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 23
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Mr. Enevoldsen was born in Denmark, De- cember 10, 1849. He is a son of Enevold and Inger Christiana Petersen, and was the youngest member of their family of five children. Hans grew up in his native country, and was married there to Marie Elsie Andersen in 1872. They followed farming for about ten years after their marriage, then the entire family, consisting of himself, wife and five children, came in an emi- grant ship to America. They traveled directly to Nebraska, locating in Howard county, Mr. Enevoldsen purchasing some land on section thirteen, township thirteen, range twelve, which is still used as the home farm.
Since coming here, Mr. Enevoldsen has seen considerable of the early settlers' life. He started in the face of many difficulties, living in a sod shanty for many years, and in spite of hard ship and privation has succeeded in putting his farm in first-class shape, having much of the land in a high state of cultivation, and engaging suc-
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cessfully in mixed grain and stock raising. He has erected good farm buildings of all kinds, has a handsome residence, and, together with his fine family of eleven children, enjoys the comforts of a modern home and up-to-date farm.
Mr. Enevoldsen's children are named as fol- lows : Andrew, Jens, Martin, Niels, Christina, Inger, Annina, Martinus, Elbena, Christ and Fred. Andrew, Martin, Inger and Annina are married, and have comfortable homes in different parts of the country, while the balance are at home, and following honorable callings.
In the early years, our subject was closely iden- tified with the upbuilding of his locality, helping to establish the schools, and for many years has been a member of the school board in district number twenty-eight.
WILLIAM C. ALEXANDER.
William C. Alexander, familiar to all residents of Howard county, is one of her public-spirited citizens and leading business men, prominent in official circles. He has a pleasant home in St. Paul, and is classed among the well-to-do and successful men of affairs in his section.
Mr. Alexander is a native of Iowa, born in Clinton county, October 21, 1870, and is the eld- est in a family of twelve children born to William and Maggie Alexander. When he was an infant of less than one year of age, his parents came to Howard county, and he has the distinction of being one of the very first white children in the county.
He lived at home until he was twenty-three years old, at that time starting out for himself, following farming for three years. He then be- gun in the pump and windmill business, doing, in connection with this line, general repair work. He continued in this business for some time, then became a salesman for the Deering Harvester Company. He has been more than usually suc- cessful in this line, as he is an expert in field work in the way of setting up machinery, being a nat- ural mechanic and capable in every way. He was with the Deering Company for five years, then allied himself with the McCormick Company, remaining with them for one year. In 1903 he again went into the pump and windmill business, establishing himself in Elba, where he secured all the work he was able to do. In the same year he was elected sheriff of Howard county, filled the office with credit, and was re-elected twice, serving in all for six years, his last term expiring January 6, 1910. He has also filled minor county offices to the satisfaction of all, and has gained the confidence of his fellow men by his integrity and sterling worth, counting his friends by the score. Since the expiration of Mr. Alexander's term as sheriff of Howard county, he has been employed as salesman for the International Har- vester Company, his territory extending west and northwest of Grand Island.
September 21, 1905, Mr. Alexander was mar- ried to Mary Davis, who departed this life in 1908, her death occurring in St. Paul. Mr. Alex- ander and his wife, prior to their marriage, set- tled in St. Paul in 1904.
Mr. Alexander was married the second time to Marie Green of Blue Hill, who comes of an old pioneer family of Nebraska, her father, mother and seven children having settled in Saunders county in 1881. Later they moved to Webster county, where the parents and four children still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have a pleasant home in St. Paul, and are popular members of society there.
AARON V. MENSING.
Aaron V. Mensing, who is among the old settlers in Valley county, Nebraska, owns a good ranch, which he has improved in splendid shape, and he occupies a foremost position among the well-to-do and progressive farmers and ranch- men of his county. Mr. Mensing is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community for his active public spirit and good fellowship.
Mr. Mensing was born in the town of Edins- burg, Saratoga county, New York, February 7, 1848, and was the eldest of three children in the family of Garret and Henrietta (Van Vleck) Mensing, who had two sons and one daughter. The father was a native of Holland, and the mother, of Holland descent, was born in Sarato- ga county, New York. The Mensing family moved to Calhoun county, Michigan, in 1854, going thence to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 1860. Remaining in Wisconsin two years, they next moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, in which state the parents resided until the time of their death.
