breed- ing of Poland China hogs and Clydesdale horses in Nemaha county, Kansas. He is also a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and has exhibited his live stock at the county fairs with considerable success. His pure bred swine are in demand among the farmers of the neighborhood, and he has shipped the product of his pens to parties at a distance.
Bernard Rottinghaus, of Nemaha township, was born in Olden- burg, Germany, September 13, 1871, and is a son of Bernard and Agnes (Morman) Rottinghaus, concerning whom the reader is referred to the biography of Henry Rottinghaus in this volume. Bernard Rottinghaus, the subject of this review, came to America with his parents in 1877, and, for the first two years, lived in Richmond township, where his fa- ther rented a farm. The family then moved to the farm in Nemaha township, which Bernard now owns. The home farm of the Rotting- haus family consists of eighty acres of well improved land in section 33. Mr. Rottinghaus received a good common school education, and lived with his parents and came into possession of the home place when their demise occurred. When a young man, he became interested in fine live stock, and has made this special departure in farming his hobby for several years to his personal profit and renown. He attended school in the Liberty district of Richmond township, until seven years
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of age, and then went to St. Benedict's school until he was twelve years old. He has added to the original home place of eighty acres, until he now'owns 130 acres of land, which is one of the well improved farms of the county. Mr. Rottinghaus has farmed the place since leaving school, and began his activity in special farming methods when twenty-two years of age.
Mr. Rottinghaus was married June 7. 1892, to Miss Mary Engel- ken. Mrs. Mary (Engelken) Rottinghaus was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, December 3, 1873, and is a daughter of John Engelken, concerning whom an extended review is given in this history.
Mr. Rottinghaus is a staunch Republican in his political views, and is one of the real leaders of the Republican party in Nemaha county. Being a well read man who keeps up with the times by constant study and reading, he is eminently fitted for leadership, and has served the people as clerk and treasurer of Nemaha township. For the past six- teen years, he has been a member of the school board of school district No. 68. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Rottinghaus is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. He is one of the foremost farmers of Nemaha county, and is always found in the forefront of all movements tending to advance the interests of the farm- ers, and to better the agricultural progress of the county.
Anton Nolte, farmer and widely known and successful live stock breeder, was born on the farm which he now owns, in Center township, September 19, 1891, and is a son of Alois and Mary Ann (Bartka) Nolte, who were the parents of fourteen children. Alois Nolte was born at Krais-Hoexter in Westphalia, Germany, December 3, 1846, and learned the trade of stone mason in his youth. When he attained the age of eighteen years, he made his way to America and settled at St. Louis, Mo., and there plied his trade of mason, and was married in that city in 1871. Two years after his marriage he migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, and engaged in farming on eighty acres of land, which he purchased in Marion township. The first home of the Nolte's in Kansas was a one room house, and the barn which they used was built of prairie hay. In this home six of the children were born, and then the elder Nolte bought eighty acres in section I, Center township, and made improvements according to his means, which were still limited. He set out an orchard and otherwise beautified the prairie, and prosperity smiled upon him in the course of years of ceaseless endeavor and good management, and he eventually became the owner of 320 acres. He became a prominent resi- dent of his township and filled the office of justice of the peace for two years previous to his demise on January 9. 1915. Alois Nolte was the son of John and Elizabeth (Trapham) Nolte, who were tillers of the soil -in Westphalia, Germany. The wife of Alois Nolte, and mother of the subject of this review, was born October 26, 1851, in St. Louis, Mo., and was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Hartbeck) Bartka, who were the parents of six children, of whom three are living. Henry Bartka was
ALOIS NOLTE AND FAMILY.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
born in Germany and was a laborer who immigrated to America and died at Quincy, Ill., at the age of eighty-four years. The mother of Anton Nolte is an industrions, hard working woman, who assisted her husband in tilling his land, while rearing her large family of fourteen children. She is yet living, and is just as thorough in her work and just as active as in her younger days.
Anton Nolte attended the district school and Sts. Peter and Paul's parochial schools at Seneca, Kans., and for some time, has been managing the family estate. Ile keeps high grade Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, and is an excellent and industrious farmer, who learned the art of tilling the soil from a competent parent. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and is unmarried.
The remarkable family of fourtecn children reared to maturity by Alois and Mary Ann Nolte, are as follows: Henry, working at the Red elevator, Seneca, Kans .; Mrs. Fredericka Busse, St. Paul, Kans .; Kath- rine, deceased : Mrs. Theresa Rothers, deceased, left four children, all of whom Mrs. Nolte is assisting their father in rearing ; Mrs. Mary Domann, Winchester, Jackson county, Kansas ; Caroline, Sister Consalati, O. S. B., at Mt. St. Scholastica's, Atchison, Kans .; Alois married Mary Krogmann, and lives in Center township ; John, farming in Center township ; Charles, on the home place ; Clare, wife of B. Kramer, Mitchell township ; Joseph, a photographer, Hanover, Kans .; Anton, at home; Leo, at home; Eliza- beth, at home.
