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 213

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 213

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

against the coal house, whence she made her way with difficulty back to the school room, where she was content to remain the rest of the night.

Hardships were endured in those early days that would appall the younger generation of to- day But those times are past. Railroads bring to our doors, lumber, coal and provisions, and carry out grain and stock and produce. The isolation of the earliest settlers is a thing of the past.

PETER S. PETERSEN.

l'eter S. Petersen was born, September 13, 1861, in Jylland, Denmark, on a farm near the city of Thisted, and attended school about three years in Denmark. He came to America in 1872 with his parents, two brothers and one sister, and lived in Chicago, Illinois, about two months, where, shortly after, his mother and youngest brother, one year old, died. He left Chicago with the rest of the family on his eleventh birthday, and arrived at Dannebrog, Nebraska, September 16, 1872, where, two days later, his father filed on a homestead six miles west of Dannebrog, and which is now owned by his son, a brother of P. S. Petersen.

Peter was sent out to earn his own living among strangers at the age, and worked a year for a bachelor farmer, about seven miles north- east of Grand Island. From that time until the spring of 1883, he was at home about half the time, the other half working for neighboring farmers. His schooling was very limited. From the time he arrived in America he did not attend over six months, divided into three terms of about two months each. In the spring of 1883, he went west, and worked on the section for the Union Pacific railroad in eastern Wyoming, returning late in the fall, and for the next three years worked on a farm near his home. In the spring of 1887, he went to Wyoming again, worked on the railroad two months, and on a ranch near Cheyenne about eight months, then returned to Dannebrog, where he worked a year in the lum- ber yeard. In the spring of 1889, he began in a general store as clerk, and the next fall went to Grand Island, and worked a few months in one of the larger stores there. Again he went to Wyoming, and was employed on the same ranch as formerly until July 1, 1890, when he returned to Dannebrog, resumed his old position in the same store he had worked in first. That same fall his employer moved to Roek Springs, Wyoming, and Peter was connected with another firm in Danne- brog for a few months, then went to Rock Springs, and worked about eight months for the merchant whom he had first clerked for in Dannebrog. Returning in the fall, he was associated for a year with the firm he was with before going to Rock Springs. He resigned this position, and took a position as clerk for C. C. Hansen, who

at that time owned a general store and bank in Dannebrog, being in the store a couple of months, and February 1, 1893, went to work in the bank as cashier and bookkeeper.

October 5, 1893, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Kristiane S. Kjeldsen, who came to America from Jylland, Denmark, in 1888. They have seven children, four boys and three girls, the oldest born July 31, 1894. About the middle of December, 1897, he resigned his position in the bank, and moved to St. Paul, where the family resided three and a half years, during which time he was deputy county clerk two years, and book- keeper in a wholesale grocery house one year and a half. This position he resigned in the spring of 1901, and returned to Dannebrog. Here he worked for his old employers in a general store for four years, then left them, going to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he spent four months, leaving his family in Dannebrog. While in Rock Springs he worked for the same man he had worked for there in 1891. He returned to Danne- brog in September, and on October 1, 1905, bought the "Dannebrog News," a weekly newspaper, of J. M. Erickson. November 20, of the same year, he succeeded Mr. Erickson as postmaster at Dan- nebrog.

Before going to St. Paul in 1897, Mr. Petersen had been village treasurer, and had served for some time as a member of the village board, to which position he was again elected for two years in 1908. He was clerk of the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America for several years. While in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1891, he joined a lodge of the Danish Brotherhood as charter member, and the next year, with per- mission from the supreme officers, organized and installed a lodge at Dannebrog. Most of the time since, he has held the office either of treasurer, secretary, president or ex-president of this lodge, in 1902 was its delegate to the convention at Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Petersen was candidate for county clerk in 1899, on the republican ticket, and again in 1901, but the country was so strongly populist that he was defeated, together with the rest of his ticket.

WILLIAM H. SCHULTZ.

For a quarter of a century, William H. Schultz has been a resident of Valley county, Nebraska, and during this time has acquired a fine property as a result of his industry and good management. He is widely known in this locality, and is one of the prominent men of his community.

