USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 30
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 30
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
At the earnest solicitation of the faculty of the University of Omaha, Dr. Koerber accepted the position of instructor in materia medica. But as broader fields opened to him, he resigned the position and established an office at Yutan, where he has since been practicing his profes- sion, and where he owns a drug store. He has built up a large and lucrative practice, and has the unbounded confidence of the community. His skill in surgery is noted throughout the country, and his services are in constant de- mand.
Dr. Koerber is the author of several works of note, one being a microscopic production re- lating to Indian corn which will in future be of immense value to the corn planters of Ne- braska, as well as those of other states. Po-
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litically, Dr. Koerber advocates the principles of Jackson and Jefferson. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and belongs to the A. O. U. W., the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Woodmen of the World. A portrait of Dr. Koerber, executed from a re- cent photograph, is shown on a preceding page.
OSEPH B. BARTEK is one of the influ- ential and substantial farmers of New- man precinct, Saunders county, Ne- braska, where he has resided since July, 1870. He has always taken an active part in the wel- fare and upbuilding of his adopted country and state, and has an extended acquaintance throughout the county. As sheriff he officiated one term, and is now serving as assessor of Newman precinct, which office he has filled a number of times before. He was director of school district 98 until he moved to district 74, of which he now serves as director. He was treasurer of the Weston Catholic church, sec- retary of the Weston Catholic Cemetery, and is director of the Weston Grain & Stock Com- pany. In 1890 he was one of the organizers of the first independent Bohemian paper in the United States, and helped to make it a success and keep up interest in the venture by con- tributing many independent articles for the publication. Its name, Pritel Lidu, meant "The People's Friend." It was originally published in Wahoo, Saunders county, but its home is now in Wilbert, Nebraska. Mr. Bartek is a son of John and Veronika ( Plutcnar) Bartek,
and was born in 1857 in Moravia, in the north- eastern part of the section known as Upper Becva, Wallashko, Beskydi mountains.
Jolın Bartek came to the United States in July, 1870. He had intended coming to Amer- ica in 1867, but had not been able to sell his two farms, consisting of 30 "mirs" each, one known as "Lucinski" and the other as "Janciko- vice," until the summer of 1870. For these two farms he received 2,800 "zlatek." He then set out to follow his friends who had left Bohemia for Iowa and Texas between the years 1850 and 1870. When he reached Bremen, intending to take his passage in a boat to Texas from that port, he found that the vessel for Galveston, which sailed once in two weeks, had departed on the preceding day. He then took ship for Baltimore, Maryland, with the inten- tion of going from there to Tama county, Iowa. After having been on board the boat for nine weeks, he met some emigrants who were going to Saunders county, Nebraska, knowing that there was more government land there to be occupied. Once again, to meet the exigencies of the moment, he changed his plans, and, with- out stopping in Iowa, he traveled direct to Saunders county. He crossed the Platte River at North Bend in the old ferry that then pro- vided transportation across that stream, and first stopped with a Mr. Killian. Mr. Bartek and his family were the first emigrants from Wallashko, Moravia, to settle in this part of the state. In July, 1870, Peter Kastl took the family and household effects by wagon and team to the west half of the northeast quarter of section 12, township 14, range 5, which John
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Bartek homesteaded. In 1872 the east half of the northeast quarter of section 12 was home- steaded by a Mr. Flint, who at that time was teaching in the old sod house of Mr. Venc, on the east half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 12, which served for organizing the first school. Later districts were formed, which now comprise school districts 68, 74, 98, and 113. John Bartek's first house, to some ex- tent, partook of the nature of a dug-out. As he was a carpenter by trade, he cut timber from section 4 to use in constructing the frame por- tion of his residence. Ash poles were used as rafters, and the roof was covered with rails, slough grass being utilized to thatch it and ren- der it impervious to the rain. Ashes mixed with red clay served as a whitewash. As he did not have much money he worked out for the neighboring farmers, to earn enough money to buy windows and boards for a door and nec- essary household supplies. After the harvest, in which cradle scythes were utilized for cut- ting the grain, Mr. Bartek went to Omaha on foot, wading the Platte River, and worked on the foundations of the Union Pacific Railroad bridge on the Missouri River. He also had enough left with which to buy two cows, these animals also serving as his first team in this country. In 1876 he built a log house, which still stands, though it is sided over now. He also filed the south half of the northwest quar- ter of section 12, but this property was later homesteaded by Mr. Tomes, who had been a near neighbor of his in Wallashko, Moravia. As the children were getting to be of good size, the two older sons-John, Jr., and Joseph B.,
