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 95

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 95

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In 1908 Mr. Kost bought the farm known as the Patty Macken homestead, which he now owns. Mr. Kost and family live in a pleasant home, where they are surrounded hy a host of good friends and neighbors, and Mr. Kost is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.

FRED H. WITTEMYER.

Fred H. Wittemyer is a large landowner of Custer county and well known as a successful stockman and farmer. Although a comparatively young man, he has passed through many im- portant stages of Nebraska's history and in his youth met the diseouragements and trials of pioneer life. He was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, January 8, 1876, the younger of the two ehildren of John and Margaret (Smith) Witte- myer. The other ehild, a daughter, lives in Ar- kansas. The father, a native of Germany, came to America in 1850, and the mother was born in Michigan. He enlisted in Company E, Seventy- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving three and one-half years. He settled in Custer county in1884 and died in Sargent, August 31, 1906. His widow now lives in Sargent.

Mr. Wittemyer went with the family to Iowa when he was an infant and four years later, in 1884, on to Custer county. He was reared on a farm there and educated in local schools. In the fall of 1893 he purehased one hundred and sixty aeres of land on sections seven and twelve of township eighteen, range eighteen, and on Aug- ust 25, 1895, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Hattie (Lovejoy) Wittemyer, widow of Charles E. Wittemyer, who was born in Orford, New Hampshire, and came with her parents to Custer county in early life. She is a daughter of John H. Lovejoy and by her first marriage had a daughter, Gyneth Elizabeth Wittemyer. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wittemyer : Florence H., John, Jessie. Leonard, George and Beulah.

Mr. Wittemyer and wife established their first home on the farm he had purchased, and he has prospered in his operations so that he has been able to retire from farm work and since 1908 has lived in Sargent. He is one of the younger men among the early settlers and is widely and favor-

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ably known. He owns thirteen hundred and twenty acres of stock and grain farm land, well improved and equipped, and has made a specialty of breeding Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. He is active in local affairs and for several years served as treasurer of school district num- ber eighty-four. The family are prominent in so- cial circles and are representative of the best in- terests of their community.

EDWARD FORSBERG.

In reviewing the history of Cedar county, Ne- braska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among this number is accorded the gentleman above named. He has been for many years a resident of the county and is uni- versally respected as a man of integrity and ex- cellent characteristics. He now has a comfort- able home pleasantly situated in section twenty- three.

Mr. Forsberg is a native of Sweden, and was born in 1867 in Linkoping. He received his edu- cation in the schools of his native land, and helped his parents, Peter and Carlion Forsberg, on their little farm.

In 1882, our subscriber left Sweden via Got- tenburg, on the steamer "Irene," bound for New York city. He came to Henry county, Illinois, and worked on a farm six miles south of Cam- bridge, the county seat, for ten years. Then in 1884, he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, where he bought the farm which he has since occupied. He has made many improvements of late years, and his farm now is a picture of thrift and in- dustry.

Mr. Forsberg came to Nebraska when there were quite a number of settlers in this region, and for this reason escaped many of the hard- ships which fell to the lot of the real pioneer. However, he did not entirely escape discourage- ments, by any means. Even as late as 1894, he suffered quite a loss, when all his crops were a total failure owing to the hot, dry winds which prevailed.

In 1897. our subscriber was united in mar- riage to Miss Emily Magensen. Six children have been born to them, upon whom they have be- stowed the following names : Hilga, Ruth, Esther, Phoebe, Ida and Joseph.

THOMAS WINDFIELD.

Among the younger residents of Merrick county, Nebraska, who have come to the front in a remarkable manner through industry and faitlı- ful effort, the gentleman above mentioned holds a prominent place, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact.

Thomas Windfield was born in Menard county, Illinois, January 8, 1875, and was the third of

six children in the family of Troels and Hannah Windfield who had three son sand three daugh- ters born to them. Troels Windfield, wife and five children, moved to Howard county, Nebraska, in 1884, settling on a farm. Troels Windfield, his wife, and a daughter, Mrs. Amelia Rasmussen, now live at Grand Island, Nebraska, and a son, Thurman, at Burwell, Nebraska. The other chil- dren are deceased.