Mr. Schultz was the second of four children born to John D. and Martha (Phillips) Schultz, natives of New York and Maryland, respectively. The mother died in 1866, when our subscriber was hut ten years of age. Mr. Schultz was born in Ogle county, Illinois, Jannary 10, 1856. In Sep- tember, 1869, Mr. Schultz and his father went to

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Marshall county, Iowa, to live, and there the latter died, April 1, 1879.

William Schultz grew to manhood on the farm in lowa, and received his education in the local schools of that state. In the spring of 1887, he first came to Nebraska with a brother, having a sub-contract for a mile of the Burlington and Missouri grade in Wheeler county, another mile in Greeley county, and a third in Blaine county. Later on in the year, he came to Valley county, and remained a year or two, expecting the rail- road to extend its line west. In 1889, he pur- chased eighty acres in section eight, township seventeen, range thirteen, which was his home until March, 1911, when he moved to a residence on forty acres of land adjoining North Loup, purchased in the spring of 1910.

On January 10, 1894, Mr. Schultz married Jennie B. Preston, a native of Jones county, Iowa. Her parents. Robert and Lorena (Bryan) Pres- ton, natives of Ohio aud Illinois, came to Nebras- ka during the early eighties. After a winter in Council Bluffs. they came on to Valley county, and settled four miles southwest of North Loup. Here they built a sod house, and for a number of years lived in true pioneer style. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schultz: Ruby E., Olive M. and William H, junior.

From time to time, Mr. Schultz has added to his original land, until now he has a fine estate of over five hundred aeres. Besides the usual farm crops, he has for some years devoted con- siderable attention to stock raising. He is a successful business man, and for some years has served as treasurer of school district number three. He has also been called upon to serve the township in other capacities upon several occas- ions.

Mr. Schultz is one of the younger men among the carly settlers, and is held in the highest esteem as a farmer and citizen. He is independent in politics. voting for the man and not the party. Mrs. Schultz is a member of the Friends' church.

CHARLES CLINTON SCHULTZ.

Among the prominent farmers and stockmen of Valley county may be mentioned the above gentleman. Ile has been a resident of the county for many years, and is now the proprietor of a fine stock farm of over four hundred acres, located in sections sixteen and seventeen, town- ship seventeen, range thirteen. Ile has made a specialy of raising thoroughbred Poland China hogs, and animals bred on his farm have made a name for themselves in that locality.

Mr. Schultz was born in Ogle county, Illinois. on the fourth of March, 1858, and was the third of four children born to John D. and Marth (Phillips) Schultz. When ten years of age, he went with his parents to Marshall county, lowa,

in which state he received his education. Later he taught for some time in that state.

On the twenty-first of June, 1882, Mr. Schultz married Miss Lizzie Preston, a native of Bureau county, Illinois. For a few years the family lived in Iowa, and during 1885 to 1887, Mr. Schultz was in Nebraska, doing contract work for the Burling ton and Missouri railroad. In 1888, he brought his family, consisting of his wife and two chil dren, to Greeley county, Nebraska, where they lived for ahout a year and a half.

In 1890, he finally settled permanently in Valley county, where he purchased a quarter. section of fine land. which is still in his possession. Through shrewd management, and the exercise of thrift and industry, Mr. Schultz has been en- abled to add to his original purchase, until he now has one of the largest and finest stock farms in the country. His success has been well de- served. He has been a resident of the county since his first arrival, with the exeeption of possi. bly two years, when he was located in Centra! City, engaged in promoting the interest of the Friends' College at that place.

Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are the parents of five children : Lou F., Gertie May (Mrs. L. D. Stew- art. of Valley county), Charles C., a student at the Central College at Central City ; Florence T., and Martha C., both of whom are at home. The family have taken an important part in the social life of the community, being members of the Friends' church. Mr. Schultz is a republican in politics.

Mr. Schultz is one of the most prosperous and influential men of the community, and his friends are only limited by the number of his acquaint- ances. He has always been intensely interested in local public affairs, and has served the public well. He was at one time township clerk.

During the dry year of 1894, his entire erop consisted of sixty bushels of corn on sixty acres, and fifty bushels of corn on twelve acres. In 1907, he lost all his crops by hail.

HERMAN SAARE.

