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 79

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 79

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Mr. Buckmaster was born .near Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio, December 14, 1847. His parents moved to St. Joseph county, Indiana, about 1853, and to Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1860, settling near Independence. The parents of

AARON Z. PERRIN.

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our subject were Joshua R. and Mary (Young) Buckmaster, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the former died in Iowa, and the latter in Ohio, the mother passing away when our subject was quite young.

The marriage of Mr. Buckmaster was solemn- ized at Jessup, Iowa, in January, 1875; the bride, Miss Mary E. Thomas, was born in the southeast- ern part of Iowa, whither her parents, Henry and Sarah Thomas, had moved when that country was sparsely settled. Mr. and Mrs. Buckmaster have one child living: Maude L., wife of Milford Kyle, a jeweler of Creighton; they have one son named Marvin W.

Mr. Buckmaster served nearly twenty years on the county board, and while teaching in Nio- brara in the early days, was appointed justice of the peace against his wishes; after dismissing the first case brought before him, he resigned. He served as collector two years, and a like period as township treasurer. During the time of his in- cumbency of the superintendent's office, he saw the schools of the county increase from sixteen districts, one of which is in what is now Holt county, to eighty-five. At that time there were only three frame school houses in the county, those at Niobrara, Blyville, and Bazile Mills; the others were sod or log buildings, and school was held in some districts in a dugout.

This was all open country in those days with deer and antelope still roaming the prairies. The famous "rustlers," Kid Wade and Doc. Middle- ton, were running off stock throughout the coun- try, and were frequently seen in Knox county. Mr. Buckmaster met them from time to time, but was never molested by either. Mr. Buckmaster was never canght out in any of the well remembered blizzards of 1880 or 1888, bnt was caught in the open south of Niobrara by one of the severe hail- storms that frequently swept the country, and had his buggy and team badly pelted by the fall of ice, but without injury to himself.

Mr. Buckmaster is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen, and wor- ships at the Episcopal church.

AARON Z. PERRIN.

Aaron Z. Perrin is one of the most prominent and successful business men of central Nebraska, and is recognized as a public-spirited and useful citizen. . He has splendid business qualities and has a reputation for integrity and upright deal- ing. A portrait of him appears on another page. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, October 4, 1863, sixth of the eleven children of Samuel and Sophia (Roubleau) Perrin. Ten of these chil- dren now survive, namely: S. W., of Lincoln ; G. F. and S. L., of Sargent; two sons in Cedar Rap- ids, lowa ; one son in charge of the United States government station at Balabac, Philippine Is- lands; Aaron Z .; Mrs. James D. Courtney, of

Omaha; Mrs. Granville Ivers, of Winner, Sonth Dakota ; Mrs. William Crinklaw, of Craig, Nebras- ka. A sketch of S. L., who spells the surname "Perin," also appears in this work. The father was of German descent, born near Cincinnati, Ohio, a civil engineer by profession, and settled in Custer county, Nebraska, where he took a homestead about 1884, dying there in January, 1888. The mother was born in New Orleans, Lon- isiana, of French parentage, and died in Lincoln, Nebraska, May 13, 1911.

Mr. Perrin was reared to young manhood in lowa, receiving the educational advantages gen- erally given in the common schools there, and in the spring of 1880, came to Custer county, where he spent four years with his brothers on the farm. March 1, 1884, he came to Sargent and took a po- sition as clerk in the general store of J. K. Spacht, remaining with him five years. In the fall of 1889 he took charge of a grain elevator in Sargent. This was put up by a Chicago firm before the rail- road went through Sargent, and after buying grain to fill the elevator they hauled it to Ar- cadia with teams and shipped it from there by rail carrying on the business in this manner for two years. In February, 1891, Mr. Perrin accept- ed a position as book-keeper for a chain of seven elevators bel nging to the Nash-Wright company, remaining with them until July 1, 1899, when he resigned the position and returned to Sargent with his family. By this time the railroad had been completed to the town and he erected a com- fortable modern home on a twenty acre farm tract three quarters of a mile north of Sargent, where he has since resided, and where he has set out trees and flowers and made many other im- provements.

