USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 9
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 9
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of E. F. Mills; Kate, the wife of Llewellyn Warner; Alpheus, who died while serving in the Union army; Amelia, the wife of K. Grif- fin; Irvin, of Wahoo; and Ida, the wife of P. Mckinney.
Mr. Dech's first house was 14 by 18 feet in dimensions. He set out an orchard and groves and a cottonwood tree which was set out by his boys is now over two feet in diameter. In 1880 he purchased 40 acres of railroad land at Ithaca and built his present residence. He set out a great variety of large and small fruit, and there is none better in the county. In poli- tics Mr. Dech supported the Republican ticket until the organization of the Middle-of-the Road Populists, when he became one of the leaders of that party. In 1873 he was elected to the lower branch of the state legislature, and in 1883 was elected to the state senate. In 1890 he was a candidate for lieutenant gov- ernor and ran 1,000 votes ahead of the ticket, but was defeated. He was a candidate for congress in 1894, receiving 12,000 votes in his district, and in the campaign of that year he spoke in every county in the state, establish- ing an enviable reputation as a public speaker. He was also the first national committeeman of his party for that district. He was state elector of the Farmers Alliance, and state master workman of the Knights of Labor.
Mr. Dech was united in marriage with Mary Dorraty, a daughter of Nathaniel Dorraty, of Keokuk, Iowa, and they are the parents of seven children, as follows: Claude, a large sheep raiser of Idaho, who married Iva Vale; Edward, who died at the age of seventeen
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years; Harry, who lives at home; Robert, who married Amy Dech and has two children,- Nina and Lilah; Lloyd, who died at seven years of age ; Holmes, whose trade is that of a miller ; and Cleon. The subject of this sketch has a very valuable residence in Ithaca. A rise of ground just north of his residence is a historic spot, commanding the finest view of distance in the county, as one can see 20 or 25 miles north, east or south, and 10 miles west. It is the site of an old Indian burying ground which the Indians also used as signal ground. When Mr. Dech first settled there, droves of hundreds of antelope and deer could be seen from that point.
On a preceding page, in proximity to this, the publishers of this volume take pleasure in presenting a portrait of Mr. Dech.
LBERT C. KNAPP, an early settler of Saunders county, Nebraska, and for many years one of the leading farm- ers and stock raisers of Wahoo precinct, is now living in retirement at Ithaca, in that county.
Mr. Knapp was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1845, and is a son of William D. and De- borah G. (Ketchum) Knapp. William D. Knapp was born in Orange county, New York, and came west to Chicago at an early day, building two houses in that city. He was then located in Iowa for some time, after which he managed a quarry at Elmira, Illinois, and a ferry across the river, for some thirty years. In 1886 he removed to Wahoo, Saunders
county, Nebraska, where he lived in retirement until his death in 1895, aged eighty years. His wife died in 1891, aged seventy years. They were the parents of the following children : Seely B .; Dewitt, deceased; Henry E., who was killed in the army; Albert C .; Mary E., the wife of Edward Wright; Horace P., a merchant of Ithaca ; John W., a record of whose life is given elsewhere in this work; and Wil- liam Dewitt, a citizen of Wahoo.
Albert C. Knapp followed farming until he was fifteen years old, and then took up the trade of a blacksmith. In 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany E, 118th Regiment Illinois Mounted In- fantry, and served until the close of the Civil War. He then returned to his trade, which he followed until 1869, when he decided to move west. On June 1, 1869, he homesteaded 80 acres in section 32, township 14, range 8, Saunders county, going to that county with Theodore Zingrie and William H. Uhler. They built a sod house, and after buying a yoke of oxen broke the ground. While two of the party were thus engaged, the third was out shooting game, on which they mainly sub- sisted. There was an abundance of antelope, deer, prairie chickens, badgers, coons, and wildcats, and fish were to be had in Wahoo Creek. There was a fine grove of elms and willows on the west side of the creek which had not been devastated by fire, but otherwise there was not a tree within sight. Mr. Knapp made a dug-out, and carried on his trade as a blacksmith, sharpening plow points for all the settlers within a radius of 25 miles. Often men would carry them that distance on their
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shoulders while their teams were at home work- ing, the trips consuming two or three days. As soon as he was in a position to do so, Mr. Knapp built a frame house and barns, and sub- sequently enlarged the house. He set out fine shade groves and an orchard, all of which grew nicely, his first cottonwood trees being now two feet in diameter. He was extensively engaged in grain raising, his land often yielding as many as 60 bushels to the acre. He also dealt in stock largely, and at one time had as many as 40 head of cattle and 600 hogs; he always had from 300 to 400 hogs. In addition to operating his farm he bought a building in Ithaca in 1889, and conducted a butcher shop until 1892. In 1900 he purchased a handsome, modern residence in Ithaca, and there he has since lived in retirement, enjoying the rewards of an industrious and well spent life.
