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 30

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 30

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Mr. Farrell is one of the well known men of this part of the state, and has been closely iden- tified with the interests of Nebraska. He is a progressive man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known.

C. A. LYON.

Mr. C. A. Lyon, who resides on section five, township twenty-nine, range five, Knox county, is one of the leading old-timers in this section, and has always done his full share in the better- ment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives.

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Mr. Lyon is a native of New York state, and was born at Buffalo, February 2, 1842. He is a son of Lewis and Samanthe Lyon, of Irish and English descent respectively. Our subject's grandmother, on his mother's side, was in Boston at the time of the famous tea party, and well remembered that stirring event. His great grandfather, Ethan Allen, served in the revolu- tionary war.

Mr. Lyon's early childhood was spent in his native city, and at the tender age of three years, his parents moved to Wisconsin, where the family remained until he was ten years old, and then they migrated to Iowa. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Wisconsin and Iowa, where he spent his boyhood days. While living in Iowa, he enlisted in Company F, 3rd Regiment of Iowa Infantry, under Captain C. A. Newcomb, and served through the entire war. He was wounded at Blue Mills, Missouri, was laid up for some time, and in February, 1862, was discharged on account of another disability. In August, 1862, he re-enlisted at West Union, Iowa. He saw active service and participated in many battles and minor engagements, being wounded again at Springfield, Missouri.

He received his discharge in August, 1865, and returned to his home in Iowa, remaining there engaged in a harness shop and farming up to 1872. In the month of May of that year, he started out by wagon team for Nebraska, and selected a location in section nine, township twenty-nine, range five, filed on a homestead, and begun to build up a farm. He at once put up a dugout and sod house combined, in which they lived for several years. During the first three years, the grasshoppers took about all they raised, which was a serious hardship in those days, times being extremely hard for the poor settler at the best. In 1894, the hot winds burned up all his crops. He managed to make a bare living, often himself and family being without the common necessaries of life. Many times dur- ing his early residence here in Nebraska, the entire settlement was forced to fight for days the stubborn prairie fires that threatened their homes and stock.

After a hard struggle for existence, Mr. Lyon finally begun to accumulate a nice property, and at the present time he is the owner of a valuable estate and beautiful home, situated on section five, township twenty-nine. range five. consisting of three hundred and twenty acres of the finest land in the county.

October 1, 1867. Mr. Lyon was united in mar- riage to Miss Sara A. Howard, and to them two children were born, both now married and set- tled in comfortable homes in this locality. Mary, the elder, is the wife of James C. Squires, while Inez married John Neyens.

Mr. Lyon has always been active in local affairs, and has done much toward promoting

the growth of the commercial and agricultural interests of Knox county. During the early days he served as county superintendent of schools, and proved a most popular and efficient official. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Bazile Mills.

HON. OKELEY E. GREEN.

Okeley E. Green, an able representative of the commercial and financial interests of Nance county, is president of one of the leading banks in Genoa, also one of the large land-owners of this section of the state. He is actively interested in the cattle business, breeding and raising thor- oughbred stock, and is quoted as an authority on all matters pertaining to that line of work. With his family, he occupies a beautiful res- idence in Genoa, and all are popular members of the social life of the pretty little city.

Mr. Green is a native of Astabula county, Ohio, born on March 20, 1854, and when an in- fant about one year of age, removed with his parents to Illinois, where his childhood was spent.

In 1875 he went to Iowa, locating at Walnut, where, in company with his brother, F. H. Green, he engaged in the hardware, implement and grain business. They were very successful in their venture, and carried it on for a number of years, remaining there up to 1883, at which time our subject came to Nebraska, and purchased the Bank of Genoa, and was the sole owner and manager of the same for about thirteen years. He then reorganized the institution, taking in L. L. Green and others, and incorporated it under the name of the Commercial State Bank. In 1899 they again reorganized it as the First Na- tional Bank of Genoa, electing Mr. Green as its president, which office he still holds.

