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 222

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 222


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On May 5, 1908, he was appointed postmaster of Crofton, a position he has been. filling to the satisfaction of the community he serves.


Mr. Ruden is a son of Ole and Christine Ruden, natives of Sweden. The father came to America in 1867. He lived for two years in Carroll county, Illi- nois, and then settled on a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres, four miles west of where Crof- ton now stands. To this he added until he was the owner of four hundred acres of fine Knox county land. He died in the fall of 1902, at the age of sixty-eight. Charles Ruden's mother is still liv- ing, and resides with him and his sister, Mrs. Bleick, who lives at Bloomfield.


Charles Ruden was married, May 5, 1897, to Miss Anna Buhrow, a native of Knox county, and daughter of John Buhrow, one of the earliest pio- neers of Knox county, of whom we have written more at length elsewhere in this work. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ruden: Dewey, Ralph, who met accidental death on the farm; Walter, and Daniel.


Mr. Ruden is a staunch republican, and a prominent member of the blue lodge of the Masonic order at Crofton, of the chapter and commandery at Bloomfield, and the Temple of the Myste Shrine at Omaha.


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In the blizzard of October, 1880, Mr. Ruden was at school. His father came for him, and so severe was the storm, they were nearly lost. He and his sister were attending school in Harting- ton on January 12, 1888, and again had difficulty in finding their way home.


Mr. Ruden has had a taste of pioneer life, a. time when the country was open to the mountains of the west. For two years the family lived in a dugout, as did most of the families in those days, and a snug and comfortable dwelling it proved to be.


NIELS CHRISTENSEN.


Niels Christensen, whose signal success as a farmer in Loup Fork precinct, Howard county, attest both the soundness of his principles and his industrious habits, is one of the sturdy Danes who left their native land to come to this country and carve out for themselves a home and compe- tence, and, although passing through all the var- ied experiences of the early settler in Nebraska, he has become well-to-do, and also gained the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.


Mr. Christensen was born in Denmark on August 15, 1848, and is a son of Christian and Karn Marie Larson, the sixth member in a family of eight children. He grew up there, remaining at home with his parents until he was twenty- four years of age, then came to America, his first stopping place being Chicago, Illinois, where he spent about two years. In April, 1874, he arrived in Howard county, and took up homestead rights on section twenty-four, township thirteen, range twelve, which has been his home ever since. Here he has a fine estate of two hundred and fifty acres, improved with good buildings of all kinds, and engages extensively in the stock and grain raising business.


Mr. Christensen was married in Howard coun- ty, May 21, 1880, to Mary Petersen, a native of Denmark also, who came to America in the same year as our subject. They have a famliy of thir- teen children, all living except one son, Christen. The others are named as follows: Theodore, Jens Peter, Mary, Anna, Petrrea, Elmer, Otto, Peter, Christina, Eleonora, Thorwald and Carl. Mary and Anna are married, and, with their families, reside in Howard county.


In the past years our subject has been a men- ber of the school board in distiret number twenty- eight, and has done much to promote the best interests of his locality. He is now prosperous and successful, and is widely known as a pioneer settler of Howard county, having raised a fine family, and all are highly respected by their associates.


MARTIN CASEY.


Martin Casey, for many years a resident of section eighteen, township twenty-two, range three, Madison county, Nebraska, is a prosperous agriculturist, and commands the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a gen- tleman of untiring energy, and is possessed of sterling characteristics, and has prospered re- markably well in his chosen calling.


Mr. Casey was born in Will county, Illinois, in the year 1860, a son of John and Ellen (Green) Casey, both natives of Ireland, who came to America at a very early date in a sailboat, and were on sea six weeks, finally settling in Illinois, where our subject was born, living there some few years.


In 1879, our subject, with his parents, came to Madison county, Nebraska, where the father took up the homestead on which our subject now lives. Here he built a sod house, in which they lived many years, and during the first few years of residence on the western frontier, the family endured many hardships and privations, owing to the different causes of loss of crops by grass- hoppers, storms, prairie fires, etc., and in the year 1894, the entire season's crops were burned almost to a crisp by the hot winds that were a result of the severe drouth of that year. Our subject and family were compellel to burn weeds and corn stalks for fuel many times, as wood and coal were almost an unheard of commodity.


