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 205

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 205


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Mr. Teatke was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Hattie Remmer, a native of West Prussia, and a daughter of Fred Remmer. Mr. and Mrs. Teatke are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Augusta, Carrie, Edward, Fred. August, and William. They are a fine family and are well and favorably known throughout this por- tion of the county.


Mr. Teatke, as before stated, is a highly re- spected citizen of Madison county, and in his home is surrounded by a host of good friends and neigh-


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hors, and he is beloved by all who know him. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and a demo- erat.


JAMES FINLEY SHARPLESS. (Deceased.) .


The late James Finley Sharpless, who spent many years on the farm in Custer county, Nebras- ka, where his death occurred, was one of the most highly respected and public-spirited citizens of that region. He and his wife were both liberally educated and interested in every measure for the well-being and development of the county and state. They were early settlers of Custer county, where they won many friends. Mir. Sharpless was well known in Grand Army and Masonic circles and at the time of his death had large holdings of land, as well as city property. He was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and was descended from a family of English Quakers who settled in Pennsyl- vania as early as 1682 and became prominent in the affairs of that region in early days. He was born March 19, 1842, being the eldest of seven chil- dren of Nathan and Hester (Liston) Sharpless, and was the only survivor of the family with the ex- ception of one sister, Mrs. Estella Henderson, of Columbus, Ohio.


After attending the common schools of his na- tive state Mr. Sharpless attended a medical school in Chicago, and although he never followed the profession of medicine he was for some time en- gaged in conducting a drug store. In 1864 he en- listed in the Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and served until the close of the war. His marriage occurred at Magnolia, Illinois, on March 17, 1875, when he was united with Miss Martha M. Fyffe, a native of that state and a daughter of Townsend and Zilla (Boyle) Fyffe, both natives of Kentucky and of Scotch descent. Both died at Magnolia, Illinois.


After marriage Mr. Sharpless spent several years in Texas, where he was engaged in stock business on a large scale, then he returned to Illi- nois and engaged in stock raising near Tonica. In 1881 he brought his family to Iowa and four years later came on to Nebraska. They lived four years in Kearney in order to secure educational advan- tages for their children. In 1885 he purchased a two hundred and forty acre farm one-half mile south of Ansley in Custer county, and afterward located on it and conducted it until his death, which occurred September 3, 1908. IIis loss was deeply deplored by his many friends and felt as a keen loss to the community in which he had lived so many years. He was a man of liberal views and had many endearing qualities, so that to know hint was to have a warm regard for him. His wife had died August 13, 1903, and one son, Milam, had also died. Two daughters survived their parents. namely : Mrs. Mary S. Cooper, of Ansley, wife of Charles C. Cooper, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and Miss Emma I. Sharpless, of Lincoln, Nebraska.


·


Mr. Sharpless was highly regarded as a busi- ness man and a citizen and was one of the class of men who care for their own interests in an able manner and at the same time further to a large de- gree the welfare and prosperity of their com- munity.


LUDWIG P. KERBEL.


Ludwig P. Kerbel, formerly the genial host of Hotel Klug of Spencer, is almost a native born Ne- braskan, all but a few months of his life having been spent in the state, his first birthday anniver- sary being celebrated at North Bend, where the family settled on coming to the state.


Ludwig Kerbel was born in the village of Kluboky, Bohemia, August 1, 1880, a son of Joseph and Anna (Meniek) Kerbel, the mother a native of the village of Otratice in Moravia, while the fathi- er's native village was the same as the son's.


The family eame to America in 1881, sailing from Bremen in the ill fated "Elba," which found- ered at sea with all on board in 1889. They landed in New York on the fourth of July, and received a noisy welcome on the nation's Independence day. The elder Kerbel came directly to the west and settled at North Bend, working two years at the carpenter's and then filing on a homestead at the northeast corner of Custer county, taking up a pre- emption and timber claim at the same time. The dry years of 1894 and 1895, together with chinch bugs, hail and other storms, completely disgusted him with this part of the country, so he abandoned his holdings to his sons and sought other fields of industry. He went to Madison county where he rented land for five years, and has since lived re- tired in South Omaha.


