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 160

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 160

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Our subject is a member of the Lutheran

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

church, and is affiliated with the Brotherhood lodge, and in politics is independent, voting for the best man. Mr. Petersen can well be proud of his life and achievements, and certainly is en- titled to enjoy his latter days, knowing that he has done his share.

WILLIAM M. CLARK.

The gentleman herein named is well known by the residents of Merrick county, Nebraska, as one of the leading old settlers of his locality, and a man who has done his full share in the up- building of the agricultural and other interests of his community.

William M. Clark was born in Pennsylvania, July 1, 1847, and was the sixth of eleven children in the family of Benjamin and Maria Clark, who had seven sons and four daughters. Benjamin Clark and wife were natives of England. The Clark family moved to Will county, Illinois, from Pennsylvania about 1854, and there our sub- ject attended his first school. Here they resided about three years, and then moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, where our subject lived on the farm until coming to Merrick county, Nebraska, in March, 1872. His brother, George A., had come here in 1871, and father, mother and brother, Oliver, came to Merrick county shortly after William came, and the father was an original homesteader. Here the mother died in the spring of 1876, and the father a number of years later, about 1897.

William Clark took up a homestead on section eighteen, township fourteen, range six, in the spring of 1872, and he resided on his original homestead until the fall of 1910, when, having built a home in the Bascom addition to Central City, he moved to that place where he expects to make his permanent residence. Before leaving the farm he was one of the few pioneer settlers who still lived on their original homestead farms. Mr. Clark is a pioneer in every sense of the word, having passed through the years of drouth, grass- hopper raids, and every other hardship and dis- couragement incident to those very earliest days of this part of Nebraska.

On October 3, 1875, in Merrick county, Ne- braska, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Emily Bovee, who was a native of Michigan. She came to Nebraska with her parents in the fall of 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had six children, five of whom are living: Minnie, wife of George Drye, has five children and resides in Wisconsin ; Josephine, wife of John A. Dillon, has three children, and lives on his father-in- law's farm ; Oscar R., is on the home farm; Flor- ence A., deceased; and Lela Alice and Estella, who reside at home.

Mr. Clark has a comfortable farm home and a well equipped farm, and he and his family are highly esteemed by all who know them. Mr.

Clark has in past years served on the school board of his district, number fifty-six.

JOHN BERGSTROM.

John Bergstrom, a prominent farmer and stockman, living on section thirty-one, township thirty-five, range twelve, Boyd county, Nebraska, is known throughout the community in which he lives as a progressive and successful agricul- turist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has to do. Although not one of the very oldest set- tlers of Nebraska, still in his nineteen years' resi- dence here, Mr. Bergstrom has shown his worth and loyalty as a true citizen.

Mr. Bergstrom is a native of Sweden, his birth occurring in the northern part of that country, in the year 1845; he is a son of Nels and Sigred (Nelson) Larson, both natives of Sweden. Our subject grew to full manhood in his native land, and in early boyhood received the usual ad- vantages in his own country.

In 1890, Mr. Bergstrom left his mother country, sailing from Guttenburg for the new world, and after a voyage of eleven days landed in New York, from where he went to the state of Washington. In 1892, he came to Boyd county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead, and on this land put up a sod house, and later built a good frame residence. Mr. Bergstrom is a highly successful man, and now owns two hundred and eighty acres of good land, and a fine orchard of four acres. In 1907, Mr. Bergstrom returned to his birthplace on a visit, remaining two months, when he returned to the home of his adoption.

In 1872, Mr. Bergstrom was united in mar- riage to Inga Christina Peterson, a native of Sweden, and Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Annie, Hannah, Elmer, Hattie, Aggie, N. J. Joel and Bror Albin.

Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom and family are sur- rounded in their pleasant home by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

WILLIAM C. EMERY.

William C. Emery, an old resident of Boone county, Nebraska, is a prominent Grand Army of the Republic man, highly respected throughout his seetion of the state as one of the foremost citizens iu the agricultural and commercial life of that region. He has always taken a deep in- terest in the development of the locality in which he has chosen to reside, and to his individual efforts are due much of the prosperity now en- joyed there.