But those davs have long since passed into history, and Mr. Casey is now well repaid for his endurance and industry, now owning three hun- dred and twenty acres of fine land, which has been steadily improved since being homesteaded.


Mr. Casey, since his advent to this portion of the country, has proven himself a progressive and worthy citizen, and as such he is widely known. He has always taken an interest in the growth and best interests of his home county and state, and commands the respect and esteem of all.


JULES HAUMONT.


Jules Haumont, the present postmaster of Broken Bow, is one of the old settlers of Custer county, and has passed through the various ex- periences and trials incident to life in a new country, from the time he erected a sod shanty on his homestead to the present time, when he is owner of a fine, modern residence in the city. He has been identified with many different interests, and is a self-made man, well known in financial circles as a man of proven integrity and business ability. He is a native of Belgium, born Novem- ber 3, 1856, the eldest child of Joseph and Marian (Howlet) Haumont, who had three sons and three daughters. The parents were also natives of that country, where their deaths occurred, the father passing away in January, 1872, and the mother 'n October, 1898. The son, Edmond, came to Amrica


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in the spring of 1877, and joined his brother, Jules, at Wood River, Nebraska, and they came on to Custer county with a team and covered wagon. Another son, Louis Haumont, came to America in 1883, joining his brothers in. Custer county, where he also became a homesteader.


Jules Hanmont received his education in his native country, and remained with his parents until July 7, 1875, when he sailed for America, landing in Philadelphia, July 25, 1875, and pro- ceeding from there to Carroll, Iowa, where he found employment on the Northwestern railroad. Later he went to Moingona, Iowa, and worked in the coal mines. In the spring of 1879, in company with Joe and Mary Severyus (sister and brother), Mr. Haumont came by team to Hall county, Ne- braska, stopping in the Wood river distriet, and in the fall of the year, he came on to Custer county, and secured a homestead on the north- west quarter of section thirty-four, township eighteen, range nineteen, in September of that year. He was one of the original homesteaders on the tableland in Clear ereek valley, and was at that time the only settler in that part of the county, with the exception of a few who had located in Round valley. He lived on that place until the spring of 1904, developing it into a high state of productiveness.


In the fall of 1903, Mr. Haumont was elected county assessor for a term of four years, and after serving his term, entered the Security State Bank of Broken Bow, of which he has been viee president since its organization. In June, 1908, he received the appointment of postmaster of Broken Bow, and left his work in the bank to assume his new duties. He assisted in organizing Berwyn State Bank in 1907, and was its first president, but resigned this office upon his pres- ent appointment. He is a republican in political views, and has in former years served on the county board and in various township offiees. He has been deeply interested in educational mat- ters, and for the past six years has been a mem- ber of the school board of the city, being its vice president at the present time.


When Mr. Haumont first came to the county, Grand Island was his nearest trading point, and he relates how he and his brother, after building up their "soddy," prepared to put up their cook stove, which they had brought with them, had to put up a sod foundation about five feet high to bring the stove high enough so their pipe would reach through the roof, as pipe was then so high they had purchased but a few lengths. He has passed through many interesting experiences during his residenee in Nebraska, and has always made the best of conditions, and adapted himself to cireumstances in a manner to insure his ulti- mate suecess.


Mr. Haumont was married in Broken Bow, May 16, 1889, to Mary Frischkorn, the ceremony being performed by the pastor of the Methodist


Episcopal church. She is a danghter of Adam and Christina Frischkorn, natives of Germany, but early settlers of Custer county. Mrs. Hau- mont was born in Pennsylvania. The ehureh known as Wesley Chapel, near Weissert post- office, was the first building in Custer county used exelusively for religious purposes, being a sod edifice, but much admired in early days by those who had built it. Mrs. Hanmont was one of those who helped in the organization of the church society, and she and her husband have always been prominent in religious, educational and social circles. They have four children: Chris- tina Julia, wife of Edwin Myers, of Broken Bow; Mamie Ellen, Frank Joseph, and Edith Lueille, at home. The children were all born on the homestead farm.


FRED HILMER.


