USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 12
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 12
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As the congregation grew in numbers and became prosperous, they decided to build a church, and accordingly work was begun in July, 1878, and finished near the close of the same year. The building was fifty feet long and thirty feet wide. The stout hearts of these sturdy Bohemian settlers swelled with pride, now that they could gather in a house of wor- ship they could call their own. The first mass was said in the new church by Father W. Ko- carnick at the end of the year 1878. From September 28, 1884, Father Jordan Shutz vis- ited the congregation every third Sunday in the month until October 5, 1885, when Father Choka, of Omaha, was assigned to the Wahoo charge. He was with the church until Febru- ary, 1889.
Rev. Matthew Bor was with the congrega- tion from March 9. 1889, having also the charges at Weston and Brainard, with residence at Colon. Two months later he moved to Wahoo, when a residence was built at a cost of $1,000. The house was furnished September 27, 1889. October, 1889, Rev. Mr. Bor was transferred to Wilber and was succeeded by
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Rev. Alois Klein, who remained until Novem- ber, 1891. During his administration the con- gregation built a new church, 36 by 70 feet, just three blocks from the center of town. It is the largest church edifice in Wahoo and has a greater amount of wealth centered about it than any other. It was erected at a cost of $3,600.
Rev. E. Bouska had charge of the new church during December, 1891, and January, 1892. On February 6, 1892, Rev. Matthew Bor be- came its pastor again, and transferred his resi- dence from Plattsmouth to Wahoo, March 7, 1892. In January, 1893, the parsonage was moved from the old place to the new church, and enlarged at a cost of $525.
B YRON F. WHITNEY, registrar of deeds for Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska, was elected to fill that im- portant office by the Populists in 1897, for a term of four years. Mr. Whitney was born December 10, 1840, in Addison county, Ver- mont. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Jane (Goodale) Whitney.
Benjamin F. Whitney was a native of Shore- ham, Massachusetts. He was a cabinet maker by trade and followed that occupation the greater part of his active life. Leaving his native state, he located in Addison county, Ver- mont, where he lived a number of years. Later he moved across the line into New York state, and still later to Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1867 he went to Michigan and the following year (1868) he settled in Marquette county,
Wisconsin, where the closing years of his life were spent in the peaceful occupation of a farm- er. He died in 1890, aged eighty-four years. Jane Goodale, a daughter of Jared Goodale, of Vermont, became his wife. She died at the age of fifty-six years, leaving six children, whose names are: Caroline E. (Sweeney), Edwin J., Charles C., Byron F., the subject hereof; Jeannette E. (Ormsby) and Charlotte A. (Wilson).
Byron F. Whitney was educated at Fort Henry, New York, and in the schools of Erie county, Pennsylvania. He learned the cabinet maker's trade most thoroughly, serving appren- ticeship under his father, and has followed that occupation most of the time since then. In 1872 Mr. Whitney moved to Furnas county, Ne- braska, which was his home until 1882. There he followed teaching for some time and was elected county superintendent of schools of that county, filling that office in a very creditable manner. He was afterward engaged in various pursuits incident to the life of a frontiersman. In 1882 he returned to Ashland, Saunders county, which has since been his home.
In 1862 Mr. Whitney married Mary J. Bishop, a daughter of John Bishop, of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Whitney is a na- tive of Delhi, New York. She and her husband have reared five children, namely : Helen M., Bertha M. (Gross), Earl E., Paul G., and John B., who is deputy registrar of deeds. Mr. Whit- ney is a man of recognized ability and fitness for his present office, which he is filling to the evident satisfaction of all. In 1877 he was a Greenbacker and voted for Peter Cooper, but
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since then he has been in sympathy with the Populists. He is a lover of justice, and is thor- oughly imbued with those broad principles which underlie the idea of the brotherhood of man.
OHN SCHULZ, a gentleman who takes rank among the most prosperous and progressive citizens of Saunders county, Nebraska, is an extensive land owner in that county, holding valuable property to the extent of 1,600 acres. All that he possesses has been obtained entirely through his own efforts, as he started wholly without means and with only two willing hands and a stout heart to support him. He has led an exemplary life, and his fortune represents years of industry and thrift and many privations suffered in early life. He is a man of great business ability, and, after becoming fairly started, he took advan- tage of every opportunity offered for his bet- terment, multiplying his wealth many times over, and becoming firmly installed as one of the stable representatives of his class of citizens in Saunders county. His handsome residence, which excels any other in his section, is located in Union precinct, about one mile south of Yu- tan. Mr. Schulz was born in Handorf, Ger- many, in 1848, and is a son of Jurgen (James in English) Schulz.
