USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 22
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 22
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He moved to Lincoln in the following Septem- ber, and remained there until April 26, 1878, when he located in Ashland, Saunders county, Nebraska. He soon acquired a large practice and, soon after locating there, rented the build- ing known as the Court House, before the county seat was removed to Wahoo, and es- tablished a sanitarium. He soon had an es- tablished reputation, and the place then called the "Hill" became widely known as "Quality Hill." He has since purchased the property, the county consenting to sell it by a vote of the public. He has laid out beautiful grounds, with broad drives and walks, and a large green lawn, with its shade trees interspersed with flowers and shrubbery, together with a flowing fountain, the whole presenting a scene of un- rivaled beauty. Our subject holds the first certificate issued by the board of health in the state. He was formerly professor of general pathology and histology in the Omaha Med- ical College; president of the Nebraska Rail- way Surgeon's Association; Nebraska State Medical Society; Medical Society of the Mis- souri Valley; Nebraska Academy of Sciences ; honorary member of the Lincoln and Omaha medical societies; member of the American Medical Association, et cet.
Dr. von Mansfelde was united in marriage with Julia Labhart, of Chicago, and they are the parents of five children, as follows: Duty, who received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Nebraska University, is assistant principal of the Ashland High School, and teacher of math- ematics and German; Johanna, a graduate of Nebraska University, with the degree of B. A.,
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served two years as assistant principal of Ash- land High School and is now teaching English and chemistry in the high school at Omaha; Belle, who received the degree of M. A. in the State University, is assistant principal of the high school at Stromsburg, Polk county, Ne- braska; Charles Herbert, who graduated from the State University with the degree of B. A., is now in attendance in the law department of that institution ; and Alice is now attending the Ashland High School. Our subject has never taken an active part in politics, but was elected one term as mayor of Ashland. He refused to be considered for a nomination later. He was associate, and later chief editor of the Omaha Medical Clinic, the first medical jour- nal ever published in Nebraska, and he was for thirteen years the permanent secretary of the Nebraska State Medical Society, whose trans- actions he edited and published during that time.
G UST LARSON, a prosperous farmer of Richland precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, is, like most of his neighbors, of Swedish nativity. He was born, in 1842, in Sweden, and is a son of Lawrence Larson. Mr. Larson was reared and educated in his native country, and came to the United States in 1861. He worked one year in car shops in New York City, and subsequently followed the same occupation in sixteen other states. He last worked in that capacity in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1869 he assisted N. J. Paul to survey a part of Custer and Keith
counties, Nebraska. In 1867 he took up a homestead claim in Saunders county, Ne- braska. This land included the south half of the northeast quarter of section 22, and was located in township 15, range 9. Only two settlers besides Mr. Larson were then located in that part of the county. They were John Terpen and John Curen.
Having purchased lumber at Ashland, Mr. Larson built a board house on his land. This was the first board house in Union precinct. After otherwise improving his farm he sold it and purchased the east half of the northwest quarter of section 16, township 15, range 9. Upon this he also built a house, barns, corn- cribs, etc., and set out fruit and shade trees. In 1892 the same land was sold for $40 per acre. It is now owned by Mrs. Bears. Mr. Larson afterward purchased from Frank Schup 160 acres of land in section 20, Richland pre- cinct. Again the subject hereof built a large house and barns, and improved his farm in many ways. He now has one of the finest and best situated farms in the southern part of Saunders county. He also raises some cat- tle, horses and hogs.
Gust Larson was joined in marriage with Ada Miller, a daughter of Nicholas Miller. Mrs. Larson is a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared in Iowa. Later her parents settled in Marietta precinct, Saunders county, Ne- braska. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Larson. Three of these died young. The others are Hulda May, Fred, Ernest C., George, Edna B., Albert and Delbert (twins) and Gertie. Hulda May married Bert Sprague,
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL H. FRITZINGER.
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of Colorado, and they have four children, namely : Pearl, Arthur, Clarence, and one child unnamed.
Mr. Larson is independent in politics. He has served as road commissioner and as school director. In his religious views he is in ac- cord with the Seventh Day Adventists.
AMUEL H. FRITZINGER. Saund- ers county is rich in its beautiful and highly cultivated farms, showing her citizens to be progressive and enterprising. Par- ticularly noticeable and picturesque is the home of the gentleman whose name appears above, it being located in the extreme southwest corner of the county. The commodious residence, with other buildings, pleasantly located on a knoll of land, together with a magnificent orchard of from 300 to 400 trees and a heavy mulberry ridge, presents a view most pleasing to the eye. We are pleased to be able to present on a fore- going page a view of the house and surround- ings executed from a recent photograph taken in the summer of 1900.
