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 87

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 87

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Mr. and Mrs. Menebroker are highly esteemed in their neighborhood, and enjoy the respect of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

WILLIAM DEDLOW.

While not one of the earliest settlers of Pierce county, William Dedlow, of Plainview, came but a few years after his father and brothers made the first settlement on Dry Creek, about a mile from where Plainview was established. Mr. Ded- low was born in the village of Ihlenfeldt, near the city of Brandenburg, province of Mechlen- berg-Strelitz, May 8, 1852. His parents emi- grated to America the latter part of December, 1866, a son, Frederick Dedlow, with a sister, having preceded the family two years. Embark- ing at Hamburg in an old sail ship, after a voyage of nine weeks and four days, the parents and re- maining children landed at New York and pro- ceeded at once to Wisconsin, where they settled in Jefferson county and made that their home for a few years, coming to Nebraska in 1871.

William, not being old enough to file on a homestead, remained in Wisconsin until 1879, where work was more plentiful and competent workmen were in demand. For four years of the six that he spent in Wisconsin, after the family migrated, he was employed in a cheese factory in Whitewater, becoming proficient in the craft. In March, 1879, he followed the old folks, and in 1880 filed on a homestead two miles east of Plainview, and a year later, with his young wife, began farming on the tract. He prospered from the start, and by his energy and industry, added to his landed possessions from time to time until his retirement from active life in January, 1910, when he was the owner of more than five hundred and twenty acres of Pierce county's finest land, all of which has been highly improved and kept in the highest state of cultivation.

Mr. Dedlow is a son of Frederick and Fred- ericka (Grehn) Dedlow, who followed their son, Frederick, to America in 1866, and in 1871 set- tled on Dry Creek, near the present site of Plain- view, being the earliest comers to this part of the county.

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The marriage of Mr. Dedlow was solemnized at Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Miss Kate Brown, a native of Wisconsin and daughter of William and Nancy (Freyer) Brown. Three children have been born to them: Frank, Inez, and Cora, married Herman Buchholz, and lives six miles south of Plainview ; Inez is the wife of Carl Ket- tlesen, of Lyman, South Dakota; their first born is a girl, Iona Catherine.

Mr. Dedlow is a republican, and from 1886 to 1892 served his constituents as county commis- sioner. He was attending a meeting of the board at the time of the notable blizzard of January 12, 1888, and, of course, was unable to reach home. His son, Frank, a small lad at the time, was com- pelled to remain at the school house during the night, a cause for great worry to the mother. A severe hailstorm in 1880 is well remembered by Mr. Dedlow, and he relates that pieces of ice as large as his fist fell at times and in some places broke through the roofs, and that for a long time after, dents where they had fallen were to be seen in bare places on the ground. When Mr. Dedlow first came to the state, deer and antelope were to be seen, but necessary work kept him too busy to spend any time hunting them. Prairie fires were frequent dangers, but no disaster befell the Dedlows from them.

After years of strenuous labor, the success that has attended Mr. Dedlow's thrift and in- dustry is such that he can, while still in the prime of life, retire from active farming and take his ease in the large, commodious home he huilt in Plainview during 1909-one of the most ele- gant residences in the east part of town.

JOHN J. EGGERS.

John J. Eggers, a public-spirited citizen and prominent old timer of Howard county, Nebraska, is owner of a fine estate in Kelso precinct.

Mr. Eggers was born in Holstein, Germany, September 7, 1856, and was the third member in a family of six children, being his father's name- sake. His boyhood was spent in his native coun- try, and in the spring of 1880 he started out to seek his fortune, coming to America in company with a sister, who, after a short residenee in this country, was taken ill and died. Mr. Eggers' first location was at Avoca, lowa, where he en- gaged in farming, remaining there for three years, then started alone with a single team and wagon to drive overland into Nebraska. His destination was Howard county, and immediately after arriving in section nineteen. township twelve, range eleven, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land on which he put up a rough shanty and started to build up a home. Here he spent four years, succeeding in getting the farm in good shape, and in August, 1892, sold his interests and bought another quar- ter seetion a short distance from that place, this

being partly improved land. He erected good buildings on the place, stocking it up well, and soon was enjoying a nice income and the well merited reputation of being one of the solid and progressive farmers of his section.

