Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska, Part 103

Author: Alden Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Alden Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1402

USA > Nebraska > Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska > Part 103

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On March 13, 1889, Mr. Bruce was married to Mrs. Rosetta J. Smith, of New York state. Mrs. Bruce's father was a Baptist minister who died in 1892, in Des Moines, Iowa. Her mother died in 1887, in Waterloo, Iowa. Mrs. Bruce has one brother living in Oklahoma, and has one son by a former marriage, Dwight A. Smith, who re- sides in the state of Washington.

Our subject, Mr. Bruce, has been an active christian since 1855, and for about seven years served as one of the trustees of the First Congre- gational chureh in Norfolk and is also a deacon. In 1903, he retired from the farm and moved to Norfolk where he built a good home, his present dwelling place. Mr. Bruce owns a number of good city properties, and has been prosperous and successful, and is widely and favorably known. He is an independent voter.

DAVID MCCRACKEN.

David MeCracken, living retired from active life in Broken Bow, Nebraska, is one of the earlier settlers of Custer county and still owns his original homestead. He also owns some city property and is widely and favorably known in . his part of the state. Mr. MeCracken and his wife have both always been much interested in the progress and welfare of the county and they have passed through the various experiences of the pioneers in the region. Mr. MeCraeken was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, Janu- ary 6, 1830, and in early childhood accompanied his parents to Indiana. He was the second of twelve children and has one brother in Indiana and a sister in Michigan, several of the children being deceased. Both parents were natives of North Carolina and the father died in Missouri in 1866, and the mother in Indiana in abont 1896.

Mr. MeCracken received his edneation in the country schools of Indiana and as a young man engaged in farming on his own aceonnt. On August 17, 1851, he was married, in Grant county. Indiana, to Esther Allen, a native of Wayne county, that state, and they began housekeeping on a farm. In 1866 he took his family to Mis-

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

souri and remained there a year, then returned to Indiana. About 1885-86 he brought his wife and five children to Custer county, Nebraska, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-three, township seventeen, range twenty-one, which was the home place for many years. This farm was well im- proved and brought to a high state of cultiva- tion and Mr. McCracken met with success as a farmer. In 1908 he retired from the farm and erected a modern residence in Broken Bow, which has since been the family home.

Thirteen children were born to Mr. MeCracken and wife namely: Asenath, deceased, is survived by her husband, Jacob Sloderback, and two chil- dren; Mary A., wife of J. J. Pickett, of Broken Bow, has four children; Eli J. and Levi, twins, the former father of three children and living in Indiana, and the latter father of two children and living in Oregon; Sarah E., wife of Henry Barber, of Howard county, Indiana, has one child; Rachel J., wife of Frank Thomasson, living near Broken Bow, has two children; John N., of Idaho, has six children; Alice, wife of Henry Surface, of Peru, Indiana, has three children; Robert and Arilda R., twins, the former living in Indiana and the father of one child, and the latter, who lives at Broken Bow, is the wife of Orley Freel and has four children; Clara, wife of Lensley Crew, of Montana, has three children; Drusilla, wife of Arthur Stone, of Indiana, has two children; Thomas E., died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken are well known and highly respected in Broken Bow and vicinity and have a wide circle of friends.

E. W. JONES.

For more than twenty years the gentleman named above has been known to the citizens of Wayne county, and he has gained a high station as a citizen and farmer. Strictly speaking, he is not one of the old settlers-yet he has, since his residence here, been closely identified with the development of the agricultural interests of the community.

Mr. Jones is a native of Wales, and was born in 1850, in Meirionith Shire, his parents, John and Mary Jones, being natives of that region. It was here that Mr. Jones spent his childhood and early manhood years, and received his edu- cation. His father was a miller by trade, and the subscriber followed the same occupation in youth and young manhood.

When our subject was thirty years old, he determined to emigrate to the new world, which undoubtedly offered greater opportunities for the young man than his native country. He came first to Vermont, then to Wisconsin, and in 1882, to Red Oak, Iowa, where he remained until 1890.

In this year he again moved, coming this time to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he bought a quarter-section of land from T. C.

Humphrey, which has remained in his possession since that date. He has made many improve- ments to the estate, which is now among the best in the county.

