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 177

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 177

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The second year Mr. Johnson worked near Marshalltown, Iowa, and in the year following his time was divided between Kansas City and Law- rence, Kansas. Returning to Marshalltown, he se- cured work as a gardener for a time, and then eon- dueted a billiard hall and bowling alley. After this he bought and sold eattle with great success, had married, and owned forty acres of land near town.

In the fall of 1881, he sold his business there, loaded his household goods and some thirty head of fine cattle and several teams of horses into cars, and shipped them to Nebraska, reaching Pierce county in November. Settling on a tract of land seven miles southwest of Plainview, he built a small dwelling, and a sod barn a hundred feet long to house this large herd of stock; not being acclimated, many of the animals died. Ile was compelled to sell some to buy feed for the others. and so came out in the spring with mueh less than he had in the fall. The winters were severe; he had to haul hay from Willow creek and frequently when the roads were had he had to throw off part of the load from time to time, until by the time he reached home he had left little more than enough to feed for that day. At one time he hauled bundles of hay on a hand sled from a neighbor's, to keep the stock from starving. Snow drifted so

deeply at times that he had to dig a stairway eight or ten steps deep, to get to his well, and he fre- quently dug a hole through the roof of the stable to water and feed his stock, the doorways being drifted full and closed.

Misfortune seemed to pursue him. Intending to raise some hogs, he bought a young one, which was continually breaking out and straying; when being driven home with the stock after one of these escapes, it laid down and died. A horse whielt Mr. Johnson bought with his last hundred dollars died a few days after he bought it, leaving him with a load of wood miles from home. These are but t samples of hardships to be endured, and many were the tears shed by the young wife in the lonely prairie home. They longed to return to Iowa, but were too proud to go back with less than they had brought away. But times changed, crops improved, Mr. Johnson began dealing in cattle and got on in the world. He first filed on a homestead and later on a tim- ber claim, to whiel he added from time to time. He now has three quarter-sections in one plat in Ante- lope county, six miles west of Plainview, another quarter west of that, and fifty acres adjoining the town of Brunswick, where he and his sons own the bank.

In 1889 Mr. Johnson traded a farm for a stock of goods in Plainview and for four years con- ducted a general store. In 1893 he bought a stock of clothing and confined his efforts to that line un- til 1906, when he sold to his sons and retired from aetive business life. With his sons he in 1908 purchased the Bank of Brunswiek, of which he is vice president, the sons being president and cash- ier. Their deposits amount to one hundred and thirty thousand dollars and are increasing each year. Mr. Johnson purchased the hotel at Plain- view, enlarged and refurnished it, fitted it with a modern equipment, and seeured a tenaut who has made it the best hotel in northeastern Nebraska, if the word of traveling men is any eriterion.

Mr. Johnson is the son of Herman and Mary (Christen) Sorensen, whose name by a peculiar Scandinavian custom, is not the same as his own. An elder brother preceded him to this country sev- eral years, and with four companions was attacked hy Indians on the plains and scalped, only one escaping to send the sad news to the parents at home. The second year in America Mr. Johnson sent for his twin brother, followed the next year by his brother Charles; later the mother and sister were sent for, coming in 1873, and all have pros- pered and done well.

Mr. Johnson and his twin brother were married the same day, August 27, 1875, the former to Miss Mary Nelson, a native of Denmark, born in the province of Jutland, near the village of Skibstedt. IIer parents were Christian and Mattie Marie (Jensen) Nelson, the mother dying when Mrs. Johnson was but eleven months old. The father came with his family to America in 1871, settling

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, RÉMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

first at Marshalltown, Iowa, but soon bought a farm near New Sharon, and in 1883 bought in An- telope county, Nebraska, to be near his daughter. One brother remained at Marshalltown, and the other went to Colorado, and did not see his kin for thirty-eight years, when he visited them at Plain- view.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four living chil- dren : Mary, who is married to Doctor Harry Malarian, a prominent practitioner of Sioux City, Iowa: Margaret, wife of Charles Watson, a pros- perous stock dealer of Brunswick, Antelope county ; Albert L., married to Alice Drayton, and William L., married Lorinda Wauser, the two sons being engaged in banking in Brunswick.

