USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 18
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Mr. Spirk belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Modern Woodmen camp, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has filled positions in all of these. He also belongs to Bohemian lodge, C. S. P. S., of which he is president. He is not connected with any religious denomination, has strong ideas of his own and forms his life to high moral ethics. In 1884 he erected a pleasant residence upon a half block of ground and has there lived for twenty years. The house is a two-story structure and contains ten large rooms, well lighted and tastefully furnished. It is the visible indication of his life of energy and business activity, and he stands to-day as one of the lead- ing and representative men of his city, widely known and respected by all with whom he has come in contact.
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THEODORE M. WHEELER.
At an early period in the development of Saline county Theodore M. Wheeler secured a homestead claim here, and has since been identi- fied with the development and progress of the county, taking a very active interest in all that has pertained to the welfare of the community and its substantial improvement. He is a native of New Fairfield, Con- necticut, born on the 4th of February, 1837. He represents an old family of that state, his grandfather, Lyman Wheeler, having there been born. His father, Nathan Wheeler, was a native of the same county in which the birth of the son occurred, and after arriving at years of maturity he was married in the Charter Oak state to Miss Lo- visa Beardsley, who was born in England, but spent the days of her girlhood in Connecticut, where she acquired her education. She died 1 in New Jersey in 1863, leaving seven children, five sons and two daugh- ters. Sylvester, one of the sons, was a soldier in a Connecticut regi- ment during the Civil war and died in camp. The father, who came to Nebraska and died at the age of eighty-four years, was a lumberman and conducted a sawmill and also a woolen factory for many years, car- rying on the latter business while in the east. In his political views he was a Whig, and his wife held membership with the Methodist church. He was a man of many estimable and admirable traits of character.
Theodore M. Wheeler was reared under the parental roof, acquired his education in the public schools of his native state and through the period of his boyhood assisted his father in the factory and sawmill there. He put aside business considerations, however, after the outbreak of the Civil war, and enlisted at Danbury, Connecticut, in August, 1862, for nine months' service, becoming a member of Company B, Twenty- third Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, under Captain James H. Jenkins and Colonel Holmes. The regiment went in General Banks' expedi-
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tion and also went to the relief of General Benjamin Butler at New Orleans, and later to Ships Island. Mr. Wheeler was with his com- mand at New Orleans and did active service in Louisiana in guarding railroad bridges. He afterward returned to St. Charles, Louisiana, and thence to New Orleans. Being taken ill with typhoid fever he was sent to the hospital at New Orleans, later was transferred to a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, and subsequently home to Fairfield, Connecti- cut, where he was honorably discharged, returning then to his home in that state, after about one year's service.
Mr. Wheeler removed to the middle west in 1865, settling in Ogle county, Illinois, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Saline county, Nebraska. This was then largely a frontier district, in which the work of improvement and progress had been scarcely begun. He secured a homestead and began the arduous task of developing a good farm. As the years passed his labors wrought a great transformation in this place, and resulted in making his farm one of the most valuable in Saline county. It comprises two hundred and twenty acres in South Fork precinct near Western, and he still owns the property. Upon it is a good residence, substantial barns and many modern accessories. He has also planted a grove and has placed everything on the farm in ex- cellent condition. In recent years he has erected a modern residence in Western at a cost of two thousand dollars and is now occupying this pleasant home.
In 1858 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage with Miss Rheua C. Beardsley, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Walter Beardsley, who died in 1886. She has one brother, Rev. John W. Beardsley, who is a professor in the Reform Hope College at Holland, Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been born the following children : Walter B., deceased; Flora Agatha ; Gertrude Salina; Lloyd N., who is operat-
WILLIAM L. OZMAN
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ing the homestead farm; Dora M .; and Lena Ann. The children have all been afforded good educational privileges, pursuing their studies in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. Wheeler lived for three years at University Place, Lincoln, in order to educate his children, and the daughters havt. been successful and popular teachers. The three eldest are now mar- ried and the son wedded Anna McClaue. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler hold membership in the Methodist church and are honored and respected citizens of Saline county, giving their influence in behalf of every meas- ure and movement which tends to elevate their fellow men. He is a member of the Milligan Post No. 209, G. A. R., of Western. His life has been well passed and he has accomplished what he has undertaken. The story of his achievements should inspire all young men who read his history with a truer estimate of the value and sure rewards of character.