November 18, 1890, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Anna Thomas of Cardigan Shire, South Wales. One child, Mattie, has blessed their union. A nephew of Mr. Jones, Robert E. Jones, came to live with his uncle when six years of age, and has since that time made his home here. He now does practically all the work on the farm, and seems almost the same to Mr. and Mrs. Jones as one of their own children.

LEVI COVER.

The above named gentleman has for over thirty-two years been closely identified with the farming and commercial interests of Merrick county, Nebraska, and has watched the develop- ment and growth of this section from the early days.

Levi Cover, son of Aaron and Mary (Deril- biss) Cover, was born in Frederick county, Mary- land, March 24, 1837, and was sixth of ten chil- dren. He has two brothers and one sister re- siding in Iowa; one sister in Kansas; one brother in California; the parents are deceased. When seven years of age our subject went with his parents to Ohio, where he received his education in the home schools, and later learned the car- penters' trade.

On March 2, 1862, Mr. Cover was married to Miss Melissa Miller, who was born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cover made their first home in Iowa county, Iowa, following his trade until 1879, when they came to Merrick county, Nebraska, home- steading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-four, township fourteen, range six, which remained the home place about ten years; and afterwards moved to Central City where they purchased a good home where they now reside. Mr. Cover was prosperous and suc- cessful, and owned at one time over three hundred acres besides good city property. He has served as director of his school district number twenty- seven for some years. Mr. and Mrs. Cover have had seven children, five of whom are living : Elmer E., deceased in 1874; Harry, married, has three children and resides in Aurora, Nebraska ; Amanda May, wife of E. Yager, has one child and lives in Colorado; Aggie B., wife of John Roth, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Walter, married, has three children and lives in Scotts Bluffs, Nebraska; Zora E., wife of Frank Han- num, has one child and resides in Gothenburg, Nebraska; and Harley, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Cover were among the early settlers of Merrick county, have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships inci- dental to pioneer life, and are widely and favor- ably known.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

FRANK ETTER.

Frank Etter, one of Niobrara's successful farmers, has been a resident of the state since 1885. He had come to the state in 1882, remain- ing four or five months, but returned to Iowa, thinking at that time that prospects were better there. In 1885, he returned to Knox county and filed on a pre-emption claim east of Niobrara, to which he perfected title, and sold. He next lived for a season on school land southwest of town, and in 1887 became a resident of Niobrara, where he has resided since. For three years he con- ducted a barber shop, and later was employed at various kinds of labor. Of late years, he has secured farming lands east of town, and has been a most successful farmer.

Mr. Etter was born in Cass county, Indiana, January 9, 1859, and there grew to manhood. His parents, Jacob and Susanna (Richards) Etter, lived and died in their Indiana home. Mr. Etter first came west in November of 1881, and remained in Iowa until the fall of 1882, when he migrated to Knox county, Nebraska. He stayed until the spring of 1883, and then returned to O'Brien county, Iowa, and worked on a ranch during the summer. In the fall, he went to Benton county, Iowa, where he met the lady who later became his wife. He was married in the summer of 1884 in Benton county, Iowa, and in April of the next year moved to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, remaining until September of that year, when he settled in Knox county, as before stated, and he has had no cause to regret his coming to this locality.

Mr. Etter was married in Benton county, July 4, 1884, to Miss Minnie Breneman, who was born in Dubuque, a daughter of John and Mary (Blodgett) Breneman. The mother died when Mrs. Etter was three years of age, leaving only a faint recollection in the mind of the child. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Etter, five are living, and their attainments in school have been a source of worthy pride to their parents: Bessie, the eldest, graduated first from the Nio- brara high schools and later with honors from the state normal school at Wayne, where she shared the oratorical prize with a classmate from South Dakota; she taught one year in Knox county and three in Staunton county before graduating at Wayne, and was immediately after appointed to the department of higher branches in the schools of Center, her home county seat. Orange F., the eldest son, graduated from the high school of Niobrara in 1907, and has since taken a course in the business college at York; Glen A., graduated from the Niobrara high school in 1909; while Marjory at the same time finished the eighth grade; and Jacqueline is well along in her classes in the grammar department.

During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Etter was active, with other citizens, in getting the children at school safely to their homes. Mr.

