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 110

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 110

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

and markets so poor. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, on the rentals of which he lives comfortably in his town home, to which he retired in May, 1902, turning over to younger hands the task of active farm work.

Mr. Peter was married in Baltimore in Feb- ruary, 1854, to Miss Josephine Koch, a native of the village of Uhenbach, Kuhr-Hessia, Germany, a daughter of Fred and Mary (Hohman) Koch ; the mother died when Mrs. Peters was quite young, and the father some years later. The orphan girl sailed for America from Bremen on the ship "Sarah," and was on the water nine weeks in her voyage to Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Peter have five children: Mary, wife of Joseph Schramp, who farms near St. Helena; Elizabeth, is the wife of Henry Necker, whose farm is near Crofton; Mina and her husband, Leo Schramp, brother of Joseph, have a farm on Second Bow creek; and the sons, Frank and John, cultivate the old home farm, which is known as the Frank Bergman place.

Times were hard during the early years in Nebraska; grasshoppers began to be a pest as early as 1865, and in the seventies were an all- devouring swarm. For a number of years crops were partially, if not wholly, destroyed; flour at times cost the settlers eight dollars for a fifty- pound sack, and corn bread, though not so palatable, was in more general use. Of the blizzards that swept the plains, Mr. Peter has weathered his share; in the especially severe one of January 16 and 17, 1869, Mr. Peter and his son were in Gayville, South Dakota, where they were compelled to remain until the storm abated.

When Henry Hoese's mill was started, it be- came a very popular place for grist, so much so that sometimes a man was compelled to wait three days for his turn, camping near the mill the while. Game was plentiful, as one may sup- pose from an incident Mr. Peter relates: He was mowing and had stopped to rest his oxen when twenty-four antelope came close to him and re- mained as still as statues until he spoke to the oxen, when all were off like a flash.

The spot where Mr. Peter built was within fifty feet of the old Indian trail between the Santee and Ponca reservations, and Indians were always passing to and fro. He came home one day when they came to beg coffee and bread and insisted on having his stock of leather which he used in plying his trade in the west after settling here. Prairie fires wrought him damage from time to time, but the worst was when one burned nine log buildings he used for granary, corn-cribs, stables and such. Only the new house, standing at a little distance, escaped. His buildings-as numerous as a small village-were swept away by the flames, which were carried from a pile of burning straw. Their first dwelling -a log house-was swept away with the rest, and his loss included four or five hundred bushels

of corn and oats, together with machinery; a severe loss for him at that time.

At the time of the great flood of March, 1881, many found refuge at Mr. Peter's home until the waters subsided and they could return to their own homes. He kept his brother-in-law's cattle for him for a time until their flooded pastures were again fit to graze.

Mr. Peter is one of Cedar county's most sub- stantial citizens, one who has done his share in the development of the west, has reared a creditable family and started them all on the road to prosperity. Such men are the bulwark of the nation. Mr. Peter is a democrat in politics, and a devout member of the Catholic church, to which he contributes liberally. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Peter will be found on another page.

CHARLES LEDERER.

Charles Lederer is indeed entitled to the claim of "old settler," having lived in Pierce county, Nebraska, some twenty-five years, where he now resides in the north half of section twenty, township twenty-five, range two. His place is very well improved, having a twenty acre grove, the finest in the county, planted in 1870.

Mr. Lederer was born May 1, 1850, in the town of Geredstetten, Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Ger- many, and is the son of Gotlieb and Barbara (Baeder) Lederer; the former was born in 1809 and died February 3, 1892, and the latter was born in 1813, and died in February, 1874. Mr. Lederer's father was a farmer, in the old coun- try, owning a large vineyard. He served in the army in that country for six years, and in 1855 emigrated to America by way of Paris and Havre, France, where he embarked in a sailship, the "Confederation," a new boat, that being its first trip across the ocean. After a voyage of eight weeks, they landed in New York, whence they journeyed to Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, and from thence they went to Whiteside county, Illinois, in February, 1864, and here the father died.