In the fall of 1900, Mr. Perrin, in company with C. W. Parks, purchased the J. S. Spooner stock of hardware and implements, and in the fall of 1906 they were incorporated as the Sargent Hardware & Furniture company. They carry a full line of farm machinery and agricultural im- plements, and from a small beginning have built up an extensive trade. It is one of the largest and hest equipped business houses in central Nc- braska.

Mr. Perrin was married March 4, 1888. at Sar- gent, to Flora M., daughter of I. C. and Cynthia Tobias, of that place, and they have had four children, three of whom now survive: Otto, K .. a student in the state university; Clyde W., at. home; Marie Blanche, deceased; Ruth Gladys, at home. They are one of the prominent families of Sargent, prominent in social and educational circles, and have many friends.

JOSEPH B. COPLEY.

Joseph B. Copley, for many years a prosperous agriculturalist of Nance county, has retired from active work and now enjoys a comfortable home in Fullerton. He is known throughout that part

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of the state for the deep interest he has always exhibited in the welfare of his county and vicin- ity. He is a thorough western citizen, an enthus- iastic admirer and firm believer in the possibil- ities of Nebraska as a leading state of the Union, and during his residence here has accumulated a nice property, and gained the respect and con- fidence of those with whom he has come in con- tact in either a business or social way.

Mr. Copley was born in Delaware county, New York, on May 13, 1853. He was the fourth in a family of six children born to Joseph H. and Ruth Ann Copley, all of whom are deceased ex- cepting one sister now living in Colorado and a brother in Kansas. At the age of five years his parents moved to Knox county, Illinois, and there he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common and high school of Alton, Illinois, and as a young man interesting himself in farm- ing. In 1878 he came to Nebraska, locating in Howard county and remained one year, then came into Nance county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land on section tweny-five, township sixteen, range seven, built a rough dwelling and started farming. Although he had a hard time to get along during the early years, going through all the pioneer experiences in the way of discouragements from failures of crops, etc., he has been successful in the main, and is now proprietor of two hundred and twen- ty-five acres of choice land, also considerable val- uable town property. Mr. Copley is now (1911) serving his fifth year as treasurer of the Farmers' Elevator Company of Fullerton. This concern handled two hundred and twenty-seven thousand bushels of grain in 1910.

Mr. Copley is numbered among the earliest settlers in his section, helping to organize the first Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school in his neighborhood. He is now county superintendent of Sabbath schools. The first church and Sunday school was held in a sod school house, and in 1901 the church known as Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church was erected.

On August 28, 1878, Mr. Copley was united in marriage to Miss Sadie E. Richmond, of Winfield, Kansas, who was a very charming and accom- plished lady and a musician of considerable ability. Her death occurred October 26, 1881.

Mr. Copley married the second time Novem- ber 1, 1883, taking as his wife, Fannie M. Ells- worth, of Nance county, who had for some years been a teacher in the public schools. To them were born four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Arthur, who married Olive Sher- man, and is a Nance county farmer, and E. Mar- vin, who married Natalie Conard and is now operating subject's farm, and Lena May, living at home. The Copleys have a pleasant home and a host of warm friends.

LEWIS WLNA.

Bohemia has made a liberal contribution to the progressive citizens of the United States, and especially in the vicinity of the Niobrara valley, where several colonies settled in the wilderness before the Indian dwellers of the region had, by treaty, given over the surrounding country.

Lewis Wina was born in the town of Pisk, Bohemia, on September 25, 1866, and was but a few months old when his father emigrated to America. He settled in Michigan county, Wis- consin, and his sole cash capital was eighty dol- lars, which was considered at that time, a high premium, and such was the fluctuation of coin in those days, that the loan of it brought him a re- turn of about three hundred dollars. In about the spring of 1871, he came west to Nebraska, settling near West Point. Fremont was as far as he could travel by rail, the balance of his journey being made by wagon. He was met by an uncle who had established a brewery at West Point, and taken to his destination. When our subject's father landed in West Point, he had eight children and eighteen dollars in money, sixteen of which went to the land office in pay- ment for filing on land, the remaining two dollars purchasing a sack of flour. On the day he landed in the vicinity, Mr. WIna found work cutting wood, while his two boys, Lewis and Anton, carried it into a shed. For this the lady of the house rewarded them with a piece of cake, which was indeed a treat to them, and which tasted better to them than any they ever ate, before or since.

