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 188

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 188


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resides, in section one, township twenty-three, range two, as before stated. After locating his claim he returned by stage to Omaha, and from there went to Des Moines, Iowa, to get his family. He returned to Madison county with his family and they took possession of their new home ; at first a sod house fourteen by fourteen feet was put up, and the famiy lived in this seven years. Mr. Kent also took up a timber claim seven miles southwest of the homestead. Columbus was their market place in those early days.


Forty years of steady improvement have passed over this section of the country since Mr. Kent first landed in Madison county, and one who has not been a witness of the marvelous changes that have taken place would not recognize this portion of the west as the same locality as that of forty years ago. When Mr. Kent first came to the western frontier, the wild, unbroken prairie had not known the touch of cultivation, nor scarcely felt the pressure of a white man's foot. The pioneer settler had to break the virgin soil by very primitive means and much hard labor. After our subject had broken and cultivated his land and had the crops well started, the grasshoppers came in hordes and de- stroyed every vestige; this happened the first five seasons of his residence. But Mr. Kent braved all these hardships and discouragements and has reaped a rich reward for his perseverance and thrift -- he now owns eight hundred and eighty acres of the finest land in Madison county.


Mr. Kent was married July 14, 1858, to Miss Mary Doyle, also a native of Ireland, and Mr. and Mrs. Kent are the parents of ten children, namely : Richard, Samuel, John, James, May, Annie, Ellen, Maggie, Katie, and Matilda. This is a fine family, possessing the respect and esteem of all who know them. They are members of the Roman Catholic church.


On January 12, 1888, during the blizzard, two of Mr. Kent's children Samuel and John, were at school. Samuel left John at a neighbor's house and started home, and was nearly lost in the storm, only finding his 'way home by chance.


Mr. Kent is affiliated with the democratic party, and he is surrounded in his pleasant home by a host of kind neighbors and good friends.


ISAAC M. CRIST.


Among the earliest settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, were the Crist family, and Isaac M. Crist is a native of that county. He is one of the younger generation of farmers to operate in his region and is successful to a gratifying degree. He is one of the ten children of Seth and Eliza (Masterson) Crist, and was born June 12, 1880. He grew up amid pioneer conditions and attended the carly schools of his native county. After leav- ing school he engaged in farming.


On March 3, 1909, Mr. Crist married Miss Maud Roach, who was born in Hamilton county,


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


Nebraska. The Roach family were early settlers of Hamilton county and Mrs. Crist's father, Milton Roach, was born in Iowa and now lives in Custer, as does her mother, Mrs. Ora (Smith) Roach. She has three brothers and one sister in the county. Two daughters have blessed the union of Mr. Crist and wife, Andrey and Naoma.


Mr. Crist is an enterprising and energetic farmer and follows modern ideas in carrying on his work. He is well known and popular in his community, where he has spent his entire life, and has made his influence felt in public affairs. Mr. Crist cultivated his grandmother's farm six years, consecutively, and had occupied it a year prior to that time. In the spring of 1911 he leased for two years the farm of his father-in-law in section thir- ty-two, township seventeen, range seventeen, and is interested in farming and stock raising. He is a representative of a prominent family that has long had a good standing in Custer county, and has every reason to be proud of his name and ances- tors. In political views he favors the democrats and populists. and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.


KNUT HENRICKSON.


Among the many self-made men of Nebraska, Knut Henrickson, a prosperous farmer of Cedar county, is a notable example. He came to. the county with no capital and with a wife and family to support, took up a homestead and improved and developed it until he now has a valuable estate. He is a native of Sweden, born in Skaane in 1838 and reared on his father's farm. His parents were Hans Henrickson (Henry Hanson) and Christina (Hanson) Henrickson, who spent their lives in Sweden.


After being educated in the schools of his native land, Mr. Henrickson engaged in farming and eventually married there. In 1880, however, he decided to seek for larger opportunities for him- self and his children. and sailed from Gottenburg to New York, whence he at once set out for the west. He went first to Yankton and Mrs. Hen- rickson's brother came soon afterwards. They later came to St. Helena and on to their present home on section twenty-eight, township thirty, range one, west, of Cedar county, which has since been the home place.


