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 82

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 82

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Mr. Henerman was united in marriage July 4, 187I, to Miss Emily Fanske, a native of Wiscon- sin, and Mr. and Mrs. Heuerman are the parents of seven children, four of whom are living: Min- nie, Bertha, Ella, and Herbert.

Mr. Heuerman now owns two hundred and ninety acres of fine land which is well improved with good buildings and a beautiful home. This is an ideal farm, the beautiful Elkhorn river run- ning through the land, being a natural source of irrigation to the fine groves of trees that line the river's banks.

JOSEPH C. HINES.

Among the old settlers of Cedar county, one of the most prominent is the above. Not only is he noticeable because of his long residence in the county, but also because he is one of those pro- gressive and aggressive citizens, whose persever- ance, integrity, industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the natural wealth of the state, and have contributed so much to its development and growth.

Mr. Hines is a native of New York state, and was born there in 1832, the son of Joseph C. and Mary Hines. The father died when the subscriber was but a small boy and the bringing up of the little family devolved upon the mother.

Mr. Hines remained in New York state with his mother until 1857, when he fell a victim to the "western fever" and eame to Illinois, which was then one of the western states, locating at Gene- seo. in Henry county. He remained in this state until 1875, when he again pushed westward and eame to Cedar eounty, Nebraska, and bought his present home. This was in the early days of the settlement of Nebraska, and deer and antelope were quite plentiful. The nearest market at that time was Yankton. Dakota. When Mr. Ilines built his first pioneer eabin, the cottonwood lum-

"RIDGE LAWN FARM," RESIDENCE OF J. C. HINES.

"RIDGE LAWN FARM" VIEW ON J. C. HINES' PLACE.

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ber was hauled a considerable distance, from Jones' mill.

Mr. Hines suffered all the usual vicissitudes of an early settler's life, and it probably seemed to him at times that he had even more than his share of the prevailing misfortunes. The very first year of his residence in Cedar county, the grasshoppers took every bit of his crops, thus making it necessary for him to start anew the next year. Prairie fires were of common occur- rence, and many times Mr. Hines and his family were compelled to fight the fire for hours in order to insure the safety of their little home. Even as late as 1894, all crops were a failure owing to the prevalence of hot, dry winds, which destroyed everything growing.

However, Mr. Hines was one of those persever- ing men who will never own to being defeated. When crops were destroyed one year, the family existed somehow until time for the next year's crops to be harvested. Improvements to the home and farm were added gradually, and more land was secured from time to time, until at the present time, Mr. Hines owns about three hundred and twenty acres of well improved farming land, most of it under cultivation. There is about ten acres of timber near the home, all of which was planted by himself. An interesting view of the place ap- pears on another page.

Mr. Hines was united in marriage to Miss Julia Frost, of Geneseo, Illinois, and they are the parents of four children, all of whom are living except one. They are named as follows: Emma S., Eva C., deceased, twins; Hamlin F., and Wil- liam.

By reason of their long residence in the county, Mr. Hines and his family are unusually well known. They have been prominent factors in the development of the community in all lines.

WILLIAM A. PIERCE.

William A. Pierce, of a prominent and well known family of Custer county, is a native of Mower county, Minnesota, born March 8, 1865, fifth in order of birth of the eight children of James and Jane (Hunt) Pierce. A sketch of the father appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Pierce received his education in his Minnesota home and at the time his parents came to Custer county he remained behind to come with the car- load of household goods and machinery which was shipped to Grand Island and hauled by wagon to the homestead farm. He joined the family some little time after the others had reached the new home and remained with his father until going out into the world for himself in his twen- tieth year. He and his brother Alfred began farm- ing and raising stock in partnership and this con- nection lasted about fifteen years to their mutual benefit.

He was also an original homesteader, having secured a pre-emption when he reached his major- 13 1%

ity and his homestead some time later, and he still owns a portion of his pre-emption, which is located in Somerford valley.

