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 81

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 81


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238


Mr. Kremer was married in Pennsylvania, September 25, 1877, to Virginia A. Aldrich, and they have had four children, two now living.


During the earlier years, Mr. Kremer took an active interest in establishing the schools in his locality, and served on the school board in dif- ferent capacities.


JOHN STORY.


Pioneering runs in the blood of some families, the spirit of the frontier being transmitted from father to son for generations. Of such timber is John Story, the veteran merchant of Butte. His parents, William and Susan (Bayne) Story, were early settlers of Louisa county, Iowa, where John was born. The father was a native of Ireland, and he died in Kansas at the age of sixty-six. The mother, who was born in Kentucky, passed away in Iowa, having traveled in life's journey beyond the sixty-third mile-stone.


John Story's birth occurred in the town of Wapello, September 14, 1846, and here he grew to manhood, married, and engaged in farming near his native city until his migration to the Nebras- ka country, of which glowing reports had reached far beyond the eastern borders of the Hawkeye state. Mr. Story's advent to Nebraska dates from April, 1883, when he settled in Rock county, fourteen miles northwest from Stuart, filed on a homestead and timber claim, and for seven and a half years lived the life of a ranchman in the new west. When the Indian country north of the Niobrara and Keya Paha rivers was being thrown open to the white settler in 1890, Mr. Story sold his ranch in the fall of the year and drove over- land to the new town of Mankato, two miles south- east of where Butte was located a year later, and here opened a hardware store, the first of the kind in the new territory. When, a year later, the eounty seat was established by proclamation at Butte, Mr. Story cast his fortunes with the new town and moved his stock over to the town site, again being the first in his line in the infant me- tropolis. Since that date, Mr. Story has been con- tinually in business and has built up a trade ex- tending into adjoining eonnties and across the border into the neighboring state. IIe carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, and other goods of that elass on demand. His square deal- ing has won for him the confidence of a wide cir- ele of patronage that has remained with him against all competition.


Mr. Story was married in Wapello, Iowa, No- vember 4, 1869, to Miss Caroline Weber, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of George and Rachel (Hartman) Weber. Of six children born to them, four are living: Rosanna, wife of James A. Me- Laughlin, cashier of the Citizens bank of Butte, George William, who with his mother is propri- etor of the leading general store in Butte; Stella M., and Harvey H., the latter proprietor of a clothing store in Butte.


Mr. Story is a democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the fraternal order of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. When Mr. Story first settled in Rock county, deer and antelope were plentiful, and he has often seen a herd of deer grazing on the hills a mile away when following the plow in his fields, but being too busy farming to follow the chase, he never killed any of the larger game. During the Indian scare of 1892, Mr. Story felt little uneasiness, and when at Stuart on business one day, found its citizens in a worse nervous condition than the people of the newly opened reservation. The state of feeling was best illus- trated to him when he noticed that there were but three passengers on an incoming train from the east, and that every car was packed the next morning when the train left for Omaha and be- yond the Missouri. Many of the passengers never returned to the west, but those who did return have had no occasion for regret. The old chief Yellow Horse, was a great friend of Mr. Story, and promised to let him know if any real danger should arise, a promise that would have been faithfully kept.


Mr. Story had the usual experience of the pi- oneer in the west; prairie fires had to he fought, blizzards were encountered, and the crops were laid low by the hail, of which several storms passed over the farm when he was living in Rock county. His goods, during the early years he was in business in Boyd county, had to be freighted aeross country from Atkinson until 1902, when the railroad was extended up the Ponea valley. There were ferries at some places on the Niobrara river, and at other places pontoon bridges, ford- ing the treacherous stream being fraught with danger. Mr. Story did not for years live, as most pioneers do, in a sod house, but on coming to Boyd county, that was the only dwelling avail- able at Mankato, and for ten months he lived in a "soddy" in the new town.


Pioneering had its drawbacks, but it had its pleasures, too, and a frequent expression of the first settlers, reconnting the hardships of those early times is: "Those were the happiest days of our lives."


FRED E. CULVER AND ALANSON CULVER.