Charles Lederer was reared in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Coming to Nebraska in 1882, he rented for two years a farm four miles west of Norfolk, and on March 3, 1885, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where he bought the relin- quishment on a tree claim of eighty acres in sec- tion twenty-eight, township twenty-five, range two, for six hundred dollars, which he improved. He first put up a sod house and lived in that two years. He sold to James Colson in 1886, and again rented a farm for two years. He then bought the southeast quarter of section nineteen, town- ship twenty-five, range two, living on this farm for sixteen years, and during that time made very good improvements, selling August 23, 1904. In 1901 he had purchased the land he now oc-

MR. AND MRS. MICKEL PETER.

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cupies, the north half of section twenty, township twenty-five, range two, and erected all of the buildings on the place. No finer farm property is to be found in this part of Nebraska.

Mr. Lederer was married November 27, 1873. to Miss Mary Brubaker, of Whiteside county, Illinois, whose parents, Daniel and Annie (Meyers) Brubaker, came from Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Lederer are the parents of eight children, named as follows: Louis Henry, Charles Marion, Noah Webster, John Martin, Cleo, George W., Walter Scott, and Ruth Mary. Some of the children are married, and have presented the old people eight grand- children.

Mr. Lederer votes the republican ticket, and was reared in the Lutheran faith.

CHRISTIAN NELSEN.

Christian Nelsen, a well-to-do agriculturalist and business man of Howard county and owner of a valuable estate in Loup Fork precinct, is a son of Nels and Mariane Envoldsen, whose life histories are recorded in this volume on another page. He was born in Denmark in 1870, and was about two years of age when his parents emi- grated to America.

Mr. Nelsen grew up in Howard county, Ne- braska, as a mere boy taking a man's place in helping his father carry on the home farm. In 1893 he struck out on his own hook, purchas- ing a tract of land containing eighty acres, sit- uated on section twenty-four, township thirteen, range twelve, which he put in good shape and car- ried on for three years. He erected substantial buildings and engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, and then sold out at a profit. About 1897 he moved to Boelus and engaged in the livery business. He put forth every effort in building up a trade, had first class rigs, was ever trying to please the public and give them the best service possible to be had, and ran the barn successfully for about three years, at which time he was appointed manager of the T. B. Hord Grain and Elevator Company in Boelus. In this capacity owing to his energy and good busi- ness ability he has gained the entire confidence of his employers and continues in the work at the present time, proving a most efficient and reliable man for the place, whose services are greatly appreciated by the company.

Mr. Nelsen was married in August, 1905, to Mary Rasmussen, of Howard county. Mrs. Nel- sen had been a popular teacher in the public schools of Nebraska for six years prior to her marriage, and is an accomplished and charm- ing young woman. They have one child, Chris tian Adelbert, who is a bright and promising youngster, the pride of his parents' hearts.

Our subject is a young man of promise, and in the various enterprises in which he has en. 1

gaged, has met with merited success. He is owner of a handsome residence property in Boelus, also owns a fine quarter section of land in Sherman county.

EDWARD FAGEN.

Edward Fagen is one of the few original homesteaders of Sherman county who still re- sides on their original homestead farms. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, April 3, 1852, fifth of the eight children born to Edward and Mary (O'Rourke) Fagen, who were parents of five sons and three daughters. When Edward Fagen was six months old his parents located on a farm where he was reared and remained until his twenty-fourth year, receiving his education in the local schools. He then moved to Harrison county, in western Iowa, rented a farm and en- gaged in farming on his own account. He may be said to be a self-made man, as at the time he left home he had but fifty dollars in cash, but was possessed of energy and ambition and also a de- termination to improve his condition.

On February 2, 1880, Mr. Fagen was united in marriage with Miss Mary McDowell, the eldest of the eight children of Barney and Mary (Hughes) McDowell, then living in Harrison county, Iowa. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Fagen made a trip from Harrison county, Iowa, to Sher- man county, Nebraska, where he took up his present homestead on section seven, township sixteen, range sixteen, then returned to his home in Iowa. The following spring he made the trip to his new home with teams and wagons, taking his household goods and driving cattle to the homestead, the trip lasting about ten days. His wife and their two children, Agnes and Minnie, came by railroad to Grand Island, Nebraska, and thence by team to the new farm. In that day Grand Island was the trading point for a large territory in the surrounding country and was a busy, thriving town. The Fagens were among the early settlers of Sherman county and passed through years of privation and struggle against pioneer hardships and discouragements. Mr. Fagen became one of the most successful farmers and stockmen of his part of the state and now owns the east half of section seven, where he has a comfortable home and a well equipped farm. In a quiet, unassuming way he has assisted in the advancement and progress of central Nebraska and has many close friends there. His is a rep- resentative family and they have at heart the best interests of the community.

