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 235

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 235

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HENRY ROHE.

Henry Rohe, who resides on section twenty, township thirty-two, range two, Knox county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi- zens of his locality. He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its development from the time of its early settlement.

Mr. Rohe is a native of Germany, born in Vachta village, Oldenburg province, in 1872, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Westerhoff) Rohe, both of whom are natives of Germany.

When our subject was but a small child, he, with his parents, came to America, landing in the United States in 1883. Upon leaving the father- land, the family sailed from Bremen to Baltimore, and after reaching the American port, they started for the west, and located in St. James. Cedar county, Nebraska, where they remained

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nine years. Later the family removed to Knox county, Nebraska, where they bought land, and improved same, the farm remaining the home plac. of the Rohe family to this day, the son, Henry, our subject, residing there at the present time, where he is engaged in mixed farming.

In 1896, Mr. Rohe was united in marriage to Miss Mary Thunker, who is a native of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Rohe are very highly respected and esteemed by all who know them, and thev have the good wishes and kind regards of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

When Mr. Rohe and his parents first came to Nebraska state, this territory was but a vast streteh of unbroken prairie, with but very few white settlers in the region, and Indians were to be seen occasionally. But the modeler of destin- ies, Time, has worked a wonderful change in the appearance and conditions of this great western country, and one who had not seen and lived in the early pioneer days, would reluctantly eredit the possibility of the conditions that existed in those times, and the great change wrought in so short a time.

JOSEPH EWING.

Among the worthy citizens the Dominion of Canada has given to the states, may be men- tioned Joseph Ewing, of Niobrara. He has spent the greater part of his career in Nebraska; and experienced many of the severe storms that swept the plains in the early days of its settle- ment. During the famous blizzard of 1888, he happened to be away from home, but in the win- ter of 1884 and 1885, suffered a severe three days storm at Running Water. They were caught on the prairie with their wagons, but managed to get to the town, three miles distant, by abandon- ing their loads, and riding the horses as fast as possible. Mr. Ewing was a resident of the United States a number of years before becoming a eiti- zen, taking out naturalization papers at about the time of the opening of the Indian reserva - tion, thinking that he might wish to make a home- stead entry.

Mr. Ewing was born in Kineardine, province of Ontario, Canada, on May 17, 1857. He was reared at Brantford, not far distant from his birthplace, where his parents moved about 1862. At the age of seventeen, he went to Montcalm county, Michigan, whither a brother had preceded him, and assisted in clearing the latter's farm, which consisted of considerable land, from which heavy timber had been cut. He remained in the locality at various employment until the autumn of 1884, when he had an opportunity to go west in charge of the stock and household goods of a neighbor, who was removing to South Dakota, the owner traveling with his family on a passen- ger train. After a journey covering five days, our subject arrived at his destination with every-

thing in good shape. He had no definite idea of remaining in the west, coming more to see the country than anything else, but, finding an open- ing for his activities, decided to remain, obtain- ing employment as a freighter, and following different lines of work for several years, the first winter being spent in freighting supplies from Running Water, South Dakota, to Fort Randall. This was rough work, exposing him to severe weather, at times storms sweeping the plains to such an extent that it made traveling impossible for days at a time. He continued in the freight service for about a year, then came on to Nio- brara, securing a position in the store of Bone- steel & Turner, and remaining in their employ as one of their most efficient and trusted men, for nine years.

In March, 1894, Mr. Ewing was appointed postmaster at Niobrara, under the Cleveland ad- ministration, and held this position four years. He engaged, later, in the restaurant business, in which he was very successful, and conducted, also, a bakery in connection with the former. Mr. Ewing has served as assessor, either by ap- pointment or election, for ten years, under a republican administration, which speaks well for his efficiency and integrity, as he has always been a strong democrat.

