USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 11
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 11
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John Peters was born in Holstein, Germany, and came to the United States at the age of twenty years, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. He first settled in Illinois, but later moved to Nebraska in 1869, where he followed
his trade as a carpenter for a time, assisting in building many of the old settlers' houses in Saunders county. He was so well pleased with the country that he returned to Illinois for his family, and in 1870 purchased a tract of 160 acres in Marble precinct, now owned by Nick Heldt. He built a home and other farm build- ings, greatly improved the place in every way, and successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He later purchased many different farms in Marble and Union precincts, and sold them to good advantage when a demand arose. When the railroad passed through the county, he, with others, established a business center at Yutan, at first known as Clear Creek. He built and conducted a general store, which has since been known by the firm name of John Peters & Son. He became interested in banking, and is a large stockholder in the German Bank of Millard, Nebraska. When the Bank of Yutan was established he sold out his stock in the German Bank and became a stockholder in the former, and since 1893 he has served as its president. He is also the owner of large land interests in Saunders county. He was first united in marriage with Mary Deerson, and had one son, John. After her demise, he formed a second union by wedding Frederica Messorconi (now deceased ), by whom he had the following chil- dren : Otto F., Herman C., Lizzie, and Em- ma. He was united in marriage a third time, in this instance marrying Mrs. Lena Thomas.
Otto F. Peters, the subject of this sketch, was reared and schooled in Saunders county, where he followed farming until he was twenty years of age. He then went into partnership
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with his father in the store, and continued thus for nine years, when he sold his interest and became vice-president of the Bank of Yutan. This bank was established in 1889 by John T. Dunning and Nelson Hartson, who were suc- ceeded in ownership by John Peters & Sons in 1893, with John Peters as president, Otto F. Peters vice-president, and Herman C. Peters cashier. It has a capital stock of $10,000, and is located in a neat one-story building on Vine street, near the corner of Second street. It was built for the bank, and is well arranged for the business, being equipped with a good fire- proof vault.
Otto F. Peters was united in marriage with Elsie Dunning, a daughter of John T. Dunning, and they are the parents of three children : Ber- nice, Marie, and Rex. Like his father, he is a stanch Republican, and has served as clerk of the village. He is a member of the Reformed church, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He has a fine residence in the town of Yutan.
Herman C. Peters, cashier of the Bank of Yutan, and manager of the general store of John Peters & Son, is one of the most enterpris- ing of the business men of the town. The store which he conducts was established in 1878, was one of the first there, and was located where the drug store of Dr. Murray now stands. The title of the firm was Jolin Peters & Son, John Peters, Jr., being a partner until 1882, when he was succeeded by Otto F. Peters, who, in turn, was succeeded by Herman C. Peters. In 1882 the location of the store was changed to the corner of Vine and Second streets, where
a larger building was erected, and in 1892 this building was still further enlarged. The store is spacious and convenient, well stocked, and carefully systematized, and is patronized by the best class of citizens. It is a general store, with a full line of every kind of goods, and has a separate wareroom for farming implements. The business transacted is extensive, and three clerks are required the year around. Mr. Peters was born in Saunders county, Nebraska, in 1872, was reared on a farm, and today owns 340 acres in Marble precinct, located in sec- tions 17, 18 and 20. In section 18 he built him a fine home. He manages his entire property himself, keeping some 300 graded Shorthorns and 300 Duroc-Jersey hogs. He succeeded Dunning & Detwater, who established a grain warehouse in 1893. He is also a director of the Saunders County Bank, of Wahoo.
A NTON B. CHAPEK, county clerk of Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Moravia, June 13, 1869. He is a son of Frank A. Chapek, a native of Moravia, who emigrated to this country in 1881 and now resides in Newman precinct, Saunders county.
Frank A. Chapek was born in 1835. He served ten years in the army of his native coun- try. His first business experience was that of a merchant. He also conducted a farm in con- nection with his grocery store. In 1876 he dis- posed of his grocery store and devoted his entire time to farming and stock raising. When Mr. Chapek landed in America, in 1881, his first
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step was directed by his keen business foresight, and he secured 80 acres of valuable farm land in Newman precinct, Saunders county, where he now lives, and began at once to build his fortune. He now owns 280 acres of land. For a time he made a specialty of raising Here- ford cattle. Mr. Chapek married Eleanor Cid- lik. They have reared four sons and five daugh- ters, namely : Eleanor (Tomes), Anton B. (the subject hereof), Fannie, Tressia (Bennes), Katie (Hakel), Ludwick, Frank J., John, and Mary.
