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 141

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 141

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William B. Frymire was first married, Febru- ary 29, 1893, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Miss Nora B. Hunt, a native of Iowa, and daughter of N. G. Hunt. She died, May 24, 1903.

His second marriage took place January 30, 1904, Laura J. Cooper, a life-time friend and schoolmate of his first wife, becoming her suc- cessor. She was born in Minnesota, where her father, Ezra A. Cooper, was one of the early set- tlers of Mankato. They are the parents of two daughters, Emmavee and Billie B.

Mr. Frymire has been a life-long republican. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1884, when he joined Paris lodge, number two hundred and sixty-eight. He dimitted to the Bloomfield lodge, and later attained the chapter degrees, those of the council and commandery, and also the Shrine of Tangier Temple, Omaha. He was a member of the Pythian Knighthood as long as he resided in a town where a lodge ex- isted.

Mr. Frymire well merits his success as a mer- chant. He is affable in his manner, strictly hon- est in his dealings, and keeps on hand only the

highest quality of goods. A man so equipped cannot fail of success in any community. He is public-spirited, and takes a deep interest in pro- moting the welfare of his home town and the surrounding community.

RASMUS HANSEN.

Rasmus Hansen, a well-to-do farmer of Stanton county, has been a resident of the state since 1884, and has become widely known as a man of untiring energy and honest principles. For about twenty years he has lived in this county, where he has built up a fine property through his industry and good management. He has a comfortable home in section thirty-three, where he is now enjoying his ease, after years of toil.

Mr. Hansen is a native of Denmark, where he was born in 1862, the son of Hans and Votel Han- sen. The first twenty years of his life were spent in his native land, where he received his educa- tion.

In 1882, the subscriber left Denmark for America, where opportunities for advancement were more numerous than in his native village. He came at once to Illinois, where he remained only two years, at the expiration of which time he moved to Douglas county, Nebraska. Mr. Hansen remained in this locality until 1892, when he came to Stanton county, and bought his pres- ent farm, which has been his home ever since. He now has two hundred and forty acres under full cultivation, and his estate shows the careful management of a thorough farmer.

In 1889, our subscriber was united in mar- riage to Miss Saline Hansen, a native of Den- mark. Nine children have come to bless their home, upon whom they have bestowed the follow- ing names: William, Hans, Maggie, Frank, Rachel, Harry, Fred, Otto and Lillie.

WILLIAM MOSSBARGER.

Among the leading old settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, William Mossbarger is entitled to a foremost place. Mr. Mossharger is a man of active public spirit. always lending his aid and influence for the bettering of conditions in his community. He has served as school director of his district for many years past. Mr. Mossbarger resides in section twelve, township twenty-four, range five, where he has a pleasant home and a valuable estate.

Mr. Mossbarger, a native of Gallia county, Ohio, was born February 2, 1848. His father. Jacob Mossbarger, was a native of Germany. His mother, Nancy (('herrington) Mossbarger, died when our subject was but eighteen months old. after which he was raised by his grandparents.

In 1871, with his family, Mr. Mossbarger came to Wisner, Nebraska, where he bought an oxen team, and on the tenth of April, 1871, came and

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took up a homestead in section twenty-five, town- ship twenty-five, range five, on which land he built a log house, the roof of which was made of earth. He also took a tree claim on Willow creek.

Mr. Mossbarger has passed through many vicissitudes and hardships, and in the first days of settlement suffered losses through the various causes of grasshoppers, hail, hot winds, blizzards, etc. In 1895 he lost all his grain by the memora- ble hail storm of that year; in 1894, the drouth and hot winds completely destroyed his crops; during the years of 1873-74-75 the grasshoppers ate all his crops, and in the memorable blizzard of 1873 they experienced many hardships.

On September 14, 1870, Mr. Mossbarger was united in matrimony to Miss Fannie Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Mossbarger are the parents of two children, whose names are as follows: Ellen and Laura, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Moss- barger and family enjoy the respect and esteem of a great many friends and acquaintances, hav- ing lived in Antelope county for the past thirty- nine years, and in their present location for the past twenty years. His farm consists of four hundred and forty acres, on which he has built a beautiful home and made fine improvements.

BENARD BEECHLER.