Mr. Ewing's parents left their native land and settled in Michigan in 1889, where, for the remainder of their lives, they resided with their daughter, both passing to the great beyond in the state of their adoption. On the seventeenth of May, 1890, Mr. Ewing was married to Miss Mary Kukal, a descendant of Bohemian parents, who were early settlers of Knox county, Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were born four children : Cora, who is a graduate of the State Normal School at Kearney, and is now a teacher in the high school at Niobrara; May, now in the high school here, class of 1912; Benjamin F. and Leon- ard C., also attending the publie schools of Nio- brara. The family have a pleasant home, and are popular members of the community, and all are regular attendants of the Episcopal church.

GEORGE BEATY.

George Beaty, a prominent farmer and stock- man, living on section fourteen, township twenty- two, range two, is known throughout Madison county as a progressive and successful agricul- turist. Mr. Beaty has lived in Madison county for the past twenty-eight years, and has braved the hardships of pioneer life, and, despite losses and discouragements, worked steadily and ear- nestly, and is now one of the substantial citizens of his home county.

Mr. Beaty is a native of Ireland, and a son of Thomas and Mary (Graham) Beaty, his birth occurring in county Vemonah, in the year 1845. Here he grew to manhood, and in 1874 left his

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native land for America, of which country he had heard such glowing accounts, where he could get land cheaper. He sailed from Queenstown for New York on the steamship "Great Atlantic," of the White Star line, and, after landing in the United States, he remained four years in Penn- sylvania, where he worked in the rolling mills. He then came to Delaware county, Iowa, where he lived four years.

In 1882, Mr. Beaty came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought the Frank Miller homestead of the original homesteader. He built on this land, and has steadily made improvements until now he has a pool, comfortable home and a fine farm. He was one of the few pioneers who were fortunate in losing nothing in the terrible blizzard which wrought such havoe in January, 1888.

In 1884, Mr. Beaty was united in marriage to Miss Myra Baxter, and Mr. and Mrs. Beaty are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Robert, George and Anna. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many.

Mr. Beaty was raised on a farm, and it is only natural, therefore, that he should make a success of the agricultural line. He is considered one of the most substantial and able citizens of his com- munity, and is always interested in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his home eounty and state.

PATRICK E. RILEY.

Patrick E. Riley, a pioneer of Custer county, Nebraska, who is well known for his progressive ideas and publie spirit, is a man of upright char- acter and square dealing. He is a native of county Cavan, Ireland, born one-half mile from the city of Cavan, September 11, 1837, fourth born of the children of Edward and Catherine (Smith) Riley, who had eight sons and two daughters. The parents, with four children, Michael, Matthew, Thomas and Patrick, came to America about 1840, erossing from Dublin to Liverpool, shipping there in a sailing ship for New York, the voyage lasting eleven weeks. The father had made two previous voyages to America, one passage lasting fifteen weeks. They first settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where they lived about a year, and then moved to Clinton county, New York. Patrick E. is the only one of the family now living in Nebraska He has a sister and two brothers living in Plattsburg, New York, one of the brothers, John B. Riley, serving Clinton county as judge. The remaining brother lives in Seattle.

Mr. Riley grew to maturity on his father's farm in New York, and for several years after- ward was employed as a commercial traveler for a Plattsburg firm. In the spring of 1878, he came 35 1/9

to Nebraska, arriving on February 21 in Omaha, which was then a small town. Later in the spring, he went to Dawson county, and took a pre-emption claim there, living on it until Janu- ary 5, 1881, when he moved to Logan county, where he had a ranch and a bunch of cattle. lle also took up a homestead there, but disposed of his interests in that county, and in the spring of 1886, came to Custer county, buying a farm in Dale precinet, since which time he has made his home in the county. There are now thirteen hun- dred and twenty acres of land in his estate, and his residenee is located on section twenty-eight, township nineteen, range twenty-one. His farm is one of the best stoek farms in eentral Nebraska, and he also pays considerable attention to rais- ing grain. He has good, substantial buildings, and fine machinery and equipment on his place, being the friend of progress in every form. He has been elosely identified for many years with the development of his part of the state, and is much esteemed by his many friends.