The subject of this sketeh was born in IIunt- ington county, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1843, and was the eldest child in the family of Stephen and Caroline S. Emery, who were the parents of eight children. About 1857 they moved to Boone county, Illinois, remaining for a few months,

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when they went to MeHenry county, that state. When past twenty years of age, William started for himself, following farming. His parents had removed to Rock county, Wiseonsin, in 1866, and he had also spent considerable time there, en- gaged in farming and the cattle business for a number of years.

In February, 1864, Mr. Emery enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty Third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Memphis, Tennessee, in September, 1865. He saw quite a good deal of service during that time, and after being discharged he returned to Illinois.

The following spring the family moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, where William C. Emery was married in February, 1870, to Miss Elvic E. Watson, she being a native of Rock eounty. Two children were born to them there, and in 1872, the entire family came to Nebraska. Our subject came on ahead, driving overland, and reaching Boone county in May. His wife and children arrived in September, and they be- gun the establishment of a home on the frontier. Mr. Emery had homesteaded on section eighteen, township twenty, range six, and this has been his home since that time. He has been successful in building up a good farm, and has engaged in stoek raising quite extensively, owning at the present time one hundred and forty-six acres, all well improved and the entire place is well sup- plied with every convenience in the way of build- ings, etc.

Mrs. Emery died on the homestead in No- vember, 1883, survived by her husband and five children, named as follows: Alice M., Lizzie E., May and Ida, all married and settled in different parts of the country, while the youngest son, Frank W. Emery, lives at home.

For many years past Mr. Emery has been con- neeted with the school board of district number thirteen.

WILLIAM BALL.

Prominent among the leading old settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this personal history. Mr. Ball is a man of active public spirit, always lend- ing his aid and influence for the bettering of con- ditions in his community, and has served in the capacity of school director and other township offices. Mr. Ball resides in section ten, township twenty-six, range seven, where he has a pleas- ant home, and enjoys the respect and good wishes of all with whom he has to do.

Mr. Ball is a native of Lafayette county. Wis- consin, born January 22, 1860. His father, Joseph Ball, was a native of New York state, born in 1825, and our subject's mother, Henrietta H. (Lewis) Ball, was a native of New Jersey. Mr. Ball, with his parents, moved from Wisconsin to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where they remained

thirteen years, coming to Antelope county, Ne- braska, in 1880, taking up a homestead in section ten, township twenty-six range seven, where Mr. Ball still resides in the same house that has stood there ever since. In the first days of his residence in the county, like so many others of those brave pioneers who faced the hardships and dangers incident to those days, Mr. Ball experienced his full share of hard times and disappointments. In 1895 he was hailed out in the storm of that year, and in 1894 lost all his crops by the hot winds' prevalent in that summer, which made it very hard for a young man just starting in life.

On December 25, 1884, Mr. Ball was married to Miss Laura Bishop, whose parents were early settlers in Nebraska. Her father, Horace Bishop, took up a homestead in 1873, three miles north of our subject's home. Mr. and Mrs. Ball live in their pleasant home on the "old homestead" surrounded by a host of warm personal friends, and are enjoying the respect and esteem of all with whom they have to do.

WILL STEVENS DELANO.

Although the home of Will Stevens Delano has for some years been in Lincoln, Nebraska, he still spends about half of his time on the farm in Custer county, and he is one of the best known men throughout the state. He is a native of Oxford township, Oakland county, Michigan, born October 16, 1856, second of the five children of Mortimer and Rosetta (Stevens) Delano, na- tives of the state of New York, who were early settlers in Michigan and later pioneers in Ne- braska. The family is mentioned at some length in connection with the sketch of Fred E. Delano of Custer county, also appearing in this work. Will Delano received a good education, graduating from the Michigan Agricultural College at Lans- ing, in 1881, and the following year left his na- tive state. He entered the training department of the United States weather bureau, and six months later was assigned to work at Yuma, Ari- zona, being put in charge of the station there.