Mr. Knapp was united in marriage with Minnie Huebotter, a daughter of Louis and Minnie (Erbin) Huebotter. She was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, the birthplace of her hus- band, but they never knew each other while living there. They are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Bertie, the wife of Robert Railsback, of the well known firm of Railsback Brothers; and William D., who died, aged four years, three months and seventeen days. Mrs. Knapp's parents were na- tives of Germany, and upon coming to this country located first in Illinois, where her father was a farmer and miller. He is now living a retired life at Lagrange, Mis- souri. They were the parents of seven children : Minnie, Lizzie, Louise, Lewis, Henry, and two
deceased. The subject of this sketch has served as school director for many years, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HARLES LOUIS TEGELBERG, who is one of the best known and most enter- prising of the younger generation of farmers of Wahoo precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, is extensively engaged in the pro- duction of grain and in stock raising. He is a man of untiring energy and good business ability, and the success that has thus far at- tended his efforts bespeaks a most prosperous career to follow. He was born January I, 1873, and is a son of Lars Tegelberg.
Lars Tegelberg, who was a son of Per Tegel- berg, was born in Sweden April 2, 1838, and at the age of fourteen years obtained employment as a farm hand. In 1869 he came to America, locating in Omaha, Nebraska; the same year he homesteaded 80 acres of land in Saunders county. In 1870 he and his wife settled upon the homestead, and there resided until 1898, when he moved to Mead, Nebraska, where he still resides. He now owns 160 acres of well improved farming and grazing land in Wahoo precinct. He was married in 1869 to Mary Anderson, and to them were born three child- ren : Per August, deceased; Charles Louis, the subject hereof; and Otto Bernhard.
The subject of this sketch took advantage of the opportunities to obtain an education, and made the most of his chances. He assisted his father in conducting the homestead farm until
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that gentleman retired to Mead, when he rented the paternal acres, and at this writing rents in addition other land adjoining the homestead. He has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Tegelberg was united in marriage with Annie Quist, a daughter of Rev. John Quist, an early settler of Missouri, and this union has been blessed with one child-Carl Bernhard Rangner. In religious attachments Mr. Tegel- berg is a faithful and consistent member of the Mission church. He is a man of upright and honorable character, and is very popular among his fellow citizens.
HARLES C. TURNEY, a retired farmer living at Ceresco, Saunders county, Nebraska, is an extensive land owner of that county, and all he possesses of this world's goods has been obtained by hard and persistent work. His present attainment is the fruit of an industrious and well spent life. Among his boyhood resolutions, one was that at the age of sixty years he would either have an abundance to retire on or would go to the poorhouse. His great and unyielding ambi- tion sustained him through the many trials he had as an agriculturist in Nebraska and carried him successfully through droughts and grass- hopper invasions. Now he is enabled to spend the remainder of his life in the peace of happy retirement.
Mr. Turney was born in 1840, at Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel
Turney, whose occupation was that of a farmer. As a boy, Charles was obliged to work hard upon the farm, but he never objected to work, as it came natural to him to employ all of his time in one way or another. He applied him- self to learning the blacksmith trade, and work- ed at that and wagon-ironing for three years. He then borrowed sufficient money to start in business for himself at Trenton, Iowa, in 1864, where he continued until 1874, and then sold out. He had heard somewhat of the much- talked-of plains of Nebraska, and thinking that new territory would be a good place to locate in he went thither in 1874, buying 80 acres in Richland precinct (which had been homesteaded by J. Louden) for $3 per acre. But little of the land was under cultivation and only a small sod house stood on the prop- erty, but in September, 1874, he brought his family there. He also bought 160 acres in sec- tion 21 at $3 per acre, it being railroad land. On his home farm he built a house 14 by 22 feet in size, to which he added from time to time until it was one of the finest places in the county. The house is surrounded by a grove of shade trees and evergreens, and presents a handsome apearance. He set out 41 acres of fruit trees, including apples, plums, pears, and grapes, and has a very fine orchard. In 1887 he purchased 80 acres adjoining his home place for $1,050, and in 1877 he secured 160 acres of railroad land in section 29, Rich- land precinct, for $1,400. In 1886 he pur- chased So acres of state land for $400, and 160 acres in section 27, Rock Creek precinct, for $3,000. His principal product is hay, and he
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has more and better land adapted to blue grass than any other man in his section; he keeps about 300 head of cattle, which he feeds on the land. In 1899 he bought a village lot and small house at Ceresco, a part of the old Yates farm. He enlarged the house and barn, set out beautiful shade trees, and moved there with his family in 1900, where he has since lived in retirement. He is a public- spirited man and has taken an earnest interest in all public enterprises and im- provements. He was elected county treasurer on the Democratic ticket in 1885, and served one term. Fraternally, he is a member of the F. & A. M. and encampment of the I. O. O. F.