Mr. Riley was married in Broken Bow, Custer county, February 25, 1888, to Tacy Wieland, daughter of Daniel and Christina (Kopp) Wie- land. Mr. Wieland, with his wife and child, came to America from Germany about 1854, and spent several years in Pennsylvania, thence moving to Ohio, where Mrs. Riley was born. After the death of her parents, she came to Nebraska from Red Oak, lowa, April 21, 1886, to join her sister, Mrs. Frank Cozad, in Custer county, so that both Mr. Riley and his wife are pioneers of the state. Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Cozad and a brother, John Wie- land, of Callaway, are the only members of the Wieland family residing in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have one child, George L., born at Broken Bow, in Custer county, October 22, 1889, for nine years a student at Creighton University, Omaha, from which he graduated, and then took a two-year medical course. Mr. Riley was reared a Catholic, while Mrs. Riley's people were Lutheran in the old country, but allied themselves with the Presbyterians soon after coming to America.

In the latter eighties, Mr. Riley was employed in section work for the Burlington railroad. At the time of his marriage, he was foreman at Lake- side, and on bringing his bride to the new town, began housekeeping in a box ear, where Mrs. Riley served as first postmaster of the newly estah- lished office. Some six months later, a dwelling was constructed for the foreman, and they moved out of their box ear home. Seeing little oppor- tunity for advancement in railroad work. but great possibilities in agriculture, Mr. Riley rented in that part of the state for four years, and then for one year rented the land which he has sinee owned, and on which he has resided sinee that time, adding to his possessions as his means would permit.

Mr Riley and his wife enjoy the esteem and

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confidence of a large circle of friends, and are interested in various public movements. Their farm, on which they have made many improve- ments during their fourteen years' residence, is one of the choicest estates in central Nebraska, and that Mr. Riley owns and manages everything concerning it, gives evidence of his good judg- ment and energy.

FRED KRUSE.

Fred Kruse, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county, Nebraska, has been a resident of the county for twenty-nine years, and lived on the original homestead farm, which is located in section thirty-two, township thirty-three, range two, until March, 1911. He is prominently known throughont the north- eastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of Nebraska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his busi- ness, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Kruse is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Westphalia, province of Prussia, March 27, 1845. He is a son of August and Fred- ericka (Myers) Kruse, who were both natives of Germany. Our subject received his education and grew to manhood years in his native land. At the age of twenty-five years, he entered the holy state of matrimony.

In 1881, Mr. Kruse, with his wife and five children, left his native land for America, the new world, of which so much had been said, and where a man had a better chance to get a start in life. The family embarked on the steamer "Weser," sailing from Bremen, Germany, to New York City, from where. after landing, they im- mediately proceeded westward to proeure land under the homestead law that had been passed. They came to Yankton, South Dakota, where they remained over a year from whence they drove to the homestead claim he had filed on, and which was the residing place of our subject until March 14, 1911, when he went to Crofton to live. On this homestead, Mr. Kruse first built a stone house, later building a good frame house. He now has a well-improved farm, owning six hun- dred acres of fine land, all well feneed, and was engaged in mixed farming up to the time he retired. The home where Mr. Kruse now lives in Crofton, he purchased in February, 1911, and since moving to town he has made several im- provements, built a barn and chisken house, dug a well, and put out trees. He is also finishing the second-floor interior, the house not having been completed at the time of pureliase. He owns two large lots, nearly an acre, and these he is fencing. He has sown alfalfa on the ground, with the exception of his garden patch. He

keeps a horse, cow and chickens, and these, with his garden, keep him busy.

Mr. Kruse was united in marriage in 1870 to Miss Conredina Schlveter, and Mr. and Mrs. Kruse were the parents of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Fred (deceased), Detricli, Johanna, Matilda (deceased), Paul, Gustav, Christian, Dena (deceased), Carl, Henry and Marie. Carl and Johanna reside on and operate the old homestead. Detrich, Paul, Gustav and Christian are on homesteads in South Dakota. IIenry is operating his brother Detrich's farm in Knox county, and Marie lives with her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Kruse and family are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, and are surrounded in their pleasant home by a host of genial friends and acquaintances. Mr. Kruse is a republican, and he and his wife are members of the German Evangelical chureh.

WILLIAM NESBITT STEVENS.