The Kerbel family consisted of five sons and three daughters; Mr. Kerbel has two brothers in Spencer and one on the old home farm in Custer county. In Custer county Mr. Kerbel with his brothers and sisters had to go five miles to school. They were fortunately at home during the great blizzard of January 12, 1888. They lived in a so:] house while in this part of the country, and fre- quently fought prairie fires.


As an instance of the edurance of the early set- tlers, we make note of the fact that when times were so hard in Custer county the father walked to Omaha, two hundred and fifty miles distant, to find work through the winter in the smelter works 10 keep his family in hread. But of such metal was made the hardy pioneers.


Ludwig, our subjeet, began for himself at the age of sixteen, elerking in a store at Madison for five years. Going to Plattsmouth, he secured work as fireman in the yards there for the Burlington and Missouri River railroad. He was next engaged in the saloon business for one year at Battle Creek, coming to Spencer in May of 1906, continuing his former voeation for two years. He clerked one vear in the William F. Kloke store, and on July 22, 1909, took charge of the Klug Hotel which he


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conducted in a manner pleasing to the traveling publie and profitable to himself.


Mr. Kerbel was married in Plattsmouth May 6, 1902, to Miss Anna Krabochail a native of Penn- sylvania, daughter of Jacob Krabochail, who came to Nebraska about 1888. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerbel: Hattie, Stazie, and Leonard.


Mr. Kerbel is republican in politics, a member of the Catholic church and of the W. O. W., and Z. C. B. J.


Mr. Kerbel is at present living in South Omaha where he is conducting a saloon in the Albright district.


JAMES BAIRD. (Deceased.)


James Baird during his lifetime was one of the most respected and highly esteemed citizens of Mer- rich county, Nebraska, and was a prominent factor in the upbuilding of his home county. At the time of his demise he was residing in Clarks, Nebras- ka, and at his death was deeply mourned by hosts of friends and relatives.


Mr. Baird was a native of the state of Illinois, his birth occurring in Randolph county, January 28, 1838, and he was a son of Hugh and Martha Baird who were natives of Randolph county, Illi- nois; he was fourth in the family of ten children, and has a sister residing in Illinois, one brother in Central City, Nebraska, another in southern Illi- nois, the others being deceased, as are also the par- ents. Mr. Baird grew to manhood days in his na tive state, receiving the usual education, later en- gaging in farming.


On December 2, 1858, Mr. Baird was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jane Hunter, also a native of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Baird were the parents of ten children, whose names are as fol- lows : Alexander P., deceased in infancy; Martha E., wife of I .. Swartz, has four children and re- sides in Montana; Hugh A., married and has six children, and lives in Kansas; Henry C., also mar- ried, and lives in Tacoma, Washington ; Nellie M., a teacher in Trinidad, Colorado; James K., married and lives in Kennett, California, has three chil- dren; Anna, wife of George Boughner, has five chil- dren, and lives in North Carolina; Prudence A., is the wife of Mr. Lawson, they having four chil- dren and reside in Grand Island; Flora J., lives in Trinidad, Colorado; and Bertha M., wife of Charlie Pearce and a resident of Inlesburg, Colo- rado.


In the fall of 1861 Mr. Baird elisted in Com- pany C, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, Corps Seven- tee, serving until the close of the war, and in the fall of 1865. at Sprigfield, Illinois, receiving his honorable discharge. He participated in the fol- lowing engagemets: Belmont, Fort Donalson, Fort Henry, Britton Lane, Siege of Vicksburg, and At- lanta.


After the war he returned to Illinois, and in


1871 drove overland with his family to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres of land three miles west of Clarks, which remained the home place until 1894, when Mr. Baird retired from the farm and moved to Clarks where he purchased a good home, Mr. Baird engaging in the draying business until the time of his death, June 25, 1906. He was survived by his wife and nine children. Mrs. Baird still lives in the old home at Clarks, surrounded by a large circle of friends.


Mr. Baird was a progressive man of affairs, in- terested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and county and was widely and favorably known. He served on the board of his school district for a number of years.


JOSEPH F. WIRTH.


Joseph F. Wirth, a prominent farmer and stock- inan, living on section twenty-six, townsip thirty- two, range eight, is well known throughout Knox county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful agriculturist highly, esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Wirth has the distinction of being a na- tive born son of the county and state in which he now resides, and where he has lived since his birth. He is a young man of energy, and possesses sterling qualities of character which give fair pro- mise to enable our subject to emulate his father.


