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 229

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 229

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Joseph D. Samuell a large ranch owner and successful stock man of Central City, Nebraska, formerly lived in township fourteen, range seven, west, Merrick county, where he was recognized as a prominent member of his community.

Joseph D. Samuell, son of Henry L. and Lydia (Blunt) Samuell, was born in Kilbourne, Illinois,

August 8, 1864, and was eightlı of eleven children. He has a brother, Brooking A., residing in Kil- bourne; a sister, Ella Sutton, also in Kilbourne; a brother, Hickman B., in Easton, Illinois; and another sister, Kittie Geisler, in Kilbourne. Our subject's father died in 1906, at Kilbourne, where the mother is now living. On August 21, 1891, Mr. Samuell was united in marriage to Prudence M. Root, of Kilbourne, Illinois, who was a teacher, having been assistant principal in Chandlerville, Illinois, schools.

Mr. Samuell received his elementary education in the home schools and later attended the State Normal Schoof at Normal, Illinois, during the years 1883 and 1884; and in 1891 graduated in scientific and normal courses at Northern Illinois normal school at Dixon, Illinois. In 1891 was elected superintedent of Rock Falls, Illinois, schools, serving one year. In 1892 Mr. Samuell was elected superintendent of Albion, Illinois, schools, serving four years. In 1896, he with his wife and one daughter came to Merrick county, Ne- braska, where he had purchased eighty acres and since then from time to time he has added other lands, until he now owns nine hundred and sixty aeres all in Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Samuell have had three children : Zola, M., attendant at Liberty Ladies College at Liberty, Missouri; and Charles A., and Veda, who reside at home.

Mr. Samuel is one of the well known men of his county is a prosperous man of affairs, and is inter- ested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home county and state. IIe was instrumental in instal- ling the Independent telephone in the locality of his farm and in 1902 circulated a petition for rural mail delivery, securing the same in 1904, this being the second ronte in the county. Mr. Samuell has bred Hereford cattle exclusively for fourteen years, and has the distinction of having the only herd of registered polled Hereford cattle in Nebraska, hav- ing over one hundred and sixty head. He insti- tuted the Archer Breeders' Association in 1903, which has done much along the line its name in- dicates.

In October 1910, Mr. Samuell moved with his family to Central City, where they intend making their home, although Mr. Samnell will still con- tinne to devote his attention to liis'extensive farm and stock interests.

FRANK NOVACEK.

Frank Novacek, who for the past twenty-two years has been one of the foremost residents of Knox county, Nebraska owns a good farm and home in section seven, township thirty, range sev- en. He is one of the leading old settlers in this locality, and has always given his best aid in look- ing to the interests of the county, and still does his full share in developing its resources and making it a success.

Mr. Novacek is a native of Bohemia, 'heing

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born in that country in the year 1865, and he is the son of Albert and Anna Novacek. Our subject grew to his second year in his native land, and in 1866, with his parents, came to America, as did so many of the sturdy sons of foreign shores in those early pioneer day. The family, including our sub- jeet sailed from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, and after landing in the new world immediately started for Chicago, stopping there until the fire of 1871. In the fall of that year the family removed to Jones county, Iowa, and in the spring or 1872, returned to Chicago for the summer, then back to Jones county, where they lived until 1889. They then came to Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead in section seven, township thirty range seven, which remains the old home farm to this day, and where Mr. Novacek now re- sides. He has improved the land until he now has a fine farm and good home, where he is surrounded by his family and a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

In September, 1910, Frank Novacek bought one hundred and fifty acres of improved land in Sparta township, two and a half miles north of Verdigris. He intends putting a son and daughter on the placc.

In 1891, Mr. Novacek was united in holy mat- rimony to Miss Fannie Skliskey, and they are the parents of four children, whose names are as fol- lows : Albert, William, Anna, and Mary, all of whom are living under the parental roof.

Mr. and Mr. Albert Novacek are till living and reside on the old homestead.

JOHN KAMMER.