Mr. Turney was united in marriage with Anna Green, a daughter of James C. Green, of Trenton, Iowa, and they became the parents of two children : Jennie, who died at the age of fifteen months; and Clark.
Clark Turney, the surviving child, was born June 19, 1867, and was reared on the farm. He remained on the farm, farming and stock raising with his father, until he was twenty- three years old, when he ventured alone. He purchased 160 acres of land, the north- west quarter of section 29, Richland precinct, and, later, bought 80 acres in Rock Creek precinct, at present known as the Hanline farm. He also purchased other property, but has since disposed of it. He was extensively engaged in stock dealing with his father until 1899, when he built a handsome modern residence and barn in Ceresco and re- tired from active business. He rents his prop- erty and looks after his business interests. He
was united in marriage with Susie Walters, a daughter of Jacob Walters, of Ceresco, and they have had two children : Raymond R., and Rance, who died at the age of seven years. In politics Clark Turney is an unswerving sup- porter of the Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 29, F. & A. M.
ROFESSOR J. H. FLODMAN, A. M., of Luther Academy, was born in Ostergotland, Sweden, September 23, 1859. At the age of nine years he came to the United States, and first located in the state of Illinois. In 1872 he moved to Polk county, Nebraska, near the town of Stromsburg. He attended Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois, and graduated from that institution of learning in the spring of 1890. He received his master's degree from Augustana College in the spring of 1900.
In the spring of 1890 he received a call as assistant teacher by the board of directors of Luther Academy, which he accepted, and in the fall of 1892 he was called as permanent profes- sor at said institution by the Nebraska Con- ference, his principal subjects being Latin, mathematics, and sciences. He has been a student at the University of Nebraska, in all, about a year and a half. His ambition to ac- quire a greater extent of knowledge has no restraint, and his attendance at the University of Nebraska was made possible only by his securing leave from his college duties at dif- ferent periods.
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Prof. Flodman is especially interested in botany. He has been on two botanical expe- ditions with a noted botanist, Dr. P. A. Ryd- berg, assistant curator of the Botanical Garden of New York. In 1899 the subject of this writ- ing was united in marriage with Emma C. John- son, daughter of C. M. Johnson, of Paxton, Illinois. They are among the most highly esteemed and respected citizens of Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska.
R. R. D. BUSH, a successful prac- ticing physician of Ceresco, Saunders county, Nebraska, is also the proprie- tor of the only drug store in the village. This store was established by him in 1887, soon after his arrival in Ceresco. At that time his brother, H. L. Bush, was in partnership with him. In 1890 the brother retired from the firm and since then Dr. Bush has been the sole proprietor. He carries a fine stock of drugs, and handles paints, oils, wall paper, stationery, toilet articles, and the thousand and one things to be found in any first-class drug store. In 1897 the postoffice was located in his store, where it still remains.
Dr. Bush was born in Mayville, Chautauqua county, New York, in 1853. His father, Loran Bush, was a farmer in the vicinity of May- ville. Later in life, however, he purchased a farm near Jamestown, in the same county. He was killed in a railroad accident in1885.
Dr. Bush was reared and educated in James- town, New York. After leaving school he took
up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. O. H. Simons, of the same place. Subsequently he entered the Detroit Medical College, from which he graduated in 1878. Dr. Bush im- mediately began the practice of his profession in Busti, New York, in his native county. Establishing a drug store he proceeded to build up a practice. Early in his career he read of the wonderful advantages of the West, and from a friend he learned that Dr. Stone, of Wahoo, Nebraska, desired an assistant who would re- lieve him of his long drives. He was also in- formed that Dr. Stone wished to retire in a short time.
