USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 23
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 23
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Mr. Dunn was joined in marriage with Mary McBride, who, with pluck and faithfulness, has withstood the hardships of a pioneer life, and has done her share toward making a pleasant
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home for her husband and children. Their children numbered eleven-namely: Thomas, a printer at Omaha; Samuel, who works on a ranch in Cheyenne county; Patrick, also a ranchman in Cheyenne county; Ignatius, an attorney at Omaha; John, who assists in con- ducting the homestead; Cletus, a student at Fremont Normal School; Mary; Ida, a teacher in the grammar schools at Papillion, and Clem- ent, Michael, and a babe, who are deceased. Mr. Dunn and his family are members of the Catholic church. The subject of this sketch is a Democrat and has served nine years on the school board in his district.
ONAS BENDER, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Union precinct, is one of the many successful men of Saun- ders county, Nebraska. Mr. Bender was born in Preble county, Ohio, February 6, 1837. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Brown) Bender.
John Bender was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where his early life was spent. Leaving there, he settled in Ohio, when that state was in its early stages of progress. His sole occupation was farming. He died in Ohio.
Jonas Bender was reared on his father's farm. He spent several years in La Salle county, Illinois. In 1882 he came west, to Nebraska, and purchased land in Union pre- cinct, Saunders county. He purchased 427 acres of land in sections 15 and 10. This land
was settled by Joseph McKee and "Nick" Rogers, and when purchased by Mr. Bender, was not fenced in. It contained a house and barn. These buildings were enlarged and remodeled by Mr. Bender, who now has a beautiful residence and a fine set of buildings. He also set out fruit and shade trees.
Mr. Bender married Isabelle Wampler, and they are the parents of ten children, namely : Lydia A., Effie Jane, John C., Luther E., Eliz- abeth I., Rachel I., Emma I., William C., James A., and Harry R. Emma I. and Harry R. are deceased. Lydia A. is a dressmaker by occupation. Effie Jane is a milliner in Nor- folk, Nebraska. William C. is a farmer. John C., a hardware merchant, married Mat- tie Grout, of Rogers, Colfax county, Nebras- ka, and they have three children,-Chester, Blanche and Hazel. Luther E. is a baker by trade. Elizabeth I. married W. G. White, of Fremont, Nebraska, and they have one child, Mildred. Rachel I. married H. Van Deusen, of Scribner, Nebraska. They also have one child, Dorothy. James A. is a stenographer.
Mr. Bender is an ardent supporter of the Populist platform. He has served his party as justice of the peace. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and makes liberal donations toward the maintenance of that domination. The subject of this sketch is a man of sterling worth and stands high in his community. His farm is among the most productive in the vi- cinity. A part of it is situated on the flats which border the Platte River, and from his residence can be obtained a grand view of the fertile valley of the Platte. Mr. Bender keeps
PHILIP ZWIEBEL.
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a fine herd of thoroughbred Shorthorns and graded stock, and also a large number of hogs. In farm products he raises principally grain and corn, of which he plants only the best. He has calls in the county to serve as auction- eer, in which occupation he has had fine suc- cess, having followed that business for many years.
HILIP ZWIEBEL, a large land own- er and prosperous farmer of Sarpy county, Nebraska, is also an old set- tler, as he located within the borders of Sarpy county in 1856, and since that year he has la- bored constantly, pursuing the vocation of a farmer. He was born in France, in 1836, and is a son of Michael Zwiebel, who moved with his family to Ohio, where he carried on farm- ing until his death.
When Philip was a lad of fifteen years, he started to learn the trade of a blacksmith, but as he did not like it, he went west, in 1856, and located in Sarpy county, where he bought a pre-emption of 160 acres for $150. He after- ward bought about 160 acres in sections 19 and 30, LaPlatte precinct, and 371 acres from J. F. Payne. All of this property is in one farm, upon which Mr. Zwiebel has spent much time in putting it in a fine state of cultivation. Besides general farming, he raises about 200 hogs per year. He has established a record for corn raising which is a hard one to beat, having raised 100 bushels to the acre, and his oats also yield more per acre than the average farmer raises. This goes to show
what a thorough state of cultivation the land is in, and accounts for the reputation which Mr. Zwiebel bears throughout his community as an up-to-date, progressive and conscientious farmer.