Anton B. Chapek received his elementary education in Moravia, and crossed the Atlantic with his parents in 1881. He began for him- self at the age of thirteen years and worked on a farm for four years. In July, 1886, he saw a new field of labor open to him. He began clerking in the store of R. H. Thomas, in Wes- ton, Nebraska, and remained there until the following spring, after which time he again worked on a farm for four months. In the fall of 1887 he went back to the store of Mr. Thomas. So well did his business ability and good habits please Mr. Thomas that that gen- tleman made him a partner in his business. This partnership lasted until 1890, when Mr. Thomas sold his interest to Mr. Kacirek. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Chapek sold his interest in the store to the head clerk, James Woita, and took a trip west, prospecting, but soon returned. On July 4, 1892, he opened a new store at Touhy, with Ernest Thomas as a partner. The store deals in general merchandise, hardware and implements. The interest of the junior partner changed several times until Frank
Hakel became a member of the firm, whichi is known as Chapek & Hakel.
April 30, 1890, Mr. Chapek was united in marriage with Fannie Kacirek, daughter of Frank Kacirek, of Weston, Nebraska. They have three children-Cirillka, Ladislaw, and Henry. Mr. Chapek is a member and secretary of both the local and state society of Catholic Workmen; is an active worker of the lodge, and has started several branches of the order in the state.
Politically Mr. Chapek is a Populist. He has served one term as justice of the peace. At the fall election of 1897 he was elected county clerk of Saunders county, re-elected in 1899, and is now serving in that capacity. He still retains his interest in the store at Touhy, but moved to Wahoo in the spring of 1898.
HARLES W. BURCH, city marshal of Cedar Bluffs, Saunders county, Ne- braska, was born in Nodaway county, Missouri, July 22, 1861. He is a son of Abner and Stacy (Carmichael) Burch. His father was a farmer.
Charles W. attended the district schools, and worked on his father's farm until he reached the age of seventeen years. He then hired out by the month as a farm hand on different farms in various parts of Missouri. Young Burch was of the right kind of mettle, and when op- portunity presented itself he opened a livery stable in Clearmont, Missouri, whichi he con- ducted successfully for two years. He then
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sold out to advantage and moved to Thomas county, in northwestern Kansas, where he took up a claim of 160 acres of land and improved upon it. Six years ago he left Kansas and moved to Saunders county, Nebraska. He rented a farm and followed agricultural pur- suits for four years. Mr. Burch is a stock man of some prominence and is especially fond of fine horses. He is the owner of Tom Payne, the noted Percheron stallion, which is con- sidered the finest animal in the county.
On April, 27, 1890, Mr. Burch married Amanda Dew, of Clearmont, and has four children-Earl, Lucretia, Julia, and Robert, aged ten, six, four and one and a half years, re- spectively. Mr. Burch is a Democrat in poli- tics. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was elected city marshal of Cedar Bluffs, which office he still holds.
ARS LARSON, a highly respected farmer of Saunders county, Nebraska, succeeded his father upon the home- stead farm in Clear Creek precinct. He is a son of Andrew and Christina (Christerman) Larson.
Andrew Larson was a native of Sweden. With his wife and two children he came to the United States in 1867. They were Mormons, and were en route to Salt Lake City in com- pany with other immigrants. When they left hoine, all was milk and honey in Salt Lake City, but upon their arrival at Nebraska City, Ne- braska, they found themselves without money.
The little band of immigrants were detained there for several weeks, waiting for a favorable opportunity to finish their journey. It was then impossible to cross the plains at all times on account of the recent war and trouble with the Indians. While waiting, Mr. Larson went to Omaha, where he visited some Swedish friends. These friends induced him to go out into Saunders county and take up a homestead claim.