our subject-were hired out to a Mr. Watson, and for their year's work Mr. Bartek received a yoke of steers. The larger children, the two sons just named, and Mary, since deceased, were working out for the Americans in the eastern part of the county, in order to gain a better command and knowledge of the Eng- lish language. John Bartek, our subject's father, started a grocery and dry goods store in Weston in 1880, and continued in business there for a number of years, finally selling his stock and the good will of the business to L. Larson. He then moved to the farm and lived there till his death, which occurred December 29, 1891. John Bartek, Jr., bought the east half of the northeast quarter of section 12, which was homesteaded by Mr. Flint, and is now farming the same. Mr. and Mrs. Bartek had a family of eight children, as follows: John, Jr., born in 1855, who lives on the home- stead, married Mary Stransky, by whom he had eight children,-Edward, John, Victoria, Louis, Thomas, Philip, Albert, and Matthew ; Joseph B., our subject ; Mary, deceased ; Frank, who married Barbara Simanek, lives in Chap- man precinct, Saunders county; Lucas, who married Victoria Bartek, lives two and one-half miles west of Valparaiso on his 240-acre farm, which is part of a ranch of C. Dickson; Phebe, wife of Mr. Kabourek, of Brainard, Nebraska ; Agnes, wife of Mr. Cech, a farmer, of Wahoo, Nebraska; and Veronika, wife of Mr. Tomes, a farmer of Weston, Nebraska.
Joseph B. Bartek, our subject, remained at home until 1880, when he came into possession of 160 acres in section I. Twenty years ago
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the farm work was done almost without ma- chinery ; the grain was bound by hand, and the corn was checked in by hand, the rows being marked by a marker, constructed at home, which required the skilled work of two men to operate. He continued to live there until he was elected sheriff of Saunders county in 1891. In 1888 he purchased the first 80 acres of his present home, which consists of the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 14, range 5, for which he paid $1,000. He also purchased the John Jamison ranch, for which he paid $3,000, on which he was given five years' time, the note drawing interest at the rate of seven per cent. Five years later he pur- chased an adjoining 80 acres, which makes him the owner of 480 acres of land. On the farm last purchased by him there was an old house, its dimensions being 16 by 32 feet, and this makes the two north rooms of his present "fine house, completed in 1894, which is a two-story dwelling, 36 by 32 feet, having an arched wind- cave and brick and stone wall cellar. He has a good barn, 32 by 34 by 16 feet, with a good basement for his horses, and he also has fine out-buildings. His farm is well supplied with water, for it is situated near the south branch of Wahoo Creek, the banks of which are fringed with a heavy growth of oak, elm, walnut, ash, willow, cottonwood and box elder trees, of which some are upward of a century old, being four feet in diameter. He has also a 30-foot well, which is pumped by a large wind mill. The fine orchard he set out bears fruit of all kinds, and his farm is one of the most im- proved in his precinct. He carries on general
farming and stock raising, and also cultivates considerable broom corn and sorghum, manu- facturing from the latter in his cane mill sor- ghum for his neighbors and himself.
Mr. Bartek was married in 1880 to Mary Kovarik, a daughter of John Kovarik, who came from Kameny Masti (Stone Bridge), Caslav, Bohemia, and settled in Saunders county about 1879, and to this union twelve children have been born, as follows: Jaroslav, born April 2, 1881 ; Joseph, born Au- gust 13, 1882 ; Charles, born January 7, 1884; Josie, born March 16, 1885; Emma, born in September, 1886; Frank, born January 20, 1888; Mary, born in April, 1889; Ralph, born March 21, 1890; Henry, born in February, 1892; Phebe, born March 31, 1895; Millie, born August 25, 1897, and Willie, born May 13, 1899. The two older sons, Jaroslav and Joseph, attended the Fremont Normal School in 1899, and Jaroslav is now a teacher. It is Mr. Bartek's intention to give his children the benefit of good educations.
Our subject was a stanch Democrat in pol- itics until 1889, since which date he has favored the Populist party.
EV. JOHN TORELL, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church at Swedes- burg, Richland precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Sweden in 1853. His father, Andrew Johnson Torell, was a shoemaker by trade, and after coming to Amer- ica settled in Oakland, Nebraska.