Aaron Mensing, the subject of this sketch, returned to Michigan in the fall of 1863, and September 1, 1864, enlisted at Jackson in the Seventh Michigan Battery, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at the same place August 5, 1865. Most of his service was performed around Mobile. Mr. Mensing was only in his sixteenth year at the time of his enlistment. After being mustered out, he re- turned to Michigan, and remained there until the fall of 1867, teaching school in the winter of 1866 and 1867.
Going to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1867, Mr. Mensing was connected with the quartermaster's department at Fort Russell. Here he had fron- tier experience, freighting from Julesburg, Colorado, the terminus of the railroad, and points in Wyoming, to Montana, as far as Fort C. F. Smith, and continued in this until the Indians burned all the relay ranch stations, a wild life apparently enjoyed by Mr. Mensing. He re- turned to Michigan in 1868, and during his resi- dence there was married to Miss Harriett E. Doty, to which union one child was born, Edith,
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who is the wife of William Kauffman, residing in San Diego, California. After marriage, Mr. Mensing moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where his parents lived at the time.
A second marriage occurred at Austin, Moore county, Minnesota, April 17, 1880, the bride being Mrs. Charles E. Davis, whose maid- en name was Mary J. Stevens, a native of Rush county, Indiana. Her parents, William B. and Lovina (Mitchell) Stevens, were natives of Ken- tucky and Ohio, respectively. Of the first mar- riage, Mrs. Mensing became the mother of two daughters, Nettie E., deceased, and Daisy V., now living in Ord. Mr. and Mrs. Mensing are the parents of one son, Arthur, living on the same section with his parents.
Mr. Mensing moved from Fillmore county, Minnesota, to Valley county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1884, and in April homesteaded near North Loup, where they lived seven years. Mrs. Mensing and three children, two by her first marriage, and their son, Arthur, joined Mr. Mensing in Valley county, Nebraska, in October of 1884. During his four years' incumbency of the sheriff's office, Mr. Mensing lived in Ord, and for three years later. His present place was purchased in 1893, and comprises, with land owned by Arthur eight hundred acres of fine land. Mr. Mensing resides on the northeast quar- ter of section ten, township twenty, range thirteen, there being three hundred and twenty acres in this farm, which includes the southeast quarter of section three. Mr. Mensing has in past years been an active factor in the upbuild- ing of Valley county, and is a prominent man along all lines.
Mr. Mensing's son, Arthur, lives on the ad- joining quarter section to the west of his father, and owns the west half of section three, making a solid body of four hundred and eighty acres of land. He was married to Miss Emma Nay, August 30, 1906, and now has two children: Randall and Alice. A sketch of the Nay family is to be found elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Mensing have had a varied ex- perience in Valley county, and enjoy the esteem and respect of many friends. Mr. Mensing served Valley county as sheriff in 1892-1893- 1894-1895. He is a member of his school board, district number thirteen, also treasurer, and has served as justice of the peace of Noble town- ship since 1908. In politics he believes in the principles of the populist party, and affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Fourteen years of Mr. Mensing's early life in Nebraska were spent in a sod house, the usual dwelling of the pioneers of the plains. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Mensing breasted the storm, following after a neighbor's children, fearing they might be lost, having started for home just before the storm broke. Returning, he drove a neighbor's mules to his place and kept them there over night.
JOSEPH NICHOLS.
Prominent among the old settlers and agri- culturists of Madison county, Nebraska, is Joseph Nichols, who, until recent years, resided in sec- tion thirty-five, township twenty-one, range one. He is accorded a high place because of his ster- ling qualities and fine personality. He has al- ways held the best interests at heart for his home state and county, and also for his fellow citizens, and has been an active spirit along all lines pertaining to the welfare of his community.
Mr. Nichols is a native of Vigo county, Indi- ana, his birth occurring in that state, December 27, 1835. He is a son of. William and Maria (Grundy) Nichols, who were natives of New England. The mother died when our subject was but a small boy. The father served in the war of 1812, and at the time of his death was a highly respected citizen of Kankakee county, Illinois.
