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 171

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 171

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz lived in Dubuque county about eighteen months, mov- ing to Sac county, Iowa, in October, 1876. Here Mr. Schmitz opened a furniture store at the new town of Odebolt, and continued in business there nine or ten years. About 1886 he came to Nebras- ka, and a year later purchased a farm on the north line of Pierce county, six miles from Os- mond, Nebraska, but did not move onto it until the year following. During the two years prior to his taking possession of his land, he lived with his family in Creighton, Norfolk and New- man's Grove, and was at the latter place during the well-known blizzard of January 12, 1888,

when a child and man in the vicinity lost their lives in the storm. Later he added to his pos- sessions, until, at the time of his death, he owned five or six good farms in the visinity of Osmond, which are cultivated by tenants.

In 1904, he bought a quarter section at the northwest corner of Osmond, and built a large two-story residence, with modern improvements, and moved into the new dwelling in February following. It was not ordained he should long occupy the new home, his death occurring on May 20, 1905.

In politics Mr. Schmitz was a democrat, and, with his family, a member of the Catholic church.

Mr. Schmitz, as a young man, served three years in the Sixth Iowa Infantry during the war, seeing service on the frontier along the Missouri river, his command going as far north and west as Fort Pierce and Fort Sully. The exposure during this campaign injured his health to an extent that he was never quite well again.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz twelve children were born, whose names are as follows: Dionoicious, deceased, was at the time of his death cashier of a bank in Bristow, and so highly were his services appreciated that he was given a bonus above his salary; Mary, married Lawrence Brown, an extensive land-owner in Gregory and Tripp connties; Frank; Leonard, junior, who occupies the home farm; Julia, a graduate of the Wayne Normal School; Edward, Fred and Ben, deceased; Frederick, graduate of a commercial college at Omaha; Benedict, who, with George, attended St. Francis' Seminary at Milwaukee; and Clara C., the youngest of the family.

When Mr. Schmitz settled with his family in Pierce county, the country was open for miles in every direction. Indians occasionally roamed through the country, and, while living in Creigh- ton, their house was over-run one night by refu- gees from a supposed Indian massacre-a hoax, as it afterward proved to be, cansed by some vonng men returning from a charivari full of hilarity and "good cheer."

Three seasons, known as the "dry years," proved disastrous to the crops, and caused the north fork of the Elkhorn river to run dry. Fish in the pools along the creek were plentiful dur- ing those years.

Mr. Schmitz was of the thrifty type of citizen that is the bulwark of our institutions. The country could ill spare him in his prime.

IVER C. NIELSEN.

The history of the settling of America has been one of startling successes from the landing of Columbus up until the present day, and untold prosperity has been the lot of thousands of ambi- tious men. The great western states have fur- nished some splendid examples of this wonderful success, and among this number is the man whose name heads this review.

788

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY

Iver C. Nielsen was born in Howard county, Nebraska, July 28, 1874, and was the fifth child in a family of seven, born to Niels and Mary Ann Enevoldsen, who were among the early set- tlers of Nebraska, the father dying on the home- stead in Howard county in the fall of 1907, while the mother and four children still survive. Iver grew up in his home vicinity, following farming as a boy, living with his parents up to his eighteenth year.

He purchased land and begun farming on his own account when he was twenty-two years of age, locating on section eighteen, township thir- teen, range eleven, where he owned eighty acres, which he operated until 1904, when he sold, and bought his present place in section fifteen, town- ship thirteen, range eleven, where he now owns one hundred and forty-eight acres of finely-im- proved land, on which he has built a handsome residence, and all good, substantial barns, sheds and other farm buildings necessary for stock. His farm is situated on the table land, just adja- cent to the Loup river bottom land, lying about two miles southwest of the town of Dannebrog. This was originally the old Schlytern farm and homestead, and our subject now has one of the best equipped and most productive places in his vicinity.

Mr. Nielsen was married on June 1, 1898, in Howard county, to Jennie S. Nelson, who was born in Sweden, but came to America with her parents when a very small child, the family being one of Howard county's pioneer settlers. Before her marriage, Mrs. Nielsen was a teacher in the public schools of Howard county, and was well known and a popular member of the younger social set of the locality. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have one daughter, Esther.