On November 16, 1883, Mr. Delano was united in marriage with Miss Ada Crawford, at Yuma, Arizona. She was born in Oxford township, Oak- land county, Michigan, and came to Yuma to be married, as Mr. Delano was unable to leave his station. At that time the weather department of the government was under the control of the war department. After spending two years at that point Mr. Delano was transferred to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he spent two years, and thence went to Valentine, Nebraska. He remained in the service until January, 1887, then served two months as deputy county clerk in Cherry county, and in March of the same year came to Custer county and located on a farm on section thirty- six, township seventeen, range seventeen, of which he had purchased the north half. He has spent much of the time since 1907 in Lincoln,

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FARM RESIDENCE OF ORED OLSSON.

ORIGINAL SODDY

ON PLACE

RESIDENCE OF SETH S. CRIST.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

where his children have had the advantage of attending the public schools and the state univer- sity, and his wife and the children have lived there since 1903. The names of the three children are as follows: Crawford M., electrical engineer- ing department, class of 1913; Clarissa, in the Lincoln academy, class of 1912; and Herman S., in the university and under private instructors.

Mr. Delano is a life member of the Farmers' National Congress and has served numerons times as the Nebraska delegate to conventions by ap- pointment of the governor. He served as the Nebraska state commissioner to the Atlanta ex- position, and is known in many parts of the coun- try for his deep interest in agricultural and kin- dred subjects. He is secretary of the Nebraska Farmers' Congress, and a member of the Ne- braska Rural Life Commission, being in charge of one of the ten sections of the commission- that of taxes-'and has named thirty-five asso- ciates on the committee. He has long made a special study of economics along these and other lines, and is a fluent speaker, as well as a deep and logical thinker. He is broad minded and liberal in his views, and has hosts of warm friends who extend him their sineere regard and respect. In polities he is republican, and a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America.

The first four months on his Nebraska farm, Mr. Delano spent in a "soddy," which was soon replaced with a more commodious dwelling. He began growing alfalfa in 1891, and the scant erop of two euttings of this was all he raised in 1894, the dry year. It is worthy of note that Mrs. Delano was postmistress of the Lee Park office for a period of fifteen years before the rural routes displaced the small interior offiees.

ORED OLSSON.

The gentleman named in this personal history is well known in Valley county as a successful farmer and business man and worthy citizen. He has made Nebraska his home for many years, and at present resides on section nine, township twenty, range fourteen, Valley county, where he is numbered among the leading men of his lo- cality.

Ored Olsson was born near the town of Hast- veda, provinee of Skane, Sweden, July 3, 1863, a son of Ola and Ingar (Pierson) Olsson, and was fifth in a family of seven children, one brother of whom resides in Oklahoma, and two brothers and two sisters in Sweden; one sister and the parents are deceased, the death of each occurring in Sweden, the father having passed away in 1894, and the mother in 1908.

Mr. Olsson received his education in the home schools of his native land, where he grew to his young manhood. In 1883 he emigrated to America, sailing from Malmoe to Grimsby, Eng- land, and embarked at Liverpool for New York on a White Star liner. With his brother, Nils, he

eame to Valley county, Nebraska, where his brother took up homestead land, Mr. Olsson, a couple of years later, pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres of land in section fourteen, town- ship twenty, range fourteen.

In 1893, Mr. Olsson returned to Sweden, ex- pecting to remain, but in 1898 again came to America to secure a patent on a windmill, in which he was successful, and in a few months again returned to Sweden. In March, 1899, he again decided to make his home in Nebraska, and on reaching New York was married, on March 17, 1899, to Miss Elna Johansson, whom he met on the vessel "Tentonie" on the way over. She was born in the village of Vinslof, province of Skane, Sweden, and came to Ameriea in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Olsson have had five children, namely: Ingeborg, Clara, Anna, Nils Olof and Ebba.

In 1898, Mr. Olsson purchased land in seetion nine, township twenty, range fourteen, whiek is now the home place, comprising the whole sec- tion, and is a well improved stock farm. He built a fine dwelling in 1899 and a large barn in 1905, which are illustrated on another page of this work. Mr. Olsson is moderator of his school district, number forty-five, and has been serving in that eapaeity for several years. He is still a young man, prosperous and sueeessful, owning six hundred and forty aeres of good land. IIe is a progressive man of affairs, well known and highly respected. Mr. Olsson was reared in the Lutheran faith ; in politics is republican.