Mr. Johnson owes much of his success in busi- ness to his sterling honesty, his word and credit being good from his earliest business career. Good judgment was a factor in his success, and to this add his genial happy disposition, and you have the secret by which any man may succeed.

Mr. Johnson is republican and has served on the town council. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, as well as of the Odd Fel- lows, and Pythian lodges, and with Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Rebekah degree and the Order of the Eastern Star. They were reared in the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Johnson now com- munes with the Congregational denomination at Plainview.

When they came to the west, all was open pra- irie without a tree in sight. They have seen the sap- lings they planted grow to trees fifty to sixty inches in circumference, and the hills and valleys dotted with fine shady groves. In 1910 they re- visited their native country, but returned thankful that fate had cast their lot on the fertile Nebraska plains.

JOE PEARSON.

The gentleman above mentioned has resided in Howard county, since 1883, during which time he has become thoroughly familiar to all, and takes a leading place as an energetic agriculturist and public-spirited citizen. He is the owner of a valu- able farm, and makes his home on section thirty- one, in Elba precinct.

Joe Pearson was born in Sweden on April 24, 1866, the third in a family of three boys and one girl born to Peter and Elna Munson. Joe grew up in his birthplace, receiving an unusually good edu- cation, and in his seventeenth year came to America, accompanied by his father, mother and one sister. After landing in New York, they came straight on to Nebraska, arriving at St. Paul on the 27th day of March, 1883, where they joined a brother of our subject, John Pearson, he having settled in Elba, in 1879, where he was successfully engaged in the lumber trade. The father rented land in partnership with Joe. They continued to- gether until the latter was twenty-eight years of age, at which time he purchased one hundred and

sixty acres of land on section thirty-one, township sixteen, range eleven, settling permanently on it in 1899. Here he has made money, and now has one of the finest and best equipped grain and stock farms in the vicinity. He has erected good build- ings, planted trees, etc., and has one of the best growing orchards in his precinct. Mr. Pearson also owns eighty acres of land lying to the east of his home farm, and altogether has a very valuable estate.

On September 7, 1893, Mr. Pierson was united in marriage at St. Paul, to Miss Christina Lassen, and to them were born seven children, five of whom are now living, named as follows: John H., Lilly M., Harry, May, and Victor, who form a most in- teresting family group. Oscar Wilhelm and Elna are deceased. They have a very pleasant home, and are among the popular members of society in their community.

Mr. Pearson is a member of the school board of district number forty-eight. He has seen all the changes that have come to Howard county since its early settlement, and has become prosperous and also gained a high reputation as a worthy citizen.

EPHRAIM A. FOWLER.

Ephriam A. Fowler is one of the younger men among the pioneers of Valley county and is a large landowner, having twelve hundred acres in Valley and Custer counties, leasing eight hundred acres additional. He is an active and successful man of affairs, an excellent business manager, and he has been prominent in public matters in his commu- nity. Mr. Fowler was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 20, 1872, the eldest of three children of Alonzo and Amelia (Durham) Fowler, the latter a daughter of William and Di- antha (Jones) Durham. A sketch of the father and rather extensive mention of the family ap- pear in this work. Mr. Fowler has a brother in Idaho and a sister deceased. His father now re- sides in Valley county and his mother died in HIall county in 1881.

In October, 1878, Mr. Fowler accompanied his parents to Hall county, Nebraska, and about four years later came to Valley county, where he fin- ished his education and grew to manhood on a farm. On July 27, 1892, he married Clara Har- ris, a native of Huntsville, Illinois, who died April 8, 1906, leaving seven children : Orville, Myrtle, Lloyd, Elgin, Alvin, Letty, and Goldie. The last- named child died July 28, 1906, and three other children died in infancy.

Mr. Fowler served several years as moderator of school district number four, and has always furthered the cause of education and other worthy causes.

For a number of years after attaining his ma- jority, Mr. Fowler rented land, and in 1902 he purchased a six hundred and forty acre farm on

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

section nineteen, township fifteen, range seven- teen, which he has almost doubled since, making a fine stock farm, well improved and containing substantial buildings. This has since been the home place, and he has become one of the largest land owners of central Nebraska.