Mr. Green is owner of a fine stock farm, com- prising fourteen hundred acres, known through- out the entire country as "Cloverdale." which is devoted to the breeding of pure-bred Hereford cattle exclusively, and he has a large herd, con- taining some of the finest animals of this breed in the west. He also has one thousand acres of highly-cultivated land in South Dakota, all under his personal supervision.

Mr. Green has always taken a foremost part in every movement formulated for the advance- ment of his county and state. He was school director for twenty years, and in 1888 was elected a member of the Nebraska legislature. The fol- lowing term he was nominated again. but posi- tively declined re-election, as he desired to devote his time entirely to his various private enter- prises. He is a strong democrat, a leader of his party in local affairs.

Mr. Green was married in 1879 at Walnut. Iowa, to Miss Mande M. Perrigo, of Boscohel. Wisconsin, and to them have been born two children, one of whom died in infancy, while a

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daughter, Ethel I., married Sherman Leonard. They live at Nampa, Idaho, and are the parents of one child, a son.

Our subject is a direct descendant of General Green, of. revolutionary fame, who distinguished himself in various famous battles, particularly at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, etc., and who succeeded General Gates in com- mand of the southern army in 1780. Our sub- ject's father was Leander L. Greene, also prom- inent in the affairs of his time.

Our subject is prominent in Masonic circles, having been high priest of the local chapter since 1890. He was worshipful master for sev- eral years, of his blue lodge. He was the prime mover in organizing the chapter and blue lodge in Genoa.

Mrs. Green also holds a prominent position in social circles. She was grand matron of the Nebraska state Eastern Star for one year, and for several years was a grand officer, and is now local matron of the Genoa Eastern Star, also chairman of the board of the Eastern Star home at Plattsmouth, Nebraska.

FRED KACZOR.

Fred Kaczor, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county, Nebraska, ha been a resident of that locality for fifteen years, and lives on section eleven, township thirty-four, range twelve. He is one of the foremost farmers and stock men, and, after many years' hard labor in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort.

Mr. Kaczor is a native of Germany, born 1841 in Brandenburg village, province of Prussia. The father died when our subject was a small boy. In 1869 Mr. Kaczor left his native land on a sailboat, and spent fifteen days on the sea. He landed in Canada, where he worked in a tannery, and after a residence of about thirteen years here, went to Holt county, Nebraska, where he bought a tree claim, remaining there fifteen years. In 1895, Mr. Kaczor came to Boyd county, Nebras- ka, and took up the homestead where he now lives, first putting up a sod house, and later a good frame house.

In 1867, Mr. Kaczor was united in marriage to Miss Tena Aldt, and Mr. and Mrs. Kaczor were the parents of nine children. Mrs. Kaczor died in the year of 1902, deeply mourned by her husband and family, and a host of friends and acquaintances.

JOHN O'NEILL.

John O'Neill, retired farmer, son of Felix and Penelope O'Neill, was born in the state of Massa- chusetts, February 17, 1848. He was an only child. His father died in 1848, and the mother in 1896.

In 1857, our subject went with his mother to Wisconsin, where they remained two years, from thence going to Minnesota, where they lived one year. From there they went to St. Louis, Mis- souri, where our subject was employed in the glass factory. Later the family returned to Wis- consin. On January 29, 1870, Mr. O'Neill was married to Miss Mary J. Mathews, of Racine, Wisconsin.

On June 1, 1874, Mr. O'Neill, with his wife and two sons, came across the plains to Boone county, Nebraska, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section eight, township twenty, range five, west, which re- mained his home farm until 1903, when Mr. O'Neill retired from active farm life, and moved to Albion, where they built a fine home in which they now live.

Mr. O'Neill has been prosperous and success- ful, and owns four hundred acres in Boone coun- ty, aside from valuable city property. He is a member of the Albion city school board, and has served seventeen years as a director of his school district, number forty-nine. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge.

Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill have had ten children, eight of whom are living: Phillip B., who re- sides in South Dakota; John P., married and lives in Albion, and has one daughter; Edith M., who is married to E. J. Brady, has five children, and lives in South Dakota; Mary, married to T. A. Thompson, and lives in Albion; Geneveive, Anna and Frances reside under the parental roof ; Catherine and Ellen, who both died in infancy ; and Thomas F., who is married, and lives in Oregon.

