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 57

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 57

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Miss Emma Oestreich, and Mr. and Mrs. Winter are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Henry, Edwin, Venus, Agnes, Linda, and Lenora. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Winter is a democrat.

LOUIS PIERSON.

Louis Pierson, deceased, formerly lived in Sherman county, Nebraska, where he was held in the highest esteem and was accorded a high sta- tion as a public-spirited and worthy citizen.

Mr. Pierson was born in Sweden on March II, 1846. When a young man he engaged in farming, and in 1872 came to America. Like his brother Andrew, he worked for a time in the mines in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In 1876, he came to Burt county, Nebraska, where he farmed until 1882, then came to Sher- man county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in section thirteen, township sixteen, range sixteen, and a few years later filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres; after securing title to this, he sold and returned to his first purchase, which remains the family home to this time.

On September 23, 1896, he was married to Miss Johannah Vinburg, also a native of Swe- den, who came to America in 1894.

Mr. Pierson died on May 17, 1910, on his home farm survived by his wife and one son, Oscar, who is still at home.

Mrs. Pierson lives on the old home tract, surrounded by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances.

Mr. Pierson was well-known and highly re- spected by all with whom he came in contact.

JOHN McMANUS.

One of the finely developed farms in Cedar county is owned and operated by Mr. John McManus, and lies in section thirty-five, town- ship thirty, range three, east. Mr. McManus is one of the worthy citizens and prominent old settlers of the locality, and is intimately identi- fied with the growth and progress of the agricul- tural and commercial interests of the region.

Mr. McManus was born in county Fermanha, Ireland, in 1841, to John and Elizabeth McMan- us, typical old countrymen, who came with their family. to America about 1848. They crossed the sea in a sailboat, and were on the water for elev- en long weeks and three days, embarking at Liv- erpool, and landing at New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi river to Galena, Illinois.

They settled in LaFayette, Wisconsin, re- maining in that state up to 1894.

In 1871 our subject went to Sioux City, Iowa,

and after but a short time in that place, secured a team and drove through the country to Dixon county, Nebraska, and there filed on a home- stead, built a shanty, and lived for many years.

Mr. McManus came to Cedar county in 1894, and has developed a good farm, which he still occupies, and where he has passed through all the various phases of pioneer life. He has ex- perienced the usual hardships that fell to the lot of every early settler, including suffering priva- tion occasioned by loss of crops by storms, grass- hopper raids, etc., but through it all has come out victorious, and has nothing but praise for the state of his adoption, believing, like every other loyal Nebraskan, that it is the golden state of the union, and well worth effort in the way of hard work and the discouragements attendant thereto in the realization of possessing a good home and competence for old age.

Mr. McManus was united in marriage to Miss Ellen MeCabe in 1863, the ceremony taking place at Benton, Wisconsin.

Nine children have been born to them. They are named as follows: Mary Ellen, William Henry, deceased ; William, Emmet, Elizabeth, Ann, George C., John Henry, Celia, Clara and Joseph Albert.

JOHN SEIM.

As an old settler of Merrick county, Ne- braska, an agriculturist of untiring energy and perserverance and a worthy citizen, the gentle- man above named needs no introduction to the people of his locality. He has spent nearly forty years of his life in their midst, has gained a host of staunch friends, and incidentally acquired a good home and placed himself in position to en- joy his declining years in peace and quiet.

John Seim was born in Germany October 7, 1846, and was third of seven children in the fam- ily of Casper and Annie Seim, who had four sons and three daughters. Mr. Seim, his broth- er Casper who lives in Missouri, and a sister, Mrs. Fred Stratmann who lives in Merrick county, are the surviving children.

Mr. Seim, with his sister, came to America in 1867, and first located in the state of Michigan where he remained five years, and while there was joined by his father and mother from Ger- many. He came to Merrick county, Nebraska, in May, 1872, taking up a homestead on section thirty-two, township thirteen, range eight, which is his present location. Mr. Seim was one of the original homesteaders in this neighborhood. His father and mother came here from Michigan in about 1874 and homesteaded on section twenty- eight, township thirteen, range eight, near his son's land, and the homestead was his place of residence until the time of his death in 1878. The mother died in 1886.

