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 119

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 119

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During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Kolterman and a former officer of the German army had gone for a load of straw. The officer had scouted the idea of a storm in which he could not find his way. On the return, the storm sud- denly struck them, blotting ont everything be- yond an arm's length. After the horses had found their way to the barn, the young officer was willing to concede the western blizzard to be the worst of storms. Storm-bound neighbors held at Mr. Kolterman's place filled the barn, hod house and chicken house with their horses, and crowded into the house, remaining until the storm abated the next day.

Deer, antelope, and elk were plentiful in the early days of settlement, and ducks and geese were easily secured. Mr. Kolterman killed four- teen at one shot on one occasion, in the stream near his home.

John F. Kolterman was married April 20, 1879. to Miss Wilhelmina Buetow, and four children were born to them: Laurence, married to Miss Mary Natzke, and has two children, Leonard and Norman; Emil, who is married to Miss Lena

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Manske, and has one child, Irene; and Louis and Johan Friederich, who died in infancy.

Our subject was again married December 26, 1893, to Miss Anna Smith, a native of Tama county, Iowa, daughter of George Smith; her mother was a Miss Becker. They were natives of the village of Carolinensiel, East Fresia, Ger- many, and came to America in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Kolterman have two children, Esther and Erwin.

Mr. Kolterman is a member of the German Lutheran church. He has served his community as county commissioner for six years, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know . him.

We are pleased to call attention to a view of Mr. Kolterman's fine country home and surround- ings to be found on another page.

CLAUS HERMAN KOPPELMANN.

Among the prosperous citizens of Pierce county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality, is the subject of this review, Claus H. Koppelmann, owner of a valuable estate in Allen precinct.

Mr. Koppelmann was born in the village of Kuden, Holstein, then a province of Denmark, March 20, 1851, where he was reared on his fath- er's farm, assisting his parents in the work until he left home and began a career for himself. He was married in his native land, his wife being a native of the same village and province.

On March 6, 1881, Mr. Koppelmann embarked for America with his family, sailing from Ham- burg, to Havre, France, and thence to New York, on the steamer "Lessing." After a short visit with Mrs. Koppelmann's relatives at Elizabeth, New Jersey, the family became residents of Ben- ton county, Iowa, where Mr. Koppelmann worked on the railroad for two years at Belle Plaine. From 1883 to 1885 he was employed as foreman on a large stock farm in Benton county.

In 1885 Mr. Koppelman traveled farther west, locating in Pierce county, Nebraska, where, after renting five years, he settled on his present farm, which is situated in the southwest quarter of section seven, township twenty-seven, range one. They occupied a dugout for five years and then built a good frame house, their present dwelling. Mr. Koppelmann now owns three hun- dred and twenty acres of good land, having pur- chased the northwest quarter of section seven in 1906. Here he engages in stock raising, growing enough grain to fatten four carloads of cattle per year and four carloads of hogs. He has about two acres of trees growing on his home place, and an orchard of equal area, which he planted on the open prairie. At that time there was not a tree in sight. Land that at that time could have been bought for six or seven dollars, has since sold for one hundred dollars an aere.

Mr. Koppelmann has experienced all the hard-

ships and privations which so many of the earlier settlers had to face upon coming to the new coun- try. He lost all his crops in the hailstorms of 1887 and 1890, 1893 and 1896. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, the children, most of them quite small, were all at school, remaining there through the night. Mr. Koppelmann took lunch to them about three o'clock in the morning; the scholars were huddled together very hungry and cold, having burned the last lump of coal. He lost some cattle in this blizzard. During the early days while a renter, he burned hay for three years, and later used corn for fuel when it was selling for eight cents. During the year of drouth, 1894, Mr. Koppelmann had a fairly good crop of corn, wheat and oats. When he first came to the coun- try, prairie 'chickens were plentiful, furnishing fresh meat to the hungry settlers.

Mr. Koppelmann was married February 28, 1875, to Miss Margaret Umlandte, a native of the village of Kuden, where they were married, and a daughter of Diedrich and Margaretta (Soeth) Umlandte. Fifteen children have been born to them, three of whom died in Germany. Those liv- ing are: John; Maggie, wife of Henry Huwald, has three children, Emma, Wilhelm and Walda ; Henry ; Anna, wife of Frank Stadry, has three children, Esther, Fremont and Nora; Gustav, married Anna Blackwell; Louis; Emma, married John Schroeder, a farmer of Allen township, and Hulda.