On November 23, 1909, Mr. Fowler married Jessie Coe, a native of Fremont county, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Jennie (Clark) Coe. Mr. Fowler is a democrat in politics and a mem- ber of the Royal Highlanders and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Fowler was farming for himself in 1904, the dry year, renting part of his father's land, from which he gathered six hundred bushels. of corn, much more than was usually raised that year. Hail damaged or destroyed his crops four different years since he has been doing for him- self, but in spite of all misfortunes he has pros- pered far beyond the average man.

WILLIAM HORSHAM.

The gentleman above mentioned, who resides on section eighteen, township twenty-two, range one, west, is counted among the oldest settlers of Madison county, Nebraska, where he has made his home since locating here in 1870, and has taken a foremost part in the development of his region. He has helped to build up a good home and farm where he now resides, which as before stated, is in section eighteen, township twenty-two, range one, west.

Mr. Horsham was born in Canada, May 17, 1861, a son of John and Caroline (Courtney) Horsham, who came to Canada in 1853 from Eng- land on a sail boat, embarking at South Hampton and landing in Quebec after a voyage of forty- nine days. The father was a miller by trade, and after settling in Canada he worked in a mill at Waterford.

In 1868, our subject, with his parents, came to Linn county, Iowa, where they remained two years. In 1870 they started by ox team for Stan- ton county, Nebraska, and after reaching their destination the father took up a homestead in sec- tion fourteen, township twenty-one, range two, on which they built a sod house, the family living in this seven years. Our subject's father also took a tree claim on Union creek.

In 1889 Mr. Horsham bought his present farm, and has steadily improved same, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, on which are five acres of fine orchard and forest trees.

The family experienced many hardships in those early days, burning hay, corn and corn- stalks for fuel; and the grasshoppers destroyed all the crops the first four years of the family's residence in Nebraska, which fact alone was enough to discourage the bravest heart, but they persevered through all. At that time Columbus 27

and Wisner were the nearest market places, sev- eral miles distant.

Mr. Horsham was united in marriage in 1893 to Miss Clara Burglan, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Maud, Harry, Emily, and William. Mr. and Mrs. Horsham and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and in their home are surrounded by many friends and acquaintances.

ROBERT FARLEY.

Robert Farley has witnessed the western em- pire's growth from the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains and has had many exciting and interesting experiences during his years in various parts of the west. He is one of the early settlers of Custer county and has been identified with its various interests since 1878. Mr. Farley was born in Platte county Missouri, February 14, 1844, next to the oldest child of Josiah and Nancy (Mason) Farley, who had five sons and three daughters. The father was a native of Ten- nessee and the mother of Kentucky. He died in Kansas in 1857 and she in Missouri in 1872. The only two of the family who survive are Robert and James both living near Milburn postoffice, Custer county.

About the time he reached his eighteenth year, Mr. Farley started out in life for himself, and in the fall of 1862 took a position as teamster in a freighting outfit from Leavenworth, Kansas, across the plains to Denver, driving ox teams. In the winter of 1862-63 he returned home by the "overland trail" and in the spring of 1863 drove an ox team from Leavenworth to Fort Union, New Mexico, with government freight. Return- ing to Fort Leavenworth early in the fall of the same year, he soon afterward made a trip with freight for the government post at Denver. He continued in the freighting business until the spring of 1865, when he returned to Platte coun- ty, Missouri, and remained there until 1868. He then went to Texas and engaged in driving Texas cattle up the trail to various government posts, several of these trips being made to Spotted Tail agency in South Dakota. He continued on the cattle trail until 1877, then returned to Kansas, and engaged in the cattle business with the Smith & Tee outfit in Russell county. He came to Cus- ter county with this cattle outfit in October, 1878, and located a ranch on the Middle Loup river. In 1880 Mr. Farley took a homestead on the south- west quarter of section ten, township twenty, range twenty-one, which has been his farm and ranch since then. He was the first man in the neighborhood to take up a homestead, another man being located some four or five miles south of him. All his supplies were freighted in front Kearney, North Loup and Ord. He had been in the saddle as cattleman most of the time for fif- teen years and has seen Custer county progress

