History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 106

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Nebraska > Custer County > History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time > Part 106

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own hands and by his own efforts, so that in this he offers a good illustration of what pluck and energy can do when applied in the right direction on a Custer county farm. He is a member of the Methodist church, as was also his wife, who passed away May 9, 1917.

FRANZ KOBL. - The blood of Moravia, Bohemia, flows in the veins of some of the staunchest citizens of Custer county. They have been pioneers and among the first and best of our citizens. One of these is the ster- ling citizen whose name is recorded above.

Mr. Kobl was born in Moravia in April, 1837, and he is a son of Wincil and Sarah Kobl, who spent their entire lives in Moravia. They became the parents of five children, but Franz was the only one who ventured so far from home as to come to the United States. He landed in this country in 1881, and came directly to Custer county, where he at once selected a homestead. Here he lived in a sod house for sixteen years, after which time he was able to build the splendid farm residence the family now occupies.

In 1882 Mr. Kobl married Marie Jelenek, and of the children of this union eight are liv- ing: Fannie is the wife of Joseph Kopecka, living in Oklahoma ; Mary is the wife of Frank Tomselek, a Custer county farmer ; Frank is at home ; Anna is the wife of Vincel Kucera and they are living in Oklahoma: Rosa is the wife of Joseph Malear and they reside in Mon- tana : Julia is the wife of Austin Martin, of Tecumseh, Nebraska ; and Joseph and Edward are at home.

This home place of Mr. Kobl comprises a half-section of good land, upon which a gen- eral farming and stock-raising business is transacted. and the farm presents the appear- ance of thrift and success, both of which are attributed to Mr. Kobl. The family belong to the Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Kobl generally votes the Republican ticket.

HARDY B. KLUMP. - One of the repre- sentative farmers of Custer county, in the full vigor of middle life, with blood of German extraction flowing through his veins, energized by birth and residence in the free land of America, is the man designated above. Hardy B. Klump was born in Willow, Illinois, in 1878, and is a son of Jacob B. and Jane ( Par- kison) Klump. The father was of German birth, a man of strong character who has ac- cumulated a respectable fortune and is spend- ing the years of a comfortable retirement in

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Broken Bow. The father came to this country as a youth and later enlisted in the service of the Union, and was a valiant soldier during the Civil war. The mother, who was a native of Illinois, died in 1896. The father has since remarried. In the family circle to which Hardy B. Klump belongs were nine children : Sophia Bertrand lives on a farm near King City, Mis- souri : Herman lives on a farm near Ringgold, Nebraska : Julia Halliwell lives on a farm near Merna : Fred, like his brother Herman, is on a farm near Ringgold; May lives near Merna ; Ruby Hackbeth lives at Hershey, Nebraska ; Olive is in the state of Washington, where she is engaged in teaching; Hardy B. was the sev- enth child ; and August is farming near Gandy.

Hardy B. Klump received a good education and during the war of 1898 enlisted in the ser- vice of the government and served in the First Nebraska Regiment. in the Philippine Islands. This was the first money that he earned. Dur- ing his war service he spent about one year in Manila and its vicinity.

In Custer county Mr. Klump homesteaded 160 acres of land and then secured a lease on a section of school land. This makes him a very large and productive farm, with practical- ly 440 acres under cultivation. He maintains a good grade of horses and hogs, and has put on all the improvements himself. When the property came into his possession there were only two small frame shacks on the land. Ev- erything now to be seen on the premises is the product of his toil. Mr. Klump's disposi- tion is to make himself generally useful. While he is an independent voter. he is always con- cerned for his friends and anxious to see the man of best qualifications elected. He has been a road overseer of his district a number of years and also a school director, and in these local offices he has charged himself with fos- tering the best interests of the community. It can be truthfully said that he is a represen- tative Custer county farmer -one of indus- trious habits, one who is a good manager and has discerning judgment.

WILLIAM E. WARDROBE. - The sub- ject of this record has been identified with the agricultural interests of Custer county for many years, and has seen the county develop from a pioneer district to one of beautiful homes and farms, with here and there thriving villages and towns.