Thomas Windfield grew up in Howard and Merrick counties, receiving the common school education of that time, and by his own endeavors has mastered four or five languages, speaking the Danish, Swedish, German, and other tongues.

Mr. Windfield was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Lyda Wagner on April 12, 1898, in Merrick county, Nebraska. Mrs. Windfield's parents were Christ and Ernestine (Vogel) Wagner, both born in Germany. They came to the United States in 1878, and located on a farm in Prairie Creek township, and there Mr. Wagner lived until the time of his death in 1892. Mrs. Wagner is still living in Merrick county.

Mr. and Mrs. Windfield have had four chil- dren born to them: Lillian, Edgar, Clarence, and Mabel.

In June, 1898, Mr. Windfield purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the northeast quarter of section twenty-eight, township thir- teen, range eight, and eighty acres on section twenty-one. At the time of the purchase this land was in poor condition ; but is now one of the fine farms of Merrick county, well equipped, is supplied with good buildings, and has a modern house built thereon. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Windfield purchased two hundred acres-one hundred and sixty farm, and forty acres hay land. The farm land is in section twenty-two. He now owns four hundred and forty all in Prairie Creek township. He has made a success of farming and stock raising, and has always been ready to do his part toward the upbuilding of his home county and state, having served as township clerk of Prairie Creek township, and treasurer of school district number forty-two.

W. D. GRIM.

W. D. Grim, residing in Walnut Grove town- ship is an agriculturist of prominence in Knox county, and one of those substantial citizens whose integrity, industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska.

Mr. Grim is a native of Ohio, born in Ilar- rison county, October 31, 1845. His father was also horn and reared in that state, of German parentage, and he was a resident of his native state up to 1855, at which time the entire family emigrated to lowa, remaining there until 1873. During their residence in that state the father was located on a farm in Buchanan county. and part of the time our subject was with his parents.

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assisting in carrying on the home place. In October, 1873, they packed up their goods and came on to Nebraska, where the father filed on a homestead in section thirty-three, township thirty, range six, Knox county, their first dwell- ing, which was their home for several years, be- ing a log house. They went through pioneer ex- periences, suffering from all the drawbacks that fell to the lot of the early settlers in that region, but eventually succeeded in proving up on their land, and improving it in good shape.

W. D. Grim filed on a pre-emption claim for himself in 1873, but failed to prove up on it. He then filed on it as a homestead and as such proved up on it. This was the northeast quarter of section five, township twenty-nine, range eight. He then built a dugout and started farming, but had a hard time to get along during the first years, the grasshoppers and hot winds taking all his crops during three successive years. After that time, however, prospects were better; he was able to add to his acreage, and at the present time he has a fine farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, equipped with every convenience in the way of buildings, machinery, etc., and every part of the place bears evidence of the most care- ful management and thrift. This place is on the southeast quarter of section thirty-two, township thirty, range eight, which he purchased about 1896, but he has lived on it in the neighborhood of twenty years, having rented the farm previous to purchasing.

Mr. Grim was united in marriage October 8, 1868, to Miss Sarah E. Booth, and eight children have been horn to this union, who are named as follows: Frank P. Grim, who is dead, leaving a wife and five children : Stella Belle, wife of Charles Hamilton, and mother of six children ; Ella May, wife of Wm. Lester Clyde, and the mother of twelve children: Charles E., married, and having three children; George, who is dead; Ira, married, and having three living children ; and Mand, wife of Harry Yount, having one son. Another son, James, is also deceased.

Mr. Grim has rented his farm for the past few years, and of late he has been devoting his time to inventions, his spare moments being given principally to a flying machine propelled hy physical power.

GUSTAVE A. MOLLIN.

Gustave A. Mollin, a leading citizen of Genoa. Nebraska, and president of the Genoa National Bank, is recognized throughout that part of the state as a man of the highest responsibility and integrity of character, who has always been fully alive to the best interests of his county and state.

Mr. Mollin was born in Dane county, Wiscon- sin, on December 1, 1855. He is the fourth mem- ber in a family of seven children born to Alfred and Louise Mollin, and of whom but one sister

and his mother survive, the former, Mrs. H. Saare, residing in Newman Grove, Nebraska, and the latter making her home with her daughter.