John Seim was married on his homestead farm October 12, 1878, to Miss Selma Wagner,

CLARK NEWCOMER, DECEASED.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

and to them ten children have been born: Anna, who is married to Mr. Will Bruns, has four chil- dren and lives in Merrick county, Nebraska; Mary, married to William Jess, has two children and resides in Merrick county ; Elsie, is married to Charles Rovert, has two children and lives in Hall county ; and John, Edward, Frank, Clara, Amanda, Carl, and Hilda, the latter seven being unmarried. All of the above named were born in Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Seim and chil- dren are a pioneer family of the county, well known, and have the respect and esteem of their many friends.

Mr. Seim has four hundred and eighty acres of good land in his farm. on which he has erected substantial buildings and a fine residence, and is known as a successful man.

DR. WM. HAZEN.

Dr. Wmn. Hazen has been a resident of Creighton for the past twenty seven years, and a well-known Nebraskan since 1876, at which time he settled on a homestead at Walnut Grove, Knox county. His first dwelling there was a dug-out, built in the side of a bank, with a front of logs, fitted with a window and door, furnished with an elevated oven stove, bed, table, and practically nothing else, all of the ru- dest fashion imaginable. He at once began the practice of medicine through the country, and soon became famed far and near as a practition- er, particularly in diphtheria cases, before the discovery of serum had robbed that disease of its terrors. At different times he was called into Iowa when this malady became prevalent, and by preventive measures he usually checked the spread of the disease in a family. He came in the fall of 1884, to Creighton, from where he has a wider field of practice, no condition of weather or roads keeping him from answering a sick call. He comes of a sturdy race and is al- most beyond physical fatigue. He has walked from Walnut Grove to Yankton, a distance of sixty-five miles, in a day, and often to Niobrara and return, a little "hike" of fifty miles. Fre- quently in these journeys he would out-distance a horse and rider, seldom accepting a ride on a loaded wagon, giving as a reason that "he was in a hurry," and he has had many amusing ex- periences of this kind.

Dr. Hazen was born near Deerfield, Dane county, Wisconsin, on April 13, 1850. He began the study of medicine at the age of fifteen, under the tutelage of an uncle, removing with the lat- ter to Iowa and locating near Early, in Sac county. Later he practiced for short periods at Odebolt.

Since coming to Nebraska, Dr. Hazen has ac- quired considerable property, proving up on a homestead, and is now one of the prosperous and successful men of his state. He has been through every change that has come to Nebraska, experi-

encing blizzards, droughts, etc. Wild game was abundant in those days, and at one time with a friend, he counted a herd of over three hundred deer and antelope on the prairie between O'Neill and Walnut Grove. Prairie fires were then a common occurrence. At one time when on a hunting trip with some freinds, Dr. Hazen and party were obliged to dodge around the end of a prairie fire and several times to dash through the names to get to a clear spot. His original homestead contained considerable good timber, and an abundance of fine water from the East Branch stream. He had two acres laid out in garden, which were at different times almost ruined by deer running through it.

The doctor has always been particularly fond of floriculture and tree culture. He has planted seeds of all the different fruits, also various kinds of nuts, all along the streams of Knox county, covering some thirty square miles, which some day will be appreciated by the com- ing generations. On the lot adjoining the one on which his house stands, he has planted over four hundred rose bushes, comprising forty or more varieties, also many other flowering shrubs and plants, making of it one of the most beautiful spots imaginable during the season.

Dr. Hazen was married in Niobrara, in 1887. to Emma Walsh, who is a native of Tennessee. Five children were born to them, namely: Floyd Orris, who runs his father's farm ten miles north and east of Creighton; Elsa May, graduating from the high school with the class of 1910; Elmer, Waymond and Edith, all attending school at present.

Dr. Hazen is a republican. He is a leading member of the Independent Order Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and with Mrs. Hazen is prominent with the Degree of Honor.

CLARK NEWCOMER.

For over thirty-eight years the gentleman here named was closely identified with the ag- ricultural interests of Merrick county, Nebraska, and during this time he acquired a valuable estate by 'dint of his industry and honesty. His death occurred October 25, 1910, and was mourned by a host of friends and neighbors. A portrait of Mr. Newcomer will be found on another page.

