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 189

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 189


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rounded hy their many friends and enjoying the respeet and esteem of all who know them.


Mr. John can well remember his bachelor days in a small sod house; after marriage he built a. more commodious "soddy" in which they lived for about twelve years, and then built a frame house. Their present large dwelling was erected in 1908. We eall attention to an engraving of their farmi house adorning one of our illustrative pages. Both Mr. and Mrs. John have passed through the usual trials and hardships of the pioneer The first and second year grasshoppers devoured their erops, three years drouth burned vegetation before it reached maturity, and hail beat their crops into the ground four different seasons; one year a cyelone moved their farm house seven feet. Fear of an Indian uprising drove them from home one entire season, but they returned after danger of an attack was past. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. John returned home at five o'clock in the morning, just as soon as the storm had somewhat abated. Mr. John has seen elk, deer, and antelope, on the prairies, and his rifle se- enred some of them, supplying the family with fresh meat.


In polities Mr. John is a republican.


JASPER. L. DENNIS.


Jasper L. Dennis laeked but little of being a native son of Nebraska, being under sehool age when his parents moved to the state in 1873. He was born at Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, Oe- tober 25, 1868, and is a son of Lewis and Isabel (Woods) Dennis, natives of Illinois.


Our subjeet's father, Lewis Dennis, served three years in the Twenty-seventh Illinois Volun- teer Regiment during the Civil war, receiving a wound at Chattanooga and another at Lookout Mountain, which for a time laid him up in the hospital eamps; and as soon as he was able to get out he served as company cook until he could take his place in the ranks again.


He returned to Illinois and soon moved to Jones county, Iowa. In Iowa he followed farm- ing, as he did in Cedar county, after reaching Ne- braska. He migrated with his family, together with two or three neighbors, by wagon in the fall of 1873, settling on a homestead tract baek from Ponea, Nebraska, where but two or three neigh- bors had preceded him. His first dwelling, a dirt- covered dug-ont faced with boards, was more elaborate than the usual dug-out of the early set- tlers. His first stable was of slough grass covered with the same material. When he prospered suf- ficiently to build a good house and barn the lum- ber was hauled from Sioux City, Iowa, fifty miles away. His first ground was broken with oxen, of which he had several yoke, but his traveling was done with a span of mules, the first in that region. In going to St. James on the Missouri river, for wood, his neighbors with their ox wagons started two hours in advance, he being able to make the


twenty miles to the river in that much less time. The Dennis family were here in time to suffer by' the grasshopper raids, losing all their crops sev- eral years, and part of their crops other season. At times when their supply of wood ran low, the family burned hay and the heavy weeds that grew among the slough grass. Many deer and ante- lope were to be seen in the country and now and then a stray buffalo. The big grey wolf was oe- easionally heard, his cry being deeper and louder than the coyotes, but he was seldom to be seen.


J. L. Dennis began farming for himself on rented land about the time he attained his ma- jority. After his marriage he rented the old home place and continued there until about 1895. He seenred a place with the Peavey Elevator Com- pany and represented them at Hardington, Ne- braska, Delhi, Minnesota, and Magnet, Nebraska. He was stationed at Laurel, Nebraska, in the em- ploy of the Sidnum Grain Company until 1900, when he was sent to Osmond. The year following they sold to the Anchor Grain Company and Mr. Dennis was retained in charge and continued in their employ until May 1, 1911, when he ae- eepted a position with the Osmond Farmers' Grain and Live Stoek Association.


Mr. Dennis was married in Colerdige. Cedar county, Nebraska, December 15, 1892, to Miss Vin- nie Durrin, a native of Manchester, Deleware county, Iowa, and a daughter of Professor R. and Mary (Hoakum) Durrin. The father retired from teaching and engaged in the marble business, liv- ing at Wayne, Nebraska, at the time of his death, Mareh 22, 1911.


To Mr. and Mrs. Dennis one daughter and three sons have been born : Eva, Ceeil, Meril, and Harold.