Upon locating in Cedar county Mr. Henrickson took up a homestead, but at first had not one cent to pay for food. The first year they turned the soil with a spade, as they had neither plow nor team. The second year Mr. Henrickson went to St. Helena and worked for money to buy a team and his wife worked for her brother in the field at fifty cents per day, to earn money to help pay her brother three dollars per acre to break ground on the Henrickson homestead. The first few years were ones of hard work to enable them to get a start, but they persevered and kept up their cour-


age until better days came. Many times Mr. Hen- rickson had to walk to St. James and carry home a sack of flour to the family, as he had no team with which to haul it. However, by dint of much hard work and patience he was able to make a good be- ginning towards the development of his farm and erected suitable buildings and secured good agri- cultural implements to help him in his work.


Mr. Henrickson's marriage occurred in Swe- den, in 1866, when he was united with Anna Pars, and they are the parents of the following seven children : Mary, now Mrs. William Case; Henry, Bettie, wife of August Erickson; Alfred, Emma, married to Samuel Case; Lewis, and Bertha, mar- ried to Clarence Cressie.


EVERETT J. CRAWFORD.


Everett J. Crawford, of Comstock, Nebraska, is well known as a banker and successful business man, having helped in the organization of the Farmers & Merchants bank there. He belongs to a pioneer family and was born in Westerville, Aug- ust 16, 1885, junior son of Nathaniel J. and Sarah Emma (Woodfill) Crawford, the former a native of Bangor, Maine, and the latter of Indiana. The father was born April 17, 1841, and when but a small boy was taken by his parents from Maine to Jefferson county, Indiana, where he reached man- hood's estate. He enlisted in Company A, Fifty- fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three months, and re-enlisted in Company L, First Regiment Indiana Heavy Artil- lery for three years. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, having served for about sixteen months as a non-commissioned officer.


At the close of the war Nathaniel J. Crawford became a machinist, working at his trade in Chi- cago, Denver, and other cities. He came from Denver to Nebraska and took a homestead on Clear creek in Custer county, in 1879. This farm was on the southwest quarter of section one, township six- teen, range eighteen, and he set at work to im- prove it, developing a valuable estate there. He was identified with the early growth and pros- perity of the region and a man known for his strict integrity in business transactions.


On February 22, 1882, Mr. Crawford married Sarah Emma, daughter of John G. and Jane (Storms) Woodfill, fourth of their eight children in order of birth. She came to Custer county in September, 1879, making her home with an uncle until the time of her marriage. Her parents are deceased and the only surviving members of the family are herself and her brother Conrad A., of California. Mrs. Crawford is a pioneer of Custer county, having a practical knowledge of early days and frontier life. She has been active along all lines of progress and is highly esteemed in vari- ous circles. Mr. Crawford had many hardships to meet in his first years on the homestead, having to


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


go to Kearney or Grand Island for supplies, and, with the exception of a year spent in Westerville, lived there until the fall of 1909, when he located in Comstoek, where his death occurred February 18, 1910, survived by his widow and three chil- dren: Fred B., the elder son, born on the home- stead farm Mareh 23, 1883, a prominent young man of Custer county, married Miss Ena Welsh, April 6, 1910, and they live on the old Crawford homestead ; Everett J .; and Miss Twilla, a teacher in t! ; public schools of Comstock. Mrs. Comstock now lives with her son, E. J., at Comstock.


Everett J. Crawford finished the common school course, spent one year in Broken Bow busi- ness college and one term in Wesleyan university in Lincoln, graduating from the commercial de- partment in 1908. In the fall of that year he took a position in the First National bank at Ansley, and in 1909 helped to organize the bank of which he has been cashier since October, 1909, being also a director. He is one of the best known young busi- ness men in the county, of recognized integrity and ability. The bank with which he is connected is a sound financial institution, with a capital and surplus of fifteen thousand dollars. Vencel Krikac is president and J. W. Yockey vice-president.Since its organization it has shown a healthful and en- couraging growth. It is a home bank, owned by local men, the more conservative farmers and busi- ness men of Custer county. At the close of the business done October 7, 1909, the first day's busi- ness, they had deposits to the amount of eight hun- dred and fifty-two dollars, and on October 7, 1910, deposits of fifty-six thousand dollars, each succeed- ing month showing an increase in business.