Through eceptionally good management and persistent labors, the gentleman here named has acquired a well developed farm and is enabled to enjoy the comforts of modern farming. He is of a progressive nature, and has a wide eperience in farming. Mr. Kammer's pleasant home is located in Herick county township, on section twenty- eight, township thirty-two, range three where he and his family reside, surrounded by a host of good friends and many acquaintances.

Mr. Kammer was born in 1860, and is a native of the state of Iowa. He is a son of William and Hannah (Linney) Kammer, both natives of Ger- many, coming to America and settling in Clinton county, Iowa state, in 1856. Our subject was born on a farm, and here he remained with his parents, assisting with the work and attending school, re- ceiving a good education.

In 1894, Mr. Kammer came to Knox county, Ne- braska where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of good land and improved same until now he has a fine farm and home.

Mr. Kammer was united in holy matrimony in 1882 to Miss Ella Stevenson, and Mr. and Mrs. Kammer are the parents of two fine children, whose names are as follows : Roy J. and Earl V.

Mr. Kammer has been identified with the his- tory of Knox county from an early date, and has always taken an interest in the welfare of his home county and state.

FREDRICK SCHILLING.

Fredrick Schilling, a well-to-do farmer, ener- getic and industrious, a typical representative of the German race, who came to this country to es- tablish a home and accumulated a competence for himself, resides on his fine farm in section two, township twenty-two range one, west, Madison county, Nebraska. Mr. Schilling has resided in Madison county for the past thirty-four years, which places him well along in the ranks of the oldest settlers of this region. Since coming here, Mr. Schilling and his father before him have al- ways taken a leading part in everything pertain- ing to the best interests of their home state and county. Mr. Schilling resides in Union precinct, and he and his family are surrounded in their pleasant home by a host of good friends and neigh- bors.

Mr. Schilling is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Prussia province, January 13, 1862; he is a son of Gottlieb and Wilheimena (Prusz) Schilling. Our subject grew to early manhood in his native land, and in 1876, he, with his parents left the old country for the new world, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to New York in a steamship.

After landing in the United States, the family went west, remaining in Omaha, Nebraska, one week. They then came on to Madison county, where they bought the right to a homestead for two hundred dollars, and built a shanty twelve by sixteen fect, living in this several years.

Mr. Schilling later bought his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and has steadily improved same until he now has a good farm and pleasant home.

In those earliest years of settlement on the western frontier, our subject and the family ex- perienced many severe hardships and discourage- ments and not the least of the dangers to contend with were the prairie fires that often swept over the open prairie leaving havoc in their wake; and many times were our little family compelled to fight this danger to save their lives and homes. Co- lumbus, many miles distant, was their nearest market place in those times, and the journey con- sumed many days in going to and fro. Mr. Sehill- ing's father nearly lost his life in the blizzard of January 12, 1888.

Mr. Schilling was married in 1892 to Miss Wil- hemena Brummond, and they are the parents of four children : Paul, Mattie, Clara, and Martha. They are a fine family.

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A. J. LEACH.

A. J. Leach, an enterprising and substantial citizen of Oakdale, Antelope county; Nebraska, is one of the men of whom the people of Nebraska the surrounding community are justifiably proud. Ile is a typical pioneer of Nebraska and is promi- nently known throughout the state with which he has been identified so many years. Mr. Leach has contributed in every conceivable way to the ad- vancement and growth of his home state and coun- ty, and among other contributions, wrote the his- tory of Antelope county as it was in its very first days of settlement. He has been a part of the growth and development of this region and has built up for himself a substantial home and for- tune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens of Antelope county.

Mr. Leach is a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, born September 19, 1834. His father, was a native of Vermont, where he was born in 1796, and after growing to manhood served in the war of 1812; he died when the boy was but seven years of age. Both of Mr. Leach's grandfathers served in the revolutionary war, Grandfather Huntington was captured at the battle of Long Island and was in the prison ship at New York. His ancestors came from England, but were of Scotch descent, on the father's side, having gone to England about the year 1300; they came to America from the north of England in 1629, seven generations ago on the father's side. Mr. Leach's mother who he- fore her mariage was Miss Theoda Huntington, was born in 1800 in Vermont, of English descent.