Mr. Wirth is a native of Knox county, Nebras- ka, as before stated, his birth occurring in the year 1883, and he is the son of Joseph and Vincin (Jiskra) Wirth, both being natives of Bohemia. In 1870, the father left his native land and came to America, and after landing in the United States proceeded to Knox county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim on section twenty-six, town- ship thirty-two, range eight, which still remains the old homestead farm where our subject now lives. On this land they built a sod house and later a log house, which remained the dwelling of the family for several years, when it was replaced by a frame house.


Here the family experiened more than the usual drawbacks and hardships endured by all old set- tlers, having come to this section of the west when it was but a virgin prairie, peopled by bands of In- dians who roamed the plains, scarcely knowing what a white man was, and resenting his interfer- ence in their free and easy life. Our subject's par- ents experienced many scares and dangers from the redskins, but as time wore on, the Indians became more reconcilled to their white brother, and being also to a certain extent. held under government re- straint, became less a menace to the peace of the sturdy settlers of this early period. The grasshop- per pests did their share to discourage the tiller of the soil, on several occasions destroying the en- tire season's crops. Prairie fires, have also played a tragic part in the events of early Nebraska history, and the family of our subject fought this danger many times to save their homes and lives.


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In 1907 Joseph F. Wirth was united in marri- age to Miss Anna Hercik. They have three chil- dren-Otto, Mary and Rosie.


Mr. and Mrs. Wirth now reside in their beau- tiful residence on the old homestead of two hun- dred and eighty acres of fine land, well improved, on which are fifteen acres of trees; he also has fif- teen fine springs of water on the land. Mr. Wirth has charge of and farms this two hundred and eighty acres of land which makes him a busy man of affairs.


THOMAS LONG.


In compiling a list of the pioneers of Stanton county Nebraska, who have aided materially in making of that region a thriving agricultural dis- triet, a prominent place must be accorded the gen- tleman whose name heads this personal history. For twenty-eight years, Mr. Long has been closely identified with the history and development of this locality, and his labors to this end are well known to all that reside in that community. Mr. Long lives on section nineteen township twenty-two, lange one, east, where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of old-time friends and acquaintances.


Mr. Long is a native of New York state, his birth occurring in the year of 1853, and he is a son of John and Julia (Gleason) Long. Our subject was raised on a farm, and has stuck to farming and stoek-raising all his life, and is now amply repaid for his efforts in this direction, as he is the owner of a fine farm which will insure him comfort for the remainder of his days.


From New York state, our subjcet went with his parents to Illinois, where they remained until 1882: then Mr. Long, our subject, came to Stan- ton county, Nebraska, where he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. He now owns six hun- dred and forty aeres of fine land, on which he has eight acres of fine orchard and grove trees.


Mr. Long has not gained his present prosperity without enduring the usual amount of worry and hardships that have had to be borne by the earliset settler of this region; on January 12, 1888, he lost considerable eattle in the terrible storm that wreaked such havoc to all in that locality.


In the year 1876, Mr. Long was united in mar- riage to Miss Maggie Carroll, and Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of nine children, whose names are as follows: John, Anna, now Mrs. Edward Ackerman, of Stanton; Patrick, Thomas, Jr., Leo, Eugene and Jerome, twins; Loretta, and Leonard.


Mr. and Mrs. Long and family live in their pleasant home, where they have a host of good friends and many acquaintances, and where Mr. Long is well known as a prosperous and substan- tial citizen.


J. S. YAGER.


J. S. Yager an agriculturist of prominence in Antelope county, Nebraska, resides in section 31


twenty-four, township twenty-three, range six, and is one of those substantial citizens whose in- tegrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska.