Herman Saare, one of the carly settlers and prosperous retired merehants and business meu of eastern Nebraska, resides in his pleasant home in Newman Grove, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.

Mr. Saare was born in Prussia, March 4, 1844, coming to the United States with his parents in 1854, settling in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. IIe was second of four children in the family of Ferdinand and Wilhelmine Saare who came to America in 1854 with their family of two sons and one daughter, another son being in the United States.

Herman Saare, the subject of this sketch, lived in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, until about li; fifteenth year, then went to Sauk county, Wiscua-

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sin, with his parents and family. He enlisted in Company G, Forty-second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1864. At the close of the war, he was mustered out. in Madi- son, Wisconsin, returning to Sauk county and the farm.

July 17, 1869, Mr. Saare was married to Miss Louise Mollin at her home in Dane county, Wis- consin. With his wife and one son, he came to Nebraska in June, 1872, settling in the town of Aspinwall, Nemaha county, and engaged in the general mercantile business. They remained there until 1877, when they returned to Baraboo, Wisconsin, going into the mercantile business in that city, and in January, 1880, came to Barada, Richardson county, Nebraska, where he was one of the firm of H. Saare & Company, and remained there five years. He moved to Genoa, Nance county, Nebraska, in 1885, and engaged in the general mercantile business with G. A. Mollin, and in March, 1887, came to Newman Grove, Mad- ison county, again going into the mercantile bus- iness. Here he has remained, and has been retired from active business since January 20, 1906. Mr. Saare is a successful man of affairs, and is widely known. He has a comfortable home in Newman Grove, extensive land and property interests in Madison and adjoining counties, as well as inter- ests in other states.

Mr. and Mrs. Saare have four children living : Louise, wife of J. L. Barnes, has three children, and lives in Kansas; Augusta, wife of C. C. Crow- ell, junior, has four children, and resides in Oma- ha; Alfred, resides in the state of Washington, and has two children; and Pauline, who lives at home.

JUDGE JOSIAH A. ARMOUR.

Judge Josiah A. Armour was the first lawyer to establish a practice within the limits of Custer county, Nebraska, and is one of the best known men of that region. He is a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, fourth of the nine children of Josiah and Eliza (Rhoads) Armour, natives of Kentucky. He was born July 14, 1854. The father was of German and Scotch descent, and the mother of German and English, and he died at Medora, Illinois, while she survives him, and lives at Medora, being eighty-two years of age. Several of their children are deceased, and those now surviving are: Josiah A .; Mrs. Melissa Chandler, of Ansley ; Charles B., of Ansley ; Mrs. Julia Huffman, of Gering; Mrs. Delia M. Duty, of Medora, Illinois.

Mr. Armour received his elementary educa- tion in the country schools of Illinois, and grew to young manhood on a farm. Later he attended Shurtleff College for six years, and graduated therefrom in 1878. The following year he read law with General I. A. Rinaker, and afterwards attended Washington University, where he took

a law course. In June, 1880, he located in Edgar, Clay county, Nebraska, and entered upon the practice of his profession. In September, 1881, he removed to Westerville, Custer county, where he remained until the spring of 1887, and then moved to Ansley. He was married in Westerville, March 19, 1882, to Miss Etta Varney, a native of New York state, and a daughter of Edgar and Amelia (Tiffany) Varney, both also natives of that state. The father was born near Saratoga Springs, and served in a New York regiment during the Civil war. He brought his family to Custer county in an early day, and his death occurred in September, 1908, in Ansley, where his widow still resides. Their children are: T. T., S. P. and J. H., living in Ansley; Mrs. Clara Gaines, of Ansley ; C. E., of Callaway ; Mrs. Millie Brega, of Callaway; Mrs. Lavina Wilkison, of. Grand Island, and Mrs. Armour.

