USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
When Dr. Roberts was twelve years old his economic manhood began. Although a boy a stature, he was made to carry the burdens of a man, for the income of the family lay largely on the initiative of Dr. Roberts and his brother, William. For several years he worked at any- thing which would bring a monetary return. One thing stands out in the life story of Dr. Roberts-he wanted an education, and he fought to gain the object of his ambition. One instance which is typical is his working three months at the wages of $5 a month to get the $15 neces- sary to attend the normal school to qualify as a teacher. He saved his money, and in 1888, began the study of medicine. After a successful course he was given the degree of Doctor of Eclectic Medicine, and began practicing in 1891. He practiced in Des Moines for three years
697
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
and then went to Springfield, Neb., where he joined his brother in the medical science. Upon the death of his brother, William, Dr. Roberts went to Kansas City for further study of the latest developments in medical science. Ile studied at the Eclectic Medical University there and was graduated in 1900. For the next thirteen years he practiced in Formosa, Kans., and then came to Goff, where he enjoys a large prac- tice. Dr. Roberts stands very high in his profession, and he has con- tributed to several medical journals, including that of the Lloyd Brothers, of Cincinnati, and the "Eclectic Medical Journal," Kansas City, Mo.
He was married in 1884 to Belle Branson, and three children have been born to them: George, a barber in Medford, Ore .; Earle, machine shop foreman, Sioux Falls, S. D .; Farris, high school student. Mrs. Roberts is a daughter of Nathan and Mary (Retdig) Branson. Her father was born in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1831, and learned the cabinet maker's trade and the art of wagon making. He worked steadily at his two trades until 1861, when he enlisted in the Twelfth Illinois cavalry. He was in the skirmish at Harper's Ferry and was sent home sick shortly afterward, but speedily recovered and returned to the front, where he served continuously throughout the remainder of the war. On the completion of his term of service, he homesteaded twenty-five acres of timber land in Illinois, and lived there until 1879, when he sold out and moved to Springfield, Neb., where he remained until his death, in 1901. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and held several offices in his locality as a result of the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens.
He was married in 1857 to Mary Retdig, at Grumfield, Ill., and to this union ten children were born: John, farmer in Colorado, father of two children, Lula and William ; Marion, express agent, Omaha, Neb., father of one child, Leon; Mrs. Tillie Banner, Springfield, Neb., widow, mother of six children, Boyd, Beulah, Ada, Ernest. Louise, Walter; Isabelle, wife of Dr. Roberts; Mrs. Lettie Monford, Chadron, Neb., of Walter and Donald; Mrs. Dollie Minturn, whose husband is a stock farmer, mother of Raymond and Irene. The other three children are not living.
Mrs. Roberts was born January 15, 1871. She attended the gram- mar schools and learned the milliner's trade, which she followed at Springfield, Neb., for six years. She is active in the work of the Chris- tian Adventist Church, and is likewise prominent in the activities of the Royal Neighbors lodge, of which she is a member.
Dr. Roberts is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is past grand master of the latter order. He votes the Democratic ticket, but is too busy with his practice to do active political work. He is a prominent citizen of Goff and is well known and admired by a large number of residents of this township.
698
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Gottlieb Schneider .- Whenever you find a settlement of German or Swiss emigrants, there you find a country of prosperous and enterprising homes, whose owners are usually well-to-do and are ambitious for them- selves and their progeny. Gottlieb Schneider, well-to-do farmer of Adams township, of Swiss birth, is a striking example of the successful foreign born American citizen, who has risen to a place of prominence and sub- stance in the land of his adoption. "
Gottlieb Schneider was born in Switzerland, October 8, 1893, and is a son of Albert and Elizabeth (Schneider) Schneider. Albert, his father, was born in 1811, and died at his Swiss home in 1863. Elizabeth, his wife, and mother of the subject, was born in Switzerland in 1830, mar- ried in 1855 and lived in her native land until 1883, and then immigrated with her family to America, first locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where she resided until 1888, and then migrated to Kansas, locating in Brown county, where she was housekeeper for her son, Gottlieb, for two years. She then returned to Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in that city for twenty- seven years, finally returning to Switzerland, where her demise occurred in 1898. The children of the Schneider family are as follows: Jacob, a machinist of Cleveland, Ohio, and father of three children; Albert, Ed- ward, Mrs. Elsie York, mother of one child; Gottlieb, the subject of this review, who left his native land when seventeen years of age (in 1880) and immigrated to America. He located in Cleveland, Ohio, and worked in the machine shops, plying his trade of skilled machinist for four years.