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Mr. Torell's education was commenced in his native land and completed after reaching this country. He attended Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois, entering the junior class in 1875. In 1877 he graduated from that in- stitution. He was immediately sent out to build up the Swedish congregations all over the state of Nebraska. He was located at Sa- ronville for two years, and eight years at Oak- land, and made trips to various parts of the state, either driving or riding horseback. His trips varied from 20 to 92 miles in length. He held services either on Sundays or week days, preaching the gospel in sod houses, log houses or in churches. He was an indefatiga- ble worker, and held both day and night serv- ices until January 1, 1888, when he received a call as pastor of the Lutheran church at Swedesburg, which pulpit he continues to fill up to the present time.
The Swedish church at Swedesburg was established in 1870 by Rev. S. G. Larson, who built a small frame church after preaching sev- eral years in private houses. In 1887 this church was enlarged and a basement was put under it. It is now one of the largest and best churches in the southern part of the county, and has a seating capacity of 338. At first a small frame house was erected as a parsonage. This was replaced in 1899 by a handsome, large, modern residence. The church property consists of about 40 acres of land, containing fine lawns beautifully shaded with handsome trees. Convenient horse sheds have also been added.
Rev. Mr. Larson was succeeded by Rev. L.
P. Ahlquist, who was succeeded by Rev. F. N. Swanburg. The last named was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Torell, who has made many additions to the church property, and is popular among members of his congregation. Rev. John Torell was joined in marriage with Anna Hakanson, a daughter of John Hakanson, of Edgar, Ne- braska. Eight children blessed this union, namely: Mary, Althea, Emil, Esther, Edith, Judith, Harold, and Gerhard. Mary is de- ceased; Althea is a teacher in Swedesburg, while Emil is attending college at Rock Island, Illinois.
OSEPH PTACEK has been a resident of Saunders county, Nebraska, since 1885, when he purchased a part of his present farm, which lies in Elk precinct, near the Butler county line; he is one of the most prosperous and enterprising farmers of his community. He was born in Bohemia, De- cember 8, 1851, and is a son of Joseph and Josephine (Kradlubec) Ptacek.
The parents of the subject of this sketch came to this country in 1869, landing in New York City July 10, with all the members of their immediate family but one. They settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where many of them still re- side. The children of the family were as fol- lows: Joseph, the subject of this biography ; Mary, wife of Mr. Ptak, of Cleveland, Ohio; Vaclav, who is married, and engaged in farm- ing on his property in section 18, township 15, range 5; Annie (Kovar), who is a widow, and lives in Cleveland, Ohio; John, who lives in
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Cleveland, Ohio; Frank, who lives in Okla- homa territory; and Anton, who resides in Bruno, Nebraska.
Joseph Ptacek, of whom this sketch treats, commenced to learn the bricklayer's trade in his native country, and mastered his trade in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also a master of the clarionette. He resided in that city until 1885, when he removed to Saunders county, Ne- braska, and from Christian F. Peets bought the west half of the southeast quarter of section 19, township 15, range 5. As there were a number of buildings on this property, he at once took up his residence there and lived on the farm until 1891, when he bought 120 acres from Mr. Ptak, 80 acres of which are in the northeast quarter of section 19. On this last mentioned piece of land he has built his house and farm buildings. The purchase price for this farm of 120 acres was $20 per acre. In 1887 Mr. Ptacek bought 40 acres more from Mr. Ptak, his brother-in-law, who, with Joseph Ptacek, Sr., had bought 200 acres in section 19 and 160 acres in section 18, which they in later years divided. Mr. Ptacek has made many improvements upon his farm. He built a good frame house ; a barn, 28 by 60 by 16 feet in dimensions; a granary measuring 32 by 24 by 9 feet, and set out a two-acre orchard. He has three good wells, 52, 34 and 10 feet deep, respectively, the last mentioned being a spring well. A windmill and water tank are also features of the place. Mr. Ptacek is interested in a new threshing machine.
