USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 29
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 29
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was elected treasurer for the year 1895. He is also a member of the Catholic Workmen and Z. C. K. J., a benevolent Catholic society. He served six years as a member of the school board, as director of district 74, and in 1900 was elected again for a term of three years. For some time Mr. Hruby has been a member of the Weston Grain & Stock Company, and upon its reorganization he was elected a direc- tor ; lie was a member of the committee for re- buying the old elevator. Our subject is well pleased with the success he has achieved, which is the result of hard labor and incessant toil by himself, his wife and members of his family.
IAS B. BACHELDER, a prominent and well-to-do pioneer settler of Sarpy county, Nebraska, has done his share toward developing the rich resources and furthering the useful enterprises of his adopted county and state. The date of his entering the limits of the county is June 9, 1856. He was born at Rangemont, Lower Canada, in 1835, and is a son of Daniel and Electa (Killem) Bachelder.
Mr. Bachelder's early youth was spent under the parental roof, and his mental training was obtained in the district school of his native place. When he attained his majority he started out to go to California. Upon the above men- tioned date he reached Sarpy county, Nebraska, which then showed signs of a very prosperous future. He decided therefore to make it his home, and at the Rankin & Lamar mill he
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obtained his first position. The mill was sit- lated two miles east of La Mare City, now known as Laplatte. Mr. Bachelder worked there two and one-half years, and then, with T. B. Holman, he bought the mill, his interest being but a third. For his share he traded 160 acres of land, now the property of C. Tut- tle, which he took up from the government in 1857. The farm was located in section 25, township 13, range 13. The mill was moved to Elkhorn in after years, where it was con- ducted until Mr. Bachelder and Levi Kimball established a ferry across the river. They con- ducted the ferry until the railroad was built, and the following fixed prices were allowed by legislature : $1 for a team ; 75 cents for a horse and buggy; 30 cents for a horse and man, and 10 cents for a footman. The ferry was 44 by 14 feet in size, and was operated by a cable 2,200 feet long, and had a capacity for three teams. Mr. Bachelder also ran a stage line be- tween Omaha and Plattsmouth, in partnership with Levi Kimball. Five years later he sold out and kept a store. His old store building is now used for a school house. He then made three trips freighting goods to Denver, Col- orado, and other points west, after which he settled down on his present farm of 130 acres, which he purchased of Joseph Brock. He now has a walnut grove of five acres, thirty-one years old, which he set out himself. The first house in which he lived was built of logs, but he now has a handsome residence, which is sur- rounded by a well kept lawn and fine shade trees. He also cultivates 80 acres in the bot- toms and 160 acres in Cherry county. He is a
very successful farmer and ranks among the foremost in his community. He is a good neighbor and citizen and has many friends throughout his adopted county.
Mr. Bachelder wedded Louetta Peters, of Bellevue, Nebraska, and they had the following children : Daniel, deceased ; Nellie Lucetta mar- ried Allen Frazeus, and they have three chil- dren-Leslie, Wilma and Harriet; Harriet is the wife of Chester Hamilton, and they have three children-Olive, Lloyd and Gale; Electa is the wife of Albert Mills; Arthur, Curtis and William are deceased; Edith and Hazel de- ceased. The subject of this sketch has served twenty years as justice of the peace; he has served on the school board, as road supervisor, and as assessor. Religiously he is a Presby- terian.
ON. ABEL B. FULLER, a prominent citizen of Ashland, Saunders county, Nebraska, has spent a most eventful life on the plains of the West. In his early days he, in association with others, was engaged in the freight business in Nebraska, and the many adventures of this class of workers in pioneer days, when wagon trains were the only safe way of getting from one point to another, would form a most interesting chapter in this volume. Mr. Fuller, as a business man, pos- sesses exceptional ability, and no man has done more to promote the growth and general wel- fare of Ashland than has he. He has been identified with many public enterprises which have made the busy little city it now is, and at
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the present time he is superintendent of the electric light plant.