On October 30, 1901, at Lakeland, Brown county, Nebraska, Mr. Pierce was united in mar- riage with Etta May Stevens, a native of Minne- sota, and daughter of Franklin and Annie (Cox) Stevens, her father a native of Maine and her mother of Wisconsin. The parents were married in the latter state in 1864. The mother died in Minnesota in 1886 and the father still lives there. Of their children, the following survive: Mrs. Pierce; Charles lives in Antelope valley, Custer county ; Edwin B., lives in Brown county, Ne- braska; Olive lives in Cherry county.

At the time of his marriage, Mr. Pierce closed out his partnership with his brother Alfred and continned in the stock business alone. In 1910 he came to his little farm adjoining Sargent on the north. He is one of the self-made men of the county and has a fine family and a pleasant home. He and his wife have three children: Edith, Annie, Emily Jane and Lonella May.

HENRY L. PECK.

Born in the west and western bred, Henry L. Peck, editor of the "Randolph Times," is essen- tially western in all his thought and sympathy. His birth took place at Anamosa, Iowa, March 17, 1868. His father, L. B. Peck, a merchant of Ana- mosa, is a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Iowa in 1856. The mother, a native of New York, was born in Cortland county and married in Ana- mosa, Iowa. .

Mr. Peck began his journalistic career before he had fairly completed his course in the high school. He was employed about two years on the "Anamosa Eureka," and an equal period on the "Journal ;" he was also employed at the case in Monticello, La Grand, Gladbrook, and Rockwell City, in the latter place about two years. Return- ing to the east part of the state, he was on the staff of the "Pioneer," at Cascade, for five years, from which place he started to the west.

In September of 1900, he came to Randolph. purchased the "Times" when its circulation was at a low ebb and at once began to install new life into it; the circulation has steadily increased from year to year until it now has a paying sub- scription of over eight hundred, with a good pat- ronage in its advertising columns. The job de- partment is fully equipped for all classes of work. and an excellent quality of the art preservative is turned out from the "Times" print shop.

Mr. Peck was married in Anamosa, Angust 27, 1895, to Miss Gertrude Burch, a native of Iowa, and daughter of M. G. and Jane (Gleason) Burch. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peck, namely: Neva, Floyd, Dorothy and Gertrude.

Mr. Peck is a true-blue republican, giving the candidates and policies of that party his hearty

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support. He is a member of the Presbyterian church; he affiliates with the Ancient Order United Workmen and the Odd Fellows, the lat- ter of which he is the past grand, and has been their representative in the grand lodge; for six years he has been secretary of the Northeastern Nebraska Odd Fellows' Association, an auxiliary organization intended to promote better acquaint- ance and fellowship in the fraternity.

THOMAS FAUQUIER.

Among the leading citizens of Merrick coun- ty, Nebraska, none stands higher in the minds of his associates than the gentleman here named. For many years he has been a resident of this section, and with his family enjoys the comforts of a pleasant rural home, and the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

Thomas Fauquier was born in Keokuk, Iowa, October 8, 1860, and was the youngest of three children in the family of Ephriam and Margaret (Gosnell) Fauquier, who had two sons and one daughter born to them. The father was a veter- an of the civil war, enlisting in Company C, Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry from Birmingham, Iowa, in September, 1861, and died in Benton bar- racks from exposure and cold contracted during the Siege of Vicksburg. He was survived by his widow and three children.

The family moved from Iowa to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1866, and to Danville, Illinois, in 1868, and in the fall of 1872, our subject's mother and her three children, Charles, Lizzie, and Thomas, came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and made homestead entry on the south half, southeast quarter, and south half, southwest quar- ter, of section twenty-two, township thirteen, range eight, and this has been the home farm until this date.

Thomas Fauquier, from his twelfth year, grew up in Merrick county on the old farm, which is still his home plaee, and also that of his mother, who is now in her eighty-seventh year. His brother, Charles, now lives in Holt county, Ne- braska, and his sister, Lizzie, who was the wife of George W. Welton, is deceased. She left seven children.

Mr. Fauquier was married to Miss Bell Bruno, November 21, 1897, on the Gosnell farm, just north of his own home.

Mr. Fauquier grew up to manhood in Merrick county a farmer and stockman, and he is one of the few pioneer boys that still live in their old original homestead farm. He is at the present time deputy county assessor in Prairie Creek township, and also moderator in school distriet number twenty-eight. He has always been a strong democrat. Mr. Fauquier is a man who has always taken his part in the upbuilding of his county.