William Nesbitt Stevens, postmaster of the thriving town of Comstock, Nebraska, has in var- ious ways been identified with farming and busi- ness interests in Custer county, and is well known for his high character and integrity. He was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1858, eldest child of William M. and Sarah A. Stevens. The family was prominent among the early settlers of Custer county, and in many ways assisted in the progress and upbuilding of the region.

William Miller Stevens was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1827, eldest child of the six sons and one daughter of Truman B. and Sarah (Miller) Stevens. The father was a native of Vermont, and the mother of Pennsylvania, and they were married in the latter state. Truman Stevens and family lived in a number of different localities in Pennsylvania, and also at times re- sided in other states. William M. Stevens.spent most of his early years in Pennsylvania, and there married Sarah Ann Nesbitt, February 26, 1857. At the time of the civil war, he was unable to pass the necessary physical examination to enter the army at the front, so became a member of the home guard. He and his wife lived in Allegheny until coming to Nebraska in 1879. Five children were born to them in the former place, two of whom died in infancy. In 1879, Mr. Stevens and his wife, with their two children, Sturley and Ann E., made the move from Penn- svivama to Saline county, Nebraska, first locating on a rented farm near Friend. in that county. Their son, William, had preceded them a few months before, having made the trip in August of the same year, and the rest of the family joined him upon their arrival.

In April, 1883, Mr. Stevens, with his son, Sturley, and daughter, Ann E., made a trip to

W. N. STEVENS.

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Custer county, and he secured a homestead on section three, township eighteen, range seventeen. Mrs. Stevens died on this farm in 1895. Mr. Stevens improved and developed his land, and became successful in his operations. In January, 1905, he left the farm, and came to Comstock to reside in his present comfortable home, his daughter, Ann E., making her home with him. Although in his eighty-fifth year, he is quite active, and a familiar figure in the streets of Comstock. In years past he was active in public affairs, having lived in the county since 1883.

William N. Stevens received the advantages of a common-school education, and in his six- teenth year joined the office force of a weekly newspaper, which was devoted to the interests of the Presbyterian church, spending about one year in this line of work. In August, 1879, as previously mentioned, he came to Saline county, where his father joined him on Christmas day, and he and his father remained on the farm near Friend until 1883, when the latter removed with his family to Custer county, and William N. re- turned to Allegheny. He learned the trade of brick mason there, but in 1884 returned to Ne- braska, and took up a homestead in Custer county, where he remained two years and a half, theu returned to Allegheny to work at his trade. He remained there until 1893, having by that time become foreman in a brick yard for a large firm of contractors and builders. At the time of the panic of that year, many of the firm's contracts were cancelled, and, finding work scarce, Mr. Stevens came to Custer county again, and engaged in farming. He had the misfortune to lose most of his crops during the dry season of 1894, but continued work on his farm until 1901, in which year he came to Comstock as assistant postmaster of that office. He remained in that position sev- eral years, and finally received the appointment as postmaster at Comstock. He purchased a stock of confectionery, cigars and tobacco of his brotli- er, and, in connection with his official duties, is engaged in mercantile business. He is well known in the community, and has a large num- ber of friends. He handles his public duties in a way to bring him credit, and is recognized as an upright and public-spirited citizen. His por- trait will be found on another page of this vol- ume.

On July 9, 1884, Mr. Stevens married Miss Mary I. Warnock, daughter of William and Sarah Warnock, of Allegheny, and eight children have · blessed this union, three of whom survive: Naomi Myrtle, Sarah Pansy and Jean Elizabeth, all born in Custer county.

L. M. JOHNSON.

Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, is the gentleman above mentioned. Mr. Johnson is a

native of the western part of Norway, and was born in 1854, a son of Mins and Martha Johnson.

In 1870, our subject, with his parents, left his native land for America, sailing from Staunger for Quebec on a sailboat, the voyage lasting seven weeks. They came from Quebec to Wisconsin, remaining there two years, and in 1872, came to Nebraska, driving oxen. They stayed in Cuming county two months, then came to Madison county, where our subject took up a homestead, and first put up a dugout. Later a sod house was built, in which he lived fifteen years, then building a frame house.