Jurgen Schulz was also born in Handorf, in 1823. and there he married Margaret Mather. He followed agricultural pursuits in Germany until 1867, when, with his little for- tune, accompanied by his family, he came to
the United States, first locating in Kankakee county, Illinois. He then removed to Boone- ville, Dallas county, Iowa, where he remained until 1871. Thence he went to Saunders coun- ty, Nebraska, conveying his family and belong- ings with team and wagon. He bought of Mr. Cooley 80 acres where J. Storm now lives, there being on the tract a small building 14 by 20 feet, now used for a chicken house, into which he moved with his family. He afterward bought three 80-acre tracts of railroad land and built thereon a large, handsome residence, also setting out a good orchard and groves of shade trees. The last seven years of his life were spent in retirement at Yutan, where he owned some property; he died in July, 1897. His widow, whose never failing help so mate- rially aided him in his success, survives him at the age of eighty years, and resides in Yutan, where she is known to every one and dearly esteemed by all. The following children were the result of their union: Augusta, who died in Germany; John, an infant son, and Daniel, both of whom died in Germany ; John, the sub- ject of this sketch ; Jurgen (James), who lives at Yutan; Weiebke (Annie in English), the wife of Hening Heuck, of Yutan; Hans, of Union precinct, and Margaret, the wife of J. Seiver, of Yutan. The father was a Repub- lican in politics and a Lutheran in religious faith.
John Schulz, being the oldest living son, as- sisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age. He was then married, after which he bought a quarter section of land from his father, paying for it as he could, hav-
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ing started without any means whatever. When the land was paid for he added to his estate from time to time, until he possessed 1,600 acres of fine land, located in sections 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 33 and 34, in Union precinct, and in sections 3 and 10 in Marble precinct. He started as poor as could be, with scarcely the necessaries to keep house, but, in time, was enabled to enlarge his home to the dimensions of 54 by 56 feet. He greatly improved his place in every way, setting out a good orchard and groves. In 1874 he purchased the Jacob Griffin farm, in section 34, and in 1876 the Samuel Neyle place, in the same section, where he now lives. There was but a small house on the property, but Mr. Schulz built the largest and most modern house in that part of the county, and also laid out beautiful grounds surround- ing it. He has spacious barns and other farm buildings, and keeps about 200 high-grade Shorthorns, 200 hogs and fine work-horses and roadsters. He has imported many superior horses from France, and keeps only the best grade of stock. In politics he is a Republican and has served many years as a member of the school board. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church.
The subject of this sketch was united in mar- riage with Margaret Seiver, a daughter of John and Magdalena (Wick) Seiver. Her father died in Germany in 1861, and her mother now resides with Mr. Schulz. Mr. Seiver first married Catherine Storm, who died young, leaving three children-John, Peter, and Anna -all of whom died young. By his second mar- riage Mr. Seiver had the following children :
Katherine, Annie, the wife of George Mumm; Marks; Margaret, the wife of Mr. Schulz; Franke, the wife of J. Schulz; and Jacob. The subject hereof and his wife became the parents of nine children, namely : John, who is living at home: George, who married Lizzie C. Nisen; Lena, the wife of Henry Heldt; Louis, who lives at home; Kate, William, Bertha (de- ceased), Lizzie (deceased), and Charles.
OHN H. CRAWFORD, clerk of the dis- trict court of the Fifth Judicial District of Nebraska, was born in Batavia, Mich- igan, November 4, 1872. He is a son of John S. Crawford, who located with his family in Central City, Nebraska, in 1873, and, in 1881, removed to Wahoo, where the subject of this sketch now resides.
Mr. Crawford received his education in the schools of Central City and Wahoo, graduating at the high school of the latter place in 1889. The same year he commenced work as clerk in the office of the county judge, where he re- mained one year.