Mr. Nichols grew to manhood in his native state, receiving the usual school advantages, and in 1837 moved to Illinois, and while residing here, enlisted in the army during the civil war, joining company H, Seventy-sixth Illinois infan- try, first under Captain Dan Plummer, who after- ward died at Vicksburg. He also served under Generals Grant and Sherman, and when General Sherman started on his march to the sea, Mr. Nichols' regiment was detached and sent to Mo- bile. He enlisted August 5, 1862, and partici- pated in the battles of Jackson Cross Roads and Blakely, Alabama, and the siege of Vicksburg, being mustered out July 22, 1865, at Galveston, Texas.
In 1882 Mr. Nichols came to Madison county, Nebraska, from Kankakee, Illinois. He lived in Madison county until 1885, when he went further west to Cheyenne county, where he took up a homestead and built a sod house. He also took up a tree claim, and, proving up on all the land, returned to Madison county, where he has since made his home.
December 25, 1860, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Rosealie Moran, a native of Canada. They are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Frank, Adele, Reuben and Ross. Mr. Nichols' son resides on the farm at present, Mr. Nichols having retired and become a resident of Madison.
JAMES F. HAGERTY.
James F. Hagerty, now living retired from active life at Sargent, Nebraska, is identified with various interests in the town, and is one of the best known men in the county. He was born in Grundy county, Illinois, April 18, 1860, being the second born of the five children of Patrick and Ann (O'Neill) Hagerty, and the only one of the family to settle in Nebraska. His parents were natives of county Meath, Ireland, and both
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are deceased. The father died in Grundy county in 1867, and the mother in Chicago in the spring of 1897.
Mr. Hagerty was reared in Illinois, and in the spring of 1879, in company with William Laughlin and family, came to Custer county, Nebraska, afterward taking a homestead on the southwest quarter of section thirty-four, town- ship twenty, range eighteen. He was married in Ord, September 23, 1884, to Miss Vida Tobias, a native of Tazewell county, Illinois, and daugh- ter of Israel Tobias and wife, who took a home- stead in Custer county in 1879. They made their first home on the homestead, which was located near Sargent, and soon afterward Mr. Hagerty became assistant cashier of the Custer County Bank, the first bank in the county. After proving title to his claim, he moved to Sargent, which remained his home until 1895. He then removed to Utica, Illinois, where for five years he conducted a grain business. Re- turning to Sargent in 1900, he formed a part- nership with A. L. Conhiser, and they opened a general store. Mr. Hagerty soon purchased the interest of his partner, and carried on the busi- ness until the latter part of 1910, when he re- tired from active business. He and his wife have a fine modern home, and have many friends and acquaintances in Sargent. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Sargent, and is interested in various other enterprises. He has always supported the best interests of his county and state, and has helped build up useful enterprises in the region where he has lived so many years. During his early years in Nebraska, he taught in the public schools, dur- ing the second and third years being employed in Custer county. He has witnessel the wonder- ful growth and development of central Nebras- ka during the past thirty-two years, and has done his share to help in the general progress.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hagerty: William F. and Leroy W., living at home, and two who are deceased.
AMOS S. PARKER.
One of the earliest of the old settlers, or rather one of the oldest of the early settlers, still living in Cedar county, Nebraska, is the venerable Amos S. Parker of Hartington. He came in the early days, when ox teams were the only means of transportation, intervening part of the way between the frontier and the western terminus of the railroads, three hundred miles to the east. Over this distance he plodded along afoot with several companions returning to their eastern homes after their prospecting journey to Nebraska plains.
Mr. Parker was born in the town of Dalton, Coos county, New Hampshire, April 29, 1835, a son of Amos and Nancy (Pay) Parker, both of Yankee birth and breeding. He received the
practical education of New England lads, and on attaining his majority, made a trip to the west. He was a member of a surveying party in northern Wisconsin, and came on to Nebras- ka. Starting for Cedar county, September 5, 1857, with two yoke of oxen, from Dubuque, Iowa, they were one month on the way, reaching the now deserted village of Waucapana, in Cedar county, June 17.
On October 19 the same party started back east on foot, as their funds were low, and they kept to the roads for over three hundred miles. At Independence, Iowa, they took the stage for Dubuque, and then traveled by rail back to New Hampshire. Of these four men, Mr. Parker is the sole survivor.