Mr. Koppelmann is a worthy citizen, esteemed and respected by all. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a communicant of the German Lutheran church. He is a republican.

Mr. Koppelmann's farm is well equipped with machinery, including a gas engine, which operates the grindstone, separator, churn and washing ma- chine. There is running water in the house and in all the barns and sheds. We call attention to a view of Mr. Koppelmann's residence and farm buildings on another page.

W. A. TAWNEY.

W. A. Tawney, long and prominently known in the eastern part of the state of Nebraska, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, in the year 1868, coming of old American stock, his father, J. E. Tawney, and his mother, Anna (McCul- lough) Tawney, being born in the state of Penn- sylvania. Our subject's father enlisted in the army in the civil war on the Union side, and was discharged three months later.

W. A. Tawney, when but a lad of ten years or so, came with his parents to Saunders county, Ne- braska, in 1878, and after his marriage came to Pierce county in 1894. where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty- four, township twenty-eight, range three, four acres of which is given to trees, and where our

RESIDENCE OF CLAUS H. KOPPELMANN.

"RIVERSIDE STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF J. F. KOLTERMAN.

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subject resided until his death, April 13, 1911.

Mr. Tawney was married to Miss Jennie Lewis, on March 8, 1893, and three children were born to them, who are named as follows: Edward, William, and Morris, all under the parental roof.

Mr. Tawney was a member of the Presbyterian church, and affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge, also the Modern Wood- men of America. Politically he was independent, voting for the best man.

CHRISTOPHER CROW. (Deceased.)

Christopher Crow, deceased, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, July 18, 1840, and was a son of Charley and Mary (Welsh) Crow.

In March, 1861, Mr. Crow was married to Miss Susanna MeCracken and ten children were the re- sult of this marriage: W. J., who lives in Howard county ; Eliza Jane, now Mrs. Armstrong, lives in New York state; Charles Wesley, now deceased ; Mary Ann, who is now Mrs. M. A. Loury, lives in Ohio ; George F., resides in St. Paul, Nebraska ; Joseph H., lives in Howard county ; Lavina, now Mrs. Frank Murr, who resides in Chicago, Illinois ; Hannah, died when two years old, and two died in infancy. Mrs. Crow died May 15, 1880.

Mr. Crow was again married, this time to Mar- garet Crow. Eight children were born of the sec- ond marriage, as follows: Mabel, Christopher, Ar- thur, David, Paul, and Floyd, two died in in- fancy.

Mr. Crow is widely known, and always was a man of energy and push, being interested in num- erous business enterprises in Howard county, where he put in the first saw mill and grist mill erected in the county, and also ran the first thresh- ing machine used there. He came into Howard county early in the spring of 1872, where he founded a colony of Canadians on what was known as "Canada Hill."

Mr. Crow was interested in many business en- terprises in Nebraska and other states, and at the time of his death, June 12, 1903, resided on his farm, west of St. Paul, Nebraska.

He was a christian man, and a prominent mem- her of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a charter member of St. Paul lodge number thirty- one, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was always up and doing for the interests of his home county and state.

Thus ends the history of a well spent, useful and upright life, the end being full of peace and honors.

BENNIE JOHNSON.

Among the prominent pioneers of Madison county, Nebraska, we mention Bennie Johnson. This gentleman is justly entitled to a foremost place among the sturdy old settlers who helped

to make the region what it is today, as he has ever been on the side of progress and justice, taking an active part in public affairs and lending his aid and influence for the betterment of conditions in his community.

Mr. Johnson is a native of the state of Illinois. He was born July 1, 1871, and is a son of John and Nellie Johnson, both of whom were born and raised in Sweden, coming to this country shortly after their marriage and settling in Sterling, Illi- nois, where Mr. Johnson worked in a factory, and where the first eleven years of our subject's life were spent. The family then came to Madison county, where the father bought some railroad land and built a sod house for temporary use, but which remained their dwelling for a number of years. This was made very comfortable, having a good shingle roof to shed the water, and with- stood severe storms winter and summer: They worked hard to improve their farm, and suc- ceeded as well as the majority of the early settlers. meeting with the usual setbacks occasioned by drouths, etc., finally adding to the original tract until there was altogether one hundred and sixty acres of well tilled land, and a good set of build- ings.