William E. Wardrobe was born at Milwau- kee. Wisconsin, October 15. 1861. His parents. James and Margaret (Thompson) Wardrobe. were natives of Scotland, in which country

they were married, and in 1851 they immigrat- ed to America, settling at Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. The father who was a machinist by trade, later moved to Dane county, and he continued to reside in Wisconsin until 1877. when he came with his family to Nebraska and lived in Fillmore county. In 1883 he came to Custer county and secured a homestead in township 18, range 23, where he lived for many years. and for a long time he was postmaster at Rest - until advanced years compelled him to write to Washington and get released from the po- sition. He passed away at the home of his son James, in Logan county, at the age of eighty-seven years, and his wife also spent her last days in Logan county. They were de- vout Christian people, well versed in the Scrip- tures, and they were members of the Presby- terian church until past seventy years of age. when they changed their views on some of the doctrines of that denomination and were bap- tised in and united with the Baptist church. They were among the early settlers of their community and had their share of privations and other hardships. They were the parents of three children: Ann was born in Scotland and became the wife of John Schmitz, an early settler of Custer county : they were married in Wisconsin and she is now a widow. residing on the old homestead; James is a farmer and resides in Custer county: and William E. is the subject of this review.

William E. Wardrobe was reared on a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin, and the home farm in Fillmore county. Nebraska. The next year after his father came to Custer county William E. likewise came to the county, where he se- cured a homestead - the northwest quarter of section 4. township 17. range 23. The land had been surveyed, but the first wagon tracks made on the north and west sides of this sec- tion were made by Mr. Wardrobe when he drove up to the the spot where he erected his sod house and cast in his lot with the first settlers on West Table. The securing of water for stock and family use was a serious propo- sition in those early times, and it was necessary to go 400 feet or more to strike water. The machinery and methods of boring and fighting quicksand, were of primitive order, and a well was a luxury. Mr. Wardrobe hauled water thirteen years before he had a well on his place. But the men and women who dared venture into a new country were of such cali- ber that hardships were made easy, and oh- . stacles were overcome to the extent that by persistent effort and good management those who had the courage and foresight to stay in Custer county have reached the goal of success.

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

For a wife and helpmeet Mr. Wardrobe chose Miss Martha F. Rice, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of William J. Rice, who is mentioned on other pages of this vol- ume. Mr. and Mrs. Wardrobe have become the parents of five children: William J. mar- ried Sarah Beardsley and they are residents of Custer county ; Margaret is the wife of Frank Seevers, a farmer of Custer county ; Lessie is the wife of Ernest Stinespring, and they are residents of Custer county ; Hazle is the wife of Ray Stupplebeen, of Custer county; and Elva is still with her parents .

Mr. and Mrs. Wardrobe are members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Ward- robe is a liberal Democrat. voting for men and measures regardless of party ties. Mr. Ward- robe has watched the development of Custer county and is enthusiastic over the agricultural opportunities to be found here. He has been successful in his undertaking's and is the owner of three quarter-sections of good farming land. The old sod house has been replaced with a frame structure, and William E. Wardrobe is one of the substantial men of his community.

GEORGE RIMPLEY .- The blood of thrifty German stock flowing through the veins of the Custer county ranchman and stockman whose name is displayed in this title line, has enriched Custer county and paid generous tribute to its productions. George Rimpley was born in Germany April 18, 1846. He is a son of Frederick and Mary M. Rimpley, in whose family were the following named chil- dren: Carl, Frederick, Theodore, George, Mary, Lota, Annie, and Louise.

Young George Rimpley came to America and landed in New York in 1855. He was accompanied by his uncle. Here he found his first employment as a gardener, and he worked for one dollar a month and board. Later he made his way to Burlington, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for two years, after which he secured a position in the Burlington flour mills. He soon found himself foreman in the mill and in six months he was running the engine. He followed the work for nine years, and then enlisted in Company A, Thirteenth New York Infantry, in 1864. He served one year and eleven months, under General Sher- man, and he was mustered out at Richmond. Virginia. He had part in engagements at City Point and in front of Petersburg. After leaving the army he found employment as en- gineer in a paper mill at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There he stayed four years, and he then went to Des Moines, for the same company.

