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 192

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 192


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Our subject's venerable mother makes her home with his family and at her advanced age has a mind as bright and clear as others of half her age. It is a pleasure for her to know that fifteen grand- children nay her homage in her declining years.


Our subject's father, William Wanser, now de- ceased, was one of the earliest and most highly re- spected pioneers of Pierce county, Nebraska, and was a native of Amicyville, Long Island, born March 6, 1825. ITis parents, William and Ann (Powell) Wanser, passed their entire lives on Long Island. Our subject's father, William Wanser, was married July 3, 1844, in New York City, to Miss Mary Antha Seeley, who was born in that metropolis June 30, 1827. Her parents, Ezra and Phoebe (Pierson) Seeley, were natives of Connec- ticut and New York City, respectively. In 1846, Mr. Wanser and his wife's parents moved to Peoria, Illinois ,where the two men were employed at their trade, that of carpentry ; and later the eld- er man was located in Pekin while Mr. Wanser was away in the army. He first enlisted at Peoria, August 3, 1861, in Company C, Forty-seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry and, serving his term of enlistment, became a veteran in Company K, One Hundred and Eighth Regiment, serving until Jan- uary, 1866. During this period he served under Grant in the army of the west participating in the engagements around Forts Donelson and Henry, Shiloh, Corinth, and Iuka, Spanish ' Fort, Selma, and the siege of Vicksburg.


After his discharge at Springfield he returned to Peoria and rented a farm in that county for three years, and later in 1868 removed to a farm some twelve miles west of Fairbury in Livingston county, where he remained until coming to Ne- braska in the spring of 1871. With his eldest son he drove across the country bringing their stock, while the rest of the family came by rail. Selecting land two miles north and west of Plainview, he followed farming until 1888, when he removed to town, and with his son, Frederick, engaged in the drug business six years and later engaged in the poultry business until the time of his death.


Of seven children born to our subject's father and mother, six attained majority, their names be- ing as follows: Pamelia, married Nathan Peterson of Orchard, Nebraska; William, died at the age of twenty-seven years; Adelia, married Edwin Ilogue; Albert Edson, is farming on a homestead three miles northwest of Plainview; Nellie, wife of Edward Taylor of Draper, South Dakota ; Winfield S., in real estate business in Plainview and Okla- homa.


Our subjeet's father, William Wanser, was a


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staunch republican since that party was first or- ganized, and prior to that had been a Whig. He was a man of sterling worth and one who left his impress on the business and social world of his chosen habitation.


L. A. PARKER.


Lemuel A. Parker a progressive and intelligent young farmer of Howard county is owner of a fine estate in Cotesfield precinct which he has built up in the finest possible shape, having one of the most beautiful and fully equipped modern dwelling in his part of the county.


Mr. Parker was born in Ringgold county, Iowa, on December 29, 1868, and the first four years of his life was spent there, then came with his father, mother and balance of the children, to Howard county. Here the family settled on a tract of land and they went through all the early Nebraska times in establishing a home, Lemuel re- maining at home with his parents durng their life- time, the father dying in December 1895, and the mother in November, 1904.


Mr. Parker has kept the homestead as his home farm, although he has accumulated other proper- ties adjoining ,and his holdings comprise in all two hundred and sixty-three acres of the choicest Loup Valley land. It is improved with good buildings of all kinds, and is one of the model stock and grain farms in that section of the state.


Mr. Parker was married June 21, 1899, in St. Paul, to Miss Inez Hill, a daughter of one of Howard county's pioneer families. They have had two sons, Glenn Earl, who died November 7, 1910, aged nine years, and Harold Hill. The family have a beautiful home and enjoy the society of a large circle of friends. Mr. Parker is a man of friendly and sociable disposition, and although he had the misfortune to lose his hearing some years ago, he can still enjoy conversing with his family and friends by the aid of an ear trumpet, which is such a source of blessing to so many afflicted in a like manner.


JOHN H. LUKE.


John II. Luke who resides in Ord, Valley county, Nebraska, is one of the oldest and best known old settlers of that region. He was born in New Britian, Connecticut, March 18, 1851, and was the eldest of four children in the family of Hugh M. and Mabel (Hildebrand) Luke, who had four sons. So far as Mr. Luke knows, he is the only member of the family now living. The Luke fam- ily moved to New York City in 1852, and John Imke lived there until his seventeenth year.