Abel B. Fuller was born in Jackson county, Michigan, November 26, 1837, and is a son of Andrew S. Fuller. The latter was born and reared in Vermont, but in 1833 moved to Mich- igan, where he followed farming until his death at the age of fifty-four years. Abel B. Fuller was reared on the farm and received his intel- lectual training in the district schools, after which he followed farming and school teaching. He started out upon a western tour and went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was persuaded by a friend to accompany him to Nebraska. He went to Plattsmouth and there, with others, was interested in the freight business for about eight years, their chief work being for the government. They employed teams in haul- ing merchandise over the country to various small towns. There were no railroads at the time, and wagons were exclusively used. No less than a hundred wagons would go together, as a sufficient force was required for defence against the attacks of hostile Indians, which were of frequent occurrence. Mr. Fuller passed through many highly exciting experiences dur- ing this period on the frontier, and he now bears scars from arrows, evidencing a condition of affairs which will never again exist in this country. In 1862 he settled at what is now Ashland, and having erected a rude building, 40 by 20 feet in dimensions, near the old ford, conducted, in partnership with Myron Moe, the first store in the town. In 1863 he sold his interest to Alexander Hinkley. He then spent one year in Montana, after which he returned
and in 1866 went into the real estate business. He laid out the city as it is today, its location then being at the ford, its name being Saline Ford. Lee Warbritton first built where Ash- land is located, calling it Parallel City. By an act of the legislature in 1866 the two places were included in one and called Ashland, the name being given by Mr. Argyle, an ardent ad- mirer of Henry Clay. Mr. Fuller built and sold many houses, disposed of many lots, and assisted materially in establishing churches and schools. He served as deputy of the first clerk of Saunders county, and, in 1867, was appointed land agent for the B. & M. R. Railroad and the U. P. Railroad, doing much to establish good homes for the present residents of the county. In 1865-1866 he served in the legislature of Ne- braska territory, and in 1867 in that of the state of Nebraska. In 1873 he built his present fine residence at Fifth and Oak streets. He then purchased some 500 acres of land and raised sheep and cattle on a large scale, until 1890. In that year an electric plant was built by a stock company on Wahoo Creek, and he has since served as superintendent of that con- cern. He was also a director of the National Bank of Ashland, and helped to establish the "Times." He served on the school board, and as a trustee of schools.
On September 28, 1870, Mr. Fuller was united in marriage with Violette Laverty, of Jackson, Michigan. In religious views he is an Episcopalian, and his wife is the only surviving resident member who assisted in the organiza- tion of the church of that denomination at Ash- land, in 1873. Fraternally, he is a charter
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member of Pomegranate Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., of Ashland, and served as master for ten years. He was a charter member of Jewel Chapter, No. 34, of Ashland, of which he served as high priest. He also belongs to Mt. Moriah Commandery, of Lincoln.
EV. P. F. MASTROM, the beloved pastor of the Swedish Mission church of Swedesburg, Saunders county, Ne- braska, is a native of Sweden, where his birth occurred in 1848. He is a son of Per Fred- erick Mastrom, who came to America and set- tled in Swedesburg, Nebraska, where he is now living in retirement.
Rev. Mr. Mastrom was reared and educated in his native land, where he also worked in the rolling mills. He became a Christian in 1877, and felt called upon to preach the Gospel. He seemed to receive a Divine call to preach, which he did for the love of Christ. But not wishing to become a minister, he came to the United States, locating in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked in the McCormick machine shops for some time. There he met many of his old acquaintances and was again urged to preach the Gospel. This he did in their homes and in Sunday schools for a period of five years.
Mr. Mastrom moved to Red River Valley, Minnesota, as many Christians were located there who had neither church nor minister, and they desired him to establish a church there. After preaching there for about five years, hold-
ing meetings in houses, Mr. Mastrom was at last enabled to institute a church at that place. This church was located in Teien township, Kittson county, and was the only mission church for a distance of 300 miles.
December 1, 1897, Rev. Mr. Mastrom was called to the Mission church at Swedesburg, Saunders county, Nebraska. This church was founded twenty-five years ago by Rev. Andrew Hallner. He was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Swanson, and the latter was in turn succeeded by the subject hereof. In 1896 the church was burned to the ground. Soon afterward a new one was built, containing 300 seats. In 1898 a vestry was added, containing 100 seats. This church now has a membership of 140 souls.
Rev. Mr. Mastrom married Matilda Fors- burg while still a resident of Sweden. They have four children : Charles F., Ida M., Em- ma Y., and Amy C. Ida married H. Nyquist. Rev. Mr. Mastrom possesses many Christian virtues and is much beloved among his par- ishioners.
