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 172

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 172

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stockmen, and, after many years of hard labor, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life.

Mr. Stewart was born in Scotland, August 16, 1844, at Kirriemuir, Forfarshire province, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm. His father, Robert Stewart, died fourteen years ago, at the age of seventy years. When our subject came to this country, he went to Glasgow, and sailed direct to New York. He at once started for the west, and settled in McHenry county, Illinois, where he remained thirteen years, rent- ing a farm. After Mr. Stewart was nicely located in America, he sent for his sweetheart to come here, and in 1872 he was married to Miss Mary Sterling. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart eight chil- dren have been born, as follows: John, who is married to Ida A. Ragland, and has seven chil- dren ; Mary, wife of Mr. Chalfoint, and has two children ; Nellie, wife of George Fosburg, has one child; James, who is married to Nettie Couch, now lives in Holt county, Nebraska, and has one child; Flossie, Peter, George and Katie and Gene, deceased.

In 1884, Mr. Stewart came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and there took up a homestead in sec- tion thirty-four, township twenty-seven, range seven, on which he built a good frame house. During the drouth in every section of this coun- try, our subject had good crops, and sold them at high prices. Although fortunate in that respect, our subject had other hardships in the early days, among other experiences fighting prairie fires to save his home and property, and in 1895 a terrific hailstorm caused a heavy loss.

Mr. Stewart now owns four hundred and eighty acres of good Nebraska land, and is a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock- man.

JOHN A. FISCUS, JR.

John A. Fiscus, Jr., one of the younger self- made men of central Nebraska, began life for himself at an early age, and has been successful as a farmer and stockman. He is known as a man of strict integrity and public spirit, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. Mr. Fiscus was born near Aledo, Mercer county, Illi- nois, July 17, 1870, fifth child of John and Eliza (Latham) Fiscus, who had four sons and four daughters. Both parents were natives of Indi- ana, where they were reared. He was born and reared on a farm, receiving the usual district school advantages given a farmer's son. The mother died in Mercer county, June 30, 1880, and in September, 1884, the father, having remar- ried, brought his family to Furnas county, Ne- braska, making the trip with a team and wagon, camping along the wayside in a tent for seven weeks. The eldest son had preceded him to Nebraska, and was living in Clay county. From

this time, the son, John, began to look out for himself, and, being a boy of ambition and self- reliance, was able to provide for himself with but little assistance.

The father was born March 15, 1833. He lived at Ansley until February, 1911, when he returned to Freedom, Indiana, to spend his remaining days. The mother was born Febru- ary 10, 1833. They were married in Boone county, Iowa, October 18, 1855, and moved to Illinois in 1869. Six of the children of this fam- ily now survive, namely: Mrs. Lottie Bivens, of Mercer county, Illinois; Mary, wife of George Brown, lives in Oklahoma; Jane married William McCulley, and lives in Mercer county, Illinois ; John A., of this sketch; Della married Nearest Sperry, and lives in Missouri; Elisha J. is mar- ried, and lives in Yarmouth, Iowa.

John A. Fiscus first came to Custer county in 1888. He was married at Grand Island, Nebras- ka, September 6, 1895, to Lizzie Ochsner, daugh- ter of Chris and Catherine (Engelhardt) Ochsner, old settlers in Nebraska. They are Germans, who moved from Bavaria to the village of Worms, in Russia, when Christian was twelve years of age. Here he married, and lived until July, 1874, when, with his family and his parents, he sailed from Hamburg to New York on the "Schiller," the voyage lasting over ten days. They came direct to Sutton, Nebraska, reaching their des- tination September 6, and have since resided there. Mr. Fiscus brought his family to Custer county in 1897, and they live on the Lee farm, on section thirty-one, township sixteen, range eighteen, a tract comprising two hundred and eighty acres of farm and grazing land. He and his wife have five children: Edna Olefa, Ella Elizabeth, Edgar A., May Irene and Della Loene. The first two were born in Clay county, and the last three in Custer county. Mr. and Mrs. Fiscus are well regarded in the community, and have many friends. Mr. Fiscus is a populist in poli- ties, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

CHARLES N. KLINGLER.