Etter never lived in a sod house in the west, but he has, with his wife, attended many a frolic in one, and danced with as much pleasure as if the sod were changed to marble walls.

The trip from Dell Rapids to Niobrara was made overland, camping on the way, the journey occupying six or seven days. Part of the terri- tory traversed was settled hy Russians who could speak little English and were very inhospitable, few being willing to sell even a few eggs and provisions to travelers through their region; but other settlers along the way were helpful and courteous.

Mr. Etter has prospered in the west, he has provided well for his children, given them good educations, and started them out on successful careers, and will see them well established in homes of their own. He is a democrat in politics, and was formerly a member of the Modern Wood- men. The two elder children are members of the Presbyterian church.

REVEREND FATHER JAMES J. CROWLEY.

The Reverend Father James J. Crowley, one of Boone county's most exemplary citizens, has devoted his entire time since attaining his major- ity to the ministry. He is virtually a newcomer in this locality, having assumed charge of his church here in 1905, but during this short time has by his kindly deeds and helpfulness become greatly beloved by all with whom he has come in contact.

Reverend Father J. J. Crowley was born in Cork, Ireland, and received his education at St. Fin Barre Seminary, Cork, and finished at All Hollows College, Dublin. He made that country his home up to 1892, then came to America, serv- ing in various churches in different states for nearly fifteen years, coming to Albion in 1905. Since taking charge of his present pastorate, through his efforts the new St. Michael's Catholic church has been erected at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars. This building was begun in 1906, and completed and dedicated on October 29, 1908. being one of the finest places of worship in that part of Nebraska. The members of St. Michael church are now preparing to build a new parson- age on the lot adjoining the church grounds. St. Michael's church has a membership of seven hundred souls, and its pastor is a wise and loving leader of his flock.

JOSEPH KENT.

Mr. Joseph Kent is counted among the oldest settlers in Antelope county, Nebraska, and since locating here in 1881, has taken a foremost part in the development of this region. He has built up a good home and farm in section twenty-two, township twenty-four, range seven, where he and his family reside and enjoy the friendship and esteem of many.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Mr. Kent was born in St. Lawrence county, New York. His father, Thomas Kent, was a na- tive of Ireland, being born in the village of Derry, county Entrem, and came to America in 1814; our subject's mother, Eleanor (Knox) Kent, was also born in Derry village, Ireland, and died when our subject was but a small boy.

In 1881 Mr. Kent came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land for eight hundred dollars, this land now being worth one hundred dollars per acre, which fact goes to prove that the knowing ones who came and remained in the western pio- neer country, suffering and enduring many hard- ships and privations have reaped a rich reward. Mr. Kent first built a frame house on his land, and during the dry year of 1894 this house was burned. This was a year of disasters for Mr. Kent, for, besides losing his house, his crops were a total failure, the latter being burned out by the hot winds that prevailed during that year. Mr. Kent later erected a substantial house, and now has a good farm, and also a fine orchard and grove.

December 14, 1879, Mr. Kent was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are the parents of nine children, whose names are: Nellie; Lizzie, who is married to Mr. Arthur Kemp, and is the mother of one boy ; Alice, wife of Mr. William Murphy, the parents of two children; Martha, wife of Mr. George Probes, has one child; and Thomas, Katie, Leo, Jay, and Milton. The Kent family enjoy the friendship and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

J. ABNER MYERS.

J. Ahner Myers, of an old and prominent Cus- ter county family, is one of the younger men among the early settlers there who have won sne- cess by their own efforts and are known as self- made men. He was born in Jersey county, Illi- nois, February 24, 1874, second born of the eight children of Henry H. and Mary (Hartley) Myers.

Mr. Myers was about eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to Boone county, Ne- braska, where they spent two years before com- ing to Custer county. In the fall of 1884 the parents located on a homestead on West Table, then containing but few settlers. Abner Myers there grew to manhood and received his educa- tion in local schools. Later he engaged in farm- ing on his own account, and on February 24, 1897, married Barbara Thostesen, at the home of her parents in Custer county. The Thostesen fam- ily came there in 1883 and engaged in farming. Mrs. Myers was born in Illinois and was brought to Nebraska in early childhood. Five children were born of this marriage: Rata, Tira, Edith, Sylvia and Willard H.