Mother Fauquier is a woman of the pioneer days who brought her little family into Merrick

county in the early years to brave whatever the future held in store for them; and they are today one of the well known families of their section, and hold the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends.

Mr. Fauquier is a man of sound principle, and possesses the sterling qualities which when combined go to make the perfect man.

VACLAV VLASNIK.

Like so many of the citizens of the northern part of Knox county, Nebraska, the subject of this review is a native of Bohemia, born in the village of Lhota, Cheslav District, on December 8, 1863. His parents came to America with their family in 1867. In his native land the father was employed in the sugar refineries of the beet dis- trict, and was familiar with the entire process of sugar making. He was also a first class car- penter, following that work when not needed in the sugar factory. On reaching New York, they immediately crossed to New Jersey, where Mr. Vlasnik secured farm work and followed that occupation during one year, then taking his fam- ily to Chicago. There he found employment in a planing mill part of the time, and filled in with various other kinds of labor, until 1870, at which time he joined a colony of fellow countrymen who were coming west to find homes and satisfy their desire for land.

From Chicago the colony traveled to Sioux City by rail, thence by boat to Niobrara, which was then located on the old site on the river bank. Here the colony divided, some settling in Yank- ton county, South Dakota, others coming on to Knox county, our subject's family settling on a claim near Pishelville. All went very well for a few years, but in 1873 and 1874 the grasshopper raids reduced them to the very lowest ebb of poverty, leaving nothing to feed people or stock. When later crops were secured, there was little market for the products, many carrying a little produce to Fort Randall, twenty-five miles away, and through a country filled with unfriendly Indians, who were at all times a menace to the white settler. Horses were beyond the means of many of the pioneers, and some carried their products to market in a wheelbarrow. Six fam- ilies living rather near together pooled their money and bought a pair of oxen which they used in common.

Our subject received but a scant education, but through experience and observation he has become a thoroughly well informed man, having a knowledge of the world and its people that is sufficient to make him stand high among his fel- lowmen. Ile remained under the parental roof until the age of twenty-three years, then settled on a claim for himself, located in Cherry county, Nebraska, and spent three years in farming. From there he went to Rapid City, South Dakota,

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himself and wife keeping boarders to make a little money, as there was nothing else for him to do. He decided to go to New Mexico for settle- ment, and started on the way, but traveling sonthward he fell in with a party of emigrants from that region, so turned back at Colorado Springs, feeling that a country which the people were leaving in such numbers certainly could not be a very desirable location.

He soon afterwards came into Knox county and engaged in business, in Niobrara, continning some sixteen years. In the spring of 1904 he became interested in the Niobrara Roller Mills Company, which he still manages, turning out an excellent grade of flour and meal for the local trade.

In the fall of 1909, Mr. Vlasnik was given the preference for sheriff of the county, and although the county is normally republican, and he a democrat, he carried the election by an over- whelming majority, taking the reins of office on January 1, 1910. Those who know him best testify that he is a man of undannted conrage, to whom fear is a stranger, and will not be a disappointment to those who have placed him in office.

Mr. Vlasnik is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, Woodmen of the World and of the Bohemian Benevolent Society, Z. C. B. J., while Mrs. Vlasnik is a sister in the Order of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Vlasnik was married on September 19, 1886, to Marie Tomek, and to them have been horn three children, two of whom survive. Their daughter, Anna, who after graduating from the Niobrara schools, attended the Belleview college, and later graduated from the State Normal at Pern, has taught two successful terms in the country, and since the fall of 1906 has been one of the efficient members of the faculty on the city schools of Niobrara. Mr. Vlasnik's only son, George, completed his course in the city schools, and afterwards entered the State University, from which he will gradnate with the class of 1912. The family enjoys a wide circle of friends and their home is one of the most comfortable and hospitable spots to be found in a day's travel.

WILLIAM S. AGNEW.