Dr. Bush considered that a good opening for him, and accordingly disposed of his interests in the East and went to Wahoo in 1885. Two years later he established his present drug store in Ceresco, where he enjoys a good practice and a fair patronage. He was joined in mar- riage with Lettie Garfield, a daughter of Dr. Sherman Garfield, of Busti, New York. Two children were born to them-Pauline Elvina and Fannie Irene. The latter is deceased.
Dr. Bush is a supporter of the Republican party at the present time, but in 1890 he was elected coroner upon the Democratic ticket. Fraternally, he is a member of the F. & A. M., A. O. U. W., Woodmen of the World, and Knights of the Maccabees. He is a val- ued member of the Nebraska State Med- ical Society, also belongs to the American Med- ical Association. Dr. Bush is a general practi- tioner, and is well and favorably known, not only throughout Richland precinct, but in the southern part of Saunders county.
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BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
J OHANN FRIEDERICH KOLB, an ex- tensive land owner in Marble precinct, is one of the pioneer farmers of Saunders county, Nebraska. He is a native of Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, where his father was also born. He is a son of Christian R. Kolb and grandson of Johann Friederich Kolb.
Christian R. Kolb was born in 1808. Early in life he learned the shoemaker's trade and be- came a very skilled workman. The subject hereof has a pair of fine calfskin boots which his father made; he has worn them for "best," for twelve years, and they are still very fine; besides these he also has workboots made by his father. Christian R. Kolb did elegant work up to the time of his death, and left work un- finished. He married Weepkee Rathman. In 1862, with his family, he came to America, set- tling in Kankakee county, Illinois. He had $1,000 in gold and purchased a fine farm in that vicinity. He carried on trade until 1897, when he died. He had previously lost his wife, who died in 1873, aged fifty-three years. Seven children were born to them, as follows : Johann Friederich; Juergen, deceased; Mary, wife of Charles Thompson; Maggie, wife of Peter Fedde; Henry, a resident of Illinois; Christ- iana, wife of Peter Reimers; and Weepkee.
Johann Friederich Kolb was born August 23, 1834. He learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, serving a three-years ap- prenticeship. He then went to sea and became a sailor. For three years he sailed on the North and Baltic seas. He then crossed the ocean, to New York City, and sailed on American ves- sels for six years. During this time he sailed
upon both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, making one trip around Cape Horn. He has experienced many rough and adventurous voy- ages, and has visited many different lands. It is a pleasure to Mr. Kolb to relate his many experiences. It is a theme which never grows old to him.
Upon the breaking out of the Civil War, Mr. Kolb was on an American vessel near France. He went home to Germany one year. The fol- lowing year, with his parents, he came to America, first settling in Chicago, where he remained one year. Later, he assisted in break- ing soil upon his father's farm, in Kankakee county, and also helped to fence it.
In 1869 Mr. Kolb went west, to Nebraska, and took up 80 acres of homestead land in Marble precinct, Saunders county. He was then a single man, and built a straw-barn and a dugout. In this dugout, or hole in the ground, he lived alone. He improved and cultivated his land and fenced it in. He set out fruit trees and shade trees. For seven years he lived'con- tented and alone. Later, he built a small frame house. This was replaced in 1893 with the present fine large residence. At that time large barns, granaries, sheds and corn cribs were also built. He also bought 80 acres of adjoining land, and 160 acres across the road. He raises principally corn and oats, but also keeps some very fine stock.
Mr. Kolb married Mrs. Caroline Paulsen, a daughter of Christian Wittei. Mrs. Kolb has one son, Henry, by her first marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Kolb have been born four children, as follows: Wilhelmina, Christian Friederich,
WILLIAM J. HARMON.
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Johann Mathias, and Wilhelm Otto. Mr. Kolb and family are active members of the Lutheran church. In politics he supports the Repub- lican party.
Quite worthy of mention are the beautiful groves which our subject has on this farm, which is among the most attractive and produc- tive farms in Saunders county. One grove alone contains 600 fine walnut trees. These trees were all planted by Mr. Kolb, and now have a diameter of about ten inches. Other groves contain cottonwoods, and several other varieties of trees, which are considered equally fine. Mr. Kolb is a genuine self-made man and is a citizen of prominence and influence in his community.