Joseph Ptacek was married in Cleveland, Ohio, to Anna Cerny, a daughter of John Cer-
ny. In 1886, the year after Mr. Ptacek located in Saunders county, Mrs. Ptacek (Anna Cerny) died, after a very short illness, leaving to mourn her loss a loving husband and four children ; namely: Edward, Emma, William, and Charles. Charles, the last named, being a babe at the time of his mother's death, was taken care of during his infancy by his grand- mother, Mr. Ptacek's mother. The remains of Mrs. Ptacek (Anna Cerny) were laid to rest in the Plasi cemetery. The eldest of the four children, Edward, upon coming to manhood's estate, married Martha Rosentrater, and has one child, Edward, Jr. In 1887 Mr. Ptacek, the subject of this sketch, married Anna Jel- inck, of Saunders county, Nebraska, and the fruits of their marriage have been three sons and two daughters, namely: John; Frank; Joseph, Jr .; Mary, deceased; and Ludmila. Mr. Ptacek, with his family, attends the Cath- olic church of Plasi, Saunders county. He is treasurer of his school district, and takes a prominent part in advancing the welfare and growth of his county and home vicinity.
J OHN HALLNER, who located in Wa- hoo procinct, Saunders county, Ne- braska, in 1870, began in a small way as a farmer and blacksmith, won his way to the front rank among the leading agriculturists of the county, and is now living in practical re- tirement.
Mr. Hallner was born in Sweden, in 1820, and is a son of Andrew Olofson, who was a
..
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blacksmith by trade. The subject hereof learned the trade of a blacksmith and followed it with his father, until 1863, when he came to the United States. He was located in Iowa for one and a half years, and then in Minnesota, where he lived until 1870, when he removed to Nebraska. He homesteaded the east half of the southwest quarter of section 10, in Wahoo precinct, Saunders county, and built a sod house. He possessed about ten dollars' worth of tools, and there he set up a general black- smithing and wagon repairing business in addition to farming. He later built a frame house, with dimensions of 14 by 14 feet, and his children assisted him in his farm work. He has always followed his trade as a black- smith, and today may still be found in his little shop upon his property. He is of an in- ventive turn of mind and has patented two monkey wrenches, and two kinds of barbed wire, one yielding him returns amounting to $5,000 and the other $20,000. He has erected a very handsome residence, and good farm buildings, and set out large orchards, shade trees and evergreens. He subsequently pur- chased 160 acres in section 3, and one half of section 15, which he has divided among his chil- dren, all of whom are good business men and prosperous citizens.
Mr. Hallner was united in marriage with Johanna Erickson while in Sweden, and they became parents of the following children : Rev. Andrew, a missionary who lives at Kings- burg, Fresno county, California, where he owns a large fruit farm, married Ida Norman, and has the following children,-Anna E., Samuel
(deceased), Esther I., Judith, Joseph (de- ceased), David (deceased), Emanuel, Reuben, Elvira (deceased), Agnes and Mabel O .; Mary (deceased), who married John Smith, by whom she had six children,-John E., Annie D. (deceased), A. Cornelius, David S., Carl A. and O. Victoria; Hannah E., who married Samuel Rylen, and has three children,-Hann E., Carl I. and Joseph N .; August, who lives upon the home farm and is engaged in general farming and stock raising; Carl, who resides at home, and is traveling agent for the Min- nesota Chief Threshing Company; Christine, who lives at home; and John, who owns one of his father's old farms, and married Anna Marie Carlson. The subject of this sketch has served as a member of the school board for a number of years. In religious faith and fel- lowship, he is a Lutheran. In politics he is a Populist.
N. BECKER, Jr., editor and pro- prietor of the "Ashland Gazette," was born April 16, 1852, in the town of Sharon, near Sharon Springs, Scho- harie county, New York. In descent he comes from the original Dutch settlers who peopled the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys; the earliest founder of the family having been Cornelius Becker, who settled early in the 17th century near where Troy, New York, now stands. His father, W. N. Becker, Sr., was a successful business man for years, well known in Scho- harie and Montgomery counties, New York, and later in western Iowa. He died in Mead,
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Nebraska, in 1891. When our subject was two years of age he moved with his father's family to Esperance, Schoharie county, remaining there until he was fourteen years of age, when the family moved to the town of Glen, Montgom- ery county, New York. One year later his father, W. N. Becker, Sr., moved to Burton- ville, where he engaged in the general mer- chandise business, continuing to be thus oc- cupied for four years, the subject of this sketch acting as salesman. While a resident of Bur- tonville, in 1872, our subject was married to Amanda Patterson. In 1875, with his father, he moved to West Side, Iowa, where he clerked for several years, afterward engaging in the job printing business.