Mr. Zwiebel wedded Annie Barbara Elsis, of Ohio, and they have seven children, namely : George; Frank; Christina; Sophia, wife of J. Seefus; Caroline, the wife of W. Jackson ; Benjamin, deceased; and Tilda. Politically the subject of this sketch is a Democrat. He lias served on the school board, and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church. A portrait of Mr. Zwiebel, executed from a recent photograph, is shown on a preceding page.
OHN WEBER, a prosperous farmer of Sarpy county, Nebraska, was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, in 1847, and is a son of John Weber, Sr., who came to this coun- try in 1857, with his family, and located in La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits.
John Weber, the son, was reared in La Salle county, Illinois, but in 1882, when thirty-five years of age, he settled in Sarpy county, Ne- braska, where he purchased of Horace Rogers and son 160 acres of land in section 9, town- ship 13, range 12. A small house stood on the farm and but very little of the ground had been broken, though there was an orchard of two acres, to which the subject hereof has since added three acres. He has put his farm into a fine state of cultivation, and his record of
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80 bushels of corn to the acre is a hard one to beat by the Sarpy county farmers. Besides raising grain, much of his time has been de- voted to the raising of live stock, of which he has always kept from 30 to 40 head- formerly having Holsteins and Jerseys, but now breeding mostly Shorthorns. In 1894 he bought 80 acres of John Seiford, in sec- tion 4, but he rents this piece of land. Mr. Weber is a practical farmer, having met with the best of success in pursuing this vocation, and he enjoys the friendship and confidence of hosts of acquaintances throughout the county.
Mr. Weber was married in 1876 to Paulina Rinker, a daughter of Christian Rinker, of Grand Rapids, and they had four children : Elmer, J. Will, Paulina, and Charles, of whom the last two are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weber are members of the Lutheran church. In politics John Weber is a Republican.
LARENCE E. KEYES is an extensive land-owner and a prominent and well-to- do farmer of Richland precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he has spent many years pursuing his present vocation. When he decided to make farming his occupation he had no knowledge whatever of it, but by grim de- termination he has succeeded admirably. He is a native of Massachusetts, having been born in Worcester county, in that state, in 1849. He is a son of Edward and Rachael ( Moore) Keyes, who until their death, made their home with the subject hereof. The father died aged
seventy-one years, while the mother lived to be seventy-three years old. They were the parents of but two children, Clarence E., and Antoin- ette, the wife of L. A. Burt, of Connecticut.
Clarence E. Keyes received a good common school education in his native town, and early in life obtained a clerkship in a grocery store in Boston; he then worked some time in a crockery store, and in 1868 moved to Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he joined his brother- in-law. At that early date he had no thoughts of engaging in farming, for he did not know the rudiments of that occupation, nor could he even harness a horse. Determined to invest his savings in Nebraska lands, he bought a farm in LaPlatte precinct, with his brother-in- law, Mr. McKee. He ran it until 1874, when he disposed of it, and then purchased 160 acres in section II, Richland precinct, from the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He subsequently bought 160 acres of adjoining land from J. J. McLain. The property was all raw land, and only a small house stood on the farm. He en- larged the house, in which he continued to live until 1894, when it was destroyed by fire, and he afterward put up his present fine residence. He has good buildings on his farm-a large barn and large cattle sheds-and in 1874 or 1875 he put out a great many shade and fruit trees. He first set out 100 fruit trees, but now has 680 trees, and around his house he has some fine shrubbery. Mr. Keyes deals extensively in cattle, keeping from 50 to 75 thoroughbred Holstein cattle and from 100 to 200 hogs. He has a good well on his premises 60 feet deep, which furnishes plenty of good water.
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Mr. Keyes has done much toward the culti- vation of the soil, as shown by the fact that he has raised 75 bushels of corn, 55 bushels of oats, and 30 bushels of wheat to the acre, which speaks very highly of the fertility of his farm.
Mr. Keyes was joined in marriage with An- nabell Hodge, a daughter of George H. and Elizabeth (Geddis) Hodge. Her father was born in Scotland, and during his early life he followed railroading at Toronto, Canada, being employed on the Grand Trunk Railway. He ran as conductor and served as yardmaster at North McGregor and South McGregor, Iowa. At St. Joseph, Missouri, he met with an acci- dent, being crushed between the cars, and he never afterward followed railroading. He then went to Hot Springs, Utah, where he followed farming, but later moved to Springfield, Ne- braska, where he died. He left a wife and five children: Annabell, Libbie, the wife of J. S. Miller; Jane, the wife of M. B. Jones; Georgi- ana, the wife of D. Barrett, and a son, John, who died aged twenty-two years. The subject hereof and his wife have been blessed by the following children: Nettie, who is the wife of J. K. Phelps, and has three children; Lee Donald, and a baby ; Georgiana, deceased ; Ed- ward, who is studying medicine at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and married Vinnie Sanborn, by whom he has one child; Annabell and Idelle, both teachers ; Chester ; and Robert. Mr. Keyes is a stanch Republican, and in 1893 served as a representative in the legislature, and has served on the school board in his district. He is prominent in that district and enjoys a wide acquaintance, which holds him in high esteem.