Charles N. Klingler, who resides in section twelve, township seventeen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, was born in Boone county, Indiana, December 2, 1862, and is a son of Frederick and Murency (Sullivan) Klingler. He is the youngest of six children, and has one brother residing in Lebanon, Indiana, and one sister in Zionsville, Indiana, the others being deceased. The father was of German descent, and was born June 19, 1815, a native of Indiana, in which state he passed away at Zionsville on April 20, 1867. The mother a native of Indi- ana, was of Irish descent, and died in Zionsville, June 23, 1879. Mr. Klingler received his educa-

"CEDAR HILL FARM," RESIDENCE OF CHARLES N. KLINGLER.

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES DEDLOW.

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tion in the local schools, and grew to manhood on the farm.

On April 6, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Adams, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana. Her father, Samuel D. Adams, of Scotch-Irish parentage, is a descendant from the same ancestors as John Quincy Adams. He lives in Carmel, Indiana. Her mother, Nancy (McDuffy) Adams, of Irish descent, died in 1866 in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Klingler have had no children, but have one adopted son, Clifford H. He is married, has one son, and lives in North Loup, Nebraska.

In September, 1884, Mr. Klingler came to Thayer county, Nebraska, remaining one and a half years; then went to Sherman county, Kansas, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, but early in 1887 returned to Nebraska, going to Furnas county. Owing to failure of crops while living here, Mr. Klingler worked for the Burlington and Missouri railroad company for about three years.

In November of 1890, Mr. Klingler came to Valley county, having only his team, together with a cow and a calf, and a debt for money bor- rowed to make his way here. By 1903 he was able to purchase eighty acres of land in section twelve, township seventeen, range thirteen, which is still the home place, a well-improved grain farm. We are pleased to call attention to the home and surrounding buildings on one of our illustrated pages. Mr. Klingler has served on his school board for a number of years. He is one of the younger men among the pioneers of his locality, and is widely and favorably known.

Mr. and Mrs. Klingler are both prominent in lodge circles. Mr. Klingler has for seventeen years held membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also an Odd Fellow and Rebekah. Mrs. Klingler is a member of the De- gree of Honor, and at different times has held all the offices of the organization. She is at pres- ent writing noble grand of the Rebekahs. She was reared in the Christian church, while Mr. Klingler grew up in the Methodist faith. He is republican in politics.

Mr. Klingler has given much attention to popcorn as a crop, the Loup valley being well adapted to raising this product. He thoroughly understands its culture, and has made it one of his most profitable crops.

CHARLES DEDLOW.

Nebraska has much to be grateful for in the achievements of its hardy pioneer settlers, who dared to penetrate into what were then dry and desert regions to make good homes and fertile farms. Such a one is our subject, Charles Ded- low, who resides on the northwest quarter of section one, township twenty-seven, range four, Pierce county, Nebraska. He is one of the pros- 26 1%

perous farmers of that region, where he has lived for the past forty years.

Charles Dedlow was born, November 8, 1850, in the province of Mechlenburg-Sterlitz, Ger- many, and is the son of Frederick and Fredrika (Green) Dedlow, who made Nebraska their home during their later years. The father died in 1901 at the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother in 1906 at the age of eighty-five years. Our sub- ject received part of his schooling in Germany, and then came with his parents to America, em- barking at Hamburg the latter part of October on a sailing vessel. They were nine weeks and three days making the voyage to New York City.

After coming to the United States, the Dedlow family settled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, early in January, 1867, where they rented a farm, and lived four years. In June, 1871, the parents moved to Pierce county, Nebraska, settling on the northeast quarter of section ten, township twenty- seven, range four -- the first settlers on Dry creek which has remained the home place. They drove from Wisconsin to Pierce county, being from April to June on the way. They first built a log house, hauling the logs from Knox county, and lived in this house four years, then building a frame house.

Charles Dedlow came to Nebraska in March, 1872, and took up a tree claim on the northwest quarter of section one, township twenty-seven, range four, on which he now lives. A fine view of his place appears elsewhere in this work. There are over thirteen acres of fine trees on this land. Later he acquired the northeast quarter, having three hundred and twenty acres of unusu- ally fine land.