In 1879 W. N. Becker, Jr., located at Mead, Saunders county, Nebraska, engaging in the general merchandise business in partnership with his father, under the firm name of W. N. Becker & Son, remaining in that connection two years. In 1881, he returned to Iowa, and founded the "West Side Dispatch," which was continued for four years, when it was merged with the "Denison Review," its editor returning to Mead to re-engage in the general merchandise business, and also establishing the "Mead Advocate," in partnership with Peter Anderson. In one year from that time his place of business and the "Advocate" plant were destroyed by fire. Rebuilding his store, he continued in the mercantile business until 1889, when his store was again destroyed by fire.
In 1892, the subject of this sketch located in Ashland, purchasing the "Ashland Gazette," and has continued the publication of that paper.
He is also quite extensively interested in farm- ing, owning three farms in the vicinity of Ash- land that he rents. Mr. Becker received his education only in the common schools. He received a license as a lay preacher in 1878, from the Iowa state convention of Universal- ists, and under the authority of that denomina- tion preached for a number of years in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. He takes a great deal of interest in philanthropic and humani- tarian work, especially in the Knights of Pythias, being chancellor commander of Star Lodge, No. 9, of Ashland, Nebraska.
OSEPH B. LA CHAPELLE, the popu- lar editor of the Saunders County Journal, is a highly esteemed resident of Ashland, Nebraska. The "Saunders County Journal" is one of the brightest papers pub- lished in southeastern Nebraska, and is a thor- oughly Populist organ. It is a seven-column, eight-page, spicy publication, and started with a circulation of 700, which has now swelled to over 900.
Mr. LaChapelle was born in St. Albans, Ver- mont, December 30, 1860. His father, E. La- Chapelle, was a native of Paris, France, and at the age of sixteen years, having moved to Can- ada, served in the War of 1837, which threat- ened to overthrow existing conditions in Can- ada. He was a cabinet maker by trade. Later in life he moved from Canada to the United States, settling in Vermont, where he followed agricultural pursuits for many years. He sub-
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sequently moved to Rhode Island, where he now lives in retirement.
Joseph B. LaChapelle was educated in the high schools of New England. After his graduation he came west to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1878, and in 1880 started in that city the "Saturday Evening Times." Later, with C. T. Bunce he established the "Saturday Budget" in Omaha. Some time afterward he sold his interests, and moved to Glenwood, Iowa, where for some twelve years he ran the "Mills County Journal." He also conducted the "Fremont County Journal," the "Fremont Courier," the "Daily Evening Times," and a number of pa- pers in Iowa. At one time he was city editor for Charles Collins on the "Sioux City Daily Times." His next newspaper venture was to establish the "Saunders County Journal," at Ashland, Saunders county, Nebraska, which paper he still edits.
Mr. LaChapelle married Rose Lyon, of Glen- wood, Iowa, July 2, 1885, and they have two children : Robert L. and Harold L. The sub- ject of this writing is a thorough journalist and is very popular throughout the county.
RANK HAKEL. While the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, yet the law of destiny rarely fails to accord a successful career to a man of energy, industry and sterling ability. Toil begun in early youth seldom fails of its due reward, for "in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou earn thy daily bread."
Frank Hakel was born in Hennersdorf, near
Hohenelbe, Bohemia, March 3, 1865; there were five other children in the family, of whom all died in infancy, except a sister, Marie ( Me- duna), who resides on a farm near Weston, Saunders county, Nebraska. His father was born April 7, 1839, in Hennersdorf; while hunting on his farm near Weston, he was accidentally shot close by his sod house (the oldest in his section of the county), and died March 12, 1900. Anna (Scharf) Hakel, the mother of our subject, was born October II, 1839, in Hennersdorf, Bohemia, and was mar- ried to Wenzel Hakel, our subject's father, in 1862; she is now living in Weston. Both Wenzel Hakel and his wife were educated in the German schools. Wenzel Hakel was a butcher by occupation, but for a number of years before coming to this country he was engaged in weaving fine linens, towels, hand- kerchiefs, etc., which occupation he found quite profitable; the work was done by hand, and several men were employed to assist in the weaving, and these had to be supplied with filled spools for shuttles. At the age of five years, Frank Hakel commenced to assist in the work by filling the spools for the weav- ers. From that time on he was busied at that work, and in attending school, which was in the German language. In his thirteenth year he passed a very satisfactory examination in the highest grade of the village school, and was excused from further obligatory school at- tendance when he was fourteen. In August, 1878, he chose to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, which he determined to follow as his life work.
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