While in Cedar Rapids he was united in marriage, November 4, 1873, to Miss Etta Parkus, a daughter of Franklin and Sara A. Parkus. The Rimpley home has never been lonesome. Fifteen children have been born into the family circle. Letta Matan lives with her husband at Prosser, Nebraska, and they have one son and four daughters. They are members of the Methodist church. Charles, who is a farmer living near Logan, Nebraska, married Alice Kimberling, and they have two sons and one daughter. They are members of the Baptist church. Frederick, who is living on a farm near Arnold, married Evelyn Phil- pot, and they have three daughters. The fa- ther and mother belong to the Methodist church. Mary is the wife of Oral Gunter, a farmer living near Arnold, and they have one daughter and two sons. They are members of the Baptist church. Carrie married Chester Blakesley, a farmer living near Lomax. Will- iam married Ises Smith and lives on a farm near Arnold, and they have two daughters. Sadie is the wife of Walter Holt, a farmer living on the West Table, and they have one son and one daughter. They are members of the Nazarene church. Aaron married Beulah McGee and lives on a farm near Arnold. They are members of the Methodist church. Arthur is single and is farming part of his father's land. Anna is the wife of Emmett O'Brien, of Hoagland, Nebraska. Everett lives at home and is attending school. Florence is a school girl, living at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Rimpley date their residence in Custer county from the spring of 1883, at which time they located two miles southwest of Arnold, which place has been their home for thirty-five years. Mr. Rimply made his money by farming and stock-raising. For several years he has handled two thousand dollars' worth of hogs, hauling them in wagons to Merna. He is one of the pioneers who have made good, who tested the resources of the county, and who, by thrift and good manage- ment, has become the owner of 600 acres of valuable land. He and his good wife enjoy the confidence of their friends and neighbors. and are well and favorably known by a large circle of friends. He has thoroughly proved his loyalty to his adopted land. He served as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war. and in connection with the great world war he has been a liberal contributor to the Red Cross and the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, as well as a heavy purchaser of Liberty bonds and war stamps. Every one of his boys was in the draft age, but, because of the com- ing of peace, their services were not required.

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Locally he has served as school director and road overseer for a number of years. He is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are Lutherans in religious affiliation.

FREDERICK L. HOFFMAN. - This paragraph presents the name of a man widely known throughout the southern portion of the county as a stockman and rancher - a man who has given some time to business and in many ways can be referred to as one of the substantial citizens of Arnold and vicinity. "Lace" Hoffman, as he is familiarly known, was born October 22, 1871, in Fairmont, New Jersey. He is the second born of the children of Frederick P. and Mary (Cannedy ) Hoff- man, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Illinois. In the immediate family of Frederick Hoffman were nine children : Anna May, Frederick L., Elizabeth L. Knox, Philip K., Rosella Wood, Margaret Long, Oritt L., Willie W. ( deceased), Silas B., and Paul H. The parents belonged to the Presbyterian church, of which they were prominent and de- voted members - persons uniformly respected and highly rated in the communities where they were known. In 1884 Frederick P. Hoff- man came with his family to Dawson county, Nebraska, where he located upon a homestead. Here it was that Frederick L. Hoffman passed his boyhood days and ran the gamut of the public schools, in which he received a funda- mental education that has served him well in the business transactions of his active life. He worked on the farm until he was about eigh- teen years of age, and then he secured work with the ranchmen of that locality. It was thus that he formed his early predilections for the stock business, in which he has since be- come an adept. Shortly after being thrown upon his own resources Mr. Hoffman organ- ized a hay outfit and in the summer and fall of those early years he put up hay on contract. for Dan Haskell and other stockmen, some- times putting up as many as 100 tons in a day.

