USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 26
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 26
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13, range 12, and situated about three and one-half miles northeast of town. Mr. Mil- ler's home was erected at a cost of $3,000 in 1899, and the main part is 24 feet square, to which is added an L. 22 by 16 feet in dimen- sions. Mr. Miller is popular in both business and social circles, and his many friends regard him as a good upright business man and loyal citizen.
W. E. Miller was joined in marriage with Henriette Miller, of Sarpy county. Her father, Louman Miller, was one of the pioneer settlers there. He died in 1860, and her moth- er passed away in 1879. Three children were born to this union: Genevieve, deceased; Grey, who is a partner in Mr. Miller's drug store; and John L. The subject of this sketch is a strong Democrat in politics, while in a re- ligious connection, he is a member of the Methodist church, of Springfield, which has an enrollment of about 60 members. Fraternally, he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge No. II2, of Springfield, and is secretary of the Springfield Lodge No. 102, I. O. O. F.
ENT PETERSON, a retired farmer of Gretna, has been a resident of Sarpy county, Nebraska, since 1869, and is still a land owner in Forest City precinct.
Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden in 1825, and is a son of Peter and Ann Larson. He was reared and schooled in that country, and there learned the tailor's trade, but did not fol- low it long. In 1864 he came to America and
JOHN. L. COLEMAN.
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located in Utah, where he engaged in farming, and also teaming on the railroad until 1869. He then located at Papillion, Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he rented and conducted a farm a short time. He homesteaded 80 acres of land in Forest City precinct, and on this he erected a set of buildings and put out many sliade and fruit trees. To this tract he later added 471/2 acres, and successfully engaged in farming, until 1898. He then retired from active work, buying a lot at Gretna, on which he erected a cottage. He has since made his home there, renting his farm.
Mr. Peterson was united in marriage in Denmark with Mary Everson, a daughter of Ever and Mary Peterson, by whom he had eight children, as follows: Antony, deceased; August, deceased; Emily, wife of William Morrison, whose biography appears elsewhere herein ; Sophia, wife of Swan Akerson; Annie, wife of John Fowler ; Ella, who lives at home; and Benjamin and John, both of whom died in their infancy.
OHN L. COLEMAN, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Saunders county, Nebraska, whose portrait is presented on the opposite page, is now serving his second term as treasurer of that county, to the utmost satisfaction of his constituents. He has always been a most earnest advocate of Populistic prin- ciples, and is active in the workings of that party. He was born March 2, 1850, in St.
Lawrence county, New York, and is a son of William, and Margaret (Fay) Coleman.
William Coleman, Sr., the grandfather of John L., was born in the north of Ireland, and came to this country in 1820, locating in St. Lawrence county, New York. The family moved to Bremer county, Iowa, in 1856, where he died at the age of eighty-one years. His family consisted of four daughters and two sons, namely : John, Mary, Esther, Nancy, Eliza, and William, Jr.
William Coleman, Jr., the father of John L., was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1834, and was reared upon a farm. He fol- lowed farming in a very successful manner all his life. He died in 1869 from the effects of an injury received from a threshing machine. He had married Margaret Fay, and they were the parents of three children : John L., Levina (McKeowan), and James.
Jolın L. Coleman received his primary educa- tion in an old log school house in Bremer county, Iowa, where he lived until 1873, the year in which he moved to Saunders county, Nebraska. Like his father, his vocation was that of a farmer, and he located upon a farm near Wahoo. He has been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits all his life, but for a number of winters after settling in Nebraska he taught school. He is a stanch supporter of the Popu- list party, and has been called upon to serve in a number of capacities. He served as assessor of his precinct for fourteen years, and in the fall of 1897 was elected county treasurer, to which office he was re-elected in 1899.
Mr. Coleman was united in marriage in 1879
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with Miss N. C. Palsey, a daughter of Jacob Palsey, of Wahoo, and they are the parents of four children : William, Lewis, Ralph, and Dora.