Mr. Yager is a native of Selkirk, Ontario, Can- ada, born August 14, 1857, and in 1875 went to Michigan where he remained five years. Mr. Yager's father, John Yager, was born in 1818, in Canada, and came to the United States in the early days; his mother, Mary (Stewart) Yager, was born in Canada in 1821, and was of Scotch descent. Mr. Yager's brother Josephus came to Nebraska in 1876 and took a homestead in Antelope county, on which he built a sod house; he died later, and the claim was left to our subjeet. In 1880 Mr. Yager came to Antelope county to take possession of the homestead farm, and while Mr. Yager has traveled quite extensivey through the south and in Canada, this pace has aways been his home since his coming here in 1880. From 1880 to 1882 Mr. Yager drove the mail route from Central City to Niobrara, a dis- tance of two hundred miles, making two trips a week and several times met with roving bands of Indians, mostly Poncas but suffered no rough treat- ment from them. He was among the last to drive such routes.


In 1889 Mr. Yager was united in marriage to Miss Rosilda Jeffries, and in 1901, Mrs. Jeffries died, sincerely mourned by her husband and many friends and relatives. In 1903 Mr. Yager again married, his bride being Miss Nellie Carey, who was born in Seneca, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Yager are the parents of two fine children, named as fol- lows: Clare and Artamissa.


Mr. and Mrs. Yager and children enjoy the highest respect and esteem of all who know them, and they have many friends and acquaintances in this section of the county.


FRANK O. HANNAWALD.


Frank O. Hannawald, a successful farmer and stock man of Custer county, Nebraska, belongs to. one of the old families of the region and is highly respected as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. Ile was born near Oneida, New York, July 15, 1860, and was the first born of the six children of Adam and Anthy (Owen) Hannawald. also na - tives of New York. A sketch of the father also ap- pears in this work, in which the family is given further mention. In 1865 the parents removed to a farm near Mattawan, Michigan, and they lived in that state until the fall of 1883, when they came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, and located on a farm near Aurora. The father brought with them the following four children: Frank, Etta, Nettie, and Flossie. Stella, Mrs. Merlin Valleau, re- mained in Michigan, but she and her husband eame to Hamilton county in 1884. In the spring of 1885 the family came to Custer county, where in March of that year the father secured a homestead. He lived on this farm, which was located three miles


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west of Merna, until his death February 10, 1898. Ile was survived by his widow and four children, Flossie having died after the family came to Custer county. The mother lives in Merna but still owns the homestead.


In 1884 Frank Hannawald secured a homestead on section seven, township seventeen, range twen- ty-one, Custer county,and he now has three hun- dred and twenty acres in his home farm, which is well improved and equipped for raising stock and grain. He has a comfortable, modern residence, surrounded by trees, with an orchard and other improvements, and has other substantial buildings. Ile has made his home on the original homestead all these years and is one of the best known men in the county, belonging to an old and honored fam- ily. He passed through various years of drouth and hard times in his earlier years there and has well earned his present era of prosperity. He has given much time to the furthering of the progress and development of his county and state and he and his wife, who have a wide circle of friends, are active in social and educational circles.


Mr. Hannawald's marriage occurred in Aurora, Nebraska, on Christmas day, 1885, when he was united with Lilly Wilkins, daughter of James H. and Martha Wilkins, an old family of Hamilton connty. Three children have been born of this nn- ion : Mabel, wife of Claude Leisure, of Portland, Oregon, has two children a son and a danghter; Beryle, wife of Fred Wright, living two miles south of Merna, has one child, a son ; Velva, at home. Mrs. Hannawald has one brother, William Wilkins, liv- ing in Custer county, and her parents reside at Aurora.


JOSHUA H. EVANS.


Joshua H. Evans, a prominent citizen of Callaway, Nebraska, is a veteran of the Civil war, and highly respected in his community. He was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, June 12, 1847, fourth child of Ransom and Anna (Morris) Evans, who had three sons and four daughters. The father was a native of Tennessee, and the mother of Alabama, and they were married in Indiana. The family moved to Effingham county, Illinois, about 1845, but later returned to Indiana, and in 1848 again came to Illinois, locating on a farm. The father died in that state, Jannary 1, 1862, and the mother, January 18, 1863. At that time all their seven children survived them. Those now surviving are: Joshna II .; Robert, of Illi- nois; Ruhama, Mrs. James Rentfrow, of Okla- homa ; Mrs. Jane McGee, living in Clay county, Illinois; Mrs. Amanda McNelly, of Clay county, Illinois.