Our subject was united in marriage on Feb- rnary 24, 1888, to Lena Hendricks, also a native of Germany, who came to America in the fall previous to her marriage. She was the second child in a family of eight, her parents now living in Grand Island with three of their children, while another daughter resides at Cairo, Ne- braska. Mr. Eggers has one brother living in Hall county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eggers are widely and favorably known for their good qual- ities and hospitality, and they enjoy a pleasant home. In the spring of 1908 they left their farm and settled in Boelns, where they own a comfort- able residence and are surrounded by many friends.

VAN J. THOMAS.

Van J. Thomas, who resides in section twenty- three, township eighteen, range thirteen, Val- ley county, Nebraska, Is a son of Noah and Eliza (Seward) Thomas, and was born in Lee county, Illinois, January 21, 1846; he was fifth in a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are living. The father, who was of Welsh descent, is now deceased, having passed away in the year 1874, at Dixon, Illinois; the mother was a native of New York, she having died in April of 1846, in Illinois.

Mr. Thomas received his elementary educa- tion in the schools of his home state, where he grew to manhood. On December 30, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, First Illinois Light Artil- lery, known as Cheeney's battery, serving until the close of the war; he received his honorable discharge July 6, 1865. Decisive engagements participated in were at Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Kingston, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church. Siege of Atlanta. and many minor engagements and skirmishes. Much of his service was per- formed under the command of Thomas, who was a cousin of his father. After the war he returned to Illinois and attended Dixon college one year; then entered as a student at the Ames Business college in Syracuse, New York.

In March of 1869, Mr. Thomas left Illinois for Nebraska, coming alone across the prairie, partly by train and walking the rest of the distance; landing in Nebraska City, April 5, his financial resourees having dwindled to ten cents. How- ever, he soon secured work on farms and in other lines and got a start again. In the latter part of April, 1869, he homesteaded forty acres of land in Otoe county, living there until 1874.

On September 5, 1870, Mr. Thomas was mar- ried to Miss Emma Rodaway, who was born in England and came to America in 1861 with her

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parents, Samuel and Maria (Marshman) Rod- away, sailing from Bristol to Quebec in the "Ocean Queen," settling in Columbiana county, Wisconsin. Miss Rodaway was a pioneer teacher in Nebraska schools, having taught several years in Otoe county. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had eight children, namely: Rozella, wife of W. E. Barrows, has six children, and lives in Montana ; Isabel A., is the wife of C. E. Creager, they hav- ing three children, and reside in Colorado; Claud, who is married and has three children, lives in Greeley county ; Maude E., resides at home ; Flor- ence M., is the wife of A. M. Holman and has three children, the family residing in Garfield county, Nebraska; Bessie M., residing at home; and two children were deceased in infancy.

In 1874 Mr. Thomas purchased eighty acres of Baltimore and Missouri railroad land, in Otoe county, which was the home place until 1883. Mr. Thomas was the postmaster at North Branch, Otoe county, for ten years, under Grant's administration.

In 1883 Mr. Thomas moved to Valley county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-three, and pur- chased sixty acres of railroad land in section twenty-two, township eighteen, range thirteen, making a fine stock and grain farm which is still his home place. During his years in Nebraska Mr. Thomas has served in the various offices of his school boards for ten years.

Mr. Thomas is one of the earliest settlers of Nebraska, and has passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to frontier life. He is a successful man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been active church workers for twenty-seven years. They were charter members of North Loup Presbyterian church, of which church Mr. Thomas was elder.

Mrs. Thomas' parents are deceased, the mother having passed away in the year 1896, and the father in 1873, both in Nebraska; they were of English birth. Mrs. Thomas has two brothers and two sisters residing in Otoe county, Nebraska, and one sister in the state of Kansas.