WILLIAM L. OZMAN.
William L. Ozman, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Beatrice, Nebraska, and a veteran of the Civil war with a record of which he and his family may be proud, is an old-time resident of the state of Nebraska, having lived within its boundaries since July 14, 1871. He belongs to a family some of whose members have participated in every war of this great republic from the Revolution to the last Spanish- American war. Mr. Ozman has the substantial qualities which make the ideal citizen at home or abroad. He is vigorous and energetic, and in life's passing years has always been able to pull more than his own weight, in other words, to be of assistance to family and friends in this pilgrimage on earth. He is beloved in the circle of his own family, who have been reared to fill honorable places in the world, and as a citizen
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and man of affairs has gained the entire respect and esteem of his asso- ciates because of his integrity and personal worth. He believes in educa- tion, and his children's lives and success demonstrate this.
Mr. Ozman was born at Lansing, Tompkins county, New York, September 15, 1837, and comes of an old and substantial family of that state. His father, Lemuel Ozman, was a farmer, and died at the age of seventy-three years, while his mother died at the age of sixty-five, they having been the parents of seven children, those now living being Amy Ann, Rachel, Maria and William L. Mr. Ozman was educated at Ithaca, Tompkins county, New York, and at the age of seventeen commenced teaching school in Steuben county, New York.
On August 10, 1862, he enlisted at Lansing, Tompkins county, New York, in Company G, One Hundred and Ninth New York Volun- teer Infantry, under Colonel B. F. Tracy and Captain A. W. Knettles. His company and regiment were sent to join the Army of the Potomac. After being at Washington for a time he, with his regiment, was sent on to participate in the Petersburg and Richmond campaign under Grant, and took part in many battles and skirmishes during that fierce struggle to capture Lee. Mr. Ozman received his honorable discharge with the regiment on June 25, 1865, having been in the war for nearly three years, and returned home to Tompkins county.
While Mr. Ozman was stationed at Washington, D. C., during the war, he met Miss Mary A. Phillips, who was born in Monmouthshire, England, in 1840, a daughter of Edward Phillips, who died in England, after which event his widow and four children came to the United States and settled in Maryland, near Washington, D. C. On December 25, 1866, Mr. Ozman was married to Miss Mary A. Phillips, in Vernon county, Wisconsin. Immediately after their marriage they settled in Albany, Green county, Wisconsin, where they lived until June, 1871,
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when they started to Nebraska, reaching Gage county on July 14, 1871, and settled on a homestead. Mr. Ozman was engaged in farming for seventeen years, undergoing many privations during the grasshopper years of '72 and '73. While on his farm he taught school for ten years in Gage and Lancaster counties. For the last fourteen years he has been United States pension attorney and notary public. He has secured many pensions for soldiers and widows.
In politics Mr. Ozman is a stanch Republican, and takes a deep in- terest in national, state and local affairs. He has been a delegate to county, district and state conventions many times. He is often called upon to address Fourth of July assemblages and Grand Army and politi- cal gatherings, and is a forceful and popular speaker. In 1876, the cen- tennial year, he delivered a Fourth of July oration in Beatrice, Nebras- ka, that was highly praised and complimented and which was published in the papers at Beatrice. He, his wife and children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and the Grand Army of the Republic.