For over twenty-five years the gentleman whose name heads this personal history has been associated with the agricultural and commercial interests of East Newman precinct, and is one of the well known old settlers of Nance county. Mr. Agnew is proprietor of a fine tract of farm land lying three miles southeast of Fullerton, also has a beautiful residence in the town, where he has resided since retiring from active labor several years ago. Besides this prop- erty he has considerable land in North Dakota, all of which has been accumulated by persistent and honest labors, gaining for himself

a high reputation as a loyal friend and snp- porter of the best interests of his locality.

William S. Agnew was born in Park county, Indiana, on November 12, 1836, and is a son of Gibson and Eleanor Agnew. His boyhood was spent in his native county, and at the age of fifteen years he accompanied his parents to Cedar county, Iowa, where his father settled on a farm and they worked the land together for about ten years, then took a farm for himself, remaining in Iowa up to 1884, when he came with his family, consisting of wife and three children, to Nance county, Nebraska. Here he purchased four hun- dred and eighty acres situated three and a half miles east of the then small town of Fullerton, lived on the place for three years, then traded it for a stock of dry goods in Fullerton, and car- ried on the business for two years, at which time he again located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased, and which has been their home since that time up to 1907, when he quit active farming and now rents his land.

Mr. Agnew married Mary C. Barclay, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, at Tipton, Iowa, January 24, 1861. To them have been born six children, as follows: ' Arthur C., Irwin C., who died in 1863, Loretta J., died in 1864, and Eleanor, in 1897; Mattie, wife of Rufus Lumrey, residing in Omaha; John G., living in North Dakota. Be- sides their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Agnew raised and educated a grandson, Floyd C. Agnew, who is now in North Dakota. The entire family are held in the highest esteem by their associates.

Mr. Agnew was director of his school district during the early years of his residence here, also held the office of road supervisor. He is an ardent Presbyterian, and has been elder of that church for forty years.

WILLIAM M. SMITH.

Nebraska as it was known at the time of the civil war is known to but few of the remaining residents of the state, partly because there were comparatively few citizens of the state at that time, and partly because that few has been dis- seminated by death.

Mr. Smith was born in Boone county, Iowa, May 5, 1855, a son of Solomon and Rebecca (Dai- ley ) Smith. The father was a native of the Cum- berland mountains, near the border land between Kentucky and Tennessee, and the mother's na- tivity occurred in Ohio. They came at separate times to Fulton county, Illinois, where they were married. They later moved to Wappalo county, Iowa, from which place they moved to Boone county, in the same state, where they resided until migrating to Nebraska in 1864. Crossing the river at Nebraska City, the family settled in the small village of London, near Peru, in Ne- maha county.

Mr. Smith grew to manhood near London and resided there until 1880, when he moved to a

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farm near Syracuse, in Otoe county, which he operated some three years, having married dur- ing the time. In the spring of 1883 he came to Holt county, having settled on a pre-emption claim some six miles east of Eagle Mills, and where he also secured a timber claim. After six and a half years here he moved to Platte Center, in Platte county, where he resided for a like period before trying his fortune in the state of Missouri. Malaria drove him out of Cedar county, of that state, within seven months, and he found an asylum in Boyd county, Nebraska, and settled three miles south of Spencer, where he lived two years. The summer of 1900 was spent in Cherry county, six miles northeast of Wood Lake, near where some of his kinsfolks lived. In December of that year, they became residents of Jefferson county, Iowa, where they bought the farm belonging to the mother of Mrs. Smith, and resided until their return to Boyd county, in March, 1903. For a year Mr. Smith and his son operated a rented farm, and since that time he has resided in the town of Spencer. IIe is an expert carpenter and has work at hand the year round. He learned the trade from his father, who, besides being a fine craftsman at carpentry, was a good wagon-maker as well, and his skill with wood-working tools did not end here, for as fine cabinet work came from his bench as from any artisan in all the region.

Mr. Smith was married December 24, 1882, at Libertyville, Iowa, to Miss Saletha Hall, a na- tive of Van Buren county, Iowa, a daughter of William and Annie (Dailey) Hall. Her grand- father, Jacob Dailey, attained the unusual age of ninety-four years, and one of his daughters lived to be nearly the same age. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : George, works with his father at the carpenters' trade; Raleigh lives in Spencer in a neat new cottage overlook- ing the Ponca valley; and Ora May and Anna, the two latter at home.