While at his eastern home, Mr. Parker was married on the last day of the year 1857, and in the spring following, started for the frontier wilderness with his bride. It took courage for a woman, just out of girlhood, to leave comfort and safety in the old home, and travel thous- ands of miles to an open wilderness, where hos- tile bands of Indians were still roaming, and occasionally committing depredations. A hor- rible massacre was actually committed within a few miles of their home six years after their settlement in the county. They journeyed by rail to St. Louis, and traveled thence by boat to Sioux City, Iowa. They left on the 18th of March, and arrived at Sioux City the 11th of April, spending three Sundays on sand bars. At Sioux City Mr. Parker left his bride and came out to the settlement alone, reaching Waucapona March 17.
In June, Mr. Parker secured an ox team, drove to Sioux City, and brought his bride to her new wilderness home. Here they lived happily until the Indians began their depreda- tions, when Mr. Parker, growing uneasy, sent his wife and child back to their New Hampshire home for two years. She left Yankton, August 9, 1862, and reached the town on her return, August 9, 1864, just two years to a day separated them.
Mr. Parker preempted on a piece of timber land near St.James which was the first claim under the law ever perfected in Cedar county. He lived on this tract until April, 1861, when he moved to Green Island, and was farming here until the time of the great flood of March, 1881. When the danger from the rising waters became immi- nent, Mrs. Parker took her children to a sister's, further from the river, and on higher ground. In going there, they were compelled to cross several sloughs, through which water was already running, on the deep snow drifts and on fences, Mr. Parker wading beside them to keep them from falling into the icy water. He re- turned to the home, and remained there until the crest of the water was within two feet of the second story ceiling, when a neighbor reached him in a boat, and brought him off to safety.
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One may imagine his discomfort, with clothing saturated with ice-cold water. For four days, one hundred and ten people found refuge in one small house, eating and sleeping in turns as they could. But such is western hospitality and their spirit of helpfulness that all were made welcome by Mrs. Parker and her sister. After his own rescue, Mr. Parker went to the relief of others in like peril, and saved some of them from a watery grave. When the waters subsided and all decided to abandon Green Island, as floods were likely to occur again, a settlement was made at Aten, and here Mr. Parker removed his house, and rebuilt it into a hotel, the first in the village, which he kept until 1900, when he re- moved to Hartington. He has engaged in mar- ket gardening here since coming to town. Be- ing endowed with Yankee energy, he cannot be content to sit idly by.
Mr. Parker was married in Coos county, New Hampshire, December 31, 1857, to Miss Mary N. Lowd, who was born in the town of Dalton, Coos county, New Hampshire, January 26, 1835, a daughter of Benjamin and Betsy (Marden) Lowd, both natives of the mountain state. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of four child- and Mrs. Parker are the parents of four chil- dren : William B., who resides near Wellington, ing several carloads of honey every year; Mary O., is the wife of Frans Nelson, for many years president of the First National Bank of Hart- ington, and now head of the Commonwealth Insurance Company in Omaha; George I., suc- ceeded Mr. Nelson as president of the bank, and resides in Hartington; and Sadie, wife of John J. Nohr, who resides on a ranch near Morris, Colorado. Parents who have reared a family of such excellent children, and have seen them so well established, are a credit to the state and nation; to them all honor is due.
Mr. Parker is independent in politics, voting for the man he considers best fitted to serve the public, regardless of party lines.
The many blizzards of the early days were made light of by the early settlers, and many are the times they were out for hours in the blinding, icy blasts. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Parker had hitched up, and was ready to start on a drive, when the storm broke. For several days after, he was kept busy shovel- ing the drifting snow from his barns and sheds to keep his stock from smothering.
After returning from her two years' sojourn in New Hampshire, Mrs. Parker experienced little trouble from the Indians though at one time they crowded into her house as thickly as they could stand, demanding that she feed them. Provisions for such a crowd she had none, so she drove them from the house, saying "punca- chee," meaning in their language, begone. Mrs. Wiseman, who had gone to Yankton for provi- sions at the time her children were killed, spent
the night before their massacre with Mrs. Parker in her house.
During the time of his wife's absence, Mr. Parker lived at Yankton part of the time, and was in a small party who went with the owner of a saw mill there, to Sioux City to get missing parts of his own mill from that of a mill at Sioux Falls, the owner of which had been driven off by the Indians. The town was deserted, and on that drive of eighty miles and return, not a human being was seen, all having been driven out by the hostile Sioux.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker are among the last left of the earliest settlers, but are hale and hearty, and it is hoped will be with us for years to come.
