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 183

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 183

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Mr. Dedlow is a son of Frederick and Fred- ricka (Grehn) Dedlow, who followed to America with the rest of his family in the fall of 1866. With his sons, Frederick, Charles, John and William, he settled on the north side of Dry creek, the first to build homes in this part of the county. They were followed a few weeks later by the Dean, Starr and Rose families, who came together.

Mr. Dedlow was married in Wisconsin to Miss Minnie Lindahl, daughter of John Lindahl, also from Mechlinberg-Sterlitz. To Mr. and Mrs. Ded- low three children were born: August, who is farming south of Plainview; William, who has never left the parental roof; and Clara, who mar- ried M. G. Bley, and occupies the old homestead, southeast of Plainview.

Mr. Dedlow leans more to democracy than to other parties, but in local elections casts his bal- lot for the man more than for political affiliations. He, with his family, is an earnest member of the Lutheran church.

Like the early settlers in Nebraska, the Ded- lows lost their crops through the grasshopper pests which raided Nebraska four or five years, and one season by hailstorm that battered the crops into the ground. They suffered severely from the blizzards, but lost no stock, but William and Clara, with the teacher and others, had to remain over night in the sehool house during the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when, in other districts, children perished. In the early days, Norfolk was the nearest point where a few scanty sup- plies could be secured, and Wisner or Yankton

MISS RUBY STEDRY.

VINCENT J. STEDRY AND MRS. VINCENT J. STEDRY.

SOD HOUSE HOME OF VINCENT J. STEDRY, ......

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the nearest place where grain or produce could he marketed. These long drives frequently took a week to make the round trip. The deer had left the country at the time of his eoming, but Mr. Dedlow has seen herds of antelope on the prairies here as numerous as a flock of sheep.

But those hard times are only a memory, though all concede every one was as happy and light-hearted then as now. In August, 1903, Mr. Dedlow retired from farming, and moved to town, where he lives in eomfort on the fruits of a well- spent life, enjoying the respect of all who know him. Industry and thrift have their reward.

E. J. HILL. (Deceased.)

E. J. Hill, who was one of the early settlers of Howard eounty, Nebraska, was born in Kings county, Ireland, on March 10, 1838, and, when one year of age, emigrated to America with his parents. They settled at Patterson, New Jersey, remaining there for about three years, then went to Canada, and made that country their home up to 1881, at that time returning to Patterson.

Mr. Hill came west about 1881, locating in Howard county, where he purchased two hun- dred and forty acres of choice land, situated on the table lands west of the then village of St. Paul, known as "Canada Hill," and started farm- ing, but shortly after, sold one hundred and sixty acres. There, with his family, he passed through all the pioneer times in building up his home and farm, and he was one of those who contributed largely to the making of the great state of Ne- braska. He was never afraid of work, has en- dured the toil of the early days, and thrift, in- dustry and integrity spell his career.

On July 14, 1863, Mr. Hill was united in mar- riage to Alice J. Horner, the ceremony taking place in Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Hill is a native of Algonac, Michigan, although her girlhood was spent in Canada, her mother dying when she was a small child, and being taken by her grand- parents to raise, they living in the province of Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had four children : Alvin L., married, and living at Ord, Nebraska; Charlotte A., wife of W. J. Crow, they living in Howard county ; Willam J., also married, and living near the homestead; and Ella May, wife of Peter A. Harvey.

Mr. Hill was always active in local affairs, doing everything possible to further the best interests of his community. In 1908, he retired from active farm work, taking up his residenee in St. Paul, and his death occurred there on May 5, 1909, his demise being keenly felt by the entire community, by whom he was highly esteemed and respected as a worthy and public-spirited citizen.

WILLIAM. PORTER CRANDALL.

William Porter Crandall, who for the past forty years and more has been closely identified with the development of the agricultural resources of the west, has been a resident of Valley county for about half that time. He is the owner of a large, well-improved farm, comprising the east half of section seven, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that locality. Through his long residence here, he has gained the respeet and esteem of the entire community in which he makes his home.