In 1884, Mr. Schneider came West to Jackson county, Kansas, and worked as farm hand for $15 per month for four years, and then rented eighty acres of land for a year, after which he again hired out for $25 per month and boarded himself in a residence furnished him by his employer. One year later he again rented sixty acres in Jackson county, which he farmed for two years, then moved to Brown county, Kansas, where he rented 160 acres for three years, after which he rented 160 acres in Adams township, Nemaha county, and served as overseer of a 480-acre farm owned by M. Schaible, of Brown county. He looked after the Schaible farm for one year, then rented 160 acres more land and farmed it for one year. Mr. Schneider is owner of 160 acres of land in Adams township and is still renting the Schaible farm of 320 acres. He is an extensive live stock man and favors the Duroc Jersey breed of hogs. His farm produces well and he cultivates 200 acres of corn annually, some of which is sold for seed to the extent of $150 yearly.
Mr. Schneider was married December 26, 1889, to Fredericka Lan- dle, a daughter of Frederick and Mary M. (Roehm) Landle, and this union has been blessed with six children, as follows: Herman, a farmer in Jefferson county, Kansas; Walter, at home; Mrs. Lillie Pugh, wife of a farmer near Seneca, has one child, Lloyd; George, Anna and Har- old, at home. Frederick Landle, father of Mrs. Schneider, was born in Baden, Germany, was a factory employee and died in his native land when Mrs. Schneider was three years old. Mrs. Mary M. Landle was
699
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
born in Germany in 1842, and died in her native land in 1911. There were three children in the Landle family, namely: Christina Ruhe, Cali- fornia, mother of four children, Mrs. Rosa Roehm, Mrs. Louise Buerr, Mrs. Amy Gossler, and Robert; Fredericka, wife of Gottlieb Schneider ; Mrs. Louise Jenni, Germany, mother of four children. Mrs. Fredericka Schneider was born October 7, 1867, and was reared in her native vil- lage in Germany. When ten years of age she worked out for $25 per year until she was twenty years old, and then came to America, where she worked as domestic for $2 per week for two years and was then married.
Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are members of the German Evangelical Church.
August Thiem, farmer and stockman, Adams township, was born in Germany, September 10, 1856, and is a son of August and Rosa (Ciller) Thiem. August Thiem, father of the subject, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1831, and began his own career in 1852, at which time he was married and farmed in his native land until his immigration to America in 1883. He located on an eighty-acre farm near Goff, Kans., and built up a fine farm from unbroken prairie. He became well-to-do and was the owner of 280 acres of land. He has given land to his chil- dren and grandchildren and still owned 160 acres at the time of his de- mise in 1903. To August and Rosa Thiem were born the following children : William, Henry, Carl, Edward, Mathilda and Mrs. Theresa (Bern), deceased; Paul, a farmer in Nemaha county ; Oswald, farming in Nemaha county; August, with whom this review is concerned, and who was the first born of nine children. The mother of the foregoing children was born in 1833, and died in Kansas in 1909.
August Thiem, subject of this review, began life for himself when twenty-five years old, and worked as farm laborer for two years after his immigration to America in 1881. His first year's wages were $70, and in 1882 he made a first payment on eighty acres of land, and in 1884 began working for his father and continued tilling his father's land until his marriage in 1889, and in the following year he moved to. his own farm, after he had completed the erection of the necessary buildings thereon. Mr. Thiem has added to his holdings until he now has a fine farm of 300 acres, well improved and highly productive. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs and Durham cattle, and is building up herds of these fine animals.