In September, 1868, Mr. Luke enlisted in the United States army as drummer, serving at Gov- ernor's Island, New York, until August, 1869, when he went to Fort Vancouver, Washington, be- ing assigned to his company there; but joined


Company A, Twenty-third, United States Infan- try at Camp Three Forks, Idaho, on the Owyhee river. Mr. Luke went from there to Fort Boise, Idaho, receiving his discharge here in July of 1871. He re-enlisted in October 26, 1871, in the same company and regiment. In July, 1872, his regi- ment was ordered to Arizona, and to Fort Omaha, Nebraska, in September, 1874; in April, 1875, the company was ordered to Fort Hartstuff in Valley county, Nebraska, which fort was abandoned about 1883; Mr. Luke is the only one in Valley county that served at Fort Hartstuff. In all he served eight years in the regular army under the com- mand of Captain John J. Coppinger, afterward General John J. Coppinger, who was quite promi- nent in army circles in after years. Mr. Luke re- ceived his final discharge on October 26, 1876, atter which he remained in Valley county, Ne- braska, which has since been his home.


On November 9, 1876, Mr. Luke was married to Miss Mattie Stewart at her mother's farm south- west of North Loup, Elder Oscar Babcock offici- ating. Miss Stewart was a native of Milton June- tion, Wisconsin, and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Barker) Stewart, natives of the state of New York.


Mr. Luke was an original homesteader in Val- ley county, in 1877. He farmed some and then took up railroad work, and for some months he liad charge of construction work. Mr. Luke had con- siderable experience in frontier work on our new western roads until 1883, returning at that time to Valley county, which has since been his home. Mr. Luke for two years was in the lumber yard at North Loup, and for twenty years was connected with the lumber yards of Ord through 'changes of ownership, etc., all through the years; as Mr. Luke tells it, when the lumber yard changed hands he was sold with the yard, being one of its permanent employees; and the lumber business of Ord was in a great measure handled by Mr. Luke. He has been closely identified with the growth and de- velopment of Valley county and the North Loup valley.


Mr. Luke now has charge of the Valley county - court house, being constable of Ord and Ord town- ship, and is filling this office creditably to hismeslf and satisfactory to his constituents.


In the early days Fort Hartsuff of which we wrote in the first part of this sketch was built by the government; in 1874 during the days of the grasshopper raids when all the crops were de- stroyed by these pests, the farmers of Valley coun- ty were given work on the fort at one dollar a day and rations, excepting skilled mechanics, who re- cived more.


II. WEDEKIND.


In the person of this gentleman, who is a widely known and highly esteemed member of the farming community of Madison county, Nebraska, we find


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a progressive agriculturist and successful business man who has won a foremost place among his fel- lowmen and enjoys the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.


Mr. Wedekind is a native of Saxe Province, Germany. born April 21, 1856, where he grew to manhood. following the occupation of a miner in that country from 1870 until 1882, in which year he embarked from Hamburg on an emigrant ship bound for America.


Immediately after landing he struck out for the west, arriving in Sarpy county, Nebraska in 1883, where he remained and rented, also working as a farm laborer up to February 15, 1892, at which time he moved to Madison county.


Here he bought the Bryer homestead, and dur- ing the first two years succeeded in improving the place to some extent, having fair success with his ventures, but in 1894 his crops were totally de- stroyed by the hot wind storms which swept the region. Other years he suffered loss from various causes familiar to nearly all of the early settlers in that section, but he persevered through it all and finally, was able to raise good crops of grain, etc., and also engaged in stock raising, so that he was on the high road to prosperity, adding to his origi- nal farm many acres, and is now the possessor of one of the valuable estates in his county, owning four hundred and eighty acres.


January 1, 1888, Mr. Wedekind was united in marriage in Sarpy county, to Miss Helen New Yoke, and to them have been born the following children : Gustave, Henry, Emma, Anna, Otto, Iberg, Wilder and Arthur, all fine sturdy descend- ants of worthy parents, and of great help to them in carrying on the farm. They have a very com- fortable home, and are popular members of the so- cial life of their community.