In 1884, Mr. Armour secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in the south- east quarter of section fourteen, township eigh- teen, range eighteen, and also secured a timber claim of the same size. In the fall of 1897, he was elected county judge, and, through successive re-elections, served eight consecutive years, dur- ing which time he lived in Broken Bow. He is one of the oldest settlers of his part of the state, and has had an extensive law practice since com- ing west. He is a prosperous and successful business man and has secured some nice proper- ties in the county. He is actively identified with the best interests of his county and state, and is held in high regard and respect by all who know him, having a high standing in his profession. For four successive years he served as worshipful master of the Masonic lodge in Ansley, and is well known in Masonic circles in his part of the state. Four children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Armour, namely: Ray, of Great Falls, Montana, married Miss Gertrude Hall, of Broken Bow, and they have one child ; Effie I., died March 2, 1888; Roscoe A., is a student in the Chicago Dental School; Avis A., is now attending school.

WILEY E. VAN PELT.

Wiley E. Van Pelt, the hustling real estate dealer of Bloomfield, has been in Nebraska a shorter time than many, but he accomplishes more in one year than do many in from three to five years. He is a native of Shenandoah, Iowa, born September 9, 1875. His parents, Evan D. and Melissa (Broyhill) Van Pelt, are natives of Illinois, the father of Fulton, and the mother of descent Tazewell county. The family is of Holland descent, but the immigrant ancestor came in Colonial days, long before the Revolu- tionary war.

The senior Van Pelt moved to Shenandoah in 1873, living part of the time in the city, and part of the time on his farm. Wiley E. Van Pelt

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attended the Shenandoah schools, and graduated from the Normal Business College there at the age of seventeen, when he began life for himself, selling goods on the road, and continued as a salesman until settling in Crofton in the spring of 1896. He had sojourned in Bloomfield in 1892 for a short time, and then returned to his Iowa home.

In Crofton, Mr. Van Pelt engaged in the mer- cantile business in the spring of 1897, and contin- ned in business there until 1901, when he sold out, and gave his entire time to real estate and insur- ance, at which he had been engaged from time to time before. He bought and shipped stock at times, when the conditions seemed favorable, and in his land deals frequently accepts a stock of goods in exchange. In this way he has owned stores in Norfolk, Bloomfield and Lynch. As a versatile man of general business, his equal is hard to find. He makes trades at which others might hesitate, and by his unusual business abil- ity, turns to profit what others might dispose of at a loss.

Mr. Van Pelt was married in Hartington, Nebraska, November 9, 1901, to Miss Clara Strand, a native of Knox county. Her parents, Charles H. and Martha (Aaberg) Strang, are natives of Norway. The mother came to America about 1873, and the father a year or two earlier. They were married in Knox county, where they have since continued to dwell. Our subject and wife have two children to bless their home, Byron and Melba.

Mr. Van Pelt is a staunch democrat in politics, and in 1910 stood for the legislature as his party's candidate, his first venture into practical political life. He is a member of the Masonic order, hold- ing membership in the blue lodge and chapter in Bloomfield.

Mr. Van Pelt was on his father's farm near Shenandoah at the time of the severe blizzard of January 12, 1888. Their home was surrounded by a fine large grove, in which the high wind was not felt. Mr. Van Pelt and elder brother started to get the stock in at the time the storm broke. When they came to the corner of the grove, they realized that a storm of unusual severity was on, and the temperature was low, and the younger boy was compelled to return to the house, while the elder succeeded in getting the cattle and horses into shelter for the night.

Mr. Van Pelt has traveled extensively in the west, as far east as Chicago, into the mountains of Montana, and to the southward as far as the plains of Texas. He is full of vitality, energy and acumen. He is quick in judging values, and equally as quick in estimating the measure of his man. His affable disposition makes him many staunch friends in social as well as political activities.

CHRISTIAN HECHT.

Christian Hecht, one of the venerable pioneers of Pierce county, Nebraska, who has retired from active life, and is now living in Pierce, first came to Nebraska in August, 1884, and purchased of W. S. Mosier the relinquishment of a homestead and tree claim, a half section, six miles northeast of Plainview. He resided on the land, skillfully cultivating it until February, 1903, when he removed to Plainview to take his ease for the remainder of his life, which promises to be ex- tended to the century mark, and which he expects to attain.