EV. S. J. STEWART is a minister of the Gospel, and was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1844. He is a son of S. W. and Mary R. Stewart, who were the parents of the following children : Charles, a resident of Creston, Iowa, who is married and has three children,-Mary, Sam- uel E., and Andrew, having lost a son, Grant ; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of John Mc- Caddam; Sarah, who is the wife of B. F. Bear, of Iowa, and had five children, of whom three are living, Frances, Andrew J. and James; Edward, who died in the army during the Civil War; Henrietta, who is the wife of H. B. Hughes, a farmer in Iowa; William A., who was killed in the battle of Shiloh, in 1862; Hughie, who died in the state of New York, while a mere boy; S. J., and Mary, his twin sister, who is the wife of Mr. Clough, a farmer and stock raiser in Arkansas, and has four children, John, Annie, Perry and Mary; Lydia, who is the wife of Robert Higgen- bottum, an Iowa farmer, and has two children, Edgar and Robert; and Elvaleria, who died in the state of New York, when two years of age.
Rev. S. J. Stewart's parents moved to Carroll county, Illinois, in 1850, where he attended the district schools until he was sixteen years of age. The following two years were spent
at Mount Vernon, Illinois, in attending school. Toward the close of the Civil War he enlisted in the 142nd Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for a term of nine months. After the close of that deadly struggle, in 1865, the family moved to Hardin county, Iowa, near Eldorado, and there S. W. Stewart, our subject's father, engaged in farming. In 1877, the family moved to Sarpy county, Nebraska, where they settled on May 20, and S. J. Stewart bought the south half of the northwest quarter of section 19, and the north- west quarter of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 19, township 13, range 12. He had two teams of horses and money enough to pay for his farms, and he at once put up a rude house, 16 by 20 feet in dimensions, to which he after- ward added 18 by 24 feet. He turned 40 acres under, and proceeded to make other improve- ments. Upon his return trips from Omaha, which was his only marketing place, he brought back enough lumber to build a barn. At that early date the postoffice was at Sarpy Center, but in 1881, the entire village, consist- ing of the postoffice, blacksmith shop and a shoe and drug store, was moved to Spring- field. Rev. Mr. Stewart assisted in the moving of all the buildings, with the exception of one store. In 1892 Rev. Mr. Stewart erected his barn, which was 18 by 22 by 14 feet in dimen- sions, and he continued to till the farm until 1886. In the following year he disposed of all his possessions there, and received $40 an acre for his land. He was then sent by the Metho- dist conference to occupy the pulpit at Peach Grove, now known as Gretna. The town re-
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ceived its name in honor of a number of re- lated families, who moved to that point from Indiana, and all set out peach orchards. He was there two years when he was sent to Gos- per county, where he had four circuits, but for two years made Homerville, Nebraska, his headquarters. He then spent two years at Hillsdale, Wet Mountain Valley; three years at Howard, Pleasant Valley; three years at Wathrop; and one year at Pueblo, Colorado. In the spring of 1898 he returned to Sarpy county, Nebraska, owing to the sickness of his son-in-law, and he is now working temporarily in Mr. Brawner's store, which that gentleman opened at Springfield, December 16, 1881.
Rev. Mr. Stewart is a Republican in politics, and while a resident of Hardin county, Iowa, served as constable and deputy sheriff. In 1866, Rev. S. J. Stewart was united in marriage with Susan Cantonwine, a daughter of Jacob Cantonwine, and they have two children, namely: Nettie, who is the wife of E. T. Hoyt, and resides two and one-half miles from Springfield; and Alice R., who is the wife of E. L. Wettzler, of Hardin county, Iowa, and has four children-Le Roy, Louella, Harris, and a baby.
ARTIN E. BALLOU, a prominent farmer of Clear Creek precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, be- longs to one of the first families who settled in this part of the state. He is a son of Emor S. and Susan (Van Buren) Ballou.
Emor S. Ballou possessed ample means, and in 1867 or 1868, with his wife and family, he left Ashtabula county, Ohio, to seek a home in the West. He found a desirable location in Saunders county, Nebraska, and purchased 160 acres of land in Clear Creek precinct. This land immediately adjoins the city of Ashland, which at that time contained only a few houses and was known as Salem Ford. Mr. Ballou at once proceeded to improve and beau- tify his place. He built a small house, which was moved some time later to Ashland, and is now owned by C. Hackney.