Our subject started for himself in 1895, pur- chasing a farm, which he has now in first class condition, and is classed among the prosperous and well known citizens of his locality.

He was married February 15, 1895, to Miss Christine Newman, and they have three children : Carl O., Nellie M. and Alice E. Mrs. Johnson's parents were natives of Sweden, coming from that conntry to America at a very early date, and set- tling in Vermont, where Mr. Newman worked in a stone quarry for a number of years. From there they went to New York state, the father working in the mines, and it was during their resi- dence there that Christine was born. In 1878 the family emigrated west, settling in Platte county, on railroad land. In June, 1884, their house was burned to the ground with all contents, and left them practically destitute.

Mr. Johnson's father retired from active work in 1907 and moved to Newman Grove, where he resided two years before his death in 1909, and was one of the leading merchants of that thriving town.

PHILLIP MCGRATH.

Phillip McGrath, one of Custer county's most highly respected citizens, and a resident of Merna since 1900, is one of the oldest men in his part of the state, but retains his active interest in all that transpires about him and is ready to advance the welfare and progress of his county and state. He was born in county Tipperary, Ireland. June 29. 1818, next to the youngest of thirteen children born to Thomas and Nellie (Hanley) MeGrath, and is the only one of the family now surviving. He was reared and educated in his native place

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and was married on February 1, 1848, in Nenaugh, Ireland, to Miss Catherine Hogan, also of Irish birth. In July, 1848, they came to America and located first at Pleasantville, New York, where they spent six years, he being engaged in railroad work. In 1854 he went to Chicago, where he served three years on the police force, and they made their home in that city several years. In 1861 they moved to Lily Lake, Illinois, and there Mr. McGrath carried on his first farming opera- tions in America. In 1865 they went to Lacon, Illinois, their home for many years.

June 7, 1884, Mr. MeGrath came to Custer county to visit his daughter, Mrs. Terry Johnson, who with her husband had come to Nebraska in 1881 and secured a homestead in Custer county. Mr. MeGrath secured a homestead of a quarter section of land on section nineteen, township eighteen, range twenty-one, which he still owns, and his wife and family joined him in 1885, living on the farm many years. Mrs. McGrath died in Merna, February 11, 1907, being survived by her husband and five children : Thomas, married and living in Merna, has six children; Mrs. Al Thomas, of Holly, Colorado, has three children ; John, a physician, died in 1887; Mrs. Mike Me- Carty, living four miles west of Merna, has four children ; Frank, of Holly, Colorado; Mrs. Terry Johnson, of Sargent, has eight children.

Mr. McGrath passed through many disconr- agements in his early days in Nebraska and had the usual experiences of pioneer life. He served eleven years as treasurer of his school district, number one hundred and sixty two. In February, 1900, Mr. MeGrath moved to Merna and pur- chased four acres of land which had been home- steaded by his daughter, Mrs. Johnson. He is surrounded by a large circle of friends and has a good standing in the community. He has been successful in his farming and stock raising and owns a grain farm of one hundred and eighty acres near Merna and good property in town. He has six great grandchildren and is held in great reverence and esteem by his many descendants. A sketch of his son Thomas appears in this work.

HARRY HUGHES.

The gentleman named above is considered to be one of the most progressive agriculturalists of Wayne county. Although not, strictly speaking, one of the pioneer settlers, he has for years taken a prominent place in the upbuilding of the most important interests of the community. He is the owner of a fine farm located in section one. town- ship twenty-six, range one, with a comfortable home upon it.

Mr. Hughes was born in 1860, in Wales, and is the son of James and Sydna Hughes. The years of his childhood and young manhood were spent in his native country with his parents, and it was also in this place that he secured his education.