ILLIAM A. JAMISON is a worthy member of one of the oldest families of Saunders county, Nebraska, and he is well known throughout the county as an enterprising and up-to-date farmer. He was born in Illinois, and is a son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Alexander) Jamison, who were born and reared near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They had seven children, as follows: Martha, John, Mary, Lydia E., Eliza A., William A., and James. Martha is the wife of a Mr. Cook, a mail carrier, and they have the following chil- dren : Ralph D., Andrew J., Bertha E., Harry, and Bird I., who is railroading. John is a druggist at Alvo, Cass county, Nebraska, but formerly conducted a store and erected the building now occupied by C. E. Lillibridge's hardware store in Weston; he married Flora B. Rogers, by whom he has two children-Dee and Max. Mary, deceased, was the wife of William Brown, who now cultivates a farm in Butler county, Nebraska, but who formerly lived in Newman precinct, Saunders county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had a family of six chil- dren, namely : Phoebe, the wife of a Mr. Scott. of Butler county ; John T. : James D., deceased ; Andrew J., and William and George, who are at home. Lydia E. (Baker) lives at Lake Charles, Louisiana, where her husband is a produce commission merchant, and they have four children : Maude, Alice, Goldie, and George. Eliza A. (Hedges) of Valparaiso, Nebraska, is the mother of six children : Clin- ton, Harvey, William, Ethel, Stella, and Chester, and her husband is a well-borer. William A. is the subject of this sketch.
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James, the youngest, lives on and cultivates a part of the other 160 acres of the original homestead, which lie in the southeast quarter of section 29; he married Stella Chambers. Andrew J. Jamison located in Scott county, Iowa, shortly after his marriage, and there he operated a grist and saw mill. Thence he went to Arkansas, where he spent several years. From 1861 to 1865 he lived in Illinois, but in the latter year he went to Saunders county, Nebraska, where members of his family live at the present day. He first located near Wes- ton, on the Joseph B. Bartek farm, which land he bought from Mr. Barnhill, and which con- sisted of 80 acres in section 24, township 14, range 5. He was the first settler in that locality, his nearest neighbor being some miles distant. For years his place was known as the A. J. Jam- ison ranch. The family lived there until 1870, when Mr. Jamison, the father, bought a quar- ter of section 32 and a quarter of section 29, township 14, range 5. The land was originally taken by land warrants and college scrip. Their first house was put up in 1878, and stands on a knoll well suited for a house site. Down the slope from the house William A. Jamison erected a barn in 1898, the dimensions of which are 30 by 36 by 16 feet ; he also has good gran- aries and outbuildings. His house is sur- rounded by nice shade trees and beds of flow- ers. The father died November 1, 1883, and the mother lives with the subject hereof. An- drew J. Jamison was a strong Democrat, while his son, William A., is a Populist. The old homestead was situated on the government road from Ashland to Columbus and Fort Kearney.
Mr. Jamison is located on the northeast quarter of section 32, while his brother James is located on the southeast quarter of section 29.
The subject of this sketch has held numerous offices in his precinct. During the early "nine- ties" he served two terms as assessor. In 1898 and 1899 he was road overseer ; and at present he is school treasurer. He and his mother are Presbyterians in religious attachments.
HOMAS J. PICKETT, who for the past five years has been editor and man- ager of the "Wahoo Wasp," at Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska, is a writer of ex- ceptional talent, well informed on all matters of general interest to the public. He conducts a wide-awake paper, Republican in political complexion, though devoted to the best inter- ests of the community. He is a man of tried business ability, and by shrewd management has increased the circulation of his paper over 500 copies since he assumed control. Mr. Pickett was born at Peoria, Illinois, December 27, 1850, and is a son of Thomas J. and Louisa (Baily) Pickett.
