USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 19
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 19
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In 1901 Mr. Hines married Alma Gochenour. She was born in Iowa, daughter of Adam and Mary J. (Burgess) Gochenour, who came to Blair in 1888 and the family name has been a prominent one in that city ever since. Her father was in the butcher business in Blair for a number of years. Both her parents died there. Mrs. Hines was one of twins, the youngest of six children. Mr. Hines is a member of the Congregational Church, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs, and in politics is a republican.
FRED E. KOEHNE. Endowed with the habits of industry and thrift, and the keenness of intellect that win success in any line of industry, Fred E. Koehne has made diligent use of his time and opportunities, and having acquired sufficient wealth to assure him a comfortable income is now living retired from active business cares in Fremont, his home being at 435 West Ninth Street. A son of the late Charles Koehne, he was born July 11, 1858, in Wisconsin, coming on the paternal side of German lineage.
Born and bred in Germany, Charles Koehne immigrated to the United States when young, locating in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, where he subsequently followed the blacksmith's trade for thirty-seven or more years, doing all kinds of pioneer work, even making nails for the farmers' use. Coming to Dodge County, Nebraska in 1871, he purchased 560 acres of land, paying $6.25 an acre for the larger part of it, but never lived upon it. He afterward moved to South Dakota, and there he and his wife spent their declining years, dying on the home- stead which he had improved. He was a republican in politics, and while a resident of Wisconsin served many years as postmaster' at Paynesville. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary N. Meyer, was born in Rochester, New York. Six children were born to them, as follows: Charles, a veterinary surgeon, lives on the old homestead in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Fred E., of whom we write; Albert, engaged in the implement business at Oldham, South Dakota; Caroline, a widow, resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; John, who owns and operates an elevator at Oldham, South Dakota; and Mary Ann, who lives with her widowed sister in Milwaukee.
Brought up in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Fred E. Koehne was educated in the district schools, and afterwards served an appren- ticeship at the wagon and carriage maker's trade, which he followed three or four years. Migrating to South Dakota, he took up a homestead claim on which he lived and labored seven years before selling it. Coming to Dodge County, Nebraska in 1887, Mr. Koehne purchased the large tract of land belonging to his father, and occupied it from 1888 until 1899, in the meantime adding each year to its improvements. Mr. Koehne then sold the farm, receiving $300 an acre for the same tract that his father bought for $6.25 an acre. Removing then to
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Fremont, he has since lived a life of leisure, enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil. He is independent in politics, and has never been an aspirant for official honors.
Mr. Koehne married, February 25, 1880, Eunice A. V. West, who was born in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, August 25, 1858, where her father, Quincy P. West, was a prosperous farmer. Five children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Koehne, four of whom are living, namely: Charles Julian, manager of the Farmers Co-operative Union at Ames, Nebraska; Sadie, wife of Fred Wislicen, of Fremont, manager of the New York Bakery; Carrie, single, is employed in the Anderson Jewelry Store, and lives with her parents; and Freida, living at home. Mr. Koehne and his family attend the Congregational Church, and contribute towards its support. For upwards of a quarter of a century Mr. Koehne has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs; and he, and all of his family, with the exception of the youngest son, are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, two of his daughters, Sadie and Carrie, are past noble grands.
EDWARD C. JACKSON. There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the spectacle of a life that has reached its autumn with a harvest of good and useful deeds. It is like the forest in October days when the leaves have borrowed the richest colors of the light and glow in the mellowed sheen of the Indian summer, reflecting all the radiance of their existence. The man who has lived a clean and useful life cannot fail to enjoy a serenity of soul, and when such a life is preserved in its strength and integrity so that even in age its influence continues unabated, it challenges the added admiration of those whose good fortune it is to be brought into contact with it. Such a life has been that of Edward Charles Jackson, for fifty years one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Washington County. Such a life merits a record of its deeds, but his record is too familiar to the people of the locality of which this history deals to require any fulsome encomium here, his life work speaking for itself in stronger terms than the biographer could possibly employ.
