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 59

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 59

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Mr. Rawlings is a prosperous man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and county, and is widely and favorably known.

JOHN P. HIRSCHMANN.

John P. Hirschman, owner and operator of one of the finest farms in Cedar county, Ne- braska, has been a resident of that locality for a period of forty years. He is well known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of the region, and after many years of hard work in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy his remaining years in the peace and com- fort he has so well earned, surrounded by a host of friends. Mr. Hirschman was born in Wiscon- sin in 1862, a son of Fernando and Anna (Marks) Hirschman, both natives of Germany. The par-

ents came from their native country to America in a sailing vessel, spending three months on the way. The father was a native of Austria and the mother of Prussia.

Mr. Hirschman began his education in his na- tive state and completed it in Nebraska, to which state he accompanied his parents in 1870. They drove through and took up a homestead on what is known as Long Ridge, and there built a sod house, or dugout, which he occupied a few years, then erected a cotton-wood frame house. In the early days of their residence there, St. James St. Helena and Sioux City were their nearest trading points, and they suffered serious loss from the depredations of grasshoppers, which made it very hard for them to get a start in the new home. The entire family often had to fight prairie fires to protect the home and other pos- sessions. Deer and antelope were frequently seen in those early days and all the surroundings and conditions were very different from those of more recent years.

Mr. Hirschman was married in 1895 to Miss Ethel Dawson, a native of Iowa, and they are the parents of five children : Fernando L., Olive M., Ada M., Maggie J., and Kermit.

Mr. Hirschman's home is pleasantly located on section eight, township twenty-eight, range two, east, of Cedar county, and he is recog- nized as one of the most public-spirited and en- terprising of the county's citizens, always ready to lend his influence in the promotion of any worthy object and interested in the general wel. fare and progress. A picture of the residence and family group apears on another page.

W. W. STROPE.

One of the old settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a well improved farm and valuable estate on sec- tion twenty-three, township twenty-nine, range eight, Knox county, Nebraska.

W. W. Strope is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Bradford county, in 1851. His father was born and reared in the same township as his son, he being of German descent. W. W. Strope's mother was Scottish. Our subject grew up in his birthplace, living with his parents and assisting in carrying on the home place as a boy, starting out to make his own way in the world when about fifteen years old. He had heard of the fortunes to be made in the west, so started west, where land was cheap and opportunities greater than in the east. His first settlement. was made in Wisconsin, where he spent abont fourteen years engaged in farming.

In 1879 he loaded up his goods in a covered wagon and with a stout team, began his journey to Nebraska, camping out along the way at night. and finally reaching his destination in Knox county. Here he filed on a timber claim in 1879 and on a homestead in 1881. His first dwelling

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was a sod house, and with his family he went through every phase of pioneer life here.

As times grew better in their vicinity, Mr. Strope was able to get together considerable stock, make improvements in his buildings, etc., and at the present time he has one of the best equipped and most productive farms in the lo- cality. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres, two hundred acres of this being under cultivation.

Mr. Strope was married in 1874, to Miss Ella Gerry, who is a native of Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Strope seven children have been born, namely : Ervy May, Franklin Dorence, Maude Luella, Bert J., who died in infancy, Wallace W., Merwin G. and Floyd Ray. The first three are married and occupying comfortable homes of their own, while the last three are living at home. Wallace W. and Merwin G. graduated from the Nebraska State Agricultural College in April, 1911, and have rented and will operate their father's farm.

Mrs. Strope's father, Benjamin F. Gerry, was frozen to death while breasting the blizzard of 1888, having started to the post office at Walnut, a distance of four and one-half miles from his home, and being unable to reach shelter before being overcome by the awful storm.

NELS J. SKOOG.

Nels J. Skoog, a hardy and typical represent- ative of the hosts from Sweden who have done so much to make the Nebraska wilderness blos- som as a rose through their earnest efforts to develop the country which they have adopted as a permanent home, is a prosperous merchant of Genoa, Nebraska.

