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 176

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 176

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In 1868, Mr. Westervelt went to Illinois, again engaged in farming and remained there until the spring of 1883, when he came to Norfolk, Nebras- ka, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, one mile east of Norfolk, where he farmed and raised stock, and lived here for fifteen years, during which time he purchased one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the original one hundred and sixty.

About 1899, Mr. Westervelt retired from the farm and moved in to Norfolk, where he lived at the time of his death. Mr. Westervelt served as po- lice judge for four years in Norfolk, and also served fifteen years on the city school board. He died January 24, 1909, at his home on Madison avenue, survived by his widow and eight children. Mrs. Westervelt still lives in Norfolk, and in 1909 built a fine home, where she now lives surrounded by a large circle of friends.

CHARLES L. KARNES.

Charles L. Karnes, an old and respected citizen of Custer county, is honored as a veteran of the civil war, in which he won an honorable record. He was born in Alleghany county, Virginia, seven miles from Covington, the county seat, August 1, 1834, seventh child of the four sons and five daugh- ters born to Jacob and Sarah (Keyser) Karnes, both natives of Virginia, the former of Alleghany county, the latter of Bath county; both died in their native state. He was born and reared on a farm, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, living on the farm where he was born until coming to Custer county in September, 1884. Hle was married in his native state March 25, 1855, to Nancy Andrews, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Oliver) Andrews, and they remained in Virginia until bringing their ten children with them to Nebraska. During this time, Mr. Karnes spent two and one-half years in active service during the Civil war, in "Stonewall" Jackson's brigade of Virginia artillery.

In the spring of 1884 Mr. Karnes took a home- stead in the southwest quarter of section eighteen

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township nineteen, range twenty-one, the house standing on the northwest corner of the tract, where they have since lived. Mr. Karnes also filed on a timber claim, to which he has since added by purchase, until now he owns four hundred and twenty-five acres of fine hill land.

Twelve children were born to Mr. Karnes and wife, of whom eight now survive. as follows : Mollie, now Mrs. Hazel Williams, of Broken Bow, Custer county, has thirteen children; Lewis, mar- ried and living in California, has two children; Harry, married and living in Idaho, has two chil- dren; Belle, wife of Seott Cooper, lives in Okla- homa and has five children; John, married and liv- ing in Iowa, has five children; Charles, married and living in Nebraska; Michael born in Virginia, January 19, 1874, was married in Custer county, November 7, 1899, to Mary, daughter of Alonzo and Adelia Ward, lives on the home farm and has four children: Dorothy, Walter, Roy and Harry ; Georgiana, wife of Albert Lindley, of Custer county, has eight children. Mr. Karnes has thirty-nine grandehildren and twenty-fitve great grandchildren. Mrs. Karnes died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mollie Williams, August 29, 1905, in her seventy-first year, deeply mourned by her family and many friends. Mr. Karnes is well-known and prominent in many circles and has always been an active man. He has helped materially in furthering the development and up- building of his county and state, and is regarded as a public-spirited, useful eitizen. He and his wife reared a fine family to honorable maturity and have a large number of descendants to revere them and their noble lives.

Notwithstanding the drouth of 1894, Mr. Karnes raised a fair erop of corn on his upland farm. After reserving enough corn for his own use he sold five hundred bushels to his neighbors in the valley. The sandy loam which constitutes the soil of his farm retains moisture longer than the heavy soil of the lower ground.

Mr. Karnes lived in a "soddy" from the time of settling on the place until 1906, when his pres- ent frame dwelling was erected. While building the "soddy" antelope were to be seen in the val- levs most every day, so primitive was the country at that time that the poles of an Indian wigwam were still standing in a canyon on an adjoining tract of land.

Mr. Karnes was originally a democrat, but of late years votes for whom he considers the best man, regardless of party affiliations. He is a member of the Methodist church, and has been since his sixteenth year.

HON. JOIIN H. BUIIRMAN.

John H. Buhrman, a leading and progressive farmer and worthy citizen of Howard county, Ne- braska, enjoys a wide reputation as a prominent man in the business and official life of his state.