Clark Newcomer, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hershey) 'Newcomer, was born in Pennsylvania, October 27, 1835, and was fourth in a family of ten children; one of the brothers resides in Cal- ifornia; three in Pennsylvania; one in Spokane, Washington ; a sister in Pennsylvania; and the others being deceased, as are also the parents, both having passed away in Pennsylvania, the father in 1868, and the mother in 1898.

Our subject received his education in the home state, and later went to Illinois, where he

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followed farming for almost a year and a half, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and in Au- gust, 1861, enlisted in Company B, Twenty-sec- ond Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving something over three years. Much time was spent in skirm- ishing, but the most important battles engaged in were at Greenbriar, Rumney, and Winchester, all in West Virginia; and Cedar Creek, and Falling Water, Maryland. At the latter place Mr. Newcomer was wounded, being shot through the shoulder, after which being unfitted for regular service he was employed at headquarters. Our subject returned to Pennsylvania after the war, receiving his honorable discharge in the fall of 1864, at Pittsburg; and on February 22, 1865, was married to Caroline Boyd, also of Pennsyl- vania. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer went to Tennessee where they engaged in farming, and in August of 1871, came with family to Mer- rick county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-two, township fourteen, range six. Mrs. Newcomer died December 5, 1879, on the homestead farm, survived by her husband and one child, Cora, who is married to George Baker and resides in Central City, and has eleven children. Mr. Newcomer sold his homestead in 1884 and pur- chased at various times and in various tracts something over five hundred acres.

On October 14, 1886, Mr. Newcomer was united in marriage to Mrs. Elvira J. Porter Nash, who was born in Illinois, but who later came to Nebraska. Mrs. Newcomer's father, S. W. Porter, died in 1881, and her mother, Mrs. Mary Porter lives in Central City at the ad- vanced age of ninety-six years; two brothers re- side in Nebraska.

Mrs. Newcomer's father enlisted at the be- ginning of the civil war in Company A, Nine- teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served un- til the close of the war and then went to the Black Hills to fight Indians; serving over five years. Mrs. Newcomer had three brothers in the service, Richard, Charles Henry and Lewis. The last named died in the army. Mrs. Newcomer's first husband, Benjamin Franklin Nash, came with his family to Nebraska in 1873. He died in 1884. Mr. Nash had two brothers who served in the civil war, Lemuel and John. Lemuel was killed at Perryville. Mrs. Newcomer had ten children by her former marriage, two of whom are living: Arch M., who lives in Montana and Frank R., who is married, has two children and resides in Central City.

Mr. Newcomer served as director of his school district number nineteen, for some years, also as treasurer of same. Indeed Mr. Newcomer was instrumental in organizing the district, and the school building was erected when Mr. Newcomer's daughter was the only pupil in the district. In 1909, our subject returned from the farm and moved to Central City. where he purchased a

good home. His death occurred October 25, 1910.

Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer were among the earlier settlers of the county, and passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of fron- tier life. Mr. Newcomer was a member of the Odd Fellows, Masonic and Grand Army of the Republic fraternities and was'a man of promi- nence and influence in the community in which he lived.

DAVID M. DOLBEAR.

Another one of the successful and prosperous agriculturalists and stockmen of Nance county, Ne- braska, who has passed through all the good, bad, and indifferent times of that state, is found in the person of David M. Dolbear, the subject of this personal review.

Mr. Dolbear was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on January 30, 1865, and was the youngest of four children in the family of David and Sarah Jane Dolbear. When our subject was five years of age his parents moved to Bureau county, Illi- uois, where he received his education and grew to manhood, following farming and stock raising . with his father during those years. In 1887 the family came to Nebraska, the father purchasing a tract of land on section eleven, township fif- teen, range seven, which has been in the Dolbear family since that time, now being the home of David and Emerson Dolbear. David Dolbear, Sr., died on the home farm in 1897, and the mother followed him seven years later. Their two sons now occupying the homestead have worked faith- fully and succeeded in building up a splendid farm, having erected fine farm buildings, planted groves, fruit trees, etc., making it one of the best Improved farms in the region. They have passed through all the various phases of pioneer life in Nehraska, and in the possession of this fine farm and home, are classed among the well-to-do resi- dents of their locality.