When Mr. Larson returned to the immi- grants' camp for his wife and children, the Mormons were very angry, but he was a man of excellent judgment, and saw that it would be a successful course for him to take up a home- stead claim. He went to the northwestern corner of Clear Creek precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded 80 acres. After working awhile in Omaha to ob- tain the necessary money he built a small sod house, 16 by 16 feet in size, like those of his neighbors. This house had but one window and one door. There, in their rude home, hap- piness began. He loved to see his children happy, and labored hard to get in his grain. Little by little he obtained a start. He went to the Platte River, a distance of ten miles, and carried home on his back small trees, which he set out. In that way he secured maple, cotton- wood, and box elder groves. He also planted a fine orchard and put out small fruits. Many of these trees are now more than two feet in diameter, and are fine fruit-bearing trees, testi- fying to his energy and prudence. After a few years Mr. Larson built a small frame house and barns, having previously used straw-sheds.
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In after years the present substantial resi- dence was built, and was his home until he was cut off by death in 1893, at the age of sixty-two years. He left a fine estate to be divided be- tween his widow, son and daughter. As he was an honorable, upright man, he was deeply mourned by all. His children were: Lars, the subject hereof, and Tilla. The latter became the wife of H. M. Clark, who owns a fine farm near the home of our subject; they have six children, as follows: Jessie, Harry, Arthur, Helen, Bernice, and David.
Lars Larson was born in 1873. He grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and, after reaching his majority, he still remained at home and assisted his father with the farm work. Upon the death of that parent, he suc- ceeded to the homestead farm, where he still resides with his beloved mother. He raises large quantities of grain, and devotes much time to stock raising. He has the finest grade of cattle and horses to be found in his vicinity. Like his father, he is a stanch Republican, but never aspired to office. In his religious views he favors the Lutheran church.
I SAAC B. HATFIELD, a well known resi- dent of Yutan, and one of the pioneer farm- ers of Union precinct, Saunders county, Neb., is a man of great force of character, en- joying the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens to a marked degree. He has been ex- ceedingly successful in a business way, although for the past forty years he has been seriously
hindered by his inability to hear. He is, how- ever, an adept at understanding from the mo- tions of another's lips, and is enabled to con- verse in a very fluent manner.
Mr. Hatfield was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1835, and is a son of James and Bidy (Reddon) Hatfield. The mother died in Ohio, and the father, later in life, moved to Illinois and lived there one year, when he returned to Ohio and there died. The subject hereof was reared on a farm, and in early life attended school, which he alternated with farm work. He followed that vocation in Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois, where he was married. After his marriage he went with his wife to Grant coun- ty, Indiana, where he bought a new farm in a heavy timberland county. There he felled trees and improved the land generally, putting up good buildings for farming purposes and set- ting out orchards. After remaining there four and a half years he sold to good advantage and returned to Illinois, where he lived until 1868. Then, with two teams and wagons, containing all their worldly effects, he started for Nebraska on September 29, 1868, in company with a brother-in-law and Isaac Hart, arriving in Cass county on October 19 following. He remained there for a period of three weeks, until he could find a suitable location. Finding a sparsely set- tled section in the northeast portion of Saunders county, he decided to locate there. He was one of the earliest settlers and pre-empted a tract of 80 acres, which he immediately set to work in improving. It was clear and open country, abounding in antelope and deer, and the In- dians, friendly when given what they wished,
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were every-day visitors. Mrs. Hatfield was rather alarmed at first when the Indians would suddenly be found gazing into a window, but, being a woman of strong nerve and good judg- ment, she showed no fear, and they learned to respect her. The subject hereof lived in a log house which had been deserted, until he built a house, in which one of his sons now lives. He set out a large number of trees, both fruit and shade, and also hedges. He built his present house on the southeast corner of the farm, ad- joining the village of Yutan. He subsequently purchased 80 acres of railroad land, 40 acres settled by T. J. Hefner, and 80 acres settled by Mr. Filmore, and he also erected a number of houses in the village of Yutan. In early life his sense of hearing began to fail, and, for forty years, he has conversed with others by watching the motions of their lips and also receiving as- sistance from his faithful wife.