Fred Ililmer, a large land-owner of Iloward enunty, Nebraska, has contributed in a large measure to the success of the farming region in that county, and is widely known and universally respeeted as an up-to-date agriculturist and worthy eitizen. He is a man of large experience, and is possessed of good business judgment and integrity, which traits have placed him among the leaders of his precinct.


Mr. Hilmer was born in Germany on August 9, 1859, and was the youngest member in the family of Henry and Dorita Hilmer, consisting of three boys and two girls. In company with his father, mother, one brother and two sisters, Fred came to America, landing in New York City in June, 1871. They went directly to Wiseonsin, settling in Madison, where the two brothers of Mr. Hilmer had loeated previously, William hav- ing come to this country in the spring of 1868, and Henry the fall following. The former came to Howard county five years later, and filed on a homestead on section thirty-four, township four. teen, range twelve, the balance of the family, excepting the mother, who died in Wisconsin in 1870, joining him after a short time, our subjeet arriving here in the winter of 1874. The father also homesteaded on section six, and remained on that land up to the time of his death, in 1887, it now serving as the home place. After the father's death, the management was assumed hy Fred, he operating in all, eleven hundred and twenty aeres, the home place being known throughout the country as the Deer Creek Stoek Farm, and is one of the valuable estates in How- ard eounty. He also owns one hundred and sixty aeres in Sherman county, and owns a large herd of stock, raising both cattle and hogs for the market, and buying and shipping. All of his property has been accumulated through good management and striet attention to his work, as when the family first ` landed here they were possessed of small means, and actually became


MR. AND MRS. FRED HILMER.


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successful by hard and faithful labor, taking advantage of every opportunity afforded the settler for gaining a competence.


On May 14, 1882, Mr. Hilmer was married here in Howard county to Miss Lena Balliet, she also coming from one of Howard county's pio- neer families. Peter Balliet, the father of Mrs. Hilmer, died in 1897, and her mother is still living, making her home in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer have a family of seven children, all living at home, and comprising a very interesting fam- ily group. They are named as follows: Henry, William, Fredie, Alice, Elmer, Lizzie and Eddie. On another page will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer.


Mr. Ililmer has been a member of the school board of district number twenty-five for a great number of years. In May, 1907, he was appointed to fill a vacancy as county commissioner, and in the fall of that year, was elected for the ensuing term. In the fall of 1910, he was, without oppo- sition, re-elected, holding that position at the present time (1911). He has never sought public office, and in this instance was put in the position almost against his will, although the county has never had a more faithful or efficient man to fill the office.


GEORGE FRIEDERICH.


Among the prosperous farmers and early settlers of Pierce county, Nebraska, the subject of this review, George Friederich, occupies a high position. He resides in Willow precinct, where he has a fine farm and comfortable home, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He has spent much of his life in this region, in fact, some thirty years, where he has devoted his energies to the interest and welfare of his locality.


Mr. Friederich was born, November 8, 1861, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and is the son of Theodor and Katherine Elizabeth (Pilger) Friederich. The father of our subject was a native of the province of Nassau, Germany, coming to Amer- ica from Baden in the early forties, taking pass- age on a sailboat from Hamburg, the voyage lasting some eight weeks. He was a carpenter by occupation, and worked at the trade in New York two or three years before migrating to Wisconsin, where he continued in that vocation, and later farmed for six or seven years. He died at the age of eighty-three years, and the mother died at the age of fifty-nine years.


Our subject came from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to Pierce county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1880, driving from Norfolk to his homestead, on which he built a shack, eight by ten feet. Later he took up a tree claim, and he has added to his land until he now has six hundred and forty acres-three quarters in section twenty-two, and one quarter in section twenty-four.


Mr. Friederich was united in marriage in 1886 to Miss Martha Klitzke, and to this union


eight children have been born: Adolph, Louise, Herbert, Fedora, Elsa, Ada, George and Joseph- ine. Mrs. Friederich's father and mother, William and Amelia (Mix) Klitzke, homesteaded in 1874, in section twenty-two, township twenty- six, range four, driving from Wisner to the claim.


