USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 28
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 28
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Judge Sornborger married Ella Chollette in 1890. They have two children, Walter and George.
ON. JAMES HASSETT, an influential and distinguished member of the Sarpy county bar, whose portrait is shown herewith, has practiced his present profession at Papillion since the year he was admitted to the bar, in 1883, and during his residence in the county he has honorably discharged the duties of several offices conferred upon him by the peo- ple. He was born in Plymouth county, Massa- chusetts, February 15, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Sheehy) Hassett, both of whom are now deceased.
James Hassett's parents located in Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1860, near the village of Morrison, and there he was reared to manhood, while his elementary mental training was ob- tained in the public school at Round Grove, Illinois. He afterward attended the State Agricultural College of Iowa, at Ames, and was graduated from that institution in 1880. He then entered upon the study of law, and in 1883 he was admitted to practice in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he has since gained consider- able distinction as an attorney. He was elected county judge for the 1888-1889 term, and county attorney for the years 1899 and 1900.
The duties of these offices he discharged in such a manner as to win the admiration and esteem of all. He is now serving his second year as county attorney.
Judge Hassett was united in marriage in 1884 with Abbie Holloway, a daughter of Charles T. and Mary Holloway, of Papillion, Nebraska. To them have been born the following chil- dren : Lola, aged sixteen years; Thomas, aged fourteen years, and Lester, aged twelve years. Judge Hassett is a member of the Papillion Lodge, No. 39, F. & A. M., and of the Bellevue Lodge No. 3, K. of P. In politics he is an uncompromising Republican.
ANS J. HARDER, a well-to-do farmer of Richland precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, is a gentleman of high standing in the community. He was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1851, and is a son of George Harder, also a native of Germany.
Hans J. Harder was reared and schooled in his native country, and came to America in 1873. He was a poor boy when he landed in Omaha, and he immediately set to work at farming. He was industrious and economical, saving his earnings until 1887, when he was enabled to buy 160 acres of unimproved land of J. Delf. He broke the soil and set out an abundance of shade trees and three-fourths of an acre of fruit, also making many other desira- ble improvements. He built a house and barn, and has one of the best watered farms in the surrounding country. A large stream runs
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through it, and in addition to several springs, there are two wells on the place, one of the depth of 28 feet, and the other 12 feet deep. Mr. Harder has about 15 head of high grade cattle, and 30 hogs, as well as some good horses. He is well known throughout his' section and has many firm friends.
The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Mary Ehlers, a daughter of Jacob Ehlers, an early settler of Sarpy county, and they became parents of the following off- spring: Jacob, Celia, Lena, Hans, Mary, John, Amanda, and two who died in their infancy. Mr.Harder served as road supervisor for two years, and as a member of the school board three years. Religiously, he and his family are faithful members of the Lutheran church.
OUIS LESIEUR has had a long and suc- cessful business career at Papillion, Ne- braska, which has given him a large number of acquaintances, among whom he is known as an honorable, conscientious and up- right citizen. At present he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and is also called upon to settle estates. He was born in Sannois, France, October 1, 1845, and is a son of Louis and Stefanie (Guerin), Lesieur, both deceased.
As Louis Lesieur's parents died when he was quite young, he was cared for during his early years by his grandparents, who came to the United States in 1855 and settled in Canton, Ohio. They resided there about one year,
when they moved to Chicago, where Louis at- tended the public schools until he was seventeen years of age. Though a mere boy, he joined the Union army, January 28, 1863, becoming a member of Company M, 16th Illinois Vol- unteer Cavalry, and until January 3, 1864, he participated in many engagements, but on that date he was taken prisoner at Jonesville, Vir- ginia. He was held a captive sixteen months, being set free at Jacksonville, Florida, April 28, 1865. During the period of his captivity he was confined in the prisons of Belle Isle, Anderson- ville, Milan and Thomasville. Upon being pa- roled, he returned to the city of Chicago, where he remained only a short time, and then located at Forest City, now Gretna, Sarpy county, Nebraska. He has continued to live in that county ever since. There he took up a home- stead of 80 acres, lying in section 26, township 13, range 10, and for several years general farming was his chief pursuit. Moving to Papillion, he conducted the Papillion Hotel un- til 1883. In January of that year he entered upon the duties of county clerk, to which office he had been elected the previous fall. He was afterward twice re-elected to the same office. Upon going out of office he engaged in his pres- ent business, and today he is regarded as one of the representative business men of Papillion.