Edward Charles Jackson, clerk of the district court at Blair, was born in Columbus, Georgia on December 10, 1844, and is the son of George H. and Harriett M. (Allen) Jackson. Both of these parents were natives of New York State, the father having been born at Peru, and the mother at Troy. They were married at Troy and in 1842 they went to Columbus, Georgia, where George Jackson had a contract for the erection of a cotton mill. In his work as a contractor he necessarily was located in different places from time to time, but he finally returned to Troy, New York, and engaged in the manufacture of wagons and buggies. Subsequently they moved to Ashton, Maryland, where they spent their remaining years and died. They were members of the Bap- tist Church and he also held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gave his political support to the republican party and was active in public affairs, having served a number of years as a member of the county board at Troy. To him and his wife were born eight children, namely : William H., of Detroit, Michigan, where he is engaged as a landscape photographer, owning a large establishment and enjoying a wide reputation for the excellence of his work; Edward C .; Mary Elizabeth, the widow of George Brown ; Frederick D., who is now retired and living in Ashton, Maryland; Frank H., now deceased, who
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was an architect in the employ of the Federal Government; Emma K., an artist and colorist in Detroit; Jennie, deceased ; Allen, who was an actor for many years, but is now retired and living at East Hadam, Connecticut.
Edward C. Jackson received his educational training in the public schools of Troy, New York. His first occupation was as a wagon- maker, which trade he learned. Later he was employed as a bookkeeper, and also was employed as a copyist in an attorney's office. In August, 1862, Mr. Jackson enlisted as a private in Company K, Twelfth Regi- ment Vermont Volunteer Infantry, at Rutland, Vermont, with which he served his enlistment period of nine months. He then returned to Troy and in February, 1864, enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until June 14, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged. Mr. Jackson's army record was one of which he is deservedly proud and in evidence of which were his promotions, on May 27, 1864, to sergeant, on December 5, 1864, as first lieutenant, and the captaincy of Company B on March 28, 1865. His regiment was a part of the Army of the Potomac, with which he took part in many of the most important engagements of that great army up to Lee's surrender.
In December, 1867, Mr. Jackson came to Nebraska, locating first at Omaha, where he was associated with his brother in the photographic business for three years. In 1870 he came to Washington County and for five years was engaged in farming. In 1875 he was elected county clerk and clerk of courts, serving as such from 1876 to 1879 and then during 1880-81 he served as clerk of courts. From 1881 to 1887 Mr. Jackson served as deputy county treasurer, and then from 1888 to 1891 as county treasurer. Mr. Jackson was admitted to the bar in 1879 and so favorable an impression had he made on the voters of the county that in 1893 he was elected county judge, occupying the bench from 1894 to 1901. After his retirement from the bench, he was engaged in the practice of law until 1911, when he again became clerk of the district court, which office he is still filling. He has devoted himself indefatigably to the discharge of the duties of the office and because of his faithfulness and painstaking care of details he has not only made himself well-nigh invaluable to the court, but has also gained the confi- dence and good will of all who have come into contact with him.
On November 28, 1867, Mr. Jackson was married to Elizabeth Smith, who was born in New York City, and to them have been born three children, namely: George H., died in infancy ; Ada, died November 22, 1912, aged thirty-seven years; and Joseph, a lumber broker in Minneapolis.
Edward C. Jackson is a member of the Episcopalian Church and of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In the latter order he has attained to the degrees of Knight Templar and he has received prefer- ment in all the subordinate bodies in which he has passed the chairs. He was grand junior deacon in the grand lodge of Masons and is now grand commander of Knights Templar of the State of Nebraska. He is a stanch supporter of the republican party, and while in the army lie voted for Abraham Lincoln before he was twenty-one years old. He keeps alive his old army associations through his membership in John A. Dix Post No. 52, Grand Army of the Republic, which he has served as commander. In the life history of Mr. Jackson are found evidences of characteristics that always make for achievement-persistency
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coupled with fortitude and lofty traits-and as the result of such a life he has long been one of the best known, most influential and highly esteemed citizens of his county.