In 1891, with the assistance of his only son; Martin E., he built the present large and beau- tiful residence and spacious barns. They are said to be the largest house and barn in that portion of the county, and can be seen for many miles. Together the father and son planted orchards and set out shade trees. Mr. Ballou sold a part of his land to Orin M. Car- ter, who, in 1874, built a flouring mill upon the same site now occupied by the electric light plant. E. S. Ballou then purchased more land adjoining his farm, which he cultivated. In 1890 he lost his beloved wife, who died at the age of sixty-seven years. Five years later he followed her to the grave, and it is said that their funerals were the largest ever held in Clear Creek precinct. They were sincerely mourned as prominent and worthy citizens, whose loss was greatly felt in that community. They lived and died happy in the Baptist faith, and Mr. Ballou was, during life, a stanch Re- publican. He left each of his children a nice property. Their names are : Susan H., Henri-
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etta, Elizabeth, and Martin E., the subject of these lines.
Martin E. Ballou is a native of Ohio, and was fourteen years old when his parents moved to Nebraska. As before mentioned, he as- sisted his father on the farm, and upon the death of that beloved parent, he succeeded to his portion of the estate. The principal prod- ucts of the farm are various kinds of grain, but Mr. Ballou also raises a great deal of stock, especially cattle, of which he generally has 200 head.
Martin E. Ballou married Jessie Bissell, a 'daughter of James and Sarah Bissell, of Val- paraiso, Indiana. Mrs. Ballou's father died in the Civil War. Her mother went to Saun- ders county, Nebraska, where she had rela- tives, and finally died there. Mr. and Mrs. Ballou have six children, as follows: Emor S., James B., Jessie C., Elizabeth A., Ollie M., and Susie M. The family unite in wor- shiping at the Congregational church. Mr. Ballou is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive farmers in Clear Creek precinct. In his political views he is a Republican.
RIC JOHNSON, editor and pro- prietor of the "Saunders County New Era," and also of "The Com- ing New Era," is a gentleman whose promi- nence is not confined to the limits of his own state. His career has been a varied one, and in whatsoever line of business he has ventured, his efforts have borne the same fruitful results.
Besides his connection with many well-known newspaper publications in different states, he has often been called upon to fill offices of pub- lic trust, and always acquitted himself in such a manner as to gain the hearty approval of the public, regardless of political attachments.
Mr. Johnson was born in Sweden, July 15, 1838, and came to America in 1846, with his father, Eric Jansson, who was the founder of the Bishop Hill Colony, of Henry county, Illinois, which remained in existence until 1860. The subject hereof began farming on his own account in Henry county, Illinois, in the spring of 1861, but in September of that year, he enlisted as a private in Company D, 57th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, be- ing elected first lieutenant of the company upon its organization. He was promoted to be captain, after the battle of Shiloh, and served in the western army under General Grant. In the latter part of 1862 he was compelled to resign from the army, on account of sickness, and the certificate of the attending surgeon bears evidence that this course was necessary in order to save his life. After his restora- tion to health, he went into the grocery busi- ness, in 1863, in Galva, Illinois, and continued thus for one year. In the summer of 1864 he embarked in the newspaper business as editor and proprietor of the "Galva Union," and, in 1869, he founded at Galva what has since become the leading Swedish paper in America, now published at Chicago, Illinois, the "Svenska Tribunen." He severed his connection with that paper in January, 1871, when he was elected journal clerk of the Illi-
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nois House of Representatives. In 1873 he moved to Kansas, and laid out the town of White City, in Morris county, where he started the first store, grain elevator, lumber yard and hotel, successfully conducting all these enter- prises. He remained there until December, 1875, when he moved. back to Henry county, Illinois, and engaged in the lumber and hard- ware business, at Nekoma, until 1879. Then, in connection with C. Fr. Peterson, of Chi- cago, he compiled, edited and published a his- tory of the Swedes of Illinois, a book of over 500 pages. In 1880 he commenced at Moline, Illinois, the publication of a newspaper in the interest of the Swedish-American population of the West, printed in the English language. During the second year of its publication he took in as his partner J. E. Osborn, to whom he sold his entire interest, in 1882, when he accepted a clerkship at Washington, D. C. In 1885, owing to ill health in his family, he re- signed his clerkship, and moved to Stroms- burg, Nebraska, where he leased the "Stroms- burg Republican" for one year. From there he went to Holdredge, Nebraska, where he remained in the newspaper business until the close of the year 1890. At the election in 1888 he was elected, as an independent candi- date, to the state legislature. Upon the ex- piration of his term of office, a handsome gold watch and chain and a purse of $60 in money were given to him, the watch bearing on the inner plate the inscription : "From the people of Phelps county to Captain Eric Johnson, for honest and faithful work as legislator, in 1889." In 1891 he was elected chief clerk of
the Nebraska House of Representatives, and at the close of the session, in 1892, became edi- tor of the "Progress," at Clay Center, Nebras- ka. In 1893 he was re-elected chief clerk of the House, securing the unanimous vote of all the parties,-an evidence of popular favor never before shown to a holder of that office. In the early part of 1894, Mr. Johnson went to Texas, and engaged in the real estate busi- ness at League City, and, December 3, 1896, he located in Wahoo, Nebraska, and bought the paper known as the "Saunders County New Era." In addition to conducting this paper, he established, in 1900, the paper called "The Coming New Era." These papers are both Populistic in principle and both have large circulation. Mr. Johnson is a man of deep learning, and is well versed in the affairs of the world, besides being a clever and versa- tile writer. He takes an earnest and active part in the affairs of his party, and was chair- man of the delegation chosen to represent Saunders county at the state convention, in 1900. He was also chosen as a delegate to the National convention at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
December 31, 1863, the subject of this sketch was joined in matrimony with Mary O. Troil, (who died in 1890), and their union resulted in the following children: Mary, who died in 1888; Axel T., who resides in Wahoo; Sarah O., who died in 1892; Julia C .; Ernst G., who also resides in Wahoo; and Sixtus E., who died October 2, 1899.
