USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 4
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Mr. Wehner was now armed with fighting implements, and was ready to begin the battle of life. He saw in the far distant West oppor- tunities for young men with nerve and willing disposition. He moved from Chicago to Fre- mont, Nebraska, and engaged as bookkeeper for Meyer & Sherman, holding the position for five years. He afterward went into the grocery business at Fremont, and followed it with fair success for the next five years. That business he sold and moved to Cedar Bluffs in the fall of 1892. On the organization of the Farmers & Merchants Bank in that city, he was elected cashier, which position he still holds.
Mr. Wehner was married to Marie C. Frahn, a native of Schleswig-Holstein. When a child, she came to America with her parents, who set- tled at Fremont, Nebraska, and engaged in farming. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wehner, whom they named as follows: Fred, aged twelve years; Freda, aged nine years ; and Dorothy, aged one year.
Politically, Mr. Wehner is a Democrat. His religious views accord with the doctrines of the German Lutheran church. He is a member of Fremont Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M .; of
J. C. F. BUSH, M. D).
41
SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
the A. O. U. W., and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. He bears the reputa- tion of being a cool-headed, far-seeing, con- servative banker, unflinchingly honest, charita- ble withal, and kind-hearted to a fault. The subject of this sketch is very popular with the citizens of the county, and is recognized as one of its solid and representative men.
C. F. BUSH, M. D., whose portrait is shown on the preceding page, is justly considered one of the most successful and prominent physicians and surgeons in Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska. Dr. Bush was born in Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York. His father, Loren Bush, was a native of Connecticut, and in early manhood followed teaching as a profession. Subse- quently he went west to Jamestown, New York, and settled upon a farm in that vicinity, follow- ing agricultural pursuits until cut off by death.
Dr. Bush graduated from the Jamestown High School and afterward attended the Uni- versity of Michigan, taking both literary and medical courses. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, from which he graduated in 1884. He spent the fol- lowing year in the hospital, in order to gain a thorough experience.
Dr. Bush opened an office at Bradford, Penn- sylvania, where he remained one year. About that time he was called upon to go west and take charge of the practice of his brother, Rus- sell Bush, at Wahoo, Nebraska, while the latter
took a business trip east. As the subject hereof desired to see the country, he accepted the proposition and assumed his brother's practice during the latter's absence. In this brief inter- val he became widely acquainted with the peo- ple of the vicinity, and was favorably im- pressed with both the residents of the locality and the beauties of the country. As a natural result he decided to locate there.
In September, 1886, Dr. Bush opened an office in Wahoo, where he now has, perhaps, the largest and best paying practice in the county. He has a fine residence in Wahoo. His convenient office, parlors and consultation rooms are in the Davis Block, on Fifth street.
Dr. Bush was joined in marriage with Myr- tle Garfield. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masonic blue lodge and chapter, of Wahoo; the K. T., of Fremont; the Mystic Shrine, of Lincoln; the I. O. O. F., of Wahoo, of which he is a past grand; and the Knights of Pythias, of Wahoo.
Dr. Bush is readily recognized as a physician of rare ability. He is the architect of his own fortune, having made himself what he is by lis own efforts. He is exceedingly popular, not only as a physician but as a whole-souled citi- zen.
RIC OLSEN. The career of the gentleman whose name prefaces this sketch presents an example of what may be gained by untiring industry, tenacity of purpose and careful management. He came to this country dependent upon his trade of
42
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
carpenter, but, by dint of hard work and the exercise of a superior business ability, he sur- mounted the many obstacles that confronted him, and is now classed among the substantial citizens of Saunders county, Nebraska. He owns 751 acres of as fine land as there is in the county, all highly improved, and has an at- tractive brick residence in Cedar precinct, in which he lives with his family.