Mr. Thomas lived for a time before his mar- riage in a dugout and during those days saw deer grazing on his winter wheat. When the family settled in Nebraska in 1867 Omaha was the cap- ital, and where Lincoln is now there was nothing but open prairie. He raised nothing in the dry year, 1894; July 26 of that year has been known since as the hot day. Hail destroyed his crops in 1875, and two years grasshoppers consumed his growing crops. While living in Otoe county a prairie fire came through, burning their barn and some of their livestock; here, too, they expe- rienced the worst blizzard in their lives during March, 1870. 14

GEORGE R. WYCOFF ..

George R. Wycoff, the popular ex-mayor of Madison, Nebraska, is well known throughout Madison county as a successful man. He is a man of sterling character and has an extensive ac quaintance, universally esteemed and respected in his community.

Mr. Wycoff was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, December 24, 1862, and was second of four children in the family of John M. and Mary Jane (Abbott) Wycoff, who had three sons and one daughter. The parents were both natives of Indiana, in which state the father died in 1867. The mother some years later was married to M. J. Knox, and they have two children, a son and daughter, and reside in Lebanon, Indiana.

Mr. Wycoff, the subject of this sketch, grew up to his young manhood days in Indiana, receiv- ing his early advantages in his native state, and going out for himself in his fifteenth year. He worked in a grocery store in Lebanon, Indiana, for a year, then became an apprentice in a car- penter shop. In his eighteenth year he formed a partnership with a co-worker and they became contractors and builders; and in October, 1882, he disposed of his interests in the business to his partner and came west, locating in the city of Madison, Madison county, Nebraska, accepting work on what was then the new school building. doing the inside finishing work. He continued to work on various buildings in Madison until he, in 1884, opened his own carpenter shop and be- came a contractor and builder.

In August, 1885, Mr. Wycoff accepted a posi- tion in the Ramey & Wyatt general hardware store, and was with this firm four years; Mr. Wyatt selling out his interest to Mr. Ramey in 1889, and Mr. Ramey one year later, in 1890, sell- ing out to William Parkinson. Mr. Wycoff re- mained with the store during these changes, and was with Mr. Parkinson until April, 1902, when the firm of the Hume-Robertson-Wycoff Company was formed to take over the Parkinson store, Mr. Wycoff becoming the active manager of the bus- iness. The company has large and extensive bus- iness interests in Madison, having large Inmber and coal yards, and grain elevator, etc., being one of the largest firms of its character in this portion of Nebraska.

Mr. Wycoff was married to Miss Jessie A. Crue at the home of her parents in Madison, Ne- braska, October 7, 1886, the Crue family being one of the older Madison county families. Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff reside in the same house where they were married, it now being one of the pleasant modern homes of Madison. They have had five children born to them, four of whom are living: Neal A., who attended college at Des Moines; Ruth, deceased; George R., junior, Elanore Irene, and Charles T., who resides under the parental roof, and are a pleasant family.

Mr. Wycoff served two years as mayor of

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Madison, serving his second term. In past years he has been a member of the city council for three years, and served some years on the school board. He is president of the Madison Commercial club, president of the Public Library Association, and connected with several prominent state business associations. He is identified with most of the fraternal and secret organizations of Madison, and is now serving his fifteenth successive year as venerable consul of the local lodge of Modern Woodmen of America; and is in his twelfth year as treasurer of the Madison County Agricultural Association.

In fact, Mr. Wycoff is a booster for his home town and county, and is closely identified with the business life of this section of Nebraska, and is always a leader in educational and social and moral questions.

Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff and family enjoy the friendship and esteem of a wide circle of friends.

STEPHEN N. SWEETLAND.

One of the most prominent old settlers of Sherman county, Nebraska, is the above named gentleman. For many years he was known as a most successful farmer, and for the last ten years has been a resident of Loup City. He has always been closely identified with all measures affecting the common good, or promoting the general welfare and is well known especially for his work along educational lines.

Stephen N. Sweetland was born on July 17. 1855, in Liverpool, England, and was the fourth of a family of six children born to Richard and Maria Furnace Sweetland. Both parents were of English birth, and both died in New York state, the father in 1890, and the mother in 1859. The father was married a second and third time, rearing four children of the half blood. Of the large family of children, only six remain, one brother in Colorado, one brother and three sisters in New York, and the subject of this sketch.