Mr. Thiem was married in 1889 to Anna Trache, and this union has been blessed with the following children: Mr. Elsie Grustve, Adams township ; Emma, Eitel, Arthur, Edward, Walter, Leon, Herbert and Karl, at home with their parents. Mrs. Anna Thiem was born in Sax- ony, Germany, Angust 6, 1862, and is a daughter of Gottlieb and Chris- tina (Coach) Trache. Gottlieb Trache, her father, was born in 1829, and farmed in his native country until 1881, and then came to America, settling on a forty-acre farm in Wisconsin, which he cultivated until
700
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
1893, at which time he sold out and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and resided with his daughter, Mrs. Thiem. His wife, Christina, was born in 1830, and died in 1867. Mrs. Thiem immigrated to this country when she was nineteen years old and worked out as a domestic for $2 per week, remaining in one situation for four years and two months . previous to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Thiem are loyal members of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Thiem is an independent in politics and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
Thomas Henry .- Were all of the stories of trials and tribulations of the early Kansas settlers printed they would fill several respectable volumes of large size; the stories of the early pioneers of Nemaha county, for instance, would make interesting reading were they told in suitable manner for recording. The life history of Thomas Henry, of Adams township, Kansas pioneer, and the tale of his rise from the direst poverty to a position of substance in the community reads like a tale from modern fiction, and will serve as a vauable lesson for his progeny to remember in future years.
Thomas Henry was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 6, 1855, and is a son of George and Eliza (Dougle) Henry, the former having been born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1827; married Eliza Dougle in 1852, and immigrated to America in 1872. George Henry located at Wet- more, Nemaha county, Kansas, and worked out by the month for a year; but, unfortunately, he received no wages because his employer had suffered the misfortune of having his crops destroyed by the grass- hoppers and had no money to pay wages. He offered Mr. Henry his choice of taking the best horse in the barn for his pay or remaining on the farm and working for his board. He chose the latter course, as a horse would have been a decided incumbrance in those days, with no feed in existence to keep the animal alive. He stayed on his employer's farm and killed and dressed chickens for the Atchison market, and after the hard times had somewhat abated, he rented a tract of land in partnership with Nick Pfrang and cultivated it for six years. He then rented eighty acres for a cash rent of $75 for two years. He sold off his live stock, etc., and pre-empted 160 acres of land in Kingman county, Kansas, proving up on the same in six months, and resided thereon until his demise in 1888. His wife, Eliza, was born in Bavaria, in 1828, and died in her native land in 1871. George and Eliza Henry were the parents of seven children, as follows: Thomas, the subject of this review; Nicholas is retired at Goff, Kans .; Adolph is a farmer in Germany ; Andrew is farming in Mitchell township; Lizzie, deceased ; Margaret, in Germany; Mrs. Katie Choenlau, Oklahoma.
Thomas Henry began doing for himsef when fifteen years of age, worked four years in a brewery and then served in the German army . until he was twenty-three years old. His army service was followed by three years' service in a brewery, during which time he saved money enough to pay his passage to America. He left Germany enroute to
1
701
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
the United States, June 7, 1881, and arrived at Wetmore, Kans., July I, 1881. He located in Wetmore township, Nemaha county, Kansas, where he was employed for four months in railroad section work, fol- lowed by six months in railroad construction work in western Kansas, and his subsequent return to Nemaha county. After working as farm hand for one year he rented eighty acres and farmed on his own account for a year, following which he purchased 160 acres of land in Kingman county, Kansas. For five years he tried desperately to earn a living for himself and wife on his Kingman county farm, but failed to do so. Times got so hard with him that he was forced to give his note with approved security in order to buy a $3 pair of shoes, and he finally left his farm and took up railroad work in Colorado in order to earn suf- ficient money to provide the necessities of life for himself and his. He relinquished his farm to a loan company, which assumed his $1,100 mortgage, and promised him $25 for the title to the land, but never paid the money. He moved his family to Colorado and left his live stock in his brother's charge, later selling the animals for $94. He re- mained in Colorado until 1894, and then decided to try Kansas farming once more, this time, however, in Nemaha county. He returned to this county and bought eighty acres of land for $1,100 and farmed it for some years until 1909, then rented his place and bought 186 acres (his present home place) in Adams township. Some time later, Mr. Henry sold his 160 acres, which he had accumulated in Wetmore township, and has since devoted his entire time and attention to the development of his Adams township farm. He has a fine seven-room farm residence and has a large modern barn, built in 1911, and other excellent improve- ments on his place. Success has come to him in these later years and he has prospered to the extent that he is one of the representative and substantial citizens of his county.