Mrs. O'Neill has four brothers, one of whom resides in Albion, one in Fremont, Nebraska, another in Palo Alto, California, and the other in the state of Mississippi. Her father died September 21, 1888, and her mother died March 9, 1898.

Mr. O'Neill is one of the early pioneers who has passed through much of Nebraska's history, and met all the discouragements and hardships in- cidental to pioneer life. He is widely and favora- bly known, and since 1900 has been president of Boone County Agricultural Association, one of the largest of its kind in Nebraska.

EUGENE W. HUSE.

Eugene W. Huse, editor of the "Wayne Her- ald," has been reared in a print shop. Coming, as he does, of a journalistic family, it would be strange if he had not made this his vocation.

Mr. Huse was born in Janesville, Minnesota, December 14, 1870, and was only two years of age when the family moved to Ponca. Here he attended the town schools, from which he gradu- ated in 1890. Then he began work in the office of the "Ponca Journal," which his father estab- lished. In 1899, he accompanied his father to

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Klamath Falls, Oregon, where for four years they published the "Klamath Republican." Selling that journal, they returned to northeast- ern Nebraska in October, 1903, and published the "Wayne Herald" for a year. On the sale of that paper a year later, Mr. Huse was employed by E. Cunningham, the purchaser, to edit and manage it for him, and this arrangement contin- ued two years.

In the fall of 1906, Mr. Huse was employed to take the management of the "Daily Express" at Beatrice, Nebraska. The paper had been used in furthering political ambitions to its detriment, and Mr. Huse was instructed to give attention to building up the paper rather than to fostering political factions. He succeeded beyond the ex- pectations of himself or the owner. Walt Mason, of the "Emporia Gazette," with whom Mr. Huse had become well acquainted in Beatrice, pays him a glowing tribute on his success in managing the "Express."

Mr. Huse returned to Wayne in 1909, bought the "Herald, and is now issuing a twelve-page weekly, all home print, that is not excelled for news and typographical make-up by any of its class in Nebraska.

Mr. Huse was married in Wymore, Nebraska, August 19, 1896, to Miss May Fisher, whom he met while she was visiting a relative in Ponca. She was born in Selins Grove, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Benjamin and Lydia (Snyder) Fisher. They have three daughters: Olive, Dorothy and Edith.

Mr. Huse is a staunch republican in political views and gives the party candidates his hearty support. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of Ameri- ca.

Mr. Huse remembers several of the early bliz- zards that swept the west since their family came to the state. Ponca was at times threatened with prairie fires in the early days, and all were called out to fight them.

Mr. Huse has seen the west in all phases of its development; has seen the old towns that were the first centers of civilization on the fron- tier wilderness; has seen towns, like mushrooms, spring up over night, and has seen the open, boundless plain develop into a highly cultivated farming community with its pastures, meadows and fields interspersed with groves of fine, tall trees closely resembling those of the original forests further east.

HENRY C. BEAN.

In presenting to the public a history of Ne- braska, the list would not be complete without having mentioned the name of the gentleman above named. Mr. Bean is one of the leading old settlers of Platte county, Nebraska, having re-

sided in this locality for the past forty-three years.

Henry C. Bean, son of Henry and Abolinia (Kisbert) Bean, was born in Cumbach, Germany, on January 7, 1830. When nineteen years of age, he came to America, landing in New York City, where he remained for a couple of years, and from thence going to Jersey City, where he worked in a whalebone factory. In 1854, Mr. Bean went to California, and engaged in mining, remaining there until the spring of 1859, when he returned to New York for six months. He then returned to his mining interests in Califor- nia, making this trip by water.