Mr. Friederich experienced the hardships and inconveniences common in the early days. He burned hay for fuel two or three years, as well as corn when that product was cheap and coal was high. Deer and antelope were plentiful on the prairies, and were to be seen herding with the cattle at times.


Mr. Friederich is a prosperous farmer, and has a well-improved farm. In 1890 he built a com- modious house of nine rooms. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- men of America, and votes the republican ticket.


SOREN NIELSEN.


A prominent place among the list of prosper- ous and energetic farmers of Howard county is accorded the gentleman above, who for many years has been closely identified with the agricul- tural interests of Loup Fork precinct, and there conducts a farm.


Soren Nielsen is a native of Denmark, born July 5, 1850, and is a son of Niels and Stenie Sorensen, being the eldest of four children born to them.


At the age of twenty-two years, our subject started alone for the new world to make his for- tune, arriving here in May, and going first to Wisconsin, where he spent about a year and a half, then coming to Howard county, Nebraska. He immediately filed on pre-emption rights in section two, township thirteen, range twelve, afterwards taking the same land as a homestead of eighty acres. He still lives on the original claim, which he has built up in good shape, adding to it eighty acres, and now has a fine farm and home, engaging in mixed farming and stock- raising.


Mr. Nielsen was nnited in marriage at Grand Island, Nebraska, on August 22, 1876. to Hannah Svirgaarg, and to them have been born six chil- dren, named as follows: Stenie, who married Walter Erickson, parents of two children; and living in Elba ; Annie, wife of Ivor Lyehn, having two children, residing in Howard county; Jens, married, having two children, and living in South Dakota; Niels, at home; Hans, now in Kearney, Nebraska ; and Mary, living at home. Mrs. Nielsen died on the home farm, February 20, 1889.


Mr. Nielsen has been a member of the school board of district number sixty-two for a number of years. He has always been active in the ger- eral affairs of his county and state, and stands for the best interests of the people of his region.


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DANIEL BENSON. (Deceased.)


Daniel Benson, deceased, was for many years one of the most prominent and prosperous farm- ers in Nebraska. He was one of the early settlers of the state, and his fine farm in Greeley county is evidence of his untiring perseverance, industry and good management. He was one of the best- known men in this section of the state, and com- manded the respect and esteem of all who knew him.


Mr. Benson was born in Oneida county, New York, on October 31, 1849. He was the second in a family of six children born to Daniel G. and in Illinois in 1861, where he received the usual educational advantages. The civil war was rag- ing at this time, however, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war, receiving his dis- charge at Rockford in 1865. He was in many minor engagements, some of them being mere skirmishes. However, during the battle of Chickamauga, he was wounded and taken pris- oner. Later on, he was able to take part in the battle of Lookout Mountain.


After the war was over, he returned to the Illinois home, and on December 26, the same year, was married to Miss Mary Louisa Shatswell, a native of that state.


In 1869, Mr. Benson, with his wife and two little daughters, came to Platte county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted a quarter section near Genoa. The family resided here for about four years, and in 1873, moved to Greeley county, where he homesteaded another quarter section, which remained his home until the time of his death, February 2, 1899. He was survived by his wife and seven children: Minerva (Mrs. J. A. Jeffres), Kate (Mrs. Geo. Jeffres), Ida M. (Mrs. H. S. Conway), Roy E. and Leslie J., who are twins; William W., and Cornelius. Mr. Benson was a man of broad mind, and had a host of friends who mourned his death. He was treas- urer of his school district for several years, and was a man of progressive, active public spirit.


After Mr. Benson's death, Mrs. Benson left the farm, and moved to North Loup, where she purchased a good home, in which she is still liv- ing, surrounded by a loving family and devoted friends. She herself comes from a patriotic family, as her father and three brothers served all through the civil war in the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. Two of the brothers and her father spent about nine months in the infamous Ander- sonville prison. Her family history can easily be traced back to 1633, when John and Johanna Shatswell came from England, and settled in Massachusetts. The land upon which they settled first when coming to this country, has never been ont of the possession of the family, one of their number being the present owner. Mrs. Benson


has in her possession a copy of the original coat of arms of the Shatswell family of England.