Mr. Henry was married, October 28, 1883, to Theresa Martin, in Wetmore, who has borne him children, as follows: The first born died in infancy ; Mrs. Mary Gudenkauf, on a farm near Kelly, Kans., mother of four children; George, a farmer at Ordway, Colo., father of two children; John, with George in Colorado; Mrs. Rosa Mandable, on a farm in Nemaha county, has one child ; Joseph, Fred and Carl, at home; Elizabeth, deceased ; Louis and Thomas, also at home with their parents. The mother of this family was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 20, 1863, and is a daughter of Valentine and Barbara (Pfrang) Martin. Val- entine Martin was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1838, and died in 1878. He was the only son of Fright and Barbara Martin, the latter of whom died in Germany. He left his native land after his marriage and immigrated to America in 1871, locating at Wetmore, Kans., where he rented 160 acres for one year, then moved to a rented farm near Seneca, upon which he lived for two years previous to buying a homestead of eighty acres. He sold his homestead two years later and then rented 160 acres in Harrison township for two years, after which he rented 160
702
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
acres five miles north of Seneca and farmed it for six years. His un- timely death in 1878 was caused by a runaway team. Barbara, wife of Valentine Martin, was born in 1833 and died in 1910. She worked out for $25 per year until her marriage. After Mr. Martin's death she lived on the family farm for three years and then bought an eighty- acre farm in Wetmore township, which was without improvements. She and her second husband, Andrew Capp, with the help of her chil- dren, broke up the land and erected a home and buildings on the tract and lived upon her farm until 1909. She then sold out and moved to a home in Seneca, dying July 22, 1910. After the demise of her first husband she married Andrew Capp in 1880, who still resides at Seneca. Nine children were born to Valentine and Barbara Martin, as follows: Maggie and Agnes, deceased; Theresa, wife of Thomas Henry; Mrs. Barbara Gress, on a farm in Nemaha county; Mrs. Anna Sherlock, Adams township; George, a farmer of Nemaha county; John, Seattle, Wash .; Mrs. Mary Quinlan, Gilman township; Joseph, died at the age of seven months. Theresa Henry worked as domestic for two years at fifty cents per week in Seneca, and when she was thirteen years old, worked for John P. Cone at seveny-five cents per week, and it is one of the sad experiences of the stay at Mr. Cone's house that she set fire to some goods used as covering for fruit and was docked $1.50 damages on account of the accident.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry and children are all loyal and devout members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Henry is a member of the Farmers' Union and usually votes the Democratic ticket.
Peter P. Waller .- The younger generation of farmers are prone to specialize ; many of them believe thoroughly in the more advanced meth- ods of farming, and do not fear to venture into special departments of agriculture which admit of greater rewards to the man of intellect and industry who closely applies his talents in the right direction. Improve- ment in the class of animals on the farms of the west is gradually coming about and is due to the venturesome specialists in animal husbandry who insist upon having only the best thoroughbred varieties of livestock which they can obtain. These in turn sell the product of their breeding stables to others who also desire to improve their herds with better meat producing strains. Peter P. Waller, farmer and breeder, of Adams town- ship, Nemaha county, is one of those specialists in animal husbandry who is making a success of breeding Hereford cattle and whose herd of fifteen head is of the best strain obtainable.
Mr. Waller was born on a farm near Seneca, Kans., February 8, 1886, and is a son of Wenzel Waller, a native of Austria, born March 14, 1850. Wenzel Waller immigrated to America. in 1868, first located in St. Louis, but worked in several mid-western States as harvest hand and laborer until 1871. He then came to Nemaha county and bought 120 acres near Oneida. He prospered and added land from time to time until he became owner of 640 acres in Nemaha county and 240 acres in Colo-
703
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
rado. Wenzel Waller was married in 1872 to Magdalena Kizer, born in Germany in 1855 and came to America with her parents when she was an infant eighteen months old. She was reared to young womanhood in Wisconsin. Ten children have blessed this marriage as follows: Wen- zel, deceased ; John, on the Waller home place ; Joseph, farming in Colo- rado; Mrs. Marguerite Aziere, on a farm near Kelly; Mrs. Elizabeth Lierz, living on a farm near Seneca; Mrs. Oplonia Christman, residing on the home place; Peter P., subject of this review; Mrs. Mary Boding, living on a farm near Kelly; Mrs. Annie Sack, living on a farm near Seneca ; Mrs. Josephine Nordhaus, on a farm near Seneca.
