Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 108

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 108
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 108
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 108
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 108

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Jerome O. Heffelfinger, proprietor of the Grand Island Soap Works, was born near Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, October 17, 1859, and is a son of

Michael M. and Elizabeth E. (Shamp) Heffelfinger, the former of whom was also born there. They are both still living and their present home is in Hastings, Neb. Jerome O. Heffelfinger was but three years old when he was taken by his parents to Henry County, Ill., and there he was reared to manhood on a farm, a portion of his early life be- ing spent as a shepherd boy. At the age of seven- teen years he began working in a live-stock yard in Geneseo, Ill., at $25 per month, and by honest and faithful service soon worked himself up to $50 per month, and these wages he received for four years. He then became an employe of Hiram H. Davis, for whom he worked in a soap factory near Geneseo for three years, and in 1885 he engaged in the manufacture of soap on his own responsi- bility at West Liberty, Iowa, but a year later he came to Grand Island, Neb., and founded the Grand Island Soap Works, of which he has been proprietor ever since. He has conducted his estab- lishment very successfully, and he is now in a pros- perous condition financially. He has proven him self to be a valuable citizen, and in all his business transactions he is the soul of honesty and at all times endeavors to do as he would be done by. In the month of September, 1882, he was married to Miss Malinda Ann Davis, a daughter of Hiram H. Davis, a former employer of Mr. Heffelfinger's. Mrs. Heffelfinger was born in Cambridge, Henry County, Ill., and he is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in his political views is a Republican.

Herman Hehnke is a member of the firm of Hehnke & Lohmann, contractors and builders of Grand Island, Neb., and was born in the village of Marne Ditmarschen, Holstein, Germany, July 25, 1840, being a son of Johan and Katrina (Eek- hoff) Hehnke. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native town, and in the town of Hamburg completed his knowledge of the business. Being impressed with the idea that the New World of- fered better opportunities for a young man to make his way in the world, he, in 1881, came to the United States, settled at Grand Island almost immediately, and after working at his trade alone until 1885 he was joined by Mr. Lohmann, and they engaged in contracting and building, and

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have succeeded admirably in this undertaking, as they fully deserve to do. He has become well fixed financially, and is the owner of some excellent property in the town. He is honest and indus- trious, like all his countrymen, and although he has only resided in the county a short time, he is already considered one of her substantial citi- zens. He was married in Hamburg, Germany, to Miss Mary Shroeder, a daughter of Henry Shroe- der, Esq., and by her has had a family of nine sons and one daughter, the following of whom are living: Herman, Otto, Hugo, Gustav, Carl, John and William, two sons and a daughter dying in infancy. The family worship in the Lutheran Church.

Hermann C. Held is a prosperous jeweler of Grand Island, Neb., and by his superior manage- ment and rare business ability and efficiency has done not a little to advance the reputation the town now has as a commercial center. He was born in Haren on the Ems, in Hanover, Germany, January 20, 1842, and is a son of Hermann and Angela (Cantzen) Held, both of whom died in Ger- many, the former August 15, 1872, and the latter January 23, 1890. Hermann C. Held is the third of seven children born to them, six of whom are now living, and until fifteen years of age he was an attendant of the schools of his native land. He next served a four years' apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade, then worked two years as a jour- neyman, after which he entered the service of the German army and served for about twenty months in the war between that country and Denmark, and in 1866 was in the war between Prussia and Austria. On June 27, 1866, he participated in the battle of Langensalza, and for meritorious service was presented with two medals, which he still has in his possession. In 1867 he served six weeks in the Prussian army, and when not in military serv- ice he worked at his trade, and for a year and a half before coming to America he conducted a jew- elry establishment for himself. In 1868 he came to America, embarking at Bremen October 10, and landing at New Orleans in the early part of November. He remained in this city for about one month, and in December went to Council

Bluffs, Iowa, and in April, 1869, found himself in Omaha, Neb. Here he remained until the summer of 1872, working at his trade, but in September of that year he came to Grand Island and at once engaged in the jewelry business for himself, and has built up a splendid trade. He not only has the oldest jewelry establishment in the city, but it may be truthfully said of him that, with the ex- ception of the lawyers and bankers, he has been in the mercantile business here longer than any pres- ent resident of the city. He is a first class jeweler, a reliable and upright man of business, and pos- sesses the full confidence of the public. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., being one of the stockholders of the new building erected by that order, and he is also a member of the Liederkranz society. From 1883 to 1886 he was a member of the city school board. In 1876 he was married to Miss Minnie Wiese, a native of Holstein, Ger- many, born January 2, 1854, being a daughter of Peter Weise, who with his wife still resides in Ger- many. Mrs. Held came to America in 1873, and her union with Mr. Held has resulted in the birth of the following family: Adolph H. (born June 5, 1877), Minnie (born May 31, 1879) and Lizzie A. (born April 23, 1883.)