Sixtus Eric Johnson, the sixth child of his parents, was born at Nekoma, Henry county,
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Illinois, April 30, 1877. Before finishing his education at the state university, he entered the field of journalism in association with his father, being local editor on the "New Era." His early life gave great promise of success as a newspaper man and writer, but it was willed otherwise. As soon as the war with Spain broke out, he was eager to go to the front, but yielded to the wishes of his father and remained at home. When the Third Nebraska Regiment was recruited, his burning patriotism was intensified by his great admiration for Colonel Bryan, and he could no longer restrain his patriotic impulses, but enlisted in Company H of that regiment upon its organization. His captain at once recognized his worth by appointing him company clerk, and so painstaking and accurate was his work that at the division in- spection the inspector general complimented him for having the best kept books. When he was taken sick, he had been performing the duties of first sergeant, as all the sergeants were sick or on furlough. He fell a prey to typhoid fever at Pablo Beach, Florida, and died on Sunday, October 2, 1899. His death was the cause of much mourning in the vicin- ity of his home, for he was well known and very popular, and in him the city lost one of the most promising of its young men.
ENRY MOWINKEL is one of the most extensive and most successful farmers in Sarpy county, Nebraska, and owns a fine property in Richland precinct.
Mr. Mowinkel was born in Holstein, Ger- many, in 1849, and is a son of John and Dor- othy (Grell) Mowinkel. His mother died at the age of thirty-five years, and his father was again married. Our subject was reared in his native country and lived there until 1868, when he came to the United States. He located in Iowa and followed farming until August, 1877, when he removed to Sarpy county, Nebraska. He purchased 160 acres of Mr. Martin, who had broken about 100 acres of it, and built a small house. In 1883, he built his present modern home, which is large and commodious. He set out shade trees and three and one-half acres of orchard, which has thrived and is now in excellent condition. He later bought 80 acres of land in section 21, and adjoining his original farm in section 28, he purchased 160 acres, on which he built a new house, and set out three acres of orchard and shade trees. He later bought 160 acres, the southwest quar- ter of section 20. His property is well sup- plied with wells from 40 to 50 feet deep, but formerly water was very scarce, and it was almost useless to drill for it. His land yields heavily, his best average being 75 bushels of corn and 60 bushels of oats to the acre.
Mr. Mowinkel was united in marriage with Dora Schultz, a daughter of Frederick and Christina (Hei) Schultz, both of whom are deceased. Her father went to Davenport, Iowa, where he followed the tailoring business. Thirteen children blessed the union of the sub- ject hereof and his wife, as follows: Chris- tina, wife of Marcus Jungjohann, by whom she has three children-Raymond, Earl, and
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Christ : Albert, deceased; Jette, wife of Fritz Voss; John, deceased; William, deceased; Henry ; Fritz; Theresa, deceased ; Maggie, de- ceased ; George ; Dora ; Lily ; and Luzetta. Mr. Mowinkel is a member of the school board, and takes an earnest interest in educational affairs.