Mr. Lesieur on February 20, 1876, was joined in marriage with Susan Dowd, of Hol- landale, Wisconsin, a daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Conway) Dowd, both deceased. They have a daughter, Susie, born November II, 1881. Politically the subject of this sketch is a Democrat, while in religious views he is a
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member of the Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the Dahlgren Post, No. 55, G. A. R., and the Andersonville Survivors' Association.
ATHAN DUNLAP, as proprietor of the "Dunlap," the leading hotel of Wahoo, Nebraska, has established a wide reputation, and the hostelry he conducts enjoys the patronage of the better class of the traveling public.
Mr. Dunlap was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1842, and is a son of William and Delila (Fluck) Dunlap, his father being a cooper by trade. The son was reared on a farm in Illinois. After his marriage he rented a farm in Illinois, but later went to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he rented a farm near Wahoo. He successfully carried on farming until 1880, when, deciding that Wahoo af- forded a good opening for a restaurant, he established one. Such was his success that at the end of one year he embarked in the hotel business on Fifth street, conducting that estab- lishment until 1892. He then went to Clarin- da, Iowa, where he operated the Henshaw house for one year. As a brick building had been erected adjoining his old property in Wa- hoo he returned there in 1894 and in it estab- lished the Dunlap House, which is widely known throughout the state. It has 45 hand- some rooms, 35 of which are bedrooms all nicely furnished, and it contains a fine sample room. Mr. Dunlap has paid particular atten- tion to his table and culinary department, which
outclasses that of any hotel of equal size in the state of Nebraska. He employs ten hands, and has a 'bus to meet all trains and carry the mail. His enterprise and untiring efforts to please his patrons have resulted in deserved suc- cess, and he possesses the respect and friendship of the citizens of Wahoo to a marked degree. The name of the house was changed to the "Dunlap" in 1899.
The subject of this sketch was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Blue, a daughter of John H. Blue, a retired farmer, who is now living with Mr. Dunlap, being eighty-two years of age. This union resulted in three children: John W., who died at the age of eighteen years; Bert A., and Frank.
OHN F. SHERMAN, as editor and pro- prietor of the "Wahoo Democrat," has attained an enviable reputation through- out this section of the state. The paper exerts a strong influence in the inculcation of Demo- cratic principles, and the furtherance of all en- terprises and measures tending toward the bet- terment of Wahoo and the county at large. As a writer Mr. Sherman is versatile and original, and has the courage to give expression to the convictions of his mind. His management of the paper has met with the universal commen- dation of its subscribers, who number more than a thousand. Mr. Sherman was born in New York City, February 10, 1853, and is a son of Philip and Caroline (Smith) Sherman. Philip Sherman was a native of Frankfort-on-
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the-Main, Germany, and in early manhood came to this country, making his home in New York City, although he was a deep sea sailor. He served in the Civil War and participated in the first battle of Bull Run. His health was very badly impaired by the constant exposure to which he was subjected, and as a consequence he died in 1863, at Xenia, Ohio. He married Caroline Smith, a native of New York, and she died in 1860. Their union was the source of three children : Emma J. (Delamater), de- ceased ; David T., deceased ; and John F.
John F. Sherman became a resident of Xenia, Ohio, in 1861, at the age of eight years, and he there received his mental training in the pub- lic schools. He was left an orphan at the age of ten years. His first work was on a farm, at which he continued until he was twenty-one years old, when he started to learn the trade of a printer, with his brother at Seward (then Aurora), Nebraska. In 1889 he purchased the "Wahoo Democrat," and has been its editor and proprietor since that date. He conducts the only Democratic paper in the county, and has been actively identified with politics since he has been located at Wahoo.
On June 28, 1892, Mr. Sherman was united in marriage with Helen R. Negley, a daughter of James S. Negley, of Wahoo, Nebraska. In April, 1893, he was appointed postmaster of Wahoo, and served for four years. Mrs. Sherman was appointed his deputy, and served equally as well in that capacity. In 1899 he was elected mayor of the city, his term expir- ing May 1, 1900. He has served on numerous committees, and has been a delegate to various
conventions. Fraternally, he is a member of the following orders: Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, Star of Jupiter, and Royal Neighbors of America.