Alanson Culver, a well-known old-timer of Ne- braska was one of the original forty-niners who


373


COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


traveled overland to California in the search for gold, and, like many others of those memorable times, was sadly disappointed in his quest. How- ever, he became successful later in life in the pur- suit of agriculture, and at the time of his death, January 26, 1891, was classed among the well-to- do residents of his section.


Mr. Culver came into Boone county from Dane county, Wiseonsin, in 1877, and made homestead entry on one hundred and sixty aeres in section twenty-five, township twenty, range six, returning to Wisconsin for his family in June, the following year. He engaged in farming and stoek raising, and followed that work during his entire career. He was always active in building up his loeality, was progressive and a leading man of affair's in all township and county.


Mr. Culver was survived by his wife and four sons, the former dying March 3, 1911. She made her home with her youngest son, Fred E. Culver, and was a charming woman.


Fred E. Culver, youngest son of Alanson and Mary J. Culver, was born in Dane county, Wis- consin, on July 12, 1871. When he was seven years of age, he eame to Nebraska with his par- ents, and has made this state his home, with the exception of five years, np to the present time. He attended the local schools of Boone county, and has practically made his own way since he was seventeen years old.


Mr. Culver spent five years in the lumber woods in Wisconsin, doing all sorts of work there, and gained a wide experience of camp life. He returned to Nebraska in the fall of 1893, and for some time was agent in Boone county for a large fruit tree firm, later connecting himself as a part- ner with a general mereantile store in the city of Boone. In addition to a good stock of merchan- dise, the company ran a creamery department, and also dealt in stoek and grain. Our subject continued in this business for four years, then dis- posed of his interests, and since that time has been engaged in different enterprises, giving consider- able attention to the stock business, feeding, buy- ing and selling horses.


Mr. Culver is now located on a fine farm situ- ated on seetion twenty-seven, township twenty, range six, fully equipped for grain raising and as a stoek farm, and is becoming one of the prosper- ous and leading citizens of his section. He also owns besides his other interests, considerable range and farm land in western Nebraska.


On December 15, 1897, our subject was mar- ried to Miss Nellie A. Postle, the ceremony taking place at the home of the bride's parents near Boone. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have two sons, Ivan Justin and Alanson Frederiek, bright and inter- esting youngsters, and the pride of their parents' hearts.


CHRISTOPHER PIEPER.


Among the older settlers of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have acquired a very fair degree of success in farming and stoek raising, may be counted Christopher Pieper, who has made his home there since about 1881. He is a native of Lippe Detmold, Germany, born in 1851, and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Pieper, who spent their entire lives in Germany. Mr. Pieper was left an orphan when still a small boy, and had to look out for himself at a tender age. He was educated in his native country, and lived there until about thirty years of age.


In 1881 he left home, came to America and soon afterward bought a tree claim in Wayne county, which he has since owned. This land is well located on seetion two, township twenty-five, range one, and contains rich, fertile soil. He has spared no pains to make all possible improve- ments and now has a fine estate, with a comfort- able home, and has also added to the value of the place by planting a grove twelve acres in extent and consisting of fruit and shade trees. He is an industrious and energetic farmer and everything on his property speaks of thrift and prosperity.


In 1884 Mr. Pieper was united in marriage with Miss Mina Holbert. Three children have blessed this union. Mr. Pieper and his wife have always been much interested in educational mat- ters and have been prominent in social circles, both having many friends.


WILLIAM LUBKE.


One of the prominent old residents of Stanton county, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketeli. He has resided in this part of the country, for many years, and is regarded as one of the most successful and influential farmers of the community. He has a comfortable home, located very pleasantly in section nine, township twenty- three, range one, east.


Mr. Lubke was born in 1842, in Pommeron, Germany, and is the son of Charles and Freda Lubke. The subscriber spent his childhood years in Germany, and obtained his early education in the German sehools.


When he was twenty-five years old, he decided to cast in his fortunes with the new world, and accordingly set sail from Bremen in a small sail- ing vessel, which took seven weeks for the trip to New York City. Upon his arrival in the United States, he came directly to the central states, then regarded as the west, and remained in Wis- eonsin for three years.