C : May 4, 1910, Mr. Crawford was united in marriage with Martha MI., daughter of James and Josephine Hiser, born and reared in Custer county, where her parents were early settlers. Mrs. Craw- ford died at her home in Comstock May 15, 1911, survived by her husband and infant daughter, Marion Martha. Mrs. Crawford was greatly loved by her friends for her beautiful character and fine qualities of mind and heart. Her loss was a great shoek to her family and all who knew her. She graduated from Ansley high school in May, 1901, and in 1902 from the Ursuline conservatory of music at York, being highly talented as a musician.


FRED BOLTER.


Located very pleasantly in section twenty- three, township thirty, range eight, Knox county, Nebraska, is to be found the genial and enterpris- ing young man, Mr. Fred Bolter. Mr. Bolter is well known throughont this community, being a native born son of Nebraska, and his parents hav- ing been of the very first settlers of Knox county.


Mr. Bolter, as before stated, is a native of Ne- braska, being born in Knox county, February +, 1882. He is the son of Ernest and Mary Bolter, both natives of Germany. They left Germany in


the early seventies to come to America, sailing from Hamburg to New York City. After landing in the United States they came directly to Knox county, Nebraska, having heard of the cheap land to be procured by the homestead act that had been put into effect, whereby a man could obtain land just for the meer proving up on it. Upon eoming to Knox county, our subject's parents took up a homestead on section twenty-two, township thirty, range eight, on which they built a frame house; they also took a tree claim. Here the family ex- perienced the many hardships that were endured by the few very early settlers, the hardships and dangers being much greater in the first days of set- tlement than later on when the country was becom- ing gradually more populated. Our subjeet grew up on the home farm, and well remembers the many experiences of those days on the old home- stead.


Mr. Bolter was united in marriage May 15, 1906, to Miss Edith Butterfield, and Mr. and Mrs. Bolter are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Roy, Leonard, and Vera. Mr. and Mrs. Bolter and family are surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all in the community in which they reside.


JAMES FLETCHER BROWDER.


James Fletcher Browder, born in Jackson county, Illinois, on September 6, 1848, is a son of David and Margaret Browder, the former being the father of eighteen children, James F. being the seventeenth in order of birth, and of this large family but himself and one brother are now liv- ing. The father died in 1855 and his widow fol- lowed him seven years later.


After his father's death our subjeet went to Kentucky with relatives, remaining there for about. three years, following farm work as an oceupation, finally returning to Illinois, and in 1864 he went to Iowa and spent about two years. He again re- turned to Illinois, and in 1869 went to Iowa, from there to Kansas in 1871, where he spent one year, and then returned to Iowa. In the fall of 1873 he came to Boone county and homesteaded a quarter section about four and a half miles southeast of Albion, later selling his relinquishment. In 1878 he pre-empted one hundred and sixty aeres two miles west of his original homestead, and made that his home for about eighteen months, then pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land lying two miles west of Loretta. In 1883 he went back to Iowa and became connected witli the Diamond Creamery Company, remaining for one and a half years, then returned to Boone county and engaged in farming and stock raising, continn- ing in the business up to 1901, at which time he settled in Loretta, where he built a comfortable home and resided until the spring of 1910, when he began renting the farm which he now occupies two miles west of Loretta.


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


Mr. Browder was married on February 1, 1877, to Miss Anna Watson, of Washington county, Illi- nois. They have a family of three children, Wil- liam O. and Arthur E., living at home, while Wini- fred M., now the wife of W. M. Bradbury, lives in Grand Island, Nebraska.


PETER M. SODERSTEN.


Prominent among Antelope county old settlers is P. M. Sodersten, who since the fall of 1884 has made this region his home and who has done his share in the developing of the agricultural re- sources of this section of the country. Mr. Soder- sten lives in section two, township twenty-five, range eight.


Mr. Sodersten is a native of province of Dalarne, Sweden, born August 18, 1857. and after growing to manhood followed the occupation of sailor. His father, Olaf So- dersten, was a farmer in Sweden. Our "sub- ject left his native land to come to America in 1882 where he could get cheap land, sailing from Gut- tenberg by steamship. After landing he first came to Will county, Illinois, where he lived and worked on a farm for two years, then in 1884 going to Holt county, Nebraska, northeast of Atkinson on Brush creek, residing there five years. He came to Antelope county in 1890, where he proved up on a timber claim and then bought one hundred and sixty acres south of it. making three hundred and twenty acres of land. From 1890 to 1893, Mr. Sod- ersten worked on the railroad at Clearwater, then in April, 1893, he went to O'Neill, where he was section foreman until November 6, 1900, he then moved to Clearwater, where he was section fore- man until April, 1901.