Anton is a shareholder of the Farmers Union Elevator Company of Seneca, and is an aggressive and capable young man, who is well liked by all who know him. It is safe to predict a splendid career for him in the years to come.
When the Nolte family came to Nemaha county, they were so poor that Alois Nolte was compelled to borrow money with which to purchase the necessities of life when the family settled on their farm. When they moved to the present home place, there was not even shelter for their hogs and many other conveniences were lacking, which, in time, were accumulated, and the year 1902 witnessed the erection of the present comfortable habitation of the family The elder Nolte was a hard work- ing man who was exact in his methods of doing business, and kept a diary in which he recorded his daily doings and transactions.
Frank H. Holthaus, farmer and agent for foreign ticket passage via the Trans-Atlantic Steamship Lines, was born in Oldenburg, Germany. June 14, 1875, and is a son of Franz and Josephine (Licning ) Holthans, natives of Germany. See biography of F. J. Holthaus, banker, of Seneca, Kans., for particulars concerning the life of Franz and Josephine Hol- thaus. Frank H. Holthaus left his native land enroute to America, September 21, 1891. Previous to this time he had been employed as steward and captain of stewards on German vessels, fast mail steam- ships, but resigned his position in 1891, and decided to settle in Kansas. He came to Nemaha county and worked out as farm hand on the farms
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near Seneca until 1900 and then invested his savings in his present farm in section 31, Richmond township. He is the owner of 312 acres of excellent farm land, which he has improved as he was able. He erected a modern nine-room residence in 1907, and in the following year Mr. Holthaus built a large barn. All of the buildings on the place are painted white and present an attractive appearance.
Mr. Holthaus was married in 1896 to Miss Josephine Rethmann, who has borne him nine children, as follows: Agnes, Joseph, Clemen- tina, Cornelius, Mary, Karl, Lawrence, Bernard and Cyril. Mrs. Hol- thaus was born in Marion township, April 15, 1877, and is a daughter of Clements and Agnes Lutmerding Rethmann, natives of Germany, concerning whom a review is given in this work.
Mr. Holthaus is a Democrat who has taken a prominent part in the political affairs of his township and county. He served as treasurer of Richmond township in 1910. He and Mrs. Holthaus are members of the Catholic church and he is affiliated with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Holthaus conducts an agency for foreign steamship tickets which he began in 1900. In 1912 he sold twelve tickets to England and sells as high as twenty tickets annually to travelers from Seneca to foreign lands. He represents the following trans-Atlantic steamship lines: North German Lloyd, Hamburg-American Line, Holland-American Line, Cunard Line, White Star Line, and Red Star Line, American Line and Angeline Line.
Joseph Olberding is one of the public spirited men of Richmond township and is a prosperous farmer and stockman. He has held pub- lic office with great credit and has managed his excellent farm on a high plane of efficiency. Such men are a credit to any community and especially so when, as is the case of Mr. Olberding, they are adopted sons of the United States and serve it with a loyalty as strong as their brothers back in war-torn Europe show to the mother land.
Mr. Olberding was born in Oldenburg, Germany, September 26, 1866, and was a son of Anton and Caroline (Berding) Olberding. The father was born in Germany in 1813, was a sailor for thirty years and in season followed the occupation of farming. In old age he came to America, locating in Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1882, where he lived until his death, December 8, 1887. The mother was born in 1823 and died in June, 1895. To this union six children were born, as follows: Dina, wife of F. Blocker, Richmond township, Nemaha county, Kansas ; Clem- ents, Marion township; Frank, Marion township; Anna, wife of H. Wilmhof, now deceased, living in Germany; Anton, Marion township; Joseph, of whom this review is dritten.
Joseph Olberding left Germany with his parents and being a strong young man, he found work in America on a farm and for seven years he labored as a farm hand for different men. Then having accumulated a small sum sufficient to start out on his own footing, Joseph bought eighty acres in Marion township, but sold this property in 1890 and
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bought 120 acres also in Marion township, which he held three years, when he sold it to buy 146 acres in Richmond township, section 30, and this he farmed until 1898 when he purchased the farm in section 31 which he now owns. On this place he has built extensive improve- ments, including a fine house and barn. He has increased his farming land to something like 400 acres of land, all good soil, scattered about in various parts of Nemaha county. Mr. Olberding is a fancier of fine stock and takes great pride in showing his animals to visitors. Nothing but high grade stock is kept on his farm and his Durham cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and Percheron horses deserve high praise, for they are among the best to be seen in this part of the county.