There were born to Mr. Ozman and his wife, Mary A. Phillips, the following named children: Mrs. Elizabeth O. Paine, who was educated in the high school at Beatrice, commenced to teach school when she was only sixteen years old and continued to teach for several years prior to her marriage. Agnes N., who is a prominent missionary worker and has attended a missionary school at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Kan- sas City, Missouri, and who has been ordained as deaconess, is now in the work at Lincoln, Nebraska. Edward G. was educated in the high school at Beatrice, and is now in California interested in a fruit farm. Mary Ella graduated from the Beatrice high school in May, 1898, after which she taught one year in the Freeman district, Gage county, and then attended the Missionary Institute at Kansas City, Missouri; in
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December, 1901, was sent as a missionary to Equador, South America, where she died on August 31, 1903. Roscoe C. graduated from the high school in April, 1898, and enlisted in Company C, First Nebraska Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Philippine Islands until discharged with his regiment, he receiving his muster out and pay in Manila; he soon helped to organize the Manila Lumber Company, of which he was elected secretary and treasurer ; about the commencement of 1902 he was appointed as chief clerk in the prosecuting attorney's office of the first judicial district of Manila-a fine and praiseworthy career for a young man. A. Blaine was educated at the high school at Beatrice, taking up farming as his business, and was married to Miss Ida Brown, of Pickrell township, Gage county.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Ozman married Miss Mary A. Davis, of DeWitt, Nebraska, and one child, Walter D., now ten years of age, was born to them. In April, 1899, Mr. Ozman and Miss Louette May Kitchen were married and they have two children, Earl J., three years old, and Theodore R., four months old. Mr. Ozman and his wife are members of the Loyal Mystic Legion of America.
JOHN F. BLANDIN.
John F. Blandin is one of the enterprising business men of Western, and follows progressive methods in all his undertakings. He has for many years occupied a leading position in financial and commercial circles, and his record will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, for he has worked along modern business lines, taking cognizance of every opportunity and utilizing the same in an honorable and successful business career.
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Mr. Blandin was born in Steuben county, New York, on the 23d of July, 1846, and is a son of John and Parthenia (Fisher) Blandin. The father was a native of Vermont, representing one of the old families of that state of English origin. The mother was born in New York and represented one of the early families of the Empire state. In the year 1850 the parents removed from the east to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and were among the early residents of that part of the state. The father developed a good farm in the midst of the forest, and was identi- fied with agricultural interests there until 1860, when he removed to Iowa, taking up his abode in Washington county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death, when he was sixty-five years of age. His wife passed away at the age of fifty- four years. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and both Mr. and Mrs. Blandin were consistent members of the Meth- odist church. In their family were eight children, three sons and five daughters, and their son William W. Blandin was numbered among the valued soldiers of the Civil war, enlisting in a Michigan regiment. He made a good record as a gallant soldier and is now living in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jolın F. Blandin was a little lad of only four summers when his parents removed to Wisconsin, and in that state and in Iowa he was reared. The home farm was upon the frontier, and he became familiar with the arduous task incident to the development of new land. His educa- tion was acquired in the public schools, and he was trained to habits of industry, perseverance and integrity, thus developing a character which has ever commanded respect and confidence. He was only about seven- teen years of age when on the 20th of October, 1863, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he offered his services in defense of the Union cause, and was assigned to duty with the boys in blue of Company D, Ninth
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Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. He went to the front under command of Captain J. F. Mccutcheon and Colonel M. M. Trumbull. The regi- ment went into camp at Davenport, Iowa, was then sent to St. Louis, Missouri, and on to Scott county, Arkansas. Mr. Blandin was with the forces under General Steele and saw active service at Duvall's Bluff, Fort Smith and other places in that portion of the south. He wore the blue uniform of the nation until after the close of hostilities, when he was honorably discharged on the 28th of February, 1866, at Little Rock, Arkansas. He had never faltered in the performance of any duty and his military service was characterized by valor that would have been creditable to many a veteran of twice his years.
When the war was over Mr. Blandin returned to Iowa, where he continued to make his home until 1883, largely identified with agricul- tural interests in that state. He then removed to Western, Saline county, and was engaged in merchandising and banking for fourteen years in connection with the conduct of the Saline County Bank, of which he is now vice president. He thus formed an extensive acquaintance in his part of the county, and was recognized as a very reliable business man who met every obligation and discharged his business duties with prompt- ness and fidelity.