ILLIAM J. HARMON, whose life record presents a career of varied business experiences, is among the prosperous farmers of Pohocco precinct, Saun- ders county, Nebraska, where he owns several hundred acres of land.
Mr. Harmon was born in Suffield, Connecti- cut, January 30, 1849. He is a son of Julius Harmon and Caroline E. (Lane) Harmon, who is a daughter of Aslibel Lane, of the same place. He first attended the public schools of Suffield, and afterward the Connec- ticut Literary Institute in Suffield. He left school at the age of twenty years and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Com-
pany for nineteen months. He then went on a government survey, covering Hayes and Chase counties, in the southwestern portion of the state. The surveyors were on this expedition for about six months, when they were driven out by the Indians, and were unable to con- tinue their work until a guard of cavalry was sent along to protect them. Mr. Harmon then went to Fremont, and engaged in contracting in and near that place. In 1875 he built a toll bridge over the Platte River, and during the next seven years built three other bridges, collecting toll from the first bridge during that time. He then sold the bridge to the citizens of Fremont, who turned it into a free bridge in 1882. He then moved to Wahoo, where he lived for two years. Having taken a trip of five or six months through the mountains, he returned in 1884 and located in Saunders county, where he has since remained. His property now consists of the southwest quar- ter of section 33, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 32, the southeast quarter of section 29, the southwest quarter of section 28, and 68 acres in the northwest quar- ter of section 28. Only part of his present house was on the property when he acquired it, and many are the improvements which have since been made. The entire crop consists of corn, and he has an excellent orchard of about 150 trees, including cherries, peaches, apples and apricots. He keeps about 400 head of cat- tle, 200 hogs and from 12 to 15 good horses.
In 1879 Mr. Harmon was united in mar- riage with Nellie Staats, a daughter of J. F. Staats. Mr. Staats is a prominent citizen of
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Saunders county, and is the father of the fol- lowing children: Emma (deceased) ; Nellie; Charles; George, and Louis. A child, named George, died in infancy. Mr. Harmon and his wife are parents of seven children, their names and ages being: William F., twenty years; Walter, seventeen years; Edward C., fifteen years; Adelaide E., thirteen years ; Mary Fern, eleven years ; Charles D., nine years, and Ethel C., four years. Mr. Harmon has two brothers living, Ashbel C., aged fifty-nine years, and Frank S., aged forty-six years. From 1886 to 1890 the subject of this sketch was a justice of the peace of Pohocco precinct, and he served as supervisor for six terms-from 1893 to 1899. He is a Republican in politics. His portrait accompanies this sketch, being pre- sented on a preceding page.
ARIUS P. TURNEY, one of the prosperous farmers of Richland pre- cinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, has led an exemplary life. He began his career wholly without means, and had got but fairly started when he was defrauded of all. This served merely as a stimulant; he did not give up but applied himself to his work with in- creased energy, to the end that he is now owner of considerable land, and is one of the leading citizens of Richland precinct.
Mr. Turney was born in Henry county, Iowa, in 1845, and was there reared and schooled. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, I Ith Reg. Iowa Vol. Inf., and served with that
regiment two years, being promoted to a corporalcy. He then re-enlisted and served in Sherman's army, and although he was wounded twice he never gave up, but remained to the end of the war. He then returned home, and, with his brother, worked his father's farm for three years. Having laid by a small sum he went to Warren county, Iowa, where he bought 80 acres of land. He got started in a very suc- cessful way, and then found that he had lost all by signing a note. He sold out, bought another property, and started into business again. At the end of thirteen years he owned 220 acres of fine land, which was well stocked. This he sold, realizing a handsome profit. He then moved to Saunders county, Nebraska, Feb- ruary 16, 1882, buying 80 acres in the south- east quarter of section 19, in Richland precinct. It was a wild, rolling piece of railroad land, for which he paid $8 per acre, and as there was no house upon the place he rented one for the time being. He chose a good location on a rising piece of ground, and proceeded to build a large modern house, and good, substantial farm buildings. He set out beautiful ever- greens and shade trees, and his handsome res- idence presents the finest appearance of any in the precinct. In 1889 he purchased an adjoin- ing property, consisting of 120 acres, from William P. Blackburn, its former owner hav- ing been William Garnic, who had erected a small house upon it, and set out an orchard and shade trees. Mr. Turney built a large stock barn, and set out an orchard of 15 acres. Around his whole farm is a fine osage orange hedge, which he raised from the seed. He has
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