Mr. Dennis has been exposed to two of the early blizzards of Nebraska. In that of January, 1888, he was on the way to the Paragon Mills at Hardington; and in that of October, 1881, he and his father were at the barn when the storm broke, and so thiek was the snow in the air the father thought it unsafe to return to the house, so the two spent the night in the hay mow as far down in the hay as possible, the boy between his father and a large Newfoundland dog, where he was kept eom- . fortable and warm throughout the night. He had a thrilling experience in a prairie fire; with his brother he was driving some eighteen or twenty head of cattle when a prairie fire was started by the "Black-hillers" as prospectors for that eamp were called. So fast eame the fire that they had barely time to burn out a small place for them- selves before the rushing flames overtook them- they saved themselves, but lost all their eattle. Hail frequently wrought havoe with their erops, sometimes leaving them not a leaf. Mr. Dennis' schooling was in a sod house with rough benehes ranged around the wall. The terms were short and teachers not so well versed in newer methods


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


but they grounded their pupils well in mathe- matics and the other two "R's."


The early comers suffered hardships hardly credible to-day and such as would appal the pres- ent generation. Recollections of these early inci- dents remain fresh in Mr. Dennis' mind, and he relates them readily and well.


Mr. Dennis joined the Modern Woodmen of America at Coleridge, and was made a Mason in the Osmond lodge of that order.


JOHN WELSH.


John Welsh. a prosperous and much respected farmer of St. Paul precinct, whose well developed farm adds greatly to the prosperity of the locality, is a man of untiring energy, and classed among the substantial agriculturists of Howard county. He has made this region his home for the better part of thirty-six years, coming to the county in 1873, although some of this time was spent in. travel through the other western states.


Mr. Welsh is a native of Huron county, Can- ada, born January 23, 1860, and was the fifth child in a family of nine. When he was a lad of eleven, his parents settled in Sanilac county, Michigan, remaining there for about three years, at which time himself, mother, two brothers and two sisters joined the father in Howard county, Nebraska, he having made settlement here in April, 1873, and they following in October of the same year. They were located on a homestead and timber claim, situated in section thirty, town- ship fifteen, range eleven, and farmed the place for three years, then purchased some land on sec- tion thirteen, township fourteen, range twenty- four. Mr. Welsh continued on this place until his death, which occurred May 1, 1880, and at that time was owner of four hundred and twenty-seven acres, all well-improved and valuable land. He had become one of the well-known and highly re- spected citizens of his locality through his in tegrity and sterling character, and his death was a severe loss to the community. His wife survived him for many years, she dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Carrie Fraim, on April 16, 1907, leaving six children to mourn her loss, all of whom live in Howard county except one daughter, who is in Michigan.


Our subject has made Howard county his home place since first coming here in 1873, with the ex- ception of short absences at different times. Ilis farm is situated on section nineteen, township fif- teen, range ten, and is fully improved and equipped with every kind of modern buildings and machinery.


Mr. Welsh has held different local offices, serv- ing as road overseer for a number of years, also has been director of his school district for several years.


On September 14, 1881, Mr. Welsh was united in marriage to Miss Edith C. Haggart, the event


occurring at St. Libory, Howard county. Mrs. Welsh is a native of New York state, coming into Howard county with her parents in 1873, the family being among the first settlers in the Sand Hills country. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Welsh, named as follows: Ura Edith, who is the wife of Austin Jacobs, living in St. Paul; James D., married and living in the north- ern part of Howard county; William E., Daniel Everett, Charles Arch, Mabel Elizabeth, Leola Myrtle, Anna May and John Burton, the last mentioned seven children all living at home, and all together form a most interesting family group, their home being one of the pleasantest a weary traveler could wish to find, and where each comer - is made to feel cordially welcome.


RICHARD FLYNN. (Deceased.)


Richard Flynn, son of Richard and Elizabeth Flynn, was born February 13, 1856, in Warren county, Ohio; he was youngest of three children, none of whom are now living.


February 13, 1876, Mr. Flynn enlisted in the United States regular army for western service in Company D, Fourth Infantry, serving ten years, during which time he was promoted to first ser- geant. He was wounded in the battle with Sioux Indians at Rosebud creek June 9, 1876; he also engaged with the Sioux at Tongue river in the above named month and year; and he was in an- other engagement at Slim Buttes, September 9, 1876 ; Mr. Flynn received his discharge February 13, 1886.