In the fall of 1856, while Stephen was but an infant, his parents emigrated to America, locating in New York, where the boy received his educa- tion and later engaged in farming.

In March of 1879, Mr. Sweetland came to Sherman county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the northeast quarter of section fourteen, township fourteen, range fif- teen, a few miles from Loup City, and at the same time also took up a timber claim in Custer county. The former homestead was the family residence for many years. This was subsequently sold, to- gether with all his farm property, and the pro- ceeds invested in a fine business block in Loup City, which was finished in May, 1909.

On November 12, 1885, Mr. Sweetland was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Goodwin, a native of Bremer county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Sweetland have had six children, four of whom

are living: Clarence R., now lives in Loup City, is married and has a son ; Leslie F., a graduate of Bellevue college, class of 1910, was superintend- ent of the Winnebago schools for a year, and in the fall of 1911 entered the Omaha School of Theology to enter the Presbyterian ministry ; Francis J., graduated from Bellevue in 1911, and was appointed principal of the Loup City high school, while Raymond S., is still attending the home school. The entire family is prominent socially and stand high in the estimation of the community.

Mr. Sweetland left the farm in 1901 and moved to Loup City, where he erected a beautiful modern home.

Mr. Sweetland is well known in educational circles, as he has served the public along this line for many years. He is now treasurer of the Lonp City schools, and while living on the farm served on the school board of district number thirty-six for twelve years. He has also served as county supervisor for district number three for six years, and several terms as township clerk, town- ship treasurer and township assessor, respectively. In 1901 he was elected county treasurer on the peoples' independent ticket, and served the pub- lic in that capacity for two terms. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. Sweetland has had a touch of real pio- neer life, having lived five years in a "sody," while a bachelor on his homestead, and lived two years in one after becoming the head of a new family.

FRED FISCHER.

The above named gentleman is one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of Cedar county, Nebraska. He is respected alike for his industry, ability and native force of character, and belongs to that great army of honest, hard- working farmers that Germany has contributed to the various western states. Never afraid of hard work, he has endured the toil and hardships of those early days, and his thrift, industry and integrity have brought him his present success. He has now a comfortable and beautiful home, pleasantly located on section thirty-two, town- ship thirty-two, and commands the respect of all who know him.

Mr. Fischer was born in Bronburg, Germany, in 1846, and is the son of Christian and Louise Fischer. He obtained his education in his native land, and in 1866, was called upon for military service.

Believing that America presented greater op- portunities for developing one's career, in 1870, the subscriber came to this country in a sailing vessel, the trip taking him seven weeks. He came first to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1876. In this year, he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, and bought his present home from Henry Tame

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for two hundred and fifty dollars. He also took up a timber claim a little later, of about eighty acres. Having so much timber near him, he was not forced to resort to the dugont which so many settlers used, but built himself a log "shack" fourteen by sixteen feet. which served him for a dwelling for six years. He remained here through all the discouragements of the early years, and as he became more prosperous, added improvements to his farm. He now has one of the best farms in the community, and is especially proud of his fine orchard, which comprises about ten acres.

In 1872, our subscriber was united in mar- riage to Miss Louise Kramer, and eight children have been born to them, only four of whom are now living: John, Edward, Mary, now Mrs. Joe Noacker, and Bernard.

ADDISON J. PARKER.

Addison J. Parker was born in Bellevue, Sarpy county, Nebraska, August 12, 1856, and was the eldest of three children in the family of Jason and Submitta (Wakefield) Parker. Two children died in infancy leaving Mr. Parker the only child of this union, but the father had five children by a former marriage.

Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm situated about two mlies southeast of Central City. Up to his tenth year he did not have the usual school advantages, as there were no schools within sixty miles, but after that age he had local school advantages, and in his twentieth year attended a graded school one year in New York state.

November 9, 1879, at the home of H. D. Rey- nolds, in Central City, Nebraska, Mr. Parker mar- ried Miss Almeda Reynolds, a sister of H. D. Reynolds, who were natives of New York state, the brother having come to Nebraska in 1871 and was joined by his sister in 1878.