Mr. Buhrman was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, July 30, 1864, and was the youngest mem- ber in a family of four girls and two boys. His boyhood was spent in Illinois, where he received a common school education. In 1881 his father, Theodore Buhrman, and John's sister's husband, Conrad Evers, emigrated to Nebraska, purchasing land here, and later the mother and balance of the family joined them, their homestead being located ou section twenty-nine, township thirteen, range nineteen. The father and mother made their home with Mrs. Evers, where the former died in 1897, and the latter on January 30, 1911. Our subject purchased a tract of land in the same neighborhood, which he improved in good shape, gradually increasing his aereage, and has now be- come possessor of a large farm, fitted with good buildings, etc. He is engaged extensively in stock and grain raising, also is one of the large stock buyers and shippers of his township.

Mr. Buhrman was married to Miss Elizabeth Horak, at St. Libory, on February 26, 1889, whose parents, Vincent and Elizabeth Horak, were among the pioneer settlers of Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Buhrman have a family of nine chil- dren, all living at home, and forming an interest- ing family cirele. They are named as 'follows : Mary, Anna, Theodore, Louis, Edward, Katie, Ju- lia, Clements, and Gertrude.

Mr. Buhrman has been active in the affairs of his county and township, serving as County As- sessor for one term, and proving a most capable and efficient official. In the fall of 1908, at the urgent solicitation of his numerous friends, he be- came a candidate on the Fusion ticket for state senator to represent Hall and Howard counties, and obtained the election by a large majority. He has been an able representative of his district, and has the highest esteem of all who know him. He is a man of clear and logical views in all mat- ters, a thorough business man, and born to be a leader in anything he may undertake. In the fall of 1910, Mr. Buhrman was re-elected to the state senate.

STURLEY T. STEVENS.

The Stevens family is one of the older ones in Custer county, and its members are well known throughout the region for their interest in public affairs and their willingness to help the cause of progress along all lines. Sturley T. Stevens was born in Alleghany, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1867, a son of William Miller and Sarah Ann (Nesbitt) Stevens. An account of the father and family is ineluded in the sketeh of William Nesbitt Stevens, which appears in this work.

Mr. Stevens accompanied his father to Saline county, Nebraska, in 1879, and on to Custer county in 1883. He received the educational advantages his parents were able to give him, and remained with his father on the homestead until November

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1899, at which time he came to the new town of Comstock, being its first postmaster. His appoint- ment bore the date of November 24, 1899, and he held the office until 1911, when his brother received the appointment. In connection with caring for the duties of his official position, Mr. Stevens engaged in selling cigars, confec- tionery and tobacco. In 1901 his brother came to work with him as assistant postmaster, remaining until he received the appointment himself.

In the spring of 1901, Mr. Stevens became sales- man for the Deering Harvester Company, and trav- eled in their employ until October 1, 1904. De- cember 1, of that year, he engaged in the hardware business in Comstock and handled the MeCormick binder. In 1905 he purchased his competitor's stock of hardware and conducted the only hard- ware business in Comstock. In 1907 he sold out this business and engaged in the real estate, insur- ance and loan business, having an office in the Citizens' bank building. He is one of the wide- awake, successful business men of the county and has been especially successful in his last venture, having interests in Custer and adjoining counties.

On February 23, 1898, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Mabel Cleavland, daughter of Elias and Alma Cleavland, of Wescott, pioneers of Custer county. Mrs. Stevens is a native of Maine and came with her parents to Custer county in 1883. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, Hazel Verna and Marian Alma. The family are well known in Comstock and prominent in social and other circles.

Mr. Stevens is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

ANTON BENDA.

To the men of perseverance and unflinching determination who came to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped in agriculture and commerce, the present state of prosperity is due. Among the early settlers of Knox county who have been inti- mately identified with its development, and have gained an enviable reputation as citizens, may be mentioned Anton Benda, a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of his locality. Mr. Benda resides in section five, township thirty-one, range six.

Mr. Benda is a native of Illinois, his birth oc- curring in Chicago in the year 1866. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Neskoda Benda, both na- tives of Bohemia. They left their native land in 1865, embarking on a sail boat from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, Maryland. After reach- ing America they started westward, locating in Chicago, Illinois, where they lived for some seven years; in 1872 migrating still farther west, coming by way of Sioux City, Iowa, and settling in Knox county, Nebraska. They came up the river on a steamboat to Niobrara; from there they pro- ceeded to Bazile Mills, where they remained for

a few days. From there the family went to the place where they now live and bought this farm from Mr. John Barta. There was a dugout on the place when they bought it, in which the family resided a short time, then building a log house.