Mr. Mollin came to Nebraska in the fall of 1879, locating at first in Richardson county, where he spent a little over a year, then settled in Genoa. There, in company with a brother, he engaged in the mercantile business. His brother lived but a few months after they started in busi- ness, and the burden of the work fell upon our subject, who continued it for a number of years, selling it out in 1895, and later purchased a two hundred and forty acre farm in Lancaster county, living on it up to 1901. At that time he returned to Genoa and connected himself with the Nance County State Bank, which was organized on August 2, 1899, with L. G. Stocks as president. Mr. Mollin became cashier of the bank in 1901, and two years later the institution received its charter to become the Genoa National Bank. In 1904 the bank was reorganized with the following stockholders: Edward L. Burke, D. A. Willard, Jacob Jernberg, Bengt Mortensen, E. M. Spear, Alfred M. Mollin, and G. A. Mollin. E. L. Burke was elected president and G. A. Mollin cashier, and the following year our subject succeeded to the presidency, and his son, Alfred M., was made cashier, both still holding these offices. The bank is on a solid basis and is doing a very large busi- ness, ranking among the very first in that part of Nebraska.

Mr. Mollin was married on November 30, 1881, to Alta M. Cook, who was born in New York state, and prior to her marriage was a teacher in the public schools there. Mr. and Mrs. Mollin have had five children, four of whom are living, named as follows: Alfred M., Stewart G., Fernand E., and Flora M. Mr. Mollin is one of Nance county's substantial men of affairs, alive to the best inter- ests of his county and state, and enjoying the highest reputation as a man and worthy citizen. During the years 1892 to 1895 inclusive, he served as county supervisor, also as township treasurer for seven years, and was director of his school board for many years.

LEN B. GORMLEY.

The first family to settle in Butte was that of John D. Gormley, father of the man whose name heads this sketch, and Len was the first white hoy to play on the open prairies where the town now stands. John D. Gormley came to the site of Butte in the spring of 1890, and secured a claim in the school section on the north edge of town, but finding it devoid of water, transferred his interests to the quarter section just south, which was later dedicated to the town site. Here the following year the county seat was estab- lished by proclamation, and later by the vote of the citizens of the county. The elder Gormley came to Nebraska from Vinton county, Ohio, in

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the spring of 1883, and settled on a homestead seven miles south of Stuart, where he followed ranching some seven years, until his removal to Boyd county in 1890. Here he opened a general store and continued in business for fifteen years. in the meanwhile purchasing a ranch west of Butte. He traded largely in stock, feeding large droves of cattle and hogs each year. In 1905 he removed to Herrick, South Dakota, where he is engaged in the real estate and stoek business.

Len B. Gormley is a son of John D. and Har- riett (Halley) Gormley, to whom were also horn two daughters, Mary and Rosa, who, with their mother, reside in Butte. Our subjeet was born in Vinton county, Ohio, June 16, 1879, and was little more than an infant when the family re- moved to the ranch south of Stuart. He has no recollection of the state of his birth, and is typi- cally a westerner. Most of his education was se- enred in the schools of Butte, and as soon as he attained sufficient age he took his place as sales- man in the store, as well as by his father's side in his cattle dealing, and became thoroughly fa- miliar with both the drovers' life and the store- keeper's vocation. Since his father's removal to Herrick, Mr. Gormley has continued stock trad- ing and farming as well, having eighty acres of fine corn land west of town. He frequently rents additional acreage and raises some years nearly five thousand bushels of corn, part of which he feeds, selling the remainder in the open market. He farmed a small tract, his home place, on the north edge of town and devoted the rest of his time to stock trading until recently, when he moved to the country to engage in farming on a larger scale.

Mr. Gormley was married October 31, 1902, to Miss Dora Hull. a native of lowa, and daughter of Martin Hull, whose life in Nebraska is given at length in this volume. Of the four children born to this family two survive: Calvin and Joy. One little one's life was lost and the mother's face severely burned by the explosion of a lamp in which gasoline had been accidentally mixed with the oil. Mr. Gormley was himself severely burned while reseuing his wife and child through a window. The case was carried into the federal courts after a judgment was rendered against the Standard Oil company. but later a com- promise was effected through which Mr. Gorm- ley received a substantial amount, but nothing can compensate for the loss of the little one and the mother's suffering.