NATHAN SAMPTER. For many years actively identified with the mercantile interests of Dodge County, the late Nathan Sampter dis- played marked ability and sound judgment in the management of his business, and as one of the leading clothiers of Fremont acquired con- siderable property. He was born November 20, 1853, in Germany, where the days of his early boyhood were spent. At the age of thirteen years, unaccompanied by relatives or friends, he bravely crossed the ocean to seek a living in a land where there were fewer restrictions.
Locating in New York State, Nathan Sampter continued his studies there for a brief time, and later attended school in Peoria, Illinois. There, in the employ of an uncle, he became familiar with the work associated with a clothing store, and was subsequently engaged in the clothing business at Independence, Iowa, for five years. Coming to Fremont, Nebraska in 1883, Mr. Sampter opened a clothing store, and managed it with signal success until 1909, when he sold out his interests in the establishment. He thereafter lived retired from active business until his death, which occurred November 15, 1910, at his pleasant home on North Nye Street. Industrious, thrifty, and a wise manager, Mr. Sampter accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, his busi- ness having been extensive and lucrative.
Mr. Sampter married, March 26, 1888, in Fremont, Nebraska, Carrie Myers, a native of Independence, lowa. Her father, August Myers, emigrated from Germany to the United States as a young man, settling in Independence, Iowa, as a clothing merchant. Subsequently moving to Nebraska, he spent the last thirty-two years of his life in Omaha. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Jewish Church. Mr. Myers married Babette Baum, who was also born in Germany, and of the seven children born to their union, Mrs. Sampter was the sixth child in succession of birth, and one of the five now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Sampter became the parents of three children, namely : Mrs. John Sonin, whose husband is a well known merchant of Fremont; Mrs. Hyman Fishgall, of Sioux City, Iowa; and Gerald, member of the firm with Mr. Sonin. Politically Mr. Sampter was a sound republican ; fraternally he was a Mason ; and religiously he and family belonged to the Jewish Church.
ALEXANDER THOM came to Nebraska in January, 1882, and after having long been actively and successfully identified with agricultural and livestock industry in Dodge County he retired from the farm and established his home at North Bend, where he has since continued to enjoy the merited prosperity gained through former years of earnest endeavor. He has passed the psalmist's span of threescore years and ten and is a sterling citizen to whom is accorded the fullest measure of popular esteem.
Mr. Thom was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 25, 1847, and is a son of William and Christina (Chalmers) Thom, who there passed their entire lives, the father having been fifty-three years of age at the time of his death and the mother having passed to eternal rest at the age of sixty-eight years. William Thom was a farmer by vocation and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Free Church of Scotland, in which he served as an elder for a number of
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years prior to his death. Of the six children three came to the United States : William, who became a resident of Nebraska and whose death occurred in a hospital at Omaha, December 13, 1919; Isabelle, who became the wife of James Thain, of Illinois, and who was in the home of her brother, Alexander, of this review, at the time of her death; and Alexander, whose name initiates this sketch. Of the other three children, James and George died in Scotland, and there Andrew has been for half a century pastor of a church in Stirlingshire, as a representative clergy- man of the Free Church of Scotland in that section of the land of hills and heather.
Alexander Thom was afforded the advantages of the schools of his native land and there continued his association with farm enterprise until 1877, when he came to the United States and became foreman of the large farm estate of Henry B. Sherman in Dodge County, Wis- consin. He retained this position five years, and in January, 1882, he came to Nebraska and became associated with the firm of Smith & Mallon, at North Bend, an important concern engaged in the importing of horses. In the interests of this firm Mr. Thom purchased high grade horses in Scotland and shipped the stock to the United States, his operations in this field of enterprise having continued about four years. He then purchased land in Dodge County and turned his attention, with characteristic vigor and judgment, to general farming and stock-raising, in which connection he made a specialty of raising blooded Clydesdale horses and Chester White swine. On his farm, comprising 320 acres, he made the best of improvements, including the erection of a barn that is still considered the finest in the county, and he continued his active work on the farm until 1892, since which time he has lived virtually retired, at North Bend, his farm property still remaining in his possession.