On September 22, 1878, Mr. Flynn was united in marriage to Marilla Frederick, daughter of Wolfgang and Emma (McCart) Frederick; Miss Frederick was born in Richland county, Wiscon- sin. The first four years of her married life were spent at Fort Laramie, and the next four at Fort Omaha. After his discharge from the army Mr. Flynn located in Valley county, Nebraska, where he lived until the time of his death, April 18, 1895, survived by his wife and ten children ; Eliza- beth M., wife of Ed Knapp, lives in Valley county, Nebraska, and has three children; Frank, who is married, has two children, and lives in Valley county; Richard P., also married and living in Valley county, has one child; Daisy, married May 7, 1911, to Roscoe Arnold, of Valley county, and Maisy, teacher in Valley county schools, twins; Bessie, died December 18, 1901, and Clifford, and Wesley and Leslie, twin boys; and Rachel L. all of the latter reside at home.


In the spring of 1902 Mrs. Flynn purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twelve, township nineteen, range fourteen, which is now the family home. Mrs. Flynn is recog- nized as the first white woman on the Upper Loup, having come with her father to this section in 1872, and the family are widely and favorably known.


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


Mrs. Flynn's father, Wolfgang Frederick, was born in Germany, October 26, 1826. In 1843 he came to America, locating in Wisconsin, where he had one sister living. IIe was married to Miss Emma McCart, of Wisconsin. Early in 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Wisconsin cavalry, serv- ing all through the war. After the war he re- turned to Wisconsin, living there until 1872 when Mr. Frederick, with his daughter Marilla, came to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in section twelve, township nineteen, range fourteen, where he lived a number of years; then going to the National Sol- diers' Home in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he lived until the time of his death, October 31, 1906, survived by his daughter, Mrs. Marilla Flynn. Mrs. Frederick died in Minnesota, October 8, 1908 ..


Mr. Flynn was reared a Catholic. In politics he w .s a populist, and was a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.


JOHN H. DEGROOT.


Jolın H. DeGroot, retired farmer, son of High and Henrietta (Bierman) DeGroot, was born in Germany, October 14, 1849, and was the eldest of nine children, two of whom are deceased. He has one brother in the state of Kansas, and five sisters in the state of Illinois. His father died in 1895, and his mother in 1906.


In 1869, Mr. DeGroot came to America, locat- ing in Illinois, and followed the occupation of farming and carpentering. He was married Feb- ruary 26, 1875, to Miss Anna H. Eckman, also a native of Germany, whose father died in 1905, in the state of Illinois, and mother died in 1880, also in Illinois, and who has two sisters living and one sister and one brother deceased.


Mr. and Mrs. DeGroot have had thirteen chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Henry J., who resides in the state of South Dakota; Albert J., married and lives in Madison county, Nebraska; Henrietta J., married to Miron Wakely, they have two children, and live in Madison county ; Theo- dore J., married and living in Buffalo county, Ne- braska; Tadia J., who lives at home; Antone J., married and lives in Madison county ; Anna J., who lives at home; Jennie J., married to James Grant, and lives in Emerick, Nebraska; Lena J., deceased in 1906; John J., lives at home; Hannah J., also at home; Fred Dewey, at home; Willie M., deceased, in 1901.


In the spring of 1883, our subject came to Ne- braska, locating in Platte county, where he pur- chased forty acres of land eight miles northeast of Platte Center, later on, buying another forty acres adjoining. After seven years' residence in Platte county, Mr. DeGroot sold his interests and moved to Madison county, and purchased a half section of land in the north half of section seventeen, town- ship twenty-two, range one, west, which was the


home place until July 28, 1904, when Mr. DeGroot retired from the farm and moved to Madison, where he purchased a good home. There he re- mained until August 5, 1910, when he moved to Corning, Tehama county, California.


Mr. DeGroot has been energetic, therefore pros- perous and successful, and owns eight hundred acres of land, mostly in Madison county, nearly all of which is under cultivation, with good build- ings and equipments. Our subject served nine years on the school board of district number forty- seven.


Mr. and Mrs. DeGroot are among the early settlers of Nebraska, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. DeGroot is a man alive to all inter- ests of his state and county, and is a prosperous man of affairs.


GEORGE B. CRIST.