Having thought the matter out in all its rela- tions carefully, Mr. Hughes came to the conclu- sion that the place for a young man to get a start was in America, where the country was new and where he could get land cheaper. Accordingly, in 1888, he set sail from Liverpool in a little ves- sel bound for New York City. After his arrival in that city, he went direct to Pennsylvania, but remained in that state only one year. The call of the west was still abroad in the land, however, and he followed its leading to Red Oak, Iowa. He remained there for two years, and then in 1891, came to Wayne county, Nebraska. He at once bought his present home of one hundred and sixty acres and this has been the family homestead ever since.

Since this farm has come into his possession, Mr. Hughes has improved it in many ways, so that its value has been greatly enhanced. He has erected roomy and substantial buildings, set out trees, and dug wells, until now it is reckoned as among the most valuable in that section.

The year after coming to Nebraska, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hammer. Four children have been born to them, named as follows: Sydna, Thomas, Evan, and Ismael.

ADOLPH NITZEL.

Adolph Nitzel, one of the prominent residents of section three, township fourteen, range seven, Merrick county, Nebraska, has spent many years in this part of the country, and is well known as a man of energetic habits and sterling qualities.

Mr. Nitzel is a native of Dekalb county, Illi- nois, born in Sandwich, in the above named county and state, November 16, 1864, and was the eighth child in the family of Henry and Chris- tina (Immel) Nitzel, who had four sons and five daughters. Our subject lived in Illinois until thirteen years of age.

In March, 1878, the Nitzel family of mother, two sons, William and Adolph, and daughter Min- nie, moved from Illinois to Merrick county, Ne- braska. Henry Nitzel, the father, had died in Illinois in the fall of 1868. The family had pur- chased eighty acres on section three, township fourteen, range seven, of the Union Pacific rail- road in 1871, and upon moving to Nebraska built on this eighty which became the home farm; and they have since added to this land at different times until the Nitzel family own about six hun- dred and eighty acres.

Adolph Nitzel from his thirteenth year grew up on the farm and received such advantages as local schooling, etc. In his twenty-first year he went to Rock county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead.

On March 18, 1891, Mr. Nitzel was married to Miss Sophia Van Pelt, a native of Ohio, but whose family came from Ohio to Merrick county, Ne- braska, in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Nitzel made the

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Rock county homestead their home until the fall of 1892, when Mr. Nitzel purchased two hundred acres of the Nitzel home farm in Merriek county of his mother, and moved from Rock county back to the old original home farm where he now re- sides.

Mr. Nitzel is a self-made man, successful, and now owns two hundred and eighty acres, and is a prosperous farmer and stoekman, making a specialty of short-horn cattle. He also holds the position of shipper for the Archer Shipping Asso- ciation. He is a quiet man along political lines, but has always taken an active interest in the up- building of his home and the affairs of his eounty and state.

Mr. and Mrs. Nitzel have three children : Lloyd, Jefferson, and Paul, and they are an inter- esting family. Mr. Nitzel's mother and brother William live on an adjoining farm to the east.

LOUIS F. SKOKAN.

Louis F. Skokan, a well known farmer and stockman of Knox county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old settlers of that section of the state, where he has spent all but about six months of his entire life. He has contributed in no small de- gree to the welfare of his community and has as- sisted in the development of the farming resources in the locality in which he resides. His home is lo- cated in seetion two, township thirty-one, range six, where he and his wife and family reside, sur- rounded by a large circle of kind friends and neighbors.

Mr. Skokan is a native of Bohemia, his birth occurring in the year of 1878, and he is the son of Frank and Anna (Safarik) Skokan, both na- tives of Bohemia, and who came to America in 1878, when our subjeet was but six months old. After landing on the shores of the new world, our subjeet, with his parents, came to Knox county, Nebraska, where the father took up a homestead claim on seetion five, township thirty- one, range six, where he put up a log house and steadily improved the farm. Here our subject and his parents experienced the many hardships and dangers which beset the early settler of the west- ern frontier. Mr. Skokan grew to manhood on the old homestead farm, receiving what educa- tional advantages were obtainable in the first days of settlement there, and which gradually became better, and helping on the farm as he be- came old enough to be a help to his parents. After reaching manhood's estate, Mr. Skokan started in life for himself and bought the farm known as the John Wilson homestead, where lie now lives, and which is well improved.