Mr. Olsen was born in Denmark, near Co- penhagen, in 1846. His father was a farmer, and at the same time a contractor for the gov- ernment, supplying the cavalry with most of the horses used in that service. His early education was acquired in the public schools in his district, every second day in the year being a school day. On off days he worked on his father's farm, and also learned the trade of a cabinet maker. After serving his appren- ticeship and becoming a master workman he decided to immigrate to America. He was nineteen years of age at that time, and, for two years after landing in New York, he worked at his trade. In 1868 he came to Nebraska and settled in Omaha, where he continued in the same occupation. Two years of the time while thus engaged he was foreman during the building of the Paxton Hotel, a respons- ible position, and one which he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employ- ers. In the meantime he had taken up a home- stead of 80 acres, which he still owns. Build- ing a house 12 by 16 feet, he commenced farming, and was so unfortunate as to be burned out shortly afterward. He then built a large frame house at a cost of $1,000. Good
luck did not come all at once. In 1874 his entire crop was destroyed by the grasshoppers, when just fairly started. By perseverance and hard work, however, he got well on his feet, and now has one of the finest places in the county. He owns twelve large farm build- ings, including barns, implement houses, corn cribs, etc. His crops are principally corn and oats, but he has paid some attention to stock raising-having, at times, over 200 head of cattle, an equal number of hogs, and always from 12 to 15 head of horses. His orchard is a feature in itself, and consists of about 600 apple and plum trees.
Mr. Olsen was united in marriage, in 1874, with Annie Nelson, a native of Sweden, and they are the parents of five children, as follows : Albert, aged twenty-six years; Jennie, aged twenty-four years, who is the wife of Charles Williams, Jr .; Emil, aged twenty-one years; Charley, aged seventeen years ; and Tekla, aged fourteen years. The subject of this sketch is also the owner of the Cedar Bluffs Opera House. Religiously, he is a member of the German Lutheran church.
OSEPH KRAUS, an agriculturist of prominence in Saunders county, Ne- braska, is one of the most progressive citizens of Cedar precinct, in which he holds considerable property. He first located in Saun- ders county in 1869, and many were the diffi- culties which befell him in his early struggle for a start. Never losing heart, however, he
43
SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
closely applied himself to his work, making whatever improvements he could, and in the end he has succeeded in amassing a fair com- petence, and also in possessing one of the finest residences in his section of the county.
Mr. Kraus was born in Germany, March 17, 1850, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Kopf) Kraus. He was brought to America by his parents in 1852, they settling in Mani- towoc county, Wisconsin. His father pur- chased land and engaged in farming there until 1869, when he went to Nebraska and took up a homestead of 80 acres. There Joseph remained until of age, his father and mother both dying in Saunders county. He was married in Butler county, Nebraska, to Anna Earchlef, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Blaca) Earchlef. Anna Earchlef is a native of Bohemia, and accom- panied her parents to America, settling in But- ler county, Nebraska, in 1878. Mr. Kraus and his wife are the parents of six children, as follows : Odolph, seventeen years of age; Leopold, sixteen years ; Eleanora, twelve years ; Elsa, ten years ; Emma, eight years ; and Annie, four years.
Joseph Kraus moved to Saunders county in 1869, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 30, Cedar precinct. On this prop- erty he built a residence, partly of cottonwood lumber and partly of lumber obtained at Fre- mont. He planted corn, oats and wheat, but was very unfortunate during the years 1872, 1873 and 1874, as the grasshoppers destroyed his crops. Farmers also labored at a disadvan- tage in those days because of the crude farm-
ing implements in use. Harrows were home- made, being of the old A-shaped pattern, and the other implements were also imperfect in construction. The grasshoppers caused a scar- city of vegetables, and as a consequence the whole community suffered more or less from scurvy. In 1899 Mr. Kraus purchased his present residence, which is one of the finest in the county. He engages quite extensively in stock raising, having formerly kept about 400 head of cattle, 200 hogs, and from 15 to 20 fine horses. He has a good orchard of over 300 fruit trees, consisting chiefly of cherries, apples, plums and peaches. In politics the sub- ject of this sketch is a Democrat, while in re- ligious faith he is a member of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Kraus served as school , director for ten years and as township trustee for one year. Fraternally he is a member of North Bend Lodge, A. O. U. W.
EWIS J. SCHERE, city treasurer of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, is one of the most enterprising business men of the town, and conducts the largest general . store in that part of Saunders county. He is a native of Cedar Bluffs, having been born there in 1869, one year after his father settled in the county.
Louis Schere, the father of Lewis J., was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and came to the United States in 1864, settling in Illinois, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, an occupation which he still follows. He re-
44
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
mained in Illinois for four years, and then removed to Saunders county, Nebraska. He married Frederica Stark, also a native of Meck- lenburg, Germany, and they reared a family of eight children, of whom Lewis J. is the third. They are as follows: Herman, John, Lewis J., William, Bertha, Emma, Mary and Sophia.