RUFUS J. COLLINS.

Rufus J. Collins, son of John C. and Fanny (Godfrey) Collins, was born in Allegheny county, New York, November 2, 1842, and was fifth in a family of six children. He now has two brothers residing in New York state, one brother and one sister in Nebraska, and one brother is deceased, his death occurring October 8, 1889. The parents came to Nebraska, where they passed their de- clining years, the mother dying November 8, 1874, and the father September 2, 1886.

Mr. Collins received his education in the schools of his home state, and on August 15, 1862, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thir- tieth New York Infantry. One year later he was transferred to the First New York Dragoons Cavalry, serving until close of war. He received his discharge, June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mill, Vir- ginia. Decisive engagements participated in were Sheridan's Raid, May 12, 1864; Cold Har- bor, Virginia, May 31 and June 1, 1864; Win- chester, September 19, 1864; Cedar Creek,

October 17 to 19, 1864; Trevilian Station, June 11 and 12, 1864, in which engagement Mr. Collins was wounded in the cheek by a piece of shell; Old Church, May 30, 1864; Hawes Shop, May 28, 1864; in the memorable battle at Appomattox Court House, when General Lee surrendered, April 9, 1865, and many other engagements, par- ticipating in all in sixty-five engagements, but, through illness at the time, missed participating in the grand review.

After the war, Mr. Collins returned to New York, and the following December went to Wis- consin, engaging in farming first in Marquette and later in Waushara county. On June 2, 1867, Mr. Collins was married to Miss Elizabeth L. Root, a native of New York. Miss Root had been a teacher in Wisconsin schools for a number of years.

In June, 1872, Mr. Collins came to Valley county, Nebraska, filing on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the northwest quarter of section fourteen, township nineteen, range fourteen. He then returned to Wisconsin for his family, coming overland with ox team, camping by the wayside for seven weeks, and, with his wife and one son, moved on to the homestead in June of 1873. Mrs. Collins died, April 17, 1906, in Ord, survived by her husband and one son, Emmett.

Mr. Collins is one of the earliest settlers of the county, and is widely and favorably known as a prosperous man of affairs. He owns good city property aside from his farm, and also has land interests in Kansas. He is a man interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county. In 1910, the son, Emmett, built a modern, eight-room residence on the old home- stead, which is wired for electric lights, and heated by the hot-water system.

Mr. Collins is independent of party lines in politics, is a member of the Odd Fellows, and a comrade of the Grand Army.

Mr. Collins' first residence in Nebraska was a log dugout with a sod roof, in which he lived five years. The lumber for his first frame dwell- ing was hauled from Grand Island, a distance of sixty-five miles. He experienced all the hard times of the early settlement of Nebraska, losing all his crops in 1874 by the grasshopper swarms, and by drouth in 1894. Two years hail destroyed every growing thing on his place. During the three-day blizzard of April, 1873, Mr. Collins had occasion to brave the storm each day. Deer and elk were plentiful in the early days, and Mr. Collins secured two elk and his father five-four of them with two shots. Such were the days of the early settlement in strong contrast with the present time.

789

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

SAMUEL P. TYRREL.

Prominent among the old settlers and agri- culturists of Madison county, Nebraska, stands the name of Samuel P. Tyrrel. He is accorded a high place because of his sterling qualities and upright dealings with his fellow men. He has done much toward the bettering of condi- tions in his home state and county, and is highly respected in his community. No one is more public-spirited than he, and his progressive atti- tude relative to matters of local nature bring him to the front in the affairs of the locality where he resides. Mr. Tyrrel resides in section twenty, township twenty-two, range one, where he has a pleasant home and valuable estate.

Mr. Tyrrel is a native of Massachusetts, being born in that state in July, 1844, and his parents, Franklin and Anna Maria (Parks) Tyrrel, are also natives of New England. Our subject was reared and educated in his native state, and upon attaining his majority, he left the state of his nativity, settling in Wisconsin in 1865, and remaining there until 1871, when he drove to Madison county, Nebraska, and after his arrival here, took up a homestead claim, and on this built a sod house, living in this house, "batching it," for one year.