Thomas J. Pickett, Sr., who was born March 17, 1821, was a man of considerable promi- nence in newspaper work, his entire business life being devoted to that vocation. When he was a boy, he worked in the printing office of George D. Prentice, and in 1840 located at Peoria, Illinois. He had the honor of being the first president of the Illinois Press Asso- ciation. He was very prominent in Masonic
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circles and served as grand master, both in Illinois and Kentucky. He was one of the or- ganizers of the 69th Regiment, Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, of which he was lieutenant colo- nel. At the expiration of the term of service of the 69th Regiment, he organized the 132d Regiment, and was made its colonel. He was among the first to write to Abraham Lincoln urging that he accept the presidency, and a fac- simile of Mr. Lincoln's reply appears in a work devoted to the life of Lincoln. In poli- tics, he was originally a Whig, but was a dele- gate to the first national convention of the Re- publican party at Philadelphia, which nomi- nated John C. Fremont for the presidency. He was a state senator, for the term beginning in 1860, from Rock Island, Illinois, where he then lived, having located in that city in 1858. At the close of the war he removed to Paducah, Kentucky, where he served as postmaster and also as clerk of the United States district court. He remained there until the spring of 1879, when he removed to Nebraska City, where he lived but one year. He then went to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he lived until his death, which occurred while he was on a visit to the home of his son at Ashland, Nebraska, December 24, 1891. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Louisa Baily, a native of Mary- land, and she died while visiting relatives in Chester county, Pennsylvania. This union resulted in the following offspring: Horace G., George, Charles, Thomas J., and Mildred (Terrell). Mr. Pickett formed a second mar- riage, wedding Libby Smith, of Peoria, Illi- nois, who now resides in Lincoln, Nebraska.
They were the parents of three children : Har- riet (Guthrie), May (Boswell), and Wil- liam L.
Thomas J. Pickett, the subject hereof, re- ceived his early education in public and private schools. After working as a printer for sev- eral years, he began his journalistic career. In 1871, with H. F. White, he established the "No- komis Gazette," at Nokomis, Illinois, and in 1872 he was appointed printer expert for the state, with office at Springfield, Illinois, sub- sequently disposing of his interest in the news- paper to Mr. White. He held the state office for nearly two years, after which he served as editor and manager of the "Fulton Journal," at Fulton, Illinois, until 1879. He then estab- lished the "Nebraska City Sun," at Nebraska City, which he and his father conducted as a daily morning paper. One year later he lo- cated in Ashland, Saunders county, and pur- chased the "Saunders County Reporter," the name of which he changed to the "Ashland Ga- zette," and its politics from Greenback to Re- publican. He continued to edit, manage and control the same until 1893, when he sold out .
the property. He served as postmaster for eight years under presidents Arthur and Harri- son, and in 1888 was elected float senator from Saunders and Sarpy counties. In 1895 he located in Wahoo, and purchased a controlling interest in the "Wahoo Wasp," a Republican paper, of which he has since been editor and manager. He has been very active in politics, and in 1898 served as state central committee- man.
November 2, 1875 Mr. Pickett was united in
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marriage with Kate C. Snyder, a daughter of Dr. W. C. Snyder, of Fulton, Illinois, and they are the parents of four sons, as follows: Stan- ley, who is with the Carpenter Paper Company, of Omaha, Nebraska; William, with R. G. Dun & Co., at Omaha; Henry, who is in the freight department of the B. & M. R. R. R. at South Omaha, Nebraska ; and James, a mem- ber of the class of 1900, in the Wahoo High School. Fraternally Mr. Pickett is a member of Pomegranate Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M., of Ashland, Nebraska.
J OHN JACOB ZEEB, an industrious and conscientious farmer of Sarpy county, Nebraska, has met with the best success in following his present independent vocation, and enjoys a reputation throughout his com- munity as a good neighbor and citizen. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1840, and is a son of Jacob Zeeb.
The subject hereof was reared in Germany, and served six years in the army. In 1867 he came to the United States and at once settled in Illinois, where he was engaged in farming four years. He subsequently rented a tract of land in Sarpy county, but two years later, in 1884, he bought of Marion Fish, 80 acres in section 3. township 13. range 12. At that time there was a small house on the farm, and little im- provements had been put on the land. He built a large barn and a granary, erected a new house, put out an orchard of 400 trees, consist- ing of nearly all kinds of fruit, and also set out
a vineyard. Besides raising considerable grain, he devotes much time to live stock, having about 70 hogs the year round, and a large number of milch cows, from which he makes butter, which sells at all times for 25 cents per pound. He has one of the best fruit farms in Fairview precinct, and is certainly an honor to his chosen occupation. He is economical and enterprising, and is esteemed by all who know him.