Lewis Wina was reared at West Point, getting but a limited education, his spare time from work being spent in the local schools. At the age of fifteen he secured a situation in a mill and learn- ed the miller's trade, continuing in the same up to the spring of 1910. In 1884 he came to Knox county, and in partnership with two friends, Messrs. Dusatko and Pavlic, established the mill at Verdegris, which he ran alone after the first year. In 1893 he came to Lynch, built a mill on the bank of Ponca river, and operated it success- fully until April 28, 1910, at which time he sold out to engage in other enterprises. During his career as a miller he. was confronted with serious obstacles at various times, one season the water running low obliged him to resort to the use of gasoline as supplementary power. Cash was necessary to obtain goods from the Standard Oil Company, and there was none to be had in the country with which to pay, his grinding being taken in toll. Thinking to supplement the natural flow of the stream with artesian water, a small well was drilled in 1900, and a larger one in 1904, which throws through a ten-inch pipe a volume of water large enough to form a large stream.

In 1905 Mr. WIna built a commodious bath house with a fine swimming pool, through which

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flows a stream of health-giving mineral water from the larger well, of the same temperature and properties as the famous waters at Hot Springs, South Dakota. This resort is a boon to the traveling public, as well as the citizens of the little town, and if "cleanliness is next to godli- ness", Mr. Wlna has done his full share to human- ity as a means of grace.

Mr. Wlna was united in marriage in Verde- gris, on September 28, 1892, to Miss Amelia M. S. Bartak, daughter of well known pioneers in that locality. Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wina, seven survive, as follows: Fred, asso- ciated with his father in business; Henry, Will- iam, Vernie, George, Alvin, and Anna.

Music is a trait strongly developed in the Bohemian race, and it is not lacking in this fam- ily, as with his three eldest sons, our subject conducts the Lynch orchestra, consisting of two violins, double bass, and cornet. The class of music which they produce is equal to that heard in orchestras of note in larger cities, and is a credit to the town of Lynch, as well as to the family constituting the organization.

Mr. Wlna and his family are devout members of the Catholic church, and he has the credit of having begun the movement which resulted in the erection of their house of worship at Lynch.

Mr. Wlna is a charter member of the Royal Highlanders and the Bohemian Benevolent Or- ganization, Z. C. B. J., he being one of the prime movers of the building project by which they. erected a sightly hall at the end of the municipal street in Lynch. He helped institute the lodge at Niobrara, that organization dedicating their fine new hall and opera house on June 17, 1910.

In political faith Mr. Wina has been a repub- lican since the campaign of 1888, when he diverg- ed from the political views of his father, who was a strong democrat. A teacher had shown to him clearly the political principles of both parties, and made it plain to him that the republican party was the truly constructive and progressive organization.

ALPHONSO L. YATES.

Alphonso L. Yates, well known to anyone familiar with the personnel of the farming com- munity in Boone county, Nebraska, is now a res- ident of Albion, where he settled a number of years ago, after having spent a successful ca- reer in the pursuit of agriculture in Boone pre- cinct.

Mr. Yates is the son of Asa and Mary Yates, born in Boone county, Illinois, on January 17, 1849, and was the eldest of their eleven chil- dren, all of whom are now residing in Illinois, except our subject and one sister, who is in Wyoming. The mother died when our subject was a boy, and the father's death occurred in 1874. Alphonso spent his boyhood in Illinois, at- tending the country schools, spending consider-

able of his time farming, and also engaged in different business enterprises as a young man. He was married on June 5, 1878, to Miss Retta Cramer, and in the fall of that year they came to Nebraska, purchasing a tract of land on section eight, township nineteen, range five, which re- mained the home place until 1902, at which time Mr. Yates sold the farm and moved to Albion, where he built a good home which he and his family now occupy.

Mr. and Mrs. Yates are the parents of one child, a daughter, Ruby, who married B. D. Childs, they having two children, and also being well known as prominent citizens of Albion. Two sisters of Mrs. Yates reside in California, another in Boone county, Illinois, and these with herself are all who remain of seven children in their family, father and mother both being deceased.