ILLIAM K. TITUS, proprietor of a livery establishment at Ashland, Saunders county, Nebraska, has one of the finest liveries in the southeastern part of Nebraska. This livery was started by John Cregelston. It is a large double barn, situated on Sixth street, near Silver, in the business center of Ashland. One side is used solely for carriages and office purposes. Mr. Titus keeps twelve fine roadsters. His stable is finely equipped with carriages, hacks, etc. He is in a condition to supply the public with the best of rigs, and also the best of service, as he keeps three of the most competent assistants obtainable, and is frequently obliged to hire extras. He runs a bus to meet all trains, and has built up a large patronage.
William K. Titus was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1860. He is a son of Daniel W. and Maria (Langdon) Titus. His father was a prosperous farmer in Erie county, where William K. was reared. When eighteen years old, Mr. Titus took his first trip west. He re- turned to the East again, however, and fol- lowed farming until 1882, when he again went West. He followed similar pursuits in Saun- ders county, Nebraska, for some time, and then
returned to Pennsylvania, where he farmed until 1897. But the West held out strong in- ducements for him, and October 1, 1899, he bought out the livery business of W. A. Bailey at Ashland, Nebraska, which he has conducted ever since in a manner satisfactory both to himself and to the community in which he lives. Mr. Titus married Alta Butler, a daugh- ter of R. E. Butler, a popular business man of Ashland.
R. E. Butler was born in Erie county, Penn- sylvania. He is a son of Timothy and Caro- line Butler, and was reared on a farm. His parents went west to Nebraska, locating on a farm, where they spent their declining years. When Mr. Butler was twenty-one years old he left the farm and went into the oil fields as an engineer. Later he learned to dress tools at Titusville. There his marriage with Char- lotte Rockwood took place, and they decided to seek a home in the West. In 1881, they went to Ashland with $650. They purchased a home for $600, and had but $50 left. Mr. Butler immediately went to work at the black- smith trade for Henry Doudney. He subse- quently rented a place, and in company with Frank E. Marcy started into business. The partnership then formed has been mutually agreeable and exists to the present day. Their large shop is located on the corner of Sixth and Silver streets. From the wielding of the ham- mer and dealing in real estate, Mr. Butler has accumulated a handsome property. He owns two large farms in Saunders county, besides considerable real estate in Ashland. He also owns a 160-acre farm in Kansas. He and his
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wife were blessed with three children, namely : Alta, Mr. Titus' wife; Eva, wife of J. Aughey ; and Willis, who married Edna Vanderman.
Mr. and Mrs. Titus have one daughter, Helen. They entertain broad and liberal ideas on religious subjects, and politically, Mr. Ti- tus is a stanch Republican. Fraternally, he is a member and past grand of the I. O. O. F., and also a member of Rebecca lodge. Mr. Titus is popular, and is considered one of the most successful business men of Ashland.
ATRICK H. GILLESPIE, a highly respected citizen and a successful farmer of Forest City precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1833.
Mr. Gillespie is a son of William and Mary (Thomas) Gillespie, who came to this country in 1850, locating first in Illinois, and later in Iowa. William Gillespie died in Iowa at the age of forty-five years. His wife then moved to Sarpy county, with her children. She was the mother of fourteen children, eight of whom grew up. Three brothers, Patrick H., William, and Michael J., were all early set- tlers of Sarpy county, and are now neighbors in Forest City precinct.
Patrick H. Gillespie, when a young man, spent five years in handling freight in Ne- braska City, having a good team and wagon when he started. He had $5 in money also, but in a short time he added two yoke of oxen and broke the prairie for his neighbors,
thus getting his start. In the spring of 1869 he bought 80 acres of land in Forest City pre- cinct, the east half of the northeast quarter of section 24. There he built a sod house, with dimensions of 24 by 14 feet, in the corner of his present yard. In 1870 he built a small frame house, which burned down and was replaced in 1887 by a large one. He also "erected a good barn and other desirable farm buildings. In 1874 he began setting out shade trees, and some of his maples and cottonwoods have grown to be two feet thick. There was at one time a good-sized stream running through the farm, but this became smaller year after year until it was totally dry in 1896. He has a fine supply of water, however, from a 25-foot well. He set out four acres of orchard, with which he has been quite successful. At an earlier period he kept a considerable num- ber of hogs and cattle, but now devotes his en- tire time to grain raising, sowing his land to corn, oats, millet, and wheat. He is a very prosperous man, and owns three 80-acre tracts, adjoining each other.
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