F. CALHOUN is a prominent and enterprising business man, of Spring- field, Nebraska, who has become prominent through his ability and persevering industry, and all his worldly possessions are the result of many years of constant and ardu- ous labor. He did not have the advantages that most young men have when they begin the struggle of life. When he was but a lad of twelve years he was compelled to earn his own livelihood, and the success which he has at-
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tained shows that he possessed a notable amount of pluck, energy and determination. He is a native of Bloomington, Illinois, his birth having occurred April 15, 1862, and he is a son of William and Sarah J. (Wise) Cal- houn. His father located in Sarpy county, Nebraska, in 1896, but died two years later. C. F. Calhoun's only brother, William F., spent nine years in Sarpy county, from 1884 to 1893, but now lives in Oklahoma.
Mr. Calhoun was a lad of seventeen years when in 1879 he located in Sarpy county, where until 1883 he worked upon a farm. In that year he entered the dry goods store of J. D. Spearman, as a clerk, and while serving in that capacity he gained a good insight to the busi- ness. Mr. Spearman died January 1I, 1891. Mr. Calhoun continued work as clerk until February, 1886, when he went to Fort Robin- son, Nebraska, but in April, 1887, he returned to Springfield, and on May 16 he began to ful- fil the duties of cashier of the J. D. Spearman & Co. Bank. He is now cashier and manager of that institution, which position he fills with credit to himself and employers. He also deals extensively in real estate, and is considered the best live stock auctioneer in his community. He is a wide-awake and hustling business man, always working for the advancement of his adopted county and state, and by his many friends he is known as a good, upright and honest citizen. He has one of the finest homes in Springfield, the house being 30 by 40 feet in dimensions. It is surrounded by 20 acres of land, which is kept in excellent condition, add- ing much to the appearance of his home.
Mr. Calhoun married Etta J. Spearman, a daughter of J. D. Spearman, February 20, 1884, and to this happy union six children have been born. They are as follows: Roy S., Lina S., Alice E., James W., Kirk, and a baby, Charles W. Since 1896 Mr. Calhoun has been a strong Democrat, while in religious views his family favor the Congregational church, al- though his oldest son, Roy, is a Methodist. His son is now in the senior class of the Spring- field High School, and is very popular among luis classmates. The subject of this sketch is chairman of the town board, and for the past seven years he has been a member of the school board, of which he is treasurer. He is also treasurer of the fair association and driving park.
ALFRED FROSTROM, a prominent and widely known farmer, residing in Chapman precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Gothland, an island off the mainland of Sweden, and he is a son of J. P. and Elizabeth (Donaldson) Frostrom.
J. P. Frostrom married Miss Donaldson, and they had four sons : John, who is married and in business at Malmo, Nebraska ; Alfred; Emil, who is a farmer, of Banner county, Nebraska, and married Eva Helsing; and Nicholas, also a farmer of Banner county, who married Emma Swanson. J. P. Frostrom borrowed money, with which he bought a ticket to the United States. At first he worked on the Union Pa- cific Railroad, and in Wyoming, and when he had earned enough money to bring his family
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over he sent them the necessary funds. When the family arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1870, they had but $16, and that was paid to Nels Edlund, who hauled them to their present farm. Mr. Frostrom in 1869 had homesteaded the west half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 4, township 14, range 6, and in the center of the farm he built a dug-out 12 by 14 feet in size, in which he, his wife and four sons lived. As they were unable to get any water there the father built in 1872 a frame house on the present site, the dimensions of which were 14 by 20 feet. The road then ran across the cor- ner of their farm, and the first barn Mr. Fros- trom put up was in the slough near the house, and it had a straw roof. In those early days four farmers-Jacob Hanson, Hans Jacobson, John Larson, and J. P. Frostrom-jointly owned an ox team, but later two of them sold their interests to the other two, who took turns in using the team. J. Alfred Frostrom was ten years old, and his brother John was then twelve years old, and while one drove the other held the plow. The first slips set out were cottonwood, and were obtained at Fremont, and the present orchard was set out in 1880. They have since put out another orchard, and around the house many elm and maple trees have been planted. In 1884 a barn 24 by 28 feet in dimensions was built ; a year later a shed 14 by 24 feet in size was put up; a corn-crib 24 by 36 feet was next completed; a machine shed and hog house were built measuring 20 by 40 feet ; then a granary 16 by 16 feet, and a blacksmith and repair shops were the latest addition. J. P. Frostrom made several pur-
chases, as follows: In 1877 or 1878 he bought the east half of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 5, just across the road from his house, this last piece having been bought by our subject in 1897. In 1880 he bought the north half of the southwest quarter of section 32, township 15, range 6, for which he paid $500. He then bought the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 32, paying therefor $1,000, which shows the land had increased in value just four times. The two brothers went to Banner county, Nebraska, where they home- steaded a farm. J. Alfred Frostrom has re- sided on the old homestead for the past twelve years, and he cultivates about 280 acres every year. No better farm in Saunders county can be found than the one owned by him, and he is recognized as one of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers in this section of the state.