On April 29, 1899, at Broken Bow, Mr. Hoffman led to the marriage altar Miss Eolia Lowe, the marriage ceremony being performed by the Rev. S. C. Cadwell, a well known Bap- tist clergyman of the pioneer days. Mrs. Iloff- man is a native of Adrian, Michigan, and is a daughter of Burlin W. and Fannie E. (Gay- lor) Lowe, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, Baptists by church connection and highly connected with local societies. In her father's family, aside from herself, were the following named children: Eber C., Ethel

C., Arnott E., and Elroy P. since their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have maintained always a very comfortable and hospitable home. Whether on the ranch or in the town of Arnold, where their present home is lo- cated, they have always been surrounded with the comforts of life and into their home have been born three bright children, Florence MI., who at present is a high-school student in Ar- nold ; and Weir and Maxine E.

Mr. Hoffman has been a resident of Custer county since 1887. His first location was eight miles southwest of Lodi, and-there he engaged in the stock business, which has been the major occupation of his entire career. The cattle business comes naturally to him. He can see the merits or demerits of the bovine species half way across a thousand-acre pasture. The cattle business has served him well and been profitable. He commenced in a small way. The first money he earned was by cracking peach stones for twenty-five cents a basket, and it required a good, long day to crack one basket full. The first team he owned was purchased on time, from the First National Bank of Lex- ington. To-day Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are secure in the comforts of life and well pro- vided for any emergency that may arise. They have 3,000 acres of land, 150 head of cattle, thirty horses, and over 100 head of hogs. The main ranch which Mr. Hoffman operates is located six miles east of Arnold, in the Powell canyon. The Hoffmans are well connected socially and are members of the First Baptist church of Arnold. Highly respected in the. community, they deserve the esteem in which they are held by their wide circle of friends.

HENRY T. MICHELE, who is one of the extensive land owners and progressive farmers of Custer county, is a native son of Nebraska, his birth having occurred in Saline county. He is a son of Christopher and Gertrude ( Stang)) Michele, who were born in Germany, where their marriage occurred and where they made their home until 1863, when they came to the United States. They resided in Iowa a few years and then became pioneer settlers of Sal- line county, Nebraska. There they followed agricultural pursuits until 1883, when they came to Custer county and purchased a home- stead claim of 160 acres - the southeast quar- ter of section 9. township 18, range 22. Their first home was in keeping with the times and was constructed of sod, this serving as the home of the family till the death of the father. The mother passed away at Anselmo. Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Michele came to Custer

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

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RESIDENCE OF HENRY T. MICHELE

PIONEER RESIDENCE OF CHRISTOPHER MICHELE

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

county at a period when settlers were few and far between, when but little improvement had been made, and when the usual pioneer hardships and privations were to be endured. They were among the worthy pioneers who were not afraid to venture and whose labors have made Custer county a better place in which to live. They were the parents of eight children and were faithful communicants of the Catholic church.

Henry T. Michele was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents to Custer county. His boyhood days were spent in the usual manner of farm lads, and as his years and strength increased he assisted in the oper- ation and development of the homestead. When he became a man he acquired from his father title to the home place and engaged in farming for himself. That he has been successful is evidenced by the fact that he has extended the boundaries of his possessions by the pur- chase of another quarter section of land, all of which, together with a quarter which he operates under lease, he is devoting to general farming and stock-raising. He also operates a threshing outfit, which adds materially to his income.

On February 7, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Henry T. Michele to Miss Anna Fleishman, who was born in Wisconsin. Mrs. Michele is a daughter of Con Fleishman, who was an early settler of Custer county and whose record is to be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Michele have become the parents of eight children, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Their names are Leo, Raymond, George, Paul, Frances, Irene, Catherine, and Gertrude.

As an evidence in the change in conditions in Custer county, the old sod house has given place to a beautiful frame dwelling, which Mr. Michele has erected since he came into pos- session of the old home. The family belong to the Catholic church and in politics Mr. Michele is a Democrat. He has taken an active interest in those things which have to do with the uplift of the community and has served on the school board since a young man of twenty-one years.