Mr. Crandall was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on August 3, 1843, to William and Ann (Babcock) Crandall. He was the fifth in a family of nine children. It is a sad fact that out of this large family, only four are left. One brother lives in Kansas, and two sisters in North Loup.

When ten years of age, our subject, with his parents, went to Waushara county, Wiseonsin, where he spent the years of his young manhood. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Fifty- second Wisconsin Infantry, receiving an honora- ble discharge in August of the following year, at Madison, Wiseonsin. One brother was lost during the progress of the Civil war while in the army.

After the war was over, Mr. Crandall returned to his Wisconsin home, and engaged in farming. In the following year, the family removed to Lynn county, Missouri, which remained the home of the father and mother until their death, which occurred in 1889 and 1877, respectively.

On April 14, 1869, Mr. Crandall married Miss Rachel Harris, a native of Lynn county, Missouri, and danghter of Alfred Harris. They made their home in this state for ten years, then, in 1879, removed to Kansas, where they took up a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres in Rooks county.

Their sojourn in Kansas lasted until 1891, when they wisely determined to come to Nebras- ka, and in the spring of that year, they located north of North Loup, Valley county. They lived here for three years, then for six years near Ord. In 1900, Mr. Crandall purchased a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in the east half of seetion seven, township seventeen, range thir- teen. The farm was in good condition when pur- ehased, but Mr. Crandall has since made extensive improvements, so that now it is one of the best in the county. In 1909, he further improved the plaee by building an elegant modern house, and here he is living at present, taking his ease after a life of strenuous toil. A large barn was ereeted in 1911, completing a most excellent set of farm buildings.

Only two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crandall. Alfred II. is now married, and lives in Valley county. He is also well known as a successful farmer, and is now moderator of

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school district number three. The other child, Devillo Lee, is still at home.

In every way Mr. Crandall and his family have been closely identified with the development of this section of the mighty west, and they are widely and favorably known.

Drouth in 1894 destroyed all the crops on Mr. Crandall's place, and hail made complete ruin in 1893, 1896 and again in 1901. These were but a few of the discouragements of the early days. During the years in Kansas, Mr. Crandall lived in a sod house, but since coming to Nebraska has occupied a frame dwelling.

JOHN W. RISK.

John W. Risk, retired farmer and business man, is one of the well known and most highly esteemed citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, where he has been a resident for the past forty- one years or more.

Mr. Risk was born in Portage county, Ohio, September 28, 1838, and was fifth of seven chil- dren in the family of George and Isabella Risk, who had five sons and two daughters. Mr. Risk grew up to his young manhood years on the farm, receiving such advantages as local district schools, etc.

On October 1, 1861, Mr. Risk enlisted in Com- pany A, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under James A. Garfield, who was then colonel of this regiment. Mr. Risk was in the company known as "Garfield's Pets," and was in numerous engagements and battles. He was at the capture of Arkansas Post on the Arkansas river in the winter of 1862, then down the Mississippi to Vicksburg in the spring of 1863, and was through the Siege of Vicksburg and many prior skirmishes. Mr. Risk has a war record to which he can point with much gratification and pride.

Mr. Risk received his honorable discharge at Camp Chase, Ohio, in October, 1864, after which he returned to the old home place in Ohio, and in the fall of 1865, went to Lansing, Michigan, and engaged in the grocery business for about six months, selling out and going to Montana. After a short stay, he went down the Missouri river to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and for one year was an attendant in the state insane asylum. He then went up the Missouri river until near Omaha, where he followed lumbering, and on April 10, 1869, came to Madison county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead on the southeast quarter of sec- tion one, township twenty-three, range three, the southeast part of the town of Battle Creek being located on part of this homestead.

Mr. Risk was continuously in the farm and stock business until about 1905, when he retired from active farm work. He is a successful man, and has passed through the pioneer years of Madi- son county. For twenty years, Mr. Risk has been a director of the Battle Creek Valley Bank, and

has landed interests in Battle Creek and vicinity. He has many friends, and has led an honorable and active life.