Noel Henderson is a son of John B. and Ma- linda J. (Williams) Henderson, and was born in Todd County, Ky., on November 5, 1836. His father was born in North Carolina about 1805, and at an early day emigrated to Kentucky, where he was married, his wife being a native of that State, and there he reared a family of six children, al- though nine were born to him: John, James, Orin, Noel, Nancy J. and Larkin W. Mrs. Henderson died about 1842, and Mr. Henderson afterward married Miss Rebecca Walker, their union taking place in 1844. The following family was born to them: Kate A., Mary E., Benjamin, Fountain and Susan. The father of these children died March 10, 1861. Noel Henderson began making his own living at the age of eighteen years, and in 1854 left Kentucky and removed to De Witt County, Ill., where he made his home until the breaking out of the Rebellion, and on August 24, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army, in Company K, Forty-first Reg-

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HALL COUNTY.

iment, and served until September 13, 1864, when he was honorably discharged, at Springfield, Ill. In May, 1871, he came to Hall County, Neb., and located on the farm on which he is now living, which is one of the best in Hall County, well im- proved and fenced. He is one of the few farmers of the county who has demonstrated the fact that Hall County will produce as good timothy hay and clover as can be grown anywhere, for in 1888 he obtained two and one-half tons to the acre from a meadow of forty acres. He has good buildings on his property and a great number of forest trees on and around his farm. He has given particular attention to stock-raising, and as a consequence has the very best grades of horses, cattle and hogs, in fact, whatever he undertakes to do is done well, and he is acknowledged by all to be one of the leading agriculturists of the county. Miss Matilda J. Schodley became his wife December 9, 1877, she being at that time a resident of Hall County, but a native of De Witt County, III., born January 5, 1846, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Kimler) Schodley, of Virginia, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have had three children born to them, but John N. is the only one now living, aged five years. Alfred D. and Mary M. are deceased. Mr. Henderson is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the Farmers' Alliance. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Edward C. Hockenberger. Prominent among the many younger men of Hall County, Neb., who have taken front rank in public enterprises, stands the name of Mr. Hockenberger. He was born in Elmira, N. Y., July 28, 1862, and comes of Ger- man stock, inheriting many of the sterling princi- ples of that race. His father, William Hocken- berger, was born in Baden, and was a blacksmith and machinist by occupation, but after a few years' settlement in America he engaged in the brewing business, which he conducted on a rather extensive scale at Corning and Elmira, N. Y., and still. later at Blossburg, Pa. He subsequently came to Ne- braska, opened up a farm in Boone County, and here passed from life in 1887. He was an exem- plary citizen, and gave to his children good educa

tional advantages, coupled with thorough, practi- cal lessons of industry, which have worthily marked their after lives. His wife was a Miss Charlotte Rohrig, who died in 1864. Edward C. Hocken- berger has been a resident of Nebraska since 1878, and first resided at Columbus, where he was short- ly after tendered a clerical position in the Union Pacific land office, and after about one year became clerk in the post-office of that place. Since 1880 he has resided in Grand Island, and for five years was assistant postmaster here, leaving this position to become cashier in the Wood River bank at Wood River, where he was engaged two years. At the end of this time he resigned his position to enter upon the duties of treasurer of Hall County, to which he was elected in the fall of 1887. As cus- todian of the county funds his management was so satisfactory that he was re-elected in 1889, a fit- ting compliment to his ability and sterling integ- rity. In all matters pertaining to the advancement of the interests of Grand Island and locality, he has given a cordial co operation, and for some time he served as chief engineer of the fire department of the town, and is a member of the school board. He is a stockholder in the Grand Island Improve- ment Company, and was one of the organizers of the building of the A. O. U. W. temple, of which so- ciety he is a member, and is a worthy Sir Knight in Lebanon Commandery of the A. F. & A. M. He also belongs to the M. W. of A. He has always been a pronounced Republican in his po- litical views, and he and wife worship in the Presbyterian Church. He was married in 1887 at Wood River to Miss Alice Murphy, a very in- telligent lady, and by her has a daughter named Franc Charlotte. Mrs. Hockeuberger is a daugh- ter of Joseph H. and Emma (Wright) Murphy, natives of Ohio.