Mr. Skoog was born in Sweden, on October 18, 1852, and is a son of Nels and Hannah John- son, his early years being spent in his native vi- cinity. He was married in the spring of 1874, to Kjersti Jensen, also born and reared in Swe- den, and they came to America about 1882, accom- panied by a little son. Their first location was in Minnesota, and after a few months in that state, came on to Nebraska, settling in Nance county. Their house was one of the first built in Genoa, and our subject secured employment on the section of the Union Pacific railroad company, and also worked as a day laborer at the Genoa Indian school. He worked in a meat market for a considerable length of time, finally purchasing the business and carried it on for several years.

In 1889 he bought a quarter section of land in Genoa township, and farmed for about a year, but on account of Mrs. Skoog's poor health was obliged to give it up and again moved to Genoa and purchased his old meat market. He also kept his farm and personally superintended its man- agement, and besides these interests was engaged in the stock business buying and shipping to market. In 1894 he sold his market and bought one hundred and thirty-five acres of partly im-

proved land on section twenty-three, township sev- enteen, range four, and went into the stock busi- ness on a larger scale, feeding from four to five hundred head of cattle annually.

In 1901 Mr. Skoog organized and financed what was known as the McFadden-Wilson & Skoog General Merchandise Company, and the following year bought his partners' interests and reorganized the concern under the firm name of N. J. Skoog & Son, and they still con- tinue the business. The first year their gross trade amounted to $36,000, and in 1908 were do- ing an $85,000 business. Their store is the largest in Genoa, having a frontage of forty-four feet by eighty in depth, and at the present time our subject is making extensive improvements in the building, adding to it a very fine ladies' rest room patterned after those of other large estab- lishments in different cities, and which will in- clude every convenience and comfort that can be conceived.

Mrs. Skoog died in 1898, survived by her hus- band and two sons, Nels, who is married and with his wife and child lives in Genoa, and August, living with our subject. In January, 1900, Mr. Skoog was married to Anna Pearson, and to them two daughters were born, Esther and Wilma, both at home, and charming little misses. On July 7, 1906, Mrs. Skoog died, her demise being deeply lamented by her sorrowing family and many friends.

Mr. Skoog was married again on July 8, 1909, to Esther Smith, of Platte county, Nebraska, a lady of very pleasing personality. . The family occupy one of the handsome homes in Genoa, and all are popular members of the social life of the little city.

DR. G. W. IRA.

One of the oldest and best established prac- titioners of northeastern Nebraska is Dr. George W. Ira, of Lynch. He has been prominently identified with the upper Missouri river country since 1866, when he settled at Decatur, Nebras- ka, to practice his profession after a two years' course at a medical college in Columbus, Ohio. After seven years practice here he was appointed to the Yankton Agency at Greenwood, South Da- kota, and was afterwards engaged in private practice at Springfield, South Dakota, for some time, which place was across the river from the Santee Reservation.

In 1875 he was appointed physician at the Santee Agency, remaining at the post for ten years, and the following five years were spent in private practice in Niobrara, during which time he took an advanced course at the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, receiving his diploma in the spring of 1888. Two years later he was reappointed to his old position at Santee, which he held uninterruptedly for fourteen years. In September, 1904, he opened an office at

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Lynch, where, in partnership with his son, Guy B. Ira, he is enjoying a lucrative practice, as keenly interested in a complicated case and as efficient in prescribing as he was when he first began his practice, nearly half a century ago.

Dr. Ira was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1842, and was reared in his native county, where his parents remained during their lifetime. Our subject was first mar- ried at Decatur, Nebraska, in 1868, to Miss Ger- trude Fuller, to whom a daughter was born, Mary Gertrude, now the wife of Erving Rodgers, of De- catur, Nebraska. Mrs. Ira died about a year after her marriage. In 1872 Dr. Ira married again, taking as his wife Mary B. Hobbs, a native of the eastern states. Of their seven children, six survive, as follows: Gny B., above mentioned ; Julia, wife of D. A. Martindale, they living in Omaha ; Henry, living with his father here; Edith, who has se- cured a claim in Mead county, South Dakota, and on which she has established a residence ; Clayton, living in Omaha, employed by the Baum Iron Company ; and Florence, wife of Cyrus Marks, of Rapid City, South Dakota.

Dr. Ira is a republican in political faith, and he and his family are members of the Episcopal church. He served as United States pension ex- aminer for about twenty years. He affiliates with the Masonic lodge at Niobrara, and is popular both in commercial 'and social circles in his community.

HENRY V. NETZER.