Thirty-eight years is a long span of years to look backward to, and so many changes and such steady advancements have taken place, that the experiences of those first pioneer days seem al- most incredible to all but those sturdy sons of Nebraska soil who went through the hardships, dangers, and discouragements on the western frontier in the first days of its settlement. When our subject and parents first settled in this see- tion, the nearest market places were at Yankton, South Dakota, and Norfolk, Nebraska, both places being several miles distant, and the only means of travel to these markets being by ox team. During the first three years of location here, the grass- hoppers destroyed the entire crops, which was a very discouraging outlook to the family.

In 1885, Mr. Benda was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tichy, and they are the parents of nine children, namely : Mary, Joseph, Louis, John, Emma, Anna, Helen, Rosa, and Minnie.

LOUIS ARMBRUSTER.

In compiling a list of the representative farm- ers of Stanton county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of Louis Armbruster, who is a native of the state, and a resident of this county for many years, where he has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He has done his full share toward the development of the better interests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has a com- fortable home and is the owner of a good farm pleasantly located in section twenty-four.

Mr. Armbruster, the son of Sigund and Kate Armbruster, was born in Cuming county, Ne- braska, in 1873. The father was a native of Baden, and the mother of Luxembourg, Germany. The father, who is about sixty-six years old, came to America when he was just of age. He worked in different parts of Iowa for some years, then came to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged in farm- ing. It was here that the father and mother were married. They then came to Cuming county, Nebraska, and took up a claim, building a framme house for their dwelling.

It was here that the subscriber was born and he grew up in the pioneer surroundings of that time, which are very different from the country as it is now. Deer and antelope were frequently seen in those days. Prairie fires. also, were of frequent occurrence in the summer, and formed a great menace to the early settlers. Many times they were forced to fight fire for hours in order to save their homes. Their nearest market was Fremont, many miles away.

In 1897, the subscriber was united in marriage

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to Miss Julia Schulte. They are the parents of seven children, named as follows: William, Kate, Anna, Sigman, Ange, Albert, and Clarence.

Mr. Armbruster has served for six years as a director of schools in the district of his home, and has in other ways promoted the welfare of his community.

AARON HOLLENBECK.

Aaron Hollenbeck, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Ne- braska, has been a resident of that locality for the past forty years. He is prominently known throughout the western part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Ne- braska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his business is now prepared to enjoy his life in peace and comfort surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Hollenbeck was born in Knox, Albany eounty, New York, October 30, 1834; his father, Aaron Hollenbeck, Sr., was also a native of New York and was born in 1800 and died about 1863. Mr. Hollenbeck is of Dutch descent his ancestors coming from Holland in colonial days. His ma- ternal grandfather was a soldier and served his adopted country in the Revolutionary war, and his paternal grandfather in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject, Mary (Schermerhorn) Hol- lenbeck, was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1805. Mr. Hollenbeck's father, with his family went to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1849, and two years later, moved to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where they lived on a farm for three years, going then to Minnesota, where they remained three years. In 1857 they moved to Poweshiek county, Iowa, then in 1857 or two years later, to Story county, Iowa, where they remained four years, going to Crawford county, Iowa, in 1861, thence to Nebraska in 1870. 1

On October 7, 1860, Mr. Hollenbeck was mar- ried to Miss Anna Bales. Four children were born to them, as follows: John, who when last heard from was living in Washington; James, who makes his home in Oklahoma and the southwest; Alma, who lives on a farm in Cushing county, Oklahoma, and Jess, who now lives in Topeka, Kansas. In 1895 Mrs. Hollenbeck departed this life, survived by her husband and children. Later, Mr. Hollenbeck was married to Mrs. Linton An- derson, who had three children. In maidenhood she was Ada Belle, daughter of Elias and Sallie Stevens. She was born in Mahaska county, Iowa. and came to Nebraska with Mr. Anderson in 1871.