PAUL SCHELLENBERG.

Paul Schellenberg is located on section twen- ty-two, township twenty-five, range one. He was born near Berlin, Germany, in 1875, and is a son of Carl and Fredericka Schellenberg. He re- ceived his earlier education in his native country, and when about eleven years of age, accom- panied his parents to the United States. His brother, August, had secured land in Wayne county, Nebraska, for the low price of eight dol- lars per acre, and had made some improvements thereon, the place being purchased by him about 1889. August Schellenberg finds mixed farming a profitable occupation in his part of the state, and pays considerable attention to stock raising.

Paul Schellenberg has won the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, and has a rep- utation for upright dealings in business affairs. His father died in 1890, shortly after coming to America, and his mother is living with her son, August.

After coming to America Paul Schellenberg's father rented land, and Paul remained with him until his death. After the father's death, Paul began working out, which he has done most of the time, although he has rented land to some extent. In 1902, he went to Freemont county, Idaho, and homesteaded a claim, on which he remained two years and proved up on it, after which he sold and returned to Wayne county, where he has resided since.

LOUIS LEHMAN.

Prominent among the old settlers, although still one of the younger men of the community, paradoxial as it may seem, is Louis Lehman, who has spent his entire life in this county. He has been closely identified with the growth and development of the farming interests in this community for nearly forty years, and is widely and favorably known as an energetic, intelligent, and industrious farmer and citizen.

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Mr. Lehman was born in Stanton county, Ne- braska, in 1870, and is the son of Louis and Molly Lehman, of Brandenburg, Germany, who came to this country several years previous to his birth. They were in Wisconsin about fifteen years, and in 1868, with an ox team, took the long six weeks' trip across the states to Stanton county. They bought a homestead here, and first built a log house, where Louis was born. This same house served as a home for the family for twenty-five years.

The country was but thinly settled at that time, and Mr. Lehman enjoyed the life of a true pioneer child. At that time, it was not an infre- quent sight to behold deer and antelope on the prairie, not far away. Omaha was the nearest market, and it took a long time to make the trip to market and return. Mr. Lehman can tell many most interesting tales of life as it was then in those early days.

In 1900, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Miss Martha Wagner, of Stanton county. Four children have been born to them: Edna, Alice, Zelma and Elmer.

Probably no citizen of the county more fully appreciates and understands the wonderful transformation of this section, from a wild and uncultivated tract to its present one of thriving activity as an agricultural center, than does Mr. Lehman. He himself has aided materially in its development and is one of the most prominent and prosperous citizens of the community.

CHARLES WOLFE.

Prominent among Antelope county old set- tlers is Charles Wolfe, who since the spring of 1881 has made this region his home and done his share in the development of the agricultural re- sources of this section of the country. Mr. Wolfe lives in section four, township twenty-five, range eight, and is highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he has to do.

Mr. Wolfe is a native of Polk county, Iowa, born November 9, 1861. His father, John Wolfe, came from England to Pennsylvania, about 1830, and died when our subject was very young; his mother, Lydia (Miller) Wolfe, was a native of Germany, and died at the age of sixty-four years; at the time of her death she resided in Neligh, Nebraska.

On March 25, 1881, Mr. Wolfe came to Ante- lope county, and took up a pre-emption claim in Lincoln township. In 1897 he bought his present home in section four, township twenty-five, range eight, purchasing the land from John Cortyou, this farm having been originally the homestead of John Rynor, senior. This land was not much improved, only twenty acres of it being broken when our subject took possession. He now has sixty acres of it broken, and raises corn and oats; and also has five acres set with trees.

Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage to Miss Silvia Viola Kimes, June 6, 1887, and Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have had the following named chil- dren born to them: Archie, Grace, and Lue; and Alta, who died in 1890, in Oklahoma. She was

the eldest child.

Mr. Wolfe is fond of hunting, and in 1891 he with his wife went to Oklahoma on an extended hunting trip, and were gone three years, during which time they thoroughly enjoyed their out- ing and returned home well satisfied with their efforts.

JOHN MUMM.