From 1890 to 1898 Mr. Crawford was en- gaged in different pursuits, being on the road as a salesman part of the time. He was made deputy district clerk in 1898, and at the fall election of 1899 he was elected clerk of the district court, which office he now holds.
On December 26, 1899, Mr. Crawford was united in marriage with Theresa M. Wortman. In his political views the subject hereof espouses the cause of the Populists. He is a
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member of the K. of P., and has wisely drawn around his home the sturdy arm of protection afforded by a membership in the A. O. U. W.
RANK E. WAY, M. D., of Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska, has during his ten years of practice in that city estab- lished an enviable reputation. As a physician he is without a peer in the county, and has proved competent in caring for the most com- plicated cases. He has thoroughly mastered the intricacies of the medical profession, and all cases coming under his care are given a careful diagnosis and treated with a skill which comes only from superior training and wide experi- ence as a practitioner. He is the only homeop- athic physician in Saunders county, and enjoys the patronage of its best citizens, often being called into adjoining counties. Dr. Way was born at Springfield, Vermont, November 7, 1868, and is a son of James Way, who was for- merly of Lempster, New Hampshire.
James Way is now one of the superintend- ents of the Parks & Woolson manufacturing es- tablishment, having worked as a machinist for over forty years. He married Eliza A. Slack, a daughter of John Slack, who was employed in the Parks & Woolson establishment as a machinist for over fifty years.
The subject of this sketch attended the schools of Springfield, Vermont, after which he entered the Boston University Med- ical School, from which he was graduated in June, 1890. Having some business to attend
to in Buffalo county, Nebraska, he went west and was so well pleased with the existing con- ditions favorable to the practice of his profes- sion that he at once decided to locate there, after visiting different sections of Nebraska. Having looked into the progress being made by various towns in the state, he decided upon the city of Wahoo, Saunders county, with full faith in its promise of future growth. He opened an of- fice there on November 7, 1890, and was en- tirely successful from the very start. There were then but three practicing physicians in Wahoo, and he soon established a lucrative practice, which has ever been on the increase. His first office was in the old Steen block, but he now has handsome quarters in the Steen brick block, immediately adjoining the old building, located on Linden avenue. Among his patients are numbered the best people of the county, and, also, of South Bend and North Bend, in Dodge county, some thirty miles dis- tant. He possesses their confidence to a marked degree, and acts not only as a physician in his relations with them, but as a true and trusted friend as well. Dr. Way was elected coroner, on the Populist ticket, in 1891, and was re- elected in 1893, serving in a most satisfactory manner. He was appointed county physician in 1891, and also examiner on the board of insanity-receiving the latter appointment from Judge S. H. Sornborger in January, 1900. In 1896 he built a residence in the western part .of the city, but recently sold the premises and purchased the Goodell property, on Linden avenue.
Dr. Way was united in marriage with Nellie
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E. Willard, a daughter of Charles Willard, of Charleston, New Hampshire, and they are the parents of two sons: Charles Willard and James Lawrence. Fraternally the subject of this sketch is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Woodmen of the World, Fraternal Union of America, Knights of the Maccabees, National Aid Association, Wood- man Circle, Tribe of Ben Hur, the Nebraska Homeopathic Medical Society, of which he is the present secretary, and the American Insti- tute of Homeopathy.
HOMAS W. FARRIS, sheriff of Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Douglas precinct, Saunders county, April 7, 1876. He has the honor of being the youngest man ever elected to the office of sheriff in the state of Nebraska. He is a son of Wil- liam D. Farris, who was sheriff of Saunders county at the time of his death.
William D. Farris was born near London, province of Ontario, Canada. He spent his early life in his native country, engaged in farming and blacksmithing, and in March, 1870, crossed the "border line" and took up his homestead in Douglas precinct, Saunders county. He was a successful farmer, and, at the time of his death, was the owner of 480 acres of land. He followed agricultural pur- suits actively until June 6, 1898, when he moved to Wahoo city to assume the official duties of sheriff of Saunders county, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1897. He
died in Wahoo, March 23, 1899, before his term of office was completed, and his son, Thomas W. Farris, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by his father's death.