ETER CAMPBELL is a worthy mem- ber of one of the oldest and most rep- resentative families of Hall and Saun- ders counties, Nebraska, which has done its share in the development of these two counties. He is esteemed as one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of Chapman precinct, Saunders county, where he has spent the greater part of his life, engaged in tilling the soil. He was born in Scotland in 1863, and is a son of Peter and Agnes (Rentoul) Campbell.
Peter Campbell, Sr., was born in Scotland, September 22, 1822, and was a son of John Campbell, who settled in Hall county, Ne- braska in 1835, remaining there until death claimed him. John Campbell was the first of the family to come to this country; his son Peter, with his family, was the last to come to the United States, arriving here in 1865. In the fall of 1865, Peter Campbell, Sr. located on a ranch on the Platte River, near Fort Kear- ney, and continued to live there until July 24, 1867. During his stay there his home was visited by the Indians, while all the men were in the fields at work. The Indians carried away with them four of his children, the oldest of whom was nineteen years of age, while the youngest was but four years old. They were Christina, Jessie, and the twins, Peter and
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Daniel. The children remained in captivity about three months, when upon the payment of $2,000 they were released by the United States peace commissioner. Upon their restoration to the family Mr. Campbell at once left for Saunders county, settling in Chapman precinct in the spring of 1868. He remained there until his death, November 15, 1875, at which time he was the owner of 240 acres of land. He first bought 80 acres,-the south half of the northeast quarter of section 10-and later he inherited the northwest quarter of section 10, which was homesteaded by his brother Dan, who died a bachelor. This brother was killed in 1870 by a falling log, and lies buried in the cemetery at Wahoo, Saunders county. The wife of Peter Campbell, Sr., was Agnes Ren- toul, also a native of Scotland, who died at Fort Kearney in February, 1866. Peter Campbell, Sr., was one of the first to settle in Chapman precinct, and he built the first log house, near the creek, its dimensions being 14 by 20 feet, and its height a story and a half. He also built a log barn large enough for two teams, and for the first three years he was en- gaged in breaking the land. Near the creek was a heavy forest, which, with the orchard he set out, was destroyed by fire.
The subject of this sketch has six brothers and sisters, namely: Christina, Jessie, John R., Agnes, Daniel, and Elizabeth. Christina lives in Butler county, Nebraska. Before her marriage to James Dunlap he homesteaded the north half of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 14, range 6. She has five chil- dren : Nelson, a teacher at Lincoln, Nebraska;
Agnes, wife of H. N. Lynn, a school teacher at Weston, Nebraska; Christina, Patience, and Louis. Jessie wedded a Mr. Land, and died, leaving five children. John R., who lives in Illinois, married Arletta Hadsell; they had five children, namely: Joseph, deceased; Emma, deceased ; James, Lila, and Donald. Agnes, deceased, was the wife of F. F. Herring, and died in 1897, leaving four children : Gertrude, Owen, Grace, and Bertha-the last named was very small at the time of her mother's death, and now lives with a Mr. Griffin, at Eckley, Colorado, who is a relative of Mr. Herring. In 1897, Daniel, the twin brother of the sub- ject hereof, married Emma Stoner, of Illinois, and he lives on the farm adjoining the one owned by Peter Campbell; he has two children, Josie, aged two years, and John, a babe. Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Peter Campbell, Sr., is the wife of O. A. Herring, a farmer in Chapman precinct, and they had seven children, of whom six are living, namely : Ernest, Albert, Harry, Hazel, Myrtle, and Ruth; the deceased one was Rachel. All the children of Peter Campbell, Sr., were born in Fife county, Scotland, 30 miles from Edin- burglı.
The subject of this sketch married Josie Webster, a daughter of R. F. Webster, a sketch of whom also appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have three children-Ethel, Dan, and Letha. In politics Mr. Campbell is a solid Free Silver Democrat. He is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 95, of Weston, in which he has held several offices; and of the A. O. U. W., of Weston, Lodge No. 291. In
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1893 Mr. Campbell built his present comforta- ble home, whose dimensions are 16 by 26 feet, and he also built a kitchen 12 by 12 feet in size. In 1895 he bought the 80 acres owned by his brother, John R. Campbell, and moved the house standing thereon to his present premises, to be used as a barn. He has a 40-foot well, and his farm is one of the best improved in Chapman precinct.