Lewis J. Schere acquired his early educa- tional training in the schools of Saunders county, Nebraska, after which he took a busi- ness and shorthand course in the normal school at Fremont, Nebraska, of which insti- tution he is a graduate. His first employment was as clerk in the general merchandise store of H. W. Reints, at Cedar Bluffs, for whom he worked one year. At the time of beginning he was twenty-two years of age, and one year later, in company with Mr. Ranslem, he bought out his employer. They continued to carry on the business jointly until February, 1900, when Mr. Schere purchased the interest of his partner and has since conducted the concern alone. He carries a comprehensive stock of general merchandise and is meeting with great success. He has aimed to handle a line of goods suitable to meet the demands of the best trade, and as a result he has the most thor- oughly equipped and most liberally patronized store in Cedar Bluffs.
In October, 1893, Mr. Schere was united in marriage with Josephine Boulier, of Saunders county, Nebraska, and they are the parents of three children : Florence, aged six years ; Mil- dred, aged four years; and Lewis, aged two years. Mr. Schere served for five years on
the board of city trustees from 1894 to 1899. He was elected city treasurer for the term of 1899-1900. He is a stanch Democrat in pol- itics, and takes an active interest in party affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of Occi- dental Lodge, No. 215, F. & A. M., of the Woodmen of the World, and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
ILLIAM SHANAHAN, of Morse Bluff, Saunders county, Nebraska, is one of the ideal farmers of Nebraska. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1855, and is a son of Jeremiah and Ellen (Mayher) Shanahan, of the same place.
William's father came to the United States in 1859, and settled in Manitowoc county, Wis- consin, where he engaged in general farming. After remaining there for twelve years, the family moved to Saunders county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead of 80 acres. Another 80 acres was added to this and both tracts were devoted to general farming.
Close application to business, coupled with a thorough knowledge of agriculture, soon placed William Shanahan in the front rank of the successful farmers of the county. His land possessions include some of the most pro- ductive ground in Saunders county, and are as follows: The west half of the southwest quarter of section 33; the west half of the west half of the northwest quarter of section 33 ; the northwest quarter of section 4; the east half of the northeast quarter, and the north half
45
SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
of the southeast quarter of section 5, compris- ing in all 440 acres of land, which is in a high state of cultivation. Corn is the principal prod- uct of his farm, but he manages to devote a con- siderable portion of his time to stock raising. He has some large farm buildings besides his house on the old homestead farm.
In 1877 Mr. Shanahan married Mary Ann Malloy, a daughter of Michael Malloy, a pros- perous farmer of the same county. Six chil- dren blessed this union: Jeremiah, aged twenty-one years; Michael, aged nineteen years; Thomas, aged sixteen years; Nellie, aged fifteen years ; Maggie, aged thirteen years ; and William, aged eleven years. January 25, 1899, the subject of this sketch, being a wid- ower, was again married. Catherine Healey, a resident of Wayne county, Nebraska, became his second wife. She is a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Crowley) Healey, both de- ceased. Mr. Shanahan is a Democrat polit- ically, and religiously a member of the Roman Cathlic church.
OHN SMITH is a good example of the kind of citizens who have been so largely instrumental in bringing the resources of Saunders county to the fore. When he ar- rived in Nebraska the country was practi- cally an unbroken prairie, and the early settlers had to face great trials and privations before even a very small amount of comfort could be obtained. In 1872, 1873 and 1874, when the grasshopper swarms made their visitations, they
simply added to the vexations and hardships already undergone. It required men of great courage and indomitable perseverance to bear up under years of successive misfortunes. Men of weaker caliber would have given up in abso- lute discouragement. To the efforts of such men as the subject of this sketch does Saunders county now owe her high position among the counties of the state of Nebraska.
Mr. Smith was born near London, Canada, on January 9, 1840. His father was William Smith, a French Canadian, who was drowned in Lake Erie during John's infancy. His mother, Katherine (Dehl) Smith, is still living near Buffalo, New York. After the untimely death of the husband and father, the family moved to Erie county, New York, where a farm was purchased, on which our subject spent his early days. He received his mental training in the public schools, and divided his time between attending school and working upon the farm. For a period of eleven years afterward he worked out by the month, and at the outbreak of the war enlisted in Company H, 136th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers. He was in the command of Gen. Sigel and that of Gen. Hooker, participating in the famous battles of Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Chancellors- ville and Fredericksburg. The good constitu- tion acquired by his carly bringing up stood him in good stead during these years of hard- ship and privation.