In 1834 the family moved from Ohio to Michi- gan, and remained there two years, returning to Ohio in 1836, and then to Michigan in 1842. In 1852, Mr. Leach, with his consin, bought a pony on which they packed baggage; they walked to La Salle, Illinois, from there to St. Louis, by way of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, where they hought supplies. Coming up the river by steamer to St. Joe, where they hired out to drive ox teams across the prairie, then started up through Ne- braska, then on west to the coast, and to Oregon. They remained there six years and returned by way of Isthmus of Panama to the state of Michigan.

In 1867 Mr. Leach came to Omaha, where he resided eleven months, filling the position of clerk in the hardware store of E. J. Cook. In the spring of 1868 went to Dodge county, and then came to Antelope county in the year 1869, and took up a homestead claim in section two and three, town- ship twenty-three, range six, in what is now known as Cedar township; here he huilt a double log honse, each part being sixteen hy sixteen. During his residence in this location, Mr. Leach suffered hardships and losses of every description; grass- hopper raids, every form of storm, wind, hail; and one of the most persistent and dangerous obstacles to be met in those days was the prairie fires, which

had to be almost constantly fought to preserve home, property, and lives. But these events have long since passed to history, and Mr. Leach now lives to enjoy the peace and prosperity which pre- vails in the present day.

Mr. Leach was united in marriage December 28, 1858, to Miss Esther E. Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. Leach are the parents of six children, namely : Miles H., married to Blanche Mallory, who lives in Raymond, Washington, they having two chil- dren; Dewett C., of Antelope county, who is mar- ried to Miss Nettie Brainard, and has four chil- dren; Katie M., also in Antelope county, wife of C. II. Brainard ; Agnes L. who is the wife of Harry Langley, live in Laurel, Nebraska; Carrie E., in Antelope county, wife of V. E. Brainard; and Ger- trude, a twin to Agnes, who died when a small child.

Mr. Leach is a leader in all public spirited movements, and an organizer of several offices which were created in the first days of Antelope county's settlement. He was the first county su- perintendent, serving two consecutive terms; he also held the offices of county surveyor one term, and county treasurer two terms. He organize 1 the first sixteenth school districts in Antelope county.

Mr. Leach has the distinction of having paid the first taxes to be exacted in Antelope county, which was in 1871, they being paid to Robert Mar- wood, in April, 1872, and he still holds tax receipt number one.

Mr. Leach is now retired, residing in a beauti- ful home in Oakdale, and enjoys the possession of many acquaintances and staunch friends through- out the state of Nebraska; where his high character is recognized by all.

WILLIAM R. MATTOX.

William R. Mattox living retired from active life in Comstock, Nebraska, is honored as a public- spirited citizen, and as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, Angust 15, 1848, fourth in order of birth of the children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gilman) Mattox. Mr. Mattox has three brothers in Illinois and the others of the children are deceased. The father was a native of southern Ohio, served in the Civil war as a member of Company H, Eighty-fifth In- diana Infantry, and'died in Illinois in 1883. His wife died in that state in 1866.

Mr. Mattox grew to young manhood on the In- diana farm and received his education in local schools. At the age of fifteen years he enlisted in the same company in which his father served, and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, fought at Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Nashville, besides many minor engagements. He enlisted in Sullivan county January 1, 1864, and was dis- charged at Indianapolis in August, 1865. At the close of the war Mr. Mattox returned to Indiana,

MR. AND MRS. W. R. MATTOX.

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

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and soon afterward removed with the rest of the family to Coles county. Illinois, where they en- gaged in farming. He was there married on Octo- ber 4, 1866, to Miss Mary F. LaRue, a native of Illinois.