Peter Holling is another example of what energy, industry and perseverance, when intelli- gently applied, have accomplished for those of foreign birth who have seen fit to locate within the limits of Hall County. Ever since locating here he has been connected with the farming and stock- raising interests of the community, and he is also a director of the First National Bank of Wood

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River. He was born in the kingdom of Denmark August 10, 1844, being a son of Frederick and Katharine (Kock) Holling, both of whom were born in Denmark, but died in Germany, the former at the age of seventy-one and the latter when forty- eight years old. Five of their ten children grew to maturity. Peter Holling, after reaching an age wherein he could think and judge for himself, determined to emigrate to America, and, upon reaching New York, his worldly possessions con- sisted of abont $15. He managed to work his way westward, and in time reached' Clinton County, Iowa, where a. sister was living, and here he was employed as a farm hand for about two years, after which he came to Nebraska, and in 1870 took a pre-emption claim close to Grand Island. Like all his countrymen he was thrifty and economical, and had soon saved enough with which to purchase a yoke of oxen, and immediately began farming, but in 1873 sold his land for $1,000 and purchased his present farm, consisting of 160 acres, but has since increased it to 700 acres. He has a forest of about 9,000 trees, besides some fruit trees, and has increased his stock from two cows to a herd of 125, and has some fine horses and swine. He is very thrifty and painstaking and is consequently very successful; in fact, no man in the county is better posted on agricultural matters than he. He is independent in his political views and is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W. He was married in 1875 to Miss Annie Sievers, born in Germany in 1850, and by her has six children: John (who died at the age of five years), Emil, Gustave, Rose, Hattie and Johannes.

Hon. Edward Hooper, the present efficient Rep- resentative of Hall County, Neb., in the State Leg- islature, is a native of Wales, his birth occurring at Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales, April 10, 1836, he being a son of Henry and Eleanor Sophia (Griffiths) Hooper, who were of English and Welsh extraction, respectively. The father was a founder by occupation and after learning his trade in Eng- land he worked at it in Wales, and was married here. Edward Hooper learned his father's trade, grew to manhood in his native land, and was mar- ried in Monmouthshire in 1855 to Miss Sarah, the

daughter of John and Esther (Collins) Parcell, by whom he has two sons and three daughters: William Henry (who is associated with his father in business, and is an intelligent and enterprising young gentleman), Annie Sophia (now the worthy wife of A. H. Wilhelm, Esq., of Grand Island), Alice E. (wife of Judge Joseph H. Mnllin, whose sketch appears in this work), Charles A. (who is making a study of mechanics and engineering in St. Louis), and Lillian (who remains with her par- ents). In 1861 Mr. Hooper came with his family to American shores and for one year followed blacksmithing in Omaha, Neb., after which he moved to Merrick County, Neb., and tried his hand at farming, but in 1865 also abandoned the plow and sickle for the foundry and machinist business, and came to Grand Island, opening a blacksmith and machine shop. In 1878 he added the foundry business and his establishment is now being conducted on quite an extensive scale. He has always been alive to the growing needs of Grand Island, and has stood foremost among her citizens in support of all matters pertaining to the welfare of the city and county. Officially he has served as State representative one term; county treasurer, two terms; county commissioner, several terms; mayor of Grand Island, two terms; council- man, several terms; a member of the school board, several terms, and served as treasurer of the last- named body between eight and ten years. He is one of the original stockholders of the Grand Island Improvement Company, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which order he has advanced to the Chapter, and also belongs to the I. O. O. F., being a member of the En- campment.