Benard Beechler, who has recently erected a splendid modern residence in Callaway, Nebraska, and retired from farm life, is well known in central Nebraska as a prosperous and successful farmer and ranchman. He is the owner of thirty- three hundred acres of fine stock and grain land, and has long been closely identified with the progress and development of his county and state. He is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, born January 17, 1851, third of the eight children of John and Angeline (Fisher) Beechler, both of German birth. The parents died in their native country, the father in 1899 and the mother in 1866. Mr. Beechler has one brother, John, living in Custer county, and the other surviving mem- bers of the family live in Germany.

Mr. Beechler reached maturity in his native city, and there received his education, later spending two years in France, where he worked on a farm. In 1870, at the age of nineteen years, he came to America, and on to lowa county, Wis- consin. He went on to St. Louis soon after, and there spent two years working in a large whole- sale house. Returning to lowa county, he was for eight years connected with a grain elevator busi- ness.

Mr. Beechler was married at Mineral Point. Wisconsin, July 28, 1875, to Miss Kate Bloom, a native of Nassan, Germany, who came to America in infancy, and located near Mineral Point. The father, George Bloom, died in Germany, and the mother, whose maiden name was Katherine Ilorn. who made her home with Mrs. Beechler, died

November 14, 1911. Mrs. Beechler has a brother, who resided in Longmont, Colorado, who met his death in a runaway accident, November 2, 1911, and a sister in Fillmore county, Nebraska.

In June, 1883, Mr. Beechler decided to seek the larger opportunities offered in the west, and made a trip to Nebraska, looking for a location. He filed on a homestead and timber elaim, ag- gregating three hundred and twenty acres of land, in section three, township sixteen, range twenty-three, which has since been the home place, and later he pre-empted one hundred and eighty-two and one-half acres. He was instru- mental in the organization of school district num- ber one hundred and two, and for some years served as treasurer of the board. He also helped establish the road district in his neighborhood, and has filled various town offices. He developed his farm into a splendidly improved and equipped stock and grain farm, and for the last twelve years has specialized in raising Shorthorn cattle. He has seventy-five acres of natural timber in his ranch, which is well located in the midst of a rich farming region. He retired from active life in the fall of 1911.

Mr. and Mrs. Beechler have three children: Lena, wife of H. M. Davenport, of Custer county, has three children ; Katherine and Benard J., live at home.

CLARENCE R. BRISTOL.

Clarence R. Bristol is one of the few original homesteaders of Custer county to hold continuous residence on their farms, and was one of the first half dozen early settlers in the neighborhood of his present home. He and his family still use part of the old sod shanty that was put up on the homestead. They passed through the pioneer days, and experienced many hardships through reason of the years of drouth and hard times. Mr. Bristol was born in Port Jervis, New York, August 25, 1855, the youngest of the three chil- dren of Horace and Anna (French) Bristol, who had one son and two daughters. He and his sister Anna, now Mrs. Charles Davis, of Elgin, Wash- ington, are the only two now surviving. The father served three years in the Civil war as Captain of Company B, First New Jersey Volun- teer Cavalry. His first wife died when Clarence R. Bristol, the youngest child, was but three years of age, and he married a second time. He re- moved with his family to Iowa in 1869, at that time taking his second wife, three children by his former marriage, and three by his second marriage. The father died in Iowa about 1873.

Clarence R. Bristol was reared and educated in the east. and accompnaied his father and step- mother to lowa in 1869. He was there united in marriage, November 1, 1877, with Miss Nancy A. Patrick, whose parents, George and Emily (Herndon) Patrick. came to Custer county to live in 1890, and both died there, the father, who was

RESIDENCE OF R. C. THOMPSON.

. . 1

RESIDENCE OF CLARENCE R. BRISTOL.

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a native of Kentucky, in April, 1911, and the mother, a native of Indiana, in June, 1909. Mrs. Bristol has a brother, Levi Patrick, living in Ma- son City, Nebraska; one brother, William, lives in Kingman, Kansas, and her sister, Mrs. Dora Rhodes, wife of John Rhodes, in Ansley. In 1884, Mr. Bristol brought his wife and four children, with a team and wagon, to Custer county, starting from Minona in October, camping along the way ; averaging over forty miles a day, they made the trip in about eight days. He took np a home- stead on the south half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, township fifteen, range eighteen, and the east half of the northwest quar- ter of section six, township fourteen, range eighteen, and has since resided on the former section. To this traet he has added two hundred acres of adjoining land. He has been closely identified with the progress and welfare of his community, and served several years as a mem- ber of the school board. He and his wife are among the highly-respected pioneers, and have a large number of friends. They have three hun- dred and sixty acres of land in the home farm, and have substantial and suitable buildings there- on. They have clung to the comfort of the sod house, in which Mrs. Bristol's fine collection of flowers flourish luxuriantly throughout the win- ter. We give an illustration of the home and surroundings on another page.

Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bristol, ten now survive: Bertha, wife of George F. Dewey (a sketch of whom appears in this work), was born in Iowa, and she and her hus- band have two children; Flora Belle, a native of Iowa, is the wife of Earl Hiser, of Custer county, and they have three children; Clara, wife of Anton Dobesh, lives on a farm in Custer coun- ty, and they have two children; Clarence, born in Iowa, is married, lives in Custer county, and has one child; Ernest, born in Custer county, is married and living there, and has three children; Emily, is deceased ; Myrtle, is married to Grover Holman, and lives in Ansley ; George, Clyde, Cleo and Lawrence were born on the homestead. Clyde and Cleo are twins. Four of the children were born in Iowa; the remaining ones are na- tives of Nebraska. All the family are members of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Bristol is independent; he is a great admirer of Roosevelt and Bryan.

During his early years in Nebraska, Mr. Bris- tol and family endured great privations. Drouth killed their erops in 1890 and again in 1894, while hail, in 1893 and 1895, were equally destructive. Hail the former year was so deep that in favored places remnants of it were to be found two weeks after it fell, and enough to make ice cream was seenred seven days after.

ROBERT CLINTON THOMPSON.

Robert Clinton Thompson was born near Dwight, Livingston county, Illinois, September

15, 1865, and was second of eight children in the family of Thomas and Mary (Murphy) Thomp- son, who had five sons and three daughters. The parents were natives of Ohio, but were married in Illinois, where they resided several years. Mr. Thompson, our subject, was born and raised on an Illinois farm, receiving the usual school ad- vantages, and lived the life of the pioneer farm boy, going out in life for himself in his twenty- first year.

The entire family of father, mother and the children, except one son, Thomas, junior, who came about a year later, came to Valley county in 1883. They lived on rented land for four years, then moved to Box Butte county, Nebraska, Mr. Thompson, senior, taking up a homestead. Since 1898 he has been proprietor of a big ranch in Duell county, fourteen miles southeast of Alli- ance. All the family reside there, except a son at Arcadia, a daughter in Garfield county, and the subject of this sketch.

Robert Thompson lived in Box Butte county until 1896, proving up on a homestead, and dur- ing this time lived in a "soddy." He then re- turned to Valley county, and followed farming and stock raising for two years, and in 1908 pur- chased the farm on which he now lives, the east half of section eighteen, township twenty, range thirteen, where he has a fine farm and comfort- able home. An engraving of the dwelling and sur- roundings, situated on its hillcrest, with a com- manding view of the surrounding country, is to be found adorning another page of this work.

Mr. Thompson was united in marriage on Jnly 4, 1887, at Ord, Nebraska, to Miss Vesta Virginia Dye. The Dye family came from Ohio in 1878, and settled three miles from Lincoln. In 1881 they went to Marshall, Kansas, where they lived an equal period. The father, Thomas C. Dye, was a native of Ohio. He was killed in a wreck near Mason City. The mother, Jerusha M. (Forest) Dye, was born in Iowa a short time prior to the family's return to Ohio, where she was reared. Her death occurred in Garfield county. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have had five children born to them, all of whom are residing under the parental roof. Their names are as follows: Beulah, Charles E., Millie Fay, Mary Fern and Arlos.

Mr. Thompson and family have seen much of the early pioneer life. While they were living in the west end of the state, they hauled all their lumber and wood from the Pine Ridge in Dakota, fifty miles away. Deer and antelope were plenti- ful in that region during their residence there. They escaped the severe drouth of 1894, that being one of the best crop years of that region since it was first settled. The father of Mrs. Thompson drove his cattle to that region for the winter, finding abundance of fodder and grain. Many in the east part of the state had to sacrifice all their herds for lack of anything to sustain them.

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HENRY D. BRUEGMAN.

Henry D. Bruegman, a prosperous farmer of Osmond, first set foot on Nebraska soil March 1, 1879, when he rented a farm near Pilger, and when his crops were most promising, saw them completely devoured by a horde of grasshoppers, the last flight of the pests that for a series of years had wrought havoc to the settlers of those times in the west. Seeing his prospects vanish, Mr. Bruegman abandoned the place early in July, and a few days afterwards purchased the farm of August Ruepke, lying northwest of Osmond, and one of the two that were first settled in the north part of the county. Here he lived until 1891, when he removed to his present farm, adjoining Osmond on the south, on which he built a large, two-story, eight-room house, which is one of the finest farm dwellings in the county.