Mr. Hecht is a native of the dukedom of Hol- stein, Germany, born in the village of Cleve, August 26, 1830. His parents, John Frederick and Ida (Sivers) Hecht, were also natives of Holstein, where the mother died. The father was a general contractor and builder, doing carpentry as well as mason work, and also was a machinist, and intended his son, Chris, for the same career. After working for a time with the father, the hoy decided that he preferred an occupation that would not take him so much from home, and induced his father to apprentice him to a cabinet- maker, where he finished his apprenticeship just prior to emigrating to America. He served four years for only his board, his father having to clothe him, and prior to completing his appren- ticeship, he was called out in the reserves in 1850, during the war between Germany and Denmark. He learned in later years that a friend, Mr. James Nelson, had fought in the battle of Idstedt, on the opposite side.

After serving out the remaining two months of his apprenticeship, Mr. Hecht had an opportunity to come to the new world in company with his future father-in-law and his family. Embarking, April 1, at Hamburg, Germany, in an old two-mast sailing vessel, the "Alter Peter," so small that but a hundred passengers could be accommo- dated, they landed, after a voyage of six weeks, at the port of New York, and journeyed direct to Joliet, Illinois, where Mr. Hecht secured work at his trade, within a year repaying his passage money, which was advanced by Mr. Deerson. He then married a daughter of Mr. Deerson, and established a family of his own. For ten years he worked at his trade in Joliet before moving to Momence, the same state, where he worked for three years.

In 1866, he bought a farm in Kankakee county, a tract of Illinois Central railroad land. Here he lived with his family until 1881, when he sold the farm at sixty dollars per acre, having paid eight dollars per acre. After leaving the farm, he opened a hardware and implement store in Grant Park, where he continued in business until coming west, as related before. After purchas- ing his land, in August, 1884, Mr. Hecht returned to Illinois, disposed of his property, and in the spring came west, and took possession of lis Ne-

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braska property, in due time proving up on the homestead quarter-section, and also on his timber claim.

Mr. Hecht was married in Joliet, Illinois, May 23, 1853, to Miss Margaret Deerson, daughter of Peter N. and Helma (Miller) Deerson, all natives of Holstein, Germany. Mrs. Hecht passed away in Nebraska, January 13, 1894. Of eight children born to her, three died in infancy. Those attain- ing majority are: John F., who married Jessie F. Stoeking, both of whom have passed, away leaving four children ; Serena, married, and living in Canada; George, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere; Alice, deceased, who married Albert Herbert, of Grant Park; Herman J., county treas- urer, whose career is related on another page; and Charles C., who is a traveling salesman, with headquarters at Lincoln, Nebraska.

John Frederick Hecht followed his son, Chris, to America in 1854, bringing his remaining son and two daughters, all of whom lived creditable lives in Will county, Illinois, where all passed away, leaving Chris, the eldest and the last of his generation, well and hearty, with prospeet of rounding out a hundred years. He was reared in the Lutheran church, but of late years has been an attendant and supporter of the Congregational church. For fifty years he has been a member of the Masonie fraternity, having been made a Mason in Joliet, Illinois.

From his advent to the American republic, he has adhered to the principles of the republican party, and would have cast his first vote for their first candidate, Fremont, had he been long enough on American shores. His first vote, however, was for the great emancipator, the first successful candidate of that dominant party.

No one holds a higher place in the hearts of the citizens of Pierce county, old and young, than our subject. He richly deserves the comforts he now enjoys, and is a sterling example to the young, an inspiration to emulate his thrift, energy and honesty, if they would win substantial suc- eess in life, and leave a revered memory on pass- ing to the great beyond.

N. P. CARLSON.

N. P. Carlson, one of the first settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-one, township thirty, range two, where he is surrounded by a host of warm friends and acquaintances. Mr. Carlson has done his full share in the upbuilding of his home county and state, and is a highly esteemed and respected citizen of this section.

Mr. Carlson is a native of Sweden, having first seen the light in the year 1854, and is a son of Carl and Helen Nelson. He received his edu- eation in his native land, and also helped his father on the farm. When he reached the age of

twenty-five years, Mr. Carlson decided to come to the new world, of which he had heard so much, and of the cheap land to be obtained for almost the asking. In 1879, he left Sweden to come to America, embarking on the steamship "State of Nebraska," and landed in New York City. After reaching the United States, he went direct to Iowa, where he lived five years.

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Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska, Part 213

Author: Alden Publishing Company Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : Alden Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1402

Author: Alden Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Alden Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1402