By this time, he wanted to get further away from the well-settled portions of the country, to a place where land was cheaper and where there would be more chance for a young man to start out for himself. Accordingly, in 1870, early in the spring, Mr. Lubke came to Omaha by rail, and from there walked to Stanton county, where


374


COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


he took up his present homestead in May of that year. He put up an adobe house first, which served as a home for himself and family for four years, when a frame house was built.


In that same year, Mr. Lubke was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Minska, and he took his bride at once to the new homestead. Their first few years there were very discouraging, as they lost their crops because of the grasshopper plague. Prairie fires, too, were a source of constant anxiety. The country was still so new that deer and antelope were quite plentiful, and a few elk were occasionally seen. Gradually their fortunes brightened, and from time to time, improvements were added to their farm, until now it is among the finest in that region.


Mr. and Mrs. Lubke have had twelve children born to them, but only three of them-Carl, Ida and Amel are now living.


Taking it all in all, a sketch of Mr. Lubke's life really shows a striking example of what may be accomplished by the exercise of industry, per- severance and good management, for he came to this state practically without much means, and has now achieved a signal success in his chosen calling.


JASPER N. AUBERT.


Jasper N. Aubert, residing on section twenty, township twenty-seven, range five, of Antelope county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the lead- ing citizens of his locality. He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its development and growth from the time of its early settlement.


Mr. Aubert was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, November 3, 1854. His father, William Aubert, was a farmer, who died when our subject was but two years of age. William Aubert came to Ameri- ea from Germany at the age of fourteen years. He married Phoebe Carle, who was born in Mary- land of Scotch deseent, in 1801, her death oc- curring abont 1865. Jasper's boyhood was spent in his native state. In the fall of 1874 he came to Nebraska, locating in Saline county, where he worked out for one year, then moved to Antelope county and filed on a claim, which is his present home. When he landed in this region his money was about gone, so he was obliged to seek work in order to get a start and provide the necessaries of life. He found employment with the construc- tion gang of the Northwestern railroad company being put through from Plainview to Creighton, later was on the main line from Neligh to Valen- tine and in Iowa from Sac City to a distance of sixty miles north. After accumulating a little money he returned to his homestead, on which he built a dug out and batched it for two years, with occasionally a visit to a neighbor who furnished him with meals when desired, the latter also occupying a sod shanty.


During his early years as a pioneer Mr. Aubert


suffered many discouraging experiences, to all of which the early settlers in the western country were subjected. On July 28, 1890, also June 23 of the same year, his crops were totally lost by hail storms, and in 1894 he suffered severely financially through the droughts which prevented any crops being raised. In the blizzard of Janu- ary 12, 1888, he had all of his cattle in the corral before the storm struck, but was fortunate enough to get through it without any serious mishap such as was the experience of so many who were caught in the dreadful storm.


Mr. Aubert was married January 22, 1884, to Miss Lucy Fletcher, daughter of Wm. Fletcher, the ceremony taking place in Willow precinct, two miles from our subject's present home. To Mr. and Mrs. Aubert four children have been born, who are named as follows: Roy, Oscar, Edward and Esther.


Mr. Aubert has on his farm one of the finest bodies of timber to be found in the west, con- sisting of a grove of ash and walnut covering fourteen acres, and extending for half a mile along the south side of his quarter seetion tract, which he acquired some few years after taking his original homestead, making in all three hun- dred and twenty acres. A fine bearing fruit orchard is one of the notable improvements of the place, adding much to the income and the living of Mr. Aubert and his family, and all this, together with a complete set of substantial build- ings, makes the farm one of the most valuable and desirable in this section of beautiful Ne- braska.


HANS THOMSEN.


Hans Thomsen, a well-to-do farmer and a lead- ing citizen of Pierce county, Nebraska, whose residence is located on the northeast quarter of section five, township twenty-eight, range three, presents in his own career a striking illustration of the field of opportunity this northeastern county abundantly offers the ambitious, as well as the rich results that have long waited on in- dustry and integrity.