Six children have been born to Mr. Fagen and wife, of whom five now survive, namely: Agnes. wife of Alfred Anderson, of Fremont, Nebraska, has one child; Minnie, wife of Theodore Guyon, of Fremont. also has one child; Vincent, at home ; Katie married Thomas Murrey, and they live in Custer county; Elizabeth, deceased; Edward, at home.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Mr. Fagen is independent in politics, voting for the man irrespective of party. With his fam- ily he is a member of the Catholic church.

When the blizzard of January 12, 1888, struck, Mr. Fagen was riding to Arcadia with a neighbor. As soon as the storm abated he started back on foot, reaching home abont daylight, braving the bitter cold to be assured that his family was not suffering. Mrs. Fagen, when the storm came on, turned the cattle out of the pen coralls that they might find shelter behind the stacks and brought in corn enough to burn and keep them warm through the night.

JACOB MULLER.

Among those who have contributed largely to the prosperity of Madison county, Nebraska, and whose patient industry and well directed energy have brought individual competence, may be mentioned Jacob Muller, whose fine farm lies in section six, township twenty-three, range three, where he has built up a pleasant, comfort- able home, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends.

Mr. Muller is a native of Hamburg, Germany, where he was born in October, 1856, a son of Henry and Lizzie Muller, both natives of the German Empire, who died when our subject was but a small boy. Mr. Muller grew to his manhood days in his native land, receiving the usual school- ing, and working on farms and after attaining the proper age was drafted into the army, serv- ing three years as a soldier of the German Em- pire.

In 1887, Mr. Muller left his fatherland for America, the new world of which he had heard so much ; he embarked on the steamship "Haps- burg," sailing from Bremen, and landed in New York after a voyage of twelve days. After reach- ing the United States, he immediately started for the west, locating in Saline county, Missouri, which was his home for five years.

In 1892, Mr. Muller came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought the Joe Hurd home- stead; on this land he first built a shanty, liv- ing in this a few years, when a fine new residence replaced the original dwelling. Although not as old a settler in point of time as some of the in- habitants of this region, Mr. Muller. has proven himself a worthy and progressive citizen in his eighteen years or more of residence here. He has made rapid improvements on his property and now owns a good farm and home where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and in their home are sur- rounded by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances.

Mr. Muller was united in marriage to Miss Anna Buck, in June, 1888; Miss Buck was a na- tive of Hanover Province, Germany, and a daughter of John and Margurete Buck, also na-

tives of Hanover Province. Mr. and Mrs. Muller are the parents of five children whose names are as follows: Maggie, Lizzie, Annie, Martha, and Elmer.

SAMUEL M. LUCE.

Samuel M. Luce is a citizen who is much in- terested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of Custer county and Nebraska, and has been a resident of the state about thirty years. He is a native of Maine, born near Ban- gor, March 25, 1850, sixth born of the eight chil- dren of William and Hulda (Rogers) Luce, the father a native of Maine and the mother of Massa- chusetts. Both parents died in Iowa, the father about 1871 and the mother in 1870. Four of the sons served in the civil war, but in different reg- iments, all from Illinois: William S., in the Ninth Cavalry, Alonzo in the Nineteenth Infantry, Richard in the Ninety-third Infantry and Isaac in the One Hundred and Twelfth Infantry. The children now surviving are: Two sons in Clarke county, Iowa; one son in Iola, Kansas; one daughter in Oklahoma, and Samuel M., of this article.

In 1854, when about four years of age, Mr. Luce accompanied his parents to Grand Prairie, Stark county, Illinois, and there he received most of his education. In 1866 the family moved to Clarke county, Iowa, where Samuel completed his education and then engaged in farming on his own account. He was married near Leslie, Clarke county, February 28, 1872, at the home of her parents, to Miss Mary V. Perry, a native of Illinois. Her father, Zachariah Perry, was a na- tive of Kentucky, moved to Illinois before his marriage, and in 1882 took a homestead in Cus- ter county, where he died in 1893. The mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Keedy, was born in Illinois and died in Custer county in 1892. Mrs. Luce has a brother, Elijah, living two miles east of Merna, Custer county; her brother, Robert. lives in Broken Bow, where he has a plumbing business, and another brother, Charles Rufus. lives near the Luce homestead, three miles south- west of Merna.