In the fall of 1884 Mr. Mattox brought his wife and six children to Custer county, Nebraska, home- steading one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-four, township eighteen, range eighteen, which they occupied many years. He brought the place to a fair state of development and productivenesss and took an active part in local affairs. He assisted very materially in or- ganizing the school known as Columbia school, was the first director on the board, and served in that office many years.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mattox, seven of whom are now living: Thomas, of Broken Bow, is married and has five children; James W., of Coberg, Nebraska, is married and has seven children ; Laura E., wife of William West- brook, of Dry Valley, has eleven children ; Charles B., living near Comstock, has two children; Jo- seph A., who lives near Broken Bow, is married and has five children; Anna, wife of Fred Neidt, lives near Comstock; Harvey O., of Comstock, is married and has five children. Mr. Mattox and family were among the very early settlers of the region and passed through many stages of Ne- braska's history. He became a prosperous farm- er and stockman and owns a farm of three hun- dred and seventy-nine acres, which is well im- proved and equipped, located one mile south of Comstock. It contains ten acres of fine timber. Mr. Mattox is one of the best known men in the community and it was a great grief to his family and friends when his eyesight began failing. On account of this infirmity he retired from farm work in 1909 and purchased the nice home in Comstock, where he now lives. Fortunately, Mr. Mattox now has a new lease on vision through a successful operation on his eyes, and is now able again to take active part in business affairs. On another page will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mattox.

ISAAC A. COLEMAN.

Isaac A. Coleman is a well-known and prosper- : ous business man of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and is much interested in the welfare and progress of his community, being one of the older settlers of Custer county. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, April 9, 1843, a son of John and Sarah (Lambert) Coleman, and fifth of their nine chil- dren. lle has two sisters in Wisconsin, and one sister in Kansas City, and others of the children are deceased. The father was born in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, of German descent, and died in Wisconsin, January 28, 1872, and the mother, a native of Indiana, died in Wisconsin, January 1,

1893. In 1847 Isaac A. Coleman accompanied his parents to Jackson county, Wisconsin, and there reached manhood, being educated in local schools. As a young man he engaged in lumbering, and from the time he was thirteen years of age as- sumed most of the responsibility of the family's support, his father being an invalid for many years.

On November 8, 1861, Mr. Coleman enlisted at Black River Falls, Wisconsin, in Company G, Tenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and received his discharge at Milwaukee, in November, 1864. Among the im- portant battles in which he participated were Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, besides many minor engagements and skirmishes. While guarding railroads in Alabama he was taken pris- oner and held five months and fourteen days, most of the time in Libby prison. Later he be- came a non-commissioned officer. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Wisconsin and resumed his former occupations. He was married at Black River Falls, May 11, 1869, to Miss Eunice C. Ormsby, a native of Parishville, New York, and in the spring of 1880 he brought his wife and two children to Wayne county, Nebraska. He pur- chased land and engaged in farming, but two years later sold his interests there and came to Custer county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land comprising the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, township eighteen, range twenty-two, which was the home place for more than twenty years. He also secured a tim- her claim of the same size.

Mr. Coleman has always been interested in edu- cational measures and other movements for the good of the community and county, and served many years on the school board in district number sixty-two, and for two terms was county super- visor. In 1903 he retired from farm work and purchased a place in Broken Bow, where he erected a pleasant 'home. He is regarded as an enterpris- ing business man and a public-spirited citizen. He and his wife had three children, namely: Er- nest M., in hardware business at 'Merna, has three children ; Alice, wife of L. Van Buskirk, of Wyo- ming, has two children ; Ethel W., wife of Fred II. Ream, of Broken Bow, has one child.

CHARLES W. SCOTT. (Deceased.)

Virginia has given many of her sons to the counties of northeastern Nebraska, and one of them who made an honored name for himself was Charles W. Scott, who passed away March 18, 1909.

Mr. Scott was born in Smyth county, May 8, 1850, a son of Andrew and Minerva ( Williams)

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Scott, whose entire lives were spent in the "Old Dominion," and grew to manhood on his father's farm among the Virginia mountains. He was married in this county to Miss America Grosc- close, a native of Virginia, and daughter of James and Amanda (Wolf) Groseclose. After his mar- riage he farmed in his native county until his mi- gration to the west in March, 1883. The first year he rented a farm near Foster, Nebraska, and then filed on a hemestead seven miles southeast of Plainview, and eight years later purchased an ad- ditional quarter section at Osmond, on which he resided four years. Selling his farms, he moved to Laurel, Nebraska, and kept hotel for four years, when he disposed of his business and retired to Plainview to make his home during his remaining vears. But he could not sit idly by, and, until health failed him, he collected and shipped cream to the Kirchbaum Creamery at Omaha.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Scott : Laurel Belle wife of Edward Jefferson. a merchant of Osmond; Rachel, who married Lewis Simpson, a banker of Mitchell, South Da- kota ; Earl, who is in partnership with his brother- in-law, Mr. Jefferson, in Osmond; Andrew, Glenn. and Benjamin, who still make their home under the parental roof.