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

from the ranch and cattle days to its present state of development and prosperity. He is one of the most widely-known among the early settlers and has been closely identified with various publie movements. During the first administration of President Cleveland, Jeanette postoffice was es- tablished in Mr. Farley's house and he was its first postmaster, serving until the removal of the office. Prior to 1890 he had served five or six years as county supervisor. He has also served as notary public and deputy county assessor and for a number of years was justice of the peace. He is known as a progressive and enterprising citizen and has been active in Custer county's af- fairs since 1878. In polities he is a staunch dem- oerat, and a member of the grange. He was identified with the "Church of God" while it maintained an organization at New Helena.

On March 30, 1880, Mr. Farley was married at Grand Island, by County Judge Harrison, to Mrs. Ellen (Sweet) Carpenter, a native of Illi- nois, who was reared in Iowa and came to Ne- braska in 1878. Mrs. Farley died at the home ranch April 6, 1901, a pioneer woman who had passed through the various periods of Custer county's history from its cattle days, and who had endeared herself to a large circle of friends. She had borne her husband six children, two of whom died in infancy; four now survive, namely : Nina, wife of F. R. Snyder, who lives in Blaine county, two and one-half miles northwest of Mil- burn postoffice, has six children; Mary, wife of John T. Huffman, living on the old Farley home- stead, has three children; Gertie D., wife of M. S. Dailey, living south of Milburn postoffice, has six children ; Ellen Frances, wife of John Barton, lives on a Kincaid homestead in Blaine county, and has two children. There is one adopted son, Arthur Farley, living two and one-half miles northeast of Anselmo, has three children. Mr. Farley has one stepdaughter, Rosa, now Mrs. J. T. Leep, living near Milburn postoffice, has five children. Mrs. Leep has one daughter married, who has a daughter, making the last-named Mr. Farley's great grandchild. He has twenty-five grandchildren.

CHARLES MILLER.

Charles Miller, a leading farmer and stockman of 'Wayne county, Nebraska, who has been influ- ential in promoting the general welfare and pro- gress of his community, has been a resident of the state for nearly thirty years, and has spent most of this time on his present farm.

He is a native of Germany, born in Mecklen- burg, February 8, 1856, and his parents died when he was a small boy, leaving four children. He was educated in his native country. He left his home and native land in 1871, and sailed from Hamburg for New York. He first went to St. Joseph county, Michigan, when he joined an un-

cle, and where he made his home for several years. In 1875 he came to Sarpy county, Nebraska, and remained one year, working in a grist mill and on a farm, and then returned to Michigan. In 1883 he again located in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming. Six years later he came to Wayne county and bought the French farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This land was almost wholly unimproved, and he set about the development of a farm. He has brought his land to a high state of cultivation and erected a very comfortable house and other buildings. He carries on general farming and pays considerable attention to raising stock. He has added two forty acres to his first purchase, and now owns two hundred and forty acres.

Mr. Miller was married at Three Rivers, Michi- gan, in 1881, to Miss Caroline Wagner, who was born in Mecklenburg, and the daughter of Carl and Christina Wagner, natives of Mecklenburg, who came to the United States when Mrs. Miller was six years old. Mr. Miller and wife are par- ents of nine children, six of whom are living, namely : Elizabeth, Carl, Mary, Bertha, Otto and Mable. Those who died were John, William, and August.

Mr. Miller is actively identified with the agri- cultural interests of his county and state, and is accounted one of the intelligent and enterprising farmers of his locality. He has always been a friend to educational advancement and other measures beneficial to the general prosperity, and both he and his wife have made many warm friends in the community. He has worked hard in improving and cultivating his farm and is now enjoying the results of his early struggles and in- dustry. His home is most pleasantly situated on section two, township twenty-seven, range three.

DAVID H. BURKE.