In 1889 he was married to Mary Rethmann, who was born January 14. 1872, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the daughter of Clements Reth- mann, whose history is recorded in the biography of her brother, Charles Rethmann, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Olberding: August and Joseph, twins, latter deceased, August living in Marion township; Edward, Marion township; Anna, Benedict, Rose, Leo, Edith. Joseph, Mary and Agnes, living at home; John, fifth child, deceased.
Mr. Olberding's public life ought to be emphasized, because he has shown how useful a man may be even though he was born under an- other flag. Mr. Olberding has held office a number of terms, but throughout his entire public career he has always maintained an attı- tude of independence toward the political party with which he usually identifies himself. He is a Democrat first, last and all the time, but when he feels that it is obviously wrong to support that ticket, he then asserts his right to vote independently of a party label. He was elected township trustee in 1901 for a period of two years and again in 1912 and re-elected in 1914. He is treasurer of school district No. 96. Mr. Olberding holds membership in the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and has been reared in the Roman Catholic faith.
Benjamin F. Scanlan is one of the well known farmers and stock- men of Marion township, and is a prosperous and public spirited citi- zen. He was born October 9. 1874. in Marshall county, Kansas, and was a son of Thomas and Kathrine (Ramsey) Scanlan. Thomas Scanlan was born in Ireland, February 22, 1830, and came to the United States when a lad of nineteen. He settled in Virginia, and as this was about the time when the controversy which led to the Civil war was growing bit- ter, he became deeply interested in the matter, which was of such vital interest to all citizens of this country. Naturally, as he lived in a south- ern State, his sympathies were with the Confederacy, and if he later came to see that, perhaps, the South was mistaken, he was honest in his views, and was ready to fight for what he believed to be right. He enlisted in the cause of the South soon after the outbreak of the war, and continued in service until the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the knee, and forced to leave the fighting line. In 1869, he
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came to Marshall county, Kansas, and bought land near Axtell and, ten years later, he bought 320 acres in Marion township, section 29, Nemaha county, Kansas, and the following year, moved on the place, and began making improvements. He farmed this land with success until his retirement in 1902, when he returned to Axtell, where he died in 1912. The mother of Benjamin Scanlan was born in Virginia, De- cember 25, 1842, and is now living in Axtell. To her were born thir- teen children, eleven of whom are living.
Benjamin Scanlan was reared on the farm of his father, and at- tended the district school near Baileyville, Kans., and also in Grant dis- trict. He has spent all of his life on the farm with his parents, and has been a steady worker. He is now farming 480 acres of land, 320 acres of which he owns, this latter including the old home place. His brother, Frank, helps him in farming the land. Benjamin lives in Axtell with his mother and sister. He is unmarried, and is a member of the Cath- olic church. Mr. Scanlan votes the Democratic ticket, though he is of the independent branch of his party, and is inclined to look more to the man, than to the party affiliations, in voting for candidates.
Mr. Scanlan keeps stock of a very high grade on his farm, and takes great pride in it. His farm is well improved, and is managed on a sound, business-like basis, and Mr. Scanlan is recognized as being one of Nemaha county's successful farmers.
Frederick W. Severin .- Clover Leaf Farm, owned and managed by Frederick W. Severin, in Marion township, Nemaha county, Kansas. is noted for its fine pure bred live stock. For several years Mr. Severin has been a breeder of Hereford cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs, of which he is an extensive feeder, and White Leghorn poultry. This farm is located two and one-half miles south and east of Axtell, Kans., and four miles west and north of Baileyville. It is one of the best improved farms in this section of the State and is managed and cultivated along the most advanced agricultural lines to the satisfaction and profit of the owner. Clover Leaf Farm is a clean, up-to-date agricultural plant and is known far and wide for its products.
Frederick W. Severin was born in Doddridge county, West Vir- ginia, February 19, 1874. and is a son of Frederick J. and Julia Ann (Rahrig) Severin, natives of Germany and Maryland, respectively. Fred J. Severin was born in 1820 and emigrated from his native fath- erland to Maryland in 1842 and was there united in marriage with Julia Ann Rahrig, who was born near Cumberland, Maryland, October 18. 1839. Soon after their marriage they removed to West Virginia in 1858 and followed farming until the death of Frederick J., December 24, 1884. The wife and mother died November 27, 1875. They, Fred- erick and Julia Ann Severin, were the parents of six sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this reveiw is the youngest child. Joseph Severin, a brother of Frederick W., resides on a farm in Marion township, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Van Verth, also lives in Marion town- ship, Nemaha county.