GEORGE NELMES.


George Nelmes was one of the very early set- tlers of Custer county, Nebraska, and has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser. having now retired from active life. He was born in Herefordshire, England, July 9, 1842, a son of Nathaniel and Martha (Sebon) Nelmes, being the third of their eight children. Both parents died in England, and, besides George, their only surviv- ing child is a daughter now residing in Des Moines, Iowa.


Mr. Nelmes received his education and reached maturity in his native country and later engaged in farming. In 1866 he married Mary Morgan, also a native of England, who died in 1881, being survived by her husband and the following six children - Elizabeth died in 1892: James, married and living two and one-half miles south of Ansley. has two children ; Pearl, wife of E. L. Ceveland, of Callaway, Nebraska, has three children; Martha, wife of Sidney Belcher, of York, Nebraska, has three children; Lulu, wife of Walter Baker, of


Westerville, Nebraska, has four children; Ger- trude, wife of Frank Buckner, living near Wester- ville, has three children.


In 1887 Mr. Nehnes brought his family to America and spent seven months in Wisconsin, after which he came to Nebraska, rented land in Custer county for several years, and then pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he later added two hundred and forty acres, and he has spent ten years on this place. In the winter of 1909 he retired from the farm and moved to Ansley, where he purchased a good home. He is a self-made man and won his way to success through many difficulties. He owns four hundred acres of fine farming land, and is recognized as a public-spirited, desirable citizen.


Mr. Nelmes was married (second) on November 1, 1894, to Mrs. Mary Edwards, also of English birth, who came to America in that year. One son has been born to this union, Edward, who is at home. Mrs. Nelmes had four children by her for- mer marriage: George, of Custer county, married and has one child; Ernest, in Wyoming; and two sons who are married and live in England. The parents of Mrs. Nehmes died in England, and she has three brothers in that country and one brother in Chicago, Illinois.


R. LONGE.


Among the younger farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the above named gentleman, who is one of the most success- ful and progressive in this section. He has been a resident of this county for nearly thirty years, and during his long residence has made many friends,and has also gained an enviable reputa- tion as a public-spirited citizen.


Mr. Longe was born in Iowa, in 1875, and was the son of Frank and Gusta Longe. His parents were of German birth, and left their native coun- try in 1871, coming at once to Iowa. They re- mained here until 1880, when they removed to Cuming County and rented land until 1883. They moved again at this date, this time locating in Wayne county, where the elder Longe bought a farm of eighty acres from the railroad, paying three dollars per acre. Later he added to his first purchase until he owned two hundred acres.


Our subscriber was a child of eight years when the family moved to Wayne county, and has lived practically all his life on the one place, as he now occupies the same farm that his father bought in those early days. The farm has been considerably imroved since those days, however. The sod- house which sheltered the family for the first few years of their sojourn in this state has long sinee been replaced by a substantial and comfortable frame house. All necessary buildings have been added to the place from time to time, the fields are well cultivated, and the farm presents a pleasing picture of thrift. A noticeable feature which at-


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tracts attention even when afar off, is the fine grove and orchard which were planted some years ago and are now in their prime.


In 1898, Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Kay and of this union six children have been born, named as follows: Clara, Alvana, Mata, William, Otto and Harry.


Mr. and Mrs. Longe are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church and he is a republican. He has been for ten years moderator of his school dis- triet.


JOHN F. CAMPBELL.


John F. Campbell of Palmer, Nebraska, form- erly a resident of section eight, township fourteen, range eight, Merrick county, is a well known pio- neer of eastern Nebraska, settling in this part of the state in 1874 . He was born in Porter county, Indiana, on April 2, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Frame) Campbell. He was sixth in a family of seven children, one brother of whou resides in Nebraska, as does also a sister; two sis- ters reside in Indiana; and one brother and one sister are deceased, as are also the parents; the father died January 20, 1884, and the mother died in March, 1895, both in Indiana. Our subject re- ceived his education in the home schools, and later engaged in farming.