After being mustered out, Mr. Smith came to Nebraska in 1870 and settled in Saunders county. There he took up a homestead of 80 acres and also a soldier's claim of 80
46
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
acres, proving up on both of them, and devoted himself to general farming and stock raising. The difficulties encountered in getting a start were enormous. Lumber had to be rafted across the Platte River, with which to build his 12 by 16 foot house, which was first put up. The barn was one of the early kind, made of poles and thatched with straw. In this house, with small additions made from time to time, he lived for fifteen years, and then built an- other house, which is being used today by his sons. His property consists of the south half of the northwest quarter of section 14, and 120 acres in the northeast quarter of sec- tion 15. He is now living a retired life. His residence, surrounded by a beautiful cedar hedge and fruit trees, is one of the hand- somest in Cedar Bluffs, and no one can gainsay that he is well deserving of the comfort enjoyed by him in the afternoon of life. His plot of five and a half acres near the house is one of the most valuable pieces of land in the district.
Mr. Smith was married on March 4, 1866, to Mary Knab, of Erie county, New York, who has borne him five children, of whom three are living, namely: Lulu, the wife of O. H. Sholtz; Asa O., who married Tillie Gabriel, is living on the old homestead ; and Grover Frank- lin. Mr. Smith is a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Lutheran church. He has held the office of road commissioner, but has never been an office seeker in any sense of the word. He is a member of Occidental Lodge, No. 215, F. & A. M.
Such is a brief sketch of one of the leading citizens of Saunders county. No man in the
district is more deservedly popular. Kind- hearted and charitable, strict in his integrity, he numbers his friends by the score, and the community in which he lives accords him the respect which is his due by reason of the quali- ties which make him one of the representative men of the county and state.
ILLIAM A. BROKAW, a promi- nent druggist of Cedar Bluffs, Saun- ders county, Nebraska, was born in McCordsville, Hancock county, Indiana.
William P. Brokaw, his father, was a farmer by occupation, and a man of influence in his community. He served several terms as county commissioner, and was re-elected just prior to the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. His wife was Martha (Cauldwell) Brokaw, who is still living.
Up to the age of thirteen years William A. Brokaw attended the district schools, and later became a pupil in a graded school. At twenty- one years of age he adopted fire insurance as a means of livelihood. When working on his father's farm he devoted some of his time to this line of business. He was a deputy sheriff before he had reached manhood.
On April 21, 1885, Mr. Brokaw entered the drug store of M. C. Quigley, of Greenfield, Indiana, where he remained seven years. Leav- ing that employment, he removed to Nebraska, and settled in Cedar Bluffs. He bought out the firm of Fleming & Co., and has conducted the place ever since. IIe has today the largest
47
SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
stock and the best patronized drug store in the city. He passed his examination before the state board of pharmacy in November, 1891, and secured his certificate as a registered pharmacist.
On August 23, 1885, Mr. Brokaw married Mattie J. Jones, a daughter of Sylvester and Tabitha A. (Pauley) Jones, of Fortville, Indi- ana. They have one child, aged nine years. Mr. Brokaw is a Democrat in politics, and fraternally a member of Cedar Bluffs Lodge, No. 274. A. O. U. W.
HARLES A. KILLIAN, a very success- ful business man of Morse Bluff, Saun- ders county, Nebraska, is proprietor of an implement house at that place, and does a large business with the farmers throughout that section of the county.
Mr. Killian is a native of Bohemia, where he was born October 25, 1862. He is a son of Thomas and Katy ( Mares) Killian, both deceased. The family came to the United States when Charles A. was in infancy, and settled in Pennsylvania, where they lived until 1868, when they moved to Bohemia precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska. They were among the early settlers of that community, where they took up a homestead, and on this property Charles A. Killian lived until about six years ago. At the age of twenty years he rented a farm of 240 acres and went into the stock raising business, meeting with success. He started in the well and windmill business in
1888, and the success of his efforts in that line encouraged him to enter the implement business at Morse Bluff. £ He now continues in that line, carrying a full stock of agricultural imple- ments, farming machinery of all kinds, and a good supply of wagons, buggies, paints and oils, pump fixtures, etc. He handles the latest improved machinery, keeping abreast of the rapid strides made in its betterment, and en- joys the patronage of the leading citizens of the community. Mr. Killian possesses some fine property at Morse Bluff, consisting of lots 19, 20, 21 and 22 of block 6, on which are lo- cated his handsome home and his business establishment.