ARVEY CARPENTER HENRY, a retired farmer and esteemed resident of Ashland, Saunders county, Nebras- ka, is one of the early settlers of this state. Mr. Henry is a son of William and Eunice (Carpen- ter) Henry. His parents were both natives of Ohio. They located in Nebraska in their declin- ing years and finally died there, the father at the age of seventy years, and the beloved mother at the age of seventy-nine years. They reared seven children, namely: Parker C., George W., Nancy J., Harvey C., Charles, Lor- ing, and Rachel.
Harvey C. Henry was born in Athens county, Ohio, where he was reared and schooled. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Union army, being a member of Company B, 36th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and was honorably discharged. He imme- diately re-enlisted and served until discharged as a sergeant in 1865, on the successful termin- ation of the war. Among the principal battles in which Mr. Henry took active part were Chickamauga, Antietam, South Mountain,
Winchester, and Chattanooga. He was slightly wounded at Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley, captured, and was held as a prisoner for four months.
Having been mustered out of the service, Mr. Henry married Mary D. Miller, a daughter of Amos and Louisa (Deterly) Miller, and grand- daughter of Abel and Mary (Jones) Miller. This happy event took place March 30, 1864. Abel Miller was a native of Connecticut. He was born at Middlefield April 12, 1772, and died April 23, 1827. His wife was a daughter of Thomas Jones. She was born at Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, July II, 1778, and died May 4, 1827. They were early settlers in Ohio, where Mr. Miller was a man of considerable importance. He was among the first judges of Athens county, in that state, and was highly educated. Five children were born to him and his wife, as follows: Elijah, Amos, Mary, Eliza, and Maria.
Amos Miller was born July 27, 1807, in Ath- ens county, Ohio. He died August 14, 1886. He graduated from the state university at Athens, Ohio, and afterward became a teacher in the preparatory department of the university. After a number of years' teaching he estab- lished Miller's Academy, and his children were all students of that institution. He followed the profession of teaching for half a cen- tury, and was also engaged in farming. He married Louisa Deterly, who was born in 1806, and died in 1882. Six children were born to them, as follows: Abel D., Charles D., Paul D., Michael D., Mary D., the wife of Mr. Henry, and Margaret P.
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After marriage Mr. Henry followed farming in Ohio until 1875. He then decided to go west, and advance himself with the successful men of the day. He first went to Lancaster county, Nebraska, where he purchased some railroad land. Two years later he settled in Ashland, and engaged in the grocery business. He purchased what is now the Frank McIntyre property. Two years later he also purchased 160 acres near Memphis, in Clear Creek pre- cinct. Subsequently he added 80 acres which he purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, and which was immediately adjoin- ing his 1160 acres.
Upon this fine farm Mr. Henry lived until 1898. He made many and extensive improve- ments, remodeling buildings and erecting new ones. He also set out beautiful shade trees and fine orchards. He sold 46 acres of this tract, however, to the Armour Company for an ice plant. In 1898 Mr. Henry left the farm and went to Ashland to spend his declining years .. He purchased a corner lot, upon which he built a handsome modern residence and a convenient barn. Six children were born to him and his wife. Their names are: Cora, Lena, Frank M., Maggie, Charles G., and Jes- sie M. Cora married D. M. Roberts, and died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving one daughter, Mary E. Lena is a successful teach- er in the public schools. Frank M. is a farmer by occupation, owning a fine farm in Clear Creek precinct. Maggie and Jessie M. are still at home, while the youngest son, Charles G., is a farmer.
Mr. Henry is a stanch Republican, and
served his party as justice of the peace one term. He is reaping the reward of honest toil, and is spending his declining years in ease, sur- rounded by his loved ones.
RANK HRUBY, a well-to-do and upright citizen, and one of the older set- tlers of Saunders county, Nebraska, has met with excellent success in his present voca- tion-farming-having been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits ever since coming to this country. He is a son of Wenzel Hruby, and was born July 13, 1854, in Branna, Bohemia, a populous village situated near the border of Germany. He was educated in the Bohemian language and also learned some German. When he left Bohemia he parted with his father and mother, brother, and a wealthy sister, who was married to Vinzens Tost, in Langenau. His parents are still alive, and are living with their son in Bohemia.