On November 13, 1878, Mr. Risk was married to Miss Catherine Carabine at West Point, Cum- ing county, Nebraska. The Carabine family came to Madison county in the spring of 1869, settling near Norfolk, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Risk have eight children: John E., who resides in Battle Creek; Bernard, who is married, and has one child, lives at Redlands, California; Clara, mar- ried to Mr. Miller, lives in Omaha, Nebraska; Frank, a resident of Douglas, Wyoming; Josie, formerly a teacher in the public schools in Madi- son county, now the wife of G. Jenkins, banker at Humbolt, Nebraska; and Lottie, Howard and Lucile, who live at home.

The Risk family is prominent along social and educational lines, and enjoys an acquaintance of numerous friends.

Mr. Risk was one of the adventurous young men, who, in 1859, became interested in the Pike's Peak excitement in Colorado, going overland through Kansas, but returning down the Platte river through Nebraska. He walked from Leav- enworth, Kansas, to Denver.

Mr. Risk is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, joining the lodge at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in the year 1866. He is a Roman Catholic, and a republican.

FRANK COZAD.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cozad are members of pioneer families that have long been well known in central Nebraska, and they own a pleasant home and well-equipped farm on section fifteen, township nineteen, range twenty-one, being of the few who have remained on their original homesteads. Mr. Cozad was born in Vinton county, Ohio, December 5, 1848, the youngest of the nine children born to Joseph and Mary (Davis) Cozad. One child died in infancy, after which there were five sons and three daughters. The father died before the birth of Frank Cozad, and his mother died when he was a small boy. He is not sure how many of his brothers and sis- ters now survive, but knows of the deaths of four, besides the one who died in infancy. Mr. Cozad lived near his birthplace until March, 1863, then enlisted at Bourneville, Ross county, in the Twenty-fourth Ohio Independent Battery, Light Artillery, in which he served until June, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge at Camp Deni- son, Ohio, at the close of the war. In July of the same year, he enlisted in the regular army for three years, and at the close of his period of enlistment, spent one year as a private citizen, and in August, 1870, re-enlisted for five years, being discharged at the end of this time. He spent nearly the entire eight years of army life on the frontier, one year in Kansas and the

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remainder of the time in the Dakotas. His final discharge bears date of August 1, 1874, signed by Captain John Hartley, of Company B, Twenty- second Regiment of Infantry. He thus has the distinction of having three honorable discharges from the United States army, and naturally gath- ered a detailed knowledge of frontier life, and had many interesting experiences during his service. He was with the first expedition sent by the government to survey Yellowstone Park in 1873, and the engineers laying out the North- ern Pacific railroad. He had many chances to see and study the Indians in their natural, wild life, participating in battles with them at the mouth of the Tongue river and along the Big Horn.

After his discharge, in August, 1874, Mr. Cozad moved to Montgomery county, Iowa, and in December of the same year, came to Custer county, Nebraska, then known as territorial land.

He was married in Montgomery county, De- cember 28, 1874, to Miss Louise Wieland, daugh- ter of Daniel and Christine Wieland, and the young people came to Cozad, Dawson county, Nebraska, after their marriage. In 1876, he made a permanent settlement in the region now organ- ized as Custer county. They secured a home- stead on the southeast quarter of section fifteen, township nineteen, range twenty-one, in July, 1879, which has since remained the home farm. He later purchased the southwest quarter of section fourteen. They spent a few years on the South Loup, near Callaway, when they first came to the region. Mr. and Mrs. Cozad have passed through the days of pioneer times and hardships to a time of prosperity and compara- tive ease. They have four children: William H., who met an accidental death in his twenty- second year, April 28, 1899; Mary Caroline, wife of William Kiell, living six miles northeast of Merna, has two daughters; Nora Ellen, wife of Henry Williams, living six miles north of Merna, has three children; Bert E., married, and living on the southwest quarter of section fourteen, township nineteen, range twenty-one, has two children. The family is well known in various circles, and has a high standing in the commun- ity. Mr. Cozad was formerly a republican in politics, but of late years casts his ballot inde- pendently of party lines. In 1895, he united with the Christian church, and took an active interest in the Sunday school.