At the time Mr. Johnson settled in Nebraska, Columbus was his nearest market place. Grass- hoppers took all his crops the first few years he lived here. In 1894 he lost his crops by the hot winds, and in 1900 suffered a loss by hail. Through it all, however, he has prospered, although in the early days he was obliged to go to Cuming county and work out to get money to supply the wants of his family. Prairie fires were a menace in those days, and he was obliged many times to fight them to save his home.

In 1872, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Julia Olson, and they are the parents of the fol- lowing named children: Martha, Olia, Julia, Lena, Amelia, Gussie, Louis, Louie, Olo, Mins, Lendi and Emma.

W. S. FISHER.

W. S. Fisher, city marshal of Plainview, Nebraska, has been a citizen of that state since September, 1882. He is a native of Henderson county, Illinois, his birth occurring near Raritan, September 26, 1856. His father was Laban Fish- er, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio. He is now living, retired from active life, in Conway, Iowa. The mother, Harriet (Lovett) Fisher, was a native of the same county, and died iu Iowa, January 24, 1900.

The family soon removed to South Prairie, in the same county, and here the boy began, at the age of nine years, to do his share of the farm work, handling a one-horse plow in the corn field. The family removed to Taylor county, Iowa, in 1874, and Stanley gave his time to his father until his marriage.

In the spring of 1878, Mr. Fisher rented a farm in Taylor county, and for five years was a tenant farmer in that county. Thinking to bet- ter himself in the newer country west of the Missouri, he loaded a few of the most neces- sary household goods in a covered wagon, and, with his young wife and infant child, started. September 12, overland to their new home. Both consider that the most delightful time of their lives-camping by the wayside, cooking their meals by a wood fire, sleeping in the covered wagon, with the summer air blowing freely over

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them, was a pienie from beginning to end, while humorous incidents were not lacking. Stopping to inquire the distance to the home of an acquaint- ance who had settled in Stanton county, a ranch- man inquired of Mr. Fisher, "Where in h- are you going?" "To Antelope county," was the reply. "D- fool," was the laconic reply. He further vouchsafed the information that the en- tire country couldn't raise eneough hay to load a cart. This was not a very encouraging outlook. Learning that he was but a few miles from the home of his friend, Lemman, he repaired to his ranch for a night's visit. Preparing to move en the next morning, he was informed that he would do nothing of the kind, but would stay over until Mr. Lemman's threshing was done. Asking for a sack of oats for feed when he finally left, Mr. Lemman gave him four, insisting, against the protest of Mr. Fisher that it was too much, that he would need more than that in Antelope county This was growing more ominous. They began to have doubts. Arring at the home of a relative when their destination was reached, September 21, they were further discouraged when they found that western fuel was twisted hay. Mr. Fisher suggested that they have their wagon repacked, and return to Iowa, but, discussing the matter further, they decided it were better to suffer some than show the white feather, and they have been loyal Nebraskans ever since. They have suffered from storm and drouth, from prairie fires and pelting hail, but they have never regretted the fate that impelled them to come to the frontier and grow up with the country.

Securing a homestead entry, ten miles west of Plainview, in Antelope county, Mr. Fisher built a sod house of two rooms, and began to im- prove his farm. Life was not so easy in the early days as now. They burned hay for three years, during which time Mr. Fisher bought one dollars and fifty cents worth of coal at fourteen dollars per ton, enough for a few hours' good coal fire. They decided to go into dairying, and milked some eight of ten cows, receiving the check for the first month's cream, but nothing later. They changed to butter-making, but got only six cents a pound for a fine quality of butter. Later, how- ever, they received over four hundred and fifty dollars as the proceeds of the dairy in less than nine months.

The blizzard of 1888 gave them great discom- fort, and only Mr. Fisher's hardihood and cour- age in twice riding out into it saved his forty head of stock. In doing so, he also gathered in some twenty head belonging to neighbors, who re- covered them after the storm subsided, and were very grateful for the service. With a hired man he rode over the prairies the next day and re- leased many others that were down in drifts, fur- ther adding to the gratitude of neighbors who could ill afford to lose their stock.

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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 235

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