Mr. Fritzinger was born in Putnam county, Illinois, in 1859, and is a son of John D. and Dorothy Ann (Perry) Fritzinger, who were parents of three children, as follows : Samuel H .; Ada H. (Kirkaldie), of Washington, who has two children, Annie and Nellie, and whose husband is captain of a steamer; and Ira W., who is overseer of the electric light plant at Hoquiam, in the state of Washington.
Samuel H. Fritzinger was brought up to
hard work, as his father was always more or less of an invalid. He has worked in the field from the age of nine years, and the main sup- port of the family was devolved upon him from the time he was fifteen years old. This was indeed a heavy burden for one so young, but he bore up under it manfully. In 1882 or 1883 he went to the then territory of Wash- ington and spent a couple of years, when he re- turned to Illinois and was married in 1885. He then went with his family to Saunders county, Nebraska, whither his father had preceded him, and had contracted with the railroad company for the southwest quarter of section 31, town- ship 13, range 5, at $3.50 per acre. Up to that time he had paid nothing, and the subject here- of assumed the obligation and has since lived there. He started with about $600.00 in money, and for a time was compelled to strug- gle for existence. He broke the sod, sowed crops, and planted a number of catalpa trees, * to begin with, and one needs but to look at his well improved farm at the present time to real- ize with what success his efforts met. He built a house 20 by 24 feet in dimensions, and later made it a story and a half high and built an addition of 16 by 26 feet. He first had a straw shed for a stable, and later built a frame barn, which was destroyed by fire. He then built his present fine barn in 1894, its dimen- sions being 32 by 46 feet. He has a granary in the barn, and built other good, substantial outbuildings, including a repair shop, and hog and cattle sheds. He has a tubular well 240 feet deep (the water being pumped by a wind- mill), and has attempted several flowing wells,
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but never succeeded in getting the water nearer to the surface than five feet. He has dealt ex- tensively in hogs for the past fifteen years, and has had wonderful luck every year but 1899, when he lost some by cholera. Before leav- ing Illinois he began the manufacture of sor- ghum, and has since continued it. He devotes about fifteen acres of the farm to the culture of sorghum, and does considerable custom work, making about 1,500 gallons per year. He owns 400 acres of land in all, including five 80-acre tracts. Three of these are located in Lancaster county. In 1891 he bought the east half of the southwest quarter of section 12, in West Oak precinct. In 1894 he purchased the west half of the northeast quarter, and in 1899 the west half of the southwest quarter of the same sec- tion. He also owns a 10-acre tract in the corporate limits of Valparaiso, upon which there is a large house and barn, which he rents. He is one of the largest stockholders and a director of the Success Creamery Company, of Seward county, Nebraska.
Mr. Fritzinger was united in marriage with Mary C. (Kirkaldie) Haines, a widow with three children, as follows: William H., who makes his home with Mr. Fritzinger; and Ed- ward J. and Albert, of the state of Washington. Mrs. Fritzinger was born in La Salle county, Illinois, and is a daughter of J. B. and Lamira (Smith) Kirkaldie, her father being an old settler in Illinois. Six children were born to the subject hereof and his wife: Ira S., Frank, Fred L., John D., George, and Nellie. In political views Mr. Fritzinger is a Populist, and takes an active interest in party affairs, having
been a representative of his precinct at several county conventions. He also serves on the school board. Religiously, he is a believer in the doctrines of the M. E. church. He is past master of Valparaiso Lodge, No. 278, A. O. U. W. He and his wife are beneficiary mem- bers of the Degree of Honor.
OHN NORDSTROM, a prominent agri- culturist of Saunders county, Nebraska,
is quite an extensive land-owner in Stocking precinct. He is a native of Smaland, Sweden, where his birth occurred in 1844. His father, Jonas Peter Erickson, was a farmer by occupation.