Mr. Thomsen was born November 20, 1865, in the village of Sturdebuell, providence of Schleswig, Germany, and is the son of Paul Henry and Marget (Jensen) Thomsen. The father was born in 1835, and served in the Danish army in the war with Germany in 1864. The mother was born in 1840.


Our subject left Germany from Hamburg on the steamboat "Raetia," landing in New York after a voyage of twelve days. He came to Dodge county, Nebraska, in 1885, and in 1890 came to Pierce county, where he settled and has remained to this day. He bought his land from the Gam- mel Land Company, owning three hundred and twenty acres of fine improved soil, the last half of section five. Ile rents eighty acres of pasture across the road, and raises two carloads of cat-


375


COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


tle each year. His large nine-room house was rebuilt in 1908, and the big barns and other buildings were all built by our subject. He also has a fine grove.


Mr. Thomsen was married in 1892, to Miss Matilda Hladick, who is a native of Bohemia, born in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Thomsen are the parents of five children, whose names are here given : Anna, Hannah, Henry, Katie and Bertha. They are of the German Lutheran faith, and Mr. Thomsen votes the republican ticket.


Mr. Thomsen and family have a pleasant and comfortable home, and all our subject's time is spent in improving this and surrounding himself and family with all the comforts of a rural home. They have the respect and esteem of all who know them.


PAUL NIELSEN.


Paul Nielsen, numbered among the leading pioneers of Howard county, Nebraska, is owner of considerable valuable property in that region. He has built up a splendid farm, passing through all the hardships and discouragements incidental to the development of the same, accumulating his possessions by dint of industry and thrift, and now enjoys an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen. In 1908 Mr. Nielsen retired from active farm life, purchasing a fine residence in Danne- brog, where with his family he resides, all being well known and highly esteemed throughout the community.


Mr. Nielsen was born in Denmark on Septem- ber 12, 1855, and grew up in that country. At the age of sixteen years he came to America with his mother, one brother and a sister, the father having emigrated here in 1870, one year previous. They located in central Illinois, remaining there for two years, when all came to Howard county, Nebraska, the father taking a pre-emption on section twelve, township thirteen, range twelve. Later he released this land and homesteaded on the same section, where they began to build up a home. Paul worked for his father for a number of years, then bought a homestead owned by his sister, consisting of eighty acres, and started to develop a farm for himself. He started in the stock raising business, became fairly successful, and was soon able to purchase another forty acres near his original homestead, which he de- voted to grain raising, putting it in principally to wheat. Besides this he bought forty acres of school land, and several years afterwards sold part of this property and bought other land on section eighteen in Dannebrog precinct. Although starting out with practically no capital but his strong heart and willing hands, Mr. Nielsen has accumulated a fine estate. He never had the ad- vantage of schooling except a few months in the ยท year after coming to this country, but solely by his diligence and determination mastered the


English language and made considerable progress along other lines of study, at the present time being a man much above the average in intelli- gence, well read and up-to-date on all events of public interest. He is owner of half a section of fine land, also considerable town property, and is recognized as one of the leading and wealthy citizens of his locality.


On January 20, 1883, Mr. Nielsen was married to Anna Cecelia Christensen. She is a native of Denmark, and came to America in 1882 to join two sisters, who had come here some little time before. They immediately settled on the farm and together worked faithfully to gain a competence. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have a family of ten children, who are named as follows: Martha M., living at home, Annie Christina, wife of Peter Nielsen, residing on a fine farm two miles north of Dannebrog; Willie C., who lives on his father's farm, Helena, wife of Magnus Jacobson of Dannebrog: Arthur A., Tora, Einer, Edna, Bessie and Gilbert, all living at home, except those who are married.


Our subject's mother lived on their original homestead, until she reached the advanced age of ninety-three years and had the distinction of being the oldest woman resident of Howard county at the time of her death, which occurred on February 4, 1911.


Mr. Nielsen is a populist, although he has never taken an active part in politics. For a number of years he acted as moderator of school districts thirty-one and seventy-four, and since coming to this region has done his full share in aiding in the upbuilding of his county and vicin- ity.