Mr. Parker, in the spring of 1878, bought the first quarter section of land south of the Loup river that was put up for purchase at the time the Pawnee Indian reservation was thrown open for settlement in Nance county, Nebraska. Mr. Parker built on this land and prepared to farm and stock it. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Parker made Nance county their home until 1901.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker have had seven children born to them, two of whom are now living: Alpha A .; and Diton J., who married on June 26, 1907, Miss Alvina Holtorf, daughter of John Holtorf, at the home of the parents in Merrick county, and have one child.

May 1, 1901, Mr. Parker and family moved to Merrick county, going on their farm two miles northeast of Central City, where they resided five years. After selling this farm they then purchased forty acres adjoining the corporation limit of Central City to the southwest where they now reside.

While living in Nance county Mr. Parker served on the school board and held other offices in his township. He is now county supervisor of Lone Tree, Central and Prairie Island town- ships. having been elected first in

1909 to fill an unexpired term and re-elected in the fall of 1910 for the full term of two years. He is a self-made man, his boyhood being passed in the pioneer days when he went through all the experiences of early frontier life.

Mr. Parker has always been active and ener- getic along all lines towards the building up and advancement of his native home.

Trueman Franklin Parker, deceased, half- brother of the subject of this sketch, was born in New York state, June 13, 1841, and was the sec- ond in a family of five children, of whom one brother and two sisters reside in Merrick county, Nebraska. The parents (deceased) were Jason and Fannie (Conrad) Parker.

In 1856 the family went to Bellevue, Ne- braska, where they lived one year, then located in Potawatamie county, Iowa, for two years, after which Mr. Parker engaged in ranching in what is now Merrick county, Nebraska, and in 1863 homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section fourteen, township thirteen, range six.

On January 22, 1865, Mr. Parker married Miss Sarah Eatough, who was born in England and came to America with her parents in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Parker lived on the homestead until 1898, when they retired from the farm and moved into Central City, where Mr. Parker pur- chased a good home and lived until the time of his death, December 1, 1898, survived by his wife and five children: Ellice M., married to Doctor W. Y. R. Gawne, and living in Central City ; Frank, married, has seven children, and also re- sides in Central City ; Louis, married, has two children and lives on the original homestead; Della, married to Ralph Cox, has one child, and lives in Alma, Nebraska ; and Roy, who is married and lives in Central City, Nebraska.

Mr. Parker was a democrat, politically, and had the distinction of being the first judge of election of Merrick county. In April, 1867, he was appointed sheriff to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of P. S. Reed, who had been elected to that office. Later Mr. Parker served the county as assessor. He was prosperous and successful, and owned two hundred and sixty acres in Merrick county, as well as good city property. He was a public-spirited man of affairs, widely and favorably known.

Mrs. Parker lives in her Central City home surrounded by a large circle of friends.

Jason Parker, deceased, father of Addison .J., and Trueman Franklin Parker, was born in New York state in 1812, where he grew to manhood on a farm. Here he married Fannie Conrad and resided until 1856, when he came to the state of

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Nebraska and followed his occupation of farin- ing. Mr. Parker's first wife died in New York state following which he married Submitta Wake- field.

In 1856 Mr. Parker and family of wife and five children moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, where they remained one year, moving from there to Pota- watamie county, Iowa. After a residence of two years in the latter place they came to what is now Merrick county, Nebraska. Mr. Parker pre- ceded his family, coming here in April, 1859, when he took up a squatter's right and then returned to Iowa; and in May of the same year came with his family to this land.

About 1878 Mr. Parker went into the Black Hills, returning to Nebraska about 1888. In the later years of his life he made his home with his son, Addison J., in Nance county, Nebraska, until the time of his death which occurred in March, 1895.

This family has been prominent in building up this now prosperous section of the west.

GEORGE C. JAMES.

Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. James aided in no slight degree in the development of the commercial resources of this region and has done his full share in building up the schools, and has done all in his power for the betterment of conditions socially and politically.

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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 87

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