Mr. Sodersten was married April 18, 1888, to Miss Harriet Smith and to them have been born seven children, as follows: Anna, (deceased) ; Vida Charles Magnus, Mary, Olaf (deceased) ; Bessie Caroline, and Perry (deceased). Mrs. Sod- ersten came to Antelope county in October, 1871, with her parents from Iowa. She was born in Texas, April 7, 1859, and in May, 1871, her par- ents took up a homestead south of Oakdale, Ante- lope county, Nebraska. Her father was a native of New York, and her mother also of New York but the ancestors of Mrs. Sodersten came from the Isle of Wight. In the early days Mrs. Sodersten with her parents fought the prairie fires to save their home and grain, and experienced other hard- ships incidental to those times. Mrs. Sodersten was one of the first to attend school in the first school district organized in Antelope county, Nebraska.


GEORGE W. GREENWALT.


George W. Greenwalt is one of the pioneer homesteaders of Custer county, Nebraska, and has witnessed the development of the country around his home from the time he located there, nearly


thirty years ago, until the present time, and during this period the region of sod shanties, where the land was mostly devoted to the cattle ranch busi- ness, has changed to a region of fertile farms and comfortable farm homes. He was one of those who found it necessary at times, in the early days, to use a coffee mill to grind a little grain for making bread, and when he came he had almost no cash to invest, but made his start in life by his own efforts and did his full share, at the same time, to assist in the general development and improvement. He is a native of Dayton, Henry county, Illinois, born January 18, 1862, next to the youngest child of John and Caroline (Goodman) Greenwalt, who were parents of four daughters and two sons.


Mr. Greenwalt was the older of the two sons in the family, and the brother, Daniel, resides in Kimberley, South Africa. An elder sister of Mr. Greenwalt, Mrs. A. R. Doolittle, lives in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Greenwalt lived in his native state until his eighteenth year, and June 20, 1880, came direct from Henry county to Custer county, Ne- braska, and began working on a ranch in order to learn the cattle business, the country at that time being given over to large ranches. He became an expert cattleman and also rode the Wyoming range in the same capacity. He has traveled extensively and crossed the continent four times, and is well in- formed on a variety of subjects.


In the spring of 1883 Mr. Greenwalt took, up his present homestead on the southwest quarter of section eight, township seventeen, range nine- teen, and has since lived continuously on this place. He has developed and improved his estate and now has four hundred acres in this property, de- voting considerable attention to stock raising and handling a large herd of cattle. He has been ac- tively instrumental in promoting the welfare and development of his part of the county and has served in various offices of public trust. During the years 1901-1905 he served as county commis- sioner. He is unmarried and realizes to the full extent the difficulties of holding a homestead un- der adverse circumstances and pioneer conditions. He is one of the able and enterprising business men who have done so much for the region and has given freely of his time and influence for the bet- terment of his county and state.


HENRY PFANSTIEL.


For over eighteen years the citizens of Pierce county have had in their midst a worthy citizen in the person of the gentleman above named. He has been identified with the development and growth of this section of the state of Nebraska, and has succeeded in building up a good home and an enviable reputation for himself, being highly esteemed by his fellowmen.


Mr. Pfanstiel was born in the village of Oberel- len, Saxony, Germany, August 28, 1858, and is a son of Fredrick Pfanstief, who was a farmer in


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"EVERGREEN FARM," RESIDENCE OF HENRY PFANSTIEL.


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SCHOOL OUSTRICT


SODDY . RESIDENCE 1088.


RESIDENCE OF JAMES M. JOHN,


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the old country, and Katrina Braun, also a native of Germany.


When starting for America, Mr. Pfanstiel sailed from Bremen to New York in the ship "Hapsburg," which was ten or twelve days mak- ing the voyage. Since his arrival here, he resided in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, three months, and in Chicago one month, going thence to Scott county, Iowa, where he was employed at farm labor four years. He worked in Sac county, Iowa, for one year, and then rented land for five years.