In June, 1869, Mr. Hollenbeck came to Ne- braska from Denison, Iowa, and took up the home- stead he now lives on. He then returned to Iowa, but came back in the fall and built a log house, which still stands on his farm. At this time he returned again to Iowa and in May, 1870, came to Nebraska, bringing his family, locating on the

homestead in Antelope county. The trip was made overland driving oxen; traveling by wagon was a tedious and slow process in those days; bridges were lacking and roads were not graded and improved as they are today. Mr. Hollenbeck was compelled to ferry across some of the streams; in crossing Logan creek, which was done in a ferry made of a wagon box, considerable trouble was experienced. Life of the early settlers was full of danger and hardships from many sources. Their first loss was from the grasshoppers, when for three years, 1874-5 and 6, their crops were completely destroyed by these pests, and many times Mr. Hollenbeck and family fought prairie fires in order to save home and property. One prairie fire of unusual severity will never be forgotten by the old timers, and it is now known as the "Big fire of 1878," with hail in the summer, together with the grasshoppers and prairie fires and the blizzards in the winter, the life of the pio- neer was indeed strenuous. Mr. Hollenbeck weathered the terrible blizzard of November, 1873, in a cabin on Yellowbanks, twelve miles from Norfolk, where he had gone to mill. It re- quired two days to cover the distance. The first day, only three miles were traveled between day- light and seven o'clock in the evening and the last nine miles were not completed on the second day until eight o'clock in the evening. Before Mr. Hollenbeck came there were Indian scares, too, to add to the troubles of the settlers; as a rule the Indians caused more trouble by begging and stealing than from any other cause.

Hard work and industry have changed the conditions of pioneer days. Mr. Hollenbeck now owns in addition to the farm, one hundred and sixty acres, seventy-five acres of which is in fine timber along the Elkhorn river.

LEWIS R. DOUSE.

Lewis R. Douse is one of the best known men in Custer county, where he and his wife were among the pioneers. He was born in Sherborn, Massachusetts, October 20, 1845, elder child of William and Caroline (Ware) Douse, who had one son and one daughter. The father was born in Sherborn, September 3, 1815, he being a de- scendant of Laurence Donse, who emigrated from Broughton county, Hauts, England, to America, prior to 1642, and settled in Charlestown about 1649, and the mother was born September 3, 1820.

Mr. Douse was reared in a small village and lived at home on his father's farm until his twenty-third year, when he came west to seek his fortune. July 16, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Sixtieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer In- fantry, under Captain Robert H. Chamberlain. 1Ie was mustered out in November, 1864, returned to his home in Massachusetts, and worked on a farm and in a shoe factory for about three years. In March, 1868, he removed to Grinnell, Iowa, and engaged in farming near there.

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Mr. Douse was married at Lynnville, a village near Grinnell, to Sarah M., daughter of Samnel and Caroline Wagner, of Ohio. In June, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Douse, with their son, William, and their daughter, Eliza Caroline, left their Iowa home, in company with the father of Mrs. Douse, Samuel Wagner, with his wife and five children, for Nebraska. The trip was made with a prairie schooner and they reached Cnster county in July. They stopped for a time at Harvard, and went on to Loup City, making no land entry until Feb- ruary, 1874. Mr. Douse was the first permanent settler in Custer county, but although he settled on his land before 1874, he was the second to make land entry, being preceded by Frank Ohme. who filed on his homestead in January, 1874. Mr. Douse secured lot three, section twenty-six, town- ship eighteen, range seventeen, situated in the middle Loup valley and on the Loup river. He erected a house on the bluff overlooking the river and commanding a fine view of the valley and river. This homestead shanty was built from slabs that were hauled from Loun City, twenty- five miles distant, but this residence is now re- placed with a modern home, with pleasant sur- roundings, and the family have one of the pret- tiest farm homes in their part of the county. Mr. Douse is one of the substantial and highly re- spected eitizens of his community and the family are held in high respect and esteem by their many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Douse are especially well known by the older settlers and others who passed through Custer county in early days.

Eight children were born to Mr. Douse and wife, of whom seven now survive: William, born in Iowa, married and living northwest of the home farm, has three children: Eliza; Alice, the first white child born in Cnster county, born February 22, 1875, is the wife of Charles Sims, of Oklahoma, and they have three children: Lewis is married and lives on the home farm; Lawrence, married and living west of the home place, has two chil- dren ; Elmer and Ethel at home; Nellie, deceased. All except the two eldest children were born on the home farm. Mr. Douse and wife believe in the advantages of education and have given their children the best opportunities they were able in this direction. All of them have taught school more or less and the family is one of refinement and culture. Their home is a pleasant one to visit and they have a wide circle of friends and ac- quaintanees. They have one adopted daughter, now ten years of age.