The subject of this sketch was married in 1891 to Emma Olson, a daughter of John and Martha (Johnson) Olson, a homesteader of Mariposa precinct, and they have a daughter, Ebba Lillian Alfrieda, born in 1899. John Olson, Mrs. Frostrom's father, took up the north half of the northwest quarter of section 8, township 15, range 6, and later bought an adjoining 40 acres. He sold his farm in 1890 to J. Frahm, and then moved to Knox county, Nebraska. J. Alfred Frostrom's wife is one of a family of twelve children. They are as fol- lows: Christine, who died in Sweden; Carl Gustaf, a well known minister, of Wausa, Knox county, Nebraska, who married Jennie Mon- son, and has five children: Avoda, Mauritz, Ebba, Carl, and Luther ; Beda, who is the wife
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of John Eklund, of Knox county, Nebraska, has three children,-Effie, Theodore, and Wall- fred; Toby, who homesteaded a tract of land in Boyd county, South Dakota, and married Christine Anderson, by whom he has six chil- dren,-Arthur, David, Clarence, Ruth, Reu- ben Toby and Richard Willoughby; Emma, who is the wife of the subject hereof ; Hannie, who is the wife of John Frostrom, of Malmo, Nebraska, has two children-Edith Antonio Cordelia and Clarence Alvin; Albin, who is a farmer, of Knox county; Otto, who married Ella Sunstrom and is farming in Knox county ; Lydia, Tena, and David, who are deceased; and Joseph, the youngest, who also lives in Knox county, Nebraska.
EV. S. G. LARSON, who bears a wide reputation as a result of many years' active work in the church of God, was one of the earliest settlers of Wahoo pre- cinct, Saunders county, Nebraska.
Mr. Larson was born in the Province of Kal- mar, Sweden, January 20, 1833, being a son of Lars Larson. He attended school in his na- tive country until he attained the age of twenty- five years, when he came to the United States. After studying in Springfield, Illinois, and Chi- cago, for three years, he resided in Burlington, Iowa, two years, when he moved to Knoxville, Illinois, where he remained until November 20, 1868. He was then sent for by the church at Omaha to preach, and in that city he found many Swedes who had come to this country
from Sweden and were in search of homes. He, together with two other gentlemen, went to Lincoln and looked up land for the home- steaders, inspecting Saunders county from one end to the other. He located many of the early Swedish families in this section, and in 1869 he himself took a homestead of 80 acres,-the west half of the southeast quarter of section 14, -where he is now living. For some time he preached in a sod house, and then built a church on the northeast corner of section 4, which has since been moved to Mead. After a few years he was called by the Sycamore, Illinois, congre- gation to go east, and most of the time since he has been a traveling mission minister. He spent five years in Worcester, Massachusetts, and about the same time in Kansas City, Mo., and Pueblo, Colorado. He is a man of noble impulses and a devout Christian, and the vast good accomplished in his years of active work in the cause of Christianity entitles him to spend the sunset of life in retirement. In 1900 he retired to his homestead and has since given his attention to its improvement. He has set out shade and fruit trees, and remodeled and greatly enlarged his house. He is well known throughout this section of the state, and en- joys the respect and friendship of every one with whom he is acquainted.
Rev. Mr. Larson was united in marriage with Johanna C. Lagerstrom, November 17, 1861, and nine children were born to them: David, of Wahoo; Annie Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. Dr. E. Nelander, of California; Sam- uel, of Wahoo; Cornelius, who has taken the name of Cornelius Lenard, and is a practicing
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physician of Chicago; Huldah (Lindberg), of Pueblo, Colorado; Julia P., a graduated physi- cian in California; Theodore, a law student ; Lydia C., and Amalia, of Lincoln, Nebraska.