In 1901 Mr. Skokan was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Tichy, whose parents were early settlers in Nebraska, eoming to the state in 1863. just forty-eight years ago, when this part of the western country was but a wilderness peopled by Indians, and where deer, antelope and other wild

game grazed on the unbroken prairies. Mr. and Mrs. Skokan are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Addie, Emil, and Louise. They are a fine family and enjoy the re- spect and high regard of all who know them.

PATRICK GLEASON. (Deceased.)

This honorable name is that of a man who passed on to the better world, leaving behind him the record of good and useful years, and should not be omitted from any comprehensive roll of the makers of Platte county, Nebraska. He was born in county Kerry, Ireland, about 1829, and came to this country in 1849, and after living in the eastern and southern states until 1857, he came to Platte county and was one of the orig- inal homesteaders of this county. Mr. Gleason was married to Miss Mary Foley in St. Joseph, Missouri, about 1856, going from Omaha, Ne- braska, to be married; and he and his wife then came to Nebraska to make their home.

Mr. and Mrs. Gleason were among the first pioneer settlers of Platte county, and to them and those who came in the early days, Platte county owes much of its growth and prosperity. Mr. Gleason was of sturdy and energetic stock, and was a successful farmer and stock raiser and the old home farm was his residence until the time of his death, December 13, 1897. Mrs. Gleason died May 13, 1898.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gleason : Mary, deceased; Thomas, married and living at Platte Center; Margaret, Patrick and Nellie. Patriek and Misses Margaret and Nellie left the farm in March, 1909, having lived on the old homestead since birth. The Gleason family are among the very first families, and the children were among the first ehildren to be born in Platte county.

Patrick Gleason and sisters Margaret and Nellie now reside in their new modern home place just southwest of Platte Center, where they built one of the finest houses in Platte county. The old farm of four hundred and forty acres on Shell Creek, still remains in the Gleason family. Pat- rick Gleason now gives his attention to raising thoroughbred hogs.

But few families still remain of the old set- tlers stock, and families like the Gleasons are widely known and have the respect and esteem of many friends. Mrs. Mary, the mother, was a woman of many noble qualities, and was always doing her part toward building up the best moral and church influences, and will ever remain en- deared in the memory of many of the old resi- dents.

JOHN THIESSEN.

Among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county who have spent many years in this lo- cality, is the subject of this review, John Thies-

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sen, owner of a valuable estate in section thirty- six, township twenty-five, range eight. For many years past he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has done his full share as one of the old settlers towards the development of the better interests of his community ; and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

Mr. Thiessen is a native of Germany, born in Bucholtz village, Holstein province, June 13, 1865, and is the son of Clouse and Abel Kruzie; the father's birth occurred in the year 1831, he following the occupation of farming after grow- ing to manhood; and also fought in the Danish army during 1848.

John Thiessen grew to young manhood in his native land and in 1888, sailed for America where he could get cheap land and have an opportunity to get a good start in life. They sailed from Hamburg and after a voyage of fourteen days, landed in New York, then came westward, settling in Antelope county where he bought school land and now owns four hundred acres of land, and has built a fine home. His farm is well improved, and Mr. Thiessen is a highly respected member of the community in which he dwells.

The first year of his residence here, Mr. Thiessen could barely make a living; in 1894 he lost his crops through the hot winds that pre- vailed during that year. He experienced the usual hardships and discouragements incident to those early days, but those times have passed into history, and glad to forget those experien- ces, Mr. Thiessen is now happy in the fact that he has passed safely through those times, and is now in a better and more prosperous position in life.

In 1900 Mr. Thiessen was married to Miss Emma Geise, and they are the parents of four children, namely : Clouse, Adelia, John and Lula.

Mr. Thiessen's parents came to America in 1893, but one brother and two sisters remained in the fatherland, where they still reside.

WALTER S. WESCOTT. (Deceased.)

The late "Walter S. Wescott was one of the most prominent citizens of Custer county, and one for whom the entire community mourned. He was well known in business circles and also as a friend to all measures of progress, and was highly respected for his many good qualities of mind and heart, being always interested in the lives of those about him. Mr. Wescott was born in Wethers- field, New York, April 18, 1828, youngest of the five children of John and Eunice (Reed) Wescott, all of whom are now deceased. The father, of Scotch descent, was born in New York and died in Wisconsin in 1877, and the mother, also a native of New York, was of English extraction and died

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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 119

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