Mr. Hatfield was united in marriage with Amanda M. Hefner, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Probst) Hefner, her father being a blacksmith by trade. She was born in Pendle- ton county, Virginia, in 1837, and her union with Mr. Hatfield resulted in the birth of the following children : James P., Samuel W., J. P., Hattie C., Edwin E., Effie, and Carrie D. James P. and Samuel W. are deceased. J. P. is a farmer, who married L. Maggie Steele, and has four children : Omer S., Orpha, Ruth, and E. Bernice. Hattie C. is the wife of J. F. Mon- son, by whom she has the following children : Otto Ray (deceased), Guy, Naomi, Earl, Carl- ton, and Freeda A. Edwin E., a Methodist min- ister, married Della Thompson, and has four
children: Arthur, Ethel, Zella, and Elsie. Effie, the wife of D. G. Robinson, has four chil- dren : Vera, Vivian, Melton, and Veta. Carrie D., wife of Rev. O. L. Barnes, of Blair, Nebras- ka, has two children : Robert H. and Oliver W. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in politics and helped to establish the first post- office at Yutan, in 1870. He also had the honor of choosing the name of Union precinct. In religious belief his family are all Methodists.
NTON SOUKUP, an extensive farmer and stock raiser, of Saunders county, Nebraska, is a native of Bohemia. He was born January 8, 1850, and is a son of Anton and Mary (Beeres) Soukup.
In 1868 the family came to America, and first settled in Chicago, afterward moving to Braidwood, Illinois. Anton's father was a blacksmith by trade; he and his son worked in the coal mines near Braidwood. In 1871 they moved to Saunders county, Nebraska, and each of them took up a homestead claim.
Anton Soukup now owns the east half of the northwest quarter of section 32, the west half of the southeast quarter of section 29, the west half of the west half of the northwest quarter of section 29, the southeast quarter of the north- west quarter of section 29, and twenty acres of pasture land in section 18. The first house built by Mr. Soukup was a small dwelling, 12 by 16 feet, in which he lived for some years. . He afterward built the handsome residence in which he now lives. He engaged in general
MR. AND MRS. SANDERS P. ROBINSON AND FAMILY.
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farming and stock raising and has been uni- formly successful. His house is one of the finest in the county. It is surrounded by a select and flourishing orchard of 150 apple, cherry and plum trees.
In 1873 Mr. Soukup married Rosa Datel, a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Ionk) Datel, of Saunders county. They have six children : Joseph, aged twenty-four years; Millie, aged twenty years; Frank, aged seventeen years; Libby, aged fifteen years; Annie, aged ten years; and Anton, aged eight years. Joseph recently married Mary Haufman, and is build- ing a residence on his own farm.
The subject hereof is a Democrat, and served as assessor three years, in 1896, 1897 and 1898. He carries $2,000 insurance in the Modern Woodmen of America, $1,000 in the Wood- men of the World, and $1,000 in Z. C. B. J.
ANDERS P. ROBINSON, a self- made man of Marietta precinct, Saun- ders county, Nebraska, is one of the best farmers and makes a specialty of stock raising. He was born in Fayette county, Iowa, and is a son of William and Sarah ( Pence) Robinson. His father went west from Iowa to Nebraska, where he bought three So-acre tracts, one in section Io and the other two in section 15. After building a house, barn, and other build- ings, he sold out, retired from active business life, and now makes his home with the subject hereof. While he followed farming he was known as a very progressive farmer.
Sanders P. Robinson was reared in Iowa, and has followed farming nearly all his life. In February, 1880, he located in Saunders county, Nebraska, and purchased 80 acres in Union precinct. He sold this property in the fall of 1882 and purchased a quarter of section 15, in the same county. This was railroad land, and cost Mr. Robinson $2,080 dollars. Purchas- ing an old schoolhouse, he moved it on to his farm and converted it into a dwelling house. He also built a barn, and otherwise improved his place.
In 1889 Mr. Robinson enlarged his house into a fine residence, built corn-cribs, and set out fruit and shade trees, having an orchard comprising four acres of land. He has sev- eral fine wells on his farm. One is operated by a windmill, and the finest of water is obtained at a depth of 37 feet. Another well on the place is 47 feet deep.
Mr. Robinson makes a specialty of raising Red Polled cattle and has 20 head of regis- tered stock. He also keeps on an average 110 head of hogs and has some very fine draft horses. In addition to this he has devoted much time and attention to raising grain, principally corn, oats, barley, and wheat.