Blake Clinton Howard is a master mechanic in the Union Pacific car shops at Grand Island, Neb. He was born near Java in Genesee County, N. Y., June 30, 1832, being the fourth of nine children born to Dwight Dimmick and Susan N. (Cleve- land) Howard, descendants of old Connecticut and Massachusetts families, respectively. The How- ards date their settlement in this country to a very early period-1634-and branches of the family took active part in the Revolutionary War and the

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War of 1812. They were of English ancestry, Presbyterians in religious belief, and numbered among them many artisans. The mother belonged to the old American Cleveland family, whose his. tory is very well known in America and numbered among her relatives our worthy ex-President Grover Cleveland and Moses Cleveland, the founder of Cleveland, Ohio. Blake Clinton Howard and his sister, Mrs. R. M. Dane, of Mobile, Ala., are the only ones of their parents' family who are now living. He began business in New York at the early age of fifteen years in the Central Railway shops, but in 1852 he went to Illinois and located in Chicago, and became connected with the Illinois Central Railway as fireman, but at the end of one year he entered the shops, remaining two years. In 1854 he began running an engine on the road, and the following year became engineer of a pas- senger train between Wapello and Centralia. Dur- ing the late Rebellion he was a decided Union man in his views, and was engineer of a train which ran through the hot beds of secession, and during this time had some thrilling experiences and some nar- row escapes from death, being many times fired at by the Rebels, and in other ways annoyed and and troubled. He made Centralia, Ill., his head- quarters until January, 1868, when on account of ill health he left the road and removed west, ac- cepting employment with the Union Pacific Railway as traveling engineer to the front, and this position held until July, 1871, when he was appointed division foreman and has since had charge of the shops at Grand Island. He was married in Clin- ton, De Witt County, Ill., April 3, 1857, to Miss Sarah Sawyer, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of T. E. Sawyer, Esq., of Clinton, Mr. Howard and his wife have reared a family of two sons and three daughters: George E. (who is in the hardware business at Wood River, an engineer by profes- sion), Loretta A. (wife of William H. Hooper, of Grand Island), Clarence H. (assistant master-me- chanic on the Missouri Pacific Railroad at St. Louis, Mo.), Emma (wife of George B. Bell, cashier of the Grand Island Banking Company) and Marga- ret A. Willie H , their second child, died in Cen- tralia, Ill., and is there buried in the city cem-

etery. All these children are well educated and are a credit to the communities in which they re- side. Mr. Howard is a Mason, and has served as master, high priest and eminent commander in this order, has taken all the degrees in the I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers, and has served as a delegate from his district in the first, second, eighth, eighteenth and twenty-fifth national conventions. He also belongs to the K. of H., and his wife is a member of the Rebecca and Eastern Star Lodges. They are both members of the First Presbyterian Church, and he is a stockholder in the Grand Island Improvement Company, the Grand Island Building & Loan Association, serving as president of the latter, and was a member of the school board eleven years, and was president of that body nearly half that time.

Frank E. Howe, farmer and stock-raiser, Wood River, Neb. To the person who closely applies himself to any occupation which he has chosen as his calling through life there can be but one result - that of success and a high position of esteem from those among whom he has made his home. And the case of Mr. Howe is no exception to the rule, for it has only been by industry and strict attention to business that he has attained to the situation which he now enjoys. He was born in New Hampshire in 1848, and his parents, H and S. (Muzzy) Howe, were natives of the same State, the father born November 10, 1810, and the mother July 11, 1826. The former died May 31, 1863, and the latter followed him to the grave in 1864. They were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, five still living. The pa- ternal grandfather was also a native of the Granite State. Frank E. Howe attained his growth in New Hampshire, and received a good common-school education. He remained in his native State until 1871, when he emigrated west, and settled in Ne- braska. He came to this State with limited means, but with the determination that characterizes him, he went to work"to grow up and build up with the country. That he has been successful is hard- ly necessary to add when one looks over his fine farm with its good buildings, etc., and the fine

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breed of stock that is to be found on his 280 acres. Mr. Howe was married in Hall County to Miss Anna Hileman, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1855, and their family circle has been in- creased by four children: Lloyd, Frank, Leo and Lola. Mrs. Howe is of German descent, and the daughter of Michael B. and Caroline L. (Criss- man) Hileman. Mr. Hileman was born in Penn- sylvania in 1818, and died in 1877. He went to Illinois in early life, and was there engaged in merchandising and keeping a hotel. He afterward came to Nebraska, where he passed the last days of his life. His wife is still alive,