Mr. and Mrs. Luce made their first home on the Iowa farm and lived there until the spring of 1882, when they came to Nebraska, spending one year in Nuckolls county, although during that spring Mr. Luce had come on to Custer county and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section six, township seven- teen, range twenty-one, where he located in 1883. and which was his home until he retired from active life. He also secured a timber claim in section eleven, township seventeen, range twenty- two. He brought his place to a high state of improvement, devoting it to grain and stock farming, and now owns there hundred and twenty acres of well improved and equipped land,

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

part of it being his original homestead. He is much interested in local affairs and was instru- mental in organizing school district number sixteen, helping to erect the little sod house. He served many years on the school board and was road supervisor eight years. Ile is well and fa- vorably known in the county, in many circles, and identified with the movements for the de- velopment and upbuilding of the region. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen, the Modern Brotherhood, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, being active in all these orders. In January, 1906, he retired from farm work, erecting a handsome resi- dence in Merna, the present home. For six- teen years he conducted a threshing machine, but in 1887 his left hand was caught in the ma- chinery and taken off.

Mr. and Mrs. Luce have had seven children : Sarah F., wife of Benjamin Browning, of Merna, has two sons; Elijah L., married and living twelve miles west of Merna, has two sons; Nancy, wife of Del Jones, of Merna, has five sons; LeRoy L., married and living in Merna, has two chil- dren; John W., married and living at Ulysses. Nebraska; Charles W., whose wife died in May, 1909, has two children; Bessie, married Orvil Burton and they live on her father's original homestead.

C. O. SELLON.

In compiling a list of the citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have become identified with the development of the agricultural and live stock interests of that region, a place must be accorded the name of the above mentioned gentleman, who is the owner of a valuable estate located in section sixteen, township twenty-seven. range one. He has there a comfortable home and has gathered about him the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and is reaping the reward of his years of hard work.

Mr. Sellon was born in 1864, in the state of lowa. His parents, William and Theresa Sellon. are of English descent, the family having come to this country at a very early date. C. O. Sellon spent his childhood and early years in his native state, which was then regarded as being on the frontier.

In 1884, Mr. Sellon came to Wayne county and worked on various farms until 1891, when he purchased his present farm, and this estate has been his home ever since. The subscriber has met some of the usual reverses encountered by the settlers, but he is a man of great energy and has prospered through his persistent efforts. Since his possession, he has added many improve- ments to the estate which have greatly enhanced its value, the place being wild prairie at the time of purchase. For many years, he has given con- siderable time and attention to cattle, hogs, and sheep, and has met with great success.

Mr. Sellon was married, in 1888, to Miss Mag- gie McNeill, of Cedar county, but born in east- ern Iowa, and ten children have been born to them: Harry, Roy, Vernie, Ray, Gail, Mark, Ora, Arthur, May and Elsie.

Mr. Sellon has always taken an active interest in all public affairs and has materially aided the development and upbuilding of the communtiy.

M. PATTERSON.

In reviewing the life history of this gentle- man, we find him to be one of the oldest men of his locality, as well as among the very earliest pioneers of middle Nebraska. Mr. Patterson has seen all the wonderful changes incident to the development and progress of a country blessed with more than the usual amount of natural re- sources, and in this advancement he has himself been no small factor.

Mr. Patterson was born in Tompkins county, New York state on January 4, 1834, and grew to the age of six years in that vicinity, then his parents moved to Wisconsin, where he received his education and at the age of twenty started out for himself, doing government surveying in Minnesota. In 1858 he went to Colorado in search of gold, and spent two years in the west, then returned to Minnesota and arrived home just in time to cast his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln for president. At the first call for volun- teers by his country, he enlisted and had the honor to be the first man to put his name on the roll as ready for service in the army. He remain- ed with his company for about eighteen months, then received an honorable discharge and went to Wisconsin where he began farming and was married there on February 23, 1865, to Miss Cyn- thia Smith, of that state. In 1871 he came into Nebraska, settling on a homestead in Boone county and succeeded in building up a good farm. passing through all the pioneer experiences of those days, finally retiring from agricultural pursuits in the fall of 1879, at that time locating in Genoa. He remained there for eight years. His next location was in Central City, where he served as county surveyor and city engineer for four years, then went to Boone county and was county surveyor there for a number of years. In 1900 he removed with his family to Genoa, and has made that his home since that time.