Neither David or Emerson are married, and while they are deeply interested in the welfare of their county and state, have never sought pub- lic preferment, preferring to devote their entire time and attention to the work of developing their farm. David M. Dolbear attended Omaha Medical College two years. Ile has held num- erous township offices.

C. GUY CROSBY.

Of the younger citizens of the state who have been witnesses of the growth of the north- west from the primeval prairies, may be men- tioned, C. Guy Crosby, cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Naper. All of his conscious years have been spent in the state, and he lacks but a few months of having been born there. His birth occurred in Sae county, Iowa, November 26, 1883.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

His father, R. L. Crosby, a native of Illinois, moved to the Hawkeye state in the seventies, settling in Sac county, where he was married, and resided until the spring of 1884. He made a tour of inspection to the northeast part of Ne- braska in the fall of 1883, and found in Keya Paha county, a location that suited him. In the spring of the year following, he drove through from Sac county to his homestead claim three miles west of Springview, and eight years later came to Boyd county as the west end of the new state division was coming in for its share of settlers. He had abandoned his rights to homestead in Keya Paha county, but had them restored by act of congress, and filed on a quar- ter section two miles east of Naper, where he lived five or six years before moving to town. He organized the Bank of Naper and resided in the town until 1906, when he retired from active business and took up his residence in Bonesteel, South Dakota, where he has financial interests.

Guy Crosby was reared in Keya Paha and Boyd counties, and is a typical son of the west. He began business life for himself in 1900 as cashier of his father's bank, in which he had an interest. Their shares were sold in July, 1909, and, in September, a consolidation with the other bank was effected in which the Crosbys took a large share. Guy became cashier of the newly organized First'National, the result of the consolidation, which post he has since filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the stock- holders.

Mr. Crosby was married in Butte, January 21, 1903, to Miss Clara E. Currey, a native of Nebraska. Her father, Milo Currey, married Miss Christena Engstrohm, and after living in Nebraska six years, moved to Gregory county, and later to Trip county, South Dakota, in '1909. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby are the parents of two sons, Gains, born August 25, 1906, an unusually bright child, the pet of Naper and the mascot of its base- hall team. and Justin, born March 10, 1911.

Mr. Crosby is a democrat in politics, a member of the Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Wood- men of America.

Mr. Crosby well remembers the notable bliz- zard of January 12, 1888, but, being a child under school age, he was at home and was in no dan- ger, as were others of a greater age. He has had a taste of pioneer life on the frontier, in fact until well along toward manhood knew nothing else; they lived in a log house in Keya Paha county, and in a "soddy" in Boyd, which makes him eligible to any society of early settlers.

NICKOLAS OTTELE.

In reviewing the history of Boone county, Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among this number is given

the gentleman above named. Mr. Ottele is a pio- neer settler, and is perhaps one of the best known men of his locality. He is a prosperous farmer and business man, and has gained his suc- cess by the exercise of business tact, supplement- ed by the strictest integrity of word and deed.

Nickolas Ottele was born in Luxemburg, Ger- many, April 7, 1856, the youngest of nine chil- dren in the family of Nickolas and Barbara Ot- tele. In the month of May, 1874, Mr. Ottele, with his father, mother, and sister Annie, came to America, going to Dubuque, Iowa, where they joined our subject's brother Mike, and a married sister, who had come to America about one year previous. Mike Ottele and wife, Nick Henn and daughter, in company with the subject of this sketch, came overland by team and wagons, to Boone county, April 21, 1878. The three men took up adjoining homesteads in section twelve, township twenty-two, range seven, Nick Ottele locating on the southwest quarter, and his broth- er Mike on the northwest quarter, where they both reside on their original homesteads. Mike Ottele has a family of thirteen children, and has retired from the farm, now making his home in Elgin, Antelope county.