In 1900 Mr. Myers took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-two,

township seventeen, range twenty-three, which is now the home place. He has added to his hold- ings until he has four hundred acres of land in this farm, which is well improved and stocked. He has erected a nice farm residence and is much interested in all that pertains to the welfare and development of his county and state. He is now serving as treasurer of school district number one hundred and fifty-one. He and his wife are prominent in social circles and have many friends, both being among the older residents of Custer county.

HANS OLSON.

Hans Olson, who came to Pierce county, Ne- braska, in the early days of its settlement, and who has striven through many failures and hard- ships to establish a home and accumulate a com- petence for himself in the new western country, is now the owner of a fine farm, which is located in the northwest quarter of section twelve, town- ship twenty-eight, range three.

Mr. Olson is a native of Norway, born June 19, 1858, a son of George Olson, who was born in 1827, and died in 1902 at the home of his son. The mother was born in 1835 and died in 1897. The elder Olson with his family sailed from Telarmar- ken, Norway, in May of 1866, on the sailboat "Roska," and after a fair voyage of six weeks, landed at Quebec. The railroad extended only to Norway Station, Iowa, where an uncle, Knud Nelson, met them with a wagon and conveyed them to Omaha, reaching their destination after two or three days' camping, on the evening of the third of July. So small was the town at that time that the houses could easily be counted. The father remained in Omaha for a time and then filed on a homestead in Seward county, from which he retired in time and returned to Omaha.

Hans Olson was married in Columbus, Ne- braska, to Miss Julia Jacobson, a native of Den- mark, born September 1, 1858, a daughter of Ferdinand and Caroline (Lund) Jacobson, who sailed from Copenhagen for America in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents of eight chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Carrie, wife of Frank Prominski; Henry, married Elsa Beals; Julia, wife of Charles Borchert, of Java, South Dakota; Anna, Lottie, wife of Charles Rosburg : Morris, Walter and Evangeline. Mr. Olson is affiliated with the Masonic order, also the Modern Woodmen ; in politics, he votes the republican ticket.

When Mr. and Mrs. Olson settled on their present farm in Pierce county in 1884, it was open prairie ; here they built a sod house, partly extending into the hill, which was their home for a number of years. They immediately planted trees, which have grown into a fine grove, shelter- ing their frame dwelling, large barn and numer- ous outbuildings from the wintry winds. A view of their fine dwelling and surroundings, with the

RESIDENCE OF HANS OLSON.

"GLENDOWER," RESIDENCE OF ALBERT GREGERSEN.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

grove of big trees, is to be found on another page of this work, showing how rapidly Nebraska prairies may be developed into a comfortable country home. For several years after settling here, hay was their only fuel, and the prices of their products were very low; they have seen fresh eggs sell for a cent a dozen, and butter. corn and grain at a proportionately low price. When first they settled in Seward county, the elder Olson built a dugout, which was the family residence for a number of years. Deer and ante- lope were plentiful in those days, and were at times to be seen in droves on the hillsides.

ALBERT GREGERSEN.

Another one of the prominent old-timers of northeastern Nebraska, and a well known stock- man who has passed through all the experiences of the pioneer of that region. is found in the person of the gentleman above named. He now resides on seetion twenty-nine, township twenty-seven. range three, Pieree county, where he owns a val- uable estate of seventeen hundred acres of land. and is held in the highest esteem and respect by his fellowmen.

Albert Gregersen was born in the village of Enge, province of Schleswig, Denmark, July 16. 1850. He is the son of Peter C. and Cecelia (Cars- tensen) Gregersen, both natives of Schleswig. Our subject grew to manhood in his home country, during which time his native province was transferred to the Prussian Kingdom.