In April, 1866, Mr. Bean was married to Miss Mary Leavey in New York state. Miss Leavey was born in Ireland, but later became a resident of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Bean soon moved westward, and Mr. Bean was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, which was then extending its line west. Mr. Bean be- ing with the advance work, and reaching the point where Cheyenne, Wyoming, is now lo- cated, helped to pitch the first tent in the chosen site of that western city. He later was em- ployed by the government in construction work at Fort Russel, Wyoming. In the fall of 1868, Mr. Bean came with his family to Nebraska, locat- ing in Dawson county, where they resided six months, and then came into Platte county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-four, township seventeen, range one, west, and also pre-empted and timber- claimed three hundred and twenty acres in Holt county.

Mr. Bean and family lived on the homestead for forty-one years, making it a fine and highly- improved place, which is situated four and one- half miles southwest of Columbus. Mr. Bean was instrumental in organizing his school district, that of number five, and for over thirty years served in the various offices of its board. He also served as precinct assessor six terms. In 1906, our subject retired from farm life, and moved to Columbus, where he purchased a good home, their present location.

Mr .and Mrs. Bean have had nine children born to them, whose names follow: Cornelia L., resides in Chicago; Fred E., who is married, and has one child, and lives on the original home- stead; Sophia, now Mrs. Alvin Phillips, lives in Columbus; Nellie who is married to Charles Olcott and has five children, resides in Polk county, Nebraska; one infant deceased; Emma, married to Howard Smith, who has one child, lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado; George in California, and Charles and Martha, who still reside with their parents.

On September 1, 1860, Mr. Bean enlisted in Company K, Ninth United States Infantry, serv- ing five years. The principal battle he engaged in was that of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Later he was on guard duty along the Mississippi river,

RESIDENCE OF J. F. HOHNEKE.

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and from there was sent to California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, where he was engaged in fighting Indians, and was wounded in a skirmish with them. He received his discharge in September, 1864, in San Francisco, California, and after the war, he visited his old home in Germany for six months.

Mr. Bean is one of the best known men of his county, having, as before stated, resided therein for forty-three years. He has been prosperous and successful.

JOHN FREDERICK HOHNEKE.

Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Stanton county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a fore- most place. Mr. Hohneke has aided in no slight degree in the development of the agricultural and commercial resources of this region, and has nobly performed his part in advancing the cause of progress in this section of the country.

Mr. Hohneke is one of the adopted sons of our state, and was born in 1860 in the province of Brandenburg, Germany. His early years were spent in his native land, but in 1873, he, with his parents, Fred and Agost Hohneke, came to this country, and, joining in the stream of em- igrants going west, came on to Stanton county, where the father took up a homestead located on section two, township twenty-four, range two, east.

The first few years here on the claim were long and hard, owing to the heavy losses of crops occasioned by the ravages of the hordes of grass- hoppers. Prospects brightened somewhat later on, however, and conditions improved. They took up a timber claim near by, and among the first things done by the subscriber's father was to plant an orchard and grove on the original homestead claim.

Today there is a remarkably fine tract of or- chard and grove, about twelve acres in extent, which forms one of the valnable assets of the sub- scriber, who still lives on the old homestead. Many improvements have been made since the days when he first came here as a boy. The old log house which was erected with great expendi- ture of time when they first came, has disap- peared, for one thing, in order to make room for a more modern home, a picture of which appears on another page.

In 1886, Mr. Hohneke was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Hellegos.

In 1889, he was again married, to Miss Anna Whittenburg, who is still living. Their home has been blessed with eight children, named as fol- lows: Mary, Minnie, Ella, Edith, Mate, Fred, Henry and Louise. Mr. Hohneke and his family have always taken a prominent part in all social lines in the neighborhood.

Mr. Hohneke himself is reckoned among our most prosperous and substantial citizens, and enjoys the respect of a wide circle of friends.

J. H. LYBOLT.

J. H. Lybolt, one of the old settlers of the re- gion where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-one, township twenty-six, range six, Antelope county, Nebraska. He has done his share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state.