Mr. Thom was one of the organizers and incorporators of the First State Bank of North Bend, of which he has continuously served as president from the inception of the enterprise and to the success of which his mature business judgment and conservative policies have con- tributed in large degree. He is an elder and member of the board of trustees of the United Presbyterian Church at North Bend, and as a citizen of his adopted state he is most loyal and appreciative.
In 1887 Mr. Thom wedded Miss Margaret Agen, a native of the state of Illinois, and she passed to the life eternal in 1892. Of the three children of this union two died in infancy, and the one surviving is Mabel, wife of Dr. Andrew Harvey, a representative physician at Fremont, judicial center of Dodge County, of whom mention is made on other pages of this work. For his second wife Mr. Thom married Anna Collins, and she passed away a few years later, the only child of this marriage likewise being deceased. April 15, 1913, recorded the marriage of Mr. Thom to Laura Miller, who was born and reared in Dodge County and who is the popular chatelaine of their pleasant home.
Mr. Thom is a radical prohibitionist in his political allegiance and has been active and zealous in furtherance of national prohibition, the success of the great movement being a source of marked gratification to him. He has a high place in the confidence and esteem of his home community and the year 1920 finds him serving his third consecutive term as mayor of North Bend.
ROBERT FRAHM. It is a matter of grave import to the people of a community to know that their banking institutions are sound, that their entire business methods are carefully and well advised, that their assets
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are entirely adequate, and that the officers and directors are men of stable character and of thorough banking experience. From the pros- perity attending the Snyder State Bank at Snyder, Nebraska, it may be inferred that all these requirements are being held satisfactory, and since 1919, when Robert Frahm became president, a still larger measure of public confidence has been shown. Although Mr. Frahm is yet a young man, he has had a large amount of banking experience.
Robert Frahm, president of the Snyder State Bank, is a native of Nebraska, born in 1886, in Saunders County. His parents were Hans H. and Margaretha K. Frahm, the latter of whom was born in Germany, and the former, also of German ancestry, was a native of Illinois. From Illinois the father came to Nebraska in 1869, locating first in Douglas County, but one year later moving into Saunders County, where he made his home for forty-four years. His death occurred in 1914. He carried on farming and stockraising and prospered through industry and frugality. The mother of Robert Frahm still survives, being a highly esteemed resident of Snyder. He has two brothers and one sister, namely : Elliot H., who is cashier of the Snyder State Bank: Fielda, who is assistant cashier of the Snyder State Bank; and Alvin, who served as assistant cashier for years of Snyder State Bank and one year as cashier of Bank of Morganza, Louisiana, and is now head bookkeeper of Scotland Lumber Company, Ravenswood, Louisiana.
Robert Frahm attended the public schools at Prague, Nebraska, had further school privileges at Fremont, and took a commercial course in Mosher-Lampman Business College, Omaha. His first business expe- rience was as a clerk in a general store at Memphis, and later, in the same capacity was at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, following which he entered the Corn Exchange Bank at Spencer, in Boyd County, where he continued one year as bookkeeper. After that he served four months as book- keeper in the Nebraska National Bank at Norfolk, Nebraska, going from there to the First National at Pilger, in Stanton County. He was thus well posted in Nebraska banking law before going to South Dakota, where he was associated for two months with the Bank of Winner, and for nine months with the First National Bank of Fairfax in Gregory County. In 1911 he returned to Nebraska to become cashier of the Snyder State Bank, of which he became president in March, 1919. While the affairs of the bank engage the greater part of his time, he gives some attention to his farm interests, mainly specializing in hogs and poultry, growing nothing but Poland China and Chester White hogs, and pure-blood Leghorn and Wyandotte chickens. He finds much pleasure and needed recreation in looking after the above interests.
In 1910 Mr. Frahm was united in marriage to Miss Martha Klug. who was born in Madison County, Nebraska, though she was reared and educated in Boyd County, Nebraska. They have a pleasant home and a wide social acquaintance at Snyder, and both are active members of the Lutheran Church, in which they were reared by careful parents. In political life Mr. Frahm has followed in the footsteps of a father whose good judgment he had never occasion to doubt, and has been quite prominent in local republican circles and is serving at present as village clerk and on the school board as moderator.