In the early days, Mr. Tyrrel experienced many hardships and discouragements. The grasshoppers took all the crops the first three years. Many times he had to fight prairie fires to save his home and possessions, and in 1894 he lost all his crops by the hot winds that pre- vailed during the drouth of that year. Colum- bus and Wisner were the market places, and deer and antelope were plentiful in those days.

Mr. Tyrrel was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss Lon R. Stevenson, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Howe) Stevenson. Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrel are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Minnie, Percy, Walter and Claud. They are highly respected in their community, and enjoy the good will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

BENJAMIN L. NICHOLAS.

Benjamin L. Nicholas is one of the original homesteaders of Custer county, Nebraska, still residing on his original farm. He passed through the experiences of those who were living in the county during the years of drouth and hard times, and by close economy and native thrift, managed to make a good start as a farmer and ranchman, being now one of the most prosperous men of the region. He was born on an estate known as Holloway, near Narbeth, Pembroke- shire, Wales, March 10, 1856, being eleventh in the order of birth of the eighteen children of Thomas and Martha (Lewis) Nicholas, who had

nine sons and nine daughters. His parents are deceased, but he has two brothers and four sisters living in Wales. Mr. Nicholas grew to manhood on a farm in his native country, and there mar- ried, February 28, 1881, Miss Margaret Beynon, a native of Merthyr, Tydville, in Glamorganshire, where Mr. Nicholas served on the police force for six years. Her parents were John and Ann (Williams) Beynon, who died in their native country. In April of the same year, the young couple came to America, sailing from Liverpool for New York in the "Boothnia," landing after a voyage of nine days. They are the only members of the Nicholas or Beynon families to leave Wales for the United States. Mrs. Nicholas has two brothers living, one in England, the. Rev. D. J. Beynon, of the Congregational church, and one in Wales, but her parents are deceased.

Mr. Nicholas and wife first settled in Potta- wattamie county, Kansas, remaining on an eighty- acre farm on Buckshot creek until April, 1884, when they came to Custer county with their two children, taking a pre-emption claim on the south- east quarter of section eight, township thirteen, range eighteen, where they have made their home since. They now own a well-improved and equipped grain and stock farm of eight hundred acres, having a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings. Mr. Nicholas has been very suc- cessful in raising cattle and hogs, as well as small grain. He is established in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, and he and his wife have always taken an active interest in church and school. They assisted in the organization of the first church and Sunday school in their vicin- ity, and Mr. Nicholas has served some time on the school board, being at the present time treas- nrer of district number two hundred and forty- four. In 1891 to 1894 he served as a member of the county board of supervisors, and has served one term since then. He and his family are among the best-known pioneers of the county, and are highly respected by all.

Nine children have been born to Mr. Nicholas and wife: Martha Aune, born in Kansas, is the wife of Edwin Burrows, an enterprising merchant of Mason City, and they have three children; Mary Theodosia, also born in Kansas, is the wife of Nels Peterson, of Mason City, and has two children; Margaret Brittania, born in Custer county, is the wife of Carlton Bunnell, living near Detroit, Minnesota, and has one child; Sarah Jane, a teacher of music, is taking the musical course at the Grand Island Baptist Col- lege; Alice Ursula, taught two years, and is now attending the State Normal at Kearney: Gwendolyn Irene, Elizabeth Marian, John T. and William L. were all born on the home farm. Four of the daughters have taught school, and most of them are graduates of the Mason City High School.

790

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Their first home was a "soddy," only twelve by fourteen feet, with a leather latch to the door. For nineteen years the family lived in a "soddy," and in 1903 built a comfortable frame cottage. Kearney was their market place in the early days, and when they first traveled that trail, there was no bridge on the South Loup. It required four days to make the trip of forty-five miles. January 12, 1888, Mr. Nicholas and his eldest daughter were out in the blizzard for a time. A lantern had to be used to get to the stables to feed the stock. Practically nothing was raised in 1894, the dry year, and was for all the settlers a period of great suffering.

Mr. Nicholas has attained two degrees in Masonry, and is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. In politics he is independent.

LEWIS BECKMAN.