Mr. Blandin was married in Washington county, Iowa, in 1873, to Miss Arta Watters, a daughter of Samuel A. and Arena (Bivens) Watters. The father, who was born in Indiana, is now living in Har- lan, Iowa, and the mother is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Blandin have been born four children. Elsie M. and Alma are the two living. The former was at one time a successful teacher in the schools of Pawnee City, Nebraska, and is now a member of the faculty of the Wisconsin State University and a fellow in English literature. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska in the class of 1902, complet-
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ing her course there with honors. The younger daughter is now a student in the public schools. Mr .and Mrs. Blandin lost two children : Walter J., who died at the age of ten years; and Olive L., who was the second born and died at the age of eighteen years. She was greatly loved for her good qualities of heart and mind and a genial, kindly disposition.
Mr. Blandin is now serving as a commander of Mulligan Post, No. 209, G. A. R., and takes great pleasure in meeting with his old army comrades and recalling experiences and reminiscences of the early days when as a soldier boy he followed the old flag on the southern battle- fields. His wife holds membership in the Methodist church, and he gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, believing firmly in its principles. He has frequently served as a delegate to city, congres- sional and state conventions, but has never been an active politician in the sense of office-seeking. He is a stockholder and manager and sec- retary of the Western Lumber Company, at Western. Keen and clear- headed, always busy, always careful and conservative in financial mat- ters, moving slowly but surely in every transaction, he has few superiors in the steady progress which invariably reaches the objective point.
AUGUSTUS DEFFER.
Augustus Deffer is proprietor of the Deffer Hotel, of Western, Saline county, and is one of the well known early settlers of this part of the state, where he has made his home for a quarter of a century. He was born in Frederick, Maryland, in 1845. His father, Frederick Def- fer, was a native of Saxony, Germany, and belonged to an old family of that country, having industry, honesty and courage as its strongly marked characteristics. He was educated in his native country and when twenty- one years of age came to the United States. He had previously learned
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the tailor's trade and was thus well equipped for a business career. He was married in Frederick county, Maryland, to Miss Charlottle Sauer- man, who was born in Hanover, Germany, where the days of her girl- hood were passed and her education was acquired. After their mar- riage they removed to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1845, and in that state they spent their remaining days, the mother passing away at the age of fifty-three years, the father when seventy-three years of age. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and in religious faith was a Lutheran. In their family were nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters, and two of the sons, Fred and Augustus, were soldiers in the Civil war.
Upon the home farm Augustus Deffer spent the days of his boy- hood, but attended the town schools, and when fifteen years of age he began earning his own living by working on the canal, walking the tow- path. He was thus engaged until about eighteen years of age, when he entered upon military service as a defender of the Union, enlisting at Washington, D. C., in January, 1864, as a member of Company A, of the First District of Columbia Regiment, with Captain McGraw in com- mand of the company and Colonel Graham in command of the regi- ment. They saw much service and were for a time engaged in provost duty in Virginia. Mr. Deffer was always loyal to the cause he espoused, and faltered not in the performance of any task assigned him in con- nection with a soldier's lot.
When hostilities had ceased Mr. Deffer returned to his home and soon afterward went to Ohio, where he worked in a sawmill in Seneca county. Later he filled a position in the government insane asylum at Washington, D. C., for a year, and in 1869 removed to Tama county, Iowa, where he carried on general farming for about twelve years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Jefferson county, Nebraska,
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and established his home in Washington township, where he developed a good farm, but in so doing underwent all the hardships and privations incident to making a settlement upon the frontier. At length he sold his farm and purchased a tract of land about two and a half miles from Thomson and five miles from Fairbury. This place comprises one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, on which are a substantial house and a barn, a large orchard and grove of forest trees, and many modern acces- sories and conveniences. In 1903 he erected his hotel in Western at a cost of three thousand dollars. It is thirty-two by sixty feet, and con- tains eighteen rooms. It is well constructed, tastefully and comfort- ably furnished, and a successful business is now carried on, for he has secured a good patronage by reason of his earnest efforts to please those who become his guests.