William D. Farris, aside from being an ideal and successful farmer, was a live stock fancier and gave much time and care to this branch of industry. He also owned a drug store in Cedar Bluffs, which he conducted a number of years. He made a specialty of cattle raising. He served his township as assessor and also served on the school board. During Cleveland's ad- ministration he was postmaster of Cedar Bluffs. He married Christina Fleming, who now lives on the homestead. They reared seven children : John H., who is a farmer and has a portion of the estate left by his father; Robert J., who follows agricultural pursuits, having a part of the old farm; Charles M., who farms a part of the estate; Blanche (Goodill) ; Christina M. (McMahan) ; Thomas W., the subject hereof; and Thurman A., who lives with his brother, Thomas W.
Thomas W. Farris received his intellectual training in the district schools and the Wahoo city schools. He remained on the farm until January 6, 1898, when he was appointed county jailor. This office he filled until November, 1898, when he was appointed deputy sheriff, and discharged the duties of that position until his father's death. No fitter man could be found for the vacancy thus made than Thomas W. Farris, and he was accordingly appointed sheriff to complete the term which expired Jan- uary 1, 1900. As a further proof of his suita- bility for this trust, he was duly elected sheriff
PETER SAMS.
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at the fall election for the term expiring Janu- ary 1, 1902. His father was a Democrat and he adheres to that party, but was elected sheriff on the Fusion ticket. When his father died he inherited a portion of the old homestead. He and his mother are the joint owners of 260 acres. She resides on the place, but the subject of this sketch superintends the business. On December 26, 1899, Mr. Farris was united in marriage with Ella A. Frahm.
ETER SAMS', a retired citizen of Marietta precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, whose portrait is shown herewith, has been a resident of that county since 1871. Mr. Sams' was born in Austria, in 1833. His father, Powell Sams', died when he was twenty-eight years old.
Peter Sams' came to America in 1855. He settled in Wisconsin, where he followed rail- roading for some time. He then turned his attention to farming. In 1871 Mr. Sams' went west, to Nebraska, and invested in land. He bought 160 acres from William Brellar for $8.50 per acre. This tract was formerly owned by William P. Burns. In 1872 Mr. Sams' also purchased 80 acres in section 5 from Q. Clegg. He then busied himself in making improvements upon his property. He set out groves of shade trees, which now present a beautiful spectacle. Some of these trees are fifteen feet in circumference. He also has a very fine orchard.
In 1882 Mr. Sams' built a comfortable
dwelling. Two years later a fine barn was added. He afterward enlarged the dwelling house into a fine, spacious residence, convenient and modern in design. From 40 to 50 head of cattle are kept on the farm, and an equal num- ber of hogs. Mr. Sams' also raises some fine horses.
He was joined in marriage with Theresa Rothauer, also a native of Austria. She crossed the ocean to become the wife of Mr. Sams'. Two children were born to them, namely : Leonore and Joseph. The former mar- ried Stephen Johns and is the mother of two children, Charlie and Ruth. Joseph is still at home and conducts affairs on the farm, which is valued at $50 per acre.
Mr. Sams' is now spending his declining years with an exemption from toil which he justly deserves. In 1892 he was called upon to sustain the loss of his beloved wife, who died aged sixty-two years. Since then he has lived a retired life, while his son carries on the farm work. Although a member of the Catholic church, his ideas on the subject of religion are liberal.
ETER THULIN, a native of Sweden, came to this country practically with- out means, and located in Nebraska. He homesteaded a piece of property in Saunders county, and by earnest and faithful work, to- gether with good management, he grew to be one of the most prosperous and extensive land owners of that county.
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BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Peter Thulin was born in Christianstad, Sweden, in 1844, and is a son of Olof and Ce- celia (Person) Thulin. His father was a shoe- maker by trade, and followed it in his native country until he came to America. He first lived with his son for a time and then moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where he followed his trade until his death, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was the father of the following children : Nils, John, Peter, Swan, Andrew, Olof, and Ellen.