On the 28th day of April, 1880, Mr. Hruby bade good-bye to his relatives and friends in Bohemia and set out on his journey for Amer- ica, accompanied by his wife, Wilhelmina (Scharf), who was born in Hennersdorf, Bo- hemia, November 6, 1857, and one son, Joseph, who was born in the same village as was his father, October 11, 1879. They sailed from Bremen, Germany, May 2, on the ship "Salier," and arrived in New York City May 15. On the same vessel also came his brothers-in-law, Wenzel Hakel and Joseph Scharf and their families. After a limited stay in New York
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City Mr. Hruby started for the far West, and arrived at Walioo, Saunders county, May 18. From there he took his family to the Bohemian settlement near Prague, and until he secured a home for them they were guests of Frank Ostry, who had a comfortable sod house. After looking about him for a suitable location, Mr. Hruby bought 160 acres of raw prairie land in section 20, near Weston, and on it built his first sod house, and at once started in to engage in American farming. He had $500 with which to commence his operations, and part of this he invested in the first payment on his farm, which cost $6 per acre. He also pur- chased a stove and other necessary household articles, a yoke of oxen with which to break the prairie land, a cow with a calf, and three hogs. By the time he had made his purchases his money gave out, and he worked that summer for other farmers in order to provide the nec- essaries of life for his family. The winter was very severe, and the snow had drifted so much that it was hard to get anywhere. The neigh- bors came and borrowed cornmeal, which was a luxury in those times. The third season he hauled corn to market in a dry goods box on a sled, using a single ox to pull the load. After three years of toil, during which time he had succeeded in putting 50 acres of his land under cultivation, he sold the property for $12 per acre, and bought 80 acres of land one and a half miles southeast of his first purchase for $6 per acre. Shortly after this he also bought an- other 160-acre tract four miles west of his first location. This last mentioned property, which is in section 26, Newman precinct, has ever
since continued to be our subject's home. No time was lost in making improvements; many acres of the prairie were broken and put under cultivation. There was a sod house on the land, which was built by Jacob Soukup; other buildings were added as fast as possible. He built a corn-crib and barn, but when the first crop was raised and threshed, sparks from a Union Pacific Railroad engine set fire to the dry grass along the railroad, that runs across his property, and before the fire was extin- guished, liis corn-crib, granary with grain, lumber and farm implements were destroyed. This unfortunate accident happened October 9, 1885. The railroad company paid $400 for the damage caused, although the esti- mated loss was $912.45. The following year he parted with the old sod house and built a frame dwelling 26 by 16 feet, 10 feet high, with an addition.12 by 14 feet, which is used as a kitchen. This is his present resi- dence. He also built a barn and corn-crib; a little later he had a tubular well 96 feet deep constructed, and a windmill erected which cost $300 complete. Afterward he built a gran- ary with a capacity of about 2,500 bushels, and is now contemplating building a large barn, 40 by 28 feet and 16 feet high, in modern style.
In 1892 Mr. Hruby bought 160 acres from Frank Prazak, which is well improved and still in his possession. He has 80 acres also in But- ler county, Nebraska. His second purchase of land, 80 acres in extent, he sold to Vaclav Ma- lousek for $2,800. In 1894 he bought 160 acres near Touhy, and also 160 acres adjoining his home in section 27, Newman precinct. The
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160 acres near Touhy were sold to Ernest Tomes in 1896 for $5,500. This makes the total amount of land in Mr. Hruby's possession 560 acres ; however, he has a plan to exchange the 80 acres in Butler county for 160 acres, which corners one-half mile from his other property. General farming and stock raising are our subject's chief pursuits, and he enjoys an enviable reputation of being a good, con- scientious, up-to-date farmer. In 1899 he re- ceived from his brother in Bohemia 60 pounds of Bohemian rye, on which the freight, cus- toms, and other expenses incurred in bringing it to him were $7.28. This rye was planted and harvested in 1900. Unfortunately on Au- gust II a number of wheat stacks from 20 acres of land were struck by lightning and they were burnt, along with the rye stack that stood near at hand.
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hruby, since they became residents of Saun- ders county, the following children: Frank, born June 6, 1881 ; Annie, born March 29, 1883; Sophie, born May 25, 1885; Stephen, born January 26, 1887, who died July 18, 1887; Marie, born January 20, 1889; Karl, born De- cember 5, 1890; Edward, born October 13, 1892; Adolph, born December 17, 1894; Va- clav, born September 8, 1897; and Emil, born August 16, 1899. All the children are receiv- ing the benefits of an education in the Bohe- mian and English languages; they are all at home at present, enjoying the best of health, and assisting materially in the labors and duties of the farm. Mr. Hruby belongs to the Ro- man Catholic church at Weston, of which he
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