Most of Mr. Evans' childhood was spent in Effingham county, Illinois, and he there received a common-school education. February 26, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, December 26, 1865. He


served in the Atlanta campaign, being in the brigade of Colonel Wilder, under General Sher- man, and participated in many important battles. He was taken prisoner at Columbia, Tennessee. but escaped the same day. In the fall of 1864. his company came back to Louisville, Kentucky, and on Christmas day started for Eastport, Mississippi, via Nashville, then went on to Selma, Alabama, taking part in a battle at the latter place. In the battle of Selma, he was wounded by a ball that sruck his gun and exploded, the shock knocking him down, and rendering him uneon- scions for some time, so that he was numbered among the slain. Upon recovering consciousness, he returned to his command. After this battle, they went to Montgomery, Alabama, and on to Columbus. They were out of communication with the north, and did not hear of the surrender of Lee, or the assassination of President Lincoln, until they reached Macon, Georgia.


After his discharge, Mr. Evans returned to Effingham county, and during the summer of 1867, worked on a farm, after which he learned the blacksmith trade, following the same nntil 1904. He has practically made his own way in the world since he was thirteen years of age, and early learned the lesson of self-reliance. He was married in Effingham county, December 2, 1869, to Samantha J. Gibson, daughter of John and Fanny Gibson. He brought his family to Iowa in 1881, and thence to North Platte, Nebraska, September 20, 1886. He there engaged in work at his trade, and on April 26, 1887, came to Calla- way, making the trip with horses from Cozad to their destination. He engaged in blacksmithing at Callaway, and continued in active business life until 1904, on January 29, of that year, receiving the appointment of postmaster at Callaway, which official position he has since held. He is one of the oldest settlers of Callaway, still mak- ing that town his home, and has been closely identified with its growth and development, being well known in the surrounding country. He has served as a member of the village board, and of the school board. A portrait of Mr. Evans will be found on another page.


Mr. and Mrs. Evans have two children, Launa L. and Henry C., the former the wife of George H. LaFleur, of Callaway, was born in Illinois, and she and her husband have four children. Henry C., married, and living in Callaway, is in business at the old stand, where his father worked from 1886 to 1904, and built up a good trade, which has since been successfully cared for by the son.


WILBUR G. SQUIRES.


Wilbur G. Squires, formerly editor of the "Verdigris Citizen," was at that time one of the youngest men in the state occupying an editorial chair. He was born near Plainview, Nebraska, -June 1, 1888.


JOSHUA H. EVANS,


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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


His parents, Wilbur and Eva A. (Smith) Squires, were natives of Tioga county, Pennsyl- · vania, where they made their home, and engaged in farming until their migration to Nebraska in 1884. They lived for a short time in Antelope county until a suitable location could be found, and then settled ten miles southeast of Plainview, where the elder Squires filed on a homestead, proved up on it, and resided there until 1902. when he retired from aetive farming, and bought a comfortable home in Plainview, where he is taking a well-earned rest.


Of the children born to them, two survive: A daughter, Marilla, now the wife of Franklin Larson, a prosperous farmer, living south of Plainview, and a son, W. G.


Mr. Squires was reared on the home farm, near Plainview, attending the district sehools and at Plainview, where he graduated in 1907, and later took up a six months' course in the Wayne Normal.


Having a love for journalism, where he might make use of his aptitude for writing, Mr. Squires became an apprentiee in the office of the "Plain- view Republican" in 1907, and two years later, having an opportunity to purchase the "Verdi- gris Citizen," he became proprieor and editor of that journal, which he put on a paying basis. On the first of January, 1911, he removed to Winner, South Dakota, where he took charge of the "Advocate," and is there meeting with well- deserved success.


Mr. Squires is a musician of considerable ability. He is independent in polities, and eon- duets his paper along that line. He affiliates with the Odd Fellows, having joined the local lodge of that order.


The great blizzard of January 12, 1888, occurred before Mr. Squires' birth, but he has heard tales of its severity around the family fire- side. The cattle had been turned into the pasture that morning, and the father started to get them baek to shelter on the appearance of the approaching storm. The blast overtook him before his task was aeeomplished, and the eattle had to be abandoned to their fate, while he found difficulty in making his way back to the barn, and later to the house, losing about half his stock that was out in the storm. A neighbor and his son, who persisted in bringing in their stock, both perished in the icy blast-the most disastrous blizzard that has swept the state sinee settlements began.




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