The gentleman whose name heads this personal history for thirty-five years past has been closely identified with the development and advancement of Boone county, Nebraska. He resides in the village of Petersburg, and is classed among the well-to-do and successful farmers of that region. He has the distinction of being one of the oldest settlers in the locality, and is a familiar person- age to all who have made their home there since the early days; therefore, a history of Boone coun- ty is not complete without a sketch of the life and work of Henry V. Netzer.

Mr. Netzer is a native of Aberdeen, Ohio, born November 11, 1837. He was the second in a fam- ily of eight children born to Sanford and Esther Netzer, the former dying about 1890, and the mother when our subject was fourteen years old, at which time he went with his father to Illinois, where they engaged in farming. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served with his regiment for three years, receiving hon- orable discharge in September, 1864. The prin- cipal hattles in which he engaged were the ac- tions at Gundell, Memphis and Moscow, besides many other minor encounters with the confederate troops, and during his service with the army he saw the various dark phases of a soldier's career.

Mr. Netzer returned to Illinois after the war was closed, and was married there in 1866, to Elizabeth Bierley, and in the fall of 1876 they left Illinois and came to Nebraska, locating in 10

Boone county on homestead rights in section thirty, township twenty-two, range six, one mile east of where Petersburg now stands, this farm remaining their home place for about sixteen years. They then sold the homestead and pur- chased several acres in the village of Petersburg, and built a good home, which they have made their permanent residence. Mr. Netzer and wife are among the earliest settlers of that part of Boone county, and have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of pioneer life.

Mr. and Mrs. Netzer have had four children, George G., Anna M., Sadie and Dolly, all mar- ried and living in different parts of the country.

JOHN H. LARISON.

Four states from time to time claimed the citizenship of John H. Larison, now retired and living in one of the finest and best appor- tioned modern dwellings in the city of Wayne.

Mr. Larison was born in Columbus, Ohio, November 18, 1854, whence the family moved west in the spring of 1854. The grandparents, by whom the boy was reared, settled in Nauvoo, Illi- nois, while his parents a short time later moved on to Moravia, Iowa. He remained with his grandparents until he was eighteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. After fin- ishing school he joined his parents at Moravia, where they were keeping hotel, and there secured a clerkship in a store, at which he was engaged several years. His next venture was at railroad- ing at Ottumwa, where he lost a thumb in the service; this awakened him to the danger of rail- road life, which he abandoned before anything more serious should happen him.

At Malvern, Iowa, he entered the service of Mr. J. M. Strahan, who was destined later to be- come his father-in-law, and in company with that gentleman went to Minnesota to trail a herd of his cattle to the prairies of Nebraska. On this, his first advent to Wayne county, the herd was herded in the valley of Dog Town creek through the summer. Returning, he entered the employ of the Benner stores, and for nine or ten years was engaged in mercantile pursuits.

In the meantime,'he had married, and desiring to do better for himself he came west and in- vested in farm lands. He had purchased land in Sherman county, Kansas, where he still owns a half section, but in deciding to locate west ,of the Missouri river, he had in mind the fertile prair- ies of Wayne county; here in the spring of 1889 he purchased the Peter Oman farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres five miles north and three miles west of the city of Wayne. Four years later, he bought a town residence and moved in off the farm, which he has cultivated through tenants since. In 1909, he began building what is prob- ably the most imposing private residence in the city, a ten-room Colonial dwelling, equipped with all the most modern improvements, hot and cold water, gas and electric light and steam heat. It

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is as elegantly and tastefully furnished as any residence of cities ten times the size of, Wayne, of which not the least elegant is the hall clock with its mellow cathedral chime.

Mr. Larison is a son of Simeon and Ethelinda (Hobbs) Larison, both natives of Ohio; they at- tained the ages of seventy-six and seventy-two years, respectively, passing away in Nebraska at the home of their son. Of their two daughters and four sons, Mr. Larison was second in order of birth.

He was married in Malvern, May 27, 1887, to Miss Rosetta Strahan, a native of Iowa, and daughter of J. M. and Fannie (Davis) Strahan. They migrated originally from Henderson county, Illinois, and after the birth of their daughter, Fan- nie, returned thither, remaining a few years, and then came again to Iowa, settling in Malvern, Mills county. Mr. and Mrs. Larison have an adopted daughter, Charlotte Bernard Larison, who is a student at the state normal at Wayne. She has an unusual talent in art, delighting in spend- ing her spare moments with her pencil or brush. A career is open to her in this calling should she devote her time for a few years to its serious study.