Mrs. S. A. Hunt, a much-respected and es- teemed resident of Hall County, was born in the Keystone State in 1830, and is the daughter of Hawley and Cressa (Smead) Hammond. The father was born in 1807, and was in one of the battles on Lake Erie in the War of 1812. He was residing in Lee County, Iowa, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1860. He was a very successful farmer. His wife was born in Vermont in 1789, and died in 1865. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity, and seven still surviving. The paternal grandfather was a native of Vermont. Mrs. Hunt was next to the youngest child of the family, and was reared to womanhood in Lee County, Iowa. There she was united in marriage to J. N. Hunt, who was born in Ohio in 1833, and died in 1866. Their marriage was celebrated in 1862. Mr. Hunt fol- lowed merchandising while living in the city, but subsequently removed to a farm, on account of his health. Two of the children born to chem are now alive: Hannah (a popular school-teacher) and Josephine. Mrs. Hunt is the owner of 300 acres of land. She has displayed rare intelligence and ability in the conduct of her place, and is well posted on general subjects, discussing the current topics of the day with clearness and understand- ing.

Conrad Huper. As a man of business Mr. Huper's name and standing have become well- known throughout Hall County, and since July 1, 1887, he has been associated with Mr. Frank Lange in the hardware and stove business in the

city of Grand Island. He was born in Bergen- husen, near Friedrichstadt, Schleswig, Germany, September 8, 1853, and is a son of Conrad Huper and Wiebke (Gosch), who are worthy citizens of Germany. Conrad Huper was reared in his native land, and there continued to make his home until July 15, 1873, when he emigrated to the United States, and almost immediately took up his abode in Grand Island, where he worked at the hardware business until 1887. Then he became associated with Mr. Frank Lange in their present business, which, owing to their strict attention to the details of the work, excellent ability and foresight, has built them up one of the largest and most prosper- ous trades in the county. Mr. Huper's career since coming to this country has been strictly hon- . orable, and with each vital interest of this section he has been closely identified, thereby winning the respect of all who know him. He is a stockholder in the Grand Island Improvement Company, and socially a member of the A. O. U. W., and the Platt-Deutsche Verein. He was married in Grand Island, December 31, 1882, to Miss Margaretha Denker, who was born February 16, 1860, near Marne, Holstein, Germany, being a daughter of John and Cathrina (Johde) Denker. To their union a son and daughter have been born: Dora and Ferdinand. Dora was born October 20, 1883, and Ferdinand, October 26, 1885. They worship in the Lutheran Church.

Samuel C. Huston is a member of the firm of Dill & Huston, real-estate and loan agents of Grand Island, Neb. These gentlemen are thor- oughly reliable and methodical in their business transactions, and this has firmly established them in popular favor, as well as the fact that "honora- ble representation and fair treatment to all " is one of their principal mottoes. Mr. Huston was born in Painesville, Ohio, October 11. 1861, and is a son of Cyrus and Rhoda (Taylor) Hunston, who were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1825, and his death in Ohio in 1863, he having been a tiller of the soil throughout life. His widow, with her two children, came to Grand Island, Neb., in 1871, and here she is now living at the age of sixty years.

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Samuel C. Huston was an attendant of the schools of this town when a youth, but determined to ac- quire a better knowledge of the "world of books" than Grand Island afforded, and for this purpose entered the Nebraska City College, where he spent two years. The following year was devoted to sur- veying in Wyoming, after which he returned to his old home and the following six years were spent in clerking in the store of J. W. West. In 1887 he opened a confectionery store, in connection with Mr. Dill, and after successfully conducting this business for two years they embarked in their pres- ent enterprise, and although they have only con- tinued a short time, they are already well and fav- orably known, and are kept constantly busy. Mr. Huston is a young man of push and enterprise, and is doing a great deal to advance the material inter- ests of the city and county. He has always been a Democrat in his political views and his first presi- dential vote was cast for Grover Cleveland in 1884. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is one of the old settlers of Grand Island. His mar- riage, in November, 1887, was to Miss Anna A. West, a daughter of J. W. West. She was born in Delaware in 1867, and is the mother of one child, Samuel E. (born July 14, 1888).

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820