Mr. Smith is a republican in political views, and works for the candidates bearing the party hanner.

At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Smith was at the barn caring for his horses when the storm broke. IIe remained there until after one p. m., carried water for his stock, and then tried to find his way to the house, which, of course, could not be seen at the distance of a yard. Twiee he lost his way in the short dis- tanee between the two buildings before he got his bearings and found himself safely within doors. He has fought prairie fires, as have all western men of early days, and he has encount- ered some of the severe hailstorms that at times sweep over the west. His brother was returning home on the third of July, 1884, when such a storm broke over them. Mr. Smith, grabbing a bread board from the kitchen, rushed ont with it over his head to open the gate that his brother, whose horses were frantic, might get safely into

shelter. Life in a "soddy" is not unknown to Mr. Smith, he having twice lived in that com- fortable sort of dwelling.

At the time it was necessary to have the vig- ilance committee, Mr. Smith was living in Holt county, and at times his residence served as court honse and jail. The outlaws were captured and given legal trial wherein judgment was regularly rendered against them.

Nearly all of Mr. Smith's relatives have re- moved to the coast, four of his brothers residing in the Hood River valley, Oregon. One of them drove through to his destination, from the east, with an ox team yoked to a covered wagon.

Mr. Smith has an acquaintance with the red man and his ways, and among his personal friends of this race is the famous old chief, Yellow Horse.

CHARLES W. CULVER.

Among the representative farmers and stock- men of Boone county, Nebraska, who have aided materially in the development of that region, striving to advance the best interests of the com- munity whenever possible, a prominent place is accorded Charles W. Culver, who resides on sec- tion twenty-seven, township twenty, range six, where he lives on his farm of one hundred and seventeen acres. His beautiful home is called "Elm Place."

Charles W. Culver was born October 30, 1857, in Dane county, Wisconsin, the son of Alanson and Abigail (Hatch) Culver, and was sixth in a family of eleven children.

In the spring of 1878, Mr. Culver came to Boone county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land twelve miles north of Albion, selling the same a few years later, when he purchased one hundred and seven- teen acres on section twenty-seven, township twenty, range six, where he now resides, as before stated. He also owns one-half section of fine farming land one and one-half miles south of Albion. Mr. Culver deals in fine stock, and makes a specialty of short horn cattle and Po- land China hogs. Mr. Culver has served his community well in a way that has brought credit to himself and satisfaction to his people. He has served as assessor from 1886 to 1890, inclusive, and was treasurer of school district number twenty-three, which office he filled faithfully for ten years.

Mr. Culver was married on December 24, 1885, to Miss Sarah R. Williamson, a native of Delaware county, lowa, who came to Boone county in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have had two pairs of twin boys: Verne A., who is a graduate of the State University, and interested in the wholesale hardware business in Salt Lake, Utah; Vere S., graduated from the State Agri- cultural College in 1907, and in 1910 completed the course in technical agriculture ; he was a mem-

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ber of the international dairy judging team of 1908, sent from the State University to Chicago. He was also a member of the international judg- ing team of 1909, and the American Royal judg- ing team. Both boys are members of the Young Men Christian Association. Warren W. resides at home, and Thomas is deceased.

Mrs. Culver was teacher of the first school in Boone, Nebraska, for one year, then returned to Hopkinton, Iowa, where she taught for five years; and then came to Albion in 1881, where she taught in the city schools until 1886.

Mr. and Mrs. Culver have passed through all the trying experiences of the early pioneer, and are well and favorably known.

CHARLES MAAS.

One of the successful farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, is Charles Maas, who has taken a foremost part in the upbuilding of his commu- nity, and has developed a fine estate, where he now resides. He was born in Germany in 1858, a son of Gottlieb and Minnie Maas, who emi- grated to America in 1884 and came direct to Wayne county, where the father died in 1909. The mother is now living at Hoskins. In boy- hood, Charles Maas helped his parents and attended the public school, and was reared to farm work. His parents had six children.

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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 82

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