Mr. Bruegman was born in Probsteihagen, Holstein, Germany, on December 6, 1852, and is a brother of Frank F. Bruegman, whose sketch appears on another page. Like Frank, he fol- lowed farming in his native land, also after com- ing to America in 1872. He settled in Daven- port, Iowa, with scarcely a penny in his pocket, his railroad fare from New York having been advanced by an old comple to whom he had shown kindness on the voyage across the ocean. His wages for his first year's work were one hundred and sixty dollars, and he worked in the harvest fields during the summer of 1873, saving his earnings, and going to Minnesota in the later fall, winding up with more money in his pocket than he had ever had in his life before, having re- ceived most of the time four dollars a day. Dur- ing that winter he worked in Davenport for a low wage and his board, in the spring going to Mer- cer county, Illinois, where he remained for five years farming, his wages being two hundred and thirty dollars per annum, and he was treated as one of the family by his employers. During this time he was married at Davenport, Iowa, to Minnie Iluwaldt, daughter of W. H. Huwaldt, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. She died after a married life of two years, leaving two sons, one of whom survives, he now perfect- ing title to a homestead in Stanley county, South Dakota.

During the first few years of Mr. Bruegman's residence in Nebraska, the principal fuel used was twisted hay, and at times corn was also burned, wood and coal being too scarce and high- priced. Wisner was their nearest trading point the first two years, and often on the trip home, Mr. Bruegman would be in sight of his home, and then find the ereeks surrounding his place too high to cross. On one occasion he drove eastward to find a crossing. and was obliged to go clear to the headwaters of the stream in C'edar county, re- turning along the north bank, which made a dis- tance extra of nearly twenty-five miles. He also had an exciting experience during the blizzard of 1888 that few passed through with their lives.

He had started out from home to Pierce with a load of hogs and was about four miles from his farm when the storm broke. Turning, he tried to retrace his steps, but the horses were unable to face the storm, so again turning south he made his way as rapidly as possible. One of the horses fell and refused to rise, and on getting out to find out the trouble, Mr. Bruegman saw that long icicles were hanging from its nostrils, while its eyes were covered with ice. Breaking the ice off, and, resting the horse a few moments, gave it new courage, and he urged it to its feet, then continued on his way through the blinding blast, finally reaching Pierce in a state border- ing on exhaustion of both man and beast, at about five o'clock in the afternoon. All who saw him were astounded that one could survive the terrific storm, as few were able to even travel a short distance without severe suffering.

Mr. Bruegman was married the second time, in October, 1884, in Pierce county, to Fredericka Jurgens, who is a native of the Island of Fem- arn, province of Holstein, Germany, coming to this country when a young girl. Eight children were born of this union, seven of whom are living, namely : William, a homesteader in South Dakota; Netta and Ida, both graduates of a busi- ness college at Des Moines, Ida now holding a lucrative position in that city, while Nettie re- signed such a position for one at Lewiston, Mon- tana, where she has homesteaded a half section of good land; while Alfred, Gertrude, Harry and Laura are students in the Osmond schools. The family have a very pleasant home and are well liked by all, taking a prominent part in the social affairs of their city.

Mr. Bruegman is a republican and a member of the Masonic lodge, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

CURTIS A. CALVIN.

Curtis A. Calvin, one of the prosperous younger members of the farming community of Howard county, is a worthy representative of a well known pioneer family and enjoys an envi- able reputation as a worthy citizen and succes- ful self-made man.

Our subject was born in Howard county, on October 17, 1878, and received his early educa- tion in the local schools. He is truly a genuine native production, his father, David Calvin, hav- ing come into the vicinity with his family in 1873. As a young man Curtis worked on the home farm, later locating on section twenty-four. township fifteen, range twelve, which he occupied as his home place for many years. He improved it in splendid shape, erected a fine dwelling house, substantial barns, etc., and had everything in the best possible condition. The farm contained two hundred and forty acres of good land, and he was engaged in mixed farming and stock

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raising, meeting with decided success in both lines.