A LBERT PARSONS BUTTERFIELD is a native of Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Bellevue precinct, being owner of a part of the old homestead settled by his father. He is a practical and enterprising farmer, and enjoys an enviable reputation among his fel- low citizens as a good neighbor and honest citizen.
Charles Emerson Butterfield, father of the subject of this article, crossed the Missouri River January 1, 1853. Locating in Bellevue precinct, Sarpy county, he took up 144 acres, 140 acres of which are in section 10, while the remainder is in section 11, township 13, range 13. He built a log house on the site of our sub- ject's present residence, and there lived many years ; he also erected a fine barn and a number of good out-buildings. Farming was not his only occupation; he had, before locating in Sarpy county, practiced medicine for many years, and he never entirely relinquished his professional work, being the first and best phy- sician in his community. He was among the early settlers who experienced a great deal of trouble with the Indians, and afterward with "claim jumpers." He lived in a time when he had to carry his sack of corn many miles to a mill to obtain breadstuff. During the first
eighteen months he lived in Nebraska he had but 40 pounds of flour for his family. He ex- perienced many troubles and privations in his struggle to hold and develop his farm, but he finally managed to forge ahead, and his farm- ing operations at last became profitable. After a few years travel set in for the West, and Mr. Butterfield was among the first to shoulder his ox whip and start across the plains with pro- visions for the new-comers. He had killed the first hogs he had raised on his farm, and cured the meat; this pork he sold for 50 cents per pound. Much of the land he farmed has since been sold to the railroad company, and much of it is included in lots that lie within the limits of the village of Fort Crook. He planted a large grove of walnut trees on his farm, and these trees are still bearing. During the early Indian wars Mr. Butterfield was a commissary sergeant in the army, and held his post until his company (Company D, Ist Nebraska Vol- unteers ) was mustered out of service. During the last few years of his career he led a retired life, but still lived on the old homestead, where his death occurred in 1886 at the age of fifty- nine years. In early life he married Isabella Stebbens, who now lives in Omaha, and to them were born twelve children, as follows: Frances C., wife of J. C. Monninger; Sarah Jane, deceased, was the wife of Orrin Ed- wards; Charles A., a carpenter, wedded Sophia Julyan ; Albert Parsons, our subject; Carrie I., wife of W. W. Wood ; George E., who married Minuette Stover; Polly A., wife of Henry Croft; William W. died in 1888 at the age of twenty-one years; Mary H. is a telephone op-
PAUL ERNEST KOERBER. M. D.
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erator ; Clayton and Clinton, twins, died in their infancy; and Orilla May, who is a bookkeeper and stenographer.
Albert Parsons Butterfield was reared to farming, and his early education was received in the school of district 4 and in Bellevue. He learned engineering, which he followed with good success fourteen years, the last five years of which period being spent with the Omaha & Grant Smelting Company at Omaha. As his health failed him, he was compelled to seek open air exercise, and accordingly went back to the homestead and to his old occupation as a farmer. His agricultural operations have been attended with considerable success ; he has raised as much as 80 bushels of corn to the acre, and now has a crop of oats that will yield 60 bushels to the acre. Besides cultivating the homestead, he rents an adjoining piece of prop- erty and devotes his entire time to farming.
Mr. Butterfield was married to Margaret Ferrill, and has one child, Nora Belle. Since the village of Fort Crook was incorporated, he has served as a trustee of the village; in 1900 he assisted in the taking of the United States Census, being assigned to his immediate vi- cinity.
AUL ERNEST KOERBER, M. D. The subject of this sketch is descended from a line of physicians, reaching many generations back. He is a physician of eminence as well as an author of considerable note. He is a son of Adolph and Paulina (Schmidt) Koerber, being the second of a
family of six children : Adolph, Paul, Arthur, Viola, Amanda and Elvira. His father is a retired physician and still lives in Stuttgart, Germany.
Dr. Paul. E. Koerber was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1874. His early education was acquired in Stuttgart, where he mastered Latin and Greek and laid a good foundation for his future studies in botany and chemistry. He came to the United States at the age of eighteen years, and studied medicine at the University of Omaha, where he graduated and received his diploma. He then returned to Germany to study in the University of Munich, where he received his degree. An appointment as assis- tant in the university hospital for women, was tendered him. The position was accepted and filled by him until he returned to the United States.
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