Among the public-spirited German-American citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, none have been more intimately associated with the best interests of their community than Lewis Beck- man, who is one of the most successful farmers and stockmen of the county.

He was born in Colberg-Munde, Germany, November 14, 1847, and is a son of Frederick and Carolina Beckman, who spent their entire lives in that country. He received a public school edu- cation in his native place, and at the age of four- teen years, left home, and spent seven years sail- ing before the mast. He visited many countries, and had many interesting experiences, and in this way gained self-confidence and independence. About 1869, he came to the United States, land- ing first in Pensacola, Florida, the vessel on which he sailed being wrecked there. He spent a few months in Pensacola, and then sailed for Boston, his life as a sailor ending there. Later he was in Rhode Island, Chicago, Kansas, and from the latter place back to Mt. Morris, Illinois, where he was married. He then went to Iowa, where he rented in Iama county for five years. He then moved to Franklin county, and there bought and operated an eighty-acre farm for eight years.

Mr. Beckman came to Wayne county in 1888. He rented for three years, and then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section nine, township twenty-seven, range three, where he erected a shanty, fourteen by twenty feet in dimensions. He immediately set out to improve and develop his farm, and now has a beautiful home, with all possible comforts and conveniences, and uses improved machinery and modern appli- ances in carrying on his work. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres in Wayne county, and has given his children considerable land he had acquired in South Dakota.

Mr. Beckman was married, February 27. 1876, to Miss Augusta Shieder, who was born in Germany in 1851, a daughter of Frederick and

Carolina Shieder. She came to the United States with her mother, sister and brother in 1867. Prior to this, two brothers had come to the United States, and earned money to send for them. Twelve children were born to Mr. Beck- man and wife, of whom the following nine are now living: Charles, William, Carrie, Mary, George and an infant son are deceased.

Walter, Harry, Jennie, Fred and John. Emma,

Both Mr. Beckman and his wife have many friends throughout Wayne county, where they are well known and highly regarded. He has always given his support to measures for the public good, and has been actively interested in securing educational advantages for the children of the community.

JAMES W. YOCKEY.

James W. Yockey is one of the most prominent citizens of Comstock, Nebraska, the owner of a well-equipped stock and grain farm, and having various business interests in Custer county, where he was an early settler. He is well known as one of the organizers of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Comstock, of which he is vice president and director. This bank was organized for home interests, in October, 1909, and has steadily progressed in prosperity and growth.

Mr. Yockey was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1859, eldest child of Oliver and Anna (Dougherty) Yockey, who had three sons and four daughters. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were mar- ried. The father served in the Civil war; at its close returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and shortly afterward moved to Lincoln, Illinois, liv- ing there until he came with his family to John- son county, Nebraska, in 1881. Those who came to Nebraska with their parents were their son, Charles F., and three daughters, Hattie, Clara and Grace. He had carried on farming in Illinois, and in the spring of 1881 rented a farm in John- son county, later buying land there. The par- ents now live in Adams, Gage county, Nebraska. Their son, Charles F., lives at Fort Morgan, Colo- rado; Clara, Mrs. Gus Nealy, resides in Sterling, Nebraska; Grace, Mrs. Chandler, lives in Lin- coln ; Katie, Mrs. Frank Fritz, lives near Topeka, Kansas; Hattie, Mrs. James Burnham, lives in St. Joe, Missouri, and James W., the eldest son, is the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Yockey was married at Elkhart, Illinois, November 22, 1878, to Ida May, daughter of Luther and Emeline Wood, and in February, 1884, with their two children, Bertha and Charles, they came to Johnson county. They rented a farm there three years, then moved to a farm a mile and a half from Adams, Gage county. After five years of farm life, Mr. Yockey sold his land interests, and moved into the town of Adams, engaging in mercantile business under the firm

791

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

name of Barnhouse & Yockey. After spending a year in business, he traded his interest for a farmi of three hundred and twenty acres in Custer county, although he did not locate on it. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in Gage county for a time, then again became a merchant in Adams, but soon afterward resumed farming. He made a specialty of buying, feeding and ship- ping stock until December, 1902, when he located near Comstock for a permanent residence. He there engaged in the implement business, but retained possession of a farm, where he had large stock interests. He owns about eight hundred acres of choice land near Comstock, and has a well-equipped livery and feed barn. He has a niee home, and is actively engaged in managing and looking after his varied interests in the vicin- ity. He is well known for his public spirit, and for his strict integrity in all business dealings. He is a keen business man, and has made a suc- cess of his different lines of investment.