In migrating to Nebraska, Mr. Dedlow came as far as Wisner by rail, thence by stage to Norfolk, and walked from Norfolk to the claim. In the early days, our subject and family experienced many hardships and privations, for four years having nothing but hay for fuel, as was the lot of most of the early settlers. Among other exper- iences, hail in 1896 destroyed all his crops. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and their flesh was all the meat settlers had at times.

Mr. Dedlow was married, October 27, 1878, to Miss Bridget Elizabeth Connervey, whose par- ents, James and Kate (Sherridan) Connervey, came from Ireland. The mother died, February 13, 1898, at the age of seventy-five years, and the father died, March 28, 1911, at the age of eighty- five years. To Mr. and Mrs. Dedlow fourteen children have been born: Mattie; Edward, who married Clara Stockman; Emma; Anastasia, who died in 1900; Gertrude, who died March 21, 1910; Minnie; Louis, who died June 24, 1894; Agnes, William, Viola, Charles, Lawrence, Clarence and Walter.

Mr. Dedlow and family are Catholic in relig- ious faith, and in polities Mr. Dedlow votes the democratie ticket. He served as county com-

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missioner since 1906, his present term expiring in 1912. He is well and favorably known, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus of Creighton.

After the memorable blizzard of April 12, 13 and 14, 1873, Mr. Dedlow, who was working for Herman Mavis, near Pierce, caught prairie chick- ens with his hands, their eyes being closed with snow and ice. Several Indians laid in a straw stack near for two or three days. Mr. Dedlow lost crops in 1874, 1875 and 1876 by grasshoppers. Just before the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he had turned the cattle out. He went after them, drove them to shelter, and found his way back to the house, a feat accomplished by few.

FRED KNAAK.

In reviewing the history of Pierce county, Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place is accorded the gentleman above named. Mr. Knaak is a pioneer settler, coming here with his parents in 1880, and is one of the best known and most highly respected men in his region. He is a prosperous agriculturist, and has built up a comfortable home and fine farm near Foster, where he enjoys a peaceful and contented life.

Mr. Knaak was born in the village of Naugard, province of Pommerania, Germany, May 19, 1868, and is the son of Fred and Augusta (Rehfeld) Knaak, both natives of Germany, where the father followed the occupation of farmer. His elder son, Herman Knaak, served in the German army from 1876 to 1880. On coming to America, the family sailed on the steamship "Herder," and, after landing in the United States, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land in section fourteen, township twenty-seven, range four. Here they lived in a sod house six years, when the father took up a timber claim in section twenty-two, township twenty-seven, range four, and planted ten acres to trees.

Our subject received his education in the dis- trict schools of Pierce county, and grew up to his young manhood on the farm. On March 29, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Kieek- hefer, also a native of the village of Naugard, who came to this country in 1881 with her par- cnts, who took up a homestead in Pierce county, Nebraska, in section six, township twenty-seven, range three. Her father, Henry Kieckhefer, and brother, Robert, were lost in the blizzard of Janu- ary 12, 1888, when they started after the cattle, and, drifting with the storm, were frozen before they could find shelter. Their bodies lay on the prairies from Thursday night until Sunday, when searching parties found them in the snow.

In religious faith Mr. Knaak, with his wife, is a member of the German Lutheran church, and is a democrat, always voting that ticket. His home is on section five, township twenty-six,

range three, where he has a good dwelling and farm buildings, and enjoys the respect and good will of all who know him.

HENRY ROE. (Deceased.)

Henry Roe, deceased, for many years prior to his death, was known as a prosperous farmer and worthy citizen. He became one of the pio- neer settlers of Howard county, and his farm in Warsaw precinct is one of the valuable estates in that locality. During the last few years of his life, he made St. Paul his home, retired from active labors, and his wife and children now occu- py the residence there. Mr. Roe died, February 11, 1908.

Mr. Roe was born in Pilbery county, Ireland. on June 28, 1834. In 1850, he emigrated to Cana- da with his parents and seven brothers and sis- ters. He soon afterwards settled in Huron county, Ontario, beginning work on his own account, following farming for a number of years.

He was married there to Mary Duke, and to them were born three children, the wife and mother dying four years after her marriage to our subject. Their son, David, is now living in Howard county, and is the father of thirteen children.