Mr. Nickolas Ottele was married to Miss An- nie Heinz in Ray Valley church, April 10, 1883. Mrs. Ottele is a native of Germany, and came to America in December, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Ottele have had eight children, seven of whom are liv- ing: Alvis N., and Emil J., who reside at home; Jennie, wife of Herman Kueter, has one child and lives in Antelope county ; and Mary, Ma- tilda, Charles John, Emma Mary, and William F., all living under the parental roof. They are an interesting family, energetic along all lines, the older boys being good business men and capable managers.

Mr. Ottele is a successful farmer and business man, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Boone county, one hundred and sixty acres in Antelope county, and six hundred and forty acres in Texas. For a number of years Mr. Ottele was in business in Petersburg, but has always retained his farm interests and given his farm and stock a goodly portion of his time, assisted by his sons.

Mr. Ottele's father died September 21, 1891, and the mother died January 31, 1892, at the home of their son Nickolas.

Mr. Ottele passed through the usual experi- ences of a pioneer farmer and business man of early Nebraska years from the sod shanty time to the modern farm home, automobile, and other modern improvements.

ERNEST A. MILLER.

Ernest A. Miller is one of the leading German- American citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska. where he has lived since he was a few weeks old.

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He is a native of western Prussia, Germany, born in 1872, and a son of Gustave and Minnie Miller, who came to America in 1872, sailing from Ham- burg to Baltimore. The father had served in the Franco-Prussian war, and also in the war with Austria. They spent ten weeks and three days on the ocean, and after nine months in St. Louis, Missouri, eame west to Nebraska, where the fath- er took up a homestead and tree claim. He first built a dug-out, which served as their home a few years, being replaced by a mud house, which in turn gave place to a substantial brick house whichi the father erected from brick that he manufac- tured on his farm.

They were greatly troubled by the destruction of a large part of their crops by the grasshop- pers during several of the early years of their residence there and also had hard work to pro- tect their possessions from prairie fires, but though these things made it hard to furnish a living for the family and make the necessary im- provements, they were able to overcome all ob- stacles and steadily progressed towards develop- ing a fine farm and establishing a most comfor- table and pleasant home. Their nearest market for some time was at Columbus, Sioux City or Wisner. During the first few years of his residence in Nebraska, Mr. Miller found it necessary to leave home and work for others, and for some time worked in Omaha, and sent his earnings home to provide for his family. He was one of the eighteen earliest settlers of the county and one of the best known men in, his part of the state, where he was universally esteemed. Gustave Miller died October 1, 1905, and his widow is still living, and makes her home at Hoskins, Nebraska.

When Ernest Miller was old enough to help with the work on his father's farm, he began to perform his share of it, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He was educated in the county and has always been much interested in everything pertaining to its advancement and welfare. He inherited and bought a part of his present home from his father and has since made many additional improvements, now having a nice, comfortable residence and a good grove of shade and fruit trees. -

He is a progressive farmer, and has been very successful in his operations.

In 1896, he was united in marriage with Miss . Hulda Eckert, and they are the parents of seven children, namely: Martha, Clara, Ewald, Theo- dore, Richard, Lillie and Robert. Mrs. Miller was born in Stanton county, Nebraska, and is a daughter of Julius and Augusta Eckert. Mr. Miller owns one hundred and sixty acres of land of his father's old place and in March, 1911, pur- chased nine hundred and sixty acres in the west- ern part of Knox county.

DR. WILLIAM L. BOWMAN. (Deceased.)

One of the earliest and best-known of Staun- ton county pioneers was Doctor William L. Bow- man, who was for over forty years a resident of this section.

Dr. W. L. Bowman was born in Ross county, Ohio, on September 11, 1825. His father, Benja- min Bowman, was born in Pennsylvania about 1787 and died in 1832; he was a farmer and moved into the Scioto valley in the days when that country was on the frontier. The mother, who was Sarah Loney in her girlhood days in North Carolina, moved with her family to Tippe- canoe county, Indiana, a few years after her hus- band's death, and it was here that Doctor Bow- man grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-four he began the study of medicine under the tute- lage of Doctor J. M. Boyd of Thornetown, Indi- ana, and remained a student in his office for three years. At the end of this time, he began the practice of his profes ion in Clinton county, Indi- ana, and remained here until coming west, with the exception of one year spent in Clinton coun- ty, Wisconsin, in partnership with Doctor Mc- Carthy.

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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 57

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