The Patterson family are widely and favor- ably known throughout Nance county as being among the prominent pioneers of the region. Mr. Patterson is well-to-do, having accumulated a valuable property by dint of thrift and good busi- ness ability, and he also takes an active interest in the commercial and political life of his county and state.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

JOSEPH J. WALKER.

Joseph J. Walker is a gentleman of active public spirit and sterling character, who has taken an active part in the upbuilding of the region where he chose his home many years ago. For many years he has been associated with the agricultural and other best interests of Boyd county, Nebraska, where he now resides on sec- tion thirty-one, township thirty-five, range twelve, highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he has had to do.

Mr. Walker was born in 1858, in Grant county, Wisconsin, a son of Jonathan and Louisa (Eldridge) Walker, who were natives of New York state. Our subject's father served in the civil war, enlisting in a Wisconsin volunteer infantry regiment, and saw duty all through the war. He served under General Sherman and was with him on the memorable mareh to the sea. After the war, Jonathan Walker continued to re- side in Grant county, Wisconsin, and lives there at the present time. Our subject's mother died there in 1876.

In 1884, Joseph J. Walker and family moved from Wisconsin to Moody county, South Dako- ta, where they remained three years, then going to Sioux county, Iowa, living there six years.

In 1890, Mr. Walker, our subject, and family, drove from Sioux county, Iowa, to Boyd county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead five miles west and two miles north of Butte, which he improved and on which he built a frame house. He remained here until 1904. He then sold, and bought the Sid Smith homestead, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, and also has ten acres of natural forest trees along the creek.

September 2, 1880, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Gratz, and Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of nine children, whose names are as follows: William J., Anna E., Stella E., Rosa E., Mabel L., Clayton J., Howard C., Arlie O. and Drusilla I.

Mr. Walker has had his experiences and hard- ships of Nebraska frontier life, but these events have passed into history, and he now enjoys the prosperity that has come to the faithful who have stuck through thick and thin.

FREDERICK RABELER, Sr.

Frederick Rabeler, senior, was born in Ger- many, June 8, 1841. He came to America in August, 1882, first locating in Platte county, Ne- braska, where he remained about six months, and from there moving to Stanton county. Mr. Rabeler was the third ehild in the family of Frederick and Anna Rabeler, who had one son and three daughters.

Mr. Rabeler was married in Germany to Miss Margaret Putensen, May 1, 1869, and at the time of emigrating to America, there were in the family himself, wife and six children, They now

have seven children, whose names are as follows: Frederick H., married and living in Leigh, Ne- braska, who is mentioned at length in this bio- graphical writing; Alwine, married to Carl Mul- lenhoff, they having five children and residing in Colfax county ; Marie, wife of Ed. Wurdeman, has three children, and lives in Leigh, Nebraska ; Henry, married and living in Stanton eounty on the home farm; Freida, wife of Oliver Oleson, lives in Platte county, Nebraska, they having five children; Paulina, who was born in Stanton county, Nebraska, is the wife of Clarenee Oleson, has two children and lives in Platte county, and Alex, also born in Stanton county, where he is residing at the present time.

Mr. Rabeler upon coming to Nebraska pur- chased six hundred and forty acres of land in Stanton county, where he now owns sixteen hundred acres, and one hundred and sixty acres in Platte county. He has been an active and progressive man of affairs and is one of the prominent farmers and stockmen of this portion of Nebraska. He has passed through the ad- verse years of this portion of Nebraska, and as- sisted in building up this section of the state. He and his family are widely and favorably known, and have had much to do with the affairs of their .community. Mr. Rabeler now resides in Leigh, Nebraska, where he came to live in 1900, and is vice president of the First National bank of that place.

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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 110

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