NATHAN H. BROWN, M. D. Well equipped for the duties demanded of the members of the medical profession, not only by natural gifts and temperament, but by mental training and untiring industry, the late Nathan H. Brown, M. D., of Fremont, was for many years actively
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and successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, hav- ing gained the confidence and good will of the community, and his death, which occurred while he was yet in manhood's prime, was a cause of deep regret. A native of New York, he was born November, 30, 1851, near Saratoga, and died at his home in Fremont, Nebraska, November 29, 1903.
But two and a half years of age when his parents moved to War- renville, Illinois, Nathan H. Brown acquired his rudimentary education in the public schools of Dupage County, that state. Turning his atten- tion to the study of medicine, he was graduated from the Chicago Medi- cal School, after which he took two or more post-graduate courses in New York City. Locating in Racine County, Wisconsin, soon after his graduation, Doctor Brown remained there for eight years, in the meantime building up a large country practice, at first riding on horse- back, with medicines in his saddle bags, but later making his rounds with a horse and buggy. Then, after spending a brief time in Western Connecticut, he located in Fremont, Nebraska, in June, 1882, where he built up an extensive and very satisfactory practice, his professional skill and ability having won him an extensive patronage, and a position of note among the more successful physicians and surgeons of his day. In 1894 the doctor, accompanied by his son, crossed the ocean, and had a most enjoyable time visiting points of interest in many parts of Europe, taking especial interest, however, in medical and surgical methods and institutions.
Doctor Brown married, December 22, 1875, Gratia C. Hamilton, who was born January 24, 1841, in Western New York, but at the age of three months was taken by her parents to Wisconsin, where she was educated. Her father, William Hughes Hamilton, became well versed in legal lore, and was for several years engaged in the practice of law in Racine, Wisconsin. Removing from there to Nebraska, he spent the closing years of his life in Fremont. His wife, whose maiden name was Adelaide Palmer, died in Wisconsin. Six children were born of their marriage, as follows: Gratia C., now Mrs. Brown; Alvah, a soldier in the Civil war, was killed in battle; Harriet A., wife of James M. Brearley, a retired railroad man of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Martha C., died at the age of twenty-nine years; Stephen H., an attorney in Washington, Kansas; and James H., engaged in the grain business at Peoria, Illinois. Mr. Hamilton was a republican in politics, and he and his family were Episcopalians.
Two children blessed the union of Doctor and Mrs. Brown, namely : Francis H. and Adeline Eliza. Francis H. Brown, M. D., was educated for a physician, and for two and a half years was engaged in practice with his father in Fremont. He became interested in the grain business, with which his father was also associated, and after the death of his father gave up the practice of medicine, and has since devoted his time and attention to the buying and selling of grain, being located in Omaha. He married Daisy Goff, a daughter of J. W. Goff, of Fremont, and they have one child, Francis Hilliard Brown. Adeline Eliza Brown married F. H. Richards, of Fremont, who is in business with his father, L. D. Richards, and they have one child, Fred H. Richards, Jr., a bright and capable youth of eighteen years, who was graduated from the Shattuck School, in Faribault, Minnesota, with the highest honors of his class, and is now a student in the University of Nebraska, at Lincoln.
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Mrs. Brown is a woman of talent and culture, and is held in high esteem throughout the city, her beautiful home at 114 East Military Avenue being ever open to her many friends. She was educated primarily in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and subsequently studied for a while in the University of Wisconsin, at Madison. She is a devout member of the Episcopal Church, of which the doctor was an attendant. He was a stanch democrat in politics, and a thirty-second degree Mason.
WILLIAM SAEGER. An active and thriving business man of Fremont, William Saeger is identified with the mercantile and manufacturing interests of Dodge County, being a member of the firm of Saeger & Sons, one of the most extensive and best known cigar making concerns in this section of the state. He was born in Germany, a son of Henry Saeger, and there spent a part of his early life.
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