In 1870, he came to America to seek his for- tune in the land of promise, sailing from Ham- burg on the steamship "Silesia," landing in New York after a voyage of eleven days. For ten years he lived in Alliance, Iowa, the first three years working as a laborer. He then operated a cigar box factory for five years, and the last two years ran a saloon. In 1880 he transferred his busi- ness to Ida Grove, Iowa, and four years later came to Pierce county, Nebraska, to take posses- sion of land he had purchased there ten years be- fore in section twenty-nine, township twenty- seven, range two. For the first quarter-section, he paid two hundred and eighty-five dollars, and was the third owner of the tract. There was no railroad to Pierce at that time, so he came by rail to Oakdale and drove across country from there to the county seat, and thence to the land which formed the nucleus of his present holdings. Mr. Gregersen resided on this farm twenty-two years, adding to his possessions from time to time, until he owns nearly two thousand acres of farm and raneh land. the home farm comprising six hun- dred and forty acres. In 1906 he moved to his present ranch of five hundred and sixty acres. six miles west of his earlier home, and there built one of the finest country homes in this part of the west. The dwelling. a fine im- posing structure, makes a fine showing from all sides, but especially to travelers passing through

the country by rail. It is heated by furnace, has hot and cold water all over the house, and the deep, airy basement opening on the level of the ground to the east, makes it virtually a three story house. A windmill and large supply tank on the hill to the north gives an inexhaustible supply of clear, cold water to the dwelling, and also to all the barns upon the place which are numerous, as will be seen in the engraving we present on another page. A third ranch of four hundred and eighty acres in Antelope county furnishes summer pasture for his large herds of cattle and supplies many tons of hay.

Mr. Gregersen, unlike other pioneer settlers of this portion of Nebraska, escaped most of the hardships and disappointments in the early days, having come to the country with sufficient means to keep his family from want. The only season they burned hay was the first after their com- ing, and was not because of poverty but because coal was not to be had at any priee within haul- ing distance of his home. Unlike many of the pioneers, too, Mr. Gregersen never lived in a sod house, but built a comfortable frame dwell- ing the first year of his occupancy of the new land.

The blizzard of January 12, 1888, wrought no injury to Mr. Gregersen, but gave him no little anxiety, for the children, who were at school, did not return that night. A neighbor, William Hoowaldt, took all the children to his house, tying them together with a rope, that none should stray in the short distance between the school house and his home.

Illustrating the rapid increase in the value of Nebraska land, mention may be made of a traet of one hundred acres Mr. Gregersen purchased some years ago at forty-five dollars per acre and in two months sold at an advance of five hundred dollars. In 1911 the same land sold for over three hundred per cent of the price he paid for it, but a few years before.

In 1874, Mr. Gregerson was united in holy wed- lock to Miss Sofia Heeman, who was born in the Kingdom of Hanover in 1869, a daughter of Kort and Dorothea (Meierman) Heeman. Of this union have been born twelve children, a fine family : Rosa, Louis, Andrew, Ida, Albert, Nettie. Sofia, August, Siegfred, Clara, Edward. deceased. and Gahart. Rosa, Andrew and Nettie are mar- ried : Rosa to Herman Miller, of Pierce ; Andrew to Miss Margaret Fanger, who lives on the old home place ; and Nettie to Rev. John Matthiessen of Pieree.

Mr. Gregersen in religions faith is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in politics votes the democratie tieket. He is one of the best known and most highly respected men in the locality in which he resides.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

FRANK LIDMILA.

A sketch of the history of northeastern Ne- braska would be incomplete without mention of Frank Lidmila, one of the most prosperous early settlers of this region. Frank Lidmila was born in Poloceka, Austria, January 6, 1864. He is the son of Frank Lidmila, who was born in 1837, and Josephine (Tamela) Lidmila, who was born in 1841 and died in 1907. Our subject came from a sturdy, industrious stock, his parents being thrifty farmers, and also owning a large store in the old country. The family came to America about 1875. They lived in Iowa a short time and then came to Cuming county, Nebraska, and filed on a claim there. The father died a year later. The mother married Fred Kuester, who had a claim on Rock creek in that county.

The elder Lidmila first settled in Iowa in 1871, where he remained one year, going thence to West Point, Nebraska, and later took up a homestead in Dodge county, Nebraska, where he experienced the numerous hardships and dis- couragements of a great many of the old settlers of this section. Upon this land the father built a frame house, and his first team was oxen, which he used for his work. The nearest markets were at West Point and Fremont. Like others of the earliest settlers, Mr. Lidmila lost all his crops during the grasshopper raids at Wisner, and also suffered in the blizzards of 1873 and 1888.

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Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska, Part 103

Author: Alden Publishing Company Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : Alden Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1402

Author: Alden Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Alden Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1402