JOSEPH B. WHITE.
Joseph B. White, whose biography forms an interesting page in the history of the early set- tlement of Nebraska, is a resident of Central City, Nebraska, where he has become widely and favorably known. He is one of the energetic and prosperous citizens, and enjoys a pleasant home and many warm friends.
Mr. White was born in New York state, July 24, 1837, and was sixth of seven children in the family of Joseph and Sarah (Sprague) White, who had four sons and three daughters. Joseph White, Jr., in his seventeenth year, went to Blackhawk county, Iowa, to the town of Water- loo, which was his home place until 1871. Mr. White learned the masons' trade, and followed that occupation until his retirement from active work several years ago.
In 1861 Mr. White enlisted in company I, Third Iowa volunteer infantry, and was mus- tered out in February, 1864. Mr. White, at the time of being mustered out, was in company C, Thirty-first Iowa volunteer infantry, as a non- commissioned officer. After being mustered out, he re-enlisted. During the war he participated in many of the notable battle's and engagements, and was with Sherman at Chickasaw Bluffs, at the capture of Fort Hindman in Arkansas, the siege of Vicksburg, and in many other engage- ments and skirmishes. He is an honored veteran of the civil war, with an enviable record. After being formally mustered out, he returned to Blackhawk county, Iowa, again taking up his trade.
Mr. White was married to Miss Laura Ann O'Neill in Waterloo, September 27, 1865, and in April, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. White and three chil- dren moved to Lone Tree, Merrick county, Ne- braska, now known as Central City. Mr. White from that time engaged continuously in his trade of master mason and builder.
Mr. and Mrs. White have had ten children, seven of whom were born in Merrick county. Nine of them are living and married: Margaret Lenore, wife of Hugh L. Miller, has ten children and lives in Idaho; Emeline, wife of Jolin Baird,
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has one child, and lives in Grand Island, Nebras- ka; Elizabeth, wife of David Jackson, has two children, and resides in Pratt, Kansas; Laura, wife of Sid Baird, lives in Grand Island, Ne- braska; Hattie, wife of Bert Hughes, has two children, and resides in Colorado; Rose, married to James Danks, has one child, and lives in Da- kota; Josie, wife of Albert Miller, has one child, and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska; Arthur, mar- ried, has two children, and lives in Central City; Daisy, wife of David Green, has two children, and lives in Wallace, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. White have twenty-one grand children.
Mr. White has seen Central City grow from nothing to its present position as one of the most desirable residence cities in Nebraska. Mr. White is a republican, and has served on the city council of Central City for many years almost continuously, of which he is now president. He is also a Mason of high standing, and in earlier years served as justice of the peace in Lone Tree township.
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Mr. and Mrs. White live in their pleasant home in Central City, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends.
FRANK NELSON.
While the west is full of self-made men, few have succeeded so well from such small begin- ning as has Frank Nelson, the genial banker and financier of Niobrara.
Mr. Nelson was born in Christianhamn, Sweden, August 13, 1854, and remained there with his parents until his thirteenth year, when the entire family emigrated to America, cross- ing the North Sea from Gottenburg to Hull, and proceeding to Liverpool by rail, there embark- ing in a vessel for New York. Their first stop was at Moline, Illinois, where some friends had located, and from there they went to Keokuk, Iowa, remaining for several years. Frank se- cured employment in quarrying and blasting stone in building the canal and the lower lock in the river, and later returned to Moline, where his superior knowledge of quarrying and blast- ing soon advanced him to the superintendency of this branch of construction on the water- power plant which the government was erecting between the main shore and the island of Rock Island. In the fall of 1870, the father and motli- er moved to Nebraska, settling on a farm in the northwest quarter of section twenty-eight, town- ship thirty-two, range two, and Frank joined them there in February of the following year, helping get their farm started in their new loca- tion. For the first few years they had bad luck with crops,and often it was difficult to even pro- cure sufficient food for the family. About this time our subject was married, and started for himself. He tried farming, and managed to make a living, but lost everything he had by prairie fires. After a time, he purchased a piece
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