In November, 1909, Mr. Calvin sold his farm in section twenty-four, township fifteen, range twelve, which had been his home for seven years. In March of that year he had bought his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections seventeen and eighteen, township fourteen, range ten, and moved to this place February 28, 1910. His property is situated three and one-half miles southwest of St. Paul.

Mr. Calvin was married February 8, 1899, to Margaret Bertha Welsh, at the home of the lat- ter's mother, Elizabeth Welsh, in . this connty. Mrs. Calvin was born in Toronto, Canada, coming to Nebraska as a babe, with her mother, arriv- ing here in Howard county about 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin have two children, George Earl and David Alfred, both sturdy boys and typieal western youngsters, full of health and good spirits, and the pride of their parents.

The Calvin family have an exceptionally pleasant home and enjoy a host of friends throughout the entire country, taking an active part in the social life of their community.

JUDGE AARON WALL.

Judge Aaron Wall is one of the most promin- ent members of the bar in the state of Nebraska, being licensed to practice the profession of law in all Nebraska courts and in the United States supreme court. He is especially prominent as a criminal lawyer and in the earlier days of his residence in central Nebraska had many exciting and dangerous experiences. He has always been active in the interests of the republican party, and served as delegate to the national convention held in Chicago in June, 1888, and as chairman of the state convention held in Lincoln during the same year; he has attended the state convention as delegate nearly every session since 1886. In 1896 he was the candidate for congress from the sixth district, being the highest man in the con- vention for seventy-seven straight hallots, when his name was withdrawn. He is a citizen of whom his state is proud and in his public service has been actuated by the highest principles and motives.

Aaron Wall was born in Lancashire, England, August, 1849, the oldest of thirteen children horn to Edward and Agnes Wall. The Wall fam- ily came to the United States in 1854 and located in Michigan. They first lived in the town of Kalamazoo and later in Allegan county-as Judge Wall speaks of it, "settling in the woods." They took up a squatter's privileges there. Aaron . Wall left his home in 1865 and came to Chicago, where he intended enlisting in the army, but was too late. He drifted into lowa and thence as far west as Omaha. In the fall of 1867 he returned to Albion, Michigan, where he attended college two years, after which he taught one year in that

state, during which time he first entered upon the study of law. He came to Saline county, Ne- braska, in 1870, and there continned his studies, being admitted to practice in 1872 and remaining in that county until 1875. He located in Lincoln Center, Kansas, in the summer of 1875, and there entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1877 he came to Loup City, Sherman county, and in the fall of that year was elected probate judge of the county, serving ably four years, and then upon his retirement from office, resuming private practice, which he has since continued.

Mr. Wall was married in Lincoln county, Kansas, in 1876, to Miss Addie Van Hessen. They have no children. Mr. Wall has always been prominent in social, educational, legal and politi- cal circles, and has friends in all walks of life. He has been connected with some of the most important cases ever tried in the state and had much to do with the early court history of Sher- man county, his life many times being held. in the balance.

An incident which not only illustrates Mr. Wall's decision of character and coolness in times of stress, but also gives a vivid picture of some of the most impressive conditions in the early days of Sherman county, is given below. The Olive gang were very active and powerful and mueh feared by the peaceful and law-abiding citizens. Jim Roberts, living on Beaver creek, was arrested by this gang in April, 1878, charged with stealing cattle, and Mr. Wall was acting as his council, the case being brought before Cap- tain Hutchinson, a justice of the peace of that locality. The Olive gang tried to keep Judge Wall out of the room where court was held, standing around the walls with revolvers cocked. He managed to get inside, however, but was un- able to get a fair hearing, although he asked to see the justice's docket, which was refused him. He then told the court that if he were allowed to talk a few minutes with the prisoner he would then go away. As the gang wished him out of the way, Judge Wall was allowed to consult with his client and they repaired to a point near the barn where the judge had his buggy, the gang standing guard with cocked weapons. During the.talk they hit upon a plan that at a given sig- nal Mr. Roberts should jump into the buggy and the judge should eut the horses loose. When anyone came near they were talking earnestly about the case, but they carefully watched their chance, and although it hardly seemed possible. they were taken hy a spirited animal safely to Toup City. They were pursued some distance. but thought their pursuers had given up the chase before they reached their destination. They had hardly got into the house and got the team unhitched when Mrs. Roberts came in from the Roberts ranch saying Bob Olive and his eowhoys were coming. They had with them a warrant from Justice Hutchinson for the arrest of Mr. Wall and intended taking him baek for trial.

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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 141

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