Mr. Cozad will never forget an experience in one of the early blizzards while in the service in Dakota. He and a comrade were carrying the mail from one post to another, and spent the night in the deserted shack of a French trapper. Their provisions exhausted, they were compelled to remain here for over a day and a half without food, until the storm abated. During the night,

Mr. Cozad dreamed of steaming viands, only to awake hungrier than ever, and find it was a taunt- ing dream.

THEODOR LONGE.

Theodor Longe, whose home is most pleasantly located on section thirty-one, township twenty- six, range five, Wayne county, is a native of Ger- many. He was born in 1871, a son of Frank and Augusta Longe, who immigrated to America in 1875. They took passage on a sailing vessel from Hamburg to New York City, and went from the latter place to Iowa, where they spent two years. They spent the next year at West Point, Nebras- ka, and about 1878, came to Wayne county, and bought land in the eastern part of the county. The father immediately began to improve and develop his farm, and constructed a dugout, which he later replaced with a comfortable frame dwelling. They were successful from the start, and except for the hailstorms and the memorable drouth of 1894, met with no severe setbacks. The father first bought eighty acres of land for two hundred and forty dollars, and added to it until he had two hundred acres, and he still lives on the place, which is owned by his youngest son. Mrs. Frank Longe died in May, 1898.

Theodor Longe received the usual education given to a pioneer's son, and made the most of his opportunities in this line. He was reared to farm work, and has always followed this occupation, being well fitted to meet conditions as they exist in his region.

Theodor Longe started renting land when eighteen years old, and continued doing so until 1896. That year he bought eighty acres near the old townsite of Laporte, and made that place his home for three years, when he sold, and the same day bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. A few improvements have been made on the place, but the buildings were in a run- down condition. Mr. Longe had added to the house, built a good barn and other buildings, and has the farm well fenced.

He is a stock and grain farmer, and has worked hard to improve his farm, and bring it to a state of productiveness and pros- perity. He has a comfortable home, and works for the improvement of the educational facilites in the community, as well as for all other meas- ures calculated to advance the general welfare.

Mr. Longe married Miss Lizzie Brudigam in 1895, and they have been the parents of seven children, namely: Johanna, Clarence, August, Bertha, Dora and Arthur. Elsie died when eleven years old. Mrs. Longe is a native of Germany, and is a daughter of Max and Marie Brudigam, who were born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States. They first went to Iowa, and later moved to Wayne county, Nebraska, and here Mr. Brudigam died in January, 1902.

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Mr. and Mrs. Longe are highly esteemed by all, and are widely known in the county, where he is considered one of the most progressive and intelligent of farmers. They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Longe is a republican in national affairs. Locally he votes for the men he considers best qualified for office.

ISAAC PLACE.

Isaac Place, who holds an enviable place in the farming community in the vicinity of section twenty, township fifteen, range eight, in Merrick county, Nebraska, has done his full share in the development of eastern Nebraska since coming here, and has become widely known as a prosper- ons agriculturist and a gentleman of sterling character.

Isaac Place, son of Sidney and Rhoda (Dufur) Place, was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, April 7, 1842, and was seventh in a family of nine children. He has one sister residing in Illinois, and a brother in Missouri, the others being de- ceased, as are also the parents, their deaths occur- ring in Illinois. Our subject received his educa- tion in the home schools, and later engaged in farming: On October 19, 1861, Mr. Place enlisted in Company K, Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and has a long war record to his credit, serving until 1865, when, in September of that year, he received his honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Place first enlisted for three years, and before expiration of his first term of enlistment, he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment for three years more, or during the war. The principal battles engaged in were at Fort Donaldson, Pleasant Hill, Louis- iana; Nashville, Tennessee, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. After the war, he returned to Illinois, again engaging in farming.

On April 18, 1866, Mr. Place was married to Miss Jane Taylor, of Ohio, and later of Illinois, and to this union have been born four children: Franklin, deceased in infancy, in Illinois; John, has three sons, and resides in Palmer, Nebraska ; Melissa E., residing at home; Janie, wife of J. R. Burke, has one child, and resides in Palmer.