Peter P. Waller was reared to become a farmer and worked at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. He then rented a farm from his father, located about six miles east of Seneca, consisting of 320 acres in Adams township and is cultivating this farm to his profit. Mr. Waller specializes in white-faced Hereford cattle, of which breed he has fifteen pure bred stock and twenty head of grade stock. During 1915 he exhibited ten head of his fine Herefords and was awarded five blue ribbons, three red and two yellow ribbons, his exhibit easily leading all others at the livestock exhibit. Mr. Waller keeps Duroc Jersey swine and aims to maintain enough livestock on his place to consume the grain which he raises. . He has out this year ten acres of wheat and 150 acres in corn, besides roughage.
Mr. Waller was married February 17, 1909 to Mary Rollman, daugh- ter of John and Catharine (Young) Rollman. Three children have been born to this union : Wenzel P., born March 2, 1910; Francis P., born Jan- uary 25, 1913, and Kathleen Marion, born May 5, 1915. Mrs. Mary Waller, mother of the foregoing children, was born in Meade county, Kansas, April 16, 1887, and began working out at the age of fifteen years. She followed dressmaking previous to her marriage with Mr. Waller. John Rollman, her father, was born in Germany in 1848 and immigrated to America in 1884 and farmed for four years in Meade county, Kansas. He then went to Colorado and homesteaded for two years, left his claim and returned to Kansas, where he died in 1892. Kathleen, his wife, was born in Germany on November 22, 1859, worked as a domestic until her marriage in 1884, followed by her immigration to America with her hus- band. John and Kathleen Rollman were the parents of seven children, as follows: Joseph, an engineer in Canada ; Mary, wife of Peter P. Wal- ler; Annie, Laurence and Anna, deceased; Peter, Leavenworth ; Katie, Seneca, Kans. Mrs. Rollman married John Banks, a native of Italy, in 1894. Mr. Banks was born in Italy in 1844, immigrated to America in 1874, began farming in 1886 and died in 1912. Four children were born of this marriage: Annie, Willie, Mathew, deceased, and Gertrude, a high school student.
Mr. and Mrs. Waller are members of the Catholic Church of Seneca. Mr. Waller is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.
704
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
William H. Sherrard, trustee of Adams township, and owner of a fine farm of 157 acres, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, December 2, 1855, and is a son of John C. and Anna M. (Waggener) Sherrard, the former of whom was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, April 15, 1831, and died January 2, 1909. John Sherrard was left fatherless when he was five years old, and at the age of twelve years he was the practical head of the family. He remained with his mother until he was twenty- three years of age, then married and started in life for himself. He fol- lowed the trade of carpenter for a few years and then began farming on rented land. He removed to Putnam county, Ohio, and lived there on a farm until his removal to Atchison, Kans., from which city he drove over- land to Sabetha, Kans., November 1, 1868, accompanied by his brother- in-law. They rented land for four years three and one-half miles south of Sabetha and then bought 120 acres of land in Capioma township, in part- nership with his son, William H. He developed his farm and lived there- on for twelve years, then engaged in the grain and elevator business at Oneida, Kans., for a period of six years. After disposing of his elevator and farm he bought a tract of thirty-one acres in Oneida and resided there until his demise in 1909. John Sherrard was a member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church and was affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He was married in 1854 to Anna M. Wag- gener, born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1834, and who was a teacher prior to her marriage. They were the parents of eight children, as fol- lows : William H., subject of this review ; Mrs. Mary E. Stewart, a widow living in Portland, Ore .; James C., living on a farm near Oneida, and father of seven children, three of whom were killed in a cyclone; Edwin S., farmer near Oneida, has three children ; John E., police judge at Mul- S., farmer near Oneida, has three children; John E., police judge and mine owner at Mullen, Idaho; George U., traveling for a Louisville to bacco firm with headquarters at Salt Lake City, father of one child; Charles P., deceased, and Guy, Arcadia, Kans.
William H. Sherrard resided with his parents until he was twenty- five years old and then rented eighty acres of land in Capioma township for two years, after which he bought eighty acres within two miles of Woodlawn, Kans., erected thereon a house 22x24 feet, with six rooms, together with a barn and other out buildings. He resided on this farm until 1909, then sold it and purchased 157 acres in Adams township, which is his present home. Mr. Sherrard has practically retired from active farming and his land is being cultivated by his son-in-law, Arthur Farnham.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.