David H. Burke was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, New York, June 28, 1861, and is eldest of eight children in the family of William and Mary Burke. Mr. Burke lived in his native state until he became a lad of sixteen years of age, receiving his early schooling there; and in May of 1877 came with his parents to Merrick county, Nebraska. With the exception of five years in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad, in 1880 to 1885, inclusive, Mr. Burke has followed farm- ing and stock raising, in which business he has made a great success.

Mr. Burke was united in marriage October 24, 1884, to Miss Mary J. Farrell, the ceremony taking place in Central City, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Burke have three children living.

The family now reside on their fine stock farm which is located about one and a half miles west of Central City. They have a fine home and en- joy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and neighbors.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

C. D. LOEBEL.

C. D. Loebel, the veteran merchant of Creigh- ton, has been a resident of Nebraska since the summer of 1872, when his parents came into the state, locating on a homestead in Cuming county.

Mr. Loebel is a native of Bavaria, born in the village of Altdorf, on December 17, 1859. In the spring of 1872 the family took passage from Antwerp to Hull, crossed England by rail, and sailed in the steamer "Batavia" from Liverpool, landing in New York after a voyage of ten days. This ship was lost on the return trip and all on board perished. The Loebel family settled in Cuming county on a homestead, and our subject assisted his father in the farm. work until he reached his majority. In 1880 he moved to Creighton and opened a furniture store whichi he carried on for nine months, then engaged in the general merchandise business. He built up a splendid trade through his native courtesy, square dealings, and close attention to business, and has prospered in a very marked degree. He has al- ways kept fine stock of goods, complete in every line, and has been assisted in the work by his sons, who will continue in the business when their father decides to give up the active management.

Mr. Loebel has witnessed four severe blizzards since coming to the west, including those of the winters of 1873, 1880, 1883, and 1888. In the first of these his father was caught out on the prairie, and for about seven hours buffeted with the icy blasts before he succeeded in reaching shelter with the family of a settler, where he was obliged to remain for three days, his family fear- ful that he had been lost in the storm. Our sub- ject himself had a very unpleasant experience in a blinding snowstorm, when he started out at one time with the thought that he could find his way without difficulty from his house to a well after a bucket of water. In the swirling snow he was carried past the well and found himself in a grove which was some distance from the dwelling, and only after considerable hustling was able to get his bearings and find his way back home. The family went through prairie fires, drouths, etc., and has seen every phase of frontier life.

Mr. Loebel was married in Creighton, on Jan- uary 25, 1885, to Miss Wilhelmina Lindermann, who is a native of Prussia, coming to America with her parents in 1861 and settling in Knox county, Nebraska, where her father died in 1893. Mrs. Loebel's death occurred February 13, 1911. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Loebel, namely : Anna, Paul, Chris, William, and Wil- fred, all of whom with the exception of the last mentioned, have passed through the Creighton schools. Paul and Chris are musicians of more than ordinary ability, and are members of the Creighton band. The former has an unsual tal- ent for drawing. and his pen work, in which he has had no special instruction whatever, is equal

to that of many who have spent considerable time in the art schools.

In politics Mr. Loebel has always supported the democratic party in general issues, but in local affairs votes for the best man nominated, regard- less of party. The family worship at the Lu- theran church, and are liberal contributors to all branches of church work.

AUGUSTUS G. MANSFIELD. (Deceased.)

Augustus G. Mansfield and family, of wife and eight children, came to Boone county, Nebraska, from MeHenry county, Illinois, September 16, 1880, to their home on the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, township twenty, range six, purchased some years prior, which remained his home farm until time of his death, November 2, 1906, in his seventy-ninth year. About one hun- dred acres of this farm is now platted and is a part of the residence portion of Albion, within the corporation limits of that city, which is the county seat of Boone county. Mr. Mansfield was active in all things pertaining to the welfare of his county and state, and also along church and temperance lines. Mrs. Augustus Mansfield died December 19, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield were survived by six sons and three daughters; five boys reside in Boone county and one in Illinois; one daughter lives in Texas and two, Mrs. S. Z. Williamson and Mrs. F. J. Pierce, reside in Boone county. The Mansfield family were widely and favorably known. Mr. Mansfield was born in England and came to America when fourteen years of age, and Mrs. Mansfield was a native of New York state.

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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 177

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