JAMES A. OLLIS, Sr.


James A. Ollis, senior, son of Mathias and Catherine (Armstrong) Ollis, was born in Mont- gomery county, Indiana, September 8, 1828, and was fourth in a family of seven children ; he has one brother living in California, the other chil- dren being deceased. The father was of English birth and died in 1838 in Hancock county, Illi- nois, and the mother was a native of the state of Ohio, her death occurring in 1882 in Kansas. In 1836 the family went into Illinois, locating in Hancock. county, where Mr. Ollis received his education in the little log school house of the early days in Illinois, and later engaged in farm- ing.


On March 2, 1854, Mr. Ollis was married to Miss Martha Brown, who was born in Ohio. Mrs. Ollis died in March, 1880, survived by her hus- band and five children: John M., who died in 1878 ; James A., who is married and lives in Mira Valley, and has eight children; Mary C., wife of George Stancliff, resides in Texas, and they have four children ; Sarah C., died June 1, 1909; and Elizabeth A., who is married to Oliver Cromwell and resides in Ord.


376


COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.


In the spring of 1884 Mr. Ollis came to Valley county, Nebraska, and purchased four hundred acres of land in Mira Valley, which remained the home place until 1904.


On November 2, 1901, Mr. Ollis was united in marriage to Lanra S. Ragan of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ollis have one child, Clyde L., who resides at home.


In 1904 Mr. Ollis retired from the farm and moved to Ord, building a good home where he now lives. He has been prosperous and success- ful, owning two hundred and forty acres of his original four hundred acres of fine stock and grain land, aside from considerable city property.


Mr. Ollis has been an active public-spirited man, serving as justiee of peace for four years ; also as township assessor in 1890; he also served as moderator and treasurer of school district num- ber nine over ten years. He is a man interested in all pertaining to the welfare of state and eoun- ty, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.


While Mr. Ollis has reached the very mature age of eithty-three years, he enjoys good health and is still very active and interested in all the affairs of life.


GEORGE HEUERMAN.


George Heuerman, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Madison county, Ne- braska, has been a resident of that locality for many years. He is prominently known through- out the county as one of the foremost farmers and stock men in Nebraska, and after many years' hard labor in building up his business is now pre- pared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends. Mr. Heuerman has now retired and lives in Battle Creek.


Mr. Heuerman is a native of Germany, born January 20, 1840, in the province of Aldenburg, the son of Herman and Anna (Lueeschen) Heuer- man, the latter having died when our subject was two years of age.


In 1868 Mr. Heuerman left his native land for America, embarking at Bremen on the steamship "Deutschland," and for two weeks was on the water. After landing in New York, where he re- mained one week, Mr. Ileuerman went to Wiseon- sin, where he lived one year in Milwaukee, work- ing there in a mill for thirty-five dollars per month.


In 1869 he came to Omaha, Nebraska. There he bought a pony and rode to what is now known as Norfolk, but at that time the town consisted of but one building, which was the postoffice and store combined. This building was made of logs, and was sixteen feet by fourteen feet. Ile then proceeded to Madison county, where he took up the homestead on which he now resides. Ile first built a log house in which he "batched it" a few years ; in 1873 he built a frame house, hauling the


lumber from Columbus, fifty miles distant, this dwelling being sixteen feet by twenty-four feet, and twelve feet high.


In the pioneer days many hardships and disap- pointments, owing to erop failures, ete., were ex- perieneed by the sturdy sons who braved the un- known dangers of this region; the dronths and grasshopper pests were about the worst causes of calamity, the latter eating up every vestage of crops, leaving a bare, rough surface where a short time before their coming had been luscious, thriving vegetation. During this period ten dol- lars was all the money that Mr. Heuerman had to spend in a year. In the first year of his residence here, he experienced the hardest blizzard he ever saw, that of January 1, 1870, which lasted three days, and in that storm and one later during the winter, which was a severe one, he lost consider- able stock. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days on the western frontier, and could fre- quently be seen in herds grazing on the open prairie.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.