Mrs. Benson can tell many anecdotes of the early settlement of this region, and boasts that her homestead was the scene of the first wedding in Greeley county, in 1874, the contracting parties being Aaron Bradt and Clara Harlow. Another story sometimes told refers to a terrific storm during the seventies, when little Ida, one of the children, was blown away. Six hours later the child was found unconscious, but, luckily, she suffered no serious or permanent injury.


ISAAC W. KING.


Isaac W. King, son of Isaac W. and Amanda (Gifford) King, was born in Saratoga county, New York state, January 17, 1840. He was see- ond in a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Two sisters in the state of Washing- ton, one in Oregon, one in Nebraska, and two brothers reside in Newman Grove, Nebraska, one in Black Hills, Dakota, and another in Canada. The father died, January 28, 1897, and the mother lives in Oregon at the advanced age of eighty- nine years.


In 1844, Mr. King went with his parents to Wisconsin, from whence, three years later, the family went to Iowa, and in 1860 again moved, this time to Minnesota, engaging in farming, returning in a couple of years to Iowa.


In October of the year 1861, Mr. King enlisted in Company C, of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry. In January, 1863, he re-enlisted in the same regiment and company, serving all during the war, and received his honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in January of 1866. The important battles he engaged in were: Fort Henry, Fort Donald- son ; Shiloh, wounded here, and held prisoner for forty-one days; Jackson, Mississippi; Vicksburg, a siege of forty days; second battle at Jackson ; Brandon, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; Selma, Alabama; Corinth, Mississippi; Holly Spring, Mississippi; Red River, and many other minor engagements and skirmishes. After the war, Mr. King returned to Iowa, and on July 22, 1866, was married to Miss Mary C. Russel, of Iowa, to whom two children were born: William H., who is married, and has two children, and lives in Madison county, one and a half miles west of Newman Grove; and Nellie M., married to Albert Patrick and lives in Kearney, Nebraska.


In the fall of 1869, the family came to Ne- braska, locating in Stanton county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres, where they lived nine years. Mrs. King died, January 17, 1874, survived by her husband and two children.


In 1878, Mr. King sold the homestead, and moved to Madison county, where he purchased for" hundred arres of land, nine miles northeast of Newman Grove, and took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty. four, township twenty-two, range three.


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On October 10, 1875, Mr. King was again inarried, this time to Mrs. Mary E. Keeney, of Wisconsin.


In 1898, Mr. King retired from the farm, and moved to Newman Grove, where he built a good home. Here he lived until March 1, 1911, when he moved to Madison, where he still resides.


While living in Stanton county, Mr. King served two years, 1870 and 1871, as sheriff of his county, which office he filled faithfully and well. He has also been director and treasurer of school district number seventy-four, and has served on the board many years.


Mr. and Mrs. King have had four children born to them, whose nantes are: Ruth A., mar- ried to George Webb, has six children, and lives in Madison county ; Naomi, married Henry Shaf- fer, has one child, and lives in Lee, Nebraska; John W., who is married, has three children, and lives in Madison county ; and one infant, deceased.


Mrs. King's maiden name was Mary E. Hall, and she had two children by her former marriage: Alice, now Mrs. Osburn, has four children, and lives in Madison county ; and Mary E., who mar- ried Mr. Horricks, is deceased, leaving one child.


Mr. King is one of the well-known men of Madison county. He has been prosperous and successful, and respected and highly esteemed by all.


ROBERT LEDWICH.


Robert Ledwich a well-known and representa- tive citizen of Custer county, Nebraska is one of the early settlers of his region and has passed through the various periods of its history. He is a native of Vermont, born October 14, 1843, seventh of the eleven children born to Robert and Bridget (Douth) Ledwich. Some of the children are de- ceased ; James is mayor of the city of Broken Bow ; Joseph lives at North Yakima, Washington; two daughters, Mary and Julia, live at Des Moines, lowa; Catherine, another daughter lives at Du- buque, Iowa. The father of these children was born in Ireland, came to America in 1832, locating first in lower Canada, and later moved to Vermont. Ilis death occurred at Des Moines, in 1870. The mother, also a native of Ireland, died at the same place as her husband, her death , occurring in 1884.




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