Peter Thulin was a very bright boy and ob- tained a superior educational training in the schools of Sweden, after which he became a teacher in an academy. He subsequently studied civil engineering in the military col- lege, and then secured an excellent position with the government railroad in his profes- sional capacity. He had obtained a good start when he was approached by an American land agent, who gave exaggerated accounts of the United States, and the ease with which wealth could be acquired. With high hopes and a firm resolve to succeed, he came to this country with his young wife, Karin ( Nelson). But many unlooked for difficulties arose, the most serious being his ignorance of the English lan- guage, which made it evident that his educa- tion would prove of little value to him for the time being. He located at Omaha, Ne- braska, and worked at any thing he could find to do; but his funds soon became exhausted. He then took a homestead in 1869, the prop- erty on which he now lives, and with his own hands built a sod house, the dimensions being 16 by 16 feet, with one window and a door. It
was located on the hill near the site of his present house. He immediately set to work with an energy which was bound to produce good results. It was very hard to make both ends meet at first, but he plowed up consider- able ground and also worked out for others, thereby making enough money to carry him over until he could realize the benefits of his own crops. He got along in a most successful manner, and in 1873 built a frame house, which is the main part of his residence; this he enlarged in 1880. He further enlarged it in 1887, and in 1896 it was remodeled into a handsome home. When he first located he built a straw stable, in which he kept his only cow and horses, but he now has large and spacious farm buildings so necessary to every well conducted farm. He possesses a very fine orchard, and his place is well supplied with fine shade trees. His first property was a tract of 80 acres, to which he added 160 acres of adjoining railroad land. He then acquired the J. Mitchel farm of 80 acres, the J. J. Wood farm of 80 acres, 160 acres in Lancaster county, 160 acres in Mariposa precinct, Saunders county, and then another 80-acre tract in Lan- caster county, making him one of the large land holders of his section.
Mr. Thulin's first wife died at the age of twenty-six years, and their only child, Cecelia, died in infancy. He was again married, his sec- ond wife being Anna Foster, a daughter of R. Foster, of Sweden, and they are the parents of nine children, as follows, all of whom have been provided with a good education : Amanda, who is teaching school ; Tilla, a dressmaker ; Herman,
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a physican and surgeon, of Omaha; Otto, de- ceased ; Alexander, a farmer ; Emma, deceased ; Anna, a trained nurse; Helen; and Esther. The subject of this sketch is a Democrat in politics, and has served on the school board for twenty years. Religiously, he is a Methodist.
ROFESSOR SAMUEL M. HILL, A. M., L. H. D., a gentleman of prom- inence as an educator, has been presi- dent of Luther Academy, at Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska, since 1886. Under his direc- tion this school has taken high rank among similar academies and preparatory schools, hav- ing a wide range of studies in its curriculum and competent instructors at the head of each department. There are three distinct depart- ments-the commercial, musical, and normal- and there is a large enrollment in each. It is the only denominational institution of learning in the county, and is located in the northwest part of the city of Wahoo, on a 10-acre plot of land known as College Hill, which was donated by the city. Upon this there are three good build- ings-two of frame and one of brick.
Prof. Hill was born in Sund, Sweden, Janu- ary 10, 1851. He came to the United States with his parents in 1868, and first located at Paxton, Illinois. They then lived in Chariton, Iowa, for two years. The subject hereof was graduated from Augustana College with the class of 1879, after which he was assistant pro- fessor in Gustavus Adolphus College, at St. Peter, Minnesota, for three years. He was then
engaged as Lutheran missionary in Utah for two years, and, in 1884, became a professor in Luther Academy, at Wahoo. He at once won favor as an instructor in that institution, and, in 1886, was elected its president, which posi- tion he has since filled in a most creditable man- ner.
In 1882 Prof. Hill was joined in marriage with Julia Johnson, and they became the parents of seven children, as follows: Dorothea; Cor- delia; Bernhard, deceased; Vendela; Elvida, deceased ; and Vincent and Vivian, twins.
In 1886 the subject of this sketch received the literary degree of A. M., and, in 1900, the degree of L. H. D., from his alma mater, Augustana College, at Rock Island, Illinois.
ENRY F. DUERRBAUM, a promi- nent farmer of Union precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, is a native of Ger- many. He was born in Hofgeismar, Hessen- Nassau, in 1839. He is a son of John and Wil- helmina (Flotho) Duerrbaum. The father of Henry F. was a cooper by trade, and the latter learned the same trade by working with his father.
In 1864 Mr. Duerrbaum came to America, settling in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked in a brewery. Subsequently he went west to Illinois, and, still later, to Omaha, Ne- braska. In 1871 he purchased 80 acres of land in Union precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska. This is the same farm upon which he still lives. Forty acres of it was railroad land, and cost
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