Mr. Gormley well remembers the fatal bliz- zard of January 12, 1888. He was hut a small lad at the time and fortunately was at home when the storm struck. His father had hitched the team to go to town and, hearing a noise, looked out upon the approaching wall of frozen mist. To safely go from house to barn at feeding time, the father used a rope between the buildings or he might have been lost in the short space inter- vening between the house and harn. One severe

hailstorm is firmly fixed in the memory of Mr. Gormley. He was at work in the field a quarter of a mile from home, when he heard the roaring of the approaching hail. He ran and escaped most of the storm, but was pelted severely before reaching shelter. Twenty chickens and some. hogs were killed, and large lumps were to be seen for days on the horses and cattle from the bruises made by the large chunks of falling ice. The house they were living in was a "soddy," and the elder Gormley had just covered the sheeting with a fresh coat of paper ready to lay the outer covering of sod. After the hail there was not enough left of the paper to cover a shingle. Ice and rain had beaten through the boards and soaked everything in the house. The family lived in the sod house seven years, and later had a frame dwelling. Mr. Gormley has seen deer and antelope since coming to Boyd county, but was too small to hunt at that time. One crossed the road near their house, soon after they first located at Butte, passed south aeross the lot where the court house now stands and was later killed on the south side of the butte below them. Hunters from Whetstone Creek at one time brought five deer on a sled to the elder Gormley's for sale.

Mr. Gormley learned the Sioux language, and when a boy, could converse quite well with the Indians, but from disuse much of his vocabulary has been forgotten. During the Indian scare in 1892, the Gormley family rested comparatively easy in mind. Swift Bear, the chief, was a friend and promised to warn if any danger threatened, which fortunately it did not. Prairie fires caused much labor at times, fighting the flames for hours or even days; and these alarms annoyed them every spring and fall when the Indians burned the prairies.

JOSEPH PELSTER.

Joseph Pelster, a prosperous agriculturist and one of the leading citizens of Boone county, Ne- braska, is one of the pioneers of that region. His pleasant home and valuable estate is situated on section three, township twenty-two, range seven, where he has spent the past seventeen years.

Mr. Pelster was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on April 1, 1861, and remained in that vicinity until he was nineteen years of age. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of three boys and four girls born to John II. and Elizabeth Pelster, who were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1858, locating in Ohio in that year.

One son, Conrad, went to Kansas in 1880, and our subject joined him there immediately after- ward, the two engaging in farming.

Joseph Pelster was married in Seneca, Kan- sas, on November 28, 1882, to Miss Margaret Honvlez, who was reared in Illinois. The young couple came to Boone county the following year, and rented land for some time, finally purchasing some land in section three, township twenty-two,

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range seven, in 1893, and this has been their home farm since that time. Mr. Pelster has worked faithfully in building up a good home and has met with marked success in his efforts, having a well improved farm, fully equipped for both grain and stock raising.

Our subject is one of the really old-timers of Boone county, and has passed through all the var- ious changes that have taken place, being himself an important factor in this progress. He came into the locality overland from Kansas, in com- pany with his brother Conrad, and in the party there were also Joseph Schlipf, John Moser, An- tone Znent and Martin Kitzhner, all well known old settlers of Boone county.

Mr. and Mrs. Pelster have twelve children, all born in Boone county, and named as follows: Albert, John, Joseph, Edward, Theresa, (the two latter twins), Barney, Katie, Louis, Adolph, George and Nora, (twins), and Leonard, all liv- ing at home with the exception of Albert, John and Theresa, who are married. They are a most interesting family, and have been a help and blessing to their parents in their eareer here, all filling honorable positions in life and popular with all whom they come in contact.

Mr. Pelster has in years gone by been closely identified with the best interests of his com- munity, holding different precinct offices.

W. I. JAMES.

For over a quarter of a century, this gentle- man has been closely identified with the growth and development of Wayne county, Nebraska, and is counted among the most prominent set- tlers of that region. He is proprietor of a very valuable estate located on section thirty-six, township twenty-seven, range one, east, where he has made a comfortable home for himself.