In 1863, Mr. Roe was married the second time, to Mary A. MeCracken, in Canada. Mrs. Roe was a native of that country, the eldest in a family of eight, and she became the mother of seven chil- dren, five born in Canada. In 1872, the family came to Nebraska, locating in Howard county, where Mr. Roe pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, and lived on it for six months, then home- steaded on section fourteen, township fourteen, range eleven. This he proved up on, and later purchased railroad land in the same vicinity, and by dint of industry and thrift, succeeded in becoming a prosperous farmer and stockman. He went through many disappointments and hardships in getting started, but always stood for the best interests of his county and state, and his name will occupy an important place in the history of the region.

Mr. Roe was a republican, and was prominent in his party. During the early years, he served as justice of the peace, also was moderator of his school district for a number of years.

Mr. Roe was survived by a wife and four chil- dren by the second marriage, the latter named as follows: Susanna, wife of J. H. Morris, par- ents of two children, they residing in St. Paul ; Samuel W., who, with his family, reside on the original homestead; John B., pastor of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Ponca, Nebraska, father of one child; and Ella May, wife of William Har- vey, parents of two children, also residing in St. Paul. Mrs. Mary A. Roe, widow of our subject, makes St. Paul her home. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey

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are living with her. She is a very estimable lady, enjoys the friendship of a large circle of people, and is surrounded by her children, who are a source of comfort to her, they all being settled in nice homes of their own within a radins of thirty miles of St. Paul.

JOHN L. WARD.

John L. Ward, a Nebraskan, born and bred, is a typical westerner. He is an intelligent and progressive citizen of Valley county, and classed among the successful farmers of this locality. He is a young man of firm characteristics, and his high standing as a worthy citizen is well merited.

Mr. Ward was born in Valley county, Nebraska, November 21, 1882, a son of Asahel and Amanda (Honnold) Ward. He is youngest of three children, and has a sister residing in Howard county, Nebraska, and another living in Ord, where the parents are also living at the present time. Our subject received his education in the local schools, graduating in 1904 from Ord high school.

On August 15, 1909, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Dora Milligan, who is also a native-born Nebraskan. They have one daugh- ter, Alice. Mrs. Ward's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Milligan, reside in Valley county, together with six other daughters and seven sons.

Mr. and Mrs. Ward have made their home in Ord since January 1, 1911, and they have a tract of eighty acres in Garfield county.

Mr. Ward is still a young man, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county. He is held in high esteem in his community, and has served as justice of the peace for two years, filling that office creditably to himself and satisfactorily to the people. Mr. Ward is now in business as a landscape photog- rapher. He is district deputy of the Tribe of Ben Hur, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors of America, and is, with his wife, a member of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.

E. C. BROBERG.

To the men of perseverance and stalwart de- termination, who emigrated west many years ago, and particularly those settling in the state of Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural or commercial region, practically all the prosperity there is due. Prominent among the pioneers of Madison county, and one who has been intimately identified with its growth and progress, incidentally gaining also an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen, may be mentioned E. C. Broberg, now a prosperous and successful farmer, proprietor of the estate known as the Hopefield Farm, in section eighteen, township twenty-one, range three.

Mr. Broberg is a native of Sweden, born in Skona on January 3, 1871. He is a son of N. M. and E. L. Broberg, all the family coming to the United States in 1880. Their first stop was made at Chicago, Illinois, where they remained for six years, our subject working as a clerk. He then came on to Nebraska, locating in Madison county, where he purchased the Cooper homestead of James Stuart. He added many improvements to this property, engaged in the grain and stock- raising business, and eventually built up a very fine farm of the place. In 1908, he erected a comfortable and handsome dwelling, also other substantial outbuildings, fences, etc., and is now the owner of one of the most valuable estates in the township, his farm consisting of one hundred acres of fine farming land.

Mr. Broberg makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs, of which he has about one hundred head.

Mr. Broberg was married at Elgin, January 19, 1896, to Miss A. Swanson, who lived in Elgin. Mr. and Mrs. Broberg have four children, named as follows: Alfred, Walter, Lloyd and Gladys, all bright and sturdy youngsters.

Since locating in Madison county, Mr. Bro- berg has taken a deep interest in affairs of his community, and has in every way possible assisted in promoting its welfare.