SETH S. CRIST.

The Crist family were among the very early settlers of Saunders county, Nebraska, and have always stood for the best interest of every eom- munity where they have lived. Seth S. Crist was born in Mercer county, Illinois, August 4, 1861, fourth of the six children born to Andrew and Catherine (Wagner) Crist. He has a brother at Thedford, Nebraska, a sister at Ansley and a sis- ter at Ashland, Nebraska, a brother at Kirk, Colorado, and a sister deceased. The father, Andrew Crist, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, of Seotch-Irish parentage, and died in Custer county, Nebraska, January 23, 1907, and the mother, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, is now living with her son, Seth, although she still owns the home place. Andrew Crist was married in Hancock eounty, Ohio, in 1849, and in 1869 homesteaded in Saunders county, Nebraska.

When a small boy about eight years of age, Seth S. Crist aeeompanied his parents to Saun- ders county, where the family lived eleven years, then they came to Custer county, where they made their permanent home. He received his education in Nebraska and engaged in farming after he reached manhood. On September 25, 1880. he was married, in Saunders county, to Eliza A. Masterson, who was born on the line between Monroe and Appanoose counties, Iowa, and in

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childhood came to Nebraska with her grand- father, Clark Masterson, who migrated to the west after his wife's death. The parents, John Wesley and Martha Jane (Louder) Masterson, were both natives of Indiana. The young couple began housekeeping on their present home place in Custer county, on sections ten, fourteen and fifteen, township sixteen, range seventeen, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. Their first dwelling was a dugout found on the place in section fifteen, when they first came, and in this they lived until 1890, when their pres- ent frame dwelling was erected on section four- teen. We give a view of the home and its sur- roundings, besides one of the dugout, elsewhere in this work. The place now comprises one hun- dred and twenty acres in section fourteen, and an adjoining eighty acres in section fifteen.

Mr. Crist and wife had ten children, namely : Isaac M., married and living in Custer county, has two children; Ivan B., died in infancy; Susie R., wife of John E. Bray, of Sherman county, has six children; Amy S., wife of Fred Carmody, of Custer county, has three children; Andrew W., married and living in Custer county, has two children ; Lovado, wife of Jesse Carmody, of Val- ley county, has one child ; H. Otis, Oscar William, Fern L., and Emory R., at home.

Mr. Crist was identified with much of the early history of Nebraska, and is a patriotic and public-spirited citizen, whose integrity and up- rightness have won him many friends. He served as director of school district number fourteen for five years, and in all measures affecting the pub- lic welfare endeavors to wield his influence on the side of progress and right. He has been un- tiring in his efforts to bring his farm to a high state of productiveness, being recognized as one of the most progressive farmers of the county.

Among the hardships of the early days was the dry year, 1894, when he, more fortunate than most neighbors, raised a little corn in the draws. He mowed his wheat and fed it like hay, thus wintering his stock quite comfortably. The hail of the following year damaged only the corner of their farm. During the blizzard of April 12 to 14, 1873, Mr. Crist and his father started home with some hogs, which the father had purchased. The boy, finding the storm too severe, returned to his uncle's and remained there until the storm abated ; he remembers the fierce wind shook the house and gave them no little uneasiness. In the best known blizzard, that of January 12, 1888, Mr. Crist started to a neighborhood sale, and when the storm broke made his way home. The children were kept in the school house until morning, when they were safely brought home, a very hungry lot.

FRANK B. IIANSEN.

Frank B. Hansen, who since 1889 has made northeastern Nebraska his home, since 1908 has

been a merchant at Breslau, Pierce county, and during that time has given his best efforts to the task of assisting in the development of his lo- cality, and incidentally building up for himself a good home and a fine business. He remembers well the early days when pioneers were obliged to suffer all manner of hardships and privations in getting their homes started, and he richly deserves the prosperity that has come to him through honest industry and faithful labor.