During the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Scott braved the storm and saved a dozen of his cattle who were drifting away. One of them, an old family cow, knew the voice of her mistress who was calling to her through the blast, and the rest of them followed to shelter, with Mr. Scott in their trail. The excessive hail of 1890 wrought them great damage, beating every stalk of their erops into the ground, and breaking every window in their house as the wind reversed fromn first one side of the house to another, pelting the large ice balls as if from a small cannon. Mr. Scott had a hundred and five hogs to be fattened for the market, but when his crops were all ruined, leaving nothing for their fecd, he had to sell them for any price he could get. During the first two years in Nebraska, Mr. Scott's family, in common with all early settlers, had no fuel but twisted bunches of hay. Wood was not to be had in many miles around and coal was scarce and too high in price for early comers.

For two years prior to his death, Mr. Scott's health was poor, but he was patient withal. He was a citizen of whom all speak in praise when his name is mentioned. He was of the sturdy type of manhood that has succeeded in developing the wil- derness into a teeming, productive land.

Mr. Scott was a democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and affiliated with the Ancient Order United Workmen.

FRANK BARTLE. (Deceased.)

MRS. VERONICA J: BARTLE. 1

Frank Bartle, who died in St. Paul, Nebraska, on October 22, 1902, was one of the most promi- nent old-timers of Howard county. He was born in Rochester, Minnesota, December 6, 1855, spent the first few years of his life in that vicinity, then with his mother and two brothers, moved to Wi- nona, Minnesota. remaining there until he was nineteen years of age, during which time he was employed as a clerk in a wholesale drug house.

Mr. Bartle came to Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1874, his first position being as salesman in the mercantile establishment of Samuel Wolbach and Co., which was one of the largest and best known firms in that part of the state, with a branch house in St. Paul. He remained in Grand Island up to 1880, then was transferred to the St. Paul house, continuing with the concern for five years, when he started in the general mercantile business on his'own account and carried on successfully up to the time of his death. In 1887 he had the misfor- tune to lose his store by fire and suffered a severe loss, but he immediately erected a modern briek structure of commodious proportions, and put in a complete line of goods, soon building up a larger patronage than ever in the surrounding country.

Mr. Bartle also erected a beautiful dwelling for himself and family in St. Paul, which is still occupied by the widow and children. He was in- terested in the land business in and about St. Paul, and prominent in every movement started for the betterment of his locality. He was widely known for his upright mode of living, and integrity of character, and no resident of Howard county, has been more sincerely mourned than he.

Mr. Bartle was married July 6, 1881, to Ve- ronica J. Kavan, the ceremony taking place at the Catholic Cathedral in Omaha, Nebraska, in the presence of a large number of friends. They be- came the parents of four children, namely : Frank J. who died March 6, 1893, Emma Marie, wife of Louis Morarec, has one son and resides in St. Paul, while Edward T. and Clara V., are living with their mother in the old homestead. Mr. Bartle's father died in 1855, when our subject was but a few days old. ITis mother lived with him for over twenty years in St. Paul, her death occurring in 1900. The widow of our subject was born Feb- ruary 2, 1859. in Germany, and came to America with her parents when eight years of age locating in Iowa City, Iowa, where they spent several years, then settled in Omaha. She was the seventh men- ber in a family of eleven children, seven now liv- ing, of whom six reside in Nebraska, and the re- maining brother, in California. Mrs. Bartle is a woman of much personal charm, capable, and hav- ing marked ability as a business woman. During her husband's lifetime she always took an active part in his affairs, sharing his duties and respon-

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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 229

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