John Mumm, a retired farmer, and a highly respected citizen of Plainview, first came to Ne- braska in 1885, reaching Antelope county Feb- ruary 20, and purchasing a quarter section of school land in Crawford township, seven miles southwest of Plainview. In 1895 he sold this and bought two hundred acres in the same town- ship, within two miles of Plainview, which he cultivated until 1903, in which year he retired and for three years resided in Plainview before actually engaging in farming again, which he did, in partnership with his son, Jacob, from 1906 to 1909, when the latter opened a store at Copenhagen, a station on the Burlington railroad nearby the farm. Mr. Mumm then sold the farm to his eldest son, John H., and again became a resident of Plainview, to take life easy the re- mainder of his days.

Mr. Mumm was born in the village of Hohn, Schleswig-Holstein, a province of Prussia, June 23, 1842. His father, Claus Mumm, died in 1844, and the mother, whose maiden name was Kate Storm, died three years later, leaving the boy to the care of strangers. His opportunities for school were very meager, and he early became inured to a life of toil. In 1865 he decided to cast his lot in the new world, and sailed from Hamburg on the "Germania,"' in the early days of November, landing in New York after a voyage of twelve days. He then went to Woodford, county, Illi- nois, where he found work during the rest of the winter, and from there he found his way to Kan- kakee county, Illinois, where for several years he was employed at farm labor.

About this time he married, and bought a forty-acre tract of land near Sherbornville, in that county, where he continued to prosper until his migration to Nebraska to secure a larger farm and enjoy greater opportunities. But the early years were not all sunshine; droughts blighted his crops, hail beat them to the ground when prospects were most flattering ; and at times when harvests were abundant, prices were so low it was hardly worth the hauling to take produce to the market. But with more prosperous days came greater successes; better improvements on the land and later larger acreage and more conven-

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ient homes were secured. The west has been good to those who had the pluck and energy to fight the hard battle to a finish.

Mr. Mumm was married in Kankakee county, Illinois, February 5, 1869, to Miss Louisa Buche, who was born in Wisconsin when her parents were following the construction of a railroad on which the father was employed. Her parents, John and Lena (Frahm) Buche, were natives of Prussia and Holstein, respectively, coming to America about 1848. Mrs. Mumm died Angust 22, 1910.

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mumm, three are living: John H., who has pur- chased the farm from his father and is making a success of it; Jacob, as before stated, is engaged in merchandising at Copenhagen, his health pre- eluding his remaining on the farm; and Katrina married Jacob Peterson, now a retired farmer residing in Plainview.

Mr. Mumm was reared in the Lutheran faith. In politics he is a republican.

Mr. Mumm has lived in Nebraska long enough to have witnessed one of Nebraska's three most noted blizzards. With a neighbor, he hap- pened to be in Plainview January 12, 1888, when the storm broke. They started for home, but within a mile of town the whirling icy snow be- came so thick they could not see their team. The neighbor, longer experienced in the west, coun- seled a return to town, knowing they would not likely reach home alive. They spent the night in town, returning home the next day to find all safe. One of the freaks of the storm was illus- trated on Mr. Mumm's farm: the chicken house was drifted full of the fine snow up to the roof, completely enveloping the fowls on the roost; most of them were alive by means of a small breathing hole through the snow, but they had to be dug out as a miner would dig out gold. The severe hail storm of 1890 played a prank on Mr. Mumm, taking a part of his oat crop but leaving his cornfields out of its path. Prairie fires were a source of danger in those days, but by care in plowing fire guards and fighting fires that did get under way, Mr. Mumm escaped the severe losses that many of the early settlers suffered.

Mr. Mumm has lived through hard times, and is all the stronger for having endured those early privations; but with others he rejoices that Prov- idence has vouchsafed him a life of comfort in his declining years.

NIELS NIELSEN.

Niels Nielsen, an enterprising and prosperous farmer and stockman of Howard county, owns a valuable estate in Warsaw precinct. He was among the very first settlers in the locality, com- ing here with a Danish colony in the summer of 1871, and has remained through all of the good, bad and indifferent times experienced by the pio-

neers of his adopted state. During his entire residence here Mr. Nielsen has taken a prominent part in all the important affairs of his county and state, and has become well and favorably known throughout his section of the country.

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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 79

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