In the fall of 1873, Mr. Place came with his wife and two children to Merrick county, Ne- braska, where he pre-empted and timber-claimed one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty, township fifteen, range eight, west, which is still the home place. In 1881, he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Loup county, Nebras- ka, where he lived long enough to prove up. Mr. Place has enjoyed prosperity, and owns two hun- dred and forty acres of land, one hundred and fifteen acres of which is under cultivation, ten and a half acres in timber, and he also owns good city properties.

Mr. and Mrs. Place are among the earliest settlers of the county, and have passed through

all the discouragements and trying experiences of frontier life, among other hardships having been hailed out in the years 1883 and 1884 in Loup county. They also passed through the days of the "Grasshopper Raid."

Mr. Place is a man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known.

FRANK HAJEK.

The gentleman whose name heads this personal sketch occupies a foremost place among the early settlers of northeastern Nebraska, and has been engaged in farming in this region during all of his maturity. He is widely known through- out the country, is recognized as a gentleman of active public spirit and worthy citizenship, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has to do in a business or social way. Mr. Hajek resides in section eight, township thirty-one, range six, where he now operates his father's farm of two hundred and forty acres, which farm contains fifty acres of fine trees.

Mr. Hajek is American born, his birth occur- ring in Chicago, Illinois, in 1866, and he is a son of John and Mary (Tomek) Hajek, both natives of Bohemia, the father following farming in his native land. In 1866, the family decided to come to America, the land of plenty and good oppor- tunities, and embarked on a sailboat, sailing from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, Maryland. After landing in the United States, they went direct to Chicago, Illinois, where they remained for four years. In 1870, our subject's father and family came to Knox county, Nebraska, traveling by way of Sioux City, and coming up the Missouri river to Niobrara, but stopped first at Yankton and the old Indian mill. Here they took up a homestead in section eight, township thirty-one, range six, which still remains the homestead farm of the Hajek family. On the homestead they first put up a dugout, as that was the popular mode of building a dwelling in those first days of western settlement. Later a sod house was erected, this house being later supplanted by a beautiful resi-, dence, which now stands on the ground formerly occupied by the pioneer's dugout.

When the Hajek family came to Knox county, Nebraska, the locality was but a vast area of unbroken prairie lands, whose soil had scarcely known the imprint of a white man's foot, the territory being peopled by numerous bands of Indians, who had roamed the open prairies fear- less and unfettered. Therefore, the white man's advent to what they considered their God-giving domain was not hailed with any great joy on their part. The family experienced many frights and much anxiety through this source, and never knew what moment the Indians were going to commit depredations. Another in- convenience the family had to endure was the long distance to market places, which journeys

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had to be accomplished by ox team. For three consecutive years, the grasshopper pests were the destruction of every spear of vegetation, thus heaping upon the family almost more trials than could be endured.

Our subject grew to manhood on the old home- stead farm, receiving the usual advantages to be had in those days. In 1891, he went to Boyd county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead for himself, on this land building a sod house. He remained here only a few years, however, as he experienced many discouragements while there. The drouth of 1894 did its share of dam- age, the hot winds of that year burning every spear of green to be seen anywhere, and in the years of 1904 and 1905, Mr. Hajek lost all the crops through the severe hailstorms of that time. Becoming dissatisfied with conditions, he returned to Knox county, Nebraska, where he now operates his father's farm of two hundred and forty acres of land, as before stated.

In 1892, Mr. Hajek was married to Miss Mary Kulhavy, and they are the parents of two fine children, namely: Emma and Clara. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respeet and esteem of all who know them.

FRITZ W. SCHULTZE.

Fritz W. Schultze, the proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Stanton county, has been a resident of this locality for about forty-one years, and is known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers and stockmen. He came at such an early time that he knows by experience all the hardships and privations of a pioneer's life, as well as the pleasanter portions of it.

Mr. Schultze is a native of Germany, having been born at Brandenburg, Kingsburg, in 1867, the son of Carl and Wilhelmina Schultze. When he was two years old, his parents took the great step of forsaking the old country for the new. They came to America via Hamburg and New York, coming at onee to the golden west. They took up a homestead on seetion nineteen, town- ship twenty-three, range three, where our sub- scriber now lives, and built a log house, their first home in Ameriea.

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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 183

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