Mr. Lybolt is a native of Schuyler county, New York, where he was born on a farm in 1845, and grew up to his young manhood days in his birth- place, receiving his education in the country schools, and helping his father work the home farm. On June 12, 1862, our subject enlisted in the civil war, Company E, One Hundred Seventh New York Volunteers under Captain Morgan, at Elmyra, New York; was sent to Arlington, Heights, Fort Lyons, Virginia, and while there the regiment was without guns ten days in camp, when after receiving their guns they partici- pated in the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam-from light of day until after dark-then on to Maryland Heights; then to Harper's Ferry where they felled timber; and under General Burnsides across to Fredericks- burg, where our subject was sent on a furlough. He again joined his regiment in May, and was active in the battle of Gettysburg, and served un- der General Slocum. He participated in the battle of Stevens Station, and from there to Lookout Mountain. General Grant then had command of the army and General Gary of the Second Divi- sion ; our subject was sent to guard the railroad from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga. On the 4th day of May our subject's regiment broke camp and started with General Sherman on his famous march to Atlanta, starting from Dallas, where they were one hour and fifteen minutes in the battle, and lost one hundred ninety-seven men out of five hundred; they then went to Pump- kin Vine Creek, and then General Sherman took his command around the city of Atlanta, and left our subject's corps, (20th) in front of the city, and the next day the regiment moved into Atlan- ta, from where they started to the sea by the way of Davidboro. They were in camp at Savan- nah all winter. They participated in battles at various points, finally coming to Washington, where our subject with his regiment partici- pated in the Grand Review. Mr. Lybolt was with the oldest regiment in the division. When he enlisted there were one hundred and twelve men in his company, and only sixteen were left to be mustered out on June 4, 1865. After the war our subject returned home and in 1869 start- ed for the west, coming to Sannders county, Ne-

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braska where he homsteaded land in southwest quarter, section twenty-two, township fifteen, range six, east, where he remained about twelve years, and in 1879 moved to Antelope county, Ne- braska where he took up a tree claim in section twenty-two, township twenty-seven, range six, where he and a friend built a shanty so it would stand on two claims, and here they "batched" it for several years. The grasshoppers and hot winds destroyed all the crops in 1874 and 1875, which made it very hard for a young man with- out means. They had to burn hay and corn for fuel in those days, corn being six cents a bushel, and they had to go way to the Platte river for wood. Mr. Lybolt now owns two hundred forty acres of land, twenty-five acres of which are de- voted to trees.

Mr. Lybolt was married to Miss Margaret. Caddock, to which union one child was born : William, who is married to Ethel Baynard, and they are the parents of two children. Mrs. Lybolt died in 1901.

In 1906 Mr. Lybolt was again married, this time to his schooldays sweetheart, Miss Stevens. Her father's land and of our subject's father joined in New York state.

Mr. Lybolt's father, Jacob Lybolt, was born in New York, and fought in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. Our subject's mother was a native of New Hamp- shire.

Mr. Lybolt is a member of the I. O. O. F., Woodmen, and Workmen lodges, and is highly respected by all.

PETER KUEHL.

Peter Kuehl, proprietor of one of the most valuable farms in Pierce county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality since 1886. He is prominently known throughout the county as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Ne- braska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his farm is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort.

Mr. Kuehl is a native of Germany, being born in the village of Hensted, province of Holstein, in May, 1855. Mr. Kuehl's father was Hans Kuehl, who was born in Germany.

Our subject came to America in 1872, landing in New York City after a fourteen days' voyage on the ocean, and after spending one and one- half days in this city, and several months in Chi- cago, he went to Clinton county, Iowa, where he lived three years and three months. He then went to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he resid- ed three years, and thence to Douglas county, Nebraska, where he lived eight years, and experi- enced suffering through the memorable hailstorm of 1884. Mr. Kuehl then took up a homestead in Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1886, situated in the southeast quarter of section three, Dry Creek

township, and has been a resident of this county for twenty-four years. He has experienced all the discouraging incidents subject to the early days, and gives an interesting story of the bliz- zard of 1888. On that memorable day, with his hired man, he started from home at twelve o'clock to go after the children at the school house which was one mile from home. They reached the school house, and with the two children, Liz- zie and Henry, started for home, but became lost and did not reach their destination until very late in the evening.

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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 30

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