ANTON P. DOBESH.

Anton P. Dobesh, one of the most widely- known men of Custer county, Nebraska, belongs to a representative family, and one that is highly respected wherever known. He is a man of busi- ness ability and energy, being progressive in his ideas, and actively interested in all measures cal- culated to advance the general welfare and pros- perity. He was born in the village of Roncho- vany, Moravia, a part of Bohemia, January 13, 1861, next to the eldest of thirteen children born to Tomas and Josephine (Job) Dobesh. The par- ents were born, reared and married in Moravia, and came to the United States in the spring of 1871, sailing from Bremen to Baltimore, in the "Columbia" it is believed, and spent nineteen days on the water. With their six children, they first located on a homestead in Saunders county, Nebraska, which the father secured, and there several children were born. There were, in all, seven sons and six daughters in the family. One daughter, Annie, now Mrs. Pelan, lives on the old home farm, two sons and one daughter live in Cus- ter county, and one son and two daughters live in Butler county, Nebraska. The mother of these children died in Saunders county in 1884, and the father, now in his eighty-fourth year, has retired from farm life, and resides in Weston, Saunders county. He is highly respected as an upright and reliable citizen, and has a large number of friends.

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Anton P. Dobesh accompanied his parents to America when he was about ten years of age, and as a youth helped with the work on the farm in Saunders county, receiving a common-school education. In the spring of 1879, he came up into Custer county for the purpose of looking the country over, thinking to locate there. In due time he took up a homestead and timber elaim on section eighteen, township fourteen, range eighteen, his nearest neighbor being four miles distant, and his nearest trading point Kearney. He is one of the few original homesteaders to retain possession of his original farm through- out the years up to the present time, and has been closely identified with the progress and de- velopment of the region. He has made a specialty of stock-raising, and ships several carloads of cattle to market each year. He is a self-made man, and has passed through the various periods of hardship and privation that have been the lot of the old settlers in Custer county, developing his land into a fine stock and grain farm, which is well equipped and improved. He makes a spec- ialty of Durham-bred cattle, and during the last few years has' raised a large amount of grain. He owns two thousand acres of rich farming land, and is one of the most successful men of central Nebraska.

Mr. Dobesh married in Saunders county, March 19, 1882, Mary Tomsicek, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Novacek) Tomsicek, who came to America in the spring of 1878, sailing from Bremen to Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Dobesh have five living children: Anton K., who is married, and lives in Custer county, has two children ; Frank, Josephine, Tomas and Mary, all at home. These children were all born on the homestead, and attended local schools.

Mr. Dobesh was reared in the Catholic faith, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a staunch republi- can, and at one time was one of the only two members of his party in the precinct.

The hard times of the early nineties bore severely on the settlers, several years of drouth or hail succeeding each other with little inter- mission. In 1894, Mr. Dobesh harvested but a little fodder, and two years later lost everything by hail.

Kearney was their nearest market in the early years of settlement here, the trip there and back requiring three or four days' travel. Deer and antelope were to be seen on the prairies in great numbers, but soon disappeared.

DR. THOMAS M. THOMSON.

Dr. Thomas M. Thomson, one of the best known and most successful dentists of Howard county, Nebraska, has his home office in Danne- brog, where he has been established for the past several years.

Mr. Thomson was born in Denmark on Decem- ber 3, 1872. He received his education in his native country, obtaining his diploma as a doctor of dentistry from one of the celebrated colleges there, and also qualified as a registered pharma- cist.

In 1899, Mr. Thomson came to America with the intention of making this country his perman- ent residence, and picked out Nebraska as his location, going at first to Lincoln. There he entered the office of a well-known practitioner as assistant dentist, remaining for one year, then passed the examination required before the state board, and came to Dannebrog.

On September 25, 1901, our subject was united in marriage to Johanna C. Mortensen, of Danne- brog, and they made this their home up to 1904, at which time they went to Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. Thomson entering the dental department of the University of Illinois, from which she graduated in 1907. During this period, Mr. Thomson held the position of bookkeeper for a large Chicago house and immediately after his wife had complet- ed her studies, they returned to Dannebrog, and opened an office, and have since followed their profession in partnership, now enjoying a large and lucrative practice.

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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 172

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