Mr. Larison had not settled 'in Nebraska at the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, but encountered it in nearly all of its severity in Malvern, where he had great difficulty in getting from the store to his home. His father-in-law lost nearly a hundred cattle in the storm. Their car- casses were burned on the prairies west of Wayne, where the stock had been herding. Mr. Larison has never lived in a sod house, but has visited in that most comfortable kind of dwelling. At the time they came to the state deer and antelope were driven to the far west, but the plains were cov- ered with their horns, showing the extent to which their herds prospered at an earlier day. The large grey wolf was to be seen occasionally, and on several occasions, when first on the ranges here, Mr. Larison has chased them on horseback eight or ten miles with the usual success-when the wolf got tired of the game he leveled out across the prairie, and disappeared.

But these old days of the frontier have gone. Where once was waving grasses on the open plains, crops of grain sway in the wind, comfortable farm houses nestle in their sheltering groves, and cat- tle peacefully graze in pastures, where before only wild creatures lived and fed.

Mr. Larison is independent in politics, voting for whom he believes to be best fitted for the office, regardless of party affiliations.

FRED WICHMAN.

Fred Wichman is one of the earlier settlers of Stanton county, Nebraska, and has always been intimately connected with all measures for the welfare and development of his community. It is to such men that the undeveloped region, in which they settled, has been transformed to a land

of well-cultivated farms and pleasant homes, and citizens who enjoy all the advantages of modern civilization. ' In the first years they spent in the county, they were obliged to journey to Fremont or Columbus to market their produce, or procure needed supplies. They made use of an ox team in cultivating their farms, and endured many priva- tions and hardships. All the members of the fam- ily were compelled to do their share in making the home and carrying on the farm.

Mr. Wichman is a native of Germany, born in 1849, a son of Charles and Pauline Wichman, and spent his early years in that country, where he received his education. The family left Prussia the latter part of the sixties, and sailed for New York City. They proceeded to Wisconsin, and carried on farming there about five years, then came to Nebraska.

Upon coming to Nebraska, Fred Wichman took up a homestead tree claim on section seventeen, township twenty-four, range one, and immediately started in to improve, building a frame house, fourteen by sixteen feet, and otherwise preparing for the comfort of the family. During the first few years, their crops were almost wholly de- stroyed by grasshoppers, and they had to work hard many times to protect their stock and build- ings from prairie fires. Mr. Wichman drove a drove of cattle through from Wisconsin, making the entire trip on foot. His father took up a claim on the present site of Norfolk Junction, and erec- ted a log house. When the family first came, there were a good many deer and antelope, and even a few elk. Mr. Wichman is a man of influ- ence and stability in his community, and has a large number of friends. He is one of the best known men of his locality.

In 1872, Mr. Wichman married Miss Minnie Neno, and six children have blessed this union.

CHRISTOPHER N. ROSE.

Located very pleasantly in section thirty-four, township twenty-seven, range five, Antelope coun- ty, Nebraska, is to be found the esteemed gentle- man whose name introduces this article.

Mr. Rose was born in Menard county, Illinois, November 13, 1865, the son of Christopher and Isabella (Parks) Rose. The mother died when he was a small boy, and he was reared by his maternal grandmother. His Grandfather Parks was a Scotchman, who came to America with his wife and daughter Isabelle, while the latter's hus- band was stationed in India, and here the boy was born. The voyage across was a long and hard one, made in an old sailboat from Liverpool to New York. Immediately after landing, they went to Sangamon county, Illinois, where Mr. Parks bought a farm near Springfield, and resided there for several years. Christopher Rose, senior. served as a British soldier for fifteen years, dur- ing which time he saw service in India, was in Gibraltar and the British Isles. While on duty in the Indies, he became so ill that he was ordered

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sent back to the mother country, where he soon passed away among his own people.