On July 26, 1883, Mr. Killian was united in matrimonial bonds with Anna Zelezna, a daughter of Michael and Anna Zelezna, of Omaha, and they are the parents of nine chil- dren. Their names and the dates of their births are as follows : Thomas J., July 2, 1884; Carrie I., December 27, 1885; Raymond C., February 15, 1888; Milada, January 24, 1890; Anna, November 14, 1891; Leonard, October 6, 1893; Victor, April 23, 1896; Karl, Febru- ary 17, 1898; and Roland, January 9, 1900. Religiously, our subject is a member of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is independent, but served eleven years as con- stable of Bohemia precinct, twelve years as overseer of roads, and six years as treasurer of schools. He is a firm believer in life insur- ance, and carries policies in the following or- ganizations : Hope Lodge, No. 25, A. O. U. WV., $2,000; Morse Bluff Lodge, No. 1476, Modern Woodmen, $3,000; Woodmen of the
48
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
World, $2,000; Bankers Life, $2,000; Equita- ble Life, paid up, $640; Union Central, paid up, $500; and Western Brotherhood, Z. C. B. J., $2,000.
LFRED HAGSTADT, one of the most successful farmers of Chapman precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Sweden in 1848. He is a son of Swan Johnson, but changed his name to Hagstadt after coming to this country.
Swan Johnson was a Swedish farmer, and married Miss Stennegret, by whom he had two children : Alfred, the subject hereof, and Peter August, who is a farmer in Dakota. Swan Johnson's wife died in 1853, when Alfred was five years old, and her husband died in 1898 at an advanced age.
Alfred Hagstadt was reared and schooled in Sweden, leaving for America in 1868 and locating in Rockford, Illinois. He worked out, at farming, by the month for five years, and then bought a team and rented a farm, for five years. In 1875 he was married to Tilda Col- son, who died of quick consumption soon after their marriage. He remained with her parents and worked until 1879, and then had a sale and went to Saunders county, Nebraska. He bought the southwest quarter of section 25, in Chapman precinct, in February, 1879, for $307, 80 acres of which were broken. There was a shanty 16 by 18 feet in size, with boards running up and down, but there were no barns or trees. He returned to Illinois for a time, as he could do nothing in the winter. In the
spring he returned with a span of mares and bought a cow. On September 19, 1880, he married Sarah E. Honeywell, a daughter of Elam Honeywell, who settled on the south- west quarter of section 26, in Chapman pre- cinct, in March, 1877. Mr. Honeywell married Lucinda Ross, and they had seven children : Emma Genet (Ketchum), deceased; Eve Johanna, who died at the age of six years; James S., who married Anna Pika and lives in Oklahoma; Sidney Eugene, who married Elizabeth Hodge, of Holt county, Nebraska; William S., deceased; Mrs. Hagstadt, and Mrs. Margaret Merritt, deceased. Mrs. Hag- stadt was born and reared in Pennsylvania, where she lived until she was fifteen years of age. Mr. Hagstadt and his wife lived for six years in the shanty on his property, but, in 1886, built a new and roomy house, a dug-out cellar, measuring 12 by 16 feet, and, under the addition, 16 by 20 feet, which he bricked and cemented. He afterward built a barn, 30 by 40 feet in dimensions, with 16 foot posts, large and roomy ; a cow barn, 24 by 32 feet ; a double corn-crib, 24 by 32 feet, and a granary and crib 24 by 24 feet. There is a fine spring on the place, two wells, 91 and 96 feet deep, re- spectively, and a windmill, put up in 1888. At first Mr. Hagstadt raised wheat and corn, but finding that stock would pay better, in 1884 be began buying cattle and hogs, which he continued for five or six years, keeping on hand from 75 to 100 hogs. He set out an or- chard, including 30 apple trees, in 1878, and also considerable shrubbery ; he now has a fine orchard. Along the north and south line road
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.