George B. Crist belongs to a family that has long been prominent in Custer county, Nebraska, and several members of it are given mention else- where in this work. George B. Crist was born in Putnam county, Ohio, September 22, 1851, the old- est of eight children born to John W. and Sarah (Hull) Crist. He has a brother, Levi Crist, now living near Kirk, Colorado, the others of the family are deceased. His father, who was of Ger- man descent, was born in Ohio and served in Company B, Second Nebraska Cavalry during the Civil war, having come to the state as early as 1856, settling at Desoto in Washington county. He died in Arkansas in 1899. The mother, also a native of Ohio, and of Irish descent, died in Washington county, Nebraska, in 1866. As an infant, George B. Crist accompanied his parents to Iowa, where the family lived until 1856, then came on to Nebraska, locating in Washington county. When the father enlisted in 1864 the family was living in Iowa for a time. After the war they all returned to Nebraska, where George B. grew to manhood and received his education. He then engaged in farming and in 1883 moved to Custer county and homesteaded on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-seven, township sixteen, range seventeen, which is still his home.


On January 7, 1886, Mr. Crist married Ella Gentry, who was born in Dekalb county, Missouri, a daughter of A. J. and Mary J. (Cowan) Gentry, who in 1863 came to Sarpy county, Nebraska. Mr. Crist and wife have four sons, all at home, namely : John A., Charles C., Francis M., and George R. G. Mrs. Crist's father, was born in Indiana, and died in Custer county, in 1895. The mother; was born in Knox county, Tennessee, and died in Custer county in 1906. Mrs. Crist has four broth- ers and one sister in Nebraska, one sister in Calı- fornia, and one sister in Oregon.


Being one of the very early settlers of Nebraska, Mer. Crist has passed through all the trials which made the lot of the pioneer so hard, and his suc-


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


cess came as the result of untiring energy and in- dustry, coupled with a brave disregard of discour- agements. In polities he is a democrat. He and his wife are able to enjoy their present prosperity with a keen sense of its worth and the feeling that it is well earned.


HANS HAMMER.


Among the representative farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have become substantial citizens by persistent efforts and integrity, a promn- inent place is accorded to the gentleman named above. He has been a resident of the state for many years and has a valuable farm located on section four, township twenty-five, range five.


Mr. Hammer is a German by birth, having been born in 1850 in the Province of Holstein. His parents were John and Dora Hammer. The sub- scriber received his education in Germany, and re- mained at home, helping his parents on the little farm, until 1870.


Just at this time, he determined to join the tide of emigration which was pouring towards the United States to find, if possible, the land of op -. portunity. He came by way of Hamburg and New York, going directly to the state of Iowa. He started farming in that state and remained there for abont twenty years.


In 1890, he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and bought a farm of eighty acres, in section five, where he lived until he bought his present home, about 1901. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land.


Mr. Hammer was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Wolf in October, 1885. They are the par- ents of nine children, named as follows: Mary, Fernand, Lillie, Ed, Harry, Tena, Rudolph and Ray, (twins) ; and Lena.


CLAUS FREDERICK HOLTORF.


Claus Frederick Holtorf, one of the old set- tlers in Merrick county, Nebraska, is well-known throughout the community in which he resides as a prosperous and snecessful man and a citizen of true worth. He has always taken a deep interest in the development of the locality in which he has chosen to reside, and is widely known and univers- ally respected and esteemed.


Clans Frederick Holtorf, is a son of Carson and Weapke (Nottlemann) IIoltorf, and was born in lIolstein, Germany, December 5, 1841. He was eld- est of ten children, and has one brother and a sis- ter in Germany; one brother in Central City. the others being deceased. The mother died in 1899, and the father in 1861. Mr. Hol- torf received his education in his native country, and there learned the brickmaker's trade, and came to America. June 9, 1865. locating in Indiana, where he followed the occupation of molding brick for about two and one-


half years, then going to Illinois for a short time, also spending some time in Iowa. In the spring of 1867, he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he still followed his occupation of brick-making.


On July 6, 1867, Mr. Holtorf was married to Miss Catherine Riemers, also a native of Germany, who came to America in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf have had eight children born to them, seven of whom are living: Adolph Frederick, who resides in Merrick county, Nebraska; Rosa G., wife of T. Neuhofel, has seven children and re- sides in Merrick county ; Minnie F., wife of George Grage, has six children, and lives in Merrick county ; John H., married, has one child, and re- sides in Central City ; Marx C., married, has three children, and lives on the old homestead; Wilhelm C., who resides in Merrick county; Molly, widow of George Stuart, has one ehild and lives in Mer- rick conuty.


Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf made their first home in Davenport, Iowa, for nearly three years, then went to Tama City, Tama county, Iowa, where Mr. Holtorf established a brick yard. In the spring of 1878, our subject came with his family over- land to Merrick county, Nebraska, bringing with them thirty-seven head of cattle and five horses, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section ten, township fourteen, range six, which remained the home place nntil 1905. Through the years they were prosperous and successful, and added to their land holdings until they now own five hundred and sixty acres, all within five miles of Central City, a well improved stock farm and one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. In 1905 Mr. Holtorf retired from the farm and moved to Central City, and purchased a good home where they now live. He was director of his school district number twenty-one for twelve years.


Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf were among the early set- tiers of the county. They are widely and favor- ably known. In 1889 Mr. Holtorf visited his home country; in 1893 he made the trip again, and in 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf spent six months in Germany. Mr. Holtorf is a progressive man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of state and county.


FRANK WEIGAND.


Few living in Nebraska to-day can give remi- niscences of as early a date as Frank Weigand. retired, of Bloomfield, who has been a resident of the commonwealth since 1858, a time when there was but a narrow fringe of civilization along the eastern horder of the state.


Frank Weigand, son of Leonard and Theresa (Meyer) Weigand, was born in Berlin, now the capital of the German Empire, October 18, 1853, and his first birthday occurred while the family was at sea on their voyage to America. IIe was the eldest of nine children born to his parents.


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


Being the mainstay, he remained with his father until twenty-five years of age before starting out for himself.


At this time he married and filed on a home- stead in the canyon known as the Devil's Nest, where he still owns two hundred aeres, sixty acres of which are adapted to cultivation and the rest covered with a fine grove of hardwood timber. At the same time, he filed on a timber elaim twelve miles north of Bloomfield, to which he moved in the spring of 1881. After proving up on his home- tead, Mr. Weigand moved to a traet of his fathi- er's land near the river. 3 When the great flood of March 30, 1881, came rolling down the valley, a wall of water thirty feet high. Mr. and Mrs. Weigand, who had been warned barely in time, escaped to the hills and looking baek saw their log dwelling cave in, and their eorn crib, from which they had just emerged, swept down the raging torrent. Oak trees two feet in diameter were broken off like twigs, and the noise of crushing ice and falling trees was terrible. In stock and grain Mr. Weigand lost over five hundred dollars, a considerable loss for him at that time. It was after this flood that he settled on his timber elaim on the high ground, moving the dwelling from his homestead, and from that day began to prosper. He now owns eight hundred and eighty aeres in the northern part of Knox county, where he raised horses, cattle, and hogs. On retiring from active farm work, in the spring of 1909, Mr. Weigand purchased a comfortable cottage home in the heart of town, only a bloek from the banks, stores, and postoffice.


Mr. Weigand was married December 25, 1878, to Miss Lena Olsen, a native of the village of Lilla- hamer, Norway. As a girl, she eame alone to the New World, followed later by her brother, and finally the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Peterson. Sailing from Christina in the "Kingsvaal," after a voyage of three weeks she landed in New York, and came direct to Yankton, South Dakota, where she had friends. Work was offered her at the Santee Ageney, and here she learned to speak the Sioux language fiuently, even before she had mas- tered the English tongue. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weigand, namely: Rosa, wife of James Buchanan, a Virginian, and a rela- tive of the former president, who is a professional ball player engaged on the Cripple Creek nine ; and during the winter seasons a member of the Cripple Creek fire department; George Leonard, is married and lives at Chanute, Kansas, where for six years he has been private secretary to the division superintendent of the Santa Fe railroad ; Frederick is engaged in farming on the old home plaee twelve miles north of Bloomfield; Laurenee, after sojourning in Wyoming several years, is now employed in one of the Bloomfield banks; Rudolph is farming with his brother Fred in Knox county ; Myrtle, the youngest, is a student in the Bloomfield grammar school.


Mr. Weigand is independent in politics, voting for his choice of men in national as well as state and county elections. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Modern Woodmen of America.




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