Five children were born to Mr. Yockey and wife, of whom four now survive: Bertha, Mrs. George N. Bryson, living on a farm near Com- stock, has two children; Charlie, in business with his father; Dottie, deceased; Harvey, connected with his father in business; Levi, at home. The three last-named were born in Nebraska.

JOHN DWINELL.

John Dwinell, an agriculturist and stoekman of prominence in Knox county, Nebraska, resides in Jefferson township, and is one of those sub- stantial citizens whose sterling qualities have added so materially to the wealth and growth of Nebraska.

Mr. Dwinell is a native of Wisconsin, his birth occurring in 1859, and he is a son of James Madi- son and Almira (Simons) Dwinell, who were natives of Vermont and New Jersey, respectively. From Wisconsin, Mr. Dwinell, with his parents, went to Carroll county, Illinois, and in 1872 came to Cass county, Nebraska, where they bought land for six dollars per acre. Here the family endured many hardships and dangers. They suffered the loss of their crops for three successive years through the grasshopper pests which infested this region in the early years, and in various other ways experienced losses and failures of crops.

Mr. Dwinell was united in marriage in 1878 to Miss Ellen Irons. Mr. and Mrs. Dwinell are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows: Maud, who is the wife of F. Garnsey ; Alma, wife of Gregg Caulfield; Addie, now Mrs. Ross Doll; Bertha, and Pearl.

In 1881, Mr. Dwinell, with his family, came to Knox county, Nebraska, driving the entire dis- tance from Cass county, and took up a homestead, on which they built a house, twelve by eighteen feet. Here the family suffered losses through the hailstorm of 1901, and in various other ways, but

Mr. Dwinell has succeeded in developing a good farm, on which he is engaged in mixed farming and stock raising. He now owns eleven hundred and twenty acres of fine land, and his place is well improved with good buildings and a fine residence. He also has a fine grove and orchard.

JEREMIAH REED.

Jeremiah Reed, owner of a finely-equipped farm in Ashland precinct, is one of the esteemed and respected citizens of Boone county. He has always been an energetic and progressive agri- culturist, and well merits his present comforta- ble surroundings and many friends.

Mr. Reed was born in Washington county, Illinois, on March 4, 1857, the youngest of five children in his father's family. Both parents are now deceased, the mother dying when our subject was but six years of age. The only mem- bers of the family now living are himself and one brother, H. W. Reed, who resides in Albion, and a half sister, Mrs. James F. Browder.

After reaching manhood, Mr. Reed left Illi- nois, and settled in Iowa, and in the fall of 1878, in company with friends, Bert Nurton, Joe Allen and Sidney Wilton, came overland to Boone county, Nebraska. They traveled with a single team, and purchased a farm here, built a shanty, and, after a short stay, returned to Iowa, where, on January I of the following year, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Alice Conat, at the home of her grandfather in Delaware county.

After a month's visit there, the young couple started back to their new home, and started in to develop a good farm, remaining on their original place up to 1880, when Mr. Reed homesteaded on northeast quarter of section twenty-eight, town- ship twenty-one, range seven, and this has been their home since that time, with the exception of about six years, which were spent in Colorado. Mr. Reed has been very successful in his chosen work, and is called one of the well-to-do men of his vicinity, having a finely-equipped farm, and raising considerable stock and grain each year.

Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Pearl, Frank and Flossie, all married and living in different parts of Colorado, and Florence and Vernon C., at home.

While our subject has never been active in politics, he has ever taken a deep interest in the general affairs of his county and state, and has earnestly striven at all times, in his quiet way, to aid in promoting the general welfare.

P. B. STEWART.

P. B. Stewart, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for a number of years. Ile is prominently known throughout the county as one of the foremost farmers and

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 171

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