Christopher N. Rose came to Antelope county, Nebraska, in ,1895, from the state of Illinois, where he was reared on a farm, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of good land, which he has improved with a good set of farm buildings, fences and all modern improvements. Mr. Rose engages in mixed farming and stock raising, and the recent addition of a gasoline motor to his equipment, to be used for pumping and other farm work, has proved to be a profitable labor-saving piece of machinery, and the excellent condition and appearance of the entire farm be- speaks his prosperity.

Mr. Rose was married, September 27, 1901, at the residence of a neighbor, Mr. Charles W. Smith, to Miss Elizabeth Arboghast, who was born in Illinois. Mrs. Rose's parents were natives of Germany, who came to America, settled in Illinois, later went to South Dakota in its pioneer days, and there their children were reared. Two chil- dren have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rose, Christopher III, and Isabella, both of whom are typical bright and sturdy westerners, and the pride of their parents' hearts.

In political views, Mr. Rose is a republican. He takes a keen interest in local affairs, and since coming to the state has aided materially in its development, and the promotion of the general welfare of his section. Mr. Rose's home and fam- ily deservedly merit the respect of the community in which they dwell.

SAMUEL G. FULTON.

It would be impossible to give a true history of the state of Nebraska without including a sketch of the life of Samuel G. Fulton, who is one of the most prominent old settlers. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, April 14,,1853, fifth in a family of six or seven. His father, Andrew Ful- ton, was born in Scotland in 1810, and was a farmer. His mother, Margarett (Myers) Fulton, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, but her father was a native of Germany and her mother was of Scotch descent. Our subject's parents were mar- ried in 1844, settling in Belmont county, Ohio, and from there going to Monroe county, Ohio, where they were pioneers, having to cut their own roads through the timber when they moved.

Our subject's oldest brother, William M. Ful- ton, served the north in the civil war; he was al- most taken prisoner at Winchester, and partici- pated in the Siege of Richmond, when Lee sur- rendered.

Our subject, Samuel'G. Fulton, experienced all the hardships incidental to the pioneer days, and remembers the hailstorms of June 22, 1888, which destroyed all their crops; they got seventy bush- els of corn from seventy acres. In the blizzard of that same year, their only cow nearly froze to death. They had to burn hay in those days, and in

the blizzard, the snow drifted in around their hay so much they could not find it, and our subject had to carry buckwheat straw tied with a rope, getting lost in the blizzard trying to get to the house. Some deer and antelope were to be seen when our subject came, and one deer was seen to pass the house; Indians passing in wagons frightened Mrs. Fulton, but did no damage.

Samuel .G. Fulton was married September 2, 1875, to Miss Isabel Carter, of English descent, and they are the parents of eight children, whose names are as follows: William Forest, James El- wood, Charles Malvern, Samuel Clark, Margaret, Alva, Wallace, and Florence.

Mr. Fulton now owns four hundred acres of land, and is a highly respected resident, holding the esteem of all who know him. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is independent in politics, voting for the best man.

JENS FREDERICKSEN.

That diversified farming may be carried on suc- cessfully in Howard county, Nebraska, has been demonstrated beyond doubt by the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review. Al- though he has retired from active labors, Mr. Fredericksen has followed farming in Loup Fork precinct for many years, and is now classed among the wealthy men of his section, enjoying the respect and esteem of his fellowmen.

Jens Fredericksen was born in Denmark in July, 1844, and grew up there. In 1872 he left home and started to make his own way in the world, coming to America in that year, and after about two years spent in different parts of the eastern states, returned to Denmark, where he was married in 1875 to Katherine Mortensen. The fol- lowing year Mr. Fredericksen came to America, his first location being in Illinois. He remained there for about one year, then came on to Howard county, arriving here in the spring of 1877, being joined the following year by his wife and son Peter. He immediately took a homestead on section two, township thirteen, range twelve, and after putting up a rough dwelling, started to breaking land and begun farming. The family went through every phase of pioneer life, encountering many hardships and difficulties, but gradually added improvements to their place and as he became able, Mr. Freder- ieksen added to his acreage until he was proprie- tor of six hundred acres of fine land, all in first- class shape, supplied with good buildings, etc. He carried on mixed farming and stock raising, and as he was a good manager, everything he under- took seemed to make money, and he accumulated sufficient property to enable him to retire from actual work himself, now having his two sons, Peter and Carl, in charge of his interests and oc- cupving the farms, while himself and wife reside in Florida.

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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 59

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