When fifteen years old Mr. Nordstrom learned the trade of a stone and brick mason and plasterer. In 1867 he came to America, settling in Rockford, Illinois. He followed his trade there until 1869. In December of that year his brother came here from Sweden, and hearing of the fine land to be gotten in Ne- braska, Mr. Nordstrom came to this state and took a homestead for himself, his brother Carl, and several others of the now well-to-do farm- ers of Saunders county. At first he employed himself in assisting the early settlers to plaster their homes and in doing other work in his line. Later he began to cultivate his own land, and has since devoted his time exclusively to farming. He first built a sod house upon his land. This was replaced subsequently by a small frame house which gave way in a few years to a modern, convenient residence. He
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also built fine barns and other buildings about the place, and planted about two acres of his land in fruit trees. These orchards now con- tain a wide variety of fine fruit. Ornamental shrubs and shade trees were also planted and the whole farm was in a high state of cultiva- tion. In 1882 Mr. Nordstrom sold his farm, with other land which he owned, and moved to the vicinity of Omaha, where he engaged in farming until 1895. During this time he pur- chased one-half section of land in Wahoo pre- cinct (the northwest quarter of section 21 and the southwest quarter of section 16) which has been used by renters most of the time. Mr. Nordstrom has made many improvements on this farm, both in the land and in the buildings. In 1895 he purchased from John Moss 240 acres of section 10 in Stocking precinct, and upon this farm he now resides. He built a large, handsome residence and other fine build- ings, not omitting to set out orchards and shade trees. Upon this farm he feeds from 100 to 150 head of cattle and generally keeps from 100 to 200 head of hogs.
Mr. Nordstrom married Nellie Nelson, a daughter of Albert Nelson. Albert Nelson was born in Skane, Sweden, and came to America in 1855. He first settled in Chicago, Illinois, where he became a wagon-maker. Later he went to New Orleans where he took large con- tracts for clearing timber. From there he trav- eled by water to California and engaged in erecting buildings in San Francisco. He was subsequently engaged in mining for about fif- teen years. He then went to Omaha, Ne- braska, where he conducted a hotel for some
time. In 1871 Mr. Nelson returned to Sweden to get his family, and upon his return to the United States he became a contractor for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, working from Omaha to Plattsmouth. Later he settled in section 16, in Wahoo precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska. He was a public-spirited citizen and served four years as county eom- missioner, after which he retired. His death took place in 1894 at the age of seventy-two years. He married Ellen Johnson, whose death preceded his demise by eleven months. She was sixty-nine years old. Two children were born to them: Nellie, the wife of Mr. Nordstrom, and Jonas, a citizen of Humboldt, Nevada.
Mr. and Mrs. Nordstrom have four sons: Jonas Sigfrid, who is engaged in farming; Ernst Arvid, who devotes his time to business in Omaha, and Carl Fritheof and Berger Theo- dore, who are staying at home.
ENRY FASE, a highly esteemed citi- zen and very successful farmer of Rich- land precinct, Sarpy county, Ne- braska, was one of the very earliest settlers of that locality. He started wholly without means, having borrowed enough money to make the voyage from Germany to America, but possessing an abundance of energy and good business ability, he worked his way grad- ually to the front, and is now one of the sub- stantial citizens of the county.
Mr. Fase was born in Germany in 1839, and
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is a son of Andrew and Sophia (Fricke) Fase. His father died in Germany at the age of thirty- three years, and his mother came to America with her family in 1857, and died here at the age of sixty-five years. Their children were: Andrew, Henry, and Christian, who died in infancy.
Henry Fase settled with his mother in Ohio, where he followed farming until 1861. He then enlisted in a regiment of cavalry from Wheeling, West Virginia. He served with bravery for a period of three years, and then returned to his home, where he remained until the following June. He then came to Nebraska and worked out as a farm hand until the fall of 1865. He had previously purchased a tract of 80 acres of wild prairie land where the town of Portal is now located. He set out a grove in 1869, made many improvements, and cultivated the land until 1887, when he dis- posed of it. He next bought 240 acres of Ed- ward Huff, in section 36, Richland precinct, Sarpy county (where he now lives), also pur- chasing an adjoining 80 acres of A. Snyder in section 35. He erected a fine set of farm buildings, remodeled and enlarged his own home, and built an adjoining home for his son. His farm is in excellent condition and is one of the most productive in the precinct, the aver- age yield being 55 bushels of corn and 40 bushels of oats to the acre. He has 75 head of cattle and as many hogs, and has met with great success in the cultivation of all kinds of fruit.