Mr. Deffer was married in Tama county, Iowa, in 1876, to Miss Emma Hill, who was born in Iowa City, Iowa, a daughter of Penolpy Hill, who became an early settler of Johnson county, Iowa. Both her parents died in Tama county. Mrs. Deffer spent her girlhood days under the parental roof and is indebted to the public school system of Iowa for the educational privileges she enjoyed. By her marriage she became the mother of six children : Belle, the wife of Rex Clark, of Kan- sas City, Missouri ; Fred, who is upon the home farm ; Frank, who is prin- cipal of the schools of St. Edwards, Nebraska ; Melvin, who is a carpenter of Western, Nebraska ; and Bessie and Flossie, who are still in school. Desirous that their children should be well prepared for life's responsi- ble duties, the parents have provided them with good educational privi- leges, and during twenty years' service as a member of the school board Mr. Deffer did much to raise the standard of the schools here by em- ploying competent teachers and advocating progressive methods. He is a Democrat in his political views, and his wife, in religious faith, is a
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Baptist. Mr. Deffer through his business interests both as an agricul- turist and hotel proprietor, has become widely known and has won favor- able regard through honorable methods, straightforward dealing and consideration for others.
FERDINAND WENDORFF.
Ferdinand Wendorff, living in South Fork precinct, Saline county, has made his home in this part of the state since 1871. He was born in the province of Prussia, Germany, in 1840. His father, John Wen- dorff, was also a native of Prussia, born in 1799. He married a Miss Miller, and they became the parents of two children : William and Fer- dinand. After the death of the wife and mother the father was again married and had other children by the second union. He followed the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church, and he died at the age of sixty- one years.
In accordance with the laws of his native country, Ferdinand Wen- dorff attended school until fourteen years of age, and remained on a farm there until 1857. He was but seventeen years of age when he de- termined to seek a home in the new world, believing that he might have better business opportunities in this country. Accordingly in 1857 he bade adieu to friends and native land, and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, being thirty-five days upon the water. After reaching the Atlantic coast he made his way to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he followed fishing, and there lived until 1861, when his patriotic spirit was aroused in behalf of the Union cause and he enlisted in Company C of the Ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This was largely com-
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posed of German people, and the company was commanded by Captain Eckhardt, and the regiment by Colonel Solomon. They went into camp at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and were afterward sent to Fort Scott, Kansas, and subsequently to Little Rock, Arkansas, participating in the battle there and at Helena, that state. They were also in the battle near the Sabine river under General Steele, and Mr. Wendorff was wounded at Saline River, on the 30th of April, 1864, being shot in the left leg. He was afterward taken prisoner and sent to Tyler, Texas, where he suffered greatly with varicose veins. His health was also undermined in other ways, and he has never again been as strong as he was before. He was, however, a loyal and devoted soldier, ever true to the Union cause, and throughout his entire residence in America he has been most true to the stars and stripes.
After the close of the war Mr. Wendorff returned to the north and engaged in fishing in the lakes of Michigan. He was married in 1866 to Miss Harriet Kickhover, who died fourteen months later, leaving a daughter, Mrs. Rosa Schlahensky, who now lives in Kenosha, Wiscon- sin. Mr. Wendorff was again married in 1868, his second union being with Miss Caroline Batz, who was born in Germany In 1878 they re- moved to Nebraska and Mr. Wendorff secured a homestead claim. He built a sod house and began the development of his farmn. He was doing well when in 1874 the grasshoppers destroyed all of his crops. The hot winds of summer and the blizzards of winter also proved very detri- mental to him in his work, but he persevered and continued his labors as best he could. Through conjunction with a half brother he owned one horse and also had a half interest in a wagon, but he possessed little else when he came to Saline county. As the years advanced, however, his untiring labors were crowned with a fair measure of prosperity. After a time he sold his original property and purchased the farm upon
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