On February 22, 1865, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Penrose, of Knox county, Ohio, and later of Indiana. In the spring of 1874, Mr. Campbell with his wife and four children came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in section eight, township fourteen, range eight, west, where he lived for five years; then purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres adjoining the homestead, and moving on to the same, building a good house, and adding other improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Camp- bell have had nine children: Elmer, who is mar- ried, has seven children and resides in Burwell, Nebraska; Etta, wife of William Bice, has two children and lives in Merrick county ; Nancy, wife of Peter Petersen, has six children and resides in Burwell; Mary, wife of John Coolridge lives in Merrick county and has one child; Clara, wife of James Klye has four children and resides in Mer- rick county; Andrew, married, has two children and resides in Wolbach, Nebraska; Laura, wife of Edward Terry, has five children and lives in Scotia, Nebraska; Myrtle, who resides at home; and Delbert who is married and lives on the home farm.


Mr. Campbell has been prosperous and success- ful, and from time to time has purchased land, and now owns four hundred acres of fine stock and grain land. He was instrumental in organizing his school district number forty-one, and served as director of same for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are among the earliest settlers of


the county, and have passed through all the dis- couragements and trying experiences incidental to frontier life, and are widely and favorably known.


JOHN G. SCHERER.


John G. Scherer, manager of the Wm. Krotter Company's lumber yard at Butte, Nebraska, has been a citizen of this part of the west since the late fall of 1884, when his father, Andrew Scherer, ar- rived in Fort Randall to take the position of post tailor at the fort. The father was a native of Hesse Darmstadt as was his wife, whose maiden name was Gertrude Bosel; they sailing from Ant- werp in June, 1883. On landing in the United States, they came direct to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, remaining there until fall, then coming to Fort Randall, as above stated. That was their home for the following five years. At the time of the opening of Ponca reservation for settle- ment, in 1890, Andrew Scherer secured a claim east of Spencer, Nebraska, where for ten or twelve years he was actively engaged in farming, finally retiring from active labors in 1902. He now resides in Spencer, has a comfortable home and is enjoy- ing the fruits of his many years of hard work and perserverance.


Our subject was born in the village of Aben- heim, District of Worms, Hesse Dormstadt, Ger- many, on April 24, 1869. and there as a boy at- tended the parochial schools until coming to America, from then on his education being sadly neglected, except what was gained through reading and observation. He subsequently became fa- miliar with the Indians at the fort, learned their language and slept in their tepees with them many a night, being a general favorite, and this friend- ship has endured through all his life. He re- mained with his parents until the age of twenty- three, then filed on a homestead situated three miles northwest of Bristow, residing on it the re- quired five years, after which he sold the land and moved to Tripp county, South Dakota. There he herded cattle for the contractor who furnished beef to the Indians for three seasons, returning to Boyd county in 1900. He bought a farm near Butte, which he tilled for four years, then gave up the work and took charge of the Krotter lumber yard and implement house. Since his installation as manager of the concern, its patronage has been ex- tended considerably, due to his business sagacity and enterprise, their trade being drawn from the entire northern part of Nebraska and southern Dakota.


Mr. Scherer was married at Spencer, on June 8, 1893, to Miss Clara M. Kloke, and to them have been born seven children, named as follows: Irene, with the telephone company here, and Arlie, in the same employment at Fairfax, South Dakota; while Gus, Albert, Gertrude, Fritz and Andrew are still in school.


Mr. Scherer and his family are devout mem- bers of the Catholic church, and all are well liked


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throughout their community. He is a republican in politics, and fraternizes with the Modern Wood- men of America; also holds memberships in the Des Moines Bankers' Accident Association and the Business Men's Accident Company of Des Moines, Iowa.


DAVID WHITTEN.


David Whitten, one of the oldest settlers of Midland precinct, has the honor to be one of the highly intelligent and worthy citizens of Boone county, and as such has gained a host of friends during his residence in the region. IIe has made a life study of farming and stock raising, and has been more than successful along both lines, now being classed among the wealthy and progressive residents of his section.


Mr. Whitten was born in Ireland, and grew up there, coming to America about 1857. David was the third in a family of ten children born to Moses and Catherine Whitten, all coming to America at different times, our subject being the first to emi- grate, he starting out for the new world alone at the age of sixteen years.