Mr. James was born in 1851, in Wales, and was the son of William and Mary James. His father was a small farmer, and the subscriber re- mained at home until twenty-eight years old, re- ceiving his education in the local schools, and helping his parents in the farm work.

In 1880, Mr. James decided to emigrate to America, and embarked at Liverpool on the old steamship "Egypt" for New York. He came first to Iowa, where he remained four years. In 1884, he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and pur- chased the farm on which he now resides. His first dwelling house was a dugout and he lived here for four years. He kept bachelor's quarters until 1899, when he was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. James. Three children have been born to them: Artie, Edna and Wilma, all of whom are living.

Mr. James has suffered from the usual dis- couragements attending a settler's life on the prairies. However, he had faith in the country and remained there, and has now received his

reward. He has always taken a commendable in- terest in local public affairs, and has always done his part in helping to develop the agricultural resources of the country. Mr. and Mrs. James oc- cupy a prominent position socially and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

S. BURTWISTLE.

It would be impossible to give a sketch of the history of northeastern Nebraska without in- cluding much of the experiences of Mr. S. Burt- wistle, who is one of the most prominent of the old settlers. For forty years he has been a con- tinnous resident of Stanton county, and during that time he has been closely identified with every measure which has had as its object, the ultimate improvement of all conditions in the community. He is a man of untiring energy and perseverance and by honest efforts, has become one of the well- to-do men of that locality.

Mr. Burtwistle was born in 1858, in Canada, and is the son of Richard and Melissa Burtwistle. The father was a native-born Englishman, while the mother was a Canadian by birth. The sub- scriber received his early education in Canada, and remained at home with his parents in his na- tive town.

In 1870, with his parents, Mr. Burtwistle came to Stanton county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead about two miles west of Pilger, which they proceeded to improve and fit up as a place in which to pass the remainder of their lives. They suffered considerably from the grass- hoppers during the first few years of their stay, and were several times compelled to fight prairie fires in order to save their home from destruction.

In 1879, Mr. Burtwistle was united in mar- riage to Miss Ellen Spence, of Stanton county. Soon after, he bought his present farm in section twenty-six, township twenty-four, range two, east. Sinee his possession, the farm has been im- proved by the addition of necessary buildings, fenees, wells, ete., until now it is as good a farm as can be found in the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Burtwistle are the parents of three children, named as follows: Ethel, now Mrs. Alven Barr; Harold, and Anna, now Mrs. Arthur Barr. Mr. and Mrs. Burtwistle are prominent members of the community and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends.

JOSEPH FISHER.

In the person of Joseph Fisher, mentioned above, we have another of the sturdy sons of Germany who left their native land in their young manhood and came to America to carve out for themselves a name and fortune in the land of liberty and freedom.

Mr. Fisher was born in the village of Camk,

JOHN PATON, DECEASED.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Bavaria province, Germany, February 14, 1844, and is a son of Wolfgang and Holtzer Fisher. Our subject was reared and educated in the old country, and served his native land from 1866 to 1871 in the army, and participated in the war be- tween Germany and Austria, and Germany and France, during which strife he received a wound. Mr. Fisher left Germany on the steamer "Waisser," and was thirteen days on the ocean, to come to America, the land of promise, in the spring of 1872, and after reaching New York, he came west to Indiana, remaining there until fall, then went to Carroll county, Iowa. In 1898 he came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought a farm of five hundred and twenty aeres.

In 1873 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Anna Benzkoffer, who was also a native of Rosenheim, Germany, and came to America when she was three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are the parents of a fine family of eleven children, whose names are given as follows: Mary, who married M. Rebeck, lives in New Mexico, and has three children; Lizzie, lives at Creighton, Ne- braska, married to Otto Rebeck, has three chil- dren ; John, married to Pauline Mock, has four children, lives at Creighton, Nebraska; Joe; Frank, who married Ada Newhearst, has two children, lives at Brunswick, Nebraska; Jacob, married Rosa Woolley, and Albert, Louise, mar- ried to Fred Sulsdorf; Rose ; Peter ; and Amanda.

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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 95

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