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Frederick W. Severin attended the district schools of his native county and State and studied in the Parkersburg Business College. IIe became a farmer and also cultivated his father's estate in Doddridge county until 1902, at which time he sold out and came west, and after a short residence in Doniphan county, Kansas, located in Nemaha county, where he invested in 240 acres of good land in Marion town- ship, in section 19. Mr. Severin has prospered since coming to Kansas and has increased his land holdings in this county to a total of 320 acres in Marion township. In addition to this he has a half interest in 160 acres of Colorado land and owns shares in coal and oil fields in his native State of West Virginia.
Mr. Severin was married to Miss Clara Rastle, September 12, 1899, and this marriage has been blessed with eight children, as follows: Urban, born in West Virginia; Regina M., Geneva, Francis, Barnard, Henry, Anna M., and Frederick W. Jr., an infant, all born in Kansas. The mother of these children was born in Lewis county, West Virginia, May 2, 1875, and is a daughter of Conrad and Mary (Shaner) Rastle, natives of Austria, and who are now residing in their old home in Lewis county, West Virginia. Conrad Rastle was born in 1842 and his wife was born in 1848. Mrs. Severin is a very talented lady and has considerable artistic ability, which enables her to produce attractive drawings and paintings of landscapes on canvas. Her work has been exhibited at the Nemaha county fair and has drawn favorable and admir- ing comment from visitors.
Politically, Mr. Severin is a Democrat and he and his family belong to the Catholic church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Although the Severin family are among the newcomers to Kansas, they have taken their place among the representative families of this section and are avowed Kansans, just as loyal to the Sunflower State as the oldest pioneer can be. They like Kansas and Nemaha county likes the Severins, and more of their class would be welcome to help build up the country.
William C. Ford, of Marion township, Nemaha county, farmer and stockman, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, October 16, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Carter) Ford, who were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living. John Ford was born in Devonshire, England, in 1825, and died in Kansas in 1903. He left his native coun- try in 1850, and followed farming in Ohio, moving westward to Illinois, where the subject of this review was born. The family resided in Illi- nois until 1874, and then migrated west to Marshall county, Kansas, where John Ford bought a farm near the village of Mina, which he improved and, a few years before his demise, retired to Axtell. Kans. His wife, Mary, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1826, and died in 1899. The remains of both parents are interred in Shockley cem- etery. They were members of the Presbyterian church. To John and Mary Ford were born the following children: Elizabeth, wife of J.
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Plummer, deceased; John, deceased; George, living in Abilene, Kans .; Mrs. Mary Manley, of Mina, Marshall county, Kansas; William C., with whom this review is directly concerned; Mrs. Emma Packard, de- ceased; Joseph, of Abilene, Kans.
When William C. Ford was eighteen years of age, he began work- ing as farm hand for himself at the wage of $15 per month, and was thus employed for about nine years. He then, in 1878, rented an eighty acre farm for two years, and was enabled to purchase 160 acres of prairie land in Marshall county, which he improved and sold at a profit in 1886. He then bought a tract of land in section 19, Marion township, Nemaha county, which he cultivated for six years and sold in 1892. In the latter year, he bought 240 acres of his present farm in section 18, and erected thereon a large eight room residence, modern in many re- spects, and improved his place for a permanent home. He has pros- pered during past years, and is now the owner of 365 acres of good land, ten acres of his home place being in natural timber. Mr. Ford has been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, which he exhibited at the va- rious stock shows and county fairs. Mr. Ford is a large feeder of cat- tle, and has found that the feeding of live stock for the market pays handsomely.
Mr. Ford was united in marriage with Sarah Hampton, in 1885, and this marriage has been blessed with the following children: Hen- rietta, wife of William Creevan of Axtell, Kans .; Mary E., wife of D. E. McIntosh, of Topeka, Kans .; John and Vera, at home; Frank, the first born of the family, is deceased. The two eldest living children are graduates of the Axtell High School and studied in Washburn Col- lege at Topeka, Kans., and both taught school for a number of years. The mother of these children was born July 20, 1859, in Tazewell county, Illinois, and is a daughter of James and Jane (Bradshaw) Hampton, natives of the South and Indiana respectively. The father of Mrs. Ford died in Illinois, and the widowed mother came to Kansas with her chil- dren in 1881. There were four children born to James and Mary Hamp- ton, as follows: Sarah, wife of William C. Ford; Mrs. Henrietta Davis, deceased; Thomas W., of Fairbury, Neb .; John, living in Seneca, Kans.
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