His first location was in Ulster county, New York, where he remained for a couple of years, di- viding his time between there and the state of Georgia, working in New York state during the summers, and in winter going south.


In 1863 he came west, locating in IIenry coun- tv, Illinois, and obtained employment on a farm there. In July of that year, he was married to Mary B. Hall, who is a native of England, coming to this country with her parents when a small child. Three children were born to them in Illi- nois, and in the fall of 1871 the entire family started for the far west, travelling overland by wagon and team the entire distance, and having for their destination Boone county, Nebraska, which they reached safely after a long and tedious journey fraught with many interesting incidents. Mr. Whitten filed on homestead rights in section twenty-six, township twenty-one, range six, and since the time of locating here, that place has been his constant home. His family was the first to set- tle in this portion of Boone county, and "Whit- ten's Valley" is a familiar name to all living any- where near to that region.


Mr. Whitten has made a life work of farming and stock raising, as stated before, and has met with splendid success in both lines. With his fam- ily he has passed through all the pioneer days of Nebraska, and often endured hardship and priva- tions that are the lot of the early settler in a new country. He has always been active in promoting the general welfare of his community, and had done much to aid in the development and advance- ment of his county and state.


Mr. and Mrs. Whitten have had ten children, nine of whom are now living, named as follows: Mary Jane, who married Henry Moyer, they liv-


ing in Boone county; Hannah, wife of John Nie- man and residing in Clay county; George, who lives on the home farm; William, May, a teacher ; David F., who married Adeline Belgum, on Sep- tember 10, 1908; Edward Leroy, Arthur, and Ella Althea. The Whitten family are among the pro- minent members of the social life of their com- munity, and are held in the highest esteem as being almost the only remaining family of really old- timers in their immediate neighborhood.


PETER SHRODER.


Many a pioneer has come to the western plains with nothing but a strong heart and willing hands, and from a start of nothing has carved out for himself a fortune and home, and is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his career in com- fort and plenty surrounded by his family and a host of warm friends, esteemed and respected by all.


Mr. Shroder was born in St. Megalis Donn, Holstein province, Germany, in November 28, 1853, and was brought up by Henry Peterson. After our subject grew to manhood he served in the Ger- man army three years. In 1885 Mr. Shroder came to America, starting from Hamburg, sailing direct to New York, bringing his family with him. After landing in the United States, our subject and family stopped for a few days in Keystone, lowa, then going to Douglas county, and in 1881 to Washington county, Nebraska. Here they went through about all the hardships and drawbacks in- cident to those times, among other experiences be- ing hailed out in 1898; and in the blizzard of 1888, our subject with his family became lost in the storm, barely escaping with their lives. In 1903 Mr. Shroder sold his Washington county home and came to Antelope county, where he owned a beau- tiful improved farm of two hundred and forty acres, with eight acres of good orchard and grove trees.


Mr. Shroder was united in marriage in 1877 to Miss Dora Kruger. Fifteen children have blessed this union, being named as follows: Peter (de- ceased), Ernest, Annie, Bertha, John, Henry, Dora, Minnie (deceased), Olga, Lena, Emma, Hans, Nannie, Elma, and Ella.


For some time Mr. Shroder lived on section fifteen, township twenty-seven, range six, but re- cently he sold this place and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty-five, township twenty-eight, range six. This is a splen- did farm, highly improved, and a comfortable home, with modern improvements.


Mr. Shroder and his family are highly re- spected in the community in which they live.


WILLIAM H. MAUK.


William H. Mauk has been a resident of Cus- ter county since coming there in 1881. His father had preceded, in 1880, and the family has been


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very influential in promoting the general welfare and progress. He was born in Pennsylvania, Oe- tober 20, 1858, the eldest of the seven children of Jacob F. and Catherine Mauk, the father a native of Wurtemberg. Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Jacob F. Mauk was born in Au- gust, 1836, and came to America in 1851, settling first in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he was married in 1857 to Catherine Shireman. The Shireman family had been living in Pennsyl- vania since the Revolutionary war. In 1863 Mr. Mauk enlisted in Company C, Third heavy ar- tillery, serving until the close of the war. He was one of the guards detailed to guard Jefferson Davis after his capture.




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