Mr. Douse and his three half-brothers are the only survivors of his father's family. The Wag- ner family were also original homesteaders of Cus- ter county, but Mrs. Douse is the only member of her family now living in Custer county. Her par- ents are deceased; her brother Samuel lives in Sherman county ; her brother William, in Cherry county; one brother lives in Iowa, another in North Dakota, and one sister in Kansas.

CHRISTIAN ANDERSON.

Christian Anderson, an enterprising and pros- perous farmer of Howard county, owns a valuable estate in Posen precinct. He located on this land during the very early settlement of the region, and himself and wife well remember the gradual com- ing of other families to their section, and giving aid and encouragement to all newcomers. From that time on, they have been prominent in devel- oping and helping build up that part of Nebraska.

Mr. Anderson was born in Denmark on Sep- tember 23, 1835, and made that country his home until he was thirty years old, when he emigrated to America. His first location was Omaha, Ne- braska, where he remained for several months, and from there went to Iowa. He returned to Omaha in the spring of 1866, when in company with a young man with whom he was acquainted, he walked to Grand Island. Upon arriving at the latter place, Mr. Anderson secured a job haul- ing wood and ties for the Union Pacific Railway Company, following the work for a short time. He next went to Julesburg, Colorado, and for about four months worked for the government building a fort. He bought a farm in Merrick county, in 1867, which he carried on up to 1872, then sold out and went into the western states for about one year. At this time, he came back to Howard county, arriving in the vicinity in May, 1873. The following month he was married in St. Paul, to Mrs. Gurie Johnson. This was about the first marriage in Howard county, the ceremony being performed by Judge Nick Paul. Mrs. Johnson was a widow with two children, Ola Grothan, now a doctor residing in St. Paul, Nebraska, and Annie, married and living in Julesburg, Colorado.

Mr. Anderson immediately started farming on a homestead owned by his wife and remained on the place for six years, then purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land from the Burlington & Missouri Railway, situated on section one, town- ship fourteen, range twelve, joining Farwell. Here they have resided ever since, engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, succeeding in building up a nice property, and being considered among the leading citizens of their community. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have passed through every phase of pioneer life, and now at their advanced age, he being seventy-five and Mrs. Anderson eighty, they are happy and contented, taking a lively interest in all neighborhood affairs, and enjoy a host of friends, esteemed by all who know them. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson will be found on another page of this volume.

CHRISTIN H. JOHNSON.

The life of Christin H. Johnson is an excellent example of what energy, industry and honesty may accomplish out of the most adverse circum- stances. From a poor, unassisted emigrant hoy, to

CHRISTIAN ANDERSON.

MRS. CHRISTIAN ANDERSON.

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a successful man of affluence, form the extremes of this exeellent citizen of Plainview, Nebraska.

Born in the little village of Storehedige, eight miles from Copenhagen, Denmark, June 4, 1849, his life from the start was one of struggle. Left an orphan at the age of six by the death of his father, he had to do his own share in helping the mother support the family.

At the age of seven he was employed by a farmer to herd the geese along the highway. Fall- ing asleep one day, his eliarges wandered into a rye field, for which the farmer gave him a beat- ing. His mother counseled him to continue at his post, as the fault was on his side. When old enough he learned the shoemaker's trade at which he worked until emigrating to America, receiving sixteen dollars a year for his services, a wage much less than prevails in that country now. While at his bench one day, an acquaintance re- turned from the New World came into the shop. Our boy noticing how much better he was dressed than when he went away, expressed a wish that he too might go to America. The friend sug. gested that he come, and finding the boy had no money for his passage, paid it for him, one hun- dred and ten dollars. Sailing from Copenhagen, to Hamburg, Germany, the two crossed the North Sea to Hull, England, and in April, 1868, em- barked at Liverpool for Quebec, which they reached in sixteen days, having been three days on the way from the Danish capital to the English coast. His friend secured work for him on a farm near Story City, Iowa, where the first year he paid the debt and had ten dollars surplus, with which he felt himself rich.

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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 176

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