WILLIAM C. BELTZ .- The story of William C. Beltz reveals a varied experience and discloses the fact that during his younger years he was somewhat of a traveler and turned his hand to a good many occupations. That he made good at most of them is evidenced by the fact that he is to-day a property owner. a man of substantial influence, and prepared to

live under conditions of comparative ease. He was born September 25. 1858, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. His parents, John A. and Sophia (Nycum) Beltz, were natives of Pennsylvania and members of the German Re- formed church. In their family were seven children of whom William C. is the eldest, the others being: Elizabeth (deceased ), Laura B. Ruddy, John S., Bruce B., Harvey A., and Burton E. The father was a soldier in the Civil war, in which he served three years in a Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers. In the Battle of the Wilderness he was severely wounded. The home place where young Will- iam C. Beltz received his early training was near Manns Choice, Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, where his father died. William stayed under the home roof until 1884, when he came directly to Custer county and secured a po- sition in the livery barn of William Nycum. of Arnold. In the spring of 1885 he accom- panied Chris Hazlebaker to the licadwaters of the Dismal river and helped him to locate a claim. That winter he hired out as "cow puncher" on the T. L. V. ranch, some eighteen miles northwest of Arnold. He was employed on this ranch three years, then made a trip to Utah, and later he returned to Nebraska and took a course in the Grand Island Business College. From Grand Island he returned to Arnold, and he reports that when he arrived at Arnold he was broke. He and a young man named Charlie Kuhns, now living in Maxwell. formed a partnership for the summer and handled Singer sewing machines. In the fall their assets consisted of a bunch of broncos worth from ten to fifteen dollars each, and a big board bill. After this experience Mr. Beltz again tried his luck on the T. L. V. ranch, where he worked eighteen months. About this time his thoughts turned to matri- mony, and in the spring of 1893, at Arnold, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma S. Burk, who was born in Illinois, and who is a daughter of James F. and Martha (Crabb) Burk. Since their marriage, Mrs. Beltz has been her husband's faithful helpmeet and a splendid home-maker. In the father's family were six children: John B., William, Laura Rogers, Hattie Needham, Emma S. Beltz, and Albert.

In the home Mr. and Mrs. Beltz estab- lished, plenty and comfort have always pre- vailed. In their family circle are three chil- dren : Loyd S., who is "somewhere in France" at the time of this writing, is a corporal in Company H. Three Hundred and Fifty-second Infantry, Eighty-eighth Division, A. P. O. 795, American Expeditionary Forces. He is

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a graduate of the Arnold high school. Harry R. and Hazel are still under the parental roof. Hazel is a graduate and Harry is a student of the Arnold high school. For eight years Mr. and Mrs. Beltz lived in Mills Valley, where they rented a farm and followed agricultural pursuits. After this they came to Arnold, where he conducted a hardware business about two years. Then he purchased 160 acres ad- joining Arnold on the west, which is his pres- ent home. It is a well improved, valuable piece of land, and to-day he is prepared to take life easy. He laughs at the hardships of the pioneer days and thinks that this is a pretty fair country for a man who has any ambition. He has filled several local offices - was asses- sor three years, town clerk several years - and he is a member of the Masonie lodge and the Christian church. He affiliates politically with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Beltz are good neighbors and have a host of friends.

JOHN MORAN, who has been identified with important business enterprises in Custer county for more than thirty years, has been one of the leading factors in the upbuilding of the progressive town of Callaway. Mr. Moran was born in the city of Boston, Massa- chusetts, February 11, 1855. His father, Pat- rick Moran, was born in Ireland, and his moth- er, Mary Moran, was born in Scotland, and they were married in New Foundland. From there they immigrated to the United States and the father, who was a machinist and black- smith, found work in Boston, Massachusetts. The mother died soon afterward, leaving three children : John, who was then an infant, is the subject of this sketch; Patrick H. is deceased ; and Anna is the wife of James McGarrigle, a stock dealer living in a suburb of Boston, and they have five children.

John Moran was six years old when his fa- ther died, and then he went to live with a cousin, William McGlaughlin, who sent him to school and took care of him until he was about ten years old. when the boy began to provide in part for his own necessities. He worked up a newspaper route and for two years delivered the morning and evening edi- tions of the Boston Herald, a copy of which sometimes reaches him and in these later years naturally possesses much interest. John was about twelve years old when he secured a job in a custom tailoring shop, in which he worked two years. He than became a clerk in a cloth- ing and furnishing store, where he gained mercantile experience that was of great value

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History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 106

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180