He came to Pierce county in the spring of 1893, having bought land in section ten, township twen- ty-eight, range two, the fall before. This he im- proved at the time, and in 1903 built a large barn and the year following, a fine seven-room house, together with other necessary buildings. A view of his home place, surrounded by beautiful ever- green and forest trees, is to be found in this vol- ume. He purchased a quarter-section in section fifteen, just across the road from his home place, in 1897, and has it improved with a good set of farm buildings, occupied by a tenant.


At the time of his coming, this part of the state was all open prairie, without a building, a fence, or a single tree. All these have been added by the hands of those who came into the wilderness and remained to make it one of the most highly culti- vated regions of the country.


Mr. Pfanstiel was united in marriage February 24, 1888, to Miss Elizabeth Grantt, a native of Clinton county, Iowa, daughter of Henry Grantt. They now have a family of seven children, named as follows: Alvina, Adelia, Clara, Mary, Herman, Carl and Harry.


Mr. Pfanstiel and family are members of the German Lutheran church, and he is independent in politics, casting his vote for the best man.


Our subject went to his old home in Germany on a visit in 1903, remaining three months, when he returned to his family and home of adoption, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his early in- dustry and thrift.


JAMES M. JOHN.


The John family were among the early settlers of Nebraska and the subject of this sketch and his venerable father, Samuel R. John, have long been identified with the development of the central part of the state. James M. John was born in Cedar county near Iowa City, Iowa, January 15, 1860.


The father, Samuel R. John, was born in Car- roll county, Ohio, June 14, 1830, the fifth of six children born to Abner and Hannah John. He was married August 25, 1853, to Eliza Anten they be- coming the parents of five sons and three daugh- ters, our subject being the third child. In 1855 Samuel R. John and wife moved to Cedar county, Jowa, and ten years later, to Sullivan county, In- diana. In 1874 they located near Loup City, Sher- man county, Nebraska. They secured a homestead there, which they occupied until 1892, when they


1


came to Valley county. They were among the pio- neers of the section and made the trip by wagon from Sullivan county, Indiana, camping by the wayside during the five weeks necessary for the trip.


The children of Samuel R. John and wife were as follows : Hannah Mary, married Willis Cadwell, of Polk county, Nebraska, and they have three chil- dren : Joseph, of Custer county, is married and has three children; James M., of this sketch; William D., deceased; David W., of Custer county, is mar- ried and has five children; Alvaretta, wife of Wil- liam Leinenger of Sherman county, has seven chil- dren; Charles, of Valley county, is married and has four children; Ann May, wife of Fred Gould, of Custer county, has four children. In early life Samuel R. John followed the trade of carpenter in Indiana, but since he first located in Iowa has fol- lowed farming as an occupation. He was success- ful in this line and became prominent as a stock man. His wife died on the farm occupied by the son, James M., February 26, 1909, deeply mourned as a loving wife and devoted mother, and highly regarded by all as an earnest christian and a pio- neer settler of the region. Mr. John lives with his son James and is now in his eighty-first year. He has been well-known as a pioneer in several states, has had many interesting experiences. He has done his part toward promoting the progress and upbuilding of every community where he has lived and has been especially active and helpful along the lines of education, morality and religion. He has the respect and regard of all who have been associated with him.


James M. John accompanied his parents to Sherman county in 1874 and in his twenty-second year started in life for himself, becoming a farm hand. In 1884 he came to Valley county and se- cured a homestead on section three, township sev- enteen, range sixteen, where he has since resided. He had one hundred and sixty acres at first and now has a well equipped farm of three hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. He has al- ways been interested in stock and has been especi- ally successful in this line of farming. He is one of the best known farmers and stockmen of cen- tral Nebraska and is recognized as an able business man.


August 27, 1884, Mr. John married Clara A. Winter, a native of Illinois, daughter of Wayne and Clarilla L. (Jones) Winter of Polk, Nebraska : the mother died when Mrs. John was about eight years of age. The Jones family were early resi- dents of Iowa. Eleven children were born to Mr. John and wife, all on the homestead farm, as fol- lows: Anna Mav. wife of Claude Gould, of Area- dia, Nebraska, has two children; Charles M. R .. and Edward L., at home; Eliza, married Ed Slocum and lives south of the John farm ; Flossie, Ida, Laura, Golden, Amelia, Fern and Lawrence M., all at home. Mr. John and wife have reared a large family and have a pleasant home, sur-




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