Mr. Fase was united in marriage in 1867 with Mary Uhe, a daughter of Andrew and
Mary (Bomgarten) Uhe, who, upon coming to this country from Germany, first located in Ohio and then at Omaha, Nebraska. They later lived with their son William where Mrs. Uhe now lives, at the age of seventy-two years. Andrew Uhe died at the age of sixty-nine years. They were parents of five children: Dora, Elizabeth, Lena, William and Mary. The last named, Mr. Faze's wife, was born in Germany in 1850 and was two years of age when brought to this country. Mr. and Mrs. Fase are parents of the following children: Caro- line, wife of Jacob Pfluck, by whom she has two children, Mattie and Walter; Herman, who married Ella Gillette and has three children, Grant, Arthur and Earl; Lydia, wife of John Kincade, and William, who married Etta Ward. The subject of this sketch served two terms as assessor and officiated on the school board and as road supervisor for many years.
OHN D. GLESMANN, one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Richland precinct, Sarpy county, Ne- braska, is of sturdy German extraction, having been born in Holstein, Germany, in 1846. He is a son of John D. Glesmann.
John D. Glesmann, the father, was born in 1816 in Holstein, Germany, and his wife, Elizabeth Roennau, was also born there, in 1817. They were the parents of a family of nine children, as follows: Elizabeth, the wife of J. Roennau ; Christina, the wife of C. Witt; John D. Jr .; Henry C .; Carl, deceased; Chris-
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tian, deceased; Ernest; Augusta, the wife of H. Gottsch; and Fred, deceased.
Our subject, with his brother, Henry C., came to this country and located in Davenport, Iowa, in 1868, but they remained there only about nine months, when they left for Council Bluffs, Iowa. There they continued to work on the farm until they located in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where they rented land for five years, during which time they succeeded in accumulating a small sum of money. Then, with the assistance of their father, in 1876 they bought a half section, where John D. Gles- mann, the son now lives. Being industrious and determined to have a fine farm, they began making improvements, and in 1877 they set out a fine grove consisting of cottonwood, wal- nut, and maple trees, some of which have grown to be 20 inches in diameter. The sub- ject hereof now owns this grove, in the cen- ter of which is located his house, which he built in 1897. The old barn, which was erected in 1876, is now used as a granary and tool house. The present fine barn was built in 1897, and has a fine basement under it, used for cows. Mr. Glesmann keeps about 45 cows and about 70 hogs, continuously, and on his place he has a fine corn-crib and good substantial outbuild- ings. As a proof that he has got his land into a very fertile condition, he raises as much as 70 bushels of corn to the acre, and 50 bushels of oats per acre. He also has a fine orchard, which may be classed among the best and most improved within Sarpy county. He enjoys a wide circle of friends throughout his adopted community, who know him to be a
good friend and neighbor, an enterprising farmer and a loyal citizen.
Mr. Glesmann was joined in marrige with Annie Gottsch, a daughter of Henry Gottsch, Henry Gottsch was born in Germany in 1821, and is a son of Klaus and Annie (Stuhr) Gottsch. He came to this country in 1885. He is now living a retired life, after spend- ing many years engaged in the grain busi- ness, and following his trade as a weaver. He married Margaret Kuhl, who died in 1899, aged seventy-one years. They had the follow- ing children: August, Mary (deceased), Henry, Emma, Mary, and Annie, wife of the subject hereof. Mr. and Mrs. Glesmann are the parents of ten children : John (deceased), Herman Henry, William Frederick, August Adolph, Elizabeth Pauline, Minnie Lucy, Carl Christian, Emma Margaret, Martha Annie, and Henry. Mr. Glesmann has served on the school board in his district, and as road supervisor. In religious views he and his family are Lu- therans.
OHN M. WARD, a resident of Richland precinct, is one of the progressive and rep- resentative farmers of Sarpy county, Ne- braska, which he has assisted in bringing into prominence as one of the best agricultural dis- tricts in the West. With the assistance of his sons, he carries on farming on a very large scale. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1851, and is a son of John and Margaret (Jones) Ward.
John M. Ward was a small child when his
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father died. In later years his mother was wedded to Abraham Snider, a native of the state of New York, who came to Nebraska from Iowa in 1874. From Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Sni- der bought 160 acres of bare prairie-the land adjoining John M. Ward's property on the west -and today he is now living a retired life, and enjoying the benefits of his early toil. His entire farm is now being tilled by his sons. He made many improvements upon his farm, such as putting out shade and fruit trees, and build- ing barns, outbuildings and a fine residence.