In 1895 and 1896 Mr. Robinson rented his land and conducted a meat market at Mead, but subsequently resumed farming. He was joined in marriage with Harriet Nancy Gregory, a daughter of Fletcher and Elizabeth (Adams) Gregory. In 1870 Mr. Gregory took up a home- stead claim in section 14, of Marietta precinct, the same now owned by A. Wickland. He planted the fine shade trees now standing there,
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broke the land, and built the present buildings. In 1888 he sold it to good advantage and moved to Pierce, Nebraska, where he is living in retirement. He was a very successful farmer.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of seven children: Roy Morton; Blanche Pearl; Ivan (deceased) ; Mable Elizabeth; Ethel; Fletcher, and Hazel. Mr. Robinson takes a de- cided interest in educational affairs and has served on the school board for ten years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. By his straightforward methods of doing business Mr. Robinson has gained the respect of all who deal with him, and has hosts of friends. In politics the subject of this sketch is a Populist, and, in 1894, was a can- didate for county commissioner and came within a small vote of being elected.
A picture of the Robinson family, including Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and the six children now living, is presented on another page of this work in proximity to this.
OUGLAS R. PHELPS, coal and lum- ber dealer, of Wahoo, Saunders coun- ty, Nebraska, was born in Wyoming county, New York, April 25, 1844. He moved west to Fremont, Nebraska, in February, 1868. He remained there a short time, then moved to Omaha, and in June took up a homestead in Cedar precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska. He followed farming for four years, then rented his farm and returned to Fremont, where he
worked in the lumber yard until the fall of 1879, when he moved to Wahoo, and for the next ten years operated a lumber yard under the firm name of Stratton & Phelps. He sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Stratton, and bought another yard, which he operates alone, handling lumber, coal, etc. He received his education in his native county, and is a son of Isaac N. Phelps.
Isaac N. Phelps was born in Washington county, New York. He followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He moved west and lo- cated in Cedar precinct, Nebraska, in 1869. His last few years were spent in Wahoo, where he died at the ripe age of eighty-seven years. He married Mary Perkins, who died at the age of thirty-four years, leaving to her husband's care and protection their three children-Mary, Eugene, and Douglas R. Mr. Phelps contracted a second matrimonial alliance, Marietta Tuller becoming his wife. One son, Edwin, was born to them. Mrs. Phelps resides in Wahoo. Isaac N. Phelps was a son of Isaac Phelps, a native of Vermont, who settled in Erie county, New York, in 1814, where he lived and died.
Douglas R. Phelps was a soldier in the civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Ist Regiment, New York Dragoons .. and served until the close of the war, receiving his dis- charge in 1865. He is junior vice-commander of John Andrew Post, G. A. R. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in politics and has served his party on the school board and in the city council.
In 1869 Mr. Phelps married Clara Herring- ton, of Genesee county, New York. They have
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three children-Marion A., Grace, and Mary. Marion A. was born in 1871, in Cedar precinct, and received his education in the Wahoo city schools. He married Myrtle L. Nichols, and is now associated in business with his father.
R EV. MATTHEW BOR, pastor of the Roman Catholic church of Wahoo, Nebraska, was born in Bohemia, De- cember 21, 1863. He received his classical edu- cation at Taus, Bohemia, and his theological training at Budweis.
Father Bor came to America in 1887, and the same year was ordained as a priest at San Francis, Wisconsin. His first appointment was as assistant to Father Maly at Wilber, Ne- braska. In March, 1889, Father Bor was placed in charge of the Wahoo church, but did not remain there very long, as he was sent back to Wilber, being succeeded by Father Klein in October of the same year. In 1892 Father Bor again took charge of the church at Wahoo, and has remained there since that time.
The present membership of this church num- bers sixty families. Of these fifty-three are Bohemian and seven English. They have a number of societies, among which are St. Cyril- lus and Methodius, the Knights of St. George, and the St. Agnes Young Ladies Society.
The occasion of the organization of this church was the arrival of the first Bohemian settlers in Wahoo, in August, 1874. They were W. Simodynes, Jacob Novotny, Thomas Zimola, Frank Konecky and Frank Noha, who
came from Moravia. The following year the number of Bohemian families was increased to ten. In 1876 there was a Bohemian wedding in Wahoo, the first of the kind in the history of the settlement. The first mass said in the vicinity was at the house of Mr. Konecky, two and a half miles from Wahoo, in the year 1875. The first mass said in Wahoo was in 1876, in the school house, on Saturday and Sunday, and in the courthouse on Monday. Father Hovorka said mass in the courthouse as late as 1877.
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