Mr. Zeeb wedded Lena Gutbrod, by whom he had eight children. They are as follows : Annie, the wife of J. Lutz; Mary, the wife of Martin Houck; Jacob, who wedded Mary Hoehning; William, Lena, Tillie, Amelia, and Carrie, who died, aged sixteen months. Mr. Zeeb and family attend the Lutheran church.
ON. EDGAR HOWARD is a native of Osceola, Iowa, where he was born Sep- tember 16, 1858. He is a son of James D. and Martha J. (Daniel) Howard. The former is deceased, while the latter now resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
When Mr. Howard was a lad of seven years, his parents moved to Glenwood, Iowa, where he attended the public schools, and worked at the printing trade until he was eighteen years old. He then started out through the coun- try, and worked on various papers as printer and reporter. During 1881 and 1882 he held the position of city editor of the "Herald," at Dayton, Ohio. He then located in Omaha, where he found employment on the "Repub-
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lican." In 1883 he went to Papillion, Nebras- ka, where he took charge of the "Times" for the executors of the estate of Henry Carpenter. He afterwards purchased the paper and con- ducted it for three years, after which he sold out to Hancock Brothers, and at Benkelman, Nebraska, he established the "Dundy Demo- crat," which he issued for two years. Selling out, he returned to Papillion, where he again purchased the "Times." Having studied law in Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, he was admitted to the bar in 1885. In 1894 he was nominated by the Democratic convention by acclamation as a candidate for representa- tive in the Ninth Legislative District, and was elected against the votes of Populists and Re- publicans. In 1895 he resigned his position in the legislature to accept a nomination for coun- ty judge. He was elected, and was afterward re-elected for a term of two years. As a Dem- ocrat, he has always taken an active part in all political matters.
Edgar Howard and Elizabeth Burtch of Clarinda, Iowa, were joined in marriage, No- vember 11, 1884. She is a daughter of Alex- ander and Sarah (Bennett) Burtch. To this union a family of four children were born, namely : Fin, aged fifteen years; Mary, aged twelve years; Martha, aged nine years, and Helen, aged seven years. Mr. Howard is a member of the following fraternities, in which he takes a prominent part: Papillion Lodge No. 39, F. & A. M .; Omaha Chapter No. I, R. A. M .; Omaha Council No. 1 ; Mt. Calvary Commander ; Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., at Pa- pillion ; K. of P. No. 3, at Papillion ; Modern
Woodmen of America, Camp No. 1791, at Pa- pillion; Woodmen of the World, Seymour Camp, at Omaha ; Imperial Mystic Legion, Pa- pillion Castle; Elks, No. 39, Omaha.
HRIST STUEHM is one of the leading and progressive farmers of Richland pre- cinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska. He was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1862, and is a son of Asmus and Esther (Hapman) Stuehm.
Asmus Stuehim lived in Germany all his life and died at an early age. By his union with Esther Hapman he had four children, as fol- lows: Henry, of Douglas county, Nebraska ; August, Joseph, and Christ. Mrs. Stuehm came to this country, having previously mar- ried John Hahan, by whom she has four chil- dren : Minnie, John, Annie, and Henry.
Christ Stuehm came to America and located in Nebraska in 1880, where he worked out for some time as a farm hand. He later rented a farm, and met with such success that he was enabled to buy one in 1892. He purchased 160 acres known as the Jones farm, in section 36, Richland precinct, Sarpy county, on which were located a few small buildings. He re- modeled the buildings and enlarged them and set out a fine two-acre orchard. His land is under a high state of cultivation, and has a large average yield in corn, wheat and oats. The farm is well stocked, having 25 head of cattle, 60 hogs, and horses of good quality. He has given his entire time and
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attention to making a success of his farm, and the results have exceeded his fondest expecta- tions.
Mr. Stuehm was united in marriage with Cecelia Arp, a daughter of Klaus Arp. The latter came to this country from Germany and followed farming in Sarpy county for a period of three years, after which he returned to his native land. Six children have blessed this union, namely : Laura, August, Annie, Tena, Herman, and Lena. Religiously, the subject of this sketch is a faithful member of the Lutheran church. He is a man of pleasing per- sonality, and is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. In politics, Mr. Stuehm is a Democrat.
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