John M. Ward was a lad of five years when his parents moved to Iowa, where he first at- tended the public schools, and afterwards be- came a student in the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, and as he was reared to agricul- tural pursuits, he decided to make farming his life's work. He first bought 40 acres in Johnson county, Iowa, and in 1873 he disposed of his farm there and purchased of Annie Sheath 160 acres in section 1, Richland precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska. At that time it was raw prairie and Mr. Ward built a house having dimensions of 14 by 20 feet, on the property, and in March, 1876, he enlarged it. In 1880 he erected a new home on the present site, mov- ing the old one to the rear and using it for a tool house. In 1899 he built his present fine house, which has all the latest improvements. During all those years he was steadily making improvements upon his farm, in the way of cultivating the soil and putting up barns, etc. His present barn is 60 by 60 feet in dimensions ; his cow shed is 32 by 48 feet, and besides he has a buggy shed, and a large corn-crib. In
1893 he built the first silo in this section of the state. It is 20 by 20 feet in size, and has a capacity of 144 tons. In 1876 Mr. Ward set out an orchard, which under his careful treat- ment has produced an abundant quantity of fruit; he now has 30 acres in fruit trees. He also has a large grove of shade trees, and around his beautiful home he has a number of evergreens. He has two tubular wells, a depth of 115 and 175 feet, respectively, which fur- nish a water supply both for his residence and his barns and feed lots. The house has all the modern conveniences of city property. He also has a fish pond which is stocked with German carp and catfishı. The pond is supplied by a natural spring and by the wells. He has pur- chased property at different times from the earnings of his first farm. He bought 160 acres from the Hamilton heirs, which was pre- empted by E. T. Huff; 160 acres in Platford precinct from E. T. Hilton ; 160 acres of E. E. Moyer, also in Platford precinct, and he owns 6.40 acres in Perkins county, Nebraska. On each of these farms he has erected new barns, new outbuildings and a neat house. He keeps from 150 to 200 head of cattle, most of which are thouroughbred Shorthorns, and about 150 hogs. He also devotes much attention to raising fine mules, and during his time he has raised many premium winners. The subject of this sketch is an enterprising and progressive farmer, and throughout his community and county he enjoys the reputation of being a good neighbor and an honest and upright citizen and business man.
Mr. Ward wedded Eliza Evans, a daughter
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of William Evans, of Adair county, Iowa, and to them were born the following children : Wil- liam, who married Rena Wilbur, and has one child, Ruth; Frank, who wedded Mamie Ken- nelly, by whom he has one child, May; Etta, who is the wife of William Fase; Charles and Chloe, twins, who are deceased ; Pearl; Jessie; Maggie ; Mittie; Lucretia ; and John McKinley. In politics Mr. Ward is a stanch Republican, and has held the following offices in his commu- nity. One term as county commissioner ; three terms as assessor ; road supervisor and school director. Religiously, he is a member of the Congregational church.
ICHAEL DUNN is one of the few pioneer farmers who have spent many years in the upbuilding and ad- vancement of the state of Nebraska. When he pre-empted his first 160 acres there was no Sarpy county, but in after years he assisted in the surveying of that county. In those early days the white people were thinly scattered throughout Nebraska territory, but the In- dians were plenty, and the forests abounded with game, while the rivers and creeks were full of fish. By grim determination and per- severance Mr. Dunn's efforts were crowned with success, and he has transformed his first purchase into fine fertile fields, which today consist of the best farming land in Sarpy coun- ty. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1828, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (O'Mara) Dunn.
Michael Dunn's father died when in his for- ty-ninth year, leaving a wife, six sons and two daughters, and Michael was obliged to help in making a livelihood for the family. In his early youth he was a shepherd, but later on he followed lath splitting, which trade he had learned from his father. The family subse- quently went to England, where the subject hereof continued lath splitting, and in 1852 Michael and his brother Thomas came to the United States. Upon landing in New York City Mr. Dunn went immediately to Chicago, and from there he went to La Salle, Illinois, where he worked on the Illinois Central Rail- road. He then went west to Omaha, where he became a cook for John Painter, a surveyor, whom he afterwards assisted in making sur- veys. In 1856 he pre-empted 160 acres in Fair- view precinct, section 23, township 13, range 12, on which was a large forest. On this prop- erty was a fine spring which has never failed to furnish water. Going to Omaha, he bought lumber enough to build a house near the spring. He has since erected a fine residence and has put up a fine barn and outbuildings. He has a good orchard of four and one-half acres, and in addition to the raising of grain he raises fine cattle. He also owns 640 acres in Greeley county and 160 in Cheyenne county. Our sub- ject is a good conscientious farmer, and is de- serving of the esteem and respect in which he is held by his fellow citizens and neighbors.
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