Mr. Hansen was born October 20, 1865, in the village of Sud-Georgsfehn, East Friesland, Ger- many, a son of Hans and Mary (Linemann) Han- sen. After reaching manhood, Mr. Hansen fol- lowed the sea, as did his father before him. He served his country in the army for one year and seven months prior to emigrating to the new world. In 1889 he came with his parents to America, sailing on a steamship from Hamburg, Germany, and after spending twelve days on the water, landed in New York. Coming west, they settled in Platte county, Nebraska, where they lived on a farm twelve years before moving to Knox county, half way between Wausau and Creighton. The father is now residing one mile from Little Falls, Minnesota.

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Mr. Hansen was married in Madison, Ne- braska, to Miss Katie Witjes, in 1900, they having one child, a daughter named Freda. Mrs. Hansen is a daughter of John and Volste (Evers) Witjes, and was born in Sud-Georgsfehn, East Friesland, Germany. The family came to America in 1882, and settled in Fillmore county, Nebraska, twelve miles from Kearney. The family then lived in Colorado ten years, coming to Platt county shortly before Mrs. Hansen was married. Her parents then lived in Knox county ten years, and removed to Buffalo county in 1910.

Mr. Hansen votes the democratic ticket, and he is affiliated with the German Lutheran church. He owns a well stocked country store in Breslau village, and is widely and favorably known.

REVEREND PETER GROBBEL.

Reverend Peter Grobbel, prominently known in St. Paul, Nebraska, has for the past two years held the position of assistant pastor of the Roman Catholic church of that city. Reverend Grobbel is a young man of fine education and high mental attainments, and by his earnest and faithful at- tention to duty has won for himself a lasting regard in the hearts of the people of his con- gregation.

Peter Grobbel was born in the province of Westphalia, Germany, on June 12, 1873, and re- ceived his elementary education in the public schools of that country. Later he spent six years and a half in the French academy, afterwards returning to Germany and spending an additional three years in college, then successfully passed the required state examination, and in the fall of 1896 was inscribed at the Rome University for

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Philosophy. During the following year he was again inscribed in the faculty for philosophy at Freiburg, Switzerland. The years 1899 to 1901, inclusive, were spent in Bonn university, where he was inscribed in the faculty of theology. He next went to Rome and took up the study of the- ology and philosophy, then to the University of Freiburg, where in the fall of 1905 he completed his studies. In the latter year Reverend Grobbel came to America, his first location being at Spaulding, Nebraska, beginning his work as assistant pastor of the Catholic church. After a short time there he was transferred to West Point, Nebraska, remaining but a few months, then returned to Spaulding. From there he was sent to Kearney, but on account of failing health was obliged to give up work temporarily, and took a trip back to his old home in Germany for several months. Upon his return to Nebraska he spent some time in South Omaha, and in July, 1908, received his appointment as assistant pas- tor in St. Paul, which post he filled to the com- plete satisfaction of the entire congregation.

On January 10, 1910, by grace of authority, he was made the pastor of the Roman Catholic church at Randolph, in Cedar county, removing to that city.

Reverend Grobbel is a broadminded and lib- eral man, aiding in every way possible those who come to him for advice and help, and his success in his labors is due in a great measure to his zeal and conscientious devotion to duty. In addition to this he is thoroughly equipped with a splendid education in every branch of study, having at his command six different languages in which he is equally proficient.

EDGAR A. EASTERBROOK.

Edgar A. Easterbrook, a pioneer of Valley county, is a large land owner and still has the original homestead he secured over thirty years ago. He and his family passed through the trials and hardships of early times in the vicinity and triumphed over adverse circumstances and con- ditions by untiring energy and perseverance. Mr. Easterbrook was born near Susquihanna, Sus- quihanna county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1850, ninth of thirteen children in the family of William and Cynthia (Barrett) Easterbrook, parents of nine sons and four daughters. Both parents were natives of the state of Vermont. Four of their sons and two daughters now sur- vive, but Edgar is the only one living in Ne- braska. Both parents are deceased.

In youth Edgar A. Easterbrook followed farming and attended the public school. At the age of twenty-one years he started in life for himself and in February, 1873, removed to Iro- quois county, Illinois, where he began operating a leased farm near Watseka, the county seat. He returned to Pennsylvania early in 1876